To determine the best ceiling fans, we analyzed price points, cooling capabilities for room sizes, and style. We also consulted experts to weigh in on the most important features of ceiling fans, helping you to pick the best one for your home. “Ceiling fans have come a long way in recent years with designs incorporating more modern styles and coming in many different colors and finishes to coordinate beautifully with your room,” says Decorist designer Ashley Mecham. Our top pick is the Honeywell Carnegie LED 52-Inch Ceiling Fan for its effective cooling capabilities, three fan speeds, dimmable LED lights, and rustic-chic style. Here are the best ceiling fans.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall Ceiling Fan: Honeywell Carnegie LED 52-Inch Ceiling Fan Best Budget Ceiling Fan: Prominence Home Alvina 42-Inch Ceiling Fan Best Low Profile Ceiling Fan: Portage Bay 52-Inch Hugger Ceiling Fan Best Ceiling Fan for Large Spaces: Honeywell Xerxes 62-Inch Ceiling Fan Best Outdoor Ceiling Fan: Hunter Key Biscayne Indoor/Outdoor Ceiling Fan with LED Light
Who it’s for: People who want a smart home-compatible ceiling fan that can be installed in virtually any room. Who it’s not for: People who want a sleeker, more modern fan. The Honeywell Carnegie Fan is a popular option that has everything you’d want in a quality ceiling fan. It comes in three rustic finishes: copper, matte black, and pewter. Each of those comes with five dual-color blades—one lighter side and one darker—that can be flipped to better match your room’s decor, or you can change them up if you decide to go with a new paint color on the walls. In the center of the fan is an industrial-style mesh cage drum light that comes with three LED Edison bulbs. They can be dimmed anywhere from 20 to 100 percent with the included remote, which also controls the three-speed settings of the fan blades. Plus, the remote is compatible with Google Home and Alexa. This ceiling fan is designed to cool rooms from 12-by-12 feet in size up to 18-by-18 feet. As for mounting, this ceiling fan comes with a 4-inch downrod that can be installed in three ways: close, standard downrod, and angled up to 17 degrees. There’s also a 54-inch lead wire that can be used with a longer downrod (sold separately). All Honeywell products come with a limited lifetime warranty, so you know you’re covered if something were to happen to this ceiling fan. Product Details:
Diameter: 52 inches Lighting: Mesh drum dimmable LED Mount Type: Downrod Control: Remote, smart home
Who it’s not for: People with large rooms. If you’re on the hunt for a deal, opt for this affordable ceiling fan from Prominence Home. With prices starting well below $100, this ceiling fan is just a fraction of the cost of many similar models. It still has all the basics you’d need, though, like a quiet three-speed reversible motor and a frosted globe light that uses an included A15/E26 bulb. The fan comes with a hugger mount, so it’s ideal for small rooms with low ceilings—the manufacturer suggests rooms 350 square feet or less, but even more ideally rooms that measure 10-by-10 feet—and it forgoes remote controls or wall switches for traditional pull chains. (Keep in mind, though, that pull chains aren’t the easiest to use if you have high ceilings.) It is, however, compatible with universal fan remote controls, which are sold separately. The best thing about this ceiling fan is that it looks more expensive than it is, so you don’t have to sacrifice quality in order to stick to your budget. It has a more traditional silhouette with five blades and a globe light, but there are five finishes to choose from to suit a variety of decor styles: bronze, farmhouse bronze, farmhouse white, nickel, and satin nickel. Plus, the blades are double-sided, with different finishes on each side for even more versatility. Product Details:
Diameter: 42 inches Lighting: Frosted globe LED Mount Type: Hugger Control: Pull chain, remote
RELATED: The 6 Best Window Air Conditioners to Cool Your Home Who it’s for: People with low ceilings. Who it’s not for: People with sloped ceilings. If your home has low ceilings, that doesn’t mean you can’t install a ceiling fan—you just need to find a low-profile option. This model from Portage Bay only takes up about 11.5 inches (not including the pull chains), so you don’t have to sacrifice too much vertical space to cool down your room. That’s thanks to its flush mount, which keeps the device anchored directly into the ceiling. Even though this ceiling fan is pretty compact, there’s still room inside for a light kit. The frosted white dome holds one E26/A15 bulb (which is included). Though the bulb itself is dimmable between 10 and 100 percent, the