Our 10 Best Fans for Cooling the Home, Tested and Reviewed
Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about Our 10 Best Fans for Cooling the Home, Tested and Reviewed and hope the blog can help you.
You don’t always need AC to beat the heat on summer days. The best fans will move air around the room, helping you feel less sticky and more comfortable on hot days.
While an air conditioner is typically best for staying cool on sweltering days, sometimes a quality fan can be just as effective. There are many reasons why this is so; the simplest is that as surrounding cooler air moves past you, it pulls and absorbs heat from your body. The hotter air rises, making you feel cooler and more comfortable.
Still, fans come in many different styles and sizes, and some are more effective than others, which is why we tested many top-rated models. Our favorite model is the Vornado 660 Large Air Circulator Fan, which features four settings and a vortex-style airflow pattern that helps cool much of the room. Other contenders also fared well during our testing.
This guide will explain all of the most important features to consider when choosing a fan, as well as highlight some of the best fans on the market, per extensive in-home testing.
- BEST OVERALL: Vornado 660 Large Whole Room Air Circulator Fan
↓ Jump to Review - RUNNER-UP: Rowenta Turbo Silence Extreme Stand 16″ Fan
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Honeywell HT-900 TurboForce Power Fan Air Circulator
↓ Jump to Review - UPGRADE PICK: Shark 3-in-1 Air Purifier With True HEPA
↓ Jump to Review - BEST TABLETOP FAN: Vornado 630 Medium Air Circulator Fan
↓ Jump to Review - BEST PEDESTAL FAN: Lasko 52″ Space-Saving Pedestal Tower Fan
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BOX FAN: Pelonis 20″ 3-Speed Box Fan
↓ Jump to Review - BEST WINDOW FAN: Jarden Bionaire 8.5″ Twin Window Fan
↓ Jump to Review - BEST COMPACT FAN: JisuLife Life1 Table Fan
↓ Jump to Review - BEST TOWER FAN: Honeywell HYF260 Quiet Set Whole Room Tower Fan
↓ Jump to Review
| Testing Stats | |
|---|---|
| Products tested | 17 |
| Time spent testing | 4 weeks |
| Tests performed | 8 |
| Price range | $20 to $270 |
Our Top Picks
Shoppers, don’t lose your cool while comparing the best fans. The following are some of the top choices on the market, extensively tested by our team, and they’re available in every basic style.
Best Overall
Vornado 660 Large Whole Room Air Circulator Fan
Photo: amazon.com
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Air Circulation 5/5; Noise 3.5/5; Portability 4/5; Value 4.5/5
Product Specs
- Type: Tabletop or floor
- Airflow: Up to 1,638 cubic feet per minute (CFM)
- Speeds: 4
What We Like
- 4 fan settings for versatility and comfort
- Highest setting has 1,638 CFM volume
- Vortex-style airflow pattern disperses air around the room
- Works in a large room despite compact design
What We Don’t Like
- 54-decibel white noise might be loud for conversation
- Expensive for tabletop fan
If the plan is to effectively cool an entire room and not just a small bit of it, fan shoppers will want to consider the 660 large air circulator from Vornado. This tabletop room fan uses the brand’s vortex-pattern airstream to circulate air. We tested it in our 23.5-foot-long living space and could feel its powerful airflow from the other side of the room. It delivers impressive cooling ability for such a compact fan, earning it the top spot on our list.
The Vornado’s spiral pattern airstream flows across the room, dispensing outward and then backward once it hits the far wall, cycling back through the fan over and over again. On high, it can produce up to 1,638 CFM of airflow. We accidentally dropped an empty plastic water bottle in front of it, and the fan sent it flying to the other side of the room—a testament to just how much air it moves.
The Vornado features four speeds, deep-pitched blades, and a powerful motor, which combine to send air up to 100 feet from the fan. On its lowest two settings, the noise it produced was hardly noticeable. However, it’s a little louder on its highest setting at 54 decibels. Still, we didn’t find this disruptive to conversations or watching TV.
Get the Vornado 660 fan at Amazon, The Home Depot, Best Buy, or Target.
Runner-Up
Rowenta Turbo Silence Extreme Stand 16" Fan
Photo: amazon.com
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Air Circulation 5/5; Noise 5/5; Portability 4/5; Value 4.3/5
Product Specs
- Type: Pedestal
- Airflow: Up to 2,436 CFM
- Speeds: 5
What We Like
- Tremendous airflow to move air around large rooms
- Turbo Boost setting adds air
- Fan noise as low as only 35 decibels
- Remote control adjusts speed, oscillation, and other settings
What We Don’t Like
- Remote does not control the timer
Folks who’d prefer a pedestal fan with top-of-the-line features might want to consider the Rowenta Turbo Silence Extreme 16-inch stand-up fan. This model has a pedestal stand that adjusts for the perfect height. It also features a fan motor and blade combination that produces nearly 2,500 CFM.
A standout feature of this oscillating fan was the “silent mode,” which produced only 35 decibels. It also has four other relatively quiet speed settings. Those who like to have a fan running at night but aren’t huge on white noise will appreciate the Rowenta. Aside from being quiet, it’s energy efficient with an energy-saving mode that automatically reduces airflow until the fan reaches its most efficient settings.
This stand-up fan model came with a remote control, so we could easily adjust the speed and oscillation from anywhere in the room. It also has a built-in timer that works for up to 8 hours. Unfortunately, though, you can’t control the timer from the remote. The fan can remain static or oscillate, which gives users the ability to direct airflow right where they need it or to ventilate an entire room.
Get the Rowenta 16-inch fan at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Target.
