SUNNIER days are finally here and the best desk fans will keep you cool while you’re working or relaxing.
Ideal for smaller spaces or if you’re on a tight budget, desk fans are small but mighty additions for the summer.
The advantage of buying a desk fan is that you can place them in most spots as it’s portable. Plus, you can find relatively quiet fans that won’t disturb you if you’re watching TV or in an online meeting.
While there are plenty out there, we’ve rounded up the best desk fans, tried and tested, for you to buy in the UK in 2023. Stay cool during this hot summer.
Best desk fans at a glance
- Best quiet: Devola Low Noise Desk Fan
- Best oscillating desk fan: Igenix DF0020 Mini Tower Fan
- Best for allergies: Dyson Pure Cool Me Fan
- Best office: John Lewis & Partners ANYDAY Desk Fan
- Best budget: John Lewis Handheld and Foldable Desk Fan
Devola Low Noise 9 Speed 9-inch Desk Fan
- Devola Low Noise 9-inch Desk Fan, £54.95 from Airconcentre - buy here
Rating: 5/5
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Pros: Good range of modes, powerful, quiet even when at top speed
Cons: Wide
If you’re looking to buy just one desk fan you can use year after year, pick the Devola Low Noise Fan.
As the name suggests, it’s incredibly quiet even on its highest setting which makes it ideal for online meetings or watching TV. Its sleek appearance would look great on any table and it has a responsive LED display that makes it feel very expensive.
You can select between 9 speeds with the full-blast mode feeling very strong in hot weather. It also oscillates to spread cool air around the room and is extremely effective at cooling a room down. While it’s slightly wide so would take up the majority of space on a bedside table, it’s still an ideal addition to any room.
Fan speeds: 9 Power: 20W Height: 31.2cm Width: 30.5cm
John Lewis Handheld and Foldable Desk Fan
- John Lewis Handheld and Foldable Desk Fan, £12 from John Lewis - buy here
Rating: 4/5
Pros: Small, cheap, adjustable settings
Cons: Can’t be used when plugged in.
If you’re a commuter then you have undoubtedly seen these funky little 4-inch fans from John Lewis, and you can read here how it's become the latest obsession with shoppers. They are compact and easily transportable which means you can live your Beyoncé moment whether you are on the train, at a concert, or on the move.
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The fan has three adjustable placement settings so you can use it wand-style for the on-the-go and then two desk functions so that you can direct it towards your face whilst you’re tapping away or on calls. It has three speed settings and we found it to be surprisingly quiet and powerful for a rechargeable handheld fan.
It’s teamed with an impressive battery life too - on the slowest setting it can last nine hours on a full charge, six hours on a medium charge and on the fast setting, it lasts four hours. It also only takes five hours to charge so it’s ready for when you are.
It uses a standard USB to mini USB for charging so you can even charge it from your laptop. Important to note that it cannot be used whilst plugged in though.
It comes in three on-trend colours too - orange, navy, sage and white. We opted for the Orange because a little pop of colour is always nice but the Sage was a close second choice. At £12 we can’t fault it and it’s already become a staple on the bag checklist before leaving the house.
Fan Speeds: 3 Power: Rechargeable Battery Height: 25cm Width: 11.3cm
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Igenix Mini Tower Fan
- Igenic Mini Tower Inch Fan, £21.99 from Amazon - buy here
Rating: 4/5
Pros: Cheap, small size, oscillating fan
Cons: Loud
If you’re in a pinch for space and need something small and effective at cooling you down, the Igenix Mini Tower Fan is your best pick. With a slim tower-fan design that extends to about 12 inches high, it sits nicely on top of desks or bedside tables and is simple to use with two speeds. Plus, its oscillating function spreads air easily and is effective at providing a cooling breeze that can be felt across a small bedroom.
Weighing less than a kilo, it’s also one of the lightest desk fans available so you can easily move it around from room to room. While it may be slightly noisy at 56dB, it’s a great cheap and powerful option for the summer.
Fan Speeds: 2 Height: 11.8cm Width: 4.3cm
Dyson Pure Cool Me
- Dyson Pure Cool Me, £535 from Amazon - buy here
Rating: 4/5
Pros: HEPA filter, high range of speeds, powerful
Cons: Expensive
Dyson is known for its fans and unsurprisingly, its smaller desk fan is another impressive design. The Dyson Pure Cool Me is one of the brand’s smallest fans and looks nothing like a typical fan with its circular features.
One of the best functions of the fan is that it has a HEPA feature, which is designed to capture allergens. It’s an ideal addition for hay fever or allergy sufferers who need relief in the summer.
