We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping Home Products The 11 Best Ceiling Fans of 2024, Tested in Our Homes Beat the heat with an indoor or outdoor ceiling fan By Olivia Avitt Olivia Avitt Olivia is a writer and content creator that has written about a wide range of subjects, including health, beauty, relationships, culture, and music. When she's not working, you can find her perusing coffee shops, reading, or catching up on reality TV. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 7, 2024 10:57AM EDT In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews What to Know Behind the Scenes FAQ Why Trust PEOPLE? What Is PEOPLE Tested? Photo: People / Amazon Whether it's a portable air conditioner or central AC, running your air conditioning can be costly, so investing in a ceiling fan is a more affordable way to improve airflow and cool off. Installing a ceiling fan is a long-term investment in your home, so picking one that gets you the best bang for your buck is important. With so many types of ceiling fans — remote-operated, three-blade to five-blade, wooden to metal — the right fan can add a level of craftsmanship to your space, so choose one that performs well and fits your space visually. We spent over 1,200 hours testing different ceiling fans on the market to give you a comprehensive guide to choose from. Whether you want to keep your bedroom cool or add a ceiling fan to your outdoor space to make hot summer days more enjoyable, we have a ceiling fan for you. Our Top Picks Best Indoor: Honeywell Carmel Indoor Ceiling Fan at Amazon $124 Jump to Review Best Indoor (Cheaper): Portage Bay Hugger 52" West Hill Ceiling Fan at Amazon $90 Jump to Review Best Outdoor: SALE Hunter Indoor/Outdoor Ceiling Fan at Amazon $140 $92 Jump to Review Best with Remote: Honeywell Carnegie Indoor Ceiling Fan at Amazon $173 Jump to Review Best Smart: Hunter Aerodyne 52-Inch LED Indoor Smart Ceiling Fan at Amazon $219 Jump to Review Best Modern: Minka-Aire Light Wave Ceiling Fan at Amazon $360 Jump to Review Best for Small Spaces: SALE Honeywell Ocean Breeze 30-Inch LED Ceiling Fan at Amazon $70 $56 Jump to Review Best for Large Spaces: Hampton Bay Mena Ceiling Fan at Amazon $194 Jump to Review Best for Bedrooms: Harbor Breeze Mazon Ceiling Fan at Amazon $135 Jump to Review Best with Reverse Motor: SALE Honeywell Belmar Outdoor LED Ceiling Fan at Amazon $139 $116 Jump to Review Best Indoor Honeywell Carmel Indoor Ceiling Fan PHOTO: Amazon $124 at Amazon $12 at Walmart $132 at Wayfair Star Qualities Powerful for pushing air through large spaces Quiet at all three speeds Has a portable remote switch and adjustable settings Red Flags Fairly heavy Do you need a ceiling fan for your living room or kitchen? We love this one by Honeywell, mostly because of its power. We installed it in a condo and found that it managed to keep the entire dining and living space cool. Additionally, we found that it came in handy for filtering air while cooking in the kitchen, so you won’t have to deal with lingering food smells. It’s powerful and very quiet on all three speeds, so you don’t have to worry about the obnoxious whirring sound of a fan interrupting phone calls or overpowering your TV. It comes with a remote, so you can also control it from any part of your home. Another nice thing about this fan is that you can adjust it to use year-round — while it’s designed to increase cool airflow in the summer, you can change the blade direction and intensity to improve the dispersion of warm air in the winter. Width: 48 inches | Number of Speeds: 3 | Light Included: Yes | Number of Blades: 5 PHOTO: People / Michael Navarro PHOTO: People / Michael Navarro Best Indoor (Cheaper) Portage Bay Hugger 52" West Hill Ceiling Fan PHOTO: Amazon $90 $82 at Amazon View on Kmart.com $60 at Home Depot Star Qualities Excellent airflow in rooms of any size Quiet and free of any vibrations Reversible blades for year-round use Red Flags Pull-chain operated If you’re looking for a new ceiling fan for your home but working on a tight budget, we love this one from Portage Bay. We installed this fan in a home office for the testing period and found that it kept the space remarkably cool for the entire workday. The highest speed is great for cooling a room off quickly, but if you’re worried about the strong airflow knocking things over or disturbing you, the low setting works just fine for keeping air flowing. Another thing we really liked about this fan is the reversible blades; they’ll keep you warm in the summer or help distribute heat in your house (and keep utility costs down!) in the winter. Although