Top rated
Top rated
- best buy
- Performance
- Ease of use
- Quietness
Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time
By clicking a retailer link you consent to third party cookies that track your onward journey. If you make a purchase, Which? will receive an affiliate commission which supports our mission to be the UK's consumer champion.
In this article
A good electric fan will create a pleasant breeze and make a stuffy room much more bearable, while the worst leave you sweaty and frustrated. Our expert advice guide reveals which features to look out for when buying a fan, plus we reveal some of our Best Buy recommendations.
To help you pick the perfect electric fan for you, we run through the various differences between desk fans, pedestal fans and tower fans. Our guide also explains how much you should expect to spend and offers details on how our rigorous lab tests uncover the best electric fans around.
Once you know what you're looking for, head over to our electric fan reviews to get your hands on a Best Buy.
Inspiring tips for improving the place you live in: Get our Home newsletter – it's free monthly
All of the electric fans in the table below have been put through our rigorous lab tests, so you can be sure they'll keep you comfortable on a hot summer's day.
Every electric fan we review is scored on the features that matter the most – the full list includes air speed, noise levels, build quality and energy use.
Join Which? to get access to all our Best Buys and electric fan reviews. We’ve tested electric fans from brands including Dyson, Honeywell and Meaco, but only the very best get a Best Buy rating.
Or scroll down to see prices for the most popular electric fans on our website.
Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time
Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time
Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time
Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time
Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time
Table last checked January 2024.
Electric fans fall into the following categories:
Prices for electric fans can vary dramatically. The cheapest models cost less than a tenner and usually offer just two or three speed settings and no extra features. Our cheapest electric fan on-test at the time of writing will set you back by around £25.
Meanwhile, the priciest options, such as the blade-free Dyson Cool AM07 Tower Fan, cost more than £300.
Having a choice of fan speeds is really useful; of all the features listed here, it's the one most worth paying more for.
More control over the air movement means you're more likely to be comfortable, and not feel either irritated by an overly powerful blast (and the accompanying noise).
Some electric fans give you the option to dim lights at night, which is handy if you plan on running it while you sleep.
A couple of lights are less likely to keep you awake than one that's very noisy, though, which is why we check for quietness in our expert tests.
If the fan turns from side to side, it can distribute air across a wider area. This should be high up on your list of features to look out for, although it's unusual for a fan not to have this function.
Some fans will oscillate up and down as well as side to side, giving an even bigger range.
This lets you adjust the settings without moving from your sofa or bed; it's arguably more important for pedestal or tower fans that are designed to cool a whole room.
Some electric fans have a space to store the remote tidily away on the fan itself. We wouldn't say this is essential, but it's a nice extra if you're prone to losing things.
A timer allows you to set the electric fan to automatically switch on or off after a set period of time, which is handy if you want to save on energy by having the fan turn itself off once you've fallen asleep.
The best electric fans create a refreshing breeze that will make you feel cooler – however, they don't actually cool the air in your home.
If a breeze alone just isn't enough on the hottest days of the year, you could consider investing in a portable air conditioner instead. These pump out cooled air that will actually reduce the temperature inside your home.
Some portable air conditioners also come with features such as dehumidification and smart control (from your smartphone app), both of which can be useful extra features.
Portable air conditioners are usually more expensive than fans; the cheapest we've tested costs more than £200.
Be aware, too, that portable air conditioners are hefty, bulky appliances that can take up a lot of space, which isn't ideal if your home is on the small side. They can be a faff to set up and the hot air needs to be vented out via a hose, so you'll need a suitable window for it to go through.
They also use a lot of electricity, so leaving them on frequently will significantly contribute to your energy bills.
Realistically, with British weather being as unpredictable as it is, many people will be better off with an electric fan that can be more easily tucked into a cupboard when it's not needed.
If you're undecided – or really can't bear the heat – read our portable air conditioner reviews or our breakdown of the most popular air conditioners and electric fans before you buy.
We've tested two Dyson fans in our lab to see if they're worthy of a Which? Best Buy title:
These electric fans are blade-free, doing away with the risk of hair or fingers getting trapped in rotating blades. They feature what Dyson calls Air Multiplier technology, which is designed to direct an even airflow across the room, so one part of the room doesn't end up significantly breezier than another.
Many Dyson models come with Quiet Mark accreditation, meaning the UK Noise Abatement Society charitable foundation has given its seal of approval. They also have plenty of features such as a sleep timer and remote control, and are designed to be easy to clean and to offer smoother oscillation.
However, they are an expensive choice compared to other options, so it's worth checking out our cheapest Best Buy electric fan reviews.
You'll find electric fans in plenty of high street stores including Argos, Currys and Robert Dyas. Whether you're shopping online or in-store, make sure you pay attention to the shop's returns policy.
Popular online retailers that stock electric fans include:
Find out which retailers are rated highly by Which? members with our guide on the best and worst sports shops.
An electric fan will rotate its lightweight blades to generate a breeze, making you feel cooler, whereas an air conditioner will actually lower the temperature of the room. This means that an electric fan will use a lot less energy than an air conditioner, making it a more sustainable option.
As well as using fossil fuels to generate the electricity to power them, some portable air conditioners also use HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons) to help cool your room. This can be a potent greenhouse gas if released, which can happen if the unit leaks or through incorrect disposal. Electric fans don't use any HFCs.
An electric fan is classed as WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment). This means it can be recycled and shouldn’t be sent to landfill. A handy indicator to know if your electronics shouldn't be sent to landfill is to look for a crossed-out wheelie bin symbol, as shown below.
Depending on where you live, your local council might be able to offer household collection for your unwanted electric fan. You can also see if your local recycling centre will accept it – before you visit, check if you need to book a time slot or take proof of address with you.
If you’re replacing your old electric fan with a new model, it’s also worth checking with the retailer if they can take your old one away for recycling.
Find out more about how to correctly recycle your electrical items.
What electric fans claim they can do, and how effectively they deliver against these claims, can be different things. This is where our reviews come in – we've tested electric fans from popular brands, including Dyson, Meaco and Honeywell.
We put all types through exactly the same tests. However, because they're designed to serve slightly different purposes, we evaluate the results slightly differently for desk fans versus tower/pedestal fans. Some electric fans are designed to either compress into a desk fan or extend into a pedestal fan, so we evaluate these as pedestal fans.
When reviewing electric fans, we answer important questions including:
Find out more about how we test electric fans. Alternatively, browse through our full selection of electric fan reviews and pick a model that's right for you.
Inspiring tips for improving the place you live in: Get our Home newsletter – it's free monthly