Air Tools and Air Consumption

Average air consumption of some common air tools can be found in the table below. The air consumption is
based on a pressure of approximately 90 psi (620 kPa, 6.2 bar).
Average Consumption
Air Tool or Equipment

(scfm)

Brad Nailer

0.5

Backfill Tamper

30 - 35

Blow guns

Body Polishers

Carving tools

15-Oct

Concrete Vibrator

20 - 50

Chipping Hammer

30 - 40

Chisel Hammer

10-Mar

Cut-Off Tool

10-Apr

Demolition Tool

30 - 40

Disc Grinder - 7"

8-May

Drill, Reversible or Straight-Line

6-Mar

Framing Nailer

2.5

Grease Gun

Hoists, 1 ton

Hydraulic Riveter

Impact Wrench - 3/8"

5-Feb

Impact Wrench - 1/2"

5-Apr

Impact Wrench - 1"

10

Lift, Bus or Truck

10

Lift, Car

Mini Die Grinder

6-Apr

Needle Scaler

16-Aug

Nibbler

Orbital Sander

9-Jun

Paint Sprayers, production gun

20

Paint Sprayers, Small Hand Operated

7-Mar

Pavement Braker

35 - 60

Pneumatic doors

Ratchet - 3/8"

4.5 - 5

Rivet Buster

40 - 50

Rock Drill

100

Rotational Sander

15-Aug

Sand Blasters

6 - 400

Sander, Dual

13-Nov

Shears

16-Aug

Spark plug cleaner

Speed Saw

Spring Oilers

Tire Changers

Vacuum Cleaners

Valve Grinders

1 psi (lb/in2) = 6,894.8 Pa (N/m2) = 6.895x10-3 N/mm2 = 6.895x10-2 bar

1 cfm (ft3/min) = 1.7 m3/h = 0.47 l/s