Vertical Farm Airflow Calculator
Per-tier airflow for a vertical farming rack.
Enter your values
ⓘ Live results
Results
- Airflow per tier
- 900 CFM
- Total system airflow
- 5,400 CFM
- Cross-section area per tier
- 6 sq ft
Quick answer
Vertical farm tiers commonly target 0.5-1.5 m/s (100-300 FPM) of horizontal airflow across the canopy for uniform gas exchange.
CFM per tier = tier cross-section area x target FPM
How to use the Vertical Farm Airflow Calculator
- 1Measure the cross-sectional area of airflow across one growing tier.
- 2Apply a target face velocity of 100-300 FPM for good leaf-boundary-layer exchange.
- 3Multiply per-tier CFM by the number of tiers for total fan sizing.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Tier width4 ft
- Tier clearance height1.5 ft
- Target face velocity150 FPM
- Number of tiers6
Results
- Airflow per tier900 CFM
- Total system airflow5,400 CFM
- Cross-section area per tier6 sq ft
Frequently asked questions
Why does airflow matter for plant growth?
Still air lets a still boundary layer of depleted CO2 form at the leaf surface, slowing photosynthesis.
Too much airflow?
Excess velocity can cause transpiration stress and drying — stay within the recommended range.
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.