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These quiet, powerful fans are an efficient way to cool air so you don’t have to blast your AC.
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Improve airflow and reduce the temperature in any room without blasting your AC unit. While tower fans are great when you have the space, ceiling fans offer a permanent solution that requires no square footage on your floor.
Ceiling fans are great for spaces that need additional air circulation, especially during the warmer months. They are also valuable appliances in the winter. By reversing the rotation of the fan, it forces warm air away from the ceiling and back toward the lower areas of the room. The best ceiling fans effortlessly blend into your home, keep you comfortable in any weather, and save energy in comparison to floor models.
The Best Ceiling Fans
- Best Overall: Westinghouse Comet Indoor Ceiling Fan
- Best Value: Hunter Fan Company Dempsey Indoor Ceiling Fan
- Best Wi-Fi-Enabled: Minka-Aire 52-Inch Indoor Ceiling Fan
- Best Industrial Design: Honeywell Carnegie Industrial-Style Ceiling Fan
- Best Compact Option: Harbor Breeze Mazon Indoor Ceiling Fan
How to Find the Right Fan for Your Space
Blade Size
Blade size directly correlates to how much air circulation will fill rooms of varying sizes. Most average ceiling fans have blades that range between 42 and 48 inches. This size is suitable for areas between 50 and 75 square feet. This works well for bedrooms, offices, and other, mid-sized rooms.
Anything larger—say 50 inches and above—can cover spaces between 150 and 375 square feet. This is the right choice for spacious living rooms or even outdoor spaces like built-in gazebos or covered patios.
Mounting Position
Most fans come with several options for mounting positions, such as downrod, flush, or angled. This provides you with the flexibility for mounting based on your ceiling style. Downrod brings your fan further from the ceiling with a long rod extending down. This is ideal for rooms tall ceilings that require up close cooling. Angled and flush mounting positions have the fan attached directly to the ceiling either straight up or at whatever angle your ceiling is at.
If you’re planning to add a new fan to your porch or sunroom, make sure to go with a model that’s designed for outdoor and indoor use.
Motors and Remotes
Many fans have reversible, three-speed motors, allowing you to set them counterclockwise in the summer and switch to clockwise rotation for the winter so it spreads cool or warm air based on the weather.
Most fans still have pull chains to control the speed and lighting, but several also have hand remotes, wall controls, or even smart home capability. If you want to go with a cheaper model without one, you can always install a universal fan remote later.
How We Selected
We made our final selections based on the availability of features as well as the lasting value of each fan over time. We made sure to include options with multi-year or lifetime warranties, so this item is more than just a short-term purchase. We also provided options across price points that suit different budgets, paying special regard to speeds, blade size, and ease of installation.
Pros
Good size for most rooms
Silent on high
Cons
Soft illumination
Key Specs
CFM | 5,199 |
---|---|
Speeds | 3 |
Room Size | up to 360 sq. ft. |
This Westinghouse Comet ceiling fan combines two of the most important factors for any ceiling fan: affordability and style. The clean, modern look doesn’t come with the same sort of price tag that many other high-end chic options have, so you can add a contemporary design to your home without paying contemporary prices.
That said, the fan isn’t all beauty and no breeze either. Powerful enough to circulate air in rooms up to 400 square feet, this fan will be more than enough for the dog days of summer.
The Comet has a modern yet simple design that blends in with a variety of home decor for an effortless fit. The included light may be too dim for some rooms, so have some spare LED bulbs on hand for stronger light.
Pros
Reversible motor
Light kit included
Universal remote
Cons
Company’s name on fixture, which may not suit all tastes
Key Specs
CFM | Not listed |
---|---|
Speeds | 3 |
Room Size | Up to 300 sq ft. |
While its reasonable price tag is inherently enticing, this 52-inch model from Hunter Fan Company also provides high value purchasing power in other ways as well.
The low-profile contemporary ceiling fan features a reversible motor for summer and winter use as well as an internal light which works well as a secondary overhead option. It offers three speeds and there’s a universal remote as part of the package. The ceiling fan comes in nine finishes too so you’re bound to find one that works with your decor.
Pros
Wi-Fi connectivity and remote
Modern style
Cons
Noise upon installation
Key Specs
CFM | 4,531 |
---|---|
Speeds | 3 |
Room Size | Up to 225 sq. ft. |
The Minka-Aire not only offers modern looks, but it has modern technology to back it up. In fact, it’s the only fan on this list that’s Wi-Fi-enabled, connecting easily to a home assistant. With the assistance of a Bond Wi-Fi bridge, you can control your fan from any home smart device as well as your phone for easy control whether you’re in the house or not.
