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Best fans for cooling 2025: desk, tower and pedestal fans reviewed
Sam – an ex-science teacher – uses his physics degree and four years of experience at Which? to test everything from electric bikes to beard trimmers and trampolines.
How our tests find you the best
Wind speed
Gentle breeze or strong wind for rapid cooling? We use an anemometer to measure wind speeds on low and high settings so you can choose.
Noise
What use is keeping cool if you can't sleep or think? We measure fan noise in decibels so you can find the right fan for your bedroom or home office.
Pleasantness of the breeze
No peeking! Our panel of blindfolded testers rates how pleasant the breeze and continuous the airflow are from each fan on multiple settings.
We also test...
how easy they are to assemble and use, how much electricity each fan needs and how durable they are against accidental knocks.
The best fans create a pleasant, quiet breeze, helping you to feel cool in stuffy rooms without driving you mad with their noisy whirring.
We test desk, tower and pedestal fans – and even some hybrid models – from top brands including Duxx, Dyson, Meaco and Shark.
Our expert testers use a range of equipment, including anemometers and decibel meters, to take objective measurements of each fan's wind speed and noise levels.
Four fans blew away the competition to be named Best Buys.
The best fans
Only logged-in Which? members can view the fan test results below.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.
| Fan | Price | Score | Type | Wind speed range | Pleasant breeze rating | Quietness (high setting) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations Unlock tableFull Access first month £5, then £11.99 per month, cancel at any time. Already a member? Log in | 89% | |||||
| 88% | ||||||
| 86% | ||||||
| 85% | ||||||
| 79% | ||||||
| 79% | ||||||
| 77% | ||||||
| 77% | ||||||
| 74% | ||||||
| 74% | ||||||
| 68% | ||||||
| 66% | ||||||
| 63% | ||||||
| 60% | ||||||
| 60% | ||||||
| 57% | ||||||
| 47% |
Sign up to reveal
Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations
Unlock tableFull Access first month £5, then £11.99 per month, cancel at any time.
Already a member? Log in
Date tested: April 2025, May 2024. Page last checked: May 2025. We're not able to show every retailer, and cheaper prices may be available.
Wind speed range based on the difference between the measured wind speed of the highest and lowest settings. Pleasant breeze based on a blindfolded panel assessment of the fans' low, medium and high settings, at a 2-metre distance from the fan. Quietness based on measured decibels on the highest setting and quality of the noise produced.
The fans we tested
Challenge 16” Pedestal & Desk Fan
Available from Argos (£70) (Out of stock)
Most recently tested May 2024
Dimensions (WxDxH) 41 x 41 x 130cm
Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know 5.6kg, eight speed settings, 1.8-metre cable, horizontal oscillation, remote control included, programmable timer (up to eight hours)
Duux Globe Table Fan
Most recently tested May 2024
Dimensions (WxDxH) 27 x 27 x 33cm
Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know 2.2kg, three speed settings, 2-metre cable, horizontal and vertical oscillation, remote control included, programmable timer (one or three hours)
Duux Whisper Pedestal Fan
Most recently tested May 2024
Dimensions (WxDxH) 34 x 34 x 75-95cm
Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know 4kg, 26 speed settings, 2.4-metre cable, horizontal and vertical oscillation, remote control included, programmable timer (up to 12 hours), has modes for natural wind (speed randomly changes) and night (speed decreases to lowest setting over 2.5 hours)
Dyson AM07 Tower Fan
Most recently tested May 2024
Dimensions (WxDxH) 23 x 23 x 100cm
Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know 2.9kg, 10 speed settings, 1.8-metre cable, horizontal oscillation, remote control included, programmable timer (up to nine hours)
Dyson AM09 Hot & Cool Fan Heater
Most recently tested May 2024
Dimensions (WxDxH) 19 x 19 x 60cm
Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know 2.8kg, 10 speed settings, 1.8-metre cable, horizontal oscillation, remote control included, programmable timer (up to nine hours), has diffused and focused modes, heating mode (1-37°C)
Are Dyson fans worth it?
Dyson fans are noticeably pricier than other fans we tested, but they do have a stylish bladeless design. One can work as a heater, too, and both models we tested are claimed to give an 'uninterrupted stream of smooth airflow'.
