WE might not be blessed with endless warm weather in the UK, but when a heatwave hits, it pays to have one of the best home fans on hand.
Fans come in all shapes and sizes, including desktop, tower, floor and bladeless. They are all cheaper to run than air conditioning and are easy to pack away for the rest of the year once temperatures drop again.
Prices vary dramatically, so it’s important to consider exactly where and how often you might use any fan you buy. For a quick blast of air while you work, a cheap desktop fan might do the job, but it could be worth spending more to keep a larger area cool or to ensure the fan is as quiet as possible for overnight use.
More expensive models may also look more attractive out on display.
Consider which features might be useful before you buy. Handy extras can include a night or automatic mode, a timer or a remote control, if you don’t want to get out of to bed to turn it on.
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Whichever model fits the bill, it’s worth buying it well before a heatwave is forecast, when all these fans are likely to become more difficult to get hold of.
Best home fan at a glance:
- Best overall home fan: MeacoFan Sefte 10”
- Best value home fan: LOGIK L16PFGM17 16"
- Best mid-range home fan: Challenge Pedestal
- Best premium home fan: Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool
- Best looking home fan: Icycool Copper Pedestal Fan
- Best fan for versatility: Shark FlexBreeze FA220UK
(AD) Honeywell QuietSet Oscillating Table Fan
Honeywell QuietSet Oscillating Table Fan, £23.60
Pros: Small, five speed settings, quiet night setting, oscillates through a wide area, timer
Cons: Night setting isn’t very powerful, you can’t adjust the height
Rating: 4.5/5
It can get very stuffy in the boxroom I use as my office during the summer so I was more than happy to test out this fan. Space is at a premium for me and although it’s a chunky model, the Honeywell QuietSet Oscillating Table Fan sat unobtrusively on the corner of my desk without being too overwhelming.
The squat design is actually quite cute and the five power levels certainly get the air moving, but as there isn’t a lot of space (and there is a lot of paper involved in what I do) I generally kept to the lowest two settings. Of these, the nighttime setting is the quietest, but also the lowest speed.
While the fan has an oscillation function, I didn’t use it when I was working as it was just a bit too much. The breeze created on the lowest settings is welcome, but I found it hit me in the neck and as there is no way to adjust the angle of air delivery, this became a little chilly after a while.
I also used the fan during warm nights, positioning it on a bedside table, but as far away as I could. I slept fine when it was in night mode, but I couldn’t really feel the air moving; the higher settings were better for cooling the air but were too loud for me to sleep through. I’m a very light sleeper though.
There’s also a timer – 1, 2, 4 and 8 hours – which is simple to activate and the LED lights that accompany each increase in fan speed fade out after 15 seconds. There’s also a handy carry handle on the back!
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Power: 34W; Noise: Not specified; Oscillation: Yes; Speed settings: 5; Size: 30 x 18 x 20cm; Remote control: No
Review by Lisa Burn
(AD) Devola Floor Fan 16
Devola Floor Fan 16, £50.80
Pros: Powerful fan, carry handle on back, large, not too heavy to carry between rooms
Cons: No timer, no remote control, only three settings, too big for small rooms
Rating: 3.5/5
This fan is a bit of a beast and has an industrial vibe. It’s a floor fan so the stand doesn’t get in the way, but the fan itself is massive. I used it in the living room and also tried it in the bedroom, but it was too noisy for me to sleep through.
It has three speeds and is pretty powerful. You can also tilt the head to direct the air where it’s most effective, but the design of the stand means it doesn’t oscillate from left to right, which is a shame.
Still, it works extremely well and I suspect it would be brilliant during a heatwave – alas when I tested it the weather hadn’t reached those glorious heights and even the lowest setting was too much.
The Devola Floor Fan is good for large spaces, but I think it’s overkill for smaller rooms. It also requires more effort than we’ve come to expect from our appliances, as it does not have a timer or a remote control, so you have to get up to switch it on, and off, adjust the speed and tilt the head to direct the airflow where you want it.
Also, the electric cable is quite short so you’re limited to the position of your sockets, and you have to have the fan facing you to benefit from the breeze.
