10 Best Floor Fans 2024 in the US

Introduction

On hot summer days, you need to improve your room's air circulation. We reviewed the highest valued top floor fans that are available now.

Hot, hazy, sticky summer days can be really unpleasant. Sometimes a room can feel like it has no air in it at all. A floor fan keeps a room more comfortable when the temperatures rise. With so many fan types and options available, how can you be sure you’re making a good choice?

We looked at different brands of floor fans to find the best ones out there so you can stay cool, calm, and comfortable all summer long. Here’s our top ten list of the top floor fans of 2021, along with everything you need to know about these cooling powerhouses.

What types of fans are available?

There’s a fan out there for everyone, so read on to find the type of top floor fan that best suits your needs. Then check out our list of the top ten floor fans available now, and pick the one that meets your needs.

Floor fans

Floor fans are lightweight and portable. They can also be placed on top of a table or counter (and are sometimes referred to as tabletop fans). Floor fans are durable options for cooling off rooms of all sizes. Use floor fans in a home or commercial setting like a garage or workshop, as the more powerful ones will create powerful air velocity. Floor fans have a convenient carrying handle, making it easy to move them around as needed. They’re usually very stable, sitting close to the surface on a solid, curved base. The Simple Deluxe 12” Industrial Floor Fan is a popular model, suitable both indoors and outdoors.

Simple Deluxe 12" 3-Speed Industrial Floor Fan

Pedestal fans

Pedestal fans, sometimes called stand fans, consist of a stand topped by a bladed unit. They can be adjusted to your desired height with a simple knob. They often feature an oscillating head that swivels, allowing you to cool off a large area. They don’t take up much space, making them suitable for living spaces, bedrooms, offices, or classrooms. An example is the Honeywell Advanced QuietSet 16” Electric Stand Fan.

Honeywell Advanced QuietSet 16” Electric Stand Fan

Tower fans

Tower fans are narrow and tall. They take up even less floor space than some of the traditional fans. Tower fans can easily cool off an entire room, even when placed in a corner or next to a wall. They also usually operate very quietly, making them great for a bedroom or living space where you don’t want to hear the hum of a fan in the background. They are often more aesthetically pleasing than bulkier fans. One sleek model is the MaxKare 48” Tower Fan.

MaxKare 48” Tower Fan

What are some advantages of floor fans?

Floor fans are portable, giving you lots of flexibility about where you choose to place them. Unlike ceiling fans or air conditioners, you can put a floor fan in the specific spot you want cooled off. You can move a floor fan around your house or within a room to achieve perfectly positioned airflow wherever you need it. You can even use a floor fan to cool off your outdoor space, like a porch or a balcony.

Floor fans ventilate a room, giving a fresh, breezy feeling to the air and sometimes reaching into corners in a way that air conditioners can’t, to really air out a space. They’re compact, so they won’t take up lots of room. Floor fans are also very simple to use.

You probably already know that floor fans are a budget-conscious way to cool your space. Fans are affordable to purchase and are less costly to run than air conditioners because they use far less energy. Depending on the model, a fan can cool you down using only 1% of the electricity that it takes to run an air conditioner! If someone reverted to cooling their home with floor fans rather than AC, they’d definitely see the difference in their electric bill. Floor fans can also be used in tandem with an air conditioner, circulating the air and pulling away heat, thereby increasing appliance efficiency.
 

What features should I look for in a floor fan?

To choose your ideal floor fan, you’ll want to consider the following features:

Adjustability

Want to get maximum flexibility from your fan? Be sure you can adjust the height and angle of the fan. Tilting the fan in different directions lets you point the airflow to cool your space the way you want to. An adjustable fan lets you circulate the air without having it blow directly at you.

Adjustable speed is also an essential factor so you can decide whether you want a light breeze or a strong gust. We found that many fans on the market today offer three or more speeds and an adjustable head. We have picked the best ones for you to save you the work so just check out our top ten fans to find the one that cools you off as you need it to!

Blade type

A fan’s blade size and speed will impact its cooling power. Large, metal blades are typically more powerful and can cool a room effectively. They may be louder than plastic blades, but they’ll move more air, which is the trick to good cooling.

Modern, bladeless fans can be a safe option for spaces with small children or pets, so you can operate the fan without worrying about little fingers getting hurt. Bladeless fans are easier to clean as there are no blades on which dust can accumulate.

Oscillation

Fans that oscillate move slowly from side to side, making them a top choice for natural, consistent cooling. By oscillating, fans can cool several people sitting in different places throughout a room. Some oscillating fans also vary their intensity as they swing air from side to side, creating a very natural feeling. Oscillating floor fans are a comfortable way to get relief from the heat.

Remote functionality

To really get into relaxation mode, try a fan with remote control. Fans with a remote let you conveniently adjust the fan’s speed and direction without having to get up. There are also fans with built-in timers that automatically shut off after a set time period, which is a nice added feature if you doze off or leave the room.

Quietness

We’ve all been there. You’re trying to sleep, but the constant hum of a fan just won’t let you fully unwind. Or the propeller sound of clicking fan blades makes it too noisy to have a decent conversation at the dinner table. Some floor fans are ultra-quiet, to the extent that you may even forget they’re running. Quiet fans are ideal for bedrooms and living spaces where noise would be a real nuisance.

Air purification

Want to breathe purer, cleaner air as you cool off a room? While most fans circulate air throughout a room to cool it off, some high-end fans can filter pollutants from the air using a HEPA air filter. Some air purifying floor fans will even send you a regular analysis of your room’s air quality via an app.

Wrap up

Floor fans are a great way to cool off when the weather heats up. There’s a model of floor fan to fit every need and budget. The fans we looked at range from classic fans that can effectively cool a room to sleek, updated fans that run silently and look great. Check out our top ten list and make your choice.

The consensus is clear that floor fans offer significant advantages when it comes to beating the heat. Hopefully, you’ll know what to consider when choosing the floor fan that’s right for you. Be sure to check out some of our other best buying guides to help you make savvy shopping decisions.

Remember, floor fans provide a natural, cool breeze that feels great and won’t leave a major dent in your wallet. And that is definitely very cool.