The Best Fans We've Ever Tested

To find the best fans, we gathered many different models and tested them to see which devices were the most effective. We evaluated each product on important factors such as design, effectiveness, safety, and more. Below, you'll find our top performers across a variety of categories, but bear in mind that all of our picks focus on floor and desk fans, rather than ceiling fans or other models.

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A great fan not only helps circulate the air through an otherwise stagnant room, but can also provide cooling comfort on the warmest days. 'Different types of fans serve different functions, but they all can help reduce your heating and cooling bills and keep the air in your home feeling fresh and comfortable,' says Lowe's store manager, Brian Shaunfield .

While you can't adjust the height of the fan and it doesn't offer oscillation, you can manually adjust the angle up and down. It also features a three-hour timer for added convenience. Its lime green color won't appeal to everyone, but it's also easy to spot at the worksite so you don't forget it. Just note that the fan's cage design is not safe for children, as small fingers could easily reach inside.

This relatively small utility fan has an impressively strong airflow, especially at the highest of its four speed settings. The downside to its powerful breeze, though, is the amount of noise it produces. This fan was too loud to comfortably hold a conversation at the two higher speeds, but we did appreciate its integrated handle that made it easy to move around if we needed a break from the noise.

While we really liked this fan's various features, we wish it had a more appealing aesthetic design. As it is, it's large and somewhat utilitarian-looking'fine overall, but nothing special. A little digital display provides a basic overview of the current settings at a glance. We liked that the display turned off automatically so it didn't disturb our sleep. Moreover, the fan was also quiet while running, even at the highest setting.

We found the fan to be particularly sturdy, and held up very well when bumped into. We also really enjoyed that its cooling effect felt like air conditioning. On that same note, we definitely feel this would be a good option for those who need to cool down a room, but don't have access to an AC unit .

This smart fan delivers strong air flow, has five speed settings, 90-degree horizontal oscillation, and four modes (normal, sleep, breeze, and power breeze). Its integration with the Holmes SmartConnect app made it possible to adjust settings and set schedules from our . For additional smart capabilities, this fan also works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant if you would rather use voice commands with a compatible smart speaker or smart display.

In part because of the fan's sturdy design, it isn't the easiest model to move around, even though it has an integrated handle. It would be nice to have additional color options, in case the standard black doesn't suit your decor. To make up for these drawbacks, this oscillating fan comes with a remote, allowing you to adjust the settings from across the room.

This fan operates very quietly at most settings, making it an excellent choice if you want a wide range of speed settings without tons of noise. You do hear some sound at the highest settings, but we felt it was more of a pleasant 'white noise' effect than anything distracting. Its nine wind speeds were very effective at cooling during our testing, and we also liked the sturdy base and bladeless design that make this model a safer bet around curious kiddos.

This fan is a very lightweight model, which adds to its portability, but did make it easier to tip over. It also only has two speed settings, both of which produce a decent level of sound. The high setting, in particular, was very loud and made it difficult to talk or watch TV when operating. and both had some sound. In terms of safety, a child's fingers could get into the fan cage, but the blades are likely too far away on either side of the fan to easily reach them.

Other fans on this list have to be plugged in for continuous power, but the Treva Fin Fan is uniquely portable. This model comes with a standard AC adapter if you want to power it via an obliging wall outlet, but it can also run on six D batteries (not included). Its handle also makes it easy to move from room to room'or even outside. We also like its modern design and how well it circulated air in small and mid-sized areas.

There is no integrated handle for easily carrying this fan, and it's big and heavy for a desk unit. Additionally, since this fan is designed to cool a larger space , we think a remote or app would come in handy for adjusting the settings from a distance. Overall, this is a simple desk fan that manages to circulate air extremely well around a room, but is otherwise limited in terms of features, accessories, and specialty options.

This powerful fan moves air effectively around a room, thanks to its 1,638-cubic-foot-per-minute airflow'the highest of any of our picks. We could even feel the breeze from this fan up to almost 20 feet away. While it doesn't offer adjustable height or oscillation, the fan does have a wide manual tilt range so you can move it up or down to your preferred angle.

The fan has 10 speed settings, 10 sound settings, and an optional Snooz app for remote access. You can't adjust the height of this fan and there isn't an oscillation feature, but you can change the angle manually. While this fan isn't particularly heavy, there's no handle so it's best kept in one place or only moved occasionally, as needed. Those with little ones can also rest easy, as we were unable to fit a pencil between the grill. But we still urge parents to remain cautious regardless.

This model is our favorite bedroom fan for a reason'it's also a white noise machine. Although both the fan and white noise machine are loud'especially on higher speed/volume settings'the sound was not unpleasant and could help mask street noise, a snoring partner, and anything else that might make it more difficult to sleep.

