Must-Have Fans to Survive the Summer Heat (2024)

Perfect for midsized rooms, the compact Vornado 630 does a superb job circulating air, and its three-speed settings adjust airflow to your needs. Our engineers appreciate its pivoting head, which makes it easy to direct cool air where you need it most, even though there's no remote control. The fan's squat design and sturdy base allow you to set it up on the floor or on your dresser to cool your bedroom while you sleep.

During our tests, we were impressed by the Vornado's range, with a claimed airflow of 70 feet. We also loved how easy it was to remove the grill for cleaning. To cool a larger room, this model's brand mate, the Vornado 660, is another good option that performed well in our tests. Plus, both models come with a five-year warranty should you run into any issues.

Type: Table fan | Size: 8.25" x 12" x 13.6" | Oscillation: No

A top performer in our Lab tests that's exceptionally easy to use, this lightweight, budget-friendly Honeywell HT-900 is also an Amazon fan favorite — over 88,000 reviewers gave it a five-star rating. Whether the fan is on a table or the floor, the head can pivot to angle the airflow wherever you want it. And according to Honeywell, you should be able to feel the air 25 feet away.

For optimum air circulation throughout a small- or medium-sized room, our experts recommend angling the head at 90 degrees. While there's no remote control, three speed settings let you choose gentle air circulation or more powerful cooling. In terms of maintenance, the grill is removable, making it easy to clean.

Type: Table or floor fan | Size: 6.54" x 11" x 11.3" | Oscillation: No

Offering nine adjustable speeds, this fan can be counted on during a heat wave. It oscillates both horizontally and vertically to cool the entire room, and we're obsessed with its sleek design that's available in silver or gold. Plus, Dreo fans were some of our top performers in our latest fan test for their excellent value and efficiency.

We love that a remote is included, but you can also operate the fan via voice commands or your phone so you'll need access to Wi-Fi. According to the brand, it has a 110-foot range as well as a quiet motor at 25 decibels so it won't disturb anyone who might not like white noise. The pedestal is also adjustable from 37.5 to 43 inches so you can find the best height for your room.

Amazon reviewers appreciate its quiet operation, great air circulation and easy-to-use design.

Type: Pedestal fan | Size: 13.7" x 8.7" x 43" | Oscillation: Yes

Another favorite among Amazon customers with more than 21,000 five-star reviews, this whole-room tower fan from Honeywell has a small footprint and a lot of power to cool a medium to large room. Our experts like the optional oscillation and eight speeds, which let you select from intense cooling (with slightly more noise) to a gentle, almost-silent breeze, so you can choose the level of white noise you prefer while you sleep. Adjustable lighting keeps the controls unobtrusive at night.

A handy remote control means you don't have to get up to adjust the settings, and the timer allows you to set the fan to power off automatically at the end of the cooling period. If you need to relocate the fan, a built-in carrying handle makes carrying it easy, and a holder for the remote helps prevent it from getting lost. A downside: The grill and blades aren't washable and no filter is included.

Type: Tower fan | Size: 8" x 10" x 32" | Oscillation: Yes

When our experts put this Lasko to the test, they were impressed by its easy operation, including three speed settings (controlled via remote) and the option to choose between oscillating or stationary. The manufacturer says the built-in ionizer makes the air feel fresher, though our safety experts don't recommend this feature on any fan since it can produce ozone, a lung irritant.

The fan also has a timer, so you can set it to run for up to seven and a half hours. A handy nighttime feature dims the lights on the fan and gradually decreases the fan's speed (and in turn, the volume). A built-in carry handle, plus onboard storage for the remote, makes it easy to move the fan from room to room as needed. The grill and blades are also not washable and a filter isn't included.

Type: Tower fan | Size: 13" x 13" x 42.5" | Oscillation: Yes

Our engineers give this Rowenta pedestal fan props for its effective design, which combines power with quiet operation at 35 decibels. It's also versatile: You can adjust the height of the pedestal stand from 42 to 54 inches, and the angle of the 16-inch head is adjustable too, so you can direct the airflow where you want it.

Let the fan oscillate or leave it stationary. Even though it takes up more room than other options on our list, the fan has a handy remote control that lets you stay seated while you switch among the five speed settings. For a desktop or table option, we also recommend the Rowenta Turbo Silence Table Fan.

Type: Floor fan | Size: 7.2" x 24" x 20" | Oscillation: Yes

If you need to cool a big room — or even an entire apartment — our experts recommend this Vornado, which they say is excellent at circulating air throughout large areas. The fan doesn't oscillate, but the pivoting head lets you direct the airflow where you'd like; Vornado says it reaches up to 100 feet. The stand's height can also be adjusted from 28 to 40 inches for added versatility.

There's no remote, but manually switching among the three speed settings is easy. Plus, the grill is removable, making it easier to clean the blades.

Type: Floor fan | Size: 17.8" x 16.8" x 41.1" | Oscillation: No

The powerful motor on this Lasko fan has three speed settings to help you get just the right amount of cool air flowing through your space. More than 16,000 Amazon customers have enthusiastically given it a five-star rating. The pivoting head can direct the breeze exactly where you want it, and the optional wall mount helps free up floor space.

Our experts note that the grill can't be removed for cleaning — you’ll need to rely on your vacuum's soft brush attachment for that. It’s also not the quietest fan at 62.5 decibels, but it's a strong and effective cooling machine that performed well in our Lab tests.

Type: Floor fan | Size: 22" x 22" x 7" | Oscillation: No

Maybe we're biased, but there's nothing like a classic retro fan for your desk, table or countertop. What sets this model apart is that it's available in 10 fun colors to match your room's decor. “I love the color!," said one tester. "It is very trendy and unique, which is an added bonus alongside its utility. The fan oscillates and has an easy-to-press button to freeze it if desired. I use the fan to cool down my room and it does a FANtastic job (pun intended)."