On the plus side though it’s ready to go straight out of the box, no need to fix anything together.
Power: 80W; Noise: 55dB – 61dB; Oscillation: No, but you can manually tilt the fan up and down; Speed settings: 3; Size: 40 x 40 x 20cm; Remote control: No
Review by Lisa Burn
MeacoFan Sefte 10” Pedestal Air Circulator
MeacoFan Sefte 10” Pedestal Air Circulator, £175.95
Pros: Modern look, glow-in-the-dark remote control, excellent cooling, useful night mode, hidden carry handle
Cons: More expensive than other fans
Rating: 5/5
This is definitely a cut above most home fans, but that does mean it’s pricier. It fits together in a flash and has a great contemporary look that will suit any room without standing out.
However, it’s this fan’s cooling capabilities that really wowed me. It uses hi-tech sounding Air Beam Precision to control the angle of the airflow whether you’re surrounded by people or using it alone.
The DC brushless motor projects air across the room for startlingly efficient cooling that I could feel on the other side of my kitchen. In fact, the temperature of the entire room seemed cooler, even when I wasn’t directly facing the fan.
Removable columns mean it can also be adjusted to three different heights for maximum versatility, and it doesn’t just oscillate side to side, but also vertically to reach every corner of the room.
The dedicated night mode is a real game-changer. The fan is already whisper-quiet but the night setting turns off all sounds and lights and lowers the setting gradually until it turns off automatically so you don’t wake up freezing.
There’s even a glow-in-the-dark remote control to avoid scrabbling around in the dark. Easily one of the quietest home fans I tested, it’s well worth the extra cash to sleep soundly all summer, however hot it gets.
Power: Not specified; Noise: 25dB; Oscillation: Yes; Speed settings: 12; Size: 110 x 34 x 34 cm; Remote control: Yes
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Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde HP09 Purifying Fan Heater
Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP09, £699.99 £549.99
Pros: Also a heater and air purifier, distinctive style, excellent cooling, quiet, no assembly, can be controlled via app
Cons: Very expensive, some filters need changing
Rating: 4.5/5
There’s no need to pack away this fan once winter comes. This Dyson model does almost everything but pour you a cold drink, with cooling, heating and purifying capabilities to (almost) make it worth the hefty price tag.
Of course, its looks great too, thanks to Dyson’s instantly recognisable bladeless oval shape, and – hooray! - arrives ready to go straight out of the box.
It wasn’t quite as large as I expected so doesn’t overly dominate a room. Though it’s simple to work with a magnetic remote and even an accompanying app with voice control, there is quite a lot to get your head round at first.
Fan speed, direction and rotation can all be tweaked for the perfect stream of hot or cold air and both are equally powerful. I tried it in my kitchen on a chilly morning and was toasty in moments, but it also cooled down my stuffy living room in no time.
As an air purifier, it’s a little more confusing and I felt bamboozled by science reading on the box that the fan can remove 99.95% of airborne pollutants including formaldehyde which is found in some wood, fabrics and glues.
Yet it was strangely compelling to see the Dyson whizz into action whenever I cooked something or if I lit a candle nearby. I also liked being able to monitor my home’s air quality on the app and it would be even handier for anyone who suffers from allergies or lives near a busy road.
Of course, if you’re just looking for a home fan to use on a few hot days each year, you definitely won’t need the extra features this Dyson offers – or want to spend this much – so should consider the MeacoFan Sefte 10” Pedestal Air Circulator instead.
But if you’re happy to leave this out all year to get the full benefit from its clever functions, you’ll benefit from a seriously impressive machine.
Power: Not specified; Noise: 62dB; Oscillation: Yes, 350-degrees; Speed settings: 10; Size: 76.4 x 20 x 24.8 cm; Remote control: Yes
Shark FlexBreeze Portable Fan FA220UK
Shark FlexBreeze Portable Fan FA220UK, £199.99
Pros: Can be used outside, has a misting attachment, extremely powerful, perfect in a large room
Cons: Expensive, only available in black
Rating: 4.5/5
This fan really delivers on versatility. There are a whopping 12 ways it can be used including cordless, outdoors and tabletop, so this is one of the few fans I tested that it helped to study the instructions for.