You do get a remote and access via the Windmill Air app, but we found those features somewhat superfluous for a fan you'd likely be using at your desk within close reach. If you do enlist the Windmill Air app for remote access from your , this fan is also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home smart home platforms.

While the fan does have a manual tilt function, it doesn't have height adjustment, oscillation, or any dedicated modes beyond its five speed settings. Fingers can also reach inside the fan, so it isn't safe for small children. However, his model has a sturdy base that isn't easy to knock over, ensuring that it won't damage easily.

We really like that this fan is super quiet on its lower settings. Its near-silent operation makes it an especially great accompaniment in the office since it won't distract you from your work while it's running. The fan's design is also a stand-out, featuring a modern aesthetic, available in white, navy, yellow, pink, and black, that easily blends into any decor. That said, you pay a bit of a premium for the design.

Since this is a tower fan , you don't get vertical tilt or height adjustment with this model. The lack of adjustable height might be annoying if you have a taller bed frame because the breeze likely won't reach you. However, this fan features an impeller design rather than traditional fan blades, so there's a lower risk of injury should any little ones stick their fingers inside it (which we found to be a little difficult).

This model also comes with a remote so you can easily control the fan up to 20 feet away. We especially liked the fan's Sleep Mode, which turns off all lights during operation. You can also mute the buttons if you don't want them to beep when you change settings. Though, we noticed that on lower settings, we didn't quite feel the fan's breeze when we sat a short distance away.

With four fan speeds, four modes, an eight-hour timer, and horizontal oscillation, the Dreo Tower Fan Nomad One offers a good variety of options at a reasonable price. While the fan is not entirely silent, its white noise effect did not disrupt our conversations or TV-watching'and we even considered it a bonus while sleeping.

This model was noisier than we'd like, including having a buzzing sound during operation. Overall, though, we found that it wasn't loud enough to be distracting on its low setting during conversation or on its high setting while watching TV. We were able to pass a pencil through the fan cage with the fan unplugged'our test to determine whether or not it's safe for children. If you have kids who might be overly-curious about a product like this, you may want to consider another model that little fingers can't access.

While this simple desk fan doesn't offer oscillation, it reliably sent cooling air in the direction it was pointed, even from several feet away. We also liked that this model is lightweight and easy to move. Its portability is especially useful since the lack of oscillation might require you to shift it around regularly to reach different parts of a room. It does, however, have a 90-degree vertical tilt function which you can adjust manually.

This fan is easy to lift and move and an integrated knob allows you to adjust its height up or down approximately 5.5 inches. We also like that its LED display turns off automatically so the light doesn't bother you when you're trying to sleep. In addition to controlling the fan on the unit itself or from the remote, this model is also compatible with the Dreo app and supports Amazon Alexa and Google Home smart home platforms.

We found the fan's design poses a safety risk to children, as the protective cage covering widens as it reaches the outside. Anyone with concerns about small objects or tiny fingers making their way into this fan should consider an alternative. The included remote didn't respond unless it was pointed directly at the sensor on the fan, though in our testing it did work as far as 20 feet away (with some effort).

The Dreo Smart Air Circulator PolyFan 513S remained impressively quiet throughout our testing, even when switching among its eight speeds and six modes, including the powerful Turbo Mode. Its 105-degree vertical and 120-degree horizontal oscillation can be used at the same time to circulate even more air.

Final Verdict

While there are a lot of great fans on our list, we especially like the Dreo Smart Air Circulator PolyFan 513S. Its quietness, nice variety of wind speeds and modes, as well as its vertical and horizontal oscillation all make this model stand out from the rest. We found the included remote a little finicky, but you can also enlist the Dreo app to control the fan straight from your . 

For those looking for a more affordable model, we also really like the Hampton Bay Personal Table Fan, which offers three speed settings, a powerful breeze for its small size, and a tilt function so you can adjust the vertical angle, as needed.

Our Testing Process

We followed a specific set of procedures to review each fan we considered for this list, focusing especially on design, effectiveness, safety, and value. First, to assess a fan's sound output, we used a decibel reader at two feet away, both at its highest and lowest fan speed. We also tested whether the fan is easy to lift and move around. We then experimented with each fan's adjustable height, tilt, and oscillation functions, where available, to see how easy it was to change from each device from its default position or setting. If the fan came with a remote, we tested its responsiveness at both 10 and 20 feet away. 

To test the relative effectiveness of each fan, we placed cut strips of printer paper and construction paper on a table at a fixed distance. For desk fans, we placed the paper at two feet and again at six feet and noted how, if at all, the fan's breeze moved the papers at its highest and lowest settings. For floor fans, we place the papers at 10 feet and 20 feet away. 