it performs really well considering the price, the pull-chain power source isn’t ideal, especially if you’ve been spoiled by remote-controlled fans in the past. However, we found its performance comparable to the Honeywell fan at a lower price. Because it has wider blades, it’s also a great choice for larger spaces, as this will increase the power and concentration of airflow. Width: 52 inches | Number of Speeds: 3 | Light Included: Yes | Number of Blades: 5 PHOTO: People / Michele Hanson PHOTO: People / Michele Hanson Best Outdoor Hunter Indoor/Outdoor Ceiling Fan PHOTO: Amazon $140 $92 at Amazon $140 $130 at Target $140 at Wayfair Star Qualities Doesn’t hang too low Sleek design blends in with many styles Silent and free of any vibrations Red Flags Pull-cord operated No light kit This Hunter Cassius ceiling fan won our vote for outdoor spaces because of how sleek and powerful it is. The simple, three-blade design comes in four neutral colors that will seamlessly blend in with your space. We also really appreciate that it doesn’t hang too low, so you don’t have to worry about ducking when you walk past. The setup was just as breezy; all the parts were clearly labeled, the wires were color-coded, and the instructions were easy to follow. We installed it indoors but were impressed by how efficiently it moved air through the space. The three settings are all very powerful, and the fan successfully kept the space cool, even overnight. While we did keep it on at the highest setting for long stretches of time, we could barely hear it. There also isn’t a light kit included, which could be a con depending on what you’re looking for, but we thought this made it an optimal choice for an outdoor space or porch because you’ll likely have a light source coming from somewhere else. The only other con we saw with this fan is that it’s pull-chain operated, so you’ll have to get up to turn it on or off. Width: 44 to 52 inches | Number of Speeds: 3 | Light Included: No | Number of Blades: 3 People / Ashleigh Morley The 11 Best Cooling Pads for Dogs of 2024, Including Our Dogs’ Favorites Best with Remote Honeywell Carnegie Indoor Ceiling Fan PHOTO: Amazon $173 at Amazon $17 at Walmart $134 at Wayfair Star Qualities Highly intuitive features for relaxation and security Runs quietly on all settings Variety of styles and thoughtful design Red Flags Assembly took 3+ hours If you’re looking for a ceiling fan with several luxury bells and whistles, we highly recommend this one from Honeywell. You can control the light independently from the fan, and each setting has some pretty impressive features. Two that came in handy are the Variable Breeze button, which is meant to stimulate a natural breeze, and the Home Shield button, which randomly turns the lights on and off throughout the day, so it will appear that someone is home at all times and deter potential burglars. And no matter what features you use the most, whenever you turn it off, the remote automatically saves your previous setting. We were also impressed by the power of the fan itself and the airflow it provided. It gets up to the desired speed quickly, and you feel its cooling effects immediately. We found that the 52-inch blade span keeps a space cool on every setting, but if you really want to feel the breeze, the highest setting is perfect. Even though it’s strong, it stays quiet at all speeds. However, you should keep in mind that because it is a little more intricately designed, the assembly process may be more complicated and take a while. If you’ve never installed a ceiling fan, definitely take special care with this one, and prepare to spend an afternoon on it. Width: 52 inches | Number of Speeds: 3 | Light Included: Yes | Number of Blades: 5 PHOTO: People / Pat McGowan PHOTO: People / Pat McGowan PHOTO: People / Pat McGowan Best Smart Hunter Aerodyne 52-Inch LED Indoor Smart Ceiling Fan PHOTO: Amazon $219 at Amazon $198 at Wayfair $218 at Home Depot Star Qualities Can be controlled via remote or app Works with other smart home devices Strong airflow on highest speed Red Flags Noisy at high speeds If you like high-tech devices, the Aerodyne Ceiling Fan connects to your home’s Wi-Fi, allowing you to control it right from your smartphone or integrate it with other smart devices. It’s compatible with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit, so you can even control its settings using voice commands, and it also comes with a remote control for the times you don’t have your phone nearby. This fan is designed for indoor use, and on the highest of its four speed settings, it moves an impressive amount of