fan does not have a remote control to control the dimming capabilities. Instead, you’ll have to connect the light wire to a dimmer switch on your wall. (But don’t connect the fan motor to a dimmer switch—the manufacturer notes in the user manual that controlling the fan speed with a dimmer switch could cause the fan to make a loud humming noise, and it puts you at risk of fires or electric shock.) This model is offered in three colors—brushed nickel, matte black, and white—and has five dual-sided fan blades that can be reversed to display different colors. With three rotation speeds, this ceiling fan is designed to cool rooms up to 20-by-20 feet, which is on the larger side as far as typical ceiling fans go. Product Details:
Diameter: 52 inches Lighting: Frosted dome LED Mount Type: Flush mount Control: Pull chain
RELATED: The 10 Best Fans to Keep Your Home Cool, According to Customer Reviews Who it’s for: People who want a heavy duty fan with smart home compatibility. Who it’s not for: People who don’t want a fan with a high number of blades. Measuring 62 inches in diameter, the Honeywell Xerxes fan is the biggest option on our list. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s designed to promote airflow in large indoor spaces that are at least 400 square feet. That makes it a solid choice for larger areas in your home like a great room, a large living room, or a primary bedroom with a vaulted ceiling. It’s available in four colors (black, white, brushed nickel, and bronze), but since the reversible blades have different finishes on each side, there are really eight color options in total. It features a streamlined, modern design that would look great with a contemporary decor style. This ceiling fan operates at three speeds—all of which are very quiet—that can be controlled by the included remote. The remote also controls the globe light at the fan’s center, which comes with an integrated LED light that’s dimmable from 10 to 100 percent. This model features a downrod mount with three installation modes: low-profile, a standard 4-inch downrod, and angled up to 17 degrees. (If your ceiling has a steeper slope, you can buy a separate angle bracket to accommodate that.) You can also sync this fan to Google Home or Alexa with a Bond Home. Product Details:
Diameter: 62 inches Lighting: Globe dimmable LED Mount Type: Downrod Control: Remote, smart home
RELATED: The 10 Best Tower Fans for Cooling Every Room in Your Home, According to Reviewers Who it’s for: People looking to cool down a covered patio or porch. Who it’s not for: People looking for a more affordable ceiling fan and those who live in places that get hurricanes. Since you can’t take your air conditioner outside with you, a ceiling fan is the best way to cool down a covered outdoor space. (Plus, it can even help keep some flying insects like mosquitoes away!) But not all ceiling fans are designed to work in damp outdoor conditions, so we recommend the Hunter Key Biscayne model for indoor and outdoor capabilities. It’s ETL damp rated, which means it can withstand moist conditions—use it on a covered patio, in a garage, or even in a bathroom. Though the fan has a sleek, five-bladed silhouette, it comes in two rustic-industrial finishes: onyx bengal with barnwood drifted oak blades and weathered zinc with burnished gray pine blades. And yes, those blades are reversible to include additional color options. The included light kit is lantern-like with a cylindrical metal cage ensconcing frosted glass that holds two LED E26 light bulbs (also included). Both the fan speed, of which there are three options, and the dimmable lighting are controlled by pull chains or a remote control. This ceiling fan comes with a downrod mount that can be installed at an angle for sloped ceilings. It’s best suited for medium-size rooms up to 12-by-14 feet with a ceiling height of nine to 11 feet, according to the manufacturer. Product Details:
Diameter: 54 inches Lighting: Dimmable LED Mount Type: Downrod Control: Pull chain, remote
How to Shop for Ceiling Fans Like a Pro
Diameter
One of the most important things to consider when choosing a ceiling fan is its size. “Installing a fan that’s too small for your space won’t circulate air effectively to make the room feel cool,” says John Alexander, the CEO of Hunter Fan Company. “Alternatively, if you install a fan that’s too large for the space, it could overpower the room even on a lower setting.” Basically, the larger the room is, the larger the diameter of the fan should be. Here are Alexander’s general guidelines for choosing a ceiling fan size—but when in doubt, reference the brand’s room size recommendations for any model you’re thinking about buying.