To judge the potential safety of a fan around small children, we unplugged the fan and saw if an unsharpened pencil fit between any slots on the cage. We also considered the style of the fan, including whether it has traditional blades or a bladeless design. All of these factors together helped us determine each fan's overall value and whether or not we would buy it ourselves and recommend it to others.

Real Simple / Eric Brockob

How to Shop for Fans Like a Pro

Type 

Fans come in a wide variety of styles that all serve different purposes. 'Depending on what the customer needs out of the fan, or where they need the fan to be located, they can determine which style of fan will fit their needs best,' explains Shaunfield. Below, are some of the most common types of fans to help you narrow down your options:  

Table fans: As the name suggests, table fans (also called desk fans) are designed to sit on tables. They are typically smaller, simpler models without height adjustment or oscillation. Some may have manual tilt functions so you can change the angle in addition to switching among multiple fan speeds. These units are best suited for desks, bedside tables, and other locations where you'll be near it while it runs.

Pedestal fans: Pedestal fans are a type of floor fan with a wide base and a thin pedestal, usually equipped with a mechanism to adjust the height. Shaunfield says pedestal fans are a good, portable alternative when a window fan won't work in your space. They deliver 'powerful airflow' and have 'a wide range of power and oscillating speeds,' he adds.

Tower fans: Like pedestal fans, tower models are also designed to sit on a floor and oscillate. Unlike pedestal fans, tower fans don't typically offer height adjustment. Instead of a standard fan blade, some tower fans feature a bladeless motor. Their space-saving design is good for smaller rooms, while still providing 'just as much cooling and air flow as other fans,' explains Shaunfield.

Window fans: Depending on the direction in which they're installed, window fans can either bring cool air into your home from the outside or send hot indoor air out of your home, says Shaunfield. 'They can create cross ventilation if you can put fans on opposite sides of the room with one blowing in air and the other blowing out,' he adds.

Real Simple / Abby Mercer

Airflow

When browsing fan options, airflow is likely going to be one of the biggest factors you'll have to take into account. 'Airflow in fans determines how much air a fan can move and how quickly the fan can cool down the room,' Shaunfield explains. Many fan manufacturers advertise their products' airflow capacity in cubic feet per minute. The higher the number, the more powerful the fan. 

Our favorite fan for large rooms'the Vornado 660 Large Air Circulator'has the highest advertised airflow of any of our other picks at 1,638 cubic feet per minute. This means that its cooling ability will likely outperform other fans that may not have the same level of power. 

However, a fan's available speed settings also determine its airflow, allowing other models that may be smaller or less powerful to still produce decent airflow. Some fans only offer high and low options, while others might have as many as nine or more different speeds.

Features

While most fans typically have at least two speed settings, there are dozens of models out there that come with extra features to help them stand out. For example, some models may come with a remote control, have Wi-Fi functionality via a related app, or have compatibility with smart home platforms like Amazon Alexa or Google Home. 

Other fan features vary based on style. Table fans often have a manual tilt function to give you more control over your airflow. Meanwhile tower fans usually have a bladeless design that relies on an impeller rather than traditional blades, making it a safer option for those with curious little ones. All that being said, before you settle on a fan, take into consideration what features matter most to you, whether that's smart compatibility or a quiet fan that still produces decent airflow.

More Fans to Consider

Lasko Aria Smart Tower Fan: We liked this fan's powerful breeze and slender design. However, it was quite noisy at the two highest settings and some people might miss having a physical remote.

Honeywell QuietSet Whole Room Tower Fan: This model offers a nice range of features for the price'five fan speeds, a timer, a remote control, and oscillation. Unfortunately, it was difficult to install and the base did not fit snugly with the rest of the fan, making it unsteady.

Real Simple / Courtney Thompson

Questions You Might Ask

What is the difference between a fan and an air circulator?

'A fan creates a cooling effect through a single stream of air, and most people can feel the effects if they are directly in the airflow of the fan,' explains Shaunfield. 'An air circulator works by creating a jet stream effect that sucks air from the back and projects it to create an even, cooling effect throughout an entire room rather than one stream of air like a fan.' Of the models on our list, the Dreo Smart Air Circulator PolyFan 513S, the Xpower FC-200 Pro Air Circulator Utility Fan, and the Vornado 660 Large Air Circulator are air circulators.

Are more expensive fans worth it?

If you are looking for a fan with height adjustment, oscillation, a remote control, multiple speed settings, and Wi-Fi connectivity, then it might be worthwhile to splurge on a pricier model. A less expensive model likely won't offer all of these options. 