Luckily, it’s still simple to put together as the whole head comes as one and the supporting column just needs slotting in place. It looks very sleek and sturdy although its matte black exterior doesn’t make as much of a style statement as the Icycool Copper Pedestal Fan.
However, it does all you could ever need from a fan, with 180-degree oscillation and 55-degree tilt to fill the room with icy air, a breeze mode and a timer that can be set for up to five hours.
It can even be used outdoors as a cordless model, with up to 24 hours of runtime so there’s no need to swelter over the barbeque again. A hose pipe can also be attached to turn it into a misting fan which I know will be a huge hit with my children this summer.
I especially liked the fact that it could transform from a pedestal fan to a desktop model with the press of a button, unlike the Challenge White Pedestal & Desk Fan which needed poles removing to change its use.
This makes it super easy to use all over the house without hassle. I used it next to me while I was working at my desk, then transformed it into a pedestal when watching TV in the evening. If you’re happy to spend extra, you won’t regret investing in this when the temperature rises.
Power: 36W; Noise: Not specified; Oscillation: Yes, 180-degrees; Speed settings: 5; Size: 94 x 35 x 35 cm; Remote control: Yes
Challenge White Pedestal & Desk Fan – 16 inch
Challenge White Pedestal & Desk Fan – 16 inch, £90
Pros: Easy to put together, powerful breeze that works well in a bigger room
Cons: Larger than some other fans
Rating: 4/5
Can’t decide what size fan you need? This nifty model can be used as both a pedestal or a smaller desktop fan by adding extra poles, which also makes it easier to store when not in use.
It’s a little larger than some of the other home fans I tested, so won’t easily hide away in a corner. In fact, if you’d prefer a less obvious fan in a darker colour, it could be an idea to opt for the LOGIK L16PFGM17 16” Pedestal Fan – Gun Metal instead.
However, if you fancy a fan in white, this one has all the power you’ll need plus eight settings so you can crank it up when it’s sweltering. I could feel it sitting several metres away on my living room sofa and I was also impressed by how quiet it was so I didn’t need to turn it off to be able to hear the TV.
The beeping noise when settings are changed is quite loud, so it’s best not to use them too much if someone else is trying to sleep in the same room, but otherwise this is a solid summer buy that does the job nicely.
Power: 45W; Noise: Not specified; Oscillation: Yes; Speed settings: 8; Size: 130 x 41 x 41 cm; Remote control: Yes
Icycool Copper Pedestal Fan
Icycool Copper Pedestal Fan, £59.99
Pros: Stylish, quiet operation, very stable, adjustable height
Cons: Quite difficult to assemble
Rating: 4/5
Fans aren’t the most attractive home item, so I was pleasantly surprised by this stylish model. The copper finish gives it boutique hotel flair, so it won’t stick out like a sore thumb in the corner of the living room. It also has a very stable base so there’s no chance it will be knocked over, though I did find it a little tricky to get the screws in during assembly as the motor is heavy to hold at the same time. I’d definitely recommend enlisting another pair of hands to help if you can.
When it is put together, it’s a great fan that delivers a powerful breeze that can be felt several metres away. I also liked the fact that I didn’t need to make room on my bedside table for a bulky desktop fan when using at night. It wasn’t too noisy so didn’t disturb me while sleeping either. Although the Igenix DF0030 Oscillating Tower Fan is cheaper, it’s worth the extra to have a fan that looks this good.
Power: 50; Noise: Not specified; Oscillation: Yes; Speed settings: 3; Size: 160 x 41 x 41cm; Remote control: No
LOGIK L16PFGM17 16” Pedestal Fan
LOGIK L16PFGM17 16” Pedestal Fan, £43.99
Pros: Looks good, great price
Cons: No remote control, no sleep mode
Rating: 3.5/5
If you love the stylish look of the Shark FlexBreeze Portable Fan FA220UK but want to spend considerably less, this pedestal fan is a steal. Made of go-with-anything grey metal, it’s surprisingly good-looking and won’t be out of place anywhere in the home.
