The best fans to keep you cool in 2026 – tried and tested

Our world is getting hotter. Summer heatwaves are so frequent, they’re stretching the bounds of what we think of as summer. Hot-and-bothered home working and sweaty, sleepless nights are now alarmingly common.Get a good fan and you can dodge the temptation of air conditioning. Aircon is incredibly effective, but it uses a lot of electricity … and burning fossil fuels is how we got into this mess in the first place. Save money and carbon by opting for a great fan instead.Fans are much more energy efficient than aircon. A typical portable air conditioner uses 1,000W of electricity, which would cost about 26p an hour to run. The fans I tested used between 8W and 60W; my favourite, the AirCraft Lume, used 18W on its top setting. You could run it on max for 56 hours, and it would still use no more electricity (money, carbon) than a single aircon unit going for an hour.I tested 20 fans of all shapes and sizes, so you can pick the best one for you. I tested them for size, noise, power use and, of course, how much they cool you down. I also tested a few “evaporative coolers”, which use water to cool the air blowing at you while using significantly less energy than aircon.Still in stockFollowing this summer’s fossil-fuel charged heatwaves, many of our favourite fans are now out of stock. Our favourite misting fan, the Shark FlexBreeze Pro Mist, is still in stock, however.£249.99 at AmazonOur favourite bladeless fan, Dyson’s Cool F1, is also still in stock.£249.99 at DysonFrom our roundup of the best air coolers, this portable option from Morphy Richards is still available.£69.99 at Morphy RichardsWhy you should trust meI’m an award-winning consumer tech journalist with decades of experience testing gadgets. I’m also a menopausal woman in her 50s who honestly can’t remember the last time she felt cold: I think that might be why we gravitate to wild swimming in middle age. Oh, and I have a degree in engineering. So I’m triply qualified to put these fans through their paces, scientifically and subjectively.How I testedAn anemometer was used to measure the air speed each fan generates on its top setting. Photograph: Caramel Quin/The GuardianI chose 16 fans, each from different brands, aiming for a mix of new and highly rated models plus a few stellar bargains. I wanted to make sure there was something for everyone before I put them through their paces.I used a power meter to measure how much electricity (and therefore money and carbon) the fans use, an anemometer to measure the air speed they generate on the top setting, and the Sound Meter app to measure the noise on the top setting (they were all too quiet to register on their lowest).I measured everything from 1m away, although in reality, you’ll probably position a tower or pedestal fan farther away and a desk fan closer to you. That means the noise a desk fan makes matters more.I also measured them myself, as sometimes the official specs can be misleading or wrong. For example, I measured a tower fan that was supposedly 17cm wide, only to find that wasn’t including the base. Here I’ve stuck with each fan’s largest dimensions, including their footprint.I used a thermometer to measure the impact of the evaporative coolers I tested, and took note of everything from how cooling each of the fans felt, how annoying the noise was and how good the controls were. I also considered how they looked and how small they packed away, as well as the price tag.All the fans that weren’t returned to the manufacturers were donated to Furnishing Futures, a charity that furnishes the empty social homes in which women and children are placed after domestic abuse.The best fans in 2026 Photograph: Caramel Quin/The GuardianBest quiet fan for the bedroom and best overall: AirCraft LumeWhat we loveQuiet, elegant, powerful cooling and a backlightWhat we don’t loveSo quiet, it’s easy to forget to turn it off Photograph: Caramel Quin/The Guardian£149 at AirCraftPreorder now for delivery late AugustThis pedestal fan was hard to fault, with an elegant design that boasts a dimmable backlight (three brightness levels or you can turn it off, all with the remote control). It’s billed as height adjustable, but rather than scooting up and down, you can remove the bottom pole to convert it into a 63cm desk fan. There’s an LED display and touch controls on the front, and other features include a 12-hour timer and a sleep mode.Of all I tested, this is probably the best fan for sleeping: it’s the best for low noise relative to wind speed. Pick a lower setting for silent cooling, a higher setting if you’re happy to doze off to the white noise, or use the sleep button if you’d like it to gradually reduce power in the night. I found the lower settings cooling enough to get to sleep on a hot night during