HVAC & Airflow

Gym Ventilation CFM Calculator

Outdoor air for a gym or fitness studio.

Enter your values

Enter the peak occupants you are working with.

Enter the floor area in sq ft.

Enter the ceiling height in ft.

Results update instantly as you type — no submit needed. Your values are remembered on this device, and the shareable link reopens the calculator with exactly these numbers.

Results
Outdoor air
720 CFM
Air changes
1.8
Total supply at 1.5 CFM/sq ft
3,000 CFM
Per person
24 CFM
Cooling implied
7.5 tons

Quick answer

Exercise spaces need about 20 CFM of outdoor air per occupant plus 0.06 CFM per square foot.

CFM = 20 x people + 0.06 x area

At a glance

What it doesOutdoor air for a gym or fitness studio.
CategoryHVAC & Airflow
Inputs neededPeak occupants, Floor area, Ceiling height
Main outputOutdoor air
FormulaCFM = 20 x people + 0.06 x area
CostFree — no sign-up, no download

How to use the Gym Ventilation CFM Calculator

  1. 1Use peak class occupancy, not average.
  2. 2Enter room dimensions to check air changes.
  3. 3Consider CO2-based demand control so the system throttles between classes.

Inputs explained

Peak occupants
Enter the peak occupants you are working with.
Floor area(sq ft)
Enter the floor area in sq ft.
Ceiling height(ft)
Enter the ceiling height in ft.

Worked example

Using the values the calculator loads with:

Inputs

  • Peak occupants30
  • Floor area2000 sq ft
  • Ceiling height12 ft

Results

  • Outdoor air720 CFM
  • Air changes1.8
  • Total supply at 1.5 CFM/sq ft3,000 CFM
  • Per person24 CFM
  • Cooling implied7.5 tons

Frequently asked questions

Why so much air?

Exercising people produce four times the CO2 and far more odour and moisture than seated occupants.

Spin studios?

Treat them as the worst case and design for full class occupancy plus extra cooling.

What do I need to enter into the Gym Ventilation CFM Calculator?

Just 3 values: peak occupants, floor area, ceiling height. Every field starts with a realistic example, so you can change one number at a time and watch the result update instantly.

How does the Gym Ventilation CFM Calculator work out the answer?

Exercise spaces need about 20 CFM of outdoor air per occupant plus 0.06 CFM per square foot. It applies the formula CFM = 20 x people + 0.06 x area and shows the working so you can check each step by hand.

Is the Gym Ventilation CFM Calculator free, and do I need an account?

It is completely free with no sign-up, no download and no usage limit. Everything is calculated in your browser, so the numbers you type never leave your device.

Results are estimates for general information. For medical, legal, structural or financial decisions, confirm with a qualified professional.