Ryobi's $20 clamp fan is the most versatile tool in my garage—here's why I own three

Published Sep 28, 2026, 10:00 AM EDT Cory Gunther is a senior author and Newsletter Editor at Valnet, covering cutting-edge tech, Android, and more for How-To Geek. He's covered Android, cars, and technology for over a decade. When he's not reviewing the latest gadget, you can find him off-roading in his Toyota truck, fixing said truck, or doing something outdoors with friends and family. He's covered CES, SEMA, and MWC and reviewed countless phones, TVs, speakers, EVs, e-bikes, and more. Before Valnet, Cory worked for GottaBeMobile. His writing has also appeared on SlashGear, InputMag, and AndroidCentral. He's written over 9,000 articles. If you own some Ryobi power tools and battery packs, there's a good chance you have one of its fans. Ryobi makes all sorts of extremely useful tools to keep you cool, but the internet's favorite model is the clamp fan. Here's why, and several creative ways to use this affordable little gadget. In case you didn't know, Ryobi sells over a dozen fans and misters, all of which are powered by its popular 18V or 40V power-tool battery packs. It's a great way to get more out of your purchase. I have a clamp fan that gets used several times a week, along with a hybrid fan that runs on my 18V ONE+ packs or an extension cord. However, the company also has awesome misting fans in various sizes, bigger models to cool the entire garage, and everything in between. Two of the most popular options are hybrid fans and clamp fans, which you can clamp onto all sorts of surfaces. Here's why you'll want one. The 4-inch clamp fan everyone loves Keep cool wherever you go Ryobi's bestseller is the 18V ONE+ 4-inch Clamp Fan, which you can usually find on sale for $20. That price is all you really need to know, especially if you have several battery packs lying around the garage. It's one of those tools you probably haven't thought to buy, but since it works with all your battery packs, you might as well buy it. The 4-inch clamp fan has a multi-directional rotating head, two-speed modes, and delivers over 140 CFM of airflow, all in a compact and lightweight package. Ryobi says that's the most airflow of any 4-inch battery-powered fan, and, more importantly, it'll last for about 40 hours on a single 18V ONE+ 4 Ah battery pack. That said, I typically use mine with one of the spare smaller 2 Ah battery packs that came in a combo kit, which I never use with my tools anyway. It's now officially my fan battery, and when I use it here and there, I only need to charge it every few weeks. Ryobi 18V ONE+ 4-inch Clamp Fan $19.97 $30 Save $10.03 Stay cool while you work on a project, relax on the back patio, or while on a walk with the Ryobi 4-inch clamp fan for under $30. So why is this tiny fan so popular in my household and on Reddit, and beloved by Ryobi owners? The clamp! This isn't your average fan with a little clamp that'll barely be useful or can't hold tight enough to stay in place. Ryobi knows it needs to hold the entire fan plus a fairly heavy 2 or 4 Ah battery, so the clamp is built to perform. Ryobi's clamp fan can easily attach to materials up to 1-1/2 inches thick, which makes it the perfect size for a 2x4 piece of lumber in the garage. This also means it'll easily attach to a table at the park, patio furniture, pipes, the hood of a car, stroller handles, and several other surfaces. It's extremely versatile. In the few years I've owned my 4-inch clamp fans, I've used them hundreds of times and in dozens of ways, but here are my favorites: Attach it to any stroller handle or sidebar Bleachers and lawn chairs at the kids' game or outdoor sporting events The pole on my umbrella at the beach or the pool Secure it to the handle on your lawnmower or workout equipment Need I go on? I'm sure you can look at the photos or think about the list above and imagine all the possibilities. I've also used this fan in my tent or on my RV table while camping, then moved it to my chair if things got too hot in the afternoon. Sidenote: It's a great tool for fanning the flames when you're trying to get a campfire lit once the sun goes down. I have a second one that never leaves the garage and is fixed to the wood on my workbench, although sometimes I take it to the attic or snap it on a ladder. I live in Dallas, Texas, where the summers get over 100°F with high humidity, and any airflow is extremely welcome. I clamp it to the hood of my truck while doing oil changes, or to the frame underneath while I'm replacing my brake pads, or to cool down welds a little faster, etc. Take advantage of its airflow, portability, and battery life by using it while you sleep at night during the summer. As a new dad, this thing was a game-changer at night while the wife was pregnant, then with the stroller, and now I have a third one clipped in the back of the car for extra airflow, and I just bring the battery inside after each drive to keep it out of the hot car. One tiny fan, endless uses Ok, I'm rambling a bit, but that's because this silly little fan is just so useful. At this point, I own three of the 4-inch clamp fans, one of Ryobi's larger hybrid fans, and a 14-inch air cannon for my garage. Yes, it's lime green everywhere. In closing, if you have any of Ryobi's smaller USB-Lithium tools that run on a USB-C rechargeable battery, there's a 4-inch misting clamp fan with a water reservoir that sounds like my next purchase.