Whether you’re drying carpets, improving air circulation, or tackling water damage, an air mover is an essential tool for the job. But how much does an air mover cost?
The answer isn’t as simple as a single price tag—several factors influence the overall cost, from motor power and airflow capacity to additional features and brand reputation.
In this article, we’ll break down the four key factors that impact air mover pricing, helping you understand what to look for when making a purchase. Whether you’re a professional cleaner, restoration specialist, or facility manager, this guide will help you choose the right air mover for your needs and budget.
Let’s make your air mover purchase a breeze!
What is an Air Mover?
Air movers do exactly what they claim to do–they move air! They are excellent at drying large spaces or targeted areas, including both vertical walls and horizontal floors.
They can also be used for circulating air, cooling people or machinery in warm temperatures, ventilation, and more and are used in both commercial and residential settings.
While they are similar to fans, air movers are distinct in that they move much more air and can dry much larger or wetter areas than a traditional fan can.
How Much Do Air Movers Cost?
Machines can range from as low as $50 to as high as $600. With a large range in pricing like this, it’s important to know what you’re looking for in an air mover and base your purchasing decision on that.
Though it can be tempting to go ahead and order the most powerful air mover you can find, it is very important to understand the variance in price ranges among the different types of air movers as well as other nuances that can increase their price.
In addition to how powerful an air mover is, it is also important to consider the size of the unit, included features, and the manufacturer:
Size: Is the air mover large enough to meet your needs? Alternatively, is it compact enough to use in small areas? Smaller air movers tend to be more budget friendly, while larger, more powerful ones will require a larger investment.
Features: Does the air mover offer airflow output and speed settings? What is the unit made of? Does it include portability features like handles or wheels? Air movers with more features tend to cost more but are versatile and can be used in a variety of different settings and situations.
Brand: Is your air mover from a trusted, quality brand? If so, it will likely come with a manufacturer warranty, service and maintenance plan, and additional accessory options, which can increase the upfront price.
In this comprehensive article, we’ll discuss each of these factors to help you make an informed decision that aligns with your budget and cleaning needs.
Types of Air Movers and Their Typical Price Ranges
Let’s discuss three types of air movers to help give you an idea of their typical price ranges:
1. Small/Compact Air Movers
Small or compact air movers are more portable and very lightweight compared to other air movers and are designed for spot drying or more targeted tasks, like inside small rooms, closets, cabinets, or other tight spaces. This is likely the type of air mover you would find in a residential setting or small business.
Don’t let their small size fool you. These are still powerful machines–they are just more precise.
They are also more likely to be stackable and consume less power than their larger counterparts.
Small and compact air movers are the most affordable of the three types and come in at around 12 pounds or less and approximate dimensions of 12”x12”x12”.
2. Mid-Sized Air Movers
Mid-sized air movers are geared toward general use, being perfect for drying in medium-sized areas.
They offer a good balance between powerful airflow and still being portable enough to use in some tighter spaces.
A versatile machine, mid-sized air movers usually offer higher CFM, or cubic feet per minute, and more speed settings than small and compact air movers.
Cost-wise, mid-sized air movers are in the middle of the three types. They typically weigh between 12-18 pounds and are around 15”x15”x15” in size.
3. High-Powered/Industrial Air Movers
Finally, high-powered or industrial air movers are made for the largest and wettest of spaces, being used for projects as big as flood restoration. These are almost exclusively used in commercial settings.
High-powered air movers are the most powerful and largest of the three types, offering significantly faster drying times.
These machines tend to offer the most features, offering the highest CFM, adjustable tilt angles for directional airflow, and built-in outlets for daisy-chaining additional air movers.
Although high-powered and industrial air movers are the most expensive of the three types, they are more powerful and offer more features than their smaller counterparts. They are also the heaviest and largest of the bunch at 18 pounds or more and dimensions around 18”x18”x18”.
4 Key Factors that Affect the Cost of an Air Mover
There are several factors that determine the price of air mover machines.
- CFM (Airflow Output)
- Motor Power and Speed Settings
- Build Quality and Durability
- Additional Features
Some of these factors will have a larger impact in determining the cost of the machine than others, but let’s examine each:
1. CFM (Airflow Output)
CFM, or cubic feet per minute, is a critical specification to be aware of for air movers because it measures the total volume of air that flows through a system in a minute. In other words, this tells you how much air is moving, which is very important to know for ventilation, air quality, and drying speed.
High-CFM air movers are able to move more air at once than lower-CFM options.
In water damage restoration projects, for example, high CFM leads to faster dry times, as water will evaporate more quickly from surfaces. This saves you time and money and reduces the risk of total loss and mold from the water damage.
Other cases where high CFM may prove to be useful is for fumigation and increasing indoor air quality. Because more of the air is being moved at once, unpleasant odors and harmful fumes will be removed from the area more quickly, increasing safety and reducing potential downtime.
Air movers that offer higher airflow are more expensive upfront but will save you lots of time and money in the long run because of how efficient they are.
2. Motor Power and Speed Settings
The significance of motor power and speed settings in an air mover can be summarized in two words: improved versatility. With the tag team of motor power and speed settings working together, you can expect improved performance and efficiency at any scale you need it for.