air, effectively cooling off large spaces. It has an integrated LED light that can be dimmed if needed, and its reversible motor lets you use the fan year-round. The only downside is that the fan is fairly noisy on its highest speed setting, which may be disruptive. Width: 52 inches | Number of Speeds: 4 | Light Included: Yes | Number of Blades: 5 Best Modern Minka-Aire Light Wave Ceiling Fan PHOTO: Amazon $360 at Amazon $360 at Wayfair View on Lumens.com Star Qualities Blades and fan are remarkably light Remote-operated and customizable Expertly designed with luxurious blades Red Flags Direction switch function isn’t controlled by the remote All settings are very bright, even with the dimmer While most ceiling fans tend to have a traditional look, this one certainly stands out with a modern, sleek style. The curved blades make a statement and do a great job of providing strong airflow. For this test, we installed the fan in a large bedroom, and it kept the room nice and cool throughout the day and night. Although it looks like it would be heavy, the light material of the blades made assembly simple. Not only does it have three speeds, but it also has a dimming feature, so you can set the brightness based on your mood. All of these are controlled by a remote, so you can change any of them from any part of your home without standing up. With this being said, we loved the dimming feature but found the light kit to be very bright. Also, while most functions are remote-controlled, the switch that allows you to switch the fan’s directions is on the fan itself, so you’ll have to use a ladder whenever you want to do that. Width: 52 inches | Number of Speeds: 3 | Light Included: Yes | Number of Blades: 3 PHOTO: People / Laura Miller PHOTO: People / Laura Miller PHOTO: People / Laura Miller Best for Small Spaces Honeywell Ocean Breeze 30-Inch LED Ceiling Fan PHOTO: Amazon $70 $56 at Amazon $10 at Walmart $71 at Wayfair Star Qualities Inexpensive Compact size for small rooms Reversible blades offer two color options Red Flags Pull-chain controls Not ideal for low ceilings The Ocean Breeze Ceiling Fan is ideal for small rooms thanks to its 30-inch width — the brand says it works best in spaces around 100 square feet. It has just three blades and pull-chain controls, and during installation, you can reverse the blades to choose between two color options. The fan is equipped with a dimmable LED light, and the motor is reversible, as well, helping to circulate air around your home in both the summer and winter months. Despite its smaller form, this fan does hang down more than 13 inches, so it may not be the best option if you have lower ceilings. However, it’s hard to beat its low price and classic design for small spaces. Width: 30 inches | Number of Speeds: 3 | Light Included: Yes | Number of Blades: 3 Experts Say “I like compact ceiling fans with a discrete design; those are typically a good choice for smaller spaces. These fans are designed to provide efficient air circulation while minimizing the visual impact and space requirements." —Emily Mackie, founder of Inspired Interiors Best for Large Spaces Hampton Bay Mena Ceiling Fan PHOTO: Walmart $194 at Amazon $11 at Walmart $159 at Home Depot Star Qualities Strong airflow Light blades keep the fan balanced and prevent vibration Three different warmth settings on the light kit Red Flags No dimmer This Hampton Bay ceiling fan is perfect if you have a large living area, kitchen, or outdoor space that you want to keep cool. The assembly was simple because the blades snapped right into the main console. But it truly got our vote for large spaces because it was efficient at maintaining airflow, which even spread into other rooms in our home. While it packs quite the punch, it’s still very lightweight and doesn’t wobble or vibrate at all. This is thanks to how light the blades are, which keeps all the tension on the main power unit. The fan is also remote operated, which is a major plus, and the light kit has three preset warmth settings so you can adjust the mood of the room. While we did appreciate the warmth settings, a potential con is that they aren’t very intuitive. There isn’t a dimming feature, and we found that lack of customization frustrating. Width: 54 inches | Number of Speeds: 3 | Light Included: Yes | Number of Blades: 5 PHOTO: People / Art Silverio PHOTO: People / Art Silverio PHOTO: People / Art Silverio Best for Bedrooms Harbor Breeze Mazon Ceiling Fan PHOTO: Amazon $135 at Amazon $13 at Walmart $125 at Lowe's Star Qualities Easy assembly and installation Reversible wood or nickel blades Integrated LED light source