Commercial Laundry Exhaust Calculator
Exhaust airflow for a commercial laundry facility.
Enter your values
ⓘ Live results
- Total exhaust airflow
- 3,300 CFM
- Dryer bank exhaust
- 1,500 CFM
- General room exhaust
- 1,800 CFM
- Lint trap maintenance
- Duct static should be checked regularly as lint buildup raises resistance
Quick answer
Commercial dryers typically need 200-300 CFM of dedicated exhaust each, plus general laundry room ventilation of about 1.5-2 CFM per square foot for heat and humidity control.
Total CFM = dryers x CFM per dryer + area x general rate
How to use the Commercial Laundry Exhaust Calculator
- 1Enter the number of commercial dryers and their rated exhaust CFM each.
- 2Enter the laundry room's floor area for general ventilation.
- 3Sum both to size the total exhaust fan and makeup air system.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Number of commercial dryers6
- CFM per dryer250 CFM
- Laundry room area1200 sq ft
- General rate1.5 CFM/sq ft
Results
- Total exhaust airflow3,300 CFM
- Dryer bank exhaust1,500 CFM
- General room exhaust1,800 CFM
- Lint trap maintenanceDuct static should be checked regularly as lint buildup raises resistance
Frequently asked questions
Can dryers share one duct?
Only with a properly sized manifold designed for combined lint load and code compliance — many jurisdictions require individual duct runs per dryer.
Why is makeup air critical here?
Large dryer banks exhaust huge volumes of air continuously; without matched makeup air the room depressurises and dryers can underperform or backdraft.
About this calculator
- Built and reviewed by James Whitfield · How we build and test calculators
- Report an error
Results are estimates for general information. For medical, legal, structural or financial decisions, confirm with a qualified professional.