10 best cooling fans to help you survive summer
Keep yourself cool and collected with our round-up of the best cooling fans - including a popular unit that shoppers "can't recommend enough".
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Another summer is on the horizon, bringing with it another stretch of days sitting in discomfort.
That is, unless you’ve prepared your home in advance.
RELATED: Portable air conditioners worth the investment
Whether you’re working from home this summer — and require something small yet effective to place on your desk — or are looking to cool an entire room with something that won’t take over your living space, there are plenty of options to choose from.
Wondering which one is best for you? Read on for our picks of the best cooling fans for warmer weather including the powerful Vornado Air Circulator 660 that shoppers "can't recommend enough" as it left them "blown away". Plus, it's currently 31 per cent off!
There's also the viral portable neck fan that has over 33,000 five-star ratings. Shoppers say it's a "game changer" and left them "impressed with its performance."
OUR TOP PICKS
EDITOR’S PICK
Vornado Air Circulator 660, $179.99 (down from $259) at Amazon Australia
Vornado Air Circulator 660
What You Need To Know
A popular yet underrated household name, Vornado is a powerful air circulator that shoppers say they were left "blown away" and they "can't recommend it enough". It features an easy push button operation and can be moved easily due to it's portable design. The size is substantial for a bedroom and will help make your summer more bearable.
"I bought this fan for our bedroom which retains the warmth of the sun at night. Even though we have air conditioning throughout the entire apartment because of the rising cost of energy, we decided to minimize the use of the expensive air conditioning by investing in a fan. The Vornado provides very good air circulation and is inexpensive to run all night, if required...," one five-star reviewer wrote.
"Really cools down the room and saves me money," another wrote.
JISULIFE Portable Neck Fan, $55.99 at Amazon Australia
JISULIFE Portable Neck Fan
What You Need To Know
Get instant cooling relief with this innovative portable neck fan. Designed to sit on your neck, like a pair of headphones when not in use, this fan has 78 air outlets and can last up to 16 hours depending on the chosen speeds.
Plus, it is super lightweight and made with specific quiet technology so as not to interfere with your day to day life.
It currently has over 33,000 five-star ratings on Amazon with shoppers calling them a “lifesaver” in the warmer weather.
Others are super impressed with how quiet it is. “I was sceptical when buying the unit, but I am very impressed with its performance. The build quality is impressive. it really is astonishingly quiet on its lowest setting but still effective,” wrote one five-star review.
Another said, “I love this product as it’s a real game changer for me. It’s lightweight and comfortable and when I’m out cleaning houses in hot weather, it makes me feel so much better.”
BEST FLOOR FAN
Goldair 30cm Box Fan with Remote, $59 at Bing Lee
What You Need To Know
A popular budget buy, this “powerful little beast” from Goldair has been dubbed “value for money” as well as “stylish and functional” by shoppers,
This 30cm box fan is a wallet-friendly option with three speed settings and oscillating louvres. It also has a countdown timer for convenience.
“Great fan, small, quiet and super effective. Have stopped using the aircon as this is as effective and no doubt cheaper to run,” commented a customer.
“Good quality box fan. Well made (and) pushes plenty of air,” another agreed.
BEST DESK FANS
SmartDevil Small USB Desk Fan, $47.78 at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
This handy fan is powered by a USB cable, which you can plug into your laptop at your desk, or into a power bank for handy use on the go, while camping or travelling. It has three speeds, can rotate 360 degrees horizontally and vertically, and comes with an adhesive hook to help you attach it to a wall or ceiling.
“This is the best thing to have on your desk,” wrote one five-star review.
“Even if the power is gone you can still use it using a power bank and with its three speeds options just completes it.”
Breville The PopFan Foldable Rechargeable Fan, $67.96 (down from $79.95) at Myer
Breville The PopFan Foldable Rechargeable Fan
What You Need To Know
Built with up to 15 hours of run time - whether on your desk at home, in the office or on the go, this portable fan is easy to and carry and store away, and perfect for taking everywhere with you. It offers 360 degree air delivery with four different fan speeds – low speed for a quiet and personal breeze, and the three higher speeds for any situation or needs. It has a flexible design with a 180 degree manual vertical tilt – so you can direct the air at any angle. Not to mention, it’s completely transportable, easy to store away and can be hung with a carry strap.
Boasting a 4.6-star rating on Myer, shoppers have praised the fan for being “very powerful”.
“Awesome portable fan. Provides good air flow. Not too loud even on top setting. Love the flexibility, lots of different positions to get the right angle. Great as a desk fan or when travelling. Very happy,” one wrote.
“Great little fan. The pop feature is very useful making it great for storage or travel. It’s one of the quietest fans I’ve come across (basically just a small high pitched whirr). The battery has lasted well between recharges and makes it convenient to move around the house without the restriction of finding power points,” another wrote.
Kambrook Arctic Antique Metal Desk Fan, $89 at The Good Guys
Kambrook Arctic Antique Metal Desk Fan
What You Need To Know
If I’m going to have something sit in a place of prominence in my home, I would prefer it to fit with my home aesthetic. If you too are so inclined, take a look at this antique finished desk fan that will seamlessly fit in with an industrial aesthetic-loving decorator’s home. The fan has three speed settings and an adjustable, tilting head with a generous foot-long blade diameter, meaning you can direct cool air to wherever you desire in the room.
