Feeling the heat? Here are the seven best desk fans we’ve tried

The products were selected independently by our team of editors. After a team-wide consultation, we agreed on the most respected fan brands on the market.

We read existing reviews and selected models that stood out regularly as the best in class. There are four purely desk fans, but we also included three hybrid models that can additionally be mounted on the floor and wall.

Once they arrived in our custom-built test centre, our experienced product testing team rigorously put the fans through their paces.

They set up each fan to mimic how it might be used at home. An anemometer was used to measure wind movement force and direction. They also used a sound pressure meter and a power meter to monitor consumption, and took decibel-level readings at each fan setting.

There is something strongly reminiscent of the 1970s about the MeacoFan. For our test centre pro Mark Wyndham-Jones, it calls to mind a retro divers’ helmet – think Tintin and Captain Haddock on some underwater adventure.

In my case, when the fan rotated dramatically (and unexpectedly) skyward, there was the sense of operating a space satellite seeking extraterrestrial life.

But while its design is a bit Marmite, I quickly fell in love with this fan when I realised that the centre medallion pops out and is actually the remote control set against a magnetised backing. During the unboxing, I was also impressed by the chic grey leatherette strap attached for lifting it.

The MeacoFan is designed with consumer ease in mind. As soon as it’s switched on, it helpfully displays the room’s ambient temperature. You can then select Eco mode and let the fan decide how much air to throw off to cool the room without breaking the bank.

The remote’s buttons are big, chunky and easy to understand. I need my tech to be nice and obvious and this is. There is also something very approachable about a round remote with big graphic buttons – it feels almost like a toy.

By contrast, the remote on our quietest fan on test – the Duux Globe – seemed fiddlier and less responsive. When I pressed a button, there was a lag before any mode kicked in, whereas the MeacoFan kicked in immediately.

Not one for remotes? No problem. Big light-up digital buttons on the fan’s base are nearly as easy to use. A large lightbulb icon switches the button lights off at night when you want perfect darkness.

This fan has nine airflow settings, which makes it highly versatile. Once the fan was up and running on its lowest setting, I was literally blown away. The air force was remarkable. If you aren’t a light sleeper, you can have this fan in your bedroom up to setting four – just don’t point it in your face.

Even at its highest setting, the fan remains remarkably quiet considering the airflow produced, and there is no need to raise your voice to talk over it. If using the fan for desk work, the maximum setting you’d want is seven. Any higher and your papers might helter-skelter around the room.

In terms of safety, it’s hard to imagine what would topple this fan. The base is downright huge. Even when our rambunctious child tester attempted to use it as a space-hopper, it stayed put. Small fingers can’t access the blades through the grates and, due to the globe shape, the blades are set further back compared with a traditional fan design.

One thing I found irritating is the stingy cable length. At 1.5 metres (1.6 yards), it is half a metre shorter than the Duux Globe’s cable. I accidentally pulled it out of the wall socket when shifting the fan a short distance. Another issue is that when the fan gets going, some of the lit-up symbols disappear. This is probably to conserve energy, but it can be awkward if you’re solely depending on the base buttons for control.

An inbuilt timer allows you to let the fan run automatically for between one and 12 hours: a great feature if you are trying to save money on energy bills.

The versatility of the design that allows for quiet sleep but can also cope with the hottest heatwave at the higher settings.

The shorter cable. This is something the manufacturers might want to address.

Interested in a basic fan that will comfortably sit on a small desk? The Honeywell offers the most bang for your buck of all the fans we tested, and is nice and compact, to boot.

This unit and the (following) Beldray 3-in-1 can both easily fit on a small desk, but the Honeywell is an “as simple as it gets” plug-in-and-go unit. A breath of fresh air if you want absolutely no bells and whistles and just want to plug in your fan and get to work.

And there is no mistaking that this fan is a workhorse. The design is as basic as it gets and heavy even if it is heavy on the plastic. There is no handle at the top for carrying the unit, although this doesn’t present any real issue given how light the fan is.

In fact, it is the lightest fan of all we’ve tested.

This fan comes pre-assembled, meaning it gives the similarly priced Beldray 12-inch desk fan stiff competition – except that the Honeywell doesn’t oscillate, which may be a dealbreaker for some.

Instead the Honeywell can be manually set in five positions on its rocker – including its final position pointed directly at the ceiling. To get the air blasting in the right place, you’ll need to point the fan in the desired direction as the air has limited circulation around the room.

Alternatively, mount the fan on the wall and direct it into a room for better circulation.