The more powerful an air mover’s motor is, the more powerful airflow the unit will have. As we discussed above, this is crucial for faster dry times and ventilation. However, this is not the only benefit to having a good motor.
Some motors operate at a higher efficiency or are made of higher-quality materials and will have a longer lifespan and less downtime than others, saving you time and money.
Variable speed settings increase the air mover’s versatility by allowing you to optimize the airflow to the specific needs of the task at hand. This is not only more efficient airflow-wise but will also lead to reduced energy usage because it can operate at lower speeds when maximum power isn’t necessary.
Operating at lower speeds also offers the added benefits of lower noise levels and a typically longer lifespan than one operating at full power.
As you can see, motor power and speed settings working in conjunction are key to an efficient dry. Although these features can lead to a higher price tag, the higher versatility these air movers offer offsets those costs because you can have one machine conquering multiple tasks.
3. Build Quality and Durability
The materials an air mover is made from affect their efficiency, cost, and maintenance requirements. More rugged materials typically make for a more powerful machine but makes them less portable.
One of the most important factors to consider when it comes to materials is the housing. What is the body of the air mover made of?
Is the air mover’s housing made of plastic? If so, it is probably more lightweight, mobile, and made for more targeted jobs.
What if the air mover’s housing is made of a more durable material like metal? If that’s the case, the air mover is probably higher-powered, more efficient, and suited for large-scale jobs.
Another factor to consider is included portability features. Does the air mover include handles? Wheels? Stackability? How much does the air mover weigh? Each of these can increase the mobility of the unit and increase its value to you.
As you can expect, a machine that is built from higher quality materials will have lower maintenance requirements, and higher efficiency and cost. That being said, there are definitely merits to budget friendly materials, including mobility and targeted use.
4. Additional Features
Even with all of the above factors to consider, there are some bonus features that can make or break your air mover decision. While optional accessories can make your initial investment a bit higher, they can be crucial for efficiency and completing the task at hand.
Daisy-chaining refers to the capability to link more than one air mover together through the use of included electrical sockets, built right into the machine. This allows for even more thorough and powerful air movement and drying and is particularly useful for jobs where one air mover might not get the job done on its own.
Adjustable tilt options can be significant because they allow you to direct your airflow exactly to where it is needed, increasing drying and airflow efficiency and in some situations allowing you to achieve better results with less power use.
Air movers with an energy efficiency certification have an important distinction, because they are certified to meet high performance and reliability standards, improving energy efficiency, increasing air quality, and saving you time and money.
The most notable energy efficiency certifications to look for are ones from the Air Movement and Control Association (AMCA), the US Department of Energy (DOE), or ENERGY STAR certification from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Should You Buy or Rent an Air Mover?
Depending on the air mover you’re looking to rent, you can expect to spend between $20-$50 on a daily rental, or between $100-$250 on a weekly rental.
Whether you should buy or rent an air mover largely depends on how often you’ll need to use it.
Buying is more cost-effective if you’ll need to use the air mover frequently or if you have a large project you’ll be working on for a while. On the other hand, renting can be much more affordable for one-off or short-term projects.
Keep in mind the factors we mentioned in the previous section to determine what kind of air mover you’ll need to rent. In addition to those, the rental location and company you choose can also influence the price. Expect to pay more if you need a more industrial, high-powered air mover.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there is a lot to consider with the cost of an air mover. Let’s quickly recap the main factors that will affect the price of your purchase or rental:
Efficiency is the name of the game with CFM. High-CFM air movers are able to move more air at once, leading to better indoor air quality and faster dry times than other options. Air movers that offer higher airflow tend to be more expensive but can save you lots of time and money in the long run because of their efficiency.
The combination of motor power and speed settings in an air mover lead to greater versatility. Some motors are more efficient or are made of higher-quality materials and will have a longer lifespan and less downtime than others. Variable speed settings allow you to optimize the airflow to the specific task at hand, leading to more efficient airflow and energy savings. Additional features can increase the up-front cost but having one machine that can work in a variety of situations can prevent you from needing more than one air mover.
Consider the materials an air mover is made from and how that affects the machine’s efficiency, cost, and maintenance requirements. More rugged materials typically make for a more powerful machine but makes them less mobile. Consider the material the housing is made of and portability features. While you can expect to pay more for a higher-quality machine, think of it as an investment as it should last longer, require less maintenance, and offer more portability.
If those don’t sway your air mover decision one way or another, consider bonus features like daisy-chaining, adjustable tilt angles for directional airflow, or whether or not the air mover has any energy efficiency certifications. Additional, optional features add on to your price tag but can make your air mover decision much easier to navigate because they offer features that could be tailored to your specific job.
If you are on a tight budget, a rental or light-duty air mover may be the most optimal fit for you, since these are the most budget-friendly options.
On the other hand, if you are looking to make an investment for your business or have a long-term job for an air mover to complete, a more efficient, powerful, versatile option may be best.
In any case, be sure to evaluate the long-term needs of your facility or business before purchasing.
If you are interested in purchasing an air mover, would like to see an equipment demo, or have any questions about this guide, you can reach out to an Imperial Dade facility near you to speak directly with a member of our janitorial equipment staff.
We hope this guide has been helpful! If you’re looking for the latest and greatest recommendations for air movers or any other janitorial equipment, consider checking out one of our other related videos and articles, linked below.