In Lab tests, our experts said the fan was fairly easy to assemble and well-constructed, without any rattling or vibration, even when it was oscillating on the highest speed.

Our pros also appreciate that it has a built-in carrying handle to make moving it around a breeze, and you can adjust the fan speed with three settings. For the widest reach, turn on the oscillation setting and tilt the fan to direct airflow to where you need it most.

When you notice some dust has gathered on the blades, just pop open the grill to give it a clean. Testers do note that the screws are tiny, but its beautiful vintage design and quiet operation make up for it.

Type: Table fan | Size: 10" x 16.8" x 13.3" | Oscillation: Yes

The Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement and Outdoor Lab provides expert reviews and advice on all things home-related, including cooling equipment, appliances, air purifiers, humidifiers and more. In our latest round of testing, we looked at 18 of the top fans available to buy, evaluating each for safety, performance, ease of use and extra features.

• Performance: When evaluating performance, we use an anemometer in a windowless room to measure the speed of the airflow produced by the fan at a set distance at both its maximum and minimum settings. This gives us an idea of the utility of the fan and, when compared with the manufacturers' claimed energy use, can shed light on the design's efficiency. Next, we measure the ambient sound produced by the fan with a decibel meter in a quiet room and compare loudness levels across fans.
• Safety: We assess safety by examining whether a finger or ring can pass through the grate to any rotating parts or pinch points.
  
• Ease of use: To evaluate how easy it is to use the fan, we start by documenting the fan's dimensions and weight, giving us a comparative metric for understanding how easy it might be to transport between locations. We disassemble the fans for cleaning and review how easy they are to take apart and put together. We also complete a tip-over test, in which we use a force gauge to determine the minimum force to knock the fan over.
  
• Extra features: Finally, we consider the number of settings on the fan, as well as any additional or unique features, such as oscillation, remote operation, smart technology integration and automatic shut-off.

• Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP07: We loved this fan's super sleek design (pictured) that's just small enough to be placed comfortably on a dresser or on the floor, but it's a bit of a splurge and recommended only for consumers who want a built-in air purifier. The fan also comes with a heater so it can be used year-round.
• Vornado VFAN Mini Classic Personal Vintage Air Circulator: Although we were charmed by the aesthetic appeal, its airspeed performance was lacking, and we couldn't figure out how to disassemble it at all to clean the blades. It's a great choice for small spaces but doesn't compare to more powerful Vorandos on the market. produced impressive airspeed and comes at a super affordable price, but it didn't pass our safety evaluation for fingers passing through the grate, posing a hazard to small kids. It also performed poorly in our tip-over test and was quite loud compared with the other fans we looked at.
• Lasko 20" Box Fan: It produced impressive airspeed and comes at a super affordable price, but it didn't pass our safety evaluation for fingers passing through the grate, posing a hazard to small kids. It also performed poorly in our tip-over test and was quite loud compared with the other fans we looked at.
• De'Longhi 3D Comfort Air Purifier Fan: We loved how easy it was to clean, but we found that the airspeeds it produced didn't stand up to the other fans we tested, though (like the Dyson) it may be a good pick for those looking to invest in an air purifier.
• Black + Decker BFTR36B Digital Tower Fan with Remote: It's a solid tower fan with good basic functionality and performance, but it didn't stand out when compared to the features of the Honeywell HYF290B QuietSet Whole Room Tower Fan or the Lasko T42950 Portable Electric 42" Oscillating Tower Fan. Both of these fans offered more premium chassis, and we didn't like how the Black + Decker model didn't have automatic light shut-off or offer brightness control.

✔️ Airflow reach: Ideally, the range or distance of the airflow should be as expansive as possible. You don't want the fan to cool only what's right in front of it. The manufacturer will usually describe the reach of the airflow, but it may give an approximate room size that the fan can cool.

✔️ Size: Bigger isn’t always better; the trade-off for a larger, more powerful fan (for example, one that's good for cooling an apartment) is usually more noise than, say, one that’s smaller but powerful enough to cool a bedroom while you sleep. However, if you're trying to cool a large room, you'll want a fan that can cope with that demand and has a higher airflow reach.

✔️ Speed settings: Many fans offer two to four settings for ease; others have more variable controls so you can hone in on how much power you want. Bear in mind that noise levels increase with the faster speed settings. At the very least, the fan should have high and low speed settings.

✔️ Adjustability: An effective fan should be able to fill a large space without needing to be moved around, but you still want to be able to angle the airflow where you want. Features like oscillation, multiple speed settings to control the overall power and the ability to adjust the angle of airflow provide greater versatility.

✔️ Ease of cleaning: Look for a fan that's easy to disassemble so you can regularly clean the blades and grill of dust and dirt that accumulates over time (especially if someone in your home has allergies). A bladeless fan like a tower fan eliminates the need to clean a grill and blades, but some models can come with a filter that needs to be cleaned and/or replaced occasionally.

✔️ Timer: If you like the fan to be on for a certain duration or automatically turn off after you fall asleep, look for a model with a timer, so you can set a run time. Some fans are equipped with a sleep option, which automatically steps down the airflow and noise level over a few hours before turning off.

This story was originally written by Lynn Redmile, a contributing product reviews analyst, working across our Good Housekeeping Institute Labs to bring her 30 years of data analysis experience to everything from cleaning products to home devices.

Olivia Lipski, a GH Institute writer and product analyst, most recently updated this story with data from the GH Institute's latest round of fan testing. She rigorously examined 18 of the top fans on the market to find standout picks and uses her broad product review experience to continuously analyze the latest trends and find recommendations.