that's low maintenance and energy efficient Red Flags No wall mount for the controller Only one brightness setting If you’re looking for a fan to add to your bedroom, you’ll love this one from Harbor Breeze. First of all, we love the reversible blades. You can choose between a wood or nickel look depending on your decor so that the fan can evolve with you and the ever-changing style of your space. It was also a winner in terms of circulation; even with the windows open, we found that traditional air conditioning wasn’t needed as long as the fan was on. All three oscillating speeds are fairly powerful, but we stayed at levels two and three for the most part. Even at the highest speed, this fan is impressively quiet, besides a gentle hum. The main drawbacks were that the remote control doesn’t include a wall mount, and the lightbulbs, although LED, don’t have an adjustable dimness. However, with all this being said, this is a great fan at a reasonable price, great for keeping your bedroom nice and cool. Width: 44 inches | Number of Speeds: 3 | Light Included: Yes | Number of Blades: 3 PHOTO: People / Kimberly Souza PHOTO: People / Kimberly Souza PHOTO: People / Kimberly Souza A Hot Sleeper's Rigorous Review of Oprah-Approved Cozy Earth Cooling Bamboo Sheets Best with Reverse Motor Honeywell Belmar Outdoor LED Ceiling Fan PHOTO: Amazon $139 $116 at Amazon $11 at Walmart $118 at Wayfair Star Qualities Cools your space off quickly and efficiently Feels sturdy upon installation Can easily change the motor to reverse blade direction Red Flags Not remote operated Highest setting gets pretty loud If you’re looking to maximize your investment, you’ll appreciate how easy it is to put this Honeywell ceiling fan in winter mode to enjoy it year-round. While most fans have a complicated and frustrating blade reversal process, this one allows you to knock it into winter or summer mode with ease. We tested it in a smaller room but found that it kept air circulating and cooled the space off quickly. We found that the low setting wasn’t quite strong enough, and the highest setting was too strong, so we mainly kept it at the middle one, and we recommend this for regular, day-to-day use. If you struggle with regulating your temperature, you may be bothered by the fact that this fan isn’t operated by remote and that you’ll have to get up and down to adjust it. Besides being intense airflow-wise, the highest setting does get a bit loud, so if you appreciate a quiet space, this is something to keep in mind. Width: 52 inches | Number of Speeds: 3 | Light Included: Yes | Number of Blades: 5 PHOTO: People / Danielle Yersin PHOTO: People / Danielle Yersin Best for Vaulted Ceilings Hampton Bay Fanlee 54-Inch Smart Ceiling Fan PHOTO: The Home Depot $179 at Home Depot Star Qualities Comes with downrod for angled mount Includes remote control and smart features Offers six light settings Red Flags Shade is plastic, not glass Longer downrod sold separately If you have a vaulted ceiling, you need a ceiling fan that can be angled mounted, such as the Fanelee from Hampton Bay. This is perfect for high, angled ceilings — it comes with a six-inch downrod, but the brand also has longer ones available if you need it to hang lower. Additionally, the fan comes with a remote control and can be connected to your home’s Wi-Fi for app controls or even voice commands. This fan has a large 54-inch width, and its integrated LED light can be set to six different temperature options, ranging from cool to warm. The blades are reversible, allowing you to choose from two different finishes, and the four-speed motor is quiet, so it won’t disturb your daily activities, even on high settings. Width: 54 inches | Number of Speeds: 4 | Light Included: Yes | Number of Blades: 5 What to Know About Ceiling Fans Installation Installing a ceiling fan isn’t the same as assembling a piece of furniture or a regular standing fan. You have to mount it to your ceiling and account for things like electrical connections and wiring — not a concern with other household fans or something like a humidifier — which can get very treacherous if you aren’t experienced. Looking at a fan’s product page for things like how many parts the fan comes with and what tools you’ll need will give you an adequate picture of what to expect when assembling. The Hampton Bay Mena Ceiling Fan is a great option if you’re looking for a fan that has easy setup; the blades snap right into the center console, which will save you loads of time you would have otherwise spent screwing each blade into place. Design Looking at a fan’s hardware and how it’s made and assembled