The 10 Best Centrifugal Blowers

Editor's Notes

March 10, 2021:

In spite of all of our previous picks still being available at the time of this writing, it wound up being a busy round of updates that saw much of this list overhauled, as we needed to put some serious thought into whether our existing choices were appropriate selections for this category.

To the best of my understanding, and as confirmed by my research today, a prime defining characteristic of a centrifugal blower is its “squirrel-cage” design, which receives air from one direction and exhausts it in another, at roughly a 90-degree angle. With that in mind, it seemed likely that several of our picks – namely the Fantech FR 110, TerraBloom Silent Series and TerraBloom Inline – were perhaps misplaced, and might be better choices for our list of inline vent fans.

The Utuo Brushless Radial did have that squirrel-cage design that, argubally, qualified it for this category, but as an infinitesimal, 12-volt DC unit, it seemed unlikely that anybody shopping for it would be looking on this list, so our judgement led us to remove it, as well. This choice might’ve been more at home on our list of computer fans.

As our rankings already included a couple of options suitable for permanent installation – the Dayton 1TDR9 Permanent Split Capacitor and Fasco 1600 RPM – we chose to focus our new additions on portable models that are likely to appeal to many users shopping in this category, including disaster-restoration contractors and custodians.

With a rated output of 600 CFM, the DeWalt DXAM-2260 will provide ample utility for many, and it’s priced quite reasonably. But, if you need something a little more serious, the DeWalt DXAM-2818 dwarfs its counterparts capacity with a rated output of 1,800 CFM. It also has an adjustable, telescoping handle and a 30-foot power cord — which is 10 feet longer than the next closest option we ranked, and a nice touch if you hate hauling extension cords around. Both options are backed by the company’s three-year limited warranty.

The Sunlar Forge is a bare-bones model with a 2-1/2-inch outlet that won’t do much for most people, but we still thought it was worth including low on our list, for the benefit of blacksmiths and barbecue aficionados working on large charcoal grills.

The Lasko X12905 moves almost three times as much air as the Forge, but much less than many other models. Still, we thought its small size and wallet-friendly cost made it a good choice to include for the benefit of budgeted professionals, as well as homeowners looking for an affordable solution for occasional use. And, it does include a few nice features, like a built-in, push-button circuit breaker and two usb ports to keep your smartphone or jobsite tablet charged.

The Xpower P-630HC is a step-up model from the Xpower P-230AT, and it’ll cost you more than twice as much, but it also moves more than three times as much air, at a whopping rate of 2,800 cubic feet per minute. It’s equipped with a telescoping handle and wheels, plus a convenient carpet clamp and 20-foot power cord; all are welcome assets.

If these blowers are bigger than what you had in mind, maybe something from our list of cordless jobsite fans will do the trick.

May 14, 2019:

While centrifugal blowers come in a stunning array of sizes, shapes, and prices, there are a few names that stand out, such as the TerraBloom Silent Series and the Fantech FR 110. They're both commonly used for ventilating a variety of rooms, from bathrooms to attics, and they arrive with mounting hardware and an instruction manual so you can install them without delay. There's also the Ebm Papst Single Inlet, but it's quite expensive and may be too much machine for casual, at-home use. If, however, you're looking for something on the robust side, it may be just what you need. We also selected several stand-alone blowers that are useful in cleaning and construction. These include the Shop-Vac Mighty Mini Air Mover and the Stanley High Velocity. Of the two, the Shop-Vac model is generally known to be more durable, but it only offers three positions, whereas the Stanley model has a full-range pivoting head. They both have built-in outlets for connecting multiple units together, though.