We've tested the Dyson AM07 Tower fan, which supposedly offers powerful, amplified airflow. We've also tested the Dyson AM09 Hot & Cool Fan Heater, which lets you choose between focused and diffused modes for personal or 'whole room' cooling.
Log in or join Which? to find out how they compared with cheaper fans.
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Honeywell HT900E TurboForce Power Desk Fan
Most recently tested May 2024
Dimensions (WxDxH) 28 x 16 x 27cm
Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know 1.5kg, three speed settings, 1.8-metre cable, no oscillation settings (can manually adjust vertical tilt)
John Lewis 16" Pedestal Fan
Available from John Lewis (£30)
Most recently tested April 2025
Dimensions (WxDxH) 44 x 40 x 120cm
Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know 5kg, three speed settings, 1.5-metre cable, horizontal oscillation
John Lewis 30" Tower Fan
Available from John Lewis (£50)
Most recently tested April 2025
Dimensions (WxDxH) 24 x 18 x 80cm
Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know 3.1kg, three speed settings, 1.5-metre cable, horizontal oscillation, remote control included, programmable timer (up to 7.5 hours), has modes for nature (speed randomly changes) and sleep (speed decreases to lowest setting over time)
Levoit LTF-F362 Tower Fan
Most recently tested April 2025
Dimensions (WxDxH) 17 x 17 x 92cm
Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know 4.1kg; 12 speed settings; 1.7-metre cable; horizontal oscillation; remote control included; programmable timer (up to 12 hours); has turbo mode (highest setting, then switches to auto mode when room temperature drops by 2.7ºC), auto mode (speeds changes depending on room temperature) and advanced sleep mode (increases/decreases speed every time temperature changes by 1ºC)
Logik L10DFGM17 10" Desk Fan
Most recently tested April 2025
Dimensions (WxDxH) 29 x 24 x 36cm
Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know 2.6kg, three speed settings, 1.6-metre cable, horizontal oscillation
Meaco 1056 Air Circulator Desk Fan
Most recently tested May 2024
Dimensions (WxDxH) 29 x 31 x 40cm
Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know 3.2kg, 12 speed settings, 1.5-metre cable, horizontal and vertical oscillation, remote control included, programmable timer (turn on and off, up to 12 hours), has eco mode (speed changes depending on room temperature)
Meaco Fan Sefte 10" Pedestal Air Circulator
Most recently tested April 2025
Dimensions (WxDxH) 34 x 34 x 110cm
Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know 5.4kg, 12 speed settings, 1.5-metre cable, horizontal and vertical oscillation, remote control included, programmable timer (turn on and off, up to 12 hours), has eco mode (speed changes depending on room temperature) and night mode (reduces speed by one step every 30 minutes to the lowest speed)
Meaco Fan Sefte 10" Table Air Circulator
Most recently tested April 2025
Dimensions (WxDxH) 26 x 22 x 43cm
Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know 2.95kg, 12 speed settings, 1.5-metre cable, horizontal and vertical oscillation, remote control included, programmable timer (turn on and off, up to 12 hours), has eco mode (speed changes depending on room temperature) and night mode (reduces speed by one step every 30 minutes to the lowest speed)
Russell Hobbs RHMDF1201WDB 12" Desk Fan
Most recently tested April 2025
Dimensions (WxDxH) 31 x 31 x 44cm
Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know 3kg, three speed settings, 1.5-metre cable, horizontal oscillation
Shark FlexBreeze FA220UK Hybrid Pedestal Fan
Most recently tested May 2024
Dimensions (WxDxH) 35 x 35 x 94cm
Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know 5.9kg, five speed settings, 4-metre cable, horizontal oscillation, remote control included, programmable timer (up to five hours), has gentle (speed randomly changes) and strong (speed randomly changes) breeze modes, comes with misting attachment and cover, can run off built-in battery (approx 24 hours on lowest speed or two hours on highest speed)
Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo FA050UK Misting Fan
Most recently tested April 2025
Dimensions (WxDxH) 20 x 22 x 28cm
Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know 1.8kg, five speed settings, 3.8-metre cable, no oscillation settings (can manually adjust vertical tilt), has gentle (speed randomly changes) and strong (speed randomly changes) breeze modes, has built-in misting function (continuous or intermittent), can run off built-in battery (approx 12 hours on lowest speed or one hour on highest speed)
Tower T605000C 12" Desk Fan
Most recently tested April 2025
Dimensions (WxDxH) 31 x 23 x 40cm
Cost to run per hour (high setting) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know 2.5kg, three speed settings, 1.6-metre cable, horizontal oscillation
How we test fans
We buy the bestselling and most searched-for fans from UK retailers. We buy every fan we test – no freebies from manufacturers – meaning our reviews are honest and unbiased.
