Air Tool CFM Consumption Chart
Average air draw of common pneumatic tools at about 90 psi, from impact wrenches to sandblasters. Search, filter, then size your compressor.
Air tool CFM consumption table
| Tool | Avg draw (CFM) | Duty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workshop & automotive | |||
| Blowgun (standard) | 19 cfm | Intermittent | Standard blowgun |
| Tyre inflator | 5 cfm | Intermittent | Passenger and light truck |
| Air ratchet (3/8") | 6 cfm | Intermittent | |
| Impact wrench (3/8") | 5 cfm | Intermittent | |
| Impact wrench (1/2") | 6 cfm | Intermittent | Upper-end average draw |
| Impact wrench (3/4") | 12 cfm | Intermittent | High torque |
| Impact wrench (1") | 20 cfm | Intermittent | Truck, plant and mining wheel nuts |
| Air drill (3/8") | 5 cfm | Intermittent | |
| Air drill (1/2") | 8 cfm | Intermittent | |
| Pneumatic grease / oil pump | 3 cfm | Intermittent | |
| Fastening | |||
| Stapler / brad nailer | 3 cfm | Intermittent | Cycle-based, low average draw |
| Framing / roofing nailer | 4 cfm | Intermittent | Cycle-based, low average draw |
| Post driver (pneumatic) | 50 cfm | Continuous | Fencing and post driving |
| Grinding & finishing | |||
| Die grinder | 8 cfm | Intermittent | |
| Cut-off tool | 10 cfm | Intermittent | |
| Angle grinder (100-125 mm) | 9 cfm | Intermittent | |
| Angle grinder (180 mm) | 20 cfm | Intermittent | |
| DA / orbital sander | 14 cfm | Intermittent | |
| Needle scaler | 16 cfm | Intermittent | Rust and paint removal |
| Spray painting | |||
| Touch-up spray gun | 5 cfm | Intermittent | |
| LVLP spray gun | 10 cfm | Intermittent | |
| HVLP spray gun | 15 cfm | Intermittent | Gravity feed, typical 10-15 cfm |
| Conventional spray gun | 18 cfm | Intermittent | |
| Concrete, rock & breaking | |||
| Chipping hammer (light) | 8 cfm | Intermittent | |
| Chipping / scaling hammer (heavy) | 18 cfm | Continuous | |
| Breaker / jackhammer (~14 kg / 30 lb) | 35 cfm | Continuous | Light |
| Breaker / jackhammer (~27 kg / 60 lb) | 70 cfm | Continuous | Medium |
| Breaker / jackhammer (~40 kg / 90 lb) | 100 cfm | Continuous | Heavy |
| Hand-held rock drill | 110 cfm | Continuous | Check against your drill's data plate |
| Abrasive blasting | |||
| Blast cabinet / small blast gun | 15 cfm | Intermittent | Small nozzle, siphon feed |
| Blast pot, #2 nozzle (1/8") | 38 cfm | Continuous | At about 100 psi |
| Blast pot, #3 nozzle (3/16") | 81 cfm | Continuous | At about 100 psi |
| Blast pot, #4 nozzle (1/4") | 137 cfm | Continuous | At about 100 psi |
| Blast pot, #5 nozzle (5/16") | 196 cfm | Continuous | At about 100 psi |
| Blast pot, #6 nozzle (3/8") | 254 cfm | Continuous | At about 100 psi |
| Blast pot, #7 nozzle (7/16") | 340 cfm | Continuous | At about 100 psi |
| Blast pot, #8 nozzle (1/2") | 444 cfm | Continuous | At about 100 psi |
| Pumps | |||
| Diaphragm pump (1/2") | 15 cfm | Continuous | Varies with head and flow |
| Diaphragm pump (1") | 40 cfm | Continuous | Varies with head and flow |
| Diaphragm pump (2") | 90 cfm | Continuous | Varies with head and flow |
| Blowdown & cleaning | |||
| Blowgun (large) | 120 cfm | Intermittent | Large-bore blowgun for machinery and harvest blowdown |
Ready to size a compressor? Use the sizing calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many CFM does an impact wrench use?
About 5 CFM for a 3/8 inch, 6 CFM for a 1/2 inch, 12 CFM for a 3/4 inch and 20 CFM for a 1 inch impact wrench, using conservative average figures.
How many CFM does a sandblaster use?
It depends on the nozzle. At about 100 psi a number 4 (1/4 inch) nozzle uses about 137 CFM and a number 6 (3/8 inch) nozzle about 254 CFM.
How many CFM does a jackhammer use?
Roughly 35 CFM for a light breaker, 70 CFM for a medium breaker and 100 CFM for a heavy breaker.
Why are these figures higher than the tool manufacturer rating?
We use the upper end of typical average draw so the compressor you choose is not undersized. Always check your tool data plate.
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