We tested the best cooling fans of 2024: Shop and stay cool

In the iconic words of Demi Lovato, let’s be “cool for the summer!”

With warmer weather upon us (technically, it’s a heat wave), it’s time to chill out. And luckily for you, sweltering temperatures don’t mean the AC bills need to jump. Grabbing one of the best cooling fans (tested by yours truly) is a great alternative for cooling down the house without hiking up the air condition.

Our shopping list is stocked with sunscreen, bathing suits, outdoor furniture, and coolers filled with your favorite beach-friendly beverages. We just need a Honeywell HYF260 Quiet Set Whole Room Tower Fan, Dyson or something portable like the O2COOL Elite Battery Powered Handheld Water Misting Fan thrown into the mix.

In an effort to help you stay cool all spring and summer, the New York Post shopping team rounded up the best fans the Internet has to offer — ranging from tower fans, desk options, pedestal fans and personal fans (like this nifty neck fan) – many of which have earned thousands of raving reviews.

Some of the brands we tested firsthand include Lasko, Dyson, Honeywell and more. The best part? Many of these picks are available on Amazon, making your shopping experience even easier. Hello, two-day Prime shipping!

While preparing for a sweaty summer, consider checking out our other expert shopping guides to find the best air conditioning units, pool floats and beach umbrellas.

Best Cooling Fans

Best Overall: Honeywell HYF260 Quiet Set Whole Room Tower Fan

Size: 10.4 x 9.8 x 40 inches, 10 pounds

Number of speeds: five

Honeywell has earned its reputation in the heating and cooling space for great reasons. The brand offers high quality products at a reasonable price. The Honeywell Quiet Set Tower Fan is no exception. The reason I went with it — It has more than 20,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. Customers love the slim design and near noiselessness, and I can attest that both these qualities hold true. The fan is one of the quietest I have tested at this price-point. It may not have as many power levels as the more expensive options, but the highest setting did provide enough air to cool down my entire living room in five to ten minutes. I was very satisfied with this fan, and for anyone who wants something reliable and durable, I suggest starting with Honeywell.

Our Senior Commerce SEO Manager Meaghan Roche also owns this best cooling fan and loves it.

“Honeywell is such a well known brand for home cooling, and this tower fan is the perfect example,” she said. “I bought this fan over two years ago to cool my apartment year-round, and it has held up well over time while keeping my one-bedroom comfortable.”

Roche commented on the easy setup of the cooling tower fan, as well as liking that it came with a remote. She also likes how quiet it is.

“I love that this fan is actually quiet. It’s not distracting if I’m working from home and taking a meeting, but it does provide some background white noise when used at night. The dimmable light is also a huge plus for me, as I prefer to sleep in total darkness (yes, I love my blackout curtains). Since this is a tower fan, it may not be as cooling as a box fan or proper air conditioner, but I find it perfect for spring, fall and winter to help air circulate and cool, and it’s a great value for the price.”

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Best Budget-Friendly Fan: Commercial Electric High Velocity Floor Fan

Size: 22.9 x 25 x 11.2 inches, 10.7 pounds

Number of speeds: three

It’s hard to find a better deal on a high-powered floor fan with a 360° tilt range. The setup was quite simple — but it is important to attach the legs properly so you can enjoy the adjustability feature. After that, you have a fully functioning floor fan. The metal material is exceptionally durable, sturdy, and it’s powder-coated (which means rust-resistant!). I also appreciate that there is a handle on top of this fan for easy carrying. There are only three-speed choices, but I was impressed with how each mode delivered a noticeably different amount of airflow. This fan is ideal for someone who wants a straightforward fan that lasts for years.

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Best Pedestal Fan: Vornado VFAN Sr. Pedestal Vintage Air Circulator Fan

Size: 15.5 x 18.1 x 55 inches, 24 pounds

Number of speeds: three

This was the only “cool” fan that didn’t break the strict aesthetic of my college apartment which was communally decorated by five 22-year-old girls. The retro-inspired pedestal fan not only looks fantastic but also has an impressive 8,300+ reviews and an impressive 4.6-star rating. Personally, my favorite part of this device is that it is adjustable. The movable tilt head allows you to direct the air where you need it, which is very refreshing when you need that extra hit of airflow in the middle of a hot summer. It does have multi-directional air flow, but I enjoy the ability to target certain hot spots within the room as well. The base is also adjustable so you can customize the height. My only gripe with this timeless, Vornado fan is that it’s not remote-controlled (guess that is part of being vintage, though).