a heatwave.Why we love itWhen I’m working from home or relaxing (I can’t say chilling out when it’s 30C+), the AirCraft Lume is the fan that I reach for. I love it for many reasons. It’s light but with a reassuringly heavy base, giving it Weeble-like stability: it’s difficult to knock over. It packs away pretty small for the winter because the pole comes apart. I also liked that the packaging is almost plastic-free.It oscillates both horizontally and vertically, so it can circulate air nicely around a whole room. Most importantly of all, this fan can really shift air – its 5.9m/s (metres a second) result was the best on test, and you can really feel it. During a recent heatwave, I found the powerful breeze genuinely cooling. And it’s quiet: in fact, I can’t hear it at all on levels 1-5, so I need to be careful that I remember to turn off the fan when I step away. All for a reasonable price, too.It’s a shame that … there’s nowhere to stow the remote control when it’s not in use.Style: pedestal (or desk)Dimensions: 37 x 28 x 95cm (WDH)Number of speeds: 12Remote control? YesPeak noise level on test: 55dBPower use on top setting: 18WAir speed on top setting: 5.9 metres a second (m/s)AirCraftLume£149What we loveQuiet, elegant, powerful cooling and a backlightWhat we don’t loveSo quiet, it’s easy to forget to turn it offBest budget fan and best desk fan: Devola desk fanDevolaDesk fanfrom £69.99What we loveSmall but mighty, affordable tooWhat we don’t loveThe display is hard to read because it faces up£69.99 at Devola£74.99 at Amazon Currently out of stockThis affordable desk fan punches well above its weight, with good features and powerful airflow. It has a display, touch controls, a remote, a timer and sleep mode. You can choose vertical oscillation (90 degrees), horizontal oscillation (80 degrees) or use both to circulate the air in a room. Not bad for a humble desk fan.Why we love itIt’s a bargain powerhouse, producing a substantial wind. I measured an air speed of 4m/s, which was among the best on test. It certainly felt cooling.I couldn’t hear the Devola on the first three of its nine speeds, despite being powerfully cooling, and even when the noise got louder on higher settings, it wasn’t too annoying. In fact, while the AirCraft Lume is my favourite bedside fan, the Devola perched on a bedside table does a good job on a budget. It’s powerfully cooling, inaudible on lower settings (1-3 out of 9) and on high settings, the white noise is OK to go to sleep to. Just don’t use the sleep setting: it’s noisier than it should be, so picking a medium setting worked best. Even the high settings provide a level of white noise I could go to sleep to.It’s a shame that … the display is on the base facing upwards, so you can’t see it unless you’re nearby. There was no instruction manual in the box, either, although I found it straightforward to use.Style: deskDimensions: 30 x 21 x 31cm (WDH)Number of speeds: 9Remote control? YesPeak noise level on test: 50dBPower use on top setting: 16WAir speed on top setting: 4m/sDevolaDesk fanfrom £69.99What we loveSmall but mighty, affordable tooWhat we don’t loveThe display is hard to read because it faces upBest fan for cooling: Dreo TurboCool misting fan 765SDreoTurboCool misting fan 765S£199.99What we loveGenuinely cooling on a hot day, yet uses only pennies to runWhat we don’t loveRemote control buttons are hard to read in bright light Photograph: Caramel Quin/The Guardian£199.99 at AmazonCurrently out of stockI tested this on the hottest day of 2026 so far. There will be another. And another. That’s why it’s worth ordering a good fan even if there’s a long wait for delivery … for next time. It was 31C in my front room, and I was really, really happy to be testing fans. For a sense of how hot it was, just look at the dog in the photo.The Dreo is a black tower fan with 12 speeds and a remote control, which can oscillate from side to side. It’s fairly loud at top whack and sounds like a fan: white noise, but not too annoying. It’s powerful on the top setting of 12, but 4 was still cooling, and 6 was great.Why we love itUnusually, the Dreo has a six-litre water tank and can add a fine mist to the air. This comes out of four jets, two on each side of the fan. It’s cooling if the air isn’t too humid.The only other fan I’ve tested that does this is the Shark FlexBreeze below, and that one’s mist can only be used outdoors because it gets everything wet. But the Dreo is safe to use indoors. I tried its top setting (fan 12, mist 4), and sitting 2m away, I felt the occasional, pleasant cool drop of water, but the floor didn’t get wet, and neither did the anemometer, placed between me and the fan. I had no fears for my laptop.The laptop might have even worked a bit better – I certainly did – because the water cooled the air. It was an impressive 