The 9 Best Fans of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Better Homes & Gardens 40-Inch 3-Speed Tower Fan

4.8

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Our Ratings

• Air Speed
  5/5
• Design
  4/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  4/5
• Value
  5/5

After we tested over 30 fans in various styles and sizes, the Better Homes & Gardens 3-Speed Tower wins our title as Best Overall, based on its affordable price, unique features (almost too many to test!), and sleek design. (Better Homes & Gardens is owned by Real Simple’s parent company, Dotdash Meredith.) This tower fan not only oscillates but also has three wind modes—you can select natural wind, sleep wind, and regular wind, each available at three speeds. While testing, we were impressed by the fan’s quiet operation, even while using the highest, strongest speed on the regular setting. After testing this product at home, we noted that this fan kept our room cool and offered the perfect amount of noise at night. As you may expect from its name, the sleep mode produced an even quieter sound at each speed, and the wind mode had a stronger airflow but still produced a relaxing sound.

On the top of the fan, you can find thoughtful features, including a magnetic area to store the remote; an LED-lighted control panel that turns off after a minute, so it doesn’t disturb you at night; a 7.5-hour programmable timer; and a handle, so you can easily carry the fan from room to room. In fact, we noted it was so light, we could move it with just one hand. However, we feel that this is not the best fan to travel with because it is not as compact as some other options we tested.

Regarding the fan’s effectiveness, while testing, we noted that it employs a direct flow and feels most cooling when it is relatively close up, with the airflow pointed directly at you. For example, while testing the airflow from different distances, we noted it was most cooling from 6 to 8 feet of its direct flow. Outside the direct flow (while the fan was stationary or oscillating), we could not feel it. So, if you are looking for a fan multiple people can feel in different parts of the room, this might not be the best option. 

Tall and slender, this tower features internal oscillation: While the fan’s inside moves, the outside shell remains still. Although this product is designed to be more stable than a fan that entirely moves while oscillating (and provides more range of motion), the fan base wobbled a bit during use. However, this may be due to the way the fan was assembled, and we have had no issues with it toppling over. Overall, this affordable fan should keep you cool, has unique and useful features, and looks sleek in any room, making it our top pick.

How It Performed Long-Term

After using this tower fan for over six months at one of our homes, we continue to be impressed by its powerful airflow and quiet operation. We've enjoyed using it to cool us off during the warmer months, and even during cooler temperatures, we've found the fan helpful in circulating the air while cooking, as well as to cool the room after home workouts. Even after daily use for six months, it continues to operate like new, making it worthy of remaining our top pick.

Price at time of publish: $60

_{Dimensions: 12 x 12 x 41.50 inches | Weight: Not listed | Number of Fan Speeds: 3 wind modes with 3 speed settings each | CFM: Not listed | Decibel Rating: Not listed | Cord Length: Not listed | Oscillation: Yes}

Best Desk

Vornado 660 Large Air Circulator

4.6

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Our Ratings

• Air Speed
  5/5
• Design
  4/5
• Portability
  3/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

After testing the Vornado 660 Whole Room Air Circulator in our lab and at home, we found it to be a powerful option for any room. Small enough to sit on a desk or dresser, this fan is designed to circulate air up to 100 feet. And although it doesn’t oscillate, while testing in our lab, we noted that we felt the fan’s direct airflow up to 20 feet away. Plus, we loved that you can tilt it up to a 90-degree angle, from horizontal to vertical to point it where needed.

This fan lacks a handle and is a bit bulky compared with other desk fans, but it is powerful for its size and portable enough to carry from room to room. It also lacks a remote, but the push-button controls on the back of the fan, adjusting the speeds from whisper-quiet to turbo, are straightforward and easy to use. After using this fan at home for months, we not only noticed this fan circulating air in a rather large and lofty room, but it also cooled the space significantly. Overall we found it to be small, but mighty and found the color and design to be minimal enough to not be an eyesore or change the overall style of the room. We also love that it comes with a five-year warranty in case of any issues.

Price at time of publish: $140

_{Dimensions: 15 x 13.5 x 11.8 | Weight: 7.32 pounds | Number of Fan Speeds: 4 | CFM: Not listed | Decibel Rating: 48 | Cord Length: 72 inches | Oscillation: No}

Best Quiet

Pelonis 16-Inch Pedestal Fan

4.7

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Our Ratings

• Air Speed
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Portability
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  4/5
• Value
  5/5

The Pelonis Standing Fan stood out for its quiet yet powerful performance and sturdy design during our lab and long-term home testing. Even at the highest of 12 air speed settings, the fan was relatively quiet, with a strong breeze felt at 6 feet and a noticeable breeze detected even at 20 feet. We've found the amount of features on this fan is really what makes it stand out, including wide, 85-degree oscillation; easily adjustable height; a digital display; a 12-hour timer; and basic remote control. The head of the fan even tilts up or down. 