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Shaunfield says a pricier fan might offer additional energy-saving features, like an Energy Star certification, saving you money over time. However, if you only need something with a few speeds to keep the breeze flowing in your stuffy office, a model that costs more won't necessarily offer a good overall value. 

What types of fans are the most cooling?

The types of fans that are going to offer you the most cooling are ones that have powerful airflow, measured in cubic feet per minute. Generally, the higher the number, the stronger the airflow. 

If you want to really kick things up a notch, Shaunfield suggests installing a whole house fan, which he says will help lower your energy costs. 'It works on the same principle as an attic fan, but is a much more powerful unit that pulls cool air in from open windows throughout the home, and pushes hot air out through vents in the attic and roof,' he explains.

The company is the world’s best Hot Sale Stand Fan supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

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Take Our Word for It

This article was written by Megan Wollerton, a Real Simple contributor with 11 years of experience testing and writing about a wide variety of appliances. For this roundup, we tested dozens of fans, taking into account important factors like design, cost, airflow, and more. We also checked in with our testers two months after the initial results to determine how well each product held up over time, and whether any original impressions had changed. Megan also received expert insights on fan operation and functionality from Lowe's store manager, Brian Shaunfield.

What Is Real Simple Selects? 

Next to each product on this list, you may have noticed a Real Simple Selects seal of approval. Any product appearing alongside that seal has been vetted by our team'put through tests and graded on its performance to earn a spot on our list. Although we buy most of the products we test, sometimes we do get samples from companies if purchasing a product ourselves isn't an option. All products go through the same rigorous process, whether they are purchased or sent by the company.

Love our recommendations? Check out more products that have earned the Real Simple Selects, from humidifiers to cordless vacuums.

If you're looking to keep cool during the hottest months without running up your energy bill, then a great cooling fan is your best bet. Used alone or along with your air conditioner, a good fan can help you stay cool and alert during long Zoom calls in your home office or study sessions in your dorm room, and keep your home a whole lot more comfortable.

We researched hundreds of models and brought 15 highly rated options for testing. During testing, we found that all of the fans did a similarly good job of keeping our test space cool, but varied widely in features, build quality and usability. So, while you'll likely be happy with whichever fan you choose, we've picked out the best tower, pedestal and floor fans to suit your space.

Best cooling fan: Honeywell QuietSet Whole Room Tower Fan HYF290B

Suzanne Kattau/CNN Underscored

A tower fan gives you great cooling performance with a small footprint, so it's easy to place in a living room, bedroom or anywhere you'd prefer to tuck an appliance out of the way. Our pick for best tower fan, the Honeywell QuietSet Whole Room tower fan, is well-built, quiet and affordable. It has a solid, stable build and a beautiful, colorfully laid-out control panel that was simpler to figure out and use than the competition, which is why it's earned the spot as our top pick.

The Honeywell QuietSet was easier to assemble than the other tower fans we tested, with tool-free construction and a simple connection to the base that was a lot easier to deal with than the other tower models. Once we put it together, despite the Honeywell's light weight, it was more stable than its competitors ' some other lightweight towers, like the Lasko, wobbled with a push.

Eight speed settings ' more than the other tower fans we tested ' give you the ability to fine-tune, though the three lower speeds were very similar in our testing. The clearly labeled controls and comfortable remote made it easy to click through the settings; other models were more finicky and difficult to adjust.

Since it's likely to be placed in a bedroom, we especially appreciate that the Honeywell let us not just dim its control panel lights but turn them off entirely. None of the other fans we tested offered this kind of control, which let us choose whether we wanted to sleep in total darkness or to just dim the controls so they weren't distracting.

Best splurge fan: Dyson Purifier Humidity+Cool Formaldehyde PH04 Fan

Suzanne Kattau/CNN Underscored

Our pick for best splurge fan, the Dyson Purifier Humidity+Cool Formaldehyde PH04 floor fan is a great fan, air purifier and humidifier all in one unit. It impressed us with its ease of use, sturdy build, fast cooling and quieter performance than the other fans ' plus, it doubles as an air purifier and humidifier (we didn't compare its humidifying function to other fans in this review primarily because none of the other fans offer such a feature).

Like the Dyson Hot+Cool HP04 fan before it, this new model fan can monitor levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde (thus the name). And like the HP04, the PH04 fan offers fine-grained control over its various settings, easy tool-free assembly and well-thought-out front panel controls, including an LCD screen and a handy remote that attaches magnetically on top of the unit for storage.

This Dyson fan also offers an app that lets you control the unit and monitor pollutant levels in your room. If you're not intimidated by its indulgent price, then it may be well worth the splurge if you're interested in potentially replacing three separate appliances ' fan, air purifier and humidifier ' with this one appliance.

