The 9 Best Desk Fans for Staying Cool While You Work
Keep every corner of your home cool this summer.
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Chances are, the makeshift home office tucked in a corner of your living room or bedroom doesn't get awesome airflow. And, with the amount of time you spend hovering over your laptop on a daily basis, you're likely getting sick of that stuffy space.
Your best bet for staying cooler? Buying a desk fan. They're smaller than table fans and larger than those mini battery-operated gadgets for the beach. Think of it as a stylish accessory that gives the gift of fresh air—plus they can help save bucks on your electric bill, if you don't need to run the AC 24/7. Read on for our picks for the best desk fans on the market that will keep you cool all year.
Best Desk Fans
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What To Consider
There’s a laundry list of things to consider when shopping for a desk fan, and finding the best one for you is a matter of prioritization. Price aside, space is a good place to start. If you have a small desk or shelving above, you’ll likely want a fan with a small footprint—or even a clip-on option. Another practical and essential factor is whether there’s an outlet close by. If not, look for a cordless fan that charges via USB or a battery-powered model.
Cooling power is another top consideration, and is typically determined by the square footage of the room you're trying to cool. Drilling down, tilt and oscillating features are handy, as they allow you to direct airflow, as is having multiple fan speeds. There are also fans with auto-shutoff timers and LED lights.
How We Selected
All of the desk fans below have average user ratings of at least four stars, and several are rated 4.5 or higher. Our selection includes fans in a range of sizes and styles, plus we chose options across price points, from budget to high-end. As mentioned above, there are a bevy of features to take into account, and we highlighted the most notable for every fan we cover.
For more great ways to keep cool this summer, check out our picks for the best whole house fans, tower fans, and window fans.
Key Specs
- Dimensions (L x W x H): 10.9 x 6.3 x 10.9 inches
- Power Source: Electricity
- Speeds: 3
If you’re looking for a basic desk fan that gets the job done without breaking the bank, this is it. Made by Honeywell, the fan is about $17 at the time of this writing and features three speeds a 90-degree vertical tilt, plus it can be wall- or shelf-mounted to save space on your work surface. It’s sleek and compact, and fairly inconspicuous in jet black. It’s also hard to look past an average 4.6-star rating from 94,000-plus customers.
Key Specs
- Dimensions (L x W x H): 9.5 x 9.5 x 11.3 inches
- Power Source: Electricity
- Speeds: 3
If you have a bit more to spend, this desk fan has a 360-degree vertical pivot for a greater range of airflow, and is said to cool 275 square feet of space—which is perfect for a home office.
The three-speed compact fan features a quiet mode on the lowest setting, a recessed handle in back for repositioning without shutting it off, and a cord that’s nearly 6 feet long. It’s available in bright navy in addition to the black that’s shown, and it gets an average rating of 4.8 stars from over 1,800 enthusiastic reviewers.
Key Specs
- Dimensions (L x W x H): 9.4. x 9.4 x 5.7 inches
- Power Source: Electricity
- Speeds: 2
This gleaming desk fan has vintage vibes, but the rows of laser-cut metal give it an edgy, industrial look. The details make it a standout, including the chunky black side knobs and lip around the base.
Finished in eye-catching brushed copper, the fan features six blades and two speeds, plus it tilts to adjust the direction of airflow. There’s also a manual on/off switch and a carry handle in back. It’s another customer favorite, with more than 4,600 reviewers giving it an average rating of 4.5 stars.
Key Specs
- Dimensions (L x W x H): 6.1 x 10.1 11.4 inches
- Power Source: Manual
- Speeds: 2
This retro beauty takes design cues from the brand’s original 1945 Vornadofan. The updated version is lacquered in appealing jadeite green, with antique gold hardware and detailing. It features an old-school knob in the back to flip between two speeds, plus it tilts vertically to direct the airflow.
All in all, you’ll get style and power for a reasonable price. The fan also comes in vintage white and chrome, and more than 7,300 customers give it an average rating of 4.6 stars.
Key Specs
- Dimensions (L x W x H): 5.1.x 5.7 x 6 inches
- Power Source: Electricity
- Speeds: 3
If you're looking for a small but mighty desk fan, this Vornado model is sure to please. Inspired by mid-century modern design, this tiny wonder pivots on its axis to adjust the angle of airflow and features three speeds, including a quiet mode.
