The best fans to keep you cool this summer
The best fans to keep you cool this summer
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1/12 John Lewis Spectrum USB Desk Fan
So-called “desk” fans can be huge but this one is small, simple and quiet. The five-inch fan is petite enough to fit on any desk. It’s USB powered too, so you can even plug it into your laptop’s USB port and use it to cool down a train journey. Travel companions will be envious. Alternatively, pop in 4x AA batteries and use it anywhere. Priced £9.95 at John Lewis. Buy here -
2/12 evaSMART EV-3000
Simple yet innovative tech from evaPOLAR uses evaporation to turn hot, dry air into cool, moist air. You simply refill the water tank every 4-6 hours and replace the cartridge after “3-6 months”... so that’s annually for Londoners, we don’t get many heatwaves. It only cools a small area, so it’s perfect for the bedside. And it uses so little energy that it can be powered by USB. Which means you can even take it camping and plug it into a portable power bank. Priced £246 at evapolar. Buy here -
3/12 Dyson Pure Cool
All the powerful cooling you’d expect from a bladeless Dyson Air Multiplier fan plus air quality sensors and hi-tech filtering. Lasers measure and detect ultrafine particles – including fumes and pollen from outside and indoor pollutants from cleaning products, pets, paints, scented candles and more– while a glass HEPA filter cleans your air, removing 99.95% of microscopic particles. An app reports on air quality and updates you on filter life. Priced £399.99 for a desk fan, £499.99 for a tower at Dyson. Buy here -
4/12 Bionaire Tower Fan
Keep home or office cool with this freestanding 74cm tower fan. It oscillates, turning from side to side to better distribute air flow around the room. It has three speed settings plus a “breeze” function that randomly cycles through speeds to offer variety, for a more natural feeling, and a “sleep” function that lowers the fan automatically from high to medium to low through the night. Priced £59.99 at Argos. Buy here -
5/12 Spritz Ultra Fine Mist Rechargeable Fan
One for your pocket, handbag or manbag, this little fan includes a fine water mist spray for extra cooling. The four-hour battery life is enough for a long journey or a day at the office. Best of all, it’s rechargeable by USB, so you can charge it at home or work without poisoning the planet with single-use batteries. Available in three pastel colours. Priced £12.99 at Menkind. Buy here -
6/12 Daewoo Metal Retro Fan, £49.99
Copper remains one of the most popular metallic finishes dominating our interiors, so this retro fan is both useful and bang on trend. It has three power levels and a simple-to-use knob switch. Sit it by the sofa to keep your home from getting stuffy and show it off at the same time. Priced £49.99 at Robert Dyas. Buy now -
7/12 Kirkton House Retro Desk Fan, £24.99
Be speedy snapping up this cheap and cheerful tabletop fan from Aldi – last year they sold out almost instantly. It has three power levels and is available in contemporary chrome or copper. Its head can be tilted as you wish, making it ideal for a bedside table to keep the cool air on you all night. If you want a bigger version, it comes as a pedestal fan too. Priced £24.99 at Aldi.
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8/12 Stadler Form Otto Fan, £179.99
Keeping cool can be stylish, as this fan from Swiss design company Stadler Form proves. Its sustainably-grown, biodegradable bamboo frame looks classy and is great for the environment too. Should the blades get clogged with dust over time, the protective grille at the back can easily be removed for cleaning. It has three power levels and height adjustable feet. Bear in mind that changing the speed requires pressing buttons on the back, so you might want to keep it nearby. Priced £179.99 at John Lewis.
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9/12 Dimplex Mont Blanc Cooling Fan, £54.99
You can easily switch between the three power levels of this slim black tower fan, thanks to its included remote control. It oscillates, cooling the whole room and has a small base, making it ideal for corners. It has a handy timer feature and can be moved between rooms with the carry handle. Priced £54.99 at Amazon.
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10/12 RED5 Own Message Desk Fan, £24.99
This novelty desk fan literally makes a statement. Plug it into your computer’s USB port for power and while you’re at it, you can use a simple piece of software to program up to 20 custom illuminated messages to be displayed by LED lights on the spinning fan blades. Perfect for a child or fun-loving adult. Priced £24.99 at John Lewis.
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11/12 Swan Retro Desk Fan, £39.99
This simple, stylish 12in desk fan from Swan features three power levels, adjustable tilt and oscillates. It’s powerful enough for most rooms and comes in a cream colour if you fancy a change from boring black. It measures H34 x W26 x D40cm but if you really want to go large, Swan also offers a 16in floor-standing fan. Priced £39.99 at Very.
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12/12 De'longhi Pinguino PAC N81, £449
If a simple fan isn't enough for you, why not purchase your own air-conditioner. This De'longhi is portable but, as with all air-conditioning units, it does have to be vented so as to expel hot air outside – there's a flexible tube provided for that reason. It measures H75 x W44.9 x D39.5cm. Priced £449 from Air Con Hut.
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News that this scorching British weather is set to last all summer has sent many of us rushing to the shops in search of a reliable fan to keep us cool.
Heatwaves are welcome when we can head to the park, lido or beach, but less so when stuck in sticky offices all day and left tossing and turning all night.
To help keep you feeling fresh as the mercury soars, we have compiled a list of the best fans available to buy now.
From smaller models suitable for desks or bedside tables to tower fans slim enough to slot into unused corners, our list will help you find your number one fan.
Oscillating pedestal fans are a good choice if you have a larger room to chill, while floor fans can be tucked next to sofas to keep you cool while you catch up on Netflix.
If you’re concerned about compromising on style, there are plenty of looks and finishes to choose from – try Stadler Form’s bamboo offering or Daewoo’s copper model.
Be prepared to pay more for a high-tech fan that also cleans the air – Dyson's bladeless Pure Cool model costs from £399.99.
Budget options abound, though – Aldi's retro tabletop favourite is back in stock this year and will set you back less than £25, while Spritz's rechargeable handheld fan comes in a range of cute pastel colours, sprays you with a fine mist and costs just £12.99.
Flick though the gallery above to browse and buy our favourites.