Best pedestal fan: Rowenta Turbo Silence Extreme VU Standing Fan

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While a pedestal fan isn't as easy to slip into your decor as a tower, it gives you better coverage in larger rooms, since the blades clear your furniture. Our pick for best pedestal fan, the Rowenta Turbo Silence Extreme VU, was the sturdiest, best-built and easiest to adjust of the pedestal fans we tested. And with the tallest extension, it should be more usable in larger spaces than the other towers we tested.

The Rowenta was easier to put together than the other pedestal fans, taking us less than 15 minutes to assemble, and it came more securely packed than any other fan we looked at ' there was so much cardboard packaging that it gave us pause, even if it is sourced from recycled materials.

Once put together, the heavy base, secure connections and solidly built extension rod made it the most stable of the towers we checked out, even though it adjusted to a taller height than the Black+Decker, Lasko and Honeywell models. The head unit was easy to adjust, with soft clicks indicating the four available angles. The other towers were all stiffer-feeling and more difficult to tweak to a desired position.

Controls were straightforward and easy to use, and the Rowenta's remote control (which replicates all of the front panel controls) fit nicely in our grip; the remote stores in a slot on the back of the head unit when not in use. Some of the others lacked anywhere to stow the remote, meaning it's likely to be lost.

Best floor fan: Vornado 660AE Large Air Circulator Fan

Suzanne Kattau/CNN Underscored

A floor fan (which can be placed on a desk or table as well) is easy to place almost anywhere, making it great to have on hand to cool a space like a kitchen, office or bath when needed. Our pick for best floor fan, the Vornado 660AE circulator fan is compact, sturdy and powerful, with an adjustable swivel head and the ability to work with Alexa.

Much like our former pick for best floor fan (the Vornado Energy Smart 533DC), the Vornado 660AE was lighter than the other floor fans we tested and easier to carry around our testing space. Still, it was sturdily built and stayed in place solidly wherever we placed it. Its pivoting head was easier to adjust than the other brands and slid back and forth in one smooth, continuous motion. Five silver push-buttons on top of the unit were easily located and let us easily select our desired air flow speed (with four different speeds available).

Here, our lab testing assistant Gizmo chills out in front of our winning fans.

Suzanne Kattau/CNN Underscored

How to choose a cooling fan

While all of the fans we tested performed well at their fundamental job ' moving air around efficiently and saving you from having to crank up your window air conditioner ' the type of cooling fan you'll want to purchase depends on the size and type of space you want to use it in, the size of the fan and your budget. Whatever you select, a fan is a cost-effective way to cool your home, but we have some tips.

A floor fan is great if you need something that's compact enough to fit on a table or desk, and it's something you can move around to use as needed. Circulator fans ' the design made familiar by Vornado and also found in units like the Black+Decker and Honeywell models we tested ' are great examples of personal fans that don't take up a lot of space.

If you want something more powerful and plan to use it all the time, but also need something space-saving (or you don't want to make your fan a visual centerpiece in your room), a tower fan is a great choice. With a small footprint and plenty of cooling power, a tower fan is great for a living room or bedroom, where you want to keep the cool air moving without a lot of visual distraction.

A pedestal fan, which places a traditional fan-blade head on top of a long extension pole, is a more in-your-face design choice. But because the blade unit is placed high enough to clear your furniture, it can circulate air through a larger space ' it's great for everything from patios to basements to rec rooms.

Since most fans within a given category work pretty well, budgeting more gives you more features and better aesthetics. You can find super-affordable basic units like the $18 Black+Decker circulator, or scale up to the striking, feature-laden, multipurpose $1,000 Dyson fan.

Whichever you choose, you'll benefit from better air circulation and should find yourself depending less on your air conditioning.

Some of the cooling fans we tested from Black+Decker, Dyson, Holmes, Honeywell, Lasko, Rowenta and Vornado.

Suzanne Kattau/CNN Underscored

How we tested

In our initial round of testing, we first tested 13 fans over four summer weeks to find the most effective and efficient indoor fans available. Then, in our latest round of testing, we tested two additional fans over four spring weeks to see if our former picks stood the test of time or if any our new models proved pick-worthy instead. In both of our testing pools, we included oscillator/oscillating fans, bladeless fans and other electric fans that were adept at circulating the air in our basement. Some fans had a battery-powered remote control and some did not.

To test the fans, we unboxed, assembled and ran the fans for hours while we were sleeping, reading and writing in the room. We took notes on ease of setup, design and features, customization, performance, energy efficiency, noise level, battery, warranty, user manual, ease of cleaning, price and more.