3C cooler after 10 minutes. Power consumption went up from 43W to 85W, but it was the best I’d felt all day. I tried again on settings 9/3, and the effect was still pleasant and cooling (I settled on 6/2 and 40W – I’m known for my asceticism).Even at full power, fans don’t use much electricity. The energy price cap for 1 April to 30 June 2026 is 24.67p per kWh, so if you run the Dreo at its top 85W setting, it costs 2p an hour to run. You could run it non-stop for a whole week in a heatwave, and it would add just £3.73 to your electricity bill. That’s cheaper than a tub of good ice-cream.My only annoyance was the remote control. It glows in the dark, but the white-on-white icons on the buttons were hard to read by day. The app’s great, though, and lets you do even more, including scheduling and adding voice control (Alexa, Google).It’s a shame that … the remote control buttons are hard to read.Style: towerDimensions: 27 x 27 x 111cm (WDH)Number of speeds: 12Remote control? YesPeak noise level on test: 65dBPower use on top fan setting: 85WAir speed on top setting: 5.7m/sDreoTurboCool misting fan 765S£199.99What we loveGenuinely cooling on a hot day, yet uses only pennies to runWhat we don’t loveRemote control buttons are hard to read in bright lightBest misting fan: Shark FlexBreeze Pro Mist FA300UKSharkFlexBreeze Pro Mist FA300UKfrom £249.99What we loveThe water mist is genuinely cooling on a hot dayWhat we don’t loveYou can only mist outside because it makes everything damp£249.99 at Shark£276.59 at AmazonThis Shark model is much more than a pedestal fan. You can remove the pole to convert it to a desk fan. You can unplug it for cordless use. You can even add the included five-litre water tank for misting outdoors. And you can do any permutation of these things.The design is great, and the remote control stows on the back magnetically.Despite its misting feature, it’s not technically an evaporative cooler, since you can only use it with water outdoors. It sprays a fine mist of water into the air in front of the fan: you get cool, but everything gets a bit damp.Why we love itIt’s incredibly versatile. Plug it in for everyday use, then carry it elsewhere (there’s a large top handle) to use as a cordless fan, or for a cooling mist on the patio while you’re entertaining outdoors. The cordless runtime is quoted as two to 24 hours, depending on fan speed, and charging time is five to six hours.Power use was impressively low: 14W on the top fan setting, 7W to charge the battery, 21W to do both at once.I compared it with the test-winning AirCraft Lume, which costs £70 less. Both are a similar size and design. The Shark has fewer fan speeds: five as opposed to the AirCraft’s 12. The design looks similar, but the head of the Shark is much deeper (33cm compared with 15cm). And it only oscillates side to side rather than up and down; you can point it at various angles, though.At 4.7m/s, the top air speed is impressive, although not quite as high as the AirCraft’s. It’s quiet enough that you can’t even hear it on the first two of its five speeds, whereas peak volume is exactly the same as the AirCraft.Is it worth £70 more? If you’ll make use of it being cordless or plan to use it outdoors, then yes. If not, stick with the AirCraft.It’s a shame that … the misting can only be used outside.Style: pedestal (or desk)Dimensions: 35 x 35 x 95cm (WDH)Number of speeds: 5Remote control? YesPeak noise level on test: 55dBPower use on top setting: 21WAir speed on top setting: 4.7m/sSharkFlexBreeze Pro Mist FA300UKfrom £249.99What we loveThe water mist is genuinely cooling on a hot dayWhat we don’t loveYou can only mist outside because it makes everything dampBest quiet fan with aromatherapy: ProBreeze AirFlo 43in smart hybrid pedestal fanProBreezeAirFlo 43in smart hybrid pedestal fanfrom £169.99What we loveIt features aromatherapy and voice controlWhat we don’t loveIt’s not the most powerful fan on test£169.99 at ProBreeze£169.99 at Mountain WarehouseCurrently out of stockThis good-looking fan is convertible, with a tube you can remove to turn it from a pedestal to a desk fan, but it’s a single tube so it only offers two heights. Unusually, though, you can unscrew the little circle in the middle (where the logo is) to reveal a fabric pad. Add drops of essential oils for aromatherapy while you cool on a hot day (as ever, be careful around any pets). Meanwhile, a fine mesh filter catches dust: unscrew the back periodically to clean it.Control it via an app or the remote control. A clear display on the front tells you what speed it’s on. The horizontal oscillation is either 100 degrees or off, but vertically you have options (0, 30, 60 or 135 degrees). I especially liked the remote’s max button that selects top speed and full oscillation on both axes, to really get air circulating