The controls for the unit are likewise basic. A little dial at the back lets you choose one of three air-flow settings. With this awkward location, and the dial settings’ small font size, it isn’t the best bet for the visually impaired.

Also, if you are sitting at your desk and need to change the settings, you’ll definitely need to turn the fan around. Even my small fingers weren’t nimble enough to reposition the dial comfortably from above.

But, given the pleasing price tag, none of these issues are insurmountable.

A downside to consider with the Honeywell is the noise. Setting one is reasonably quiet and absolutely fine for desk work. Settings two and three aren’t ideal in any room that requires peace and quiet.

This little fan really blasts out the air. Sitting at a desk, you wouldn’t want the fan directed at your face even at setting one (it’s worth knowing the brand boasts that the fan has a seven-metre reach – I don’t agree, but it does still have a powerful blast, as the “turbo” suggests).

At close range, you’ll want to angle the fan a bit so that the air isn’t directly in your face – unless you really are sweltering and want a seriously cool blast.

Little fingers won’t make their way into the fan. The front central grill is fused to the body of the unit (unlike with the Beldray 3-in-1 Cordless Folding Fan) so the fan is a solid construction.

Because the fan’s design is so stout, stability isn’t a major issue. Sure, it can be kicked over, but no real damage is likely to be done.

At almost two metres, the cable length is generous and you’ll be able to position it on your desk comfortably.

Though this is our budget pick, it’s worth noting that the Honeywell was the worst of the fans we tested by way of energy efficiency. On setting one it uses 29.1w. In contrast, on setting one and on full oscillation mode, the Duux Globe Table Fan uses 6.2w. That means this fan could cost you more to run in the long term. However, we’d say this is only a factor if you’re using it daily over the summer.

This fan is a crowd-pleaser for good reason. It’s stripped down to the bare minimum and does the job you’d expect it to do at a rock-bottom price point. For those seeking greater cooling control, there are some great choices, but the price-tag will reflect the increased functionality.

The incredible simplicity of using this fan. It is truly stripped down to the basics and just does the job.

How energy inefficient the fan is.

Owning a Duux Whisper Flex is like owning a top-of-the-line Tesla. Is there a bit of PR spin? Sure – 26 air speed settings is nuts by anyone’s standards. But there is no denying that the fan, like the automobile brand, stylishly delivers on a new kind of cool – tech that’s quieter, smoother and kinder to the planet.

As long as you’re willing to pay for it.

After all, they say silence is golden. Having a fan that “whispers” might mean the world to you if you suffer from migraines and can’t take a relentless whirring sound, or if you treasure your sleep and struggle in a hot bedroom. This fan is silence itself for up to settings 10 out of 26 and you’ll also enjoy luxuries like the blissful “natural wind” mode.

If you like the sound of the silent mastery of the Duux brand but guffaw at a fan that retails at around the £170 mark – then your sweet spot may be the Duux Globe Table Fan. The extra £90 to get your hands on the Duux Whisper Flex may not be worth it if you simply want to work in peace with a decent breeze from your fan.

But if you’re in the “more’s more” camp, the Duux Whisper Flex ticks quite a few premium boxes that justifies the price. Just.

First let’s discuss a downside. The fan does need some assembly. It’s not complicated, however, and you only have to do it the once.

One major upside, though, is that the fan has the option to be fully portable. Not being tethered to a socket means your fan is at home anywhere – adding a touch of practical style to your kitchen island, for instance. You could even go wild and take it on a camping trip. That’s what cable-free portability is all about.

But, again, you’ll have to be willing to pay for that easy, breezy lifestyle. The rechargeable battery comes separately (for around £60, if you’re interested). If you are after pure portability but don’t like the sound of that price-tag,there’s always the Beldray 3-in-1 Cordless Folding Fan to consider.

Comfortingly, though, quite a lot comes as standard in the Duux Whisper Flex, including a display dial control with a stonking menu of options. Voice-activated orders issued through Alexa or your Google Assistant can also be given to your fan when you download the Duux app.

I personally didn’t have much luck with the app and with a less than stellar two-star rating on Apple’s AppStore, it looks like other people struggle, too.

Our test centre professionals were particularly keen on the remote control. We feel it’s better laid out and easier to use and navigate than the in-built control dial.

Then there’s the pole. Use it to convert your fan from desk height to floor height in a jiffy.

Using this fan on your desk might prove tricky. There’s a large base (33cm/13in diameter) to contend with. If you have a small desk, you’ll want to bear that in mind if you plan to use it primarily for your home office. On the upside, a large base means good stability, so there is little chance of your fan toppling.

