As temperatures continue to rise during the summer season, people are looking for cost-effective ways to keep themselves cool at home and at their office. Once you find the best desk fan for office you’ll feel on top of the world! In fact, a table fan is a perfect way to regulate your office temperature and create a comfortable environment that helps you get things done.
But, finding an effective table fan is not as easy as it sounds. There’s a wide variety of options out there, from portable battery-powered units that you can take on the road, to high-end fans that cost the same as an AC unit. Also, not all fans are made equal. Some are simple and convenient contraptions that even come with USB port connectivity, while other models come with advanced features like remote control.
No matter the design or bells and whistles, all table fans are designed to provide you with a cool and productive environment. The easiest way to streamline your options and find the best table fan for your needs is to consider the amount of desk space you’re working with. Luckily desk fans come in all types of different sizes and designs so you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to that.
Some of the most notable features to look out for in a table fan include automatic oscillation, different speed settings and low-noise operation. Of course, your budget will also play a role in helping you find the right table fan because you don’t want to choose anything too expensive.
At the same time, you should treat this purchase like an investment and look for a good quality model with useful features and a durable construction. When taken together, these factors will help you decide on the type of fan that you should buy.
To help you along, we did some research and put together a comprehensive guide, including our pick of what we consider to be the best table fans on the market right now.
A Small Buyer’s Guide
The design and construction of table fans have evolved so much over the years that most models run silently. This means you won’t have to deal with the constant humming of a fan while you’re trying to get work done in the office. It’s also important to consider the unit’s dimensions so that you won’t struggle with finding the right place to put it.
Genesis 6-Inch Table-Top/Clip Fan
Most Affordable & Ideal for Home or Office
Best Mid-Size Whole Room Air Circulator Fan
Dyson Cool AM06 Air Multiplier Desk Fan
Simply the Best & Designed for Modern Homes
Pure Turbo Silence Extreme Electronic Table Fan
Best Portable Battery Operated Desk Fan
Here are a few other considerations for you to make when choosing a table fan:
Fan Design
Most table fans use axial flow design which means they have a rotating spoke with several fan blades. In order to create a cooling and comforting airflow, the blades rotate in the opposite direction of the spoke.
As a result, an axial fan typically comes with a square or round shape. Inside the internal center of the fan is an impeller shaft which is responsible for delivering airflow through a grille or safety screen. Some grills are also removable, which makes it easier to clean the fan when you need to.
Another popular option is the tower fan which has a very slender and tall design. The impeller shaft of a tower fan is also situated in the center, since it’s vertically oriented to accommodate the fan’s unique design.
Due to that fact, the blades deliver air in an up-and-down motion as the shaft turns round and round. This is obviously different from the horizontal orientation of a standard axial flow fan. The airflow is directed by well-planned outlets.
Bladeless fans are a new addition to the market, and they’ve become quite popular. That’s because they make very little noise and are the best quiet desk fan. You can expect them to deliver a gentle yet cooling breeze, which is made possible by housing the blades inside a hidden base while a dedicated motor pushes the air out.
A lot of people refer to bladeless fans as “air multipliers” due to their ability to focus the air coming out of the rotating blades using a purposefully engineered ring. This allows the best quiet fan to deliver air at an incredibly high speed.
Oscillation
Oscillation is a term that refers to air that rotates from one side to another. It applies to both tower fans and standard axial flow fans. Once you see a fan with this feature, then you know that it can circulate more air throughout the space without increasing fan speed, which makes for a more energy-efficient operation.
Power Source
As the name implies, electric fans are powered by electricity but they use different methods to siphon that energy. Table fans draw their power from a cord that’s connected to a socket, which means they must be placed in a location that’s close to a socket.
Other fans can be powered through USB ports or regular batteries. These are a bit more mobile and give you the flexibility to place them in different areas of the room. They’re also great at keeping your computer and other devices cool but may need frequent recharging.
Timers
Not all fans come with a timer so you’ll have to consider your needs to figure out if this feature is important to you. These types of fans allow you to pre-program the fan to run at different speeds during the night to help you drift off to sleep without making you feel cold in the middle of the night. You can also set a timer for the fan so that it switches itself off automatically.
Table Fans vs. Tower Fans vs. Pedestal Fans
Table fans are quite common and popular nowadays because they’re fully portable. They’re also an affordable option, as they come at an average price of $25. Most units in this category allow you to adjust their tilting position to help customize airflow direction. Other models even feature oscillation which allows them to provide a sweeping breeze throughout the room.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a discreet fan for a small space, then tower fans are the way to go. They’re slim and vertically shaped to deliver air from a higher vantage point.