100 square feet or less: Choose a ceiling fan between 30 and 48 inches for small rooms like home offices and laundry rooms.100-400 square feet: A fan between 48 and 54 inches is best for rooms like bedrooms, living rooms, and kitchens.Over 400 square feet: For large spaces and open floor plans, choose a ceiling fan that’s 56 inches or larger.
Another way to make sure your ceiling fan can handle your room size is by checking the cubic feet per minute (CFM). According to Alexander, this “refers to the measurement of how much air is moved by a ceiling fan. More energy-efficient ceiling fans produce higher airflow while consuming less energy than standard fans.” But not every brand advertises the CFM of its ceiling fans, so that metric may be hard to find.
Lighting
Many ceiling fans come with LED light kits, but there are also standalone ceiling fans available if you already have light fixtures in your room. Some even take it a step further and have smart home capabilities, so the speed and light settings can be easily adjusted through an app on your smartphone or other device.
Mount Type
Depending on how high your ceilings are, your fan might require a different type of mount. If your room has low ceilings, you’ll probably want a flush mount (also called hugger) ceiling fan. There are also downrod mounts, which are very common and come in various lengths. A downrod “ensures an appropriate hanging height of eight to nine feet from the floor,” says Alexander. But if your ceiling is sloped or angled, he says you might need a special mounting kit or adapter—be sure to double check the manual for whichever fan you choose.
Controls
There are two main types of controls for ceiling fans: pull chains and remotes. Pull chains hang from the base of the fan—there’s usually one chain for controlling the light and another for controlling the blades. Remotes have buttons to control a fan’s features. If your ceiling is extra high, it’s probably a good idea to opt for a ceiling fan with a remote, since the pull chains might not be that easy to reach.
Questions You Might Ask
Which direction should a ceiling fan run?
Ceiling fans can run in two directions: clockwise and counter-clockwise. Each has a specific function, so you’ll want to make sure your blades are rotating the right way. Clockwise rotation creates an updraft, which pulls air up towards the ceiling and spreads it around the room—this is ideal in the winter to disperse heat evenly throughout a room. Counter-clockwise rotation creates a downdraft, which creates a cooling breeze that’s best used in the summer. To change the direction, you can either flip a switch found on the base of the fan, or you can select the setting on a fan’s remote control.
How many blades should a ceiling fan have?
The number of blades on a ceiling fan doesn’t make a difference in airflow or how well it cools a room—it’s actually just a personal style preference. “If you are looking for a modern style, look for a ceiling fan with two to three blades,” says Mecham. “A smaller number of blades feels more modern and open, while a fan with four to five blades feels more traditional.”
What should I do if my ceiling fan is wobbly?
Wobbly ceiling fans are often caused by loose screws, so check to make sure those are all in place first. If your fan is still wobbling after you’ve tightened them, your blades might have become unbalanced. “If you find that the blades and canopy aren’t in perfect balance, you may need to take the time to balance them by hand,” says Ray Charles, an HVAC professional with 15 years of experience who runs the blog Household Air. Start by checking the distance between each blade and the ceiling using a tape measure. If they’re not equal, you can use a ceiling fan balancing kit to even them out—many ceiling fans come with one, or you can pick one up at a hardware store. You should also inspect your ceiling fan blades to see if they’ve warped, which can happen over time, particularly in humid environments.
How do I clean my ceiling fan?
Ceiling fans are notorious for collecting dust, so you should dust regularly. You can use any type of duster, but ideally one with a long handle and an angled head to reach the top of the blades. Or you can simply take a pillow case, place the fan blade inside it, and slide it off—the pillowcase will trap all the dust! Besides dusting, you can also clean your fan blades with an all-purpose cleaner, but don’t spray the liquid directly on the fan. Instead, spray it onto a cloth until lightly damp, and then gently wipe down the blades.
Take Our Word for It
This article was written by Amina Lake Abdelrahman and Stefanie Waldek. Amina is a commerce editor for Real Simple with nearly four years of experience writing about home products. Stefanie is a contributing writer for Real Simple with seven years of experience writing about home and three years of experience reviewing products. To come up with these recommendations, Stefanie and Amina spent hours researching ceiling fans and ultimately narrowed down the list based on style, price, and room type. They also tapped three experts for professional input: Ashley Mecham, Decorist designer; John Alexander, the CEO of Hunter Fan Company; and HVAC professional Ray Charles of Household Air.
