CFM = air volume
Cubic feet per minute — how much air the blower moves. Greenworks’ CFM vs MPH blog: higher CFM moves more debris and suits covering larger areas.
Buying guide · September 2026
How to read CFM vs MPH on a leaf blower
Spec sheets shout big numbers. CFM and MPH measure different things about the same airstream. Below we stick to manufacturer-facing definitions (especially Greenworks’ public explainer) and note where standards get tricky.
MPH = air speed
Miles per hour — how fast that air exits. Greenworks frames higher MPH as stronger airflow for wet or stubborn debris.
Which matters for a Midwest yard?
Dry leaves on a lawn: CFM helps you sweep a wide path. Wet maple mats after rain: MPH (and nozzle shape) help pry leaves loose before volume carries them. You usually want both adequate — not a single trophy number.
Greenworks’ FAQ on their 770 CFM product page echoes the same split: MPH helps heavier debris; CFM helps moving large volumes across an area. Treat their “good CFM / good MPH” ranges on the marketing blog as orientation, not a lab certificate for your lot.
Newton force (when published)
Some makers (including Milwaukee on the M18 FUEL blower) publish Newtons (N) of blow force alongside CFM and MPH. Milwaukee lists 12.2 N with 500 CFM and 120 MPH on the 3017-21HD kit page. Newtons are a force metric — useful when comparing within a brand’s method — but do not assume every brand measures identically.
Measurement caveats (no fake lab claims)
- Nozzle tip changes the tradeoff: tapered tips raise speed; flare tips favor volume feel.
- Housing CFM vs end-of-pipe CFM can differ; makers do not always label which point they used.
- ANSI/OPEI B175.2 performance procedures historically focus on gas handheld/backpack blowers; Milwaukee cites ANSI B175.2 for its noise figure. Do not assume every cordless CFM number was measured under that annex.
- We omit third-party “lab CFM” scores we did not verify.
How our three kits publish the numbers
| Kit | CFM | MPH | Extra |
|---|---|---|---|
| EGO LB7654 | Up to 765 turbo; dial 260–580 | Up to 200 | EGO official page |
| Greenworks BL80L414 | 770 | 180 | Greenworks product table |
| Milwaukee 3017-21HD | 500 | 120 | 12.2 N · Milwaukee kit page |