- 9.00/10 1. Premium pick: Dyson Air Multiplier AM06
- 8.80/10 2. Editors choice: Vornado Silver Swan Oscillating Fan
- 8.80/10 3. Best value: AmazonBasics Dual-Blade Pedestal Fan
- 9.00/10 4. Genesis Clip Fan
- 9.00/10 5. Dyson Pure Cool TP04
- 8.60/10 6. Honeywell QuietSet Tower Fan
- 9.20/10 7. COMLIFE Handheld Misting Fan
Air conditioning units are one of the most effective ways to stay cool during the summer months. However, a reliable unit can be expensive while also taking up space in your home. Fans are an affordable alternative. They also have much lower operating costs than their AC counterparts.
Many homes are equipped with ceiling fans to keep entire rooms cool. However, pedestal and desk fans can facilitate personal cooling. Whether you're after a more effective fan or hoping to add some smart home features, we're here to help.
These are the best cooling fans you can buy today.
Premium pick1. Dyson Air Multiplier AM06
9.00 / 10 Read ReviewsThe Dyson Air Multiplier AM06 doesn't look like a traditional fan. The circular device doesn't use blades to create airflow, relying instead on the company's air multiplier motor to pull air into the unit, before releasing it through the top ring. This has the dual effect of making the fan safer as there are no moving parts, while also creating an uninterrupted stream of airflow.
As you'd expect for a Dyson product, each feature has been engineered to make the AM06 easy to use. The oscillation can be controlled using the included remote, which also allows you to set a sleep timer and adjust the fan's airflow. The remote is magnetic and can attach to the fan for secure storage as well. You can tilt the Air Multiplier AM06 up and down with little effort as the unit pivots around its center of gravity.
Key Features- Bladeless design
- On-device controls and a remote control
- Brand: Dyson
- Material: Aluminum
- Bladed: No
- Timer: Yes
- Two-year parts and labor warranty
- One of the quietest fans as there are no blades
- An expensive option
- Complex electronics make it harder to repair than traditional fans
1. Vornado Silver Swan Oscillating Fan
8.80 / 10 Read ReviewsDesktop fans have a distinctive design that hasn't varied much over the years. However, that's because the design is effective at helping you stay cool. The Vornado Silver Swan Oscillating Fan is one of the best desktop fans, thanks to its pitched metal blades. While there are cheaper fans out there, many use plastic rather than metal blades, reducing their effectiveness and increasing the volume.
The Silver Swan Oscillating Fan comes with a three-speed manual control to set the level to your preference. The fan has a small footprint, so you can easily keep it on your desk without taking up too much space. The tilt-head is adjustable and can be locked into a fixed position or oscillate. To ease your mind, this fan comes with a five-year hassle-free promise.
Key Features- Metal blades
- Minimal design
- Brand: Vornado
- Material: Metal, Brushed Chrome finish
- Bladed: Yes
- Timer: No
- Quiet operation
- Small desktop footprint
- Five-year warranty
- No timer
1. AmazonBasics Dual-Blade Pedestal Fan
8.80 / 10 Read ReviewsThe AmazonBasics Dual-Blade Pedestal Fan is one of the best fans for cooling an apartment available today. Where desktop fans are designed to keep you cool at close distances, pedestal fans are ideal for cooling entire rooms. This option comes with a remote control, allowing you to adjust the speed, mode, and oscillation as well as set a timer.
Most fans use a single blade, but this AmazonBasics pedestal fan uses a dual-blade setup for more effective cooling, especially across larger spaces. The fan is equipped with three operating modes: Nature, Sleep, and Normal. As with most oscillating fans, the head of the AmazonBasics Dual-Blade Pedestal Fan can be adjusted up or down and can rotate or be locked in a single direction.
Key Features- Dual-blade oscillating design to cover larger areas
- Three power settings
- Free-standing pedestal fan
- Brand: AmazonBasics
- Material: Plastic
- Bladed: Yes
- Timer: Yes
- Comes with a remote control
- Nature, Sleep, and Normal operating modes
- Some customers report that the fan is overly noisy
1. Genesis Clip Fan
9.00 / 10 Read ReviewsThe Genesis Clip Fan is one of the best affordable fans, especially for those working in a home office. As the name suggests, the six-inch fan comes with a clip stand, allowing you to attach the unit to your desk or other furniture. As most fans take up a lot of room, this is ideal for anyone looking to save space.
At this price, you shouldn't expect the most efficient cooling. However, the Genesis Clip Fan does offer two fans speeds and quiet operation. As the clip is an optional attachment, you can convert the unit into a more stable desktop fan as well. Although this isn't an oscillating fan, you can still adjust the head up or down to change the direction of airflow.
