As someone who runs hot, I’ve tried and tested the best fans around and these are my top picks for quiet and comfortable air circulation

With signs of a warm summer creeping in, now is the time to invest in one of the best fans to make sure you can get your hands on the best and most effective when a heatwave hits. Trust me, as someone who is always a little bit warm between the months of April and October, and with high temperatures getting more common, ensuring you have the right kit at home to keep you cool is utterly essential if you want to stay comfortable.

Fans and air circulators are brilliant for moving air around, which can make your home feel fresher and you feel cooler. To help you make the right choice, I've tested a range of fans, from pedestal to desk fans, from the likes of Meaco, Duux and Dyson and more in my own home. As well as comparing the fans on looks, ease of use and price point, I've also measured features like wind speed and noise levels to see how they compare and which is best. I've ranked the ones I think are most worth your money below.

If you are after something to actually reduce the temperature in your home, however, then these fans may not cut it, and one of the best portable air conditioners may suit you better.

Quick list

Short on time? This quick list is an overview of the very best fans you can buy right now based on our in-house testing process. You'll find more information on each fan and why our team of expert testers recommend it if you keep scrolling.

Best fans tried and tested

Best fan overall

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Good looking, powerful and quiet, there's a lot to love about the Meaco Sefte pedestal air circulator, which is why it takes the top spot on this list.

When I tested it in my own home, I loved how easy it was to set up — there's very little assembly required (you simply attach the fan head to the pole and fix it to the base) and you have the option to customise the height (using both poles provided, just one or neither).

I found it incredibly easy to use too via both the on-board control panel and the remote control. The oscillation is great, meaning it's capable of reaching every single corner of the room to get the air moving, and in it's top speed setting it's the most powerful fan on this list, with my anemometer (which records wind speeds) clocking it at 5.2m/s. Standing close by in top speed, you can do a very convincing reenactment of Michael Jackson's Earth Song music video.

As well as it's very quiet operation, especially in the lower settings, I loved that you can put it into night mode, which not only turns off any lights on the display, but it also mutes the beeps that happen when you change a setting. The remote control also glows in the dark, so I didn't have to worry about whacking on the lights to adjust the settings when using it at night. I also appreciated how the remote control is magnetic and attaches to the front of the fan head, so I wouldn't misplace it.

It's a bit of an investment buy, but if you like to use a fan regularly, even outside of a heatwave, it's effectiveness makes it a worthwhile one.

Read my full Meaco Sefte 10'' pedestal air circulator review for more details.

Best pedestal fan

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The Pro Breeze AirFlo 43'' Hybrid Pedestal Fan is similar to our top pick in this guide in that it looks good, performs well and can be configured as a desktop or pedestal fan, but it does come with a couple of added extras.

Firstly, it can be controlled via the Pro Breeze app, which is very handy if love being able to control your appliances from your phone wherever you are. It took me a while to connect the fan to the app, but once connected, it's very easy to use. If you don't want to control it through your phone, operation is just as easy via the remote control, or on-board control panel.

Secondly, it has a scent pod that sits on the front of the fan head. Unscrew it, and you'll find a spongey disc where you can add a couple of drops of your favourite essential oil. Then whenever the fan is on, you'll be scenting your home at the same time. I didn't have any essential oils on hand, but I did spritz the disc with some room spray and it was definitely effective.

In terms of power, I loved how gentle the Pro Breeze AirFlo was in it's lower power settings (with a wind speed of 0.8m/s, it's soft, but noticeable), but on the higher settings, it doesn't quite hit the same top speed as the Meaco Sefte.

Read my full Pro Breeze AirFlo 43'' Hybrid Pedestal Fan with Smart App review for more details.

Best desktop fan

If you want a table top fan over a floor-standing pedestal, I really enjoyed the Morphy Richards AirFlex 10'' Air Circulator.

While the Meaco Sefte and Pro Breeze AirFlo can both be adjusted into a desktop configuration, they have large bases that take up a decent amount of space on a desk or side table, which means they may not be suitable if this kind of space is at a premium. The Morphy Richards AirFlex 10'' Air Circulator, on the other hand, is designed to sit on a desktop and so it's base has a much smaller footprint.

While the base moves side to side to achieve the horizontal oscillation, the fan head twists around on it's axis to help circulate the air around the room.

The controls are very easy to use, both on the fan base itself and the remote, which is also magnetic and attaches to the base just behind the neck of the fan.