The Minka-Aire should comes with a 6-inch downrod, so you don’t need any separate purchases for installation in a room with high ceilings. There are also six colors available.
There may be a loud humming after installation; however, this can be fixed by running the fan for 24 hours afterwards.
Pros
Included light bulbs and remote
Ideal for medium and large rooms
Quiet performance
Cons
May be too large for low ceilings
Key Specs
CFM | 3,376 |
---|---|
Speeds | 3 |
Room Size | Up to 324 sq. ft. |
For an industrial, rustic style, the Honeywell Carnegie offers three different color options, each with reversible blades, for mixing and match to your brutalist or old-school sensibilities. This 52-inch fan comes with three speeds and a reversible motor which is a great option for rooms between 12 x 12 to 18 x 18 feet in size. It works well for rooms with higher ceilings, since it can reach 14 inches long with the included 4-inch downrod.
In addition to the standard downrod, there’s the option for an angled or flush mount. The Carnegie comes with three Edison E26/B10 LED bulbs, which can be dimmed with the included remote control.
Honeywell offers a limited lifetime warranty on the fan, so if anything breaks or malfunctions, report it back to the company, and you’ll receive maintenance or a replacement for no additional charge.
Pros
Includes dimmable light and remote
Suitable for small rooms
Cons
No manual controls
Key Specs
CFM | 4,545 |
---|---|
Speeds | 3 |
Room Size | Up to 225 sq. ft. |
Unlike some low-profile fans, the this ceiling fan from Harbor Breeze includes an overhead light. Its size is ideal for small rooms, and an overhead light built may eliminate the need for any additional lamps or bulbs in the room. The ceiling fan even provides a dimmable LED bulb with the purchase.
With three brushed-nickel blades and a matte opal light kit, this ceiling fan creates a sleek, modern design suitable for a variety of spaces, including basem*nts. You can control the three-speed reversible motor with an included remote controller—which comes a wall holder, so you’re less likely to lose it in the couch cushions.
While this may be labeled as our best compact option, that only applies to its physical size. The ceiling fan actually outperforms it’s relatively slight frame, circulating air effectively in rooms up to 225 square feet.
Pros
Reversible fan motor
Long lasting LED bulbs
Quiet airflow
Cons
Ceiling mount-only
Key Specs
CFM | 6,239 |
---|---|
Speeds | 3 |
Room Size | Up to 400 sq. ft. |
If you’re looking for a fan for a covered patio, porch, or sunroom, this is where the Hunter Key Biscayne fan excels. Its WhisperWind motor ensures quiet operation even at powerful speeds. This is paired with a durable exterior that holds up well even under a little bit of rain and wind.
The mounting system allows for three positions, including standard, low, and angled, so it adapts well to whatever outdoor ceiling it may attach to. In terms of style, it’s less modern and more classic with a pull-chain control and weathered zinc finish. It comes with LED light bulbs that can illuminate rooms for extended periods of time without replacement.
Pros
Energy-efficient LED lightbulbs
Ideal for low ceilings
Quiet performance
Cons
Only three blades
Key Specs
CFM | 2,238 |
---|---|
Speeds | 3 |
Room Size | Not listed |
Save energy while cool down your home with this Hunter Fan Company 44-Inch Ultra Quiet Ceiling Fan. With three long blades, this fan utilizes a soft whisper motor for quiet use with the click of a button, which makes it perfect for bedrooms.
Its included remote can be used to adjust speed settings and brightness at the same time. You’ll want to use this ceiling fan in areas with low ceilings, as it fits flush to the ceiling so you can make the most out of your space.
The smaller design doesn’t led itself to incredible power, but as a small circulator or part of an AC and ceiling fan combo, it gets the job done. Grab one now in matte black, white, or brushed nickel.
Tom Price
Associate Reviews Editor
Tom Price is an Associate Editor of Reviews for Popular Mechanics, and also contributes to Runner's World, and Bicycling. He has previously covered product reviews, startup news, and even professional wrestling. In his free time, he enjoys watching pretentious TV, low-brow movies, and exercising for beauty, not health. If you are interested in exploring more of his work, check out his website.
Paige Szmodis
Paige Szmodis is an editor for Runner’s World, Bicycling, and Popular Mechanics, who researches and writes home, tech, and outdoor product reviews and news.
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