Key Features- Clip stand included for attachment to nearby surfaces
- Small plastic blades result in quiet operation
- Ideal for quick bursts of air
- Brand: Genesis
- Material: Plastic
- Bladed: Yes
- Timer: No
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Space-saving
- Not an oscillating fan
- Small plastic blades don't offer powerful cooling
1. Dyson Pure Cool TP04
9.00 / 10 Read ReviewsFans are often more affordable than air conditioning units. However, that isn't always the case. The Dyson Pure Cool TP04 is an expensive tower fan, but like many of its products, it comes with a feature-set to justify the price.
Fans circulate air around the room to keep you cool, but this also means they circulate any dirt or pollutants in the air. The Pure Cool TP04 passes the air through a HEPA filter before distributing it so that you can breathe easier. While this filtering is good for your health, the fan tracks the level of pollution in the air and can alert you to significant air quality changes.
The filtering makes the unit one of the best fans for the bedroom. This is especially the case as it has an oscillation range of 350 degrees and a quiet operation. The Pure Cool TP04 can also be controlled through the Dyson Link smartphone app or via voice commands to Alexa and Siri.
Key Features- Integrated HEPA filter
- 350-degree oscillation
- Can be controlled via the Dyson Link app, Alexa, and Siri
- Brand: Dyson
- Material: Aluminum
- Bladed: No
- Timer: Yes
- Fan and air purifier in a single device
- Quiet, bladeless operation
- One of the most expensive options
1. Honeywell QuietSet Tower Fan
8.60 / 10 Read ReviewsTe Honeywell QuietSet Tower Fan is the best affordable tower fan and another excellent option. This fan comes in at just a fraction of the Pure Cool price but doesn't compromise on cooling effects. It comes equipped with an eight-speed control, ranging from a mild breeze to more powerful airflow.
Tower fans are more suited towards cooling entire rooms and are generally quieter than their desktop alternatives. However, the Honeywell QuietSet Tower Fan reduces the volume even further, keeping you cool but not disturbed. There is a built-in timer that can be configured to turn the fan off after one, two, four, or eight hours. This oscillating fan comes with a remote and on-device touch controls.
Key Features- Built-in timer
- On-device settings and remote control
- Freestanding bladeless tower fan
- Brand: Honeywell
- Material: Plastic
- Bladed: No
- Timer: Yes
- Small physical footprint
- Relatively quiet operation
- Ideal for cooling larger spaces
- Can't be tilted
1. COMLIFE Handheld Misting Fan
9.20 / 10 Read ReviewsThe COMLIFE Handheld Misting Fan is a feature-packed portable, foldable fan. The USB-rechargeable device can be folded in half for convenient storage and lasts up to 13 hours using the built-in 2,000mAh battery.
That'd be enough for most people, but this device takes its cooling a step further, adding a 17ml water tank, which is used to provide the fan's misting feature. As the mist lands on your skin, it evaporates and cools your body.
There are three power modes for the fan; Gentle, Natural, and Strong. The unit comes with a clip so it can be hung or attached to other items, freeing up your hands. The COMLIFE Handheld Misting Fan only weighs 0.2kg, so it is easy to carry around with you.
Key Features- Foldable design for easy storage and a clip for hands-free use
- Plastic-bladed personal fan
- 17ml water tank provides cooling mist
- Integrated LED lighting
- Brand: COMLIFE
- Material: Plastic
- Bladed: Yes
- Timer: No
- Lightweight design for portability
- Long battery life
- Easily recharged via any micro-USB charger
- 17ml water tank needs to be topped up after 30 minutes of mist
FAQ
Q: Do Fans Actually Cool a Room?
Despite common perception, fans do not actually cool a room or reduce the indoor temperature. Instead, they move air around. As the air passes over your skin, it cools your body. To reduce a room's temperature, you'd need to use an air conditioning unit.
Q: Is It Okay to Leave a Fan on at Night?
Most people find it uncomfortable to sleep when they feel too hot. As a result, many of us switch on fans in our bedrooms as we go to sleep. Although some find the idea of leaving an electronic device running all night, they are unlikely to cause any issues.
However, if you find yourself getting too cold overnight with the fan on all the time, consider purchasing a model with a remote control or auto-off timer, so that you can use the fan as you fall asleep, with it switching off later in the night.
Q: Are Dyson Fans Good at Cooling?
Dyson fans don't use blades to move air around the room. Instead, they use the company's Air Multiplier technology to take air into the unit before releasing it through the ringed slot in the upper portion of the device.
As these are not air conditioning units, they do not directly cool the air. However, by more efficiently and effectively releasing air, they are often able to achieve a more targeted and natural cooling effect than traditional bladed devices.