Most tower fans come with remote control accessibility which means you can change airflow or switch it on and off without moving from your seat. This makes it ideal for placement in an office or in a relaxing environment like your bedroom.
Pedestal fans are known for their tall stature, and they’re quite powerful. That’s because they’re designed to circulate air in large areas. This type of fan allows you to adjust oscillation, pivot, and height. But keep in mind that pedestal fans are bigger and heavier than tower fans, which means they’ll stand out no matter where you place them.
Top 10 Table Fans for 2019
Small Flat Panel Fan With Vortex Air Circulation
Best 18-Inch High Velocity Fan Designed to Move Lots of Air
Compact Fan That Delivers Multi-Directional Airflow
Honeywell HT-900 TurboForce
Best Table Fan for Small to Medium Sized Rooms
Portable, Lightweight & Adjustable Head Design
As you can see, a lot goes into making a table fan these days and there are a lot of things to keep in mind if you want to find the best table fan for your needs. Now we’re going to share with you our list of some of the best table fans on the market, with a focus on quality, features, construction, and affordability.
1 – Genesis 6-Inch Table-Top/Clip Fan – Most Affordable & Ideal for Home or Office
This clip-on fan from Genesis is an energy-efficient design marvel that’s testament to the company’s innovation. Its versatile design means that you can use it as a table-top fan, a desktop fan or a regular clip-on fan.
If you want to place this fan on your office table to keep you cool while you work, just undo the butterfly screw located on the head. Then, connect the base and the head together before you tighten the butterfly screw again.
On the other hand, you can use the Genesis as a clip-on fan by loosening the screw and connecting the clip. Then, simply tighten the screw again so that the clip doesn’t come out. The clip has a thickness of 1.06 to 1.65 inches. The sturdy clamp will ensure that the air moves in the direction you want without the fan moving out of place.
With two-speed settings for you to choose from and an adjustable head, this fan is a convenient unit that runs quietly and efficiently.
PROS:
Beautiful design
Runs quietly
Offers two-speed settings
Sits still and doesn’t move while circulating air
CONS:
The clip malfunctions sometimes
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2 – Vornado 630 – Best Mid-Size Whole Room Air Circulator Fan
Vornado is a well-known fan manufacturer and this particular model definitely lives up to the company’s reputation. It has a very simple yet functional design and although small, this fan has the capacity to circulate air all across the room. To be honest, this fan works better than an oscillator and the best part is that it works noiselessly.
It’s worth noting that this fan comes at a very affordable price range considering that it can cool down an entire room. Unlike other Vornado fans, this model doesn’t come with any bells and whistles like remote control or timers. But it does allow you to control the speed using a dedicated interface located on the side.
Due to its small size, this fan is super easy to maintain and move around. In fact, this fan is so small that it can easily fit into a traveling bag so you can take it with you no matter where you go.
Aside from office use, this fan is perfect to take with you on a festival like Burning Man or Coachella where temperatures get really hot. You can also carry it with you on road trips and fishing trips to keep you cool on the road during summer. All you have to do is just plug it in and it’ll start working immediately.
PROS:
Ideal for hot summer days
Small but can cover a large area
Quiet
CONS:
It’s not that well-made
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3 – Dyson Cool AM06 Air Multiplier Desk Fan – Simply the Best & Designed for Modern Homes
Dyson is another trusted fan manufacturer and a brand that’s known for its impeccable products. Thanks to featuring Air Multiplier technology and fast-spinning blades, this model offers a continuous stream of air to keep an entire room cool for the whole day. It also comes with a sleep timer that allows it to automatically switch off during a predetermined time at night.
It’s worth noting here that this model is an upgrade from the company’s previous iteration and as such, they’ve made a few small adjustments to its design and features.
For all intents and purposes, this is a bladeless fan and it has a very streamlined design with the only visible control mechanism being the power switch. This means that the only way to control this fan is through the small and discreet remote control which allows you to adjust airspeed from a distance.
Some people don’t like this because they claim the remote control is tiny and can easily get misplaced, leaving you with no way to control the fan.
Either way, the AM06 unit is also taller than the previous model which means you can’t really place it on your table but you can easily move it around your office.
PROS:
Puts out plenty of air to keep you cool throughout the summer
Runs quietly
Easy to maintain
Lightweight and easy to carry
Great gift idea
CONS:
This fan is a bit on the pricey side
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4 – Rowenta VU2660 – Pure Turbo Silence Extreme Electronic Table Fan
The VU2660 model from Rowenta is the perfect fan for use at home or at the office. Although it runs quietly, it’s remarkably effective at dropping the temperature no matter how humid or hot the area is. To put this into context, consider the fact that this fan has an airflow capacity of 1695 ft3 per minute and yet it only makes 33dB of sound.