Full review, coming soon!

Best tower fan

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When our tester Lauren said that the Shark TurboBlade saved her from a summer 'sleep divorce' from her husband, I knew it had to be included on this list.

It might not look like any bladeless or tower fan you've seen before, and it's design took a little while to grow on Lauren, but she loved it's performance (especially the natural wind mode) and how customisable the settings were, which ensured both she and her husband could be comfortable in the same room at the same time. If you and your partner have different heat tolerances and internal thermostats, then this fan could be a gamechanger.

While it's undoubtedly effective, especially in larger rooms, it's not the easiest fan to use, and it took Lauren a good couple of weeks to get used to the control and display panel. It's also not as quiet as other fans on this list, which is worth bearing in mind if you are looking for a fan for the bedroom.

Read Lauren's full Shark TurboBlade review for more details.

Best fan for bedrooms

My favourite fan to use at night was the Duux Whisper 3. Many of the fans I've tested are really quiet, to the point where its actually quite hard to compare the lack of audible sound they make. But for me, it was the combination of gentle wind speed functionality (and how that felt when I was falling asleep) and the ultra quiet noise level, that made me choose this fan as the best for the bedroom.

In the lowest speed setting, I recorded wind speeds of just 1.7m/s which felt really lovely across my arm and face as I was dropping off to sleep. And apart from feeling the rippling breeze, I could not tell the fan was on, even when lying there in silence. Those with any sound sensitivities will appreciate how quiet this fan is. Duux says that this fan is as quiet as 13dB (which is classed as barely audible, and which I will attest to). My decibel reader clocked it at 32dB, but bear in mind that I am taking my own readings in a real home environment rather than a lab or chamber so it's impossible for me to cut out all other sound. But trust me when I say it's very quiet indeed! Pop it in night mode and it'll also reduce the brightness of the display panel and mute all beeps too.

I also really loved the look of the Duux Whisper 3. I got the grey colour option, which will suit those who want the fan to blend into background rather than stick out. It needed a bit more in way of assembly than the others on this list, but a very thoughtful touch was that it had a nifty little screwdriver hidden in the base. It was all that was needed to assemble the fan, and meant I didn't need to go hunting around for a tiny screwdriver myself.

Adjusting the height of the Duux Whisper 3 was also incredibly easy. While the height of other fans on this list are adjusted by adding or removing poles on the fan's stem, the Whisper 3 has a discreet button on the back of the stem, which allows you to raise the fan head by varying degrees until it's at full height.

Full Duux Whisper 3 Fan review coming soon.

Best fan under £100

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While all of the fans and air circulators on this list are brilliant, in the case of many, that comes with quite a hefty price tag. And fans are one of those appliances where it's usually pretty clear to see a difference in performance or capability as a direct link to the price tag.

However sometimes there are little gems to be found that can hold their own against the big guns at a lower price point. And in the case of the best fans and air circulators, that's the Silentnight Airmax Pro360 Pedestal Fan with Remote Control.

I was so impressed with this fan. It's quiet, clocking in at 31dB on my decibel meter on the lowest setting, up to 66dB on the highest, and it's 12 wind settings offer speeds of between a nice and gentle 1.2m/s to a pretty powerful 4.9m/s. It can also be adjusted between a pedestal and desktop configuration with the addition or removal of one of the poles. That's not too dissimilar to other fans on this list with a higher price point, but this Silentnight model comes in at under £100.

It's very lightweight, which made it very easy for me to move around my house during the testing process, but that also means it doesn't quite feel as premium as other models on this list. The height variations also felt slightly off for me — it felt a little too tall in the desktop configuration where it was blowing over my head when it was on my desk, and not quite as tall as other fans I tested when in pedestal mode.

Full Silentnight Airmax Pro360 Pedestal Fan with Remote Control review coming soon!

Compare the best fans

Best of the rest

Not all of the fans we test make it into our shortlist, but that's not to say that they aren't very good.

Below I've highlighted other great fans we've tested that just missed out on one of the top slots above.

Shark Flexbreeze HydroGo Fan

Upon our Senior Digital Editor's first look at the Flex Breeze HydroGo, it's safe to say this cordless fan is a winner for indoor and outdoor use. It's small enough that you can take it with you on the go and powerful enough to actually cool you down with its superfine misting function. The only reason this one isn't in the list above is that we want to see how it compares to other misting fans out there, the testing process of which will happen in Spring/Summer 2026.

