The higher the CFM, the better it will be at picking up all kinds of debris. As you can see from our list, the best dust extractors have limited CFM ratings, at least compared to traditional dust collectors, but a little bit of pressure can go a long way. In general, a higher CFM rating will deliver better cleaning results, but anything over 100 CFM (50 CFM for handheld models like the Makita XCV11Z) will suffice.