WITH the July heatwave hitting record temperatures, finding ways to keep cool at home has never been more essential.
We’ve put the best home fans through their paces to help you beat this scorching UK summer in style – and just in time, as Met Office forecasts predict the hot weather to continue.
These cooling lifesavers are perfect whether you need a powerful whole-room cooler or just a simple desk fan to make your WFH days more bearable during these blistering hot days.
And if you’re looking for something portable, this JSDOIN handheld fan is now on sale at Amazon – perfect for cooling down on the go!
Modern fans are a breeze to use, thanks to smart features that do the hard work for you.
Our top pick for versatility, the Shark FlexBreeze, has just had a massive price drop, making this premium cooling option more affordable than ever.
From sleek tower fans to stylish pedestals, compact table models and cutting-edge bladeless designs – there’s something for every home and budget.
They’re significantly cheaper to run than a portable air conditioning unit (so you can keep your energy bills in check), and most can be easily tucked away when autumn arrives.
Prices are sure to drop across a huge range of fans during next week’s big Amazon Prime Day sale, so it’s the perfect time to snap up a bargain before the next heatwave hits.
Those with more features generally come with a higher price tag, but don’t overlook extra functions like a timer, remote control, and night mode, which can make all the difference during those sticky summer nights.
Deal alert: Save 34% on the Shark Flexbreeze
Trying to beat the heat? Don’t miss this ice-cool Amazon deal.
The Shark Flexbreeze – our top choice for versatility – is currently on sale on Amazon with a massive £50 price drop. It’s usually £149.99, but has been reduced to £99.99.
Best home fans at a glance:
- Best overall: MeacoFan Sefte Pedestal 10”
- Best budget: LOGIK L16PFGM17 16″
- Best for versatility: Shark FlexBreeze FA220UK
- Best desk fan: Honeywell QuietSet Oscillating Table Fan
- Best for bedrooms: MeacoFan Sefte 10” Table Air Circulator
How we test the best home fans
Living through last year’s heat waves provided me with the perfect opportunity to push these fans to their limits in real-world conditions.
I judged each one on assembly ease, cooling power, noise levels and control simplicity.
Each fan spent time cooling my home office during work hours and keeping my bedroom comfortable overnight.
I tested every special feature – from night modes to natural breeze settings – to determine if they’re genuinely worth the extra cash.
Design appeal and value for money were also crucial factors in my final ratings.
1. MeacoFan Sefte 10″ Pedestal Air Circulator
MeacoFan Sefte 10” Pedestal Air Circulator
£169.99
Pros: Modern look, glow-in-the-dark remote control, excellent cooling, useful night mode, hidden carry handle
Cons: More expensive than other fans
Rating: 5/5
This is definitely a cut above most home fans, but that does mean it’s pricier. It fits together in a flash and boasts a great contemporary look that suits any room without being overly noticeable.
However, it’s this fan’s cooling capabilities that wowed me. It uses hi-tech sounding Air Beam Precision to control the angle of the airflow, whether you’re surrounded by people or using it alone.
The DC brushless motor projects air across the room for startlingly efficient cooling that I could feel on the other side of my kitchen. The temperature of the entire room seemed cooler, even when I wasn’t directly facing the fan.
Removable columns allow for adjustable heights, providing maximum versatility. Additionally, the unit oscillates not only side to side but also vertically, enabling it to reach every corner of the room.
The dedicated night mode is a real game-changer. The fan is already whisper-quiet, but the night setting turns off all sounds and lights, gradually lowering the setting until it shuts off automatically, so you don’t wake up freezing.
There’s even a glow-in-the-dark remote control to avoid scrabbling around in the night. Easily one of the quietest home fans I tested, it’s well worth the extra cost to sleep soundly all summer, regardless of how hot it gets.
Power: Not specified; Noise: 25dB; Oscillation: Yes; Speed settings: 12; Size: 110 x 34 x 34 cm; Remote control: Yes
2. Shark FlexBreeze Portable Fan FA220UK
Shark FlexBreeze Portable Fan FA220UK
£199.99
Pros: Can be used outside, has a misting attachment, extremely powerful, perfect in a large room
Cons: Expensive, only available in black
Rating: 4.5/5
This fan delivers on versatility. There are a whopping 12 ways it can be used, including cordless, outdoors and tabletop.
It’s simple to put together as the whole head comes as one, and the supporting column just needs to be slotted into place. It looks very sleek and sturdy, although its matte black exterior doesn’t make as much of a style statement as the Icycool Copper Pedestal Fan.
However, it does everything you could ever need from a fan, with 180-degree oscillation and a 55-degree tilt to fill the room with icy air, a breeze mode, and a timer that can be set for up to five hours.
