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Ideas + Advice : How To's & Advice
Fan Buyer's Guide - What idoes CFM Mean?

Minimalist Max Ceiling Fan by Monte Carlo Fans

What is a Ceiling Fan’s CFM?

One of the main reasons to have a ceiling fan is to help reduce energy costs. But that’s only if a fan is efficient.
To determine a ceiling fan’s efficiency, you need to know its CFM, or airflow.

What Does CFM Mean?

CFM stands for cubic feet per minute (it is also referred to as airflow). Put simply, CFM is how much air a fan moves. The measurement is taken when the ceiling fan is on its highest speed and uses both the volume of air and the rate at which it moves. The number depends on a few things: the fan’s motor, the blade pitch and the length and/or shape of the fan blades. But the important part is this: The greater the CFM, the more air a fan will move.

CFM & Measuring Airflow Efficiency

CFM is key when determining a fan’s airflow efficiency. Airflow efficiency is the CFM divided by the watts/amount of energy used to run the fan at its highest speed. A CFM of 75 is the minimum number to make a fan efficient.

You could have a fan that moves a lot of air (with a high CFM), but does so at a high wattage. So, the fan may not be considered efficient. Look for fans that operate at a high CFM and low power usage. Additionally, to increase energy efficiency in your space, consider a ceiling fan with a light powered by an integrated LED kit.

How to Determine CFM & Efficiency Metrics

Instead of handling calculations yourself, we make that part easy for you. You’ll find the airflow, power usage and airflow efficiency metrics listed in the product details for each of our ceiling fans. If you have any additional questions about CFM as it relates to a ceiling fan you are interested in, please call our fan experts at 877.445.4486.

SHOP CEILING FANS

Some brands are excluded.

Alessi, Artek, Arteriors, Artkalia, Bambrella, BDI, Bernhardt Design, Blomus, Blu Dot, Calligaris, Cane-line, Carl Hansen, Cherner Chair Company, Chilewich, Copeland Furniture, Driade, dweLED, Ethnicraft, Fermob, Fine Art Handcrafted Lighting, FLOS, Fredrick Ramond, Gan Rugs, Greenington, Gus Modern, Heller, Herman Miller, Hinkley, Hubbardton Forge, Huppe, Iittala, Kartell, Kebe, Knoll, Lafer, Lafuma, Lechuza, Loll Designs, Loloi, Luceplan, Lyon Beton, Magis, Marset, Midj, Minka Aire Fans, Modern Fan Company, Modern Forms, Modloft, Modloft Black, Moooi Carpets, Nanimarquina, Nelson Bubble Lamps, Nomon, Petite Friture, QLOCKTWO, Roll & Hill, Secto Design, Teckell, Toulemonde Bochart, Visual Comfort, Vitra, Vondom, WAC Lighting, ZANEEN design. Some eligible brands may include items that do not qualify for this promotion. This list is subject to change at any time. All open-box, clearance, light bulbs and some sale items are also excluded from this offer. Cannot be combined with any other offers or past orders.

Discount does not apply to furniture, clearance or open-box items.

Brand exclusions:

*Exclusions apply. Certain brands prohibit discounting and are excluded from this offer:

&Tradition, Alessi, Artek, Arteriors, Bambrella, BDI, Bernhardt Design, Big Ass Fans, Blomus, Blu Dot, Calligaris, Capital Lighting, Carl Hansen, Casablanca Fan Company, Cerno, Cherner Chair Company, Chilewich, Contardi Lighting, Copeland Furniture, Corbett Lighting, Craftmade, Currey & Company, Cyan Design, dweLED, EcoSmart Fire, Eglo, Elan Lighting, ET2 Lighting, Ethnicraft, Fanimation Fans, Fatboy, Feiss, Fermob, Fine Art Handcrafted Lighting, FLOS, Fredrick Ramond, Fritz Hansen, Gabriel Scott, Gan Rugs, George Kovacs, Greenington, Gus Modern, Heller, Hennepin Made, Herman Miller, Hinkley, Hubbardton Forge, Hudson Valley Lighting, Humanscale, Hunter Fans, Huppe, Iittala, J. Adams & Co., Juniper Design, Kebe, Kichler, Knoll, Lafer, Lafuma, Lechuza, Loll Designs, Loloi, Louis Poulsen, Luceplan, Lyon Beton, LZF, Magis, Marset, Maxim Lighting, Metropolitan Lighting, Midj, Minka Aire Fans, Minka-Lavery, Mitzi - Hudson Valley Lighting, Modern Fan Company, Modern Forms, Modloft, Modloft Black, Monte Carlo Fans, Moooi, Moooi Carpets, Nanimarquina, Nelson Bubble Lamps, Nomon, Oxygen Lighting, Pablo Designs, Petite Friture, QLOCKTWO, Quorum International, Regina Andrew, Robert Abbey, Roll & Hill, RS Barcelona, Savoy House, Schonbek, Sea Gull Lighting, Secto Design, SONNEMAN Lighting, Stickbulb, Studio M, Tech Lighting, Teckell, Terzani, The Great Outdoors: Minka-Lavery, Toulemonde Bochart, Troy Lighting, Vibia, Visual Comfort, Vitra, Vondom, WAC Lighting, Zaneen Design

Some eligible brands may include items that do not qualify for this promotion. This list is subject to change at any time. Clearance, light bulbs and some sale items are also excluded from this offer. Cannot be combined with any other offers or past orders.