will tell you how well it works. For example, if the blades are made of bulky material, they’re more likely to wobble and feel unstable when powered up. Another thing to consider is the ceiling fan's potential location. If you’re going to install it in a small room, picking a fan with fewer blades and a smaller blade span (like the Honeywell Ocean Breeze Ceiling Fan) might make more sense visually. If you place it in a larger room, a fan with more blades hanging lower from the ceiling would adequately fill the space. If it will be exposed to the elements like outdoor furniture, you should opt for an outdoor ceiling fan that is treated to be weather- and moisture-resistant or clearly says on the product page that it is built for outdoor use. Behind the Scenes Our PEOPLE Tested team researched the most popular indoor and outdoor ceiling fans on the market and tested 11 options made of different materials at varying price points to provide options for every type of shopper. We spent over 1,200 accumulated hours testing these fans and evaluating their performance in real-life scenarios, from diffusing smoke in kitchens to keeping a bedroom cool overnight to regulating temperature in a home office during long work days. Every fan was evaluated through the lens of its setup, design, effectiveness, quality, and value. We then rated each ceiling fan on a scale of one to five, with five being the best and one being the poorest performer, and the top-rated ceiling fans made this list. We later updated this article by researching additional best-sellers and shopper favorites to add more picks to this list. Frequently Asked Questions Is a three-blade or five-blade ceiling fan better? You may assume that the more blades a fan comes with, the more power it will have. On the contrary, the number of blades makes little to no difference in a ceiling fan's airflow strength. Three-blade fans oftentimes actually perform better than five-blade fans because the lighter load on the motor allows it to work more efficiently. The amount of blades on a fan really only makes a difference aesthetically. If you’re working with a bigger room, more blades might aesthetically make more sense, while three blades may keep a smaller room from looking too cluttered and busy. In that sense, the number of blades just comes down to visual preference. What's the most effective fan blade shape? A fan’s efficiency is measured by its CFM, which stands for cubic feet per minute. It’s ultimately meant to quantify how much air is being pushed throughout a space by that fan in one minute. For scale, an “average” fan has a CFM of about 4,000-5,000, while the highest performing fans will have a CFM of 6,000+. A good fan will do a good job of toggling between staying lightweight enough that it will prevent the motor from lagging but also being sturdy enough to churn out lots of air that will keep that CFM high. With this in mind, thin but wide paddle-shaped fan blades do the best job of keeping pressure off the motor and putting out enough air that it manages a room’s temperature consistently in a way you can feel. Can I use an "indoor ceiling fan" outdoors? You may have found an “indoor ceiling fan” that would fit perfectly on your patio, or you already have one lying around that you need to use. But according to designer Emily Mackie, it’s probably best to avoid any mixing and matching. “For longevity in outdoor settings, it's important to choose a material that is rust-resistant and capable of withstanding alternative climates,” she says. Basically, you should keep indoor fans inside to get the most use out of your ceiling fan. Why Trust PEOPLE? Olivia Avitt has written about a wide range of subjects, from the best home products to wellness to art. For this piece, she thoroughly researched and reviewed each ceiling fan and the thorough insights provided by the PEOPLE Tested team. She also consulted Emily Mackie, founder of Inspired Interiors, for advice on picking the right ceiling fan for your home. We know making a big purchase, especially one for your home, can feel overwhelming when you get into the research. Olivia provides an unbiased editorial view with only the facts so that you can make an informed and empowered purchase. Freelance writer Camryn Rabideau later updated this article with three new product additions after extensive market research and scouring the best-selling ceiling fans available today. What Is PEOPLE Tested? We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs. But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square. In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.