Vonhaus Air Circulator Cooling Fan

Very budget friendly at around £45, this Vonhaus fan is compact yet powerful. The only reason it didn't make the shortlist above is that it was a little louder than other fans we tested, and the design meant it was a bit difficult to access all of the buttons on the control panel.

Read the full review, for more details.

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Dreo Polyfan 508S

Using just 3W in Night mode and up to 24W at full power, the Dreo PolyFan 508S is super energy-efficient, costing around 0.07p to 0.6p per hour based on the April 2026 energy price cap. Auto and Eco modes help save even more by adjusting fan speed as the room cools, making it cost-effective for all-day use.

Read the full review for more details.

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Dyson Purifier Cool PC1

If you want a powerful fan that can also improve air quality in your home, this Dyson model is an ideal buy, according to our Senior Digital Editor, Jenny. It might be an investment, but when you consider it's two products in one, it becomes a lot more reasonable.

Read the full review for more details.

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John Lewis Handheld and Desk Fan

Available in several fun colourways, this versatile John Lewis & Partners handheld fan is ideal for staying cool on the move. Plus, it transforms into a compact desk or table fan once you reach your destination.

Glossary

Sometimes when we get into the nitty gritty of how these fans work, we'll use terminology that you might not be familiar with, so I've broken down what the most common jargon means below:

• Oscillation. This is the fan swings from side to side (or up and down in some cases). The degrees it swings through and the direction can compare from fan to fan. In most cases this is an automatic feature, but in others you may have to alter the direction of the fan's airflow manually.
• AC/DC Motor. The motor is what power a fan's movement, and with fans you will usually get one of two varieties, AC or DC. AC motors are usually found on more affordable models that are often a little noisy and tend to offer stepped speed control, like low, medium and high. DC motors, on the other hand, are usually quieter and more energy efficient, and can be used to offer more precise speed control. As such, they tend to be included on models with a higher price tag.
• Wind speed. Modern fans come with multiple wind speed settings to help you personalise your comfort levels, but the number of settings can vary from about 3 to upwards of 30. That means the strength of the wind the fans produce can vary wildly. We take our own wind speed recordings using an anemometer to measure the wind speed in the lowest and highest settings of each fan we test to help you compare.
• Air displacement. This means how much air a fan can circulate in a given time frame, and is usually measured in m3 per hour. The higher the number, the more powerful the fan is. Not every fan will stipulate this figure, so to provide comparison, we have instead measured wind speed for the purpose of this buying guide.
• Noise. The sound a fan makes is measured in decibels (dB), but the reality is that many modern fans are super quiet so it can be hard to compare which is the quietest. We measure all the fans we test using a decibel meter, and these results may differ from the noise level stated by a manufacturer, due to the fact that we are testing in a real home environment rather than a lab setting.

Should you get an air circulator or a fan?

You might see some fans referred to as air circulators, which then raises the question as to which one you should buy. And while it might seem like marketing terminology, there is actually a difference between the two. While all air circulators are fans (the umbrella term), not all fans are air circulators.

Traditionally, fans direct air forwards and may have some horizontal oscillation capabilities to widen the scope of the air direction. But you can only really feel the benefit if you are sitting in the path of the air flow.

Air circulators, on the other hand, offer multidirectional oscillation (and usually a broader scope of movement) to help bounce air off walls and the ceiling, moving much more air and creating a more pleasant environment in the whole room, rather than just in the path of the air flow.

You can pick up and air circulator for less then £50, but prices can go up to close to £200. Those at lower prices may not be as quiet, or have quite the range of automatic oscillation as the more expensive models.

How to choose the best fan for your home?

To choose the right fan or air circulator for your home there are a few things to consider.