It can even be used outdoors as a cordless model, with up to 24 hours of runtime, so there’s no need to swelter over the barbecue ever again.
A hose pipe can also be attached to turn it into a misting fan, which I know will be a huge hit with my children this summer.
I especially liked the fact that it could transform from a pedestal fan to a desktop model with the press of a button, unlike the Challenge White Pedestal & Desk Fan, which required the removal of poles to change its use.
This makes it extremely easy to use throughout the house without hassle.
I used it next to me while I was working at my desk, and then transformed it into a pedestal when I watched TV in the evening. If you’re willing to spend a bit extra, you won’t regret investing in this when the temperature rises.
Power: 36W; Noise: Not specified; Oscillation: Yes, 180-degrees; Speed settings: 5; Size: 94 x 35 x 35 cm; Remote control: Yes
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3. Honeywell QuietSet Oscillating Table Fan
Honeywell QuietSet Oscillating Table Fan
£44.99
Pros: Small, five speed settings, quiet night setting, oscillates through a wide area, timer
Cons: Night setting isn’t very powerful, you can’t adjust the height
Rating: 4.5/5
It can get very stuffy in the box room I use as my office during the summer, so I was more than happy to test out this fan.
Space is at a premium for me, and although it’s a chunky model, the Honeywell QuietSet Oscillating Table Fan sat unobtrusively on the corner of my desk without being too overwhelming.
The squat design is quite cute, and the five power levels certainly get the air moving, but since there isn’t a lot of space (and a lot of paper is involved in what I do), I generally stick to the lowest two settings.
Of these, the nighttime setting is the quietest, but also the lowest speed.
While the fan has an oscillation function, I didn’t use it when I was working, as it was just a bit too much.
The breeze created on the lowest settings is welcome, but I found it hit me in the neck, and as there is no way to adjust the angle of air delivery, this became a little chilly after a while.
I also used the fan during warm nights, positioning it on a bedside table as far away as possible.
I slept fine when it was in night mode, but I couldn’t feel the air moving. The higher settings were better for cooling the air, but they were too loud for me to sleep through.
I’m a very light sleeper, though.
There’s also a timer, with settings for one, two, four, and eight hours, which is simple to activate.
The LED lights that accompany each increase in fan speed fade out after 15 seconds. There’s also a handy carry handle on the back.
Power: 34W; Noise: Not specified; Oscillation: Yes; Speed settings: 5; Size: 30 x 18 x 20cm; Remote control: No
4. Challenge White Pedestal & Desk Fan
Challenge White Pedestal & Desk Fan
£70
Pros: Easy to put together, powerful breeze that works well in a bigger room
Cons: Larger than some other fans
Rating: 4/5
Can’t decide on the right size fan? This nifty model can be used as both a pedestal and a smaller desktop fan by adding extra poles, which also makes it easier to store when not in use.
It’s a little larger than some of the other home fans I tested, so it won’t easily hide away in a corner.
If you’d prefer a less obvious fan in a darker colour, it could be an idea to opt for the LOGIK L16PFGM17 16” Pedestal Fan – Gun Metal instead.
However, if you fancy a fan in white, this one has all the power you’ll need, plus eight settings, so you can crank it up when it’s sweltering.
I could feel it from several metres away, and I was also impressed by how quiet it was – I didn’t need to turn it off to hear the TV.
The beeping noise when settings are changed is quite loud, so it’s best not to do this too often if someone else is trying to sleep in the same room. However, otherwise, this is a solid summer buy that does the job nicely.
Power: 45W; Noise: Not specified; Oscillation: Yes; Speed settings: 8; Size: 130 x 41 x 41 cm; Remote control: Yes
5. MeacoFan Sefte 10” Table Air Circulator
MeacoFan Sefte 10” Table Air Circulator
£119.99
Pros: Very quiet, powerful, 12 settings, horizontal and vertical oscillation, magnetic remote control attaches to front of fan, timer, eco mode, night mode
Cons: Chunky build, short cable, timer only via remote control
Rating: 4/5
This cool fan (pun intended) is powerful and packed with features that will definitely keep you cool and comfortable this summer.
First off, it is incredibly quiet on the first setting, and I have had no problem sleeping with the fan on during warm nights.
It has 12 settings in total, with levels two and three also being whisper-quiet. However, I generally didn’t need to go beyond level four, as I found that level four was powerful enough.
The Sefte also oscillates, both horizontally and vertically, with three different degrees of movement in each direction.
I primarily tested the fan in my home office and found that the smallest oscillation setting was all I needed.
However, in the living room, it’s handy to be able to increase the degree of movement to cover the larger space.