This is an oscillating model that you can use all year round and it has 5-speed settings for you to choose from so you can get the right amount of air.
Rowenta spared no expense when constructing this fan, as evidenced by the construction materials used, which include heavy-duty metal and sturdy plastic that can withstand frequent use. With that said, the metal does tend to rust over time, even in humidity-free environments.
This fan stands on a wide and sturdy base to ensure that it doesn’t fall off, and it’s quite heavy so there’s no chance of it tipping over and getting damaged. Just make sure to keep your kids away from it or at least tell them not to climb on it.
The only downside to this fan is that it has a very short cord that measures 5 feet in length. You have to place it close to the outlet, or at the very least use an extension cord. The connection point is located on the back of the LED panel so it’s fairly easy to see and reach.
The good news is that this fan is easy to use and assemble, thanks to the clearly marked writing and it comes with a remote button and a power button. So you can use it with or without the remote depending on your preferences.
The unit itself contains three power settings which you can access through the dedicated settings button. You can use them to change the speed settings, with the highest one being the “turbo” button which delivers powerful airflow to keep you cool.
PROS:
Provides powerful air circulation
You can control it through the remote or by using its dedicated controls
Runs quietly even on the Turbo setting!
Perfect for use at the office or even in your bedroom
Convenient and easy to use
CONS:
On closer inspection, the plastic material is not so durable
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5 – SkyGenius – Best Portable Battery Operated Clip on Mini Desk Fan
This clip-on fan from SkyGenius is super easy to set up and even more convenient to use. The great thing about this fan is that you can place it almost anywhere and it’ll deliver powerful air that circulates the whole room. It’s so small that some people prefer to attach it to their office desk or their chair.
Don’t let its small size fool you though, because this fan is powerful. It can deliver air up to 75 feet per second and you don’t’ have to go through multiple steps to regulate the speed. It’s powered by a rechargeable battery which has 2600mAh.
Alternatively, you can replace the battery and hook it up to a 5V AC, especially if you get tired of recharging the battery after every few hours. Its lifespan is between 2 ½ to 6 hours depending on the speed you run it at.
Another plus is that this fan is easy to attach pretty much anywhere. You can use it to keep your baby cool while taking a walk out in the sun by attaching it to his stroller or you can mount it in your office or bedroom.
Although powerful, this clip-on fan runs as quiet as a whistle which makes it ideal for the office environment where you need to focus on tasks without the constant hum of a fan. You can rotate it horizontally or vertically as you please, thanks to the 360-degree rotation feature.
You’ll also be glad to know that this fan is energy efficient and won’t add too many zeros to your energy bill.
PROS:
Strong clip-on to help it stays in place once mounted
Very powerful
Well-made and sturdy
Fully adjustable
CONS:
The battery has a short lifespan, which means you have to recharge it regularly
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6 – Vornado 573 – Small Flat Panel Fan With Vortex Air Circulation
This snazzy table fan is the perfect addition to chic office space and it won’t look out of place in your living room either. With its high gloss finish and modern appeal, this fan has a discreet yet attractive design
It comes with features like 3-speed settings to help you adjust the level of coolness according to your preferences. It also gives you the option to place it horizontally or vertically, as it works powerfully regardless of the placement. We were definitely impressed by the level of air circulation offered by this fan and it’s perfect for use in humid areas.
This is probably thanks to the patented Vortex Technology which has been integrated into this fan and allows it to deliver 60 feet of effective air circulation. This means it has the ability to blow air across the entire room.
PROS:
Perfect for use at night to keep you cool as you sleep
Compact and portable
Provides effective air circulation
CONS:
Although it normally runs quietly, the high-speed setting is a bit noisy
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7 – Patton PUF1810C-BM – Best 18-Inch High Velocity Fan Designed to Move Lots of Air
Patton has outdone itself with the design of this high-velocity fan. It comes with 3 different speed settings and an adjustable tilting head so you can enhance the cooling experience. You can use these settings to create the perfect air circulation, air exhaust, and air intake so that the room is not too cold or too hot.
This fan has super large 18-inch blades that deliver huge gusts of air without using up too much energy.
It’s made from heavy-duty steel which is tough enough to withstand all kinds of weather conditions and frequent use. Thanks to the tilt option, you can position this fan to move air in any direction you like, which makes it the perfect table fan for an office, garage or warehouse setting.