We did note that this fan is a bit heavier than expected, and with its handle a bit too close to the blades, it isn’t the easiest fan to carry. However, it was light enough to move with one hand. Also, we noted that we had to cycle through each speed to change speed settings, but it was still quick and easy to do.

How It Performed Long-Term

After using this fan for over six months at home, we continue to be impressed by its array of features, quiet blades, and exceptional performance in cooling any room. We are even happy that it has a heavy base which prevented our dog from knocking it over! We've also appreciated its adjustable height, and haven't noticed any change in the looks or performance of the fan during this time.

Price at time of publish: $80

_{Dimensions: 15.75 x 15.75 x 51.18 inches | Weight: 12.35 pounds | Number of Fan Speeds: 12 | CFM: Not listed | Decibel Rating: 38 dBA | Cord Length: Not listed | Oscillation: Yes}

Best Splurge

Rowenta Turbo Silence Extreme+ Stand Fan

4.7

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Our Ratings

• Air Speed
  4.8/5
• Design
  4/5
• Portability
  3/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Value
  4/5

For a fan that cools a larger space without being too noisy (and is, on some settings, almost silent!), we recommend the Rowenta Turbo Silence Extreme+ Stand Fan. Although it’s not the most stylish or affordable option we tested, this powerful, sturdy, and effective oscillating fan is well worth its slightly higher price point. 

We love how versatile it can be, with an adjustable height from about 43 to 57 inches and five speed settings so you can tailor it to suit your needs. Choose the powerful Turbo Boost setting when you really want to cool down or Silent Night Mode when you need it to be as quiet as possible. In fact, while using this speed, we noted that the fan was almost silent. Note that this fan is heavy and takes two hands to move. However, we appreciated the sturdy base and found that it wasn't easy to tip over. 

While testing, the airflow performance in front of and to the sides of the fan’s direct line was impressive—we felt the airflow from as far as 20 feet, as well as when we were out of the direct flow. The fan oscillates about a foot in each direction, so the airflow can directly reach more parts of the room.

How It Performed Long-Term

After over six months of using this fan at home, we continue to be impressed by its very quiet, yet powerful performance. We've found it very effective in cooling down a small room that does not have an air conditioner, making it comfortable enough to work or watch TV in the summer. We especially love being able to easily switch between oscillating and fixed positions (depending on hot the room is!) with the remote control. And although this isn't the best portable option and isn't easy to tuck away when not in use, we haven't found it to be an eyesore either.

Price at time of publish: $121

_{Dimensions: 18 x 17 x 53 inches | Weight: 17.6 pounds | Number of Fan Speeds: 5 | CFM: 2400 on maximum speed | Decibel Rating: 35 dBA on minimum speed | Cord Length: Not listed | Oscillation: Yes}

Best Large Room

Lasko FH500 Fan & Space Heater Combo Tower

4.6

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Our Ratings

• Air Speed
  4/5
• Design
  4/5
• Portability
  3/5
• Effectiveness
  4/5
• Value
  4/5

After testing the Lasko FH500 Fan & Space Heater Combo Tower, we found it to be a great value, with features that can help make a larger room feel comfortable year-round. This 1,500-watt combined heater-fan is ETL-listed, meaning it's certified as meeting the requirement of widely accepted safety standards. It features a bladeless design and tip-over safety feature, so it should automatically shut off if it falls over. While testing, we found this four-speed fan effective at circulating the air, even as far as 20 feet. And at its highest setting, the sound is subtle enough to act as white noise. We also like that the unit has built-in storage for the included remote control. 

Although it is not height-adjustable, this fan is tall enough to reach over a bed, so it is a great option for most bedrooms. In fact, when testing in a small bedroom, we found it to be almost too powerful! We also noted that the cord is shorter than the other options we tested, but since the airflow can reach relatively far, it shouldn’t pose too much of a problem. We also appreciate how easy the permanent filter is to access and clean—press the EZclick Filter button on the cover on the back of the fan to open, then use your vacuum’s brush attachment to clean.

How It Performed Long-Term

After using this fan for over six months, our at-home team testers said her whole family loves this fan—including her dog. This fan offered her open floor plan living, dining, and kitchen area a "natural breeze" environment and helped circulate the air from the AC unit. We did note that this fan isn't completely quiet, but it's not loud enough to be disturbing during working or sleeping hours. After almost constant use in the warmer months, we never noticed a change in its performance. Also, even with two dogs knocking into the fan from time to time, impressively, it has never toppled over.

