Best fans for cooling 2024

The best cooling fans create a pleasant, quiet breeze, helping you to feel cool in stuffy rooms without driving you crazy with incessant whirring.

Our extensive testing includes a range of objective measures, including energy use, wind speed and noise, as well as a blindfolded panel assessment to determine the best tower, desk and pedestal fan.

We tested Duux, Dyson, John Lewis and Meaco fans. Three blew away the competition to earn our Best Buy recommendation.

The best fans

Only logged-in Which? members can view the fan test results below. 

Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.

Challenge 16” Pedestal & Desk Fan 

Available from Argos (£70)

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Type Bladed pedestal fan

Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal

Need to know 41 x 41 x 130cm (WxDxH), 5.6kg, 8 settings, 1.8-metre cable, horizontal oscillation, remote control included, programmable timer

Duux Globe Table Fan 

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Type Bladed desk fan

Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal

Need to know 27 x 27 x 33cm (WxDxH), 2.2kg, 3 settings, 2-metre cable, horizontal and vertical oscillation, remote control included, programmable timer

Duux Whisper Pedestal Fan

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Type Bladed pedestal fan 

Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal

Need to know 34 x 34 x 74-95cm (WxDxH), 4kg, 26 settings, 2.4-metre cable, horizontal and vertical oscillation, remote control included, programmable timer

Dyson AM07 Tower Fan

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Type Bladeless tower fan

Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal

Need to know 23 x 23 x 100cm (WxDxH), 2.9kg, 10 settings, 1.8-metre cable, horizontal oscillation, remote control included, programmable timer

Dyson AM09 Hot & Cool Fan Heater

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Type Bladeless tower fan

Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal

Need to know 19 x 19 x 60cm (WxDxH), 2.8kg, 10 settings, 1.8-metre cable, horizontal oscillation, long-ranged and diffused modes, heating mode (1-37°C), remote control included 

Are Dyson fans worth it?

Dyson fans are noticeably pricier than other fans we tested, but they do have a stylish bladeless design. One has the option to work as a heater, too, and both we tested are claimed to give an 'uninterrupted stream of smooth airflow'.

We've tested the Dyson AM07 Tower fan which supposedly offers powerful, amplified airflow, as well as the Dyson AM09 Hot & Cool Fan Heater, which allows you to choose between focused and diffused modes for personal or cooling the whole room.

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John Lewis 16" Pedestal Fan 

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Type Bladed pedestal fan

Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal

Need to know 44 x 40 x 120cm (WxDxH), 5kg, 3 settings, 1.5-metre cable, horizontal oscillation

John Lewis 30" Tower Fan 

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Type Bladeless tower fan

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Need to know 24 x 18 x 80cm (WxDxH), 3.1kg, 3 settings, 1.5-metre cable, horizontal oscillation, remote control included, programmable timer

Logik L10DFGM17 10" Desk Fan 

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Type Bladed desk fan

Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal

Need to know 29 x 24 x 36cm (WxDxH), 2.6kg, 3 settings, 1.6-metre cable, horizontal oscillation 

Meaco 1056 Air Circulator Desk Fan

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Type Bladed desk fan

Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal

Need to know 29 x 31 x 40cm (WxDxH), 3.2kg, 12 settings, 1.5m cable, horizontal and vertical oscillation, remote control included. programmable timer

Shark FlexBreeze FA220UK Hybrid Pedestal Fan 

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Type Bladed pedestal and desk fan

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Need to know 35 x 35 x 94cm (WxDxH), 5.9kg, 5 settings, 4-metre cable, horizontal oscillation, remote control, misting attachment and cover included, programmable timer 

How we test fans

We shortlist the most popular fans from UK retailers and use a panel of testers. We buy all the products we test, so you know our reviews can be trusted.

We regularly revisit the fans on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing – and when we find them, we do.