Quiet with a 56dB noise level, it’s got 10 different speeds and plenty of power. It’s pricy and is at the top end of desk fans, but it’s definitely guaranteed to keep you cool in the heat.
Fan speeds: 10 Height: 40.1cm Width: 25.4cm
Boneco Air Shower Fan
- Boneco Air Shower Fan F120, £94 from B&Q - buy here
Rating: 4/5
Pros: Great range of motion, manually adjustable
Cons: Design is not for everyone
The Boneco Air Shower Fan has a new-age design that makes it a statement in any home, and it’s packed with incredibly practical functions.
Its unique design shifts the middle stand to the left so you need to be slightly more mindful when positioning it, however, it doesn’t affect airflow.
This fan has a great range of motion and rotates to 270 degrees, which is much further than most fans. Plus, you can manually adjust it around. While it may have a unique design it will take up the same amount of space as your average fan.
Fan speeds: 3 Power: 20W Height: 54cm Width: 27.8cm
John Lewis & Partners ANYDAY Desk Fan
- John Lewis & Partners ANYDAY Desk Fan, £15 from John Lewis & Partners - buy here
If you're looking for a fan that's compact, powerful yet well-priced, this affordable beauty from John Lewis has it nailed.
Part of the brand's ANYDAY range, it has two-speed functions, a 9" fan diameter and at 2kg it's lightweight enough to easily be transported between the office, kitchen and bedroom depending on where you need it most. It also comes with a two-year guarantee.
The fan's cooling powers have earned it a number of five-star reviews on the retailer's website, where shoppers praise its quality construction, miniature size and ability to provide welcome relief from hot conditions.
How much are desk fans?
The range of prices is vast when it comes to desk fans, and it all depends on the size, power and amount of features you want for your money. Basic handheld fans and simple desk fans can start at around £8, but you won't get as many settings or modes for that price.
While the vast majority of mid-range desk fans fit within the £35 to £80 price bracket, higher-end fans that offer air-purifying capabilities, temperature displays and multiple speed settings can reach into the hundreds.
Where can I buy a desk fan?
You can buy desk fans at most high-street stores and online home retailers. Look in the electrical appliance section to find a range of fans at different price points. Here are some of our favourite places to shop from.
- Amazon
- Argos
- AO.com
- B&Q
- Currys
- Homebase
- John Lewis
- The Range
How do I find the best desk fan?
The first thing to do is think about the size of the fan that you want. It’s designed to sit on your desk so it should be small and light so you can move it from room to room. Most are adjustable to move air in specific directions and another handy feature is being able to tilt the fan head. Speed settings are also important as a fan needs to be powerful enough to cool you without drying out your face. Also, consider the noise level, look for quiet fans with a low sound level. Other features that may be useful include purifying features and whether it can be USB connected to minimise space.
How long can you leave a desk fan on?
A desk fan can be left on for as long as it is powered. During hot nights many people choose to sleep with a desk fan at their side for up to 10 hours, and there's no reason why they shouldn't – as long as the fan is connected safely to a power source, they are designed to run for extended periods of time.
Which desk fan is the best?
The best desk fan is all a matter of perspective. For shoppers on a budget who need a simple yet powerful fan that will last for years, this ANYDAY model, £15, from John Lewis & Partners is a winner. For anyone on the search for a fan that works year-round and offers both cooling and heating functions, the Smart Air Humi Portable Hot and Cool Desk Fan is an excellent option, depending on your budget. If looks are your main concern, the Boneco Air Shower Fan F120, is sleek and minimalist. If you're after additional functions, we love the night light on the affordable infray USB Desk Fan.
How to make a desk fan colder
Just having a light breeze is usually enough to cool you down but if it’s a particularly hot day, you may feel your fan is just blowing hot air into your face.
Some fans have an integrated cooling system, such as an ice ring or water feature, that sits in front of the fan to cool any air that passes through it.
If your fan doesn’t, you can try a DIY method: just freeze some bottles of water and place these in front of your fan.
As the air hits the bottles, it will cool instantly. Just make sure you put a drip tray under it to catch the condensation.
Do desk fans use a lot of electricity?
How much electricity your desk fans use will depend on how powerful the machine is, what setting you have it on and how long you have it on.
If you have a powerful fan that you use on the highest setting all day, it can use up a lot of electricity.
That said, most desk fans are fairly small so they likely won’t use as much electricity as a fan that’s designed to cool an entire room.
Now that you’ve read our guide to choosing the best desk fans, check out our round-up of the best air purifiers if you're looking to reduce dust, pollen and other pollutants in your home.
We’ve also rounded up the best tower fans that won’t take up much space in your home.
And if you’re on the search for some serious cooling power, why not check out our guide to the best air conditioners?
