Fans have always been a necessary part of life for both Maggie and her easily overheated dog. From her home gym to her home office, she knows what it takes to find the right fan for any space. She tests several types of fans and has been testing all types of home and outdoor gear for both OutdoorGearLab and TechGearLab since 2017. Currently we offer FREE FedEx/UPS small package Ground shipping and FREE ABF/YRC freight ground shipping on most orders of $199 or more within the 48 contiguous states. 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.
The Rowenta VU5670 Turbo Silence Extreme 5-Speed remains impressively quiet while offering an impressive range of speeds which we measured as low as 4.7 mph and as high as 12.9 mph. Silent Night mode didn’t even register sound on our instruments, blowing a very modest amount of air at close range. Turbo Boost acts and sounds exactly like what you’d expect from the name, and the Normal settings are the three middle speeds. This fan exhibits one of the larger and taller height ranges while its heavy base securely anchors it to the floor.
Our unit also had a heavy, droopy head, which limits its angles of operation from straight ahead to slightly down. We measured this fan as having just under a 2 mph difference between the lowest (8.5 mph) and the highest (10.3 mph) speeds. We’re not sure the low price and extra features are worth the long list of shortcomings. The Honeywell Double Blade 16 is a standard pedestal fan with enough upgrades to make it a solid model and a solid value, too.
We almost couldn’t hear it at its lowest speed amongst all the other sounds in the house. The remote is both simple and fully functional, controlling every aspect of this fan — including oscillation — with a beep-less push of a button. Cool large rooms quickly with this Lasko 20-inch oscillating remote control pedestal fan. The 20-inch blades and powerful motor deