On the hunt for the perfect fan? We’ve tested dozens of different models, and these are our top scorers
When temperatures start to rise, a great fan is essential to help you feel cooler. Where I live in the UK, we’re now on our 45th heatwave of the year (an exaggeration, but it doesn’t feel like it), and I’m basically never without a fan these days. I carry one about the house with me wherever I go, and I have one on throughout the night too. I’ve even bought one for the dog, although he’s still quite suspicious of it.
At TechRadar, we’ve tested dozens of different models over the years. We have a best fan guide that includes just a select group of our favorites, but there are plenty more excellent fans we’ve tried out and which are still worthy of your consideration. Below, I’ve rounded up our best-rated models. These are all the fans that scored four or more stars in our review (and are still in production).
For easy browsing, I’ve split the guide into three broad categories — desktop and handheld fans, pedestal fans, and tower fans — and included a quick overview of each kind to help you decide if it’s what you’re looking for. Hit the ‘More details’ button to find out more about what we thought of each individual fan, and a link to read the full review. Stay cool out there.
Desktop & handheld fans
Want to blast air at one specific target? You need a desktop or handheld fan. The latter is designed for personal use, on the go. There are plenty of cheap options cluttering up the market (and landfill sites), but this year we’ve also been treated to a couple of high-quality, long-lasting options from two of the biggest brands in the cooling business — Shark and Dyson. We loved both of them on test.
A desktop fan is essentially a pedestal fan without its pedestal. It’s designed to sit on a surface — like a desk — and offer localized cooling. I also use one of these to cool my dog by popping it on the floor and facing it at his bed. Some can oscillate widely for more general cooling, but if you’re looking to tackle a whole room, you might be better off with a pedestal or tower fan.
<aside data-block-type="embed" data-hawk-json="{"collection":{"blocks":[{"modelName":"Shark ChillPill","productName":"ChillPill","productDescription":"
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Tower fans
When temperatures start to rise, a great fan is essential to help you feel cooler. Where I live in the UK, we’re now on our 45th heatwave of the year (an exaggeration, but it doesn’t feel like it), and I’m basically never without a fan these days. I carry one…
