6 Best Cooling Fans in 2025, Tested and Reviewed by AD

Arzbaecher says it takes a little muscle to open the clip but mentions that it always stays secure. We’d say this utilitarian option is your best bet for a direct cooling experience, especially close by an outlet since it has a slightly shorter cord. And at just $13, the price tag is hard to beat.

The luxe multipurpose fan

This is not only an AD-approved fan, but it’s also one of our favorite air purifiers and humidifiers. Fletcher has this three-in-one gadget in her home and appreciates its multifunctional qualities. “It’s rare to find a machine that can purify your air, humidify it, and cool down a space all in one–so I was impressed right off the bat,” she says. “An update to earlier Dyson models, this machine does all that and aside from getting rid of the usual particles, it also removes formaldehyde (which can cause even more irritation to your eyes and throat) from the air.”

As for the cooling setting, this is a great option because the Dyson appliance only circulates purified air using HEPA filtration throughout your whole room. Here, you’ll also get unique settings like night mode with sleep timer pre-set intervals between 15 minutes and nine hours and voice, app, and remote controls. Instead of forcing out air, this Dyson is also designed to use unique algorithms to create airflow that mirrors a breeze in the great outdoors.

However, coming in at $1,000, this is a pricier pick. That said, Fletcher notes that it could be a good investment purchase. “It might actually save you money in the long run if you don’t want to buy a purifier, a fan, and a humidifier individually and you want a powerful device for each activity,” she says. “I’d recommend it if you have deep pockets and not a ton of challenging air pollution situations to combat on the regular.”

How We Tested

Our editors have personally used every one of these cooling fans everywhere from our homes to our office to keep cool on sunny days. We tested these picks from the best appliance brands for a number of months to even years to give you a thorough review on their functionality. Here are other factors we weighed when picking out our final list:

Oscillation: From standing fans to desk fans, most of our picks have oscillating designs that reach up to 180 degrees to allow for ample airflow throughout a space. While some fans, like the Windmill, don’t oscillate, many have adjustable tilt features to help target areas that could use a breeze.

Noise: Typically blowers that have decibels in the teens (around 18 dB) are your best bet for a whisper-quiet fan. While some of our fans reach up to 60+ dB, this noise level is typically compared to the sound of a rainfall and is often accompanied by strong airflow to keep your space cool.

Features: Convenience is key when it comes to the best cooling fans. We opted for picks with intuitive controls on remotes and the fans themselves. From there, extras like timers, sleep mode, apps, and Wi-Fi compatibility make it even easier to customize the cooling in your space.

Size: While the size of the fan is largely up to your preference and what your space will allow, we selected a variety of options to fit any room. For desk fans, we looked for options with a mini footprint (around the size of a monitor if not smaller) to keep the workspace streamlined. And for floor fans, we looked for sleek, slender picks with adjustable heights to fit a variety of spaces.

More Fans We Like

While we haven’t given these fans a whirl quite yet, these are additional aesthetic options that we recommend for your space.

For those who love retro design, this mid-century modern fan will be a welcome addition come summertime. Its pivoting head is designed for ample airflow throughout a workspace, and it comes in two soft colors (green and cream) for a warm ambiance.

Inspired by Art Deco design, this pick is reminiscent of a fan you’d find in a home during the jazz era thanks to its symmetrical and simplistic style. And with three speeds paired with tilt and oscillation features, you can guarantee a smooth breeze with every use.

Swiss designer Carlo Borer created this fan with streamlined sustainability in mind. Its bamboo wood frame is a standout, however, it has adjustable feet and a few speeds to curate your cooling experience.

If you’re looking for a standing fan that makes a statement, this bright yellow version from head to toe is your ticket. Looks aside, this maximalist-inspired fan sways from side to side with 80-degree oscillation and can tilt up and down to get the airflow just right in your home.