What Is the Best Leaf Blower Air Speed?

While shopping for a leaf blower, you’ll undoubtedly run across models producing different wind speeds. The question is which windspeed do you need? In this guide, you will learn all about gas blower air speed and the best leaf blower for each speed category.


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What Is the Best Leaf Blower Air Speed?
Backpack Leaf Blowers

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What is Air Speed?

Air speed is simply the speed at which air comes shooting out of the leaf blower’s nozzle. Air speed is measured in miles per hour and can clock in at over 230 MPH. A more powerful motor or an engine will produce greater air speeds to help blow leaves several more feet away from their original position.

What is CFM?

CFM, or cubic feet per minute, measures how much air comes out of the nozzle. Don’t mistake air speed and air volume since a leaf blower can shoot out a tremendous amount of air but at a low pace and not move fallen leaves a single inch.

Different Air Speed Categories

There are six different air speed categories to choose from, ranging from under 130 MPH to more than 230 MPH. Here, we’ll quickly go over the advantages of each speed bracket and which leaf blower is best for that bracket.

Leaf Blower Air Speed
Husqvarna 965877502 350BT 2-Cycle Gas Backpack Blower

Under 130 MPH

These are the lightest-duty leaf blower selection. These models are generally smaller, so they’re easy to carry and don’t take much space in your shed. They also produce the least amount of air volume, forcing you to get close to the fallen leaves.

130 to 149 MPH

These models come with large motors, though their overall weight remains much the same. You can move leaves to and from greater distances with these bad boys.

What is Air Speed?

150 to 169 MPH

Though 150 to 169 MPH might sound fast, it’s only in the mid-range of what a leaf blower can deliver. These models are great for backyards with large trees scattered here and there.

170 to 199 MPH

Now, onto heavier-duty models. Though powerful, there are battery-powered 170-to-199-MPH models that exist. We recommend sticking to a gas leaf blower if you need airspeeds of over 170MPH for professional landscaping duties.

Best Leaf Blower Air Speed
Leaves

200 to 229 MPH

Here, we have left cordless leaf blowers entirely and have switched to either corded-electric or gas. Between the two, gas offers more flexibility and portability, but corded models can run indefinitely with a reliable extension cord. They can also come with a vacuum function for mulching and disposal.

More than 230 MPH

Still, we have either corded or gas to choose from. You might consider getting one of these if you have tremendously large front and backyards, meaning that an extension cable is out of the question. For this reason, we recommend a gas-powered leaf blower to handle the toughest landscaping jobs imaginable.

Leaf Blower CFM
Makita EB7660TH 75.6 cc MM4 Engine Tube Throttle 4-Stroke Backpack Blower

Which Gas Blower Speed Should I Get?

No one speed will work for every scenario imaginable. That said, it’s generally safer to go bigger than smaller, though more than 230 MPH is overkill if you don’t plan on doing landscaping as more than just a hobby.

However, you can combine the best of multiple worlds by finding a leaf blower model that has a variable speed dial or different speed settings. This feature not only lets you choose how much air and airspeed the tool delivers but also uses only as much fuel as necessary.

Leaf Blower
SPGarden 26cc Gasoline Garden Blower

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