We tested each fan’s performance through a battery of tests that cover four metrics. We put together a complete picture of each model through laboratory tests, precision measurements, everyday usage, and qualitative analyses. Here we break down the metrics we evaluated and the tests we used to pinpoint the best ones for specific jobs.
It includes a timer and a remote — though no CR2032 battery comes with it — and features a remote caddy on top of the motor. We also love that it’s one of the few we tested that remembers your last settings when you turn it back on and is surprisingly quiet and pleasant at every speed. When it comes to sheer airflow and power, the Vornado 683 Medium takes the cake. In our Lasko Box Fan tests, it reached the highest measured speed of 13.4 mph. It’s easily felt from across a room, though only if you’re standing directly in its tunnel-like path. Not only does this high velocity feel great in your face after a prolonged period outside on a hot day, but it also helps to circulate air around a room more effectively — exactly what this model is made to do.
If you don’t mind a whirring fan with limited remote functionality, the power and height of this Pelonis are a potent combination. The Lasko S16612 with Thermostat offers surprisingly convenient functionality beyond its optional thermostat functionality — which we love. This fan emits a lower pitched hum that more easily fades into the background than many other models’ higher-pitched whirring noises. We almost couldn’t hear it amongst all the other noises in the house at its lowest speed. The remote is both simple and fully functional, controlling every aspect of this fan — including oscillation — with a beep-less push of a button. Though lightweight, this model is also more stable and less wobbly than most.
The lightweight Comfort Zone has a folding base comprised of four legs, and though they’re much wider, their small profile makes them conducive to squeezing into spaces and under furniture. The Lasko Cyclone and Rowenta Turbo Silence are both noticeably larger than the competition, in base and head size, as well as the overall presence in a room. Pedestal fans have a reputation for being ungainly and large — but how ungainly and how large? We measured the dimensions of every fan, checked to see how much their heights are adjustable, and considered their base size and the blade housing size. Of course, since larger fans are often more powerful, we considered other values of their sizes when calculating scores in this metric.
However, the lightweight plastic disc base lacks any feet to hold it in place on a hard floor. While we don’t think this is a huge problem, if your furniture gets frequently bumped into by children or pets (or adults!), the Lasko S16612 will slide. And, if you have a giant living space and are hoping to place a fan across the room that can still reach you with a powerful breeze on the couch, this one may disappoint you with its below-average wind speeds. If you plan to carry it around your home, we also found that it sometimes comes apart mid-transit — though it simply slides back together again easily.
The Honeywell Double Blade 16 is a standard pedestal fan with enough upgrades to make it a solid fan and a solid value, too. With normal, constant breeze, and variable breeze modes, this three-speed, remote-controlled fan alen breathesmart has plenty of options to help you find something comfortable for you. A timer adds another extra touch of usability, and for those of you who appreciate powerful speeds on every setting, the Honeywell is sure to please.
At the end of the day, if you want a fan to help keep your area at a more consistent temperature, the functionality and simplicity of this fan are here to help. Of course, this level of simplicity may be too simple for some. Offering just three speeds and no remote or other frills, this fan is in no way fancy or modern. It also doesn’t blow the competition away when it comes to being particularly powerful or especially quiet, falling about in the middle of the pack on both fronts.