Eco mode means the fan automatically changes speed depending on the room temperature (which is shown on the digital display), so as the heat increases, the fan speed increases.
I’m not sure of the value of this, though, as you can simply adjust the speed manually.
I love that the remote control fixes magnetically to the front of the grille when not in use, so in theory, you should always be able to find it, just as well, because if you lose it, you can’t use all of the functions.
Annoyingly, you can only set the timer (1 – 12 hours) via the remote, which also mutes the beeping buttons and controls the display light.
Although it’s one of the quietest fans I’ve used, the design is quite chunky, so it looks a little intrusive and doesn’t blend in.
The power cable could also be longer – it’s 161 cm (just over 5 ft) by my measurements.
Power: 11V DC brushless motor; Noise: 25dB max; Oscillation: Yes, both vertical and horizontal; Speed settings: 12; Size: 43.2 x 30.5 x 27.7cm; Remote control: Yes
6. LOGIK L16PFGM17 16” Pedestal Fan
LOGIK L16PFGM17 16” Pedestal Fan
£59
Pros: Looks good, great price
Cons: No remote control, no sleep mode
Rating: 3.5/5
If you love the stylish look of the Shark FlexBreeze Portable Fan FA220UK but want to spend considerably less, this pedestal fan is a steal.
Made of go-with-anything grey metal, it’s surprisingly good-looking and won’t be out of place anywhere in the home.
I tried it in my living room, kitchen and bedroom, and it worked equally well in each one, with the dark metal far less jarring than a chunk of white plastic in the corner.
It’s fairly straightforward to put together though it does help to have someone on hand to hold the motor while you fasten the screws in place as they are a little fiddly.
Settings are changed via a dial on the back, so there are no lights or noises if you tweak it during the night. However, it does mean that you need to be able to easily access the back of the fan.
There’s no timer or sleep mode, but I found it extremely effective at cooling me down as the wide head and blades can whip up a strong breeze that I could feel on the other side of the room.
Power: 50W; Noise: Less than 63.9dB: Oscillation: Yes; Speed settings: 3; Size: 125 x 45 x 36.8 cm; Remote control: No
7. Status 14-inch High Velocity Floor Fan
Status 14-inch High Velocity Floor Fan
£44.99
Pros: Stylish metal, powerful, well-priced, no assembly
Cons: Doesn’t oscillate, portable
Rating: 3.5/5
This fan earned bonus points from me before I’d even plugged it in as it lifts out of the box in one piece, ready to go, without so much as a screw to tighten.
It’s a fairly basic model without any timers or fancy features, but it more than delivers on power.
I was amazed at how much wind it whipped up, and I found that I rarely needed to put it higher than the first setting, especially since the highest setting was quite noisy.
It’s very solid and well-built, and the clean metal finish looks surprisingly good.
It doesn’t take up a lot of floor space either, and would easily store away when the weather turns colder.
You can tilt it to find the perfect angle, but be aware that it doesn’t oscillate, so you need to face it directly to feel the breeze.
Power: Not specified; Noise: Not specified; Oscillation: No; Speed settings: 3; Size: 41 x 43 x 22 cm; Remote control: No
8. Igenix DF0030 Oscillating Tower Fan
Igenix DF0030 Oscillating Tower Fan
£29.99
Pros: Great price, simple to use, integrated carry handle
Cons: Timer makes a faint ticking sound, looks a bit cheap
Rating: 3/5
This tower fan is fairly basic but is ideal if you’re looking for a no-frills model with a price tag to match.
It cools well, with three speeds to choose from and an oscillation function.
I used it on the other side of my living room and could easily feel it from the sofa. Although be warned, there’s no remote control, so you will have to get up to operate it.
There’s a two-hour timer that can be set on a dial, but I found this made a very faint ticking noise, so I chose not to use that function overnight.
Otherwise, there are no complex settings or digital displays to navigate, as this fan operates with simple push-button controls.
Though I tested the model in white, it’s also available in black, which I think is a more stylish option, especially if it’s going to be on display all summer.
Power: 45W; Noise: Not specified; Oscillation: Yes; Speed settings: 3; Size: 76 x 24 x 24 cm; Remote control: No
9. Devola Floor Fan 16
Devola Floor Fan 16
£50.95
Pros: Powerful fan, carry handle on back, large, not too heavy to carry between rooms
Cons: No timer, no remote control, only three settings, too big for small rooms
Rating: 3/5
This fan is quite impressive and has an industrial vibe. It’s a floor fan, so the stand doesn’t get in the way, but the fan itself is massive. I used it in the living room and also tried it in the bedroom, but it was too noisy for me to sleep through.
