How high altitude affects air compressor performance

If your air compressor doesn’t suit high altitude, you likely lose power, efficiency, and time. Here’s why altitude impacts the operation of your air compressor — and what you can do about it.

When your job site is high above sea level, like on a mountain road or a remote mining site, you face tough conditions. These conditions challenge both people and machines.

When you ascend to elevations exceeding 1,500 meters (approximately 5,000 feet), the air becomes less dense. This results in a reduced amount of oxygen with each breath you take.

The same principle applies to air compressors: they pull in less air with every rotation. This affects performance. For example, a compressor that gives 1,000 CFM (cubic feet per minute, 28.3 m³/min) at sea level may only give about 850 CFM (24 m³/min) at 2,000 meters (6,561 feet). That 15% loss can have a major impact if you're powering a drilling rig.

Portable air compressors for tough applications, both diesel and electric-driven models, need air density to work well. As altitude increases, the air gets thinner. That’s why you need high-altitude air compressors specifically designed to perform in the most challenging environments.

At higher altitudes, the air has lower pressure and less oxygen. Compressors work by drawing in ambient air, compressing it, and delivering it at a set pressure. But when air is thinner, it takes more effort to reach that pressure — and the system might not get there at all.

Similarly, your air tools or drilling rigs rely on a minimum pressure to function correctly. Productivity decreases as pressure falls.

To hit your target pressure (like 25 bar or 365 psi), your air compressor must work harder at altitude. If the air compressor isn’t built for it, the system cannot maintain output.

Consider a scenario at a Peruvian mining site at 4,845 meters (15,899 feet) above sea level, where operators struggle to break rock effectively because the air compressor fails to deliver sufficient pressure. 

The solution? We offer special high-altitude-ready products with better power margins and options for high-altitude starting. The Atlas Copco DrillAir range of diesel air compressors is a powerful and efficient choice. It is designed for reliable compressor performance for drilling and mining at high altitudes.

High altitudes also mean thinner, less efficient cooling air. This leads to:

• Higher engine temperatures
• More wear on components
• Shutdowns because of overheating

In elevated road projects, overheating can often halt production mid-day. Atlas Copco's portable air compressors for drilling counter this with optimized airflow and advanced cooling.

You might think: “Let’s just use a bigger compressor.” But this leads to:

• Higher fuel consumption
• Increased emissions
• Heavier transport loads
• Inefficient performance in lower altitudes

A better solution? Choose a portable air compressor designed to adapt to altitude automatically. Some models adjust their airflow and engine settings to maintain output even as conditions change.

Atlas Copco’s portable air compressors, like the DrillAir series, are tailored for high-altitude drilling. Their turbocharged engines and adaptive cooling systems make them ideal for altitudes above 2,000 meters (6,561 feet).

Look for:

• Turbocharged engines
• High-pressure ratings
• Oversized coolers
• Adaptive engine control systems

Atlas Copco DrillAir series offers this — ideal for foundation drilling, geothermal drilling, sandblasting, and mining applications above 1,500 meters (4,921 feet).

If you are working in a tunnel or mine where diesel engines are not allowed, electric air compressors are a clean, quiet option. But they’re not all created equal.

In high-altitude underground mining, Atlas Copco E-Air electric air compressors with variable-speed drive (VSD) technology deliver consistent flow. These portable air compressors also fit well into tight spaces in remote sites.

Altitude can silently steal air compressor performance — cutting flow, pressure, and productivity. Choosing the right portable air compressor is important. This applies whether you work in high-altitude drilling, mining, or remote construction sites.

Need high-altitude compressor performance? Consider Atlas Copco’s portable air compressors that are engineered for the climb.