Our product testers used the E word (Exceptional!) to describe this fan’s oscillating prowess. Like the Duux Globe Table Fan and the MeacoFan, it impresses with its simultaneous horizontal and vertical movements.

Of all the fans we tested, this one has the longest cable – a very commendable 2.3 metres .

There also isn’t any risk of a small child’s finger making its way into the fan since the grills are packed tightly together.

The portability of the fan. It may cost extra, but a fan that’s broken free of its power socket is a fan that we want in our lives.

The Quick Start Guide is limited in information, with user guide requiring download.

The Duux Globe Table Fan and the MeacoFan follow similar engineering lines. Again, you’ll either warm to the retro look or you won’t.

But I’d think twice about rebuffing this fan on aesthetic grounds alone if your number one priority is undisturbed work – or restful sleep. This fan on its lowest setting is silence itself. You also get enough cooling air to make it through a moderately hot night.

Slightly more compact and lighter than the MeacoFan, if your desk is medium-sized it should fit comfortably enough. Even on its maximum setting, this fan is no distraction from your work and won’t send your papers fluttering across the room.

One thing I did notice, as did the professionals at the test centre, is that when changing settings there can be an occasional clicking noise. It can last a few seconds then settles down, but it is a little kink worth noting.

Settings two and three are where the fan holds its own on hot days. It churns out a decent amount of cooling air – though it still wouldn’t be my first pick over the MeacoFan on a truly sweltering day, unless I am sitting at a desk working and don’t want a heavy draught in my face.

You’ll notice at setting three, especially, there is an uptick in noise. It will only be of concern if you are trying to sleep with the fan on this setting. Some people won’t notice it, but if you require perfect sleep silence – which is the key selling point of this fan – you’ll want to stick to setting one.

One interesting quirk that this fan shares with the MeacoFan is that it can move horizontally and vertically simultaneously – very space-age and handy when you want maximum air circulation.

For those with younger children around, there is no risk of little ones accessing the blades. Due to the fan’s globe shape, they are further set back than in the average fan, so even the smallest curious fingers would struggle to reach them.

Another design upside is the large base the fan sits on – its size and rubber pad make it unlikely to topple over.

The Duux Globe Table Fan’s two-metre-long  cable makes it easy to position on your desk without too much stress.

An inbuilt timer allows you to let the fan run automatically for between one and three hours – a great feature if you are trying to outwit your smart meter.

The amazingly quiet function of the fan at its lowest setting, making it an easy pick for those who like to work in near-silence.

The small font on the touch-sensitive touch pad might be hard to read at night. The Quick Starter Guide is not exactly comprehensive, and the full user guide needs to be downloaded.

Using the Beldray 3-in-1 Cordless Folding Fan is child’s play. And as there was no need to plug it in and only an easy-to- recognise “on” button to press, the little helper had the fan up and running solo within a few seconds. It took less than one minute to figure out how to use the simple touch-sensitive controls, too.

This is a fun and funky compact fan that’s pleasant to use. No, it doesn’t oscillate, but it does bend over backwards (literally) to be as useful as possible around your home. At less than £40 a pop, it’s easy to warm up to this thoughtful little fan.

Getting the unit into the desk position was intuitive. It requires a mild twisting motion of a little grey cuff that acts as the locking mechanism. The base has a diameter of 21cm (8in) so this fan will sit comfortably on all desks.

As we mentioned, the fan doesn’t go left to right – but it does tilt. This makes a big difference to directing the air where you want.

But touching the plastic head of the fan does make your thumb come into contact with the face of the grill, and it depresses when you touch it! That seems quite unsafe to me, given that behind that fragile piece of plastic is a dangerously spinning blade. For that reason, I would be cautious tilting the head up and down while the blades are active .

The fan can also be wall-mounted, with the air coming down from directly above. To convert this fan to floor-standing, you just need to give the head a good yank and it will come up on an ever-narrowing pole.

The fan has four speed settings. The lowest is quiet enough to have the fan at close range on your desk. We would think twice about having it in a bedroom at night though, unless you are a deep sleeper.

Setting two ratchets up the noise level within a tolerable range, but setting three is irritatingly loud in a small room.

For a battery-operated fan, the airflow is good, but without oscillation, expect to direct it to the position you want – it won’t fill the room with cool air. It is very much a one-man-band fan.

With built-in LEDs, the fan could double up as a bedside light. While the fan is on, a mild blue light pulsates around the power key, making this button visible in the dark.

