The best fans to keep you cool at home or in the office in 2023, tried and tested
A good fan will keep you cool all summer long. Here are the best models based on efficiency, design and value for money
The best fan for cooling a bedroom or living room is one that can cool the air, rather than just moving it around. For that reason many people invest in a portable air conditioner, but they are much more expensive. The also use as much energy in one hour as a fridge uses in a day.
Fans are cheaper, easier to set up and store and have an instant cooling effect on sweaty skin. You can also get a small air-cooling effect by placing a bowl of ice water in front of a fan: the melting ice draws heat from the air. Another tip, if the air outside is cooler than inside your house, is to place a fan with its back to an open window to draw it in. Some people even have a second fan facing another window to blow the warmer air out.
Are there different types of fans? Of course: there are desk fans; tall, slim "tower fans"; pedestal fans, which consist of a bladed unit on top of a stand; and floor fans, which tend to be larger and so can cool a larger room - you might find them in gyms or conference centres.
Premium models like our top choice, the Dyson Purifier Cool Autoreact, also purify air as they cool it, and have extra features such as a sleep timer.
If you need advice on how to sleep well in the heat, read our guides to the best mattresses, pillows, duvet covers and duvets.
What is the quietest fan for sleeping?
If you're buying a fan for the bedroom, choose a model with a quieter sleep mode or a noise level of around 50-55db. For comparison, background noise in an office equates to around 50db and a refrigerator or laptop emits approximately 35db of noise.
The type of motor in the fan will affect the level of noise it emits. "Fans have either an AC (alternating current) or DC (direct current) motor – DC motors are better as they're brushless, so are quieter and more energy efficient," explains Nick Kandola of Aircon Centre, a specialist retailer for fans, air conditioning units and dehumidifiers.
You should also consider who is living in your home. Tower fans or bladeless designs are safer in a home with young children or pets as they don’t pose a risk to small hands (or paws).
How I tested the best fans
As a journalist on the Telegraph's Recommended section, I've tested countless fans and other home appliances over the past 18 months. Each model on this list has been hand tested by me on a sweltering London summer's day and has been backed up by insight from experts. So, here are the best fans to keep you cool this summer, starting with my favourite.
At a glance – the best fans for 2023
- Best overall – Dyson Purifier Cool™ Autoreact
- Best pedestal fan – MeacoFan 1056P Air Circulator Pedestal Fan
- Best desk fan – Beldray EH3266CH
- Best value for money – Devola 12" DC Pedestal Air Circulator Fan
- Best fan for bedroom – electriQ eiQ-AM07 24 inch Bladeless Quiet Tower Fan
- Best fan for quiet – Duux Whisper Flex Smart Wireless Fan
The best fans for 2023
1. Dyson Purifier Cool Autoreact
Best overall
We liked: powerful, sleek and quiet – but expensive
It will probably come as no surprise to see Dyson’s purifying fan at the top of this list. The British airflow experts' products are consistently popular and an earlier model without purification (£339, Argos) was our top buy for many years.
The Dyson Purifier's elegant design has won it a permanent place in my flat. It cools powerfully and efficiently and makes my living room feel degrees cooler in an instant by projecting over 290 litres of air a second. I could really feel the difference compared with less powerful devices. The other reason it seems to cool better than any other fan I tested is that it has 350° oscillation, so it feels as though it moves air round the room more effectively.
The second reason I liked it is the impressive air purification. Obviously, this isn't something you can feel, but it filters 99.95 per cent of pollutants out of the air with an advanced HEPA H13 filter. It continually monitors and analyses air quality, and feeds the results to you in real time on an LCD screen or via the Dyson Link app (which also allows you to operate the fan remotely). We're constantly warned about the poor air quality in London, so for me this is a key feature.
I also found that even the higher fan speed settings are quiet enough to use while concentrating on work or drifting off to sleep (although on the highest of the 10 settings there is a bit more noise, as you'd expect). It has an easy-to-use sleep timer and an 'Auto' mode that adjusts the fan speed according to the air temperature and quality in your home.
However, perhaps the reason I loved it most of all is that it's a fan you will genuinely want to have on display. Let's face it, fans aren't always the most stylish of home accessories, but the Dyson's distinctive bladeless design is a thing of beauty. Every detail is well thought out, right down to the compact remote that can be stored magnetically on top of the fan.
The only downside is that it’s a significant outlay. But its superior performance coupled with the fact that it’s the best looking means that if you are looking to spend more, this is a fan that’s worth the premium price tag.
The extremely popular Dyson AM06 desk fan, meanwhile, is currently out of stock everywhere.
Also available at
2. electriQ eiQ-AM07 24 inch Bladeless Quiet Tower Fan
Best fan for bedroom
We liked: it's energy efficient and costs only 1p an hour to run
If you want a bladeless tower fan (like a Dyson) for a fraction of the cost, this is the model to go for. It may not look quite as sleek, but the electriQ eiQ-AM07 offers much of the same functionality as the leading brand for significantly less. Plus, it's energy efficient and won't add unduly to your electricity bill (as a 45W unit it costs around 1p an hour to run).