We set up all the fans, one at a time, in the same spot and plugged into the same outlet in our approximately 1,250-square-foot finished basement. We tracked the falling temperature of the room during our tests using the SensorPush HTP.xw Wireless Thermometer/Hygrometer with its iOS app on an iPhone 11; the SensorPush device was calibrated using a Boveda One-Step Calibration Kit. This was the same SensorPush we used when we tested the best dehumidifiers. This time, we noted the temperature of the basement before and after our two-hour tests by examining reports sent from the SensorPush.

To track energy consumption, we plugged each fan into a P3 International Kill A Watt EZ electricity usage monitor while running them for two hours at their highest speed, without oscillation. We noted the amps and watts used during those two hours.

We also recorded the fans' noise levels by using the Sound Level Meter (SLM) app from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) on our iPhone 11, which was set upon a table 36 inches away from the fan. We measured the noise levels produced by each fan over a one-hour period while running at its highest speed without oscillation (if the fan was capable of oscillating) in our quiet basement using the NIOSH app.

While all the models we tested made an audible hum in operation, in the end, each unit measured at an average level of around 52.6 decibels (dB) ' no louder than the hum of a running refrigerator and not loud enough to interfere with conversation or sleep. Therefore, any of the fans we tested would be suitable for most spaces around your house, home office or dorm room.

Left to right: Our top picks for best cooling fans are models from Honeywell, Vornado, Dyson and Rowenta.

Suzanne Kattau/CNN Underscored

Setup

• Plug and play: Can we unbox an assembled fan and immediately plug it in?
• Ease of assembly: Is the fan easy to assemble?
• Tools required: Can you assemble the fan by hand, or do you need tools of any kind? Are those tools included?
• Downloadable app: Is there an iOS and Android app available?
• Smart plug: Can the fan work with a smart plug?

Design and features

• Footprint: Does the fan have an upright, vertical build?
• Materials: Are the fan parts made of plastic or metal?
• Buttons: Are the fan's buttons easy to reach and intuitive to learn?
• Cord: How long is the fan's power cord?
• Extension cord: Does the manufacturer recommend using the fan with an extension cord?
• Oscillation: Does the fan move from side to side, or does it oscillate within a fixed base?
• Fixed or oscillating: Does the fan give you the choice between oscillating or stationary?
• Oscillation angle: Can the fan's oscillation angle be customized between 45, 90, 180 and 350 degrees?
• Control panel: Does the fan have one and does it show ambient temperature readings?
• Autopilot mode: Does the fan have this mode, and does it work when the room temperature hits a certain threshold?
• Voice controls: Does the fan support Alexa or Siri and the like?

Customization

• Control via an app: Can you control the fan using a mobile app?
• Scheduling: Does the fan offer you the ability to set a custom schedule?
• Adjustable height: Can you adjust the height of the fan's stand?
• Pivot or tilt: Does the fan's head pivot or tilt?
• Airflow: Can you adjust the direction and angle of the airflow?
• Settings: Is it easy to adjust the fan's settings?
• Mobility: Can the fan be moved from room to room with a built-in carrying handle?

Performance

• Reliability: Does the fan work as intended?
• Room size: Can the fan cool off a medium to large room on a hot day?
• Programmable timer: Does the fan come with a sleep timer? How many hours can you preprogram it to run before turning off?
• Settings: Does the fan have a mode that simulates a natural breeze?
• Remote control: Does the fan come with a remote control and are batteries included?
• Docking: Does the fan provide a docking option to keep the remote control stored when not is use?
• Speed settings: How many speeds does the fan operate in?
• Noise level: Do the settings range from a near-silent, 26 dB Sleep setting and a comfortably quiet, 28 dB White Noise setting up to more powerful settings?
• Range: How many feet does the fan's airflow reach?
• Night mode: Does the fan's control panel have a night mode so you can turn off the screen or buttons when napping or sleeping?

Energy efficiency

• Watts used: Is the fan energy efficient? Does it draw 36 watts or fewer at full blast?

Battery

• Requirement: Does the fan require batteries?
• Type: What kind of battery does the fan or fan's remote control use?

Warranty

• Length: How many years is the included warranty good for?
• Type: What does the warranty cover?

User manual

• Languages: How many languages is the user manual available in?
• Usefulness: Does the user manual help you with setup and use?
• Type: Is a printed user manual included out of the box and can it also be found online?

Ease of cleaning

• Removable grille: Does the fan have grilles, and are they removable to clean?
• Blades: Does the fan have blades, and are they accessible to clean?
• Filter: Does the fan require a filter, and does it come with one filter replacement out of the box?
• Filter replacement: How easy is it to order another filter?

Other cooling fans we tested

Left to right: A few of the tower fans we tested from Vornado, Dyson and Lasko.