around the room.Why we love itThe ProBreeze does a good job of cooling and has a nine-hour timer. I found it pretty quiet on speeds 1-5 (out of 9). You can even use the app to add Amazon Alexa or Google Home voice control. Say “Alexa turn my fan on” when you’re too hot to even reach for the remote control.I still slightly prefer the AirCraft Lume, which has a similar design, but the ProBreeze is convertible and adds wifi, app and voice control, and the option of aromatherapy, all for a reasonable price. It won’t disappoint.It’s a shame that … there are no in-between heights.Style: pedestal/deskDimensions: 36 x 30 x 108cm (WDH)Number of speeds: 9Remote control? YesPeak noise level on test: 67dBPower use on top setting: 14WAir speed on top setting: 3.5m/sProBreezeAirFlo 43in smart hybrid pedestal fanfrom £169.99What we loveIt features aromatherapy and voice controlWhat we don’t loveIt’s not the most powerful fan on testBest fan that follows you: Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool PC3DysonFind+Follow Purifier Cool PC3from £549.99What we loveIt’s a good fan that follows you!What we don’t loveThe eye-watering price£549.99 at Dyson£549.99 at John LewisCurrently out of stockThis fan is expensive, even by Dyson standards, but the designers have dreamed up a feature you never knew you needed. Its 17-point AI user detection means the fan can automatically turn to face you. Or you can turn this off and point it wherever you wish, or set it to oscillate side to side.Why we love itThe fan is impressive. It’s surprisingly quiet and puts out a good, cooling breeze. It has replaceable filters for air purification. The display on the front indicates air quality as well as fan speed.It’s an air multiplier, so only air that passes through it is filtered. Extra, unfiltered air is propelled through the middle. If filtration is your number-one priority, look at other models like the Blueair ComfortPure 3-in-1 T20i below.The follow-me function is a bit creepy: your fan is watching you. But it’s good if you’re on your feet – cooking, for example. It’s really for solo use: I felt my fan was disloyal when it decided to cool my girlfriend, not me. Could it tell her need was greater?But it’s a good fan: quiet and powerful. Instructions are minimal, but it’s intuitive. The remote control sticks magnetically to the top when not in use, and the MyDyson app offers excellent controls (including more timer options) and an air quality graph.If price isn’t a problem, this won’t disappoint. If you don’t need the follow-me function, consider cheaper Dyson fans.It’s a shame that … it’s so expensive.Style: towerDimensions: 22 x 22 x 105cm (WDH)Number of speeds: 10Remote control? YesPeak noise level on test: 47dBPower use on top setting: 28WAir speed on top setting: 2.5m/sDysonFind+Follow Purifier Cool PC3from £549.99What we loveIt’s a good fan that follows you!What we don’t loveThe eye-watering priceBest tower fan: Dreo Cruiser TF518DreoCruiser TF518from £89.99What we loveThe slim design and small footprintWhat we don’t loveEnergy consumption is high for a fan£99.99 at Currys£89.99 at AmazonCurrently out of stockThis tower fan is slim but striking in black. Features include 90-degree oscillation, a 0- to 12-hour timer, a sleep mode where the fan speed decreases gradually, and an auto mode that adapts the fan speed depending on the room temperature.Why we love itAt full blast, the Dreo felt positively windy and was definitely cooling on a hot day. On the two lowest settings, no sound was audible, but I could still feel a gentle breeze. I also liked the recess at the top-back that makes it easy to carry with one hand.It’s billed as a “25dB silent bladeless fan”, but I measured 60dB on top whack from a metre away. The sound wasn’t too annoying, though, and the fan’s powerful cooling made it forgivable.It’s a shame that … its energy consumption is relatively high. We’re talking pennies in electricity, but still, energy efficiency is good. Also, there’s nowhere to clip the remote control.Style: towerDimensions: 32 x 32 x 106cm (WDH)Number of speeds: 9Remote control? YesPeak noise level on test: 60dBPower use on top setting: 29WAir speed on top setting: 3.6m/sDreoCruiser TF518from £89.99What we loveThe slim design and small footprintWhat we don’t loveEnergy consumption is high for a fanBest travel fan: Morphy Richards Air Flex USB fanMorphy RichardsAir Flex USB fanfrom £34.99What we loveRechargeable; folding; portable; great for travelWhat we don’t loveNowhere near as powerful as big fans£34.99 at Morphy Richards£34.99 at AmazonCurrently out of stockThis is the fan you can take with you anywhere. I don’t mean to fan yourself by hand: it folds down small and it’s cordless and USB rechargeable, so you can be the smuggest person on the train and a very happy camper on a hot day. It can