The bladeless design is safe for children and pets and efficiently cools a living room, bedroom or home office with a max fan speed of 1200r/min. It’s simple to use and offers three speed options, simply called ‘turbo’, ‘normal’ and ‘quiet’. It also has a sleep timer and a fun extra in the form of optional colourful mood lighting. This is all well and good, but on testing I missed the speed range of some of the more premium models.
3. Beldray EH3266CH 10 Inch Desk Fan
Best desk fan
We like: rock solid construction and strong breeze
Think of a desk fan and you doubtless picture something like this, by Birmingham metalworks Beldray who originally made coal scuttles and pioneered the folding ironing board just after the war. It's a no-nonsense four-bladed 30-Watt fan sitting on a solid, heavy base that can be angled and set to oscillate and... that's it. One for traditionalists. Or, dare I say it, Telegraph readers.
4. MeacoFan 1056P Air Circulator Pedestal Fan
Best pedestal fan
We liked: plenty of premium features at an affordable price
It’s no exaggeration to say that this is the king of pedestal fans. The first thing I notice (after how easy it is to assemble) is that it has both horizontal and vertical oscillation which, coupled with a powerful airflow of 1653m³/hour, means it feels as though it has unrivalled cooling capabilities. It feels natural, like a gentle breeze. It’s also very quiet, with a minimum noise level of 20db and a maximum of 60db, roughly equivalent to the noise from a dishwasher. That's partly thanks to the fact it's powered by a brushless DC motor, which is more energy efficient and longer-lasting in addition to being quieter than a conventional motor.
I also found the MeacoFan 1056P delivered in terms of extra features. It has an ‘eco’ mode that adjusts the speed of the fan based on the temperature of the room, a ‘natural’ mode that replicates a breeze, plus a sleep timer, night light and a handy magnetic remote.
As with the Dyson above, similar technology is available in a desk fan – the MeacoFan 360 Personal Air Circulator Fan (£64.95, Aircon Centre). Its compact design suits a smaller desk or bedside table, but it still feels powerful enough to cool you down efficiently.
The MeacoFan 1056P narrowly misses out on the top spot on this list because the Dyson offers a wider range of features (including air purification) – but, on the other hand, this model is significantly more affordable.
5. Devola 12" DC Pedestal Air Circulator Fan
£99.95, Aircon Centre - out of stock due to high demand. Alternatives available here
Best value for money
We liked: it's exceedingly quiet, but still powerful
Even though it's not a budget buy, at just under £75, I can confidently say that this Devola fan offers great value for money – it's one of the quietest out there (with a minimum noise level of 20db and a maximum of 53db) and is certified by the industry standard 'Quiet Mark' accordingly. Even though it's very quiet, it doesn't compromise on power. The 12-inch blades offer an airflow of 1140m³/hour, which is not to be sniffed at. Similarly to the MeacoFan model above, it's powered by a brushless DC motor.
In practice, this means that I found this fan to be an excellent companion to working from home – quiet enough as to not disturb video calls, but with enough gusto to make my whole living room feel tangibly cooler. Like most other decent models, it has a wide range of 12 speed settings, automatic horizontal and vertical oscillation and an energy-saving eco mode.
It must also be said that, as far as fans go, it’s pretty good looking – I was happy to have the aluminium alloy pedestal on show. It comes in just below the MeacoFan model above, as it’s slightly less efficient (with an airflow of 1140m³/hour to the MeacoFan’s 1653m³/hour), but other than that it’s a remarkably quiet, stylish fan that’s well worth considering.
6. Duux Whisper Flex Smart Wireless Fan
Best fan for quiet
We liked: it oscillates both horizontally and vertically for better coverage
This stylish pedestal fan has a lot going for it – it's sleek, sturdy and smart. It can be controlled via a smartphone app and has a whopping 26 speed settings to suit every temperature, plus a 'natural' mode that creates a varying breeze-like effect. I love the matte black finish, although it also comes in a traditional glossy white (£119. Very).
Onto the tech: it can be used totally wirelessly (via a rechargeable battery in the base) and controlled via compact remote, app or even with your voice. It’s also height adjustable and can either be used as a 88cm pedestal fan or a 51cm floor fan. It’s not the tallest as pedestal fans go, but the fact that it oscillates both horizontally and vertically means it offers excellent coverage, even in a larger room.
Although it’s not technically ‘whisper quiet’ as the name suggests, it's Quiet Mark accredited and only emits between 13-50db of noise (the maximum is roughly equivalent to the noise from a fridge), meaning it’s plenty quiet enough to have on while working and sleeping.
It comes below the Devola model purely on the basis of price – at just under £150, this Duux fan isn’t cheap. And, this really is nitpicking, but it’s slightly complicated to assemble (although the parts do come in handy numbered bags to make this easier). Nevertheless, it’s a worthy investment if low noise and high tech are your priorities.
7. electriQ 44 Inch Tower Fan
Best tower fan
We liked: it's a space-saving solution
The tall, slimline design of this fan is very useful if you're short on space. It offers many of the same features as the eiQ-AM07 bladeless fan reviewed above, but with the added bonus of a lower price. It has three fan speeds, a sleep mode, smooth oscillation and comes with a remote control. However, it's not as powerful, and I found it a bit loud for my liking at 59db.
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