Now that we’re in the thick of summer, you may be looking for ways to keep your home cool for the rest of the season. If you typically reach for the air conditioner once temperatures start to rise but are trying to save some money, it might be time to switch to a cooling fan instead.
Besides using a lot less energy than air conditioners (which in turn helps lower your electricity bills), fans are also typically much cheaper to buy, and they’ll still cool things down just as well as an AC. But when choosing a fan for your home, it’s important to look for an option that will suit your personal needs.
If you’re looking for a way to keep cool as you work, a compact desk fan may be your best bet. Parents or pet owners may want to invest in a bladeless option that is safe to be used around children or animals, and homeowners who suffer from allergies may want to opt for a multitasking fan that purifies the air as it circulates it.
To help you find the best fans for your home’s needs, we scoured thousands of customer reviews to see which ones they love the most. From a lightweight, portable fan to oversized ceiling fans to tower and pedestal options, these are the cooling fans that shoppers use to beat the summer heat.
These are the best cooling fans:
Best Pedestal Option: Rowenta Oscillating Control Standing Fan
If you’re looking for an ultra-quiet yet powerful pedestal fan, thousands of shoppers recommend checking out this Rowenta option. Along with five different speeds, the high-tech fan also has a timer feature and an energy-saving mode. Plus, it even comes with a remote, so you can control the fan without ever getting up. “This fan is heaven sent,” raved one customer. “It’s heavy and solid, quiet as a whisper and circulates the air like no other I’ve ever bought. I love it!!!!”
To buy: $126; amazon.com.
Best Bladeless Option: Dyson Air Multiplier Table Fan
If you have small children or pets around the house that you are worried about getting hurt by a fan, consider this bladeless option by Dyson. The innovative fan uses the brand’s signature Air Multiplier technology to create a powerful airflow. It comes with a number of features, including a sleep timer, oscillation control, and tilt. Reviewers love that the fan is super easy to clean and that it comes with a handy remote control, but their favorite part seems to be how quiet it is. “This fan is by far the best small fan I have ever owned! You can set the volume of air you want very precisely and for how long you want it on (timer). Even at medium speed you barely hear it. This fan is the best value for the money; it is worth EVERY PENNY!”
To buy: $272; amazon.com.
Best Ceiling Option: Hunter Ceiling Fan
This Hunter Fan Company ceiling fan has earned a near-perfect rating thanks to its classic design, multi-speed motor, and LED light kit. The fan’s oversized blades provide ample air circulation, while the three-position mounting system lets you choose how you want to attach the fan to your ceiling. Plus, the fan comes in three versatile colors that will easily match any room’s aesthetic. “I love this fan,” said one reviewer. “It was easy to install… It runs soundlessly and without rattling. It’s pretty and modern looking and really creates nice cool air. It’s been a lifesaver this summer!”
To buy: $120; amazon.com.
Best Tower Option: Lasko Oscillating Tower Fan
Tower fans are popular among shoppers, as their tall, slim design allows you to place them practically anywhere in the room without taking up too much space. If you’re looking to add one to your home, nearly 8,000 Amazon customers are fans of this Lasko option. The oscillating fan has three speeds to choose from, a remote control, and a built-in carrying handle that makes it super easy to move around. One happy cus
tomer wrote, “Hello gorgeous cooling tower! This is the fan I’ve been dreaming of for years. It is whisper-quiet and unobtrusive, while pushing out a lot of airflow. I was surprised at how tall it was, but anything smaller probably wouldn’t be as effective in my kitchen/dining room/living room combined space. I am so happy with this purchase!”
To buy: $57 (Originally $63); amazon.com.
Best Desk Option: Honeywell Quiet Table Fan
Looking for a compact fan to keep on your desk or nightstand? Consider this top-rated option from Honeywell. The fan has four power settings and an automatic shut-off timer that will help you save energy. Amazon customers rave about the fan’s sleek design and how quiet its motor is. “I needed something to sit on my desk in my home office rather than resorting to bumping the A/C on to get air movement (since working from home full time due to the pandemic). This is perfect,” wrote one reviewer. “‘Sleep’ and ‘White Noise’ modes gives a nice breeze and are quiet enough (sitting right next to me on the desk) to not disrupt video/conference calls. When not on a call, the higher speeds, ‘Refresh’ and ‘Power Cool’ are great and still not disruptively loud (so I can still hear my background music without increasing the volume).”
To buy: $22 (Originally $30); amazon.com.
Best Affordable Full-Sized Option: AmazonBasics Adjustable Oscillating Standing Fan
If you’re in the market for a full-sized fan that won’t break the bank, check out this affordable option by AmazonBasics. The oscillating stand fan boasts a dual blade system and has three power settings and breeze modes to choose from. In addition to a convenient remote control and auto shut-off feature, the fan’s height and tilt are also fully adjustable, so you can customize it to blow cool air where you need it. “I’m impressed with the fan’s performance,” said one customer. “The noise level is perfect. It’s quiet and more powerful than I expected. Not only that, both blades have weight on them and are not flimsy, which is a plus.”
To buy: $39; amazon.com.
Best Box Option: Air King Box Floor Fan
Box fans have been popular for decades—their shape allows you to place them both on the floor and in a window. This option from Air King has three powerful speeds and comes with an eight-foot power cord. The impact-resistant grills and tough motor are built to last, but if you have any issues with the fan, it does come with a one-year warranty. “This is the world’s greatest box fan,” raved one reviewer. “I use it near our hallway to bring the cool air in our rooms. I thought when I first got it that it was going to be loud but it is very quiet for a metal bladed fan. It is like the older fans from the 60s.”
To buy: $48; amazon.com.
Best Multitasking Option: Dyson Pure Cool Air Purifier and Fan
Who doesn’t love an appliance that can pull double duty? This innovative Dyson fan not only circulates air to make your home cooler, but it also purifies the air at the same time. The Energy Star-certified fan features a 360-degree filtration system that can capture up to 99.97 percent of allergens, bacteria, and pollutants in the air. You can even connect it to the Dyson app to get reports on the air quality in your home. “We love this fan,” said one shopper. “It’s small enough that it fits easily in the small space and does a great job of cooling… The app for it is really awesome and lets you see ind
oor AND outdoor air temperature, quality, NO2, humidity, particulate matter, and VOCs.”
To buy: $550; amazon.com.
Best Portable Option: Honeywell TurboForce Air Circulator Fan
This Honeywell fan has a near-perfect rating at Wayfair for a reason. The portable device has three speeds and can be used on the floor or a table. Not only does it have a 90-degree pivoting head, but it also has a range of up to 27 feet. One happy customer called it “small but mighty,” while another wrote, “I love this fan! It is a great size, lightweight, and can be easily moved from room to room. It came just in time for the warm weather.
To buy: $25 (Originally $40); wayfair.com.
RELATED: The 10 Best Tower Fans for Cooling Every Room in Your Home, According to Reviewers
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