Why you can trust us: at Which? we're free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent
Pleasant-use assessment
- A panel of testers are blindfolded, and each fan is placed in front of them at a 2-metre distance.
- Panellists give each fan a rating on low, medium and high settings according to how pleasant they find the breeze.
- They assess how strong it feels in relation to the setting and whether the airflow is continuous or intermittent.
- The best fans create brilliantly cooling airflow, with clear differences between the settings – neither too gentle nor too blustery.
Wind speed and noise
- We use an anemometer and decibel meter to get an objective measurement of the wind speed (in metres per second) and noise on different speed settings.
- We also assess the quality of the noise, penalising fans that generate a rattly, whirring or high-pitched noise.
- The best fans have a measurable difference in their wind speeds on different settings, all without being uncomfortable to the ears.
Ease of assembly and use
We assemble the fans and run through all the settings, giving a rating for how easy they are to put together and operate.
Durability and energy consumption
We topple each fan from the highest point or off a suitable surface if it’s a desk fan. More durable fans get higher scores.
We also measure the energy consumption of fans on their lowest and highest settings, factoring in oscillation too.
Types of fan
- Desk fans are compact and designed to sit on a table top. They're generally cheaper than tower fans (unless you're going for an expensive brand) and could be the best choice if you only need to cool a small area.
- Tower fans are likely to be a better choice if you're looking to cool a whole room. They usually have a remote control to change settings from a distance. They're larger than desk fans but less visually intrusive than pedestal fans.
- Pedestal fans look very similar to large desk fans, but with a taller base. They're also better at covering a whole room. They can often oscillate left and right, and sometimes up and down too. But they can be quite bulky and tricky to store when not in use.
- Ceiling fans are built in and often found in offices or hotel rooms, but we don't test these because they're not commonly used in UK homes.
What is the quietest fan for sleeping?
Many people seek out a quiet fan for sleeping. This often involves putting it on the lowest setting.
However, fans with a greater range of settings often give you more scope to achieve the perfect balance between noise and airflow.
The charity Electrical Safety First recommends not leaving a fan on all night, as there’s always a risk that the motor could overheat and start a fire while you’re asleep.
On the other hand, having to turn off a fan just as you’re going to sleep might not be practical either. As a compromise, you could opt for a fan that has a timer so it switches itself off after a set period – we recommend an hour or less.
Note, too, that bladeless fans, such as the Dyson models we tested, aren't necessarily better for sleeping, as they can be loud on their higher settings.
Our reviews reveal how bladeless and other types of fan all compare on noise.
How much electricity does a fan use?
Fans are generally not big energy guzzlers, even when used on the higher settings.
But energy use varies between different types of fan and by brand. Generally speaking, desk fans are smaller so will use less energy, whereas bigger pedestal or tower fans use more energy, making them more expensive to run.
How much does it cost to run a fan?
We've measured the running costs of each fan we tested and found that the worst fan costs almost 10 times more per hour than the best. But are we talking pennies or pounds? To find out which fans are cheapest to run, log in or Join Which?
Electric fans vs air conditioners
The best electric fans create a refreshing breeze that will make you feel cooler – however, they don't actually cool the air in your home. Instead, they just move it around.
If a breeze alone just isn't enough on the hottest days of the year, or during a heatwave, you could consider investing in a portable air conditioner instead.
They're usually more expensive and use more electricity than fans. But they pump out cooled air that will actually reduce the temperature inside your home.
Some also come with features such as dehumidification and smart control (from your smartphone app), both of which can be useful.
Read our extensive reviews of the best air conditioners.