I tried it in my living room, kitchen and bedroom and it worked equally well in each one, with the dark metal far less jarring than a chunk of white plastic in the corner.
It's fairly straightforward to put together though it does help to have someone on hand to hold the motor while you fasten the screws in place as they are a little fiddly.
Settings are changed via a dial on the back so there are no lights or noises if you tweak it during the night. However, it does mean that you need to be able to easily access the back of the fan.
There’s no timer or sleep mode, but I found it extremely effective at cooling me down in moments as the wide head and blades are able to whip up a strong wind that I could feel on the other side of the room.
Power: 50W; Noise: Less than 63.9dB: Oscillation: Yes; Speed settings: 3; Size: 125 x 45 x 36.8 cm; Remote control: No
Status 14 inch High Velocity Floor Fan
Status 14 inch High Velocity Floor Fan, £44.99
Pros: Stylish metal, powerful, well-priced, no assembly
Cons: Doesn’t oscillate, portable
Rating: 3.5/5
This fan earned bonus points from me before I’d even plugged it in as it lifts out of the box in one piece, ready to go, without so much as a screw to tighten.
It’s a fairly basic model without any timers or fancy features, but it more than delivers on power. I was amazed how much wind it whipped up and I found I rarely needed to put it higher than the first setting, especially as the highest was quite noisy. It’s very solid and well-built and the clean metal finish looks surprisingly good.
It doesn’t take up a lot of floor room either, and would easily store away when the weather turns colder. It can be tilted to find the perfect angle, but be aware that it doesn’t oscillate so you do need to be facing it directly to feel the breeze.
Power: Not specified; Noise: Not specified; Oscillation: No; Speed settings: 3; Size: 41 x 43 x 22 cm; Remote control: No
Igenix DF0030 Oscillating Tower Fan
Igenix DF0030 Oscillating Tower Fan, £29.99
Pros: Great price, simple to use, integrated carry handle
Cons: Timer makes faint ticking, looks a bit cheap
Rating: 3/5
This tower fan is a fairly basic model but is ideal if you’re looking for a no-frills model with a price tag to match.
It cools well, with three speeds to choose from and an oscillation function. I used it on the other side of my living room and could easily feel it from the sofa. Although be warned, there’s no remote control, so you will have to get up to operate it.
There’s a two-hour timer that can be set on a dial but I found this made a very faint ticking noise so chose not to use that function overnight. Otherwise, there are no tricky settings or digital displays to get your head round, as this fan operates with simple push buttons.
Though I tested the model in white, it’s also available in black which would be a more stylish option if it will be out on display all summer.
Power: 45W; Noise: Not specified; Oscillation: Yes; Speed settings: 3; Size: 76 x 24 x 24 cm; Remote control: No
How we tested these home fans
I assembled each one of these fans, noting how easy (or maddeningly difficult) they were to put together.
I then used each one in my own home, including next to me while I worked and overnight while I slept. I considered how quiet each fan was, how well it cooled the room and how easy it was to control.
I also used any extra functions including dedicated night modes, timers and natural breeze settings to see if they were worth paying extra for. Plus, I weighed up how good each fan looked when it was out on display in my home and if it offered good value for money.
Where to buy home fans
Home fans can be easily bought online and are also available in a range of shops including department stores and supermarkets. Don’t wait until a heatwave is due before deciding to buy one however, as many of these models will quickly sell out. Choose your favourite from the reviews above and get shopping on one of these recommended sites:
- Amazon
- John Lewis
- Dunelm
- Argos
- Meaco
- Robert Dyas
- The Range
- B&Q
- Wilko
How much does a home fan cost?
It’s possible to buy a fan to suit almost any budget, from around the £20 for a basic desktop fan to several hundred pounds for a branded bladeless model.
If you just want a fan to blow cold air on a few hot days each year, there’s no real point forking out over the odds.
However, if you need to cool a large area, want a particularly quiet model to help you sleep or prefer a more stylish fan you won’t mind out on display, it could be worth spending extra on a model that will last for years.
