When warm weather rolls around, staying cool not only outdoors but also indoors can be a challenge. Whether you need a little breeze to get you through a heat wave or to make an otherwise stuffy room more bearable, a fan can really come in clutch.
Beyond being an affordable alternative to air conditioning, a fan can be moved around to different rooms as needed. Pay attention to the size and weight, though, because some are more portable than others. When considering a fan purchase, also keep in mind the type, speed settings, and whether or not it rotates.
To help you narrow down the selection, we put 31 fans to the test in our PEOPLE Tested lab. Five stood out from the pack, including the Pelonis 12-Speed Pedestal Fan that really blew us away.
Below, the best fans that PEOPLE Tested.
Best Desk Fan: Crane 3-Speed Oscillating Desk Fan
Also available at Home Depot, Wayfair, Office Depot
Pros: It's compact and lightweight with a carrying handle and a 15-foot power cord.
Cons: The vertical angle has to be manually adjusted.
For something a bit more compact, go with the Crane Desk Fan. This three-speed model gives off a consistent breeze at each level, and the soft sound is hardly noticeable. Our tester said they could feel the air from 20 feet away on the fastest setting, which is impressive considering the size.
It also oscillates at 70 degrees from side to side and can be manually tilted up or down. While the oscillation isn't adjustable, you can control the speed and program the timer with the included remote. There are control buttons on the side of the fan as well.
Measuring 9.5 inches in diameter with a 10-inch base, this fan is the perfect desk companion. The base seems a little bulky at first blush, but this is by design. It folds back seamlessly into itself and has a built-in handle for easy transport and storage. At less than 7 pounds, it's also one of the lightest options we tested, and the 15-foot power cord makes it all the more portable.
Overall, this compact fan is a great option for offices, bedrooms, or campers.
Things to Consider When Buying a Fan
Type
Electric fans vary in terms of style, features, and portability. Pedestal fans sit on the floor, similar to floor lamps. Though they aren't the most portable, they tend to cover more area and often have adjustable heights.
Then you've got tower fans, which are more narrow with a smaller footprint. Window units are placed within a window frame and help ventilate and cool your home. Desktop fans are ideal for small spaces and on-the-go use.
Noise
Don't overlook noise when browsing fans. They tend to be the loudest at high speeds, but many options make up for it with powerful yet quiet motors. (A sturdy base can also help prevent a rattling noise.) That said, everyone has a different level of sound tolerance, and some may even enjoy the white noise while sleeping.
According to Dan Jaffe, Ph.D., Professor of Atmospheric and Environmental Chemistry at the University of Washington-Bothell, standard box fans can be pretty powerful, but they tend to be the noisiest. If the sound is too much, he recommends an air-purifying fan. "But these are much more expensive," he says.
Air Speed
You'll also want to consider air speed. Most fans have at least three speed settings, though some boast 12 or more. Aside from the number of settings, look for the maximum speed. This could be listed as m/s (meters per second) or CFM (cubic feet per minute). The most powerful models might have wind speeds as fast as 6 m/s or over 2,000 CFM.
Oscillation
Many of today's electric fans oscillate, meaning they rotate from side to side to help circulate the air and cover a larger area. The head may turn back and forth, the entire structure might shift, or the oscillation could be fully internal, in which case the unit won't look like it's moving at all.
When to Buy
Fans can sell out quickly in the summer — and the months leading up to it — especially the more popular models. You might want to buy one as early as March or April to beat the rush, though you should be able to find a decent option online year-round. You'll usually see the best deals right after the hot season, so keep an eye out for fall sales if you want to buy something at a discount.
How We Tested Fans
Our testers tried out a total of 31 fans. Each model was rated for air speed and effectiveness based on the number of speed settings, wind power, airflow consistency, coverage area, circulation, and noise. They looked at various design aspects as well, like the material, weight, features, portability, and aesthetic. All insights were considered along with the price to assess each product's overall value, then we narrowed it down to the top contenders.