also give you a breeze on a still day on the patio. The battery will last from four to 17 hours, depending on fan speed. And you can plug it into a laptop at your desk or even a power bank for more juice.Why we love itThe 2.6m/s air speed can’t compete with the big fans on test – and it wasn’t the one I reached for during a heatwave – but that’s not what it’s for. It’s an electric fan that can go anywhere, folding down to a cylinder measuring 18 x 18 x 12cm. You can even hang it on the wall, if you wish. It’s rechargeable and you can even use it with a USB power bank to keep it running anywhere, so you can cool down in a tent or on the train. Far better than a handheld fan. I’d definitely take this fan on holiday.There’s no timer or sleep mode, but there’s a “nature mode” that varies the speed to mimic a breeze. And it does oscillate (to 90 degrees). It’s also quiet: I couldn’t hear it on the first of its three speeds, and it was never loud enough to be annoying.It’s a shame that … air speed dips slightly when it’s not plugged in, but only slightly (2.5m/s instead of 2.6m/s)Style: deskDimensions: 18 x 18 x 22cm (WDH) Number of speeds: 3Remote control? NoPeak noise level on test: 35dBPower use on top setting: 8WAir speed on top setting: 2.6m/sMorphy RichardsAir Flex USB fanfrom £34.99What we loveRechargeable; folding; portable; great for travelWhat we don’t loveNowhere near as powerful as big fansBest evaporative cooler: Swan Nordic air coolerSwanNordic air coolerfrom £89.99What we loveGenuinely cooling, uses much less electricity than airconWhat we don’t loveIt makes gurgling noises£89.99 at George at Asda£89.99 at AmazonCurrently out of stockThe air speed may not be great, but this Swan model is still a good buy because it’s an evaporative cooler, meaning it uses water from its five-litre reservoir to cool the air it blows at you. It can be used as a regular fan, too. Evaporative coolers are much more energy efficient than air conditioning, so they use much less power (and therefore less carbon, assuming you’re not on a renewable tariff or producing your own electricity).Why we love itOf the two evaporative coolers I tested, this worked the best. I could see the temperature on the thermometer go down: it cooled by more than 1C in less than 30 minutes. And it felt like a cooling breeze. In fact, it felt a bit like aircon.I just filled it with water, but it comes with two ice packs that you can pre-freeze and throw into the reservoir for even colder results.The breeze felt wide, rather than focused. This is a question of personal taste: some people want a powerful fan that’s focused to blast just them, while others prefer a room-filling breeze. In oscillating mode, it’s wider still, as the grille at the front rotates, which is a bit hypnotic. It’s good-looking, too, in a coffee-coloured oatmeal or grey finish. It’s light and on casters, so easy to move around, and its modes include normal, natural, sleep and timer.It’s a shame that … you can hear the water in the pipes: it sounded like a leak. You might even find yourself needing the loo. I also found myself reaching for a fan on a hot day – it provides a light breeze, not a blast of wind. But the air that it puts out is genuinely cooler than the rest of the air in the room.Style: towerDimensions: 29 x 24 x 71cm (WDH)Number of speeds: 24Remote control? YesPeak noise level on test: 45dBPower use on top setting: 26WAir speed on top setting: 0.9m/sSwanNordic air coolerfrom £89.99What we loveGenuinely cooling, uses much less electricity than airconWhat we don’t loveIt makes gurgling noisesSearching for more inspiration? Read our guide to the best evaporative air coolersThe best of the rest Photograph: Caramel Quin/The Guardian Levoit classic tower fanLevoitClassic tower fan£89.99What we loveIt’s quiet and the design doesn’t stand outWhat we don’t loveIt’s not all that powerful or cooling as a fan£89.99 at AmazonCurrently out of stockBest for: a quieter tower fanThis produces a narrow beam of air, so you need to point it at you just right or set it to oscillate (90 degrees). It’s billed as a “20dB silent tower fan”, and it’s inaudible on the lowest four of its 12 speeds, but it was considerably louder at top whack.It’s good-looking, and I liked the space in the back to stow the remote control. There’s a 12-hour timer and a sleep mode, too.It didn’t make the final cut because … for the same price, the Dreo is more powerful, which is what you need on a really hot day.Style: tower; dimensions: 29 x 29 x 92cm (WDH); number of speeds: 12; remote control? Yes; peak noise level on test: 50dB; power use on top setting: 40W; air speed on top setting: 1.7m/sLevoitClassic tower fan£89.99What we loveIt’s quiet and the design doesn’t stand outWhat we don’t loveIt’s not all that powerful or cooling as a fan Vortex Air Pro PlusVortex