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Best Splurge: Dyson Pure Cool TP09 Purifying Fan

Behold the best air conditioning you’ve ever experienced. I had some reservations about spending so much money on a fan — until I tried the Dyson Pure Cool Purifying Fan. This fan is easily worth every penny. The machine projects over 77 gallons of air a second for cooling airflow while also purifying the air around you — standing in front of it truly feels like a spa-like experience. The tower comes in two different colors and is truly the prettiest piece of decor in my living room. According to the brand, the 360-degree HEPA filtration removes gases and 99.97% of allergens and pollutants. Reviewers have went as far to say that this fan helped reduce their asthma attacks during the night. I also love that this fan can be controlled by voice or app, for the ultimate hands-free experience. There is even a night mode, where the fan switches to the quietest settings and a dimmed display to accommodate light sleepers. For the smartest, splurge-worthy fan on the market, go with Dyson.

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Best Handheld Fan: O2COOL Elite Battery Powered Handheld Water Misting Fan

Size: 3.8 x 3.8 x 11 inches, 200 grams

Number of speeds: one

While this isn’t the fan to cool down your entire room, it’s always a good idea to keep a portable, hand-held misting fan by your side. This one is battery-operated, comes with two flexible blades and is available in a variety of cool shades like bright pink. I decided to give this tiny fan a shot, and now it’s hard to go anywhere without it. To be clear, it mostly travels around in my gym bag for a nice, refreshing post-workout breeze. The water mist is a great feature for helping cool down your body, and I absolutely love that the blades are soft. For someone as uncoordinated as me, it does provide a bit of relief that I won’t be chopping off my fingers trying to turn this on after a sweaty workout. I highly recommend this little fan for someone always on the go.

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Best for Outdoors: Shark FlexBreeze Fan with InstaCool Misting

Size: 13.8 x 13.8 x 37 inches, 12.2 pounds

Number of speeds: five

There is nothing more disappointing that being forced to stay inside on a summer day when the heat is unbearable. With the FlexBreeze Fan, you can enjoy outdoor weather while staying refreshed. I was thrilled to put this fan together (in just a few easy steps) and test out both the cordless and plugged-in power mode. While plugged-in, the fan works in full blow — reducing temperatures to feel up to 10 degrees cooler. It may not be quite as powerful when switched to battery power, but the 20-hour runtime makes up for that — you can enjoy a prolonged cool from the comfort of your patio. Plus, I learned that that the fan comes with a misting attachment so you can hook your fan up to a hose for an ultimate breeze boost. Sounds pretty luxurious to me.

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Best Desk Fan: Hampton Bay Portable Desk Fan in Black

Size: 14 x 15.3 x 7.7 inches, 5.3 pounds

Number of speeds: three

If you’re looking for the perfect compact fan for your desk space, I would opt for this Hampton Bay model. This budget-friendly find is a great size for just about any table setting and features sturdy, slip-resistant feet so it stays in place. My favorite part about this desk fan is that it requires no tools and comes right out of the box fully assembled. For someone who hates reading directions, this is certainly the fan to go with. While it only offers three speeds, the tilt-back head allows you to direct the airflow where you like, for an optimal breeze. It’s not the most quiet fan on the market, but the sound is rather smooth and disruptive. It’s easy to work alongside.

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Best Oscillating Fan: Lasko 2535 52″ Oscillating Pedestal Fan

Size: 14 x 14 x 52 inches, 12 pounds

Number of speeds: three

With a baby in the house, you start thinking about all the ways to childproof your living space. A mom friend recommended the Lasko fan for a sturdy, blade-free option that is also a bit heavier (ie. more difficult to tip over). It’s nice hybrid between a tower and pedestal fan that offers oscillation, as well as a large adjustable base that keeps the important technology off the ground and away from curious, tiny hands. The fan took about 15 minutes to assemble, and you can feel the air movement from roughly 12 feet away. Being able adjust the speed, timer, oscillation, and sleep mode right from the remote is also a huge plus. The bottom line: it’s a convenient fan for a busy household.

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Other Cooling Fans We Recommend

Best Portable Fan: RowentaTurbo Silence Standing Floor Fan

Size: 7.2 D x 24 W x 20 H, 19.6 pounds

Number of speeds: 5

We love the portability of the Rowenta Pedestal Fan. Bring it into your home office during the work day, and then transfer it to the living room or bedroom when evening comes. It offers five different speed settings, including Turbo Boost for when things are extra hot. It also operates via remote control, so you don’t have to get off the couch to switch modes, because that can also work up a sweat! A timer is built-in as well, making it energy efficient for when its on at night.

Although some customers are not pleased with the light on the fan, most are happy with its overall look and performance. Note that you’ll need to have a battery handy for the remote and put the fan together. However, it’s relatively simple and once you’re through, you can sit back and enjoy the cool breeze.