Suzanne Kattau/CNN Underscored

Tower fans

$850 at Dyson and Best Buy

Our former pick for best splurge fan, the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde HP09 also impressed us with its effective cooling, quiet performance, solid build and ease of use. It can also be used as a space heater and air purifier. Like our winning pick (the Humidity+Cool PH04), this fan can even monitor levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde (thus the name). As you'd expect (and likely demand given the price), this Dyson fan was solidly built and stable in construction. The HP09 also offered fine-grained control over its various settings and a tool-free, simple assembly. Its front panel controls are well-designed, including a LCD screen that is easy to scroll through. Its remote also attaches magnetically to the unit for storage. Its accompanying app that not only lets you control the unit but also monitor pollutant levels. Pick it up if you're interested in streamlining your space and tossing your separate space heater, air purifier and fan appliances.

$70 at Amazon, $60 at Walmart and $80 $70 at Wayfair

This Lasko fan was easy for us to set up, but once set up, we found the unit to be a bit wobbly in its base, unlike the sturdy bases of the Honeywell QuietSet Whole Room HYF290B tower fan and the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde HP09 tower fan. The wobbling action of the Lasko did not happen on its own during testing, but rather, after we gently pushed the tower from side to side; it rocked from side to side as a result. It was not sturdy and rigid like the other towers we tested, which gave us pause in recommending it to anyone with pets or small children, for example. We did like the remote control of this fan, which let us turn it on and off, select its three speed settings, set it to oscillate and set the timer for one, two and four hours. This timer button was surprisingly missing from the remote control of the Honeywell QuietSet Whole Room HYF290B tower fan, even though the Honeywell includes a timer on its control panel on top of the unit.

$100 at Amazon

We found this Vornado fan simple to set up, as it slid in almost one solid piece out of the box, but we needed to assemble its two base halves together and then screw them tighter together using a screwdriver. A screwdriver was not needed to assemble the Honeywell QuietSet Whole Room HYF290B tower fan, which was the easiest tower fan for us to set up. The Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde HP09 tower fan did not require us to find a screwdriver either. We thought the Vornado Whole Room was quite sturdy and powerful, as it cooled off our basement testing area, but we quickly realized that it does not oscillate from side to side; rather, it circulates the room's air from within the unit. This is unlike the Honeywell QuietSet Whole Room HYF290B tower fan, which we set to oscillate on eight different speed settings. The Vornado Whole Room 184 is also taller than the Lasko 36-Inch tower fan and is much taller than the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde HP09 tower fan. The Vornado Whole Room 184 is also just slightly taller than the Honeywell QuietSet Whole Room HYF290B tower fan. This makes the Vornado a fan that's a bit more difficult to include in your room without it being in the way.

One of the standing fans we tested.

Suzanne Kattau/CNN Underscored

Standing or pedestal fans

$70 $57 at Amazon, $56 at Walmart and $70 $61 at Wayfair

This Black+Decker fan was easy to assemble ' that is, until we tried to attach its rear and front grilles together. There is a plastic ring that secures the two grilles together, but we found the fan's one flimsy clasp on the front grille was not enough to firmly secure the two grilles together. We kept wrestling with the three parts of the fan to make them work; it took us about 20 minutes longer to assemble this fan than it did all the others in our testing. Once assembled, though, we were able to set the fan to oscillate and found it cooled off our testing room nicely. However, we cannot recommend this fan due to its unnecessary difficulty in assembling what should be a simple grille attachment.

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This Honeywell fan was simple for us to assemble, and we found it sturdy as well. We could easily make it oscillate from side to side, and we thought it provided good airflow during testing. Its construction and materials are markedly similar (almost identical) to that of the Black+Decker BFSD116B standing fan. The only differences we found during testing was that the Honeywell Double-Blade standing fan has a shorter rod/extension rod, but its front and rear plastic grilles are much simpler to assemble than those of the Black+Decker, thanks to the Honeywell's five well-placed and well-designed clips on its rear grille.

$30 at The Home Depot and $71 $47 at Wayfair

This Lasko fan was easy for us to assemble, too. It also operated quietly enough in the room that we didn't notice it made much noise while we tested it. But we noticed it was shorter and weighed less than the other pedestal fans we tested, making it less durable and sturdy. We also noticed that it was quite easy for us to pull up on the fan's rod (to lift the fan up to carry it across the room) but have the entire rod lift out from its base when we did so. Luckily, we only tried moving it when it was turned off, but we could see how this could be a potentially dangerous action should anyone try to move it even a foot away while it's turned on.

