Glossary

CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute)

What is CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute)?

CFM (cubic feet per minute) measures the airflow a vacuum truck's blower moves, indicating how strongly and how far it can suction slurry, sludge, or debris; higher CFM generally means faster material pickup and longer hose reach.

CFM quantifies the volume of air the blower displaces each minute and is a primary indicator of a vacuum or hydrovac truck's suction capability. Along with inches of mercury (vacuum pressure), CFM determines how efficiently the unit lifts spoils through the dig tube and how well it performs with long or elevated hose runs.

Positive displacement (PD) blowers and fan blowers produce different CFM and lift characteristics, so matching CFM to the job (deep digging, long hoses, heavy material) is important. On Vac4Rent, vacuum power is listed in CFM as a typical range; submit a free request to find equipment with the airflow your work requires.