Each fan is assessed on the following:

Pleasant use assessment 

A panel of testers is blindfolded, and a fan is then placed in front of them at a two-metre distance. Panellists give each a rating on low, medium and high settings based on how pleasant they find the breeze. They assess how strong it feels and whether the airflow is continuous or intermittent.

Ease of assembly and use 

We assemble the fans and run through all the settings, giving a rating for how easy they are to put together and operate.

Range of wind speeds 

We use an anemometer to determine the wind speed generated by the fans on different settings. Fans with a greater range receive a higher score.

Noise 

We use a decibel meter to determine how noisy the fans are. We also rate the quality of the noise to penalise fans that create unpleasant whirring and rattling sounds.

Durability 

We topple each fan from the highest point or off a suitable surface if it’s a desk fan. More durable fans rank better.

Energy consumption 

We measure the energy consumption of fans on the lowest and highest settings, also factoring in how oscillation impacts this. 

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Types of fans 

Tower fans 

Tower fans are likely to be a better choice if you're looking to cover a whole room. These are more likely to come with a remote control, so you can change the settings from a distance. They're larger and bulkier than desk fans, so you'll need space to tuck it away when you don't need it.

Desk fans

Desk fans are compact and designed to sit on your desk. They're generally cheaper than tower fans (unless you're going for an expensive brand) and could be the best choice if you only need to cool a small area.

Pedestal fans

Pedestal fans look very similar to large desk fans, but with a taller base. They're also better at covering a whole room and can often oscillate left and right, and sometimes up and down.

Ceiling fans

Ceiling fans are built in and often found in offices or hotel rooms, but we don't test these as they're not commonly used in UK homes.

How much electricity does a fan use?

Do fans use a lot of electricity? Fans are generally not big energy guzzlers, even when used on the higher settings. 

However, energy use varies between different types of fan, and by brand. Generally speaking, desk fans are smaller so will use less energy, whereas bigger pedestal or tower fans use more energy, making them more expensive to run.

How much does it cost to run a fan?

We measured the running costs of each fan we tested and found the difference between the best and the worst is just under 1p per minute* on the highest setting. Log in or Join Which? to get full access to the running costs of each fan we've tested

Electric fans vs air conditioners

The best electric fans create a refreshing breeze that will make you feel cooler – however, they don't actually cool the air in your home.

If a breeze alone just isn't enough on the hottest days of the year, you could consider investing in a portable air conditioner instead. These pump out cooled air that will actually reduce the temperature inside your home.

Some portable air conditioners also come with features such as dehumidification and smart control (from your smartphone app), both of which can be useful extra features.

Portable air conditioners are usually more expensive than fans.

Also, be aware that portable air conditioners are hefty, bulky appliances that can take up a lot of space, which isn't ideal if your home is on the small side. They can be a faff to set up and the hot air needs to be vented out via a hose, so you'll need a suitable window for it to go through.   

They also use a lot of electricity, so leaving them on frequently will significantly contribute to your energy bills.

Realistically, with British weather being as unpredictable as it is, many people will be better off with an electric fan that can be more easily stored in a cupboard when it's not needed.  

Read our extensive reviews of the best air conditioners

What is the quietest fan for sleeping?

Many people seek out a quiet fan for sleeping. This will also often involve putting them on the lowest setting. 

However, you should also bear in mind if you do this that the breeze generated will also be lower. Fans with a greater range of settings often give you more scope to achieve the perfect balance between noise and airflow.

The charity Electrical Safety First doesn't recommend leaving a fan on all night as there’s always a risk that the motor could overheat and start a fire while you’re asleep. 

We recognise that on really hot nights, having to turn off a fan just as you’re going to sleep might be unbearable. As a compromise, you could opt for a fan that has a timer so it switches itself off after a set period – we recommend an hour or less.

It's also worth noting that bladeless fans, such as the Dyson models we tested, aren't necessarily better for sleeping as they can get loud on the higher settings.

Our reviews reveal how bladeless fans and all the other fans we tested compare on noise.