$140 at Amazon, $160 $140 at Wayfair and $160 at Walmart

This Vornado fan did not require us to do much assembling other than putting its head onto its rod and curved U-shaped base. It doesn't come with a remote control, and it doesn't feature a control panel. It simply has a three-speed dial on the back of the unit's circular head, much like the Lasko standing fan. The whole look of this Vornado Whole Room 783 reminded us of the Vornado Energy Smart 533DC circulator fan, as its head is basically the same, just larger, and it sits on a long metal pole and base. Though it's powerful and well-made, we think the other fans we tested would look better in a home or dorm environment, as the Vornado is kind of bulky and hard to miss visually.

Left to right: Some of the floor fans we tested from Honeywell, Vornado, Black+Decker and Lasko.

Suzanne Kattau/CNN Underscored

Circulator or floor fans

$40 $26 at Wayfair, $30 $27 at Amazon and $27 at Walmart

This Black+Decker fan was able to fit onto our testing desk with ease, its footprint taking up less space than the other circulator fans we tested. Its three speed settings were easy for us to adjust during testing; all we had to do was simply turn the small manual dial on the lower right-hand side of the fan in a clockwise direction. Its dial was easier for us to reach than the blue dial on the back of the Lasko Wind Machine circulator fan, but we found the clicking sounds the Black+Decker 9-Inch BFB09W circulator fan's dial made as we turned it through its three speed settings to be loud ' as loud as the three-speed dial on the back of the Honeywell Turbo Force HT-900 circulator fan. In contrast, we were able to adjust the Vornado Energy Smart 533DC circulator fan's speed dial with one continuous, smooth motion, with just a barely audible click when the fan is turned from the 'off' position.

$21 at Staples, $39 $16 at Walmart and $40 $28 at Wayfair

This Honeywell fan is powerful for its size and provides a good, cooling airflow. We tilted its head to see how many angles we could direct its airflow in but found the circular motion of the tilt to be choppy and loud, unlike the smooth, silent tilting action of the previous winner, the Vornado Energy Smart 533DC circulator fan. The Honeywell also has a small speed dial on the back of its head that only fits the tips of our index finger and thumb comfortably. The dial let us turn it to set three different speeds, and with each turn, we heard a loud clicking sound. This was unlike the dial on the Vornado, which lets you grip it comfortably as you smoothly and quietly rotate it around clockwise and back.

$48 at Amazon and $126 $65 at Wayfair

This Lasko fan was easy for us to set up since, like the other circulator fans we tested, it requires no assembly; we just lifted it out of its box and plugged it in. We liked its fully tiltable head, which we were able to push all the way around (almost 360 degrees) to cool off either side of our testing area. But we found its blue control knob on the back of the fan to be a bit cumbersome to reach, as we had to tilt the fan down to access it, and even then, the knob felt a bit wobbly in our grip. This was unlike the firm, smooth motion we enjoyed while turning the knob on the Vornado Energy Smart 533DC circulator fan. The Lasko Wind Machine circulator fan is also much bigger than the other floor fans we tested, so we had trouble sitting it atop our desk, which quite frankly, it isn't designed to do. This is unlike the Honeywell Turbo Force HT-900 and the Black+Decker 9-Inch BFB09W circulator fans we tested since they're compact enough to fit atop a desk or table as well as the floor. Even though we appreciated Lasko's built-in carrying handle on top of the fan, its 9.25-pound weight made it more difficult for us to carry from one part of our testing area than the 3.44-pound Vornado Energy Smart 533DC circulator fan.

$70 at Amazon, $90 $70 at Wayfair and $140 $90 at JCPenney

Our former pick for best floor fan, the Vornado Energy Smart 533DC was lighter than the others we tested and easier to carry around our testing space, even though it was more sturdily built and easier to adjust than its competitors. At 3.44 pounds, the Vornado was significantly lighter than some of the other fans, like the 9.25-pound Lasko Wind Machine . Rubber grips on its underside kept it stable on any setting, and it resisted toppling when we tried to jostle it, unlike some of the other lightweight models like the Black+Decker BFB09W. The Vornado's directional settings were easy to select and secure in operation, and while it wasn't quite as adjustable as the Lasko Wind Machine , it gave us a good range of usable settings. We also preferred the Vornado's silver speed dial, which let us adjust settings with one continuous, smooth, quiet motion, over the controls on the other circulators.

The one downside we found was that, technically, the Vornado Energy Smart 533DC was the loudest of the bunch, though all of the fans we tested were quieter than our reference Conair hair dryer set on low. We didn't find even the Vornado's noise distracting enough while we worked, read or slept nearby in the same room. Lastly, the Vornado Energy Smart 533DC circulator fan is covered by a 10-year limited warranty, which is much longer than the one-year warranties of the Black+Decker BFB09W, the Honeywell HT-900 and the Lasko circulator fans we tested.

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