Most shoppers on The Good Guys website recommend this fan. One customer heartily recommended the fan, saying, “Works very well and provides cooling in a hot spot in the kitchen. Easy to move around where required.”
SmartDevil Clip on Fan, $59 at Amazon Australia
SmartDevil Clip on Fan
What You Need To Know
Thanks to its clever clip-on feature, this fan can be used just about anywhere – not just your desk during the day, but on a pram, beach umbrella, treadmill and more throughout summer. Available in three colours, it has 360-degree vertical and horizontal rotation and three speeds.
“Perfect size for what I needed on my desk and great quality, too. Didn’t want anything too big and was worried the airflow would be dismal but it’s perfect!” wrote a reviewer on Amazon.
“Handy little on/off button with three speeds and easy to charge via USB in the laptop. Very happy overall.”
BEST QUIET FAN
Dyson Pure Cool Tower Fan, $649 at Myer
Dyson Pure Cool Tower Fan
What You Need To Know
Portable and quiet – in fact, up to 60 per cent quieter than its previous model – it’s highly recommended for families with small children due to a lack of any rotating blades for small hands to get caught in. The machine also automatically switches off if tipped over and comes with a remote control so you can adjust settings from afar – including the sleep timer and rotation.
It has a 4.5 out of five star rating from reviewers, with one commenting: “Wanted an upgrade from the cheap blade fan I had to something that could actually battle the summer heat. This works a treat while covering a large area. The 10 settings are also super helpful.”
BEST PEDESTAL FANS
DeLonghi 360° Pedestal Cooling Fan, $179 (down from $209) at Amazon Australia
DeLonghi 360° Pedestal Cooling Fan
What You Need To Know
While pedestal fans may remind you of your childhood summers, with everyone gathering around the TV to watch the Boxing Day cricket test, this fan has come a long way since then. Featuring vertical and horizontal oscillation as well as three fan speeds, you won’t stay hot for long once this has been switched on.
“Bought it to keep me cool when running on the treadmill. Fan is super powerful, and quiet for how strong it is – I never need to use it on the fastest speed,” says one five-star reviewer.
Others rave about the 360-degree oscillation feature with one reviewer saying: “Great product, was quite easy to assemble and the 360 oscillation is so cool to improve the air flow of the room.”
BEST MISTING FAN
Comlife Portable Handheld Misting Fan, $32.99 at Amazon Australia
Comlife Portable Handheld Misting Fan
What You Need To Know
Take the joy of a handheld misting fan – people who have only survived hot festival days thanks to them will know what I mean – into your home. Its tank holds 50ml of water – keeping you cooler for around one hour in misting mode. The fan itself is battery powered and can continually work for up to 10 hours when fully charged. It also works when wanting to refresh your makeup or simply keep your skin fresh.
Over 5200 people on Amazon have given this fan five stars with shoppers calling it a “lifesaver when faced with heat”.
“Different speed settings are good and I had it on the lowest setting on the table top for about an hour and it really cooled things down,” wrote one five-star review. Another helpfully remarked, “It’s lightweight and easily fit into my day pack. The ability to change speeds was phenomenal!”
WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A FAN
Buying a cooling fan is an economical option for your home, here's what to consider before hitting purchase on one.
Type: Are you after an easy, portable desk fan? Floor fan? Pedestal fan? Tower fan? or maybe an Air Circulator?
Size: To ensure you get effective use out of your fan, you should choose one that is a suitable size for whichever room or space you plan on using it - it's recommended that you get a small fan for a small room and a big powerful fan for larger spaces, rather than vice versa.
Fan speed: To get more control over the temperature of your room or space, you should look for a fan that is versatile in terms of fan speed settings - one that has more than three speeds would be incredibly helpful as you can easily adjust the power to your liking.
Features: Some great and helpful features that you may want to consider include oscillation, multiple fan speeds, protective cage/mesh for safety, remote control, head tilt, automatic switch-off, bladeless and a timer.
Noise: Check product descriptions for the decibel (dB) level so that you get an idea of how loud the fan will be when running.
Budget: If you're not looking to spend a lot on a fan, portable fans and floor fans are generally more affordable than a tower fan or pedestal fan.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
To help you find the perfect cooling fan for the summer, our team of experienced writers spent hours researching products to include in this article. We found out what factors make a good product by talking to experts, reviewing test results and analysing thousands of customer reviews.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FANS AND PORTABLE AIR-CONDITIONERS?
Fans are designed to circulate air – usually with blades – thereby artificially creating cooling winds. Portable air conditioners ingest warm air, replacing it with cool air at the end of a refrigeration cycle.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF FANS OVER PORTABLE AIR-CONDITIONERS?
Considering the soaring temperatures that summer can usher in, it’s no wonder that many an Australian household has invested in air conditioning. However, there are several benefits to the electric fan over the portable air conditioner: electric fans are generally more energy efficient, thereby having a smaller environmental imprint and being better for your wallet; fans are more compact, saving you precious floor real estate and are more easily stored; and lastly, in some cases, fans have the ability to add to home decor, while air conditioners are often bulkier.
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