AirPro Plus£139.99What we loveAffordable, bladeless and it doubles as a heaterWhat we don’t loveIt’s a bit loud£139.99 at DebenhamsCurrently out of stockBest for: style, and its all-in-one heater and fan designVortex Air bladeless fans look modern, very Dyson-esque, and this one comes in 10 colour combos. It’s useful year-round, too, doubling as a fan heater. But it’s hard to categorise: too short for a tower fan, too tall for a desk fan.There’s a timer and it oscillates horizontally (71 degrees) and vertically (180 degrees), though it’s hard to imagine why you’d want to point it completely down. The touch controls are at the base, which isn’t very practical if it’s on the floor, and the display was a bit hard to see.It didn’t make the final cut because … I found the noise a bit annoying; I could hear it at levels 2-10.Style: tower; dimensions: 25 x 24 x 65cm (WDH); number of speeds: 10; remote control? Yes; peak noise level on test: 35dB; power use on top setting: 28W; air speed on top setting: 2.9m/sVortex AirPro Plus£139.99What we loveAffordable, bladeless and it doubles as a heaterWhat we don’t loveIt’s a bit loud Shark TurboBlade TF200SUKSharkTurboBlade TF200SUKfrom £249.99What we loveVertical or horizontal, can point in two directions at onceWhat we don’t loveThe sample we tested had an annoying sound£249.99 at SharkNinja£300 at AmazonCurrently out of stockBest for: pointing in two directions at onceThis bladeless fan’s unusual T-shaped design has arms that stick out left and right, each putting out air, or you can turn them by 90 degrees for a tall, thin fan. You can angle each arm independently, good for pointing at two people. It’s height-adjustable and can oscillate (180 degrees) horizontally too. I liked that the remote attaches to the top with a strong magnet.It’s powerful, but the sound is very annoying: it sounds like a vacuum cleaner, and I wanted it to stop. It also used the most power on test; even still, a 60W fan costs less than 2p an hour to run at the current energy price cap, so it’s pennies compared with air con.It didn’t make the final cut because … I hated the noise it makes.Style: pedestal; dimensions: 80 x 30 x 78-95cm (WDH), or 124 x 30 x 114-130cm in vertical mode; number of speeds: 10; remote control? Yes; peak noise level on test: 35dB; power use on top setting: 60W; air speed on top setting: 3.1m/sSharkTurboBlade TF200SUKfrom £249.99What we loveVertical or horizontal, can point in two directions at onceWhat we don’t loveThe sample we tested had an annoying sound Duux Whisper Flex 2What we loveVoice control and there’s a cordless optionWhat we don’t loveThe controls are annoying£149 at AmazonCurrently out of stockBest for: smart controlsThis took quite a bit of assembly, but it’s good-looking, can be converted into a 54cm-high desk fan by removing a pole, and the tech is clever too. You can control it with an app or by voice (Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant) to set up to seven schedules. There’s an optional battery and charging dock to make it cordless.It’s fairly quiet and oscillates well, vertically and horizontally, but I found the standard controls annoying. The display on the base points upwards, so it’s hard to see from across the room, and you have to point the remote very accurately at it.I did like the compostable packaging. But unusually, it drew far too much power (2W) on standby. Less than 1W is the norm.It didn’t make the final cut because … of the annoying controls.Style: pedestal; dimensions: 34 x 34 x 92cm (WDH); number of speeds: 30; remote control? Yes; peak noise level on test: 40dB; power use on top setting: 9W; air speed on top setting: 3.1m/sDuuxWhisper Flex 2£149What we loveVoice control and there’s a cordless optionWhat we don’t loveThe controls are annoying VonHaus air circulator desk fanVonHausAir circulator desk fan£64.99What we loveA compact, quiet desk fanWhat we don’t loveWe like the Devola even more£64.99 at VonHausCurrently out of stock Best for: room-filling breeze This desk fan has a display and touch controls on the front. And it oscillates well: it turns 90 degrees vertically, 80 degrees horizontally or both together to create a room-filling breeze. I couldn’t hear the lowest five of its 12 speeds, either.It looks good, and the controls are easy to use. Features include a one- to 12-hour timer and a sleep mode that decreases fan speed every 30 minutes through the night.It didn’t make the final cut because … I liked the Devola desk fan even more, but this is a solid buy too.Style: desk; dimensions: 30 x 21 x 36cm (WDH); number of speeds: 12; remote control? Yes; peak noise level on test: 45dB; power use on top setting: 13W; air speed on top setting: 2.7m/sVonHausAir circulator desk fan£64.99What we loveA compact, quiet desk fanWhat we don’t loveWe like the Devola even