Best Cooling Fan: Tower
With powerful, full-room coverage that sweeps cool air from corner to corner, the space-saving Lasko oscillating tower fan is what you want when temperatures soar. It blows quieter than most fans so you can hear the TV, yet produces just the right amount of lulling hum at bedtime.
A nighttime setting automatically decreases the fan speed as it dims the controls for a soothing sleep environment. And the automatic shut off can be programmed from 30 minutes to up to eight hours.
Best Cooling Fan: Window-Mounted
The Comfort Zone Nine-Inch Twin Window Fan cools a room while taking up no floor space. The duo unit’s reversible design cools two ways: by drawing in fresh air from outside or expelling hot, stale air out. It’s portable, so it can be used on a tabletop (feet included) or on the floor.
The auto-locking accordion sides fit snugly into various size windows. When not in use, a removable cover prevents hot, humid air from entering your home.
Best Cooling Fan: Pedestal
Get air circulating in larger rooms with the commercial-grade Royal Sovereign 30-inch two-speed indoor oscillating industrial fan. A classic with its black and gray all-metal design, you can tilt the drum of this standalone pedestal fan any which way and adjust the height between 60 and 78 inches. Set the fan to oscillate or lock it in place to aim the cool exactly where you want it.
Best Cooling Fan: Desk
Go old school without dealing with replacement parts and old wiring. The VFAN Mini Modern Vintage Air Circulator Fan will look cool on your desk at home, in the office or in your dorm. It’s made of enameled metal in a host of timeless retro colors.
This fan has all the standard operations you’d expect from a bigger fan, like deep-pitched propeller blades, two speed settings and a pivoting head.
Best Cooling Fan: Box-Style
Don’t underestimate the power of the Lasko High-Velocity Box-Style Fan. Featuring tubular steel construction, the durable metal blades deliver maximum air movement via three manually operated speeds.
You can set the pivoting head to direct the airflow and circulation where you need it most, and the built-in handle makes it portable for easy use in the garage and workshop. This versatile fan also converts from a floor model to a wall-mounted one (bracket included) in a jiffy.
Best Cooling Fan: Ceiling-Mounted
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, ceiling fans are considered the most effective way to circulate air in a room. The Minka Aire, with its eye-catching lines and distressed Koa wood, is as lovely to look as it is energy-efficient.
It features integrated and dimmable energy-efficient LED lights to eliminate replacing bulbs all the time, saving you even more on your electricity bill. Plus, the Minka is WiFi compatible using a simple-to-download app.
Best Smart Cooling Fan
To clean and cool the air at the same time, the HEPA filtered Dyson Pure Cool Purifying Fan uses Air Multiplier Technology to capture pollutants and allergens floating in your home.
Engineered to automatically react to the air quality in real time, it sends a detailed report to your phone through the Dyson Link app, Alexa or Siri. This voice- or remote-controlled fan rotates 350 degrees to reach every corner of the room. You can use it with or without the cooling function by selecting the “purify only” mode.
Best Cooling Fan for Kids
Featuring a flexible silicon tripod design, the WiHoo Mini Stroller Fan easily wraps around a stroller, car seat or beach umbrella. It can be placed on a table or held in your hand as well. The battery-powered fan blows for up to eight hours and can be charged on your laptop, car charger or external power pack using the USB interface.
This micro-blower is safe around kids thanks to the tight gaps on the front of the fan that keeps little fingers and toes out. It works indoors and out.
Best Cooling Fan: Bladeless
Operating at a whisper-soft 13 decibels, the Greentech Environmental pureFlow QT7 bladeless fan runs so quietly you can almost hear a pin drop. By cycling more air quickly than traditional bladed fans, the room temperature stays consistent and comfortable throughout the day.
Run it alongside your air conditioner or by itself; it doubles as a calming and peaceful white noise machine. The auto shut-off timer operates for up to nine hours.
Best Cooling Fan for Outdoors
Charge it up and go. The Geek Aire Rechargeable Outdoor High-Velocity Floor Fan is battery operated so you can take it virtually anywhere. It’s also waterproof, suitable for barbecues or camping, and reliable in an emergency power outage.
The Geek has the latest in fast-charging technology, bringing it to full battery capacity (24-hour run time) faster than most other cordless outdoor fans.