• Where and when do you want to use your fan? Different types of fans are best suited to different locations so it's important to think about where your fan will be situated. If you want something for a home office, a small desktop fan may be ideal, whereas if you want to cool a large family living room, then a pedestal air circulator would be more suitable. If you are short on, or too far from, plug sockets, then a cordless fan will give you the flexibility you need. For a fan in the bedroom, something whisper quiet is a must.
• How quiet do you want it to be? Everyone has a different tolerance to sound, and it's worth considering yours before you buy a fan, and this largely comes down to the type of motor the fan has. As Chris Michael, managing director of air quality specialist Meaco, says 'A DC fan is more expensive to manufacture than an AC fan but for the consumer, they are much better. A fan with a DC motor will be quieter, use less energy to produce the same results, tend to be more powerful, can offer more variation in fan speeds, and should last longer'.
• How do you want to control it? At the budget end of the scale, you'll likely find a fan with only on-board controls, so you'll have to get up and adjust the settings manually every time you want to change them. As you get to the mid-point range in terms of price, you may find that your fan comes with a remote control. Generally, the more expensive fans will have both on-board controls and a remote, with a whole host of additional functionality on an app, with the addition of voice control via a smart speaker. Looking out for a timer function can also be useful if you want to fall asleep with a fan on, but not leave it running all night.
• How energy efficient is it? In terms of wattage, fans don't tend to use much, especially compared to energy guzzlers like tumble dryers and washing machines. But some come with additional eco features, like automatically adjusting wind speed based on ambient room temperature, that can make them even more energy efficient.
• How much do you want to pay? Price will be an important consideration, but try not to let it be the only factor in your decision. Choosing a fan that is the right price but doesn't quite meet your needs means you are more likely to be dissatisfied and invest in an alternative down the line.

FAQs

How much should you spend on a fan?

How much you should spend on a fan will largely depend on your budget, but based on our testing of fans from a range of price points, it is worth spending a little bit more to get a fan that provides maximum comfort levels and minimises noise.

By prioritising those comfort levels you improve the chances of you holding on to the fan for the long term rather than, for example, getting frustrated by the loud noise when you're trying to sleep on a stickily hot night and buying another quieter fan as a result.

At the more expensive end of the scale, you can get additional functionality that will allow you to more exactly tailor your fan to your desired comfort levels, but as our testers have found, this is often nice to have rather than a necessity.

Should I buy a fan or a portable air conditioner?

Whether you should buy a fan or a portable air condition will depend on what you are trying to achieve.

If you want to reduce the ambient temperature and moisture levels in a room, then a portable air conditioner will get the job done. They often need to be vented out of the window to expel the hot air, are both sizeable to move around and noisy to run, and they are generally more expensive. These are most likely to be used in the height of the summer during a heatwave where a fan just isn't sufficient.

Fans on the other hand are designed to circulate air, which is something that can be desirable all year long. Encouraging air movement can make your home feel fresher and the feeling (and gentle sound) of a fan can be soothing when you are trying to sleep. While the price of a fan can vary, then do tend to be more affordable than portable air conditioners, easier to move around, and quieter to use.

How we test

Our team of reviewers tested a range of the best fans on the market, from a variety of brands. We like to make sure we test various types of fans with a range of price points to make sure there is something for everyone on this list.

Fans are tested in real home environments for a minimum of two weeks. It may be tested in one room, or in various rooms if we are testing a fan during the day, and overnight in a bedroom setting.

As part of the testing process, we use a mixture of personal assessment and measured results, and we have updated our testing process for 2026. Personal assessment will include aspects like the design of the product, how easy it is to assemble and use, or how the wind speed feels around the room. For more measured testing, we time how long it takes to go from opening the box to getting the fan up and running, measure noise levels with a decibel meter app and use an anemometer to measure wind speed to see which fans are the most gentle on the lowest settings, and most powerful on the highest.

We also track all of the specifications and additional functions of all of the fans we test to allow for easy comparison between products, whether that's between competitor fans or newer versions of existing models.

Fan testers

Sarah Handley

As well as being Ideal Home's Renovation Editor, I also lead on all of the website's heating and cooling content, which means I'm well versed in what it takes to keep your home a comfortable temperature year round and how you can do that in the most energy efficient way possible.

I regularly test fans in my 1970s three-bed home, including the Meaco Sefte Pedestal, the Pro Breeze AirFlo, and the Duux Whisper 3.

Jenny McFarlane

Jenny is Senior Digital Editor at Ideal Home and has been since 2023. She has reviewed everything from steam cleaners to fans. She tested the Dyson Purifier Cool and the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo in her family home.

Joanne Lewsley

Joanne regularly test home and garden products for UK and US websites, including Ideal Home, Top Ten Reviews, and Live Science, evaluating the quality of home and garden gadgets by putting them through their paces in a natural home environment.

She tested the Dreo Polyfan 508s in her busy family home and gave it 5 stars.