more Dyson Cool CF1What we loveAttractive design and works wellWhat we don’t loveIt’s a bit pricey Photograph: Caramel Quin£249.99 at DysonBest for: a bladeless fanYou can see a lot of thought has gone into the CF1’s design. Not just its simple, circular air multiplier, but every single detail. The display is small but very readable. The oscillation (15, 40 or 70 degrees) works well. The magnetic storage on top for the remote control is clever. The controls work well and let you easily set the timer and sleep mode.I couldn’t hear this bladeless fan on the first six of its 10 speeds, and I found the noise easy to live with even at higher speeds.It didn’t make the final cut because … the price is hard to justify. Money no object? Go for it!Style: desk; dimensions: 36 x 16 x 55cm (WDH); number of speeds: 10; remote control? Yes; peak noise level on test: 35dB; power use on top setting: 20W; air speed on top setting: 2.9m/sDysonCool CF1£249.99What we loveAttractive design and works wellWhat we don’t loveIt’s a bit pricey Meaco Sefte 8in portable air circulatorMeacoSefte 8in portable air circulatorfrom £79.99What we loveCordless, fairly quiet, good warrantyWhat we don’t loveIt doesn’t fold up for portability£79.99 at Meaco£79.99 at CurrysCurrently out of stockBest for: a cordless fanThis is an impressive, cordless desk fan with a battery life of four to 17 hours, depending on fan speed. I couldn’t hear the first seven of its 12 speeds. It oscillates and you can manually point it up or down, and features include a timer, night and eco modes. Its three-year warranty is a bonus, too (most have two).Overall, I liked it. It’s good-looking and pretty strong, although it’s weaker when cordless; for example, air speed dropped from an impressive 4.6m/s to 3.1m/s when I unplugged it. Still, if you want a desk fan that can sometimes be cordless, it’s a good buy.It didn’t make the final cut because … the USB-powered Morphy Richards is even handier.Style: desk; dimensions: 26 x 20 x 38cm (WDH); number of speeds: 12; remote control? Yes; peak noise level on test: 55dB; power use on top setting: 10W; air speed on top setting: 4.6m/sMeacoSefte 8in portable air circulatorfrom £79.99What we loveCordless, fairly quiet, good warrantyWhat we don’t loveIt doesn’t fold up for portability Blueair ComfortPure 3-in-1 T20iBlueairComfortPure 3-in-1 T20ifrom £499What we loveIt’s also an air purifier and a fan heaterWhat we don’t loveIt’s expensive if you just want a fan£499 at Blueair£499 at BootsCurrently out of stockBest for: hay fever and allergy sufferersThis is also a fan heater (so it’s useful all year round) and an air purifier (ideal for allergy sufferers). It cleans the air in a room in 12.5 minutes or a small house in an hour, removing airborne particles such as pollen, odours, dust and smoke.On test, it created a good breeze, even though the anemometer only read 0.8m/s. And on cooler days, it can send purified air upwards instead, circulating air in the room as well as cleaning it.The controls and display are on top, making them hard to see from across the room. But there’s an app and Alexa control as well as a remote. The three-year warranty is nice, too.It didn’t make the final cut because … it’s expensive as a fan (but great as an air purifier).Style: tower; dimensions: 35 x 35 x 70cm (WDH); number of speeds: 4; remote control? Yes; peak noise level on test: 35dB; power use on top setting: 21W; air speed on top setting: 0.8m/sBlueairComfortPure 3-in-1 T20ifrom £499What we loveIt’s also an air purifier and a fan heaterWhat we don’t loveIt’s expensive if you just want a fanWhat you need to knowFor personal comfort, simply point a fan towards you. Photograph: Caramel Quin/The GuardianWhat are the different types of fan?Pedestal fans are tall fans where all the hard work happens at the top. They don’t have to be old-fashioned; some have modern designs. And some are convertible, with a pole you can remove to turn them into a desk fan. They can be good for a focused blast of cooling wind.Bladeless fans aren’t magic; they just don’t have visible blades. The work is done in the body of the fan, and then air is pushed out of a nozzle. The Dyson, VortexAir and Shark on test are all bladeless. They look modern and are easy to clean. And there are no moving parts on show, meaning zero chance of getting your hair caught.Tower fans are tall and narrow. They produce a lot of wind and oscillate from side to side, making them good for a room like an office.Desk fans are like pedestal fans without the pole. They’re not only for desks, they’re good on a bedside table too. And they take up less storage space over the winter.Evaporative coolers use water from a reservoir to cool the air that blows at you. They don’t produce a powerful wind like a fan, but they genuinely cool the room and are much