Customers are saying: “I was looking for a fan that was quiet and moved a lot of air. This one does both. I can comfortably circulate cool air through my home without the need to blast the volume to hear the TV. It’s such a huge improvement over the old box fans I had been using for years. I’m mad I didn’t get this sooner. Assembly was easy and intuitive and only took a few minutes, but I could see how it might be tricky if you’re not used to putting things together. The instructions aren’t the best. If I have one criticism, for the price of this fan, it’s kind of silly that the remote control doesn’t include a battery. It takes a coin-sized battery similar to what most car key fobs use, so fortunately I had an extra in the house.”

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Best 3-In-1 Fan: Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde PH04

Size: 2.3 D x 12.3 W x 36.3 H, 18 pounds

Number of speeds: 1

Okay, we know this is a pricey cooling fan. It’s also a Dyson.

And when you think about its 3-in-1 design, it sort of pays for itself. Part humidifier, part fan, part air purifier, you’ll save on space and money in the long run. There’s an auto mode to set and forget the humidifier portion, plus the LCD screen alerts you when the airflow needs to be increased. The device also used a HEPA filter, which can capture 99.97% of particles — even ones that are only 0.3 microns small. While the fan won’t make you feel as cool as an AC, the circulation from the Dyson Purifier Humdify + Cool Formaldehyde-PH04 will make the heat feel less cumbersome and stagnant.

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Best for Sleeping: Vornado 660 Large Air Circulator Fan

Size: 11.75 D x 13.5 W x 15 H, 7.32 pounds

Number of speeds: 4

It’s amazing how such a small fan could do such a mighty job at cooling down a hot room. However, it’s possible and this fan proves it. Capable of pushing air up 100 feet, the Vornado 660 Large Air Circulator Fan is one of our favorites for NYC apartments, as well as home offices or, if you’re lucky enough, in-office cubical. It has push button controls, which means there are no fancy apps or smart tech to deal with before cooling down. The fan moves along a chrome slide to achieve multi-directional airflow, so even if you’re not sitting directly in front of it, you’ll get a nice breeze.

Customers are saying: “I needed a fan to move cool air from elsewhere in the house into the part of the house where the wood stove generates heat. This fan gives a good solid, focused stream of air that gets the cool air all the way into the room, and you can hardly hear it! The low fan speed is the feature that makes the most difference. [It’s the] feature that makes it quiet enough to run all the time and not get worn out by a constant whine. Excellent product.”

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How We Tested

For this cooling fan review, I was focused on evaluating a few main points: the strength of the airflow, style and design, as well as any additional technological features. I also took note of how long it took to assemble each of the fans, and whether there were any quality issues. It is worthwhile to note that the fans were tested in my apartment living room, which is not a very large space. Shoppers looking to cool down larger areas may need to test the fans in a space which requires more diffusion.

Airflow: While most shoppers are looking for fans with the strongest airflow, I also looked for the differences in the airflow settings — to determine whether each fan had distinct options for different cooling needs. I stood at various distances away from the fan to measure the strength and consistency of the airflow.

Design: When it comes to design and style, every shopper has their own preferences. Some prefer larger and heavier floor fans, while others look for lighter and taller tower fans. Some of the fans I have tested have a more sleek, modern design while others have a vintage, retro look to them. I took note of all of these differences, as well as the color options.

Technology: Each of the fans I tested featured very different technology. Some of the more advanced options, like the Dyson, feature voice control. Many offered remote control. Some had automatic settings to turn off, or flip to a quieter ‘night mode.’ I’ve made note of all the unique features in my review.

What type of fan is best for cooling?

The best type of fan for cooling is a floor fan. Here’s why: they’re designed to circulate airflow throughout the room, which is exactly what you want when the temperature rises.

A floor fan can also:

• Make air feel less stagnant
• Help evaporate moisture from your skin
• Cool surfaces

They’re also typically more energy-efficient and budget-friendly than AC units, making them a great, portable option when the weather is hot.

One of our favorites — okay, our favorite cooling floor fan that we reviewed is the Honeywell QuietSet Oscillating Tower Stand Fan. Along with having five speeds, it has dimmable features and touch control, so it’s breezy (pun intended) to control.

Additionally, tower fans, in general, are slim, so they don’t take up a lot of space.

If you’re looking for something a bit lower to the ground, we also recommend the Vornado 660 Large Air Circulator Fan. It’s less than 15 pounds, so it’s easy to move from room to room. More importantly, it can move air up to 100 feet, which means it can cool a bedroom, living room or office space without issue.

Does putting ice in front of a fan work?

Yes, putting ice in front of a fan works. It acts as a coolant. The air moves over the ice, making it more chill — literally.

However, there are some safety things to consider, mainly that water and electricity don’t mix. It’s important to keep ice far enough away from the fan (use a bucket or bowl) to avoid accidents.

If that’s too much of a hassle, try placing your cooling fan in front of a large piece of furniture. No, really. The position will force air to circulate and move over the piece. This will also balance the overall room temperature, making it feel more comfortable.

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