It has three speeds and is pretty powerful. You can also tilt the head to direct the air where it’s most effective, but the stand’s design prevents it from oscillating from left to right, which is a shame.
Still, it works extremely well and I suspect it would be brilliant during a heatwave – alas, when I tested it, the weather hadn’t reached those glorious heights and even the lowest setting was too much.
The Devola Floor Fan is good for large spaces, but I think it’s overkill for smaller rooms.
It also requires more effort than we’ve come to expect from our appliances, as it lacks a timer or remote control, so you’ve to get up to switch it on and off, adjust the speed, and tilt the head to direct the airflow where you want it.
Additionally, the electric cable is quite short, so you’re limited to the position of your sockets, and you must have the fan facing you to benefit from the breeze.
On the plus side, though, it’s ready to go straight out of the box, with no need to make any adjustments.
Power: 80W; Noise: 55dB – 61dB; Oscillation: No, but you can manually tilt the fan up and down; Speed settings: 3; Size: 40 x 40 x 20cm; Remote control: No
More summer essentials
Where to buy home fans?
Home fans can be bought online and are also available in a range of shops, including department stores and supermarkets.
Don’t wait until a heatwave before deciding to buy one, however, as many of these models will quickly sell out.
Choose your favourite from the reviews above and get shopping on one of these recommended sites:
How much does a home fan cost?
Fans are available to suit all budgets, from around £20 for a basic desktop fan to several hundred pounds for some bladeless models.
If you just want a fan to blow cold air on a few hot days each year, there’s no real point forking out over the odds.
However, if you need to cool a large area, want a particularly quiet model to help you sleep, or prefer a more stylish fan you won’t mind out on display, it could be worth spending extra on a model that will last for years.
How much does it cost to run a fan?
The brilliant news about fans is they’re incredibly cheap to run, especially compared to energy-guzzling air conditioners.
Most standard home fans use around 50 watts of electricity, which translates to just 1-2p per hour based on current energy prices.
Even if you’re keeping cool with your fan running all day during a heatwave, you’re only looking at about 20-30p daily.
For the budget-conscious, pedestal fans typically cost around £2-£5 per month with regular use, while ceiling fans are similarly economical at approximately 1p per hour.
The power consumption varies between models – bladeless fans and those with extra features might use slightly more electricity, while basic desk fans use less.
Which is the quietest fan?
If you’re a light sleeper or work from home, finding a whisper-quiet fan is essential – and the MeacoFan Sefte models are among the quietest for peaceful cooling.
Both the pedestal and tabletop versions operate at just 25dB on their lowest settings – about as loud as a gentle whisper.
The dedicated night mode is particularly impressive, gradually reducing fan speed while eliminating all lights and sounds.
The Honeywell QuietSet lives up to its name, offering five speed settings, including an ultra-quiet night mode that’s ideal for bedrooms.
While not quite as silent as the MeacoFan models, it remains remarkably quiet even on higher settings.
The Challenge White Pedestal & Desk Fan deserves an honourable mention – it’s quiet enough that you won’t need to turn it off to hear the TV, though its beeping when changing settings might disturb light sleepers.
Can I use a fan overnight?
Yes, it’s perfectly safe to keep your fan running all night – and during a heatwave, that cool breeze can be the difference between tossing and turning or getting proper sleep.
However, some people experience morning dryness due to the constant airflow.
If you wake up with a scratchy throat or dry eyes, try positioning the fan to circulate air around the room rather than blowing directly on you.
For allergy sufferers, fans can sometimes stir up dust and pollen; therefore, models with air purification, such as the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool, are worth the investment.
The MeacoFan Sefte range excels for overnight use with its whisper-quiet operation and clever night modes that gradually reduce speed before automatically switching off, preventing you from waking up chilly at 3 am.
A timer function is particularly valuable for overnight use, letting you enjoy cooling comfort while falling asleep without running the fan unnecessarily all night.
What is the biggest number of settings on a home fan?
When it comes to cooling control, the MeacoFan Sefte range absolutely outperforms the competition with an impressive 12-speed setting, providing precise control over exactly how much breeze you need.
Most standard fans offer just three basic settings (low, medium, high), but premium models are increasingly providing more flexibility.
The Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool comes in second, offering 10 different speeds, while the Challenge White Pedestal & Desk Fan provides a respectable eight settings.
Why does this matter? More settings means finding that perfect sweet spot – powerful enough to cool you down but not so breezy that it’s blowing your paperwork everywhere or keeping you awake at night.
The difference between settings 1-3 on the MeacoFan models is particularly valuable, offering whisper-quiet operation at just 25dB while still providing effective cooling, making it perfect for light sleepers who require gentle airflow.
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