We've also used the heat setting during cooler months and found it to warm up the room nicely. However, only the bottom half of this tall unit functions as a heater, so it feels a bit bulky when only using that setting.

Price at time of publish: $118

_{Dimensions: 12.5 x 12.5 x 41.88 inches | Weight: 12.5 pounds | Number of Fan Speeds: 4 for fan, 3 for heater | CFM: Not listed | Decibel Rating: Not listed | Cord Length: 72 inches | Oscillation: Yes}

Best Small Room

Lasko Wind Curve Tower Fan

4.4

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Our Ratings

• Air Speed
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Portability
  3/5
• Effectiveness
  4/5
• Value
  4/5

For small spaces, the Lasko Oscillating Tower Fan is our top choice out of the options we tested. With a relatively small footprint and wood panel design, it blends into a room better than other options. We found that it has plenty of features that make it great to use at night, including a 7.5-hour programmable timer and a nighttime setting that dims the display and gradually decreases the fan speed. We also appreciate the built-in, space-saving storage for the remote. 

As far as performance, we found that this three-speed fan was quite powerful and relatively quiet when we tested it from 10 feet away. However, we noted that at 20 feet, we couldn’t feel the fan at all, which would be an issue only in larger spaces.

After testing this fan long-term at home, we found that it was a complete game changer in an apartment, which only has one AC unit in the bedroom. We left this fan running on high and oscillating every day while we worked from home. We sometimes even forgot to turn it off because it operated so quietly. Overall, this fan’s design and features make it a great option for small bedrooms or other compact spaces where you want powerful circulation but quiet operation.

Price at time of publish: $75

_{Dimensions: 13 x 13 x 42.5 inches | Weight: 14.5 pounds | Number of Fan Speeds: 3 | CFM: 634 | Decibel Rating: Not listed | Cord Length: 72 inches | Oscillation: Yes}

Best Budget

Crane Circulating Desk Fan

4.6

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Our Ratings

• Air Speed
  4/5
• Design
  4/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

If you are looking for a budget-friendly, compact, and adjustable fan, look no further than the Crane Oscillating Desk Fan. While testing this fan, we loved how the three adjustable angles (straight up, 45 degrees, or 90 degrees) allowed the air to focus on different areas of the room. Although you need to manually adjust the tilting feature, we appreciated being able to select the three speeds and programmable timer options via the digital display or by using the remote control.

As far as cooling performance, we felt the breeze up to 20 feet, although it was strongest up to 6 feet. We also found this fan fairly light and portable, with areas underneath you can use as carrying handles. This fan is marketed as a desk fan, but while using this fan at home, we found it rather bulky to actually sit on a desk all the time. However, we still appreciated how easy it was to maneuver on a bedside table. Plus, the top portion of the fan can fold down, so we were able to easily store it when not in use.

Price at time of publish: $50

_{Dimensions: 9.5 x 9.5 x 7.75 | Weight: 6.5 pounds | Number of Fan Speeds: 3 | CFM: 12.5 | Decibel Rating: 40 dBA |  Cord Length: 60 inches | Oscillation: Yes}

Best Tower

Dyson Pure Cool Purifying Fan

4.4

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Our Ratings

• Air Speed
  4/5
• Design
  5/5
• Portability
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Value
  4/5

After testing the Dyson Pure Cool Air Purifier and Fan for over six months, we've continued to appreciate its cooling and air-purifying features and sleek, stylish design. This tower fan doubles as an air purifier (with HEPA filter) and claims to remove over 99.97 percent of pollutants and allergens as small as 0.3 microns. It also offers a blade-less design, a remote control, a nine-hour timer, an easily removable filter, and 70-degree oscillation.

While testing in our lab, we could feel the airflow as far as 20 feet on the highest setting. However, we noted that it wasn't until the sixth setting (out of 10) before we started hearing or feeling the airflow; lower, we had to put a hand right up to the fan. We also noted that it is fairly quiet on its highest, strongest setting, so it shouldn’t disturb you at night or while watching TV. In fact, while testing at home, we appreciated the fan's white noise and found that it was louder than our ceiling fan, but not as loud as the AC.

How It Performed Long-Term

We used it almost daily in addition to a ceiling fan (or AC on especially hot days), and have not noticed any changes in its performance. We continue to enjoy the sleek, stylish design and have used the air purifying feature to help circulate the air during the winter months as well. Although this unit is more expensive than other, more powerful fans, we continue to think it's an excellent option for anyone looking for a stylish fan with an array of helpful features.

Price at time of publish: $300

_{Dimensions: 7.7 x 7.7 x 40.1 inches | Weight: 7.9 pounds | Number of Fan Speeds: 10 | CFM: 10.3 | Decibel Rating: 56 dBA | Cord Length: 78 inches | Oscillation: Yes}