more energy efficient than air conditioning. Note that they only cool the room a little – they won’t turn it fridge cold like aircon.Handheld fans are lightweight, portable fans to cool you on the move. We’ve tested a wide range of handheld and neck fans.What does oscillation mean?Most fans oscillate (move back and forth) by swivelling on their base, and some let you select how wide an angle you want. If it’s just for you, pick a narrow angle; if you’re cooling the whole office, go wide. Some fans achieve the same effect in other ways, such as by moving louvres. Some also oscillate up and down, so the fan can circulate air all over the room to create a gentle breeze.What’s sleep mode?Most fans have a sleep mode, where every 30 or 60 minutes the fan lowers its setting until it reaches a certain point. This is a good compromise that helps you get to sleep without wasting energy, minimising the risk of waking up in the middle of the night suddenly cold.Start by lowering the fan speed to the point where you don’t find it annoying. In fact, some people find the white noise of a fan helpful at bedtime. Then switch to sleep mode.Where is the best place to position a fan?For personal comfort, simply point it towards you. The cooling feeling is because the moving air from the fan displaces the warm, humid air near your skin, which in turn helps your sweat evaporate, cooling your body down. It’s like a breeze rather than a still day. Or why it feels colder swimming in a river than in a lake, even if the water temperature is the same. Evaporative coolers, of which I’ve included two above, use water to actively cool the air.Never place a fan up against a wall because air needs to flow into the back. If the air’s cooler outside, put the fan in front of an open window or door to bring in the cooler air.How energy efficient are fans?Fans are very energy efficient compared with the electricity used by tech such as air conditioning. Fans cost pennies to use but can make you feel much cooler. Note that they circulate air rather than actively cooling it. The effect is like turning a still day into a breezy one.How much does a fan cost to use?I’ll set out the maths. For each fan here, I’ve measured its power use on the top setting, in watts (W). Electricity costs are in kilowatt hours (kWh). If, for example, you were using a 30W fan for five hours, it would use 150Wh. Divide by 1,000 to convert it to kilowatt hours: 0.150kWh.The energy price cap for 1 April to 30 June 2026 is 24.67p per kWh. Multiply this by the last figure and you’ll discover it will cost just under 4p to run that fan for five hours. Or £14 to run it for five hours every day for a year.Running fans is pretty cheap, then, and a good fan will keep you cool enough to dodge buying any kind of air conditioning. An evaporative cooler is a good alternative to aircon. The two I tested used 26W (Swan) and 39W (Honeywell), so they use about 3% of the electricity of a typical portable air conditioner (1,000W). The effect isn’t the same: you can’t turn your bedroom into a fridge. But you can cool the air enough to make a big difference when there’s a heatwave.Do I need air conditioning?If you’re in the UK, honestly, no. It’s tempting to turn your bedroom into a walk-in fridge on a hot day, but fans are great and use much less electricity (and therefore money and carbon) than aircon. Unless you’re on a renewable tariff, electricity use accelerates climate breakdown.How to clean your fanFan blades tend to gather dust. Make sure the fan is unplugged, then remove the front grille and wipe the blades with a microfibre cloth. If the grille doesn’t come off then a dry paintbrush or a small cleaning brush (like a bottle brush but smaller) might let you dust through the grille. Never use water on electricals. A can of compressed air is also good for blowing off dust – keep your fingers away, though, because it will of course make the fan blades spin.What to do with your old fanIf your old fan works, try to find it a good home on a local swap site or street WhatsApp – they work better than the front wall, where it might get rained on. If it’s not working, you could take it to a local repair cafe. And if it’s beyond repair, check your council website or check Recycle Your Electricals: they don’t belong in general waste.For more, read our review of the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool fanCaramel Quin is a journalist specialising in consumer technology. She prides herself on real-world testing and plain language. Her pet hates are jargon, pointless products and overcomplicated instruction manuals. Caramel is an engineering graduate who has won awards for communicating hi-tech subjects to normal people. When she’s not testing gadgets, she’s feeding pets (16 beasts at the time of writing) or pottering at the allotment