Best Bang for the Buck
Honeywell HT-900 TurboForce Power Fan Air Circulator
Photo: amazon.com
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Air Circulation 3.5/5; Noise 4.5/5; Portability 5/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Type: Tabletop or mounted
- Airflow: 185 CFM
- Speeds: 3
What We Like
- Affordable enough to have multiple fans
- Compact design with max 185 CFM felt up to 25 feet away
- Can mount to a wall or ceiling or sit on a tabletop
- Head adjusts 90 degrees to direct airflow
What We Don’t Like
- No extra features like remotes or timers
- Won’t cool a large room
If you’re looking to cool a small room (or multiple rooms with multiple fans) on a budget, you’ll want to consider Honeywell’s TurboForce air circulator. This tabletop fan produces up to 185 CFM, providing enough air movement to keep folks in small rooms comfortable. It also features a turbo design (essentially a vortex-shaped grill) that helps maximize air movement, allowing it to reach walls up to 25 feet away.
The Honeywell electric fan came preassembled, so we put it to use right out of the box. It features a three-speed dial on the back and an adjustable 90-degree tilt, which allowed us to customize the speed and direction of the airflow. We placed it on our living room side table and used it as a personal fan, but we think it would also be a great choice for a home office or bedroom. It was relatively quiet on all its settings and caused no disruptions.
This Honeywell is very affordable but not well suited for large spaces. If you need to cool a medium- to large-size room, we recommend that you opt for a bigger and more powerful fan.
Get the Honeywell Turboforce fan at Amazon, Walmart, or Target.
Upgrade Pick
Shark 3-in-1 Air Purifier With True HEPA
Photo: Amazon
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Air Circulation 5/5; Noise 3/5; Portability 4/5; Value 4/5
Product Specs
- Type: Floor fan/air purifier
- Airflow: Not specified
- Speeds: 3 modes (purified heat, purified fan, purified air)
What We Like
- Works as an air purifier, heater, or fan
- Has multiple power levels and oscillating options
- Displays room temperature and air quality level
What We Don’t Like
- Loud on highest setting
- Expensive compared to fan-only models
Fans circulate air to make a room feel more comfortable, while air purifiers remove toxins and allergens. If you’d like to have a fan and an air purifier, the Shark 3-in-1 air purifier combines these features and works as a heater. It has a Nano-Seal high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter that captures 99.98 percent of micro-size particles and can purify spaces of up to 500 square feet.
We tested the Shark’s air purifying feature against several other air purifiers, and it was our favorite. It cleared smoke from an incense stick and particles from a dirty rag within 30 minutes to an hour. We appreciated the ability to use the purified fan during warmer months and the purified heat during the winter. While the Shark is relatively expensive, its ability to act as a heater, fan, and air purifier makes it worth its cost.
The Shark has multiple power levels. When we ran it on high, it was a little noisy, registering 59 decibels, but still not disruptive to any of our regular activities. On the lowest setting, the Shark was very quiet, registering only 28 decibels.
Get the Shark fan at Amazon, The Home Depot, Wayfair, or Best Buy.
Best Tabletop Fan
Vornado 630 Medium Air Circulator Fan
Photo: amazon.com
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Air Circulation 5/5; Noise 3.5/5; Portability 5/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Type: Tabletop
- Airflow: 1,122 CFM
- Speeds: 3
What We Like
- 3 speed settings
- Adjustable head angle to control airflow
- Vortex-shaped airflow pattern can be felt up to 70 feet away
- Up to 1,122 maximum CFM; decent for a tabletop model
What We Don’t Like
- Max setting is somewhat loud at 52 decibels
Those hunting for the best tabletop fan might consider the Vornado 630 medium-air circulator fan. This model is compact enough to fit on a dresser, coffee table, end table, or most other flat surfaces. It has three speed settings and a tilting head so you can point it in the best possible direction and angle.
The Vornado came completely preassembled. We first tested it in our living room, and the airflow was strong, reaching the other side of the room. It has a dial on the side of its leg that made it easy for us to access when sat on a tabletop, although since the head is adjustable, it would also work as a floor fan and be a suitable fan for bedroom ventilation.
This high-powered fan uses Vornado’s signature vortex airflow pattern that sends a vortex of air across the room up to 70 feet. Once it hits the opposite wall, this air disperses in all directions, allowing this fan to create a cycle of airflow in the room without an oscillation setting. As for noise levels, it was slightly loud at its highest setting, with a max rating of 52 decibels. While it’s a small, powerful fan for any room, it’s especially handy for those who enjoy the white noise from a fan as they sleep.
Get the Vornado 630 fan at Amazon.
Best Pedestal Fan
Lasko 52" Space-Saving Pedestal Tower Fan
Photo: Amazon
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Air Circulation 4.5/5; Noise 5/5; Portability 5/5; Value 4.7/5
Product Specs
- Type: Pedestal
- Airflow: 2,400 CFM
- Speeds: 5
What We Like
- Produces plenty of airflow to keep rooms comfortably cool
- Excellent adjustability, with 5 fan speeds and telescoping height
- Natural breeze and decrescendo modes automatically control airflow
What We Don’t Like
- Specs and retail availability are limited for this model
Pedestal fans are helpful when you lack tabletop space or would like to adjust a fan’s height. The Lasko 52-inch Space-Saving pedestal tower fan is one such option, with an adjustable base ranging from 41 to 52 inches. It features three speeds, oscillation, and directional louvers that allow you to direct airflow up or down. The pedestal fan portion is compact, making this a great fit for small spaces.
We liked the design of this rotating fan but thought the base was slightly small in proportion to the tower fan, which may cause it to topple over. At its highest speed, it