It weighs under two pounds and is available in gray, champagne, and metallic copper in addition to the chrome-and-white combo shown. It’s also a steal, priced at roughly $27 at the time of this writing.
Key Specs
- Dimensions (L x W x H): 8.9 x 9.8 x 13.2 inches
- Power Source: Electricity
- Speeds: 3
This compact white desk fan has a small footprint and a streamlined, minimalist look, plus a solid lineup of features. For starters, the oscillating fan has three speeds, including a setting for a natural breeze. There are six vertical tilt positions, along with a one-, two-, and four-hour auto-off timer.
The fan stands at just over a foot tall and has a low-profile back, so you can push it to the edge of your desk close to a wall. It’s designed to cool approximately 275 square feet of space and has a cord that’s just over 5 feet long.
Key Specs
- Dimensions (L x W x H): 8 x 8 x 11 inches
- Power Source: USB
- Speeds: 4
If you want to take your desk outside this summer (and why not?), staying cool with a cordless fan is your best bet. This smart-looking USB-rechargeable fan, which is said to run for 6 hours on a full charge, gets rave reviews—an impressive average 4.5 stars from more than 700 customers—with thoughtful design features that check boxes for form and function.
The three-blade fan has four speeds, with a 90-degree vertical tilt and a 180-degree side-to-side rotation, plus it’s ultra quiet, with a max 45dBA rating. Buttons are conveniently located on the front of the base, and there’s also a built-in LED light under the fan mechanism.
Key Specs
- Dimensions (L x W x H): 8 x 3 x 9.8 inches
- Power Source: Battery
- Speeds: 4
For a real space-saving option, a desk fan with a clip is your best bet. This 8-inch cordless option charges via USB and features an extra-large clamp that opens up to 3 inches wide, plus the fan has 360-degree rotation for maximum airflow.
There are four speeds and two charging ports in back—Micro-USB and Type-C—and the fan is said to get maximum juice in roughly 3 hours. In addition to the black shown here, the fan also comes in white.
Key Specs
- Dimensions (L x W x H): 3.5 x 12.9 x 12.4 inches
- Power Source: Battery
- Speeds: 2
Neat freaks who hate clutter on their desk at the end of the day will love this fan, as it folds down flat to store in a drawer. It’s also a smart pick for anyone working in a dim corner where a task light alone isn’t cutting it, as there are LED side lights that rotate 180 degrees and offer three levels of brightness. The battery-operated fan has two speeds and is made of plastic, weighing just under 3 pounds.
Kylee McGuigan is an associate commerce editor for Hearst Magazines’s Enthusiast Group. She works with content for brands such as Popular Mechanics, Best Products, Bicycling, and Runner’s World. Kylee graduated from Penn State in May 2020 with a degree in journalism and a minor in French. During her undergraduate career, she spent a majority of her time writing for, and eventually editing, VALLEY Magazine: Penn State’s only student-run fashion and lifestyle magazine. She has produced content ranging from beauty and health, to lifestyle and self-improvement. After spending four years in the happiest of valleys (State College, PA), she moved back home to South Jersey—otherwise known as the famous “outside of Philly” area. Kylee can be found working out of her local Starbucks with her best friend, an iced chai in hand, and endless hours of music playlists to get her through the day. When she’s not working, she is more than likely on her daily walk in her neighborhood, at Orangetheory, binging Sex and the City or Gossip Girl, checking out local coffee shops, or trying new bars and restaurants in the city with friends and family.
Rachel Klein is a Senior Commerce Editor for Popular Mechanics, where she writes about everything from garden hose reels and patio furniture to mesh wifi systems and robot vacuums. She started her career as a daily newspaper reporter and was a travel editor for more than a decade before she started testing and reviewing luggage, noise-cancelling headphones, and other travel-related products. Fast-forward another five years and her area of expertise includes home decor, appliances, tech, and outdoor adventure gear. In her spare time, you'll find her planning her next trip, reading historical fiction, and seeing as much art as she can squeeze into a weekend.
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