We found that on a full charge at level three, the running time was roughly three and a half hours.

Packing the fan away in its tiny box is a breeze, too, if you are planning to stow your fan away over the winter.

The complete ease of using this fan – it’s portable and practical.

How the front plastic grill depresses when it’s touched. Seems a bit dangerous if a person is heavy- handed and tilts the head while the blades are active.

With no digital settings or flashing lights in sight, the Russell Hobbs Scandi desk fan stands out with its modern-yet-traditional good looks and no high-tech pretensions. Available in three easy-to-style neutrals – black, grey and white – with oak accent trim, your preferred colour won’t look out of place in the most stylish of rooms.

Though the style is simple, the black-coated metal build is sturdier than you’d expect and certainly looks more premium than more expensive fans.

It is also a technophobe’s dream. There are no fancy digital panels or remote controls to get to grips with. But there’s a catch. The product needs assembling.

Our testing centre experts described the fan as easy to assemble, but speaking as someone who hasn’t the least inclination to build household goods, my definition of “easy” is simply plugging in any new appliance. I didn’t personally enjoy putting it together – I fell at the first hurdle as I didn’t have a screwdriver to hand.

But, to be fair, once it is up and running, it’s a breeze to command with simple manual buttons. Since these buttons are located at the back of the fan, folks who have hand-related mobility issues  are better off picking a fan with controls on the base, as the buttons may be awkward to reach.

There are three air-flow settings to choose from. The first is quiet enough but settings two and three are notably louder. Our test centre experts and I agreed we wouldn’t pick this one for our bedrooms.

This is a desk fan first and foremost. But, with its 35cm (14in)-diameter grill, this fan does take up a fair bit of room on your work surface, so you’ll need a decent-sized desk.

The 1.5-metre (5ft) cable length is another potential sore point. You’ll probably need an extension cord, depending on the location of your socket.

All in all, this is a well-constructed and easy-to-use large metal desk fan that does what it says on the tin. It is relatively quiet for the price-point and disperses air well. A good work horse purchase for the average price of £55.

Its good looks and a manual button control system that’s as easy as it gets.

Despite being pleasingly low-tech, the fan needs to be assembled.

From the get-go it’s worth knowing that the Beldray 12-inch (30cm) Desk Fan comes with a two-year guarantee. That, plus the respectable brand name, makes this fan a contender if you are after a no-frills cooling unit that’s simple and steady, and which also oscillates.

The fan arrives dis-assembled and there isn’t a diagram included to show how to put it together. But, as the fan is such a classic and simple style, figuring it out doesn’t present too much of a problem.

The blades look and feel a little flimsy, but the base and grills are solid enough.

Unlike the other fans we tested, this one doesn’t have the most generous base. This shouldn’t present a problem if it is used as a low-traffic desk fan – if there’s a hive of activity on your workstation, position it where it won’t be knocked.

This fan couldn’t be easier to operate. In fact, it even pips the super-easy Beldray 3-in-1. Four fat raised buttons labelled 0-3 means that operating it is almost fool-proof.

I say “almost” because the buttons are labelled in white against a white background. This fan is not designed with the visually impaired in mind, although the raised buttons might help get around this flaw.

One major downside we noticed is there isn’t a massive difference between air-flow speeds. We think setting one could have done with being a bit milder since it is almost as loud as the other settings.

This fan isn’t the noisiest we tested, but it’s up there. You wouldn’t want it in your bedroom when you’re sleeping.

It does, however, hold the dubious title for the shortest cable of all the fans we tested, with its 1.4-metre (1.5-yard) cord. You’ll want an extension cord handy. If there are any trip or mobility issues to think about, maybe give this one a miss.

Unlike the Beldray 3-in-1 Cordless Folding Fan, this model does oscillate, but not perfectly. The oscillation angle is somewhat limited. It also isn’t an overly smooth process, and the fan can stick a bit when going left to right. But, don’t worry, it’s more of an aesthetic consideration than anything else and doesn’t impact the usability of the fan.

Is this fan worth a price tag hovering around the £20 mark? Absolutely. In a heatwave, set it on full speed and it will see you through. What will extend its life, though, is if it has a nice cushty desk job where it is keeping a moderate level of heat at bay but no one is expecting daily cooling heroics. Switch the buttons on and off carefully and you’ll get good value for money.

The airflow is sufficient from what is effectively a cheap, plastic mass-produced fan.

The noise level remains almost constant due to the limited airflow speed difference between settings.