PROS:
It’s a pretty decent model for its size
Features a longer cord for flexible placement
Comes with a 3-year limited warranty
Well-priced
CONS:
It’s not the most powerful high-velocity fan on the market
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8 – Vornado 133 – Compact Fan That Delivers Multi-Directional Airflow
Vornado fans are the perfect combination of size and performance. They’re not the largest fans around but they offer a steady breeze of cooling air even on the hottest day. They circulate air in a vortex-like motion which allows them to move a vast amount of air that can cool down an entire room.
This means you won’t have to sit in front of the fan to benefit from it, the air will reach you no matter where you are in the room.
These great features are largely made possible by Vornado’s patented Vortex Technology which makes this one of the best performing table fans available. When paired with the 2-speed setting and the signature grill, the deep-pitched blade on this fan provides personalized air circulation.
Due to its compact size, this fan is easy to travel with and according to reviews, it’s the best desk fan that money can buy. Also, it’s backed by a 5-year warranty to cover original factory defects and workmanship.
PROS:
It runs quietly
Comes with two distinct speed settings
Small and compact
Stands on sturdy rubber legs that help to cancel out noise as well
CONS:
The price tag is quite steep
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9 – Honeywell HT-900 TurboForce – Best Table Fan for Small to Medium Sized Rooms
If you’re looking for a fan that will keep you cool without digging into your wallet, this is the one. It’s a small-sized model for sure and comes in 11-inch and 15-inch models. It only weighs 2 lbs. so you can pretty much take it anywhere – on the road, at the office or in your house.
Most people like this fan because it comes pre-assembled and works straight out the box. It comes in a recyclable box which gives it a special appeal to the eco-conscious customer and it’s suitable to use at all seasons.
According to the manufacturer, this fan will cut back 20% of your energy bill and you can use it in conjunction with your AC system. It comes with 3-speed settings for your convenience while the rotating head revolves up to 90 degrees toward the ceiling. Its airflow can travel up to 27 feet ahead at the highest setting.
However, this is not the quietest fan around, because it gives off an ambient noise that stays in the background. That doesn’t mean you can’t place it on your office table or nightstand though, because it’s still rated as 25% quieter than most fans in the same category.
This is the perfect fan for anyone that wants to create a bit of air circulation and chase away the heat, but because of its size, you can’t expect it to cool down a large room. At best, this fan will keep you and one other colleague cool as you go about your work.
PROS:
Very well-priced
Comes pre-assembled
Compact and lightweight enough to move around
Energy efficient
Works great for a small room or area
CONS:
This fan is not easy to clean
It doesn’t oscillate
It’s not very effective when placed in larger rooms or areas
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10 – Holmes Lil’ Blizzard Performance Table Fan – Portable, Lightweight & Adjustable Head Design
This is an affordable fan that’s lightweight enough to stand on your desk or take with you when traveling. But it needs to stay close to a power outlet because the power cord is only 5 feet long. Although it’s only 8 inches high, the oscillation feature allows it to put out air that covers the whole room.
This fan is not loud per se but it does make a humming sound, which is great if you want to put your kids to sleep with some white noise, but not so much if you want to keep your working space quiet.
We also noticed that the two-speed settings are quite similar, but you can still customize it by tilting the head to your preferred direction.
The Lil’ Blizzard fan lives up to its name by moving air and quickly cooling a space without taking up too much space. Thanks to the Advanced Blade system, this fan will make light work of cooling down your space even on the hottest day.
PROS:
Oscillation allows it to circulate air in large areas
Lightweight and fully portable
It’s easy to clean and maintain, thanks to the removable front grill
Features two powerful speed settings
CONS:
Construction is a little flimsy and it’s not long-lasting
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Conclusion
With the right table fan, you can turn any space into an oasis of comfortable living even when it’s scorching out. But you have to choose wisely otherwise you might end up with a low-quality model that doesn’t meet your needs.
As you saw from the above guide, the most important things to consider when buying a table fan are the oscillation, design, power source and features. That’s the key to finding the best household fans and the best table fan on the market.
If you’re still confused as to which option you should pick from the models we reviewed, we’re happy to suggest the Dyson Cool AM06 Air Multiplier Desk Fan. We recommend this model because, first of all, it comes from a reliable brand that uses Air Multiplier technology to circulate air without using a lot of energy.
It comes with features like a sleep timer, fast-spinning blades, bladeless and lightweight design, as well as remote control access. It will run quietly while you do your work and it won’t disturb your thoughts, plus it’s tall enough to keep the whole office space.
Although this fan is on the pricey side, it’s worth it when you consider the quality of construction and the fact that it will last you for years to come. It’s also easy to clean and maintain. To be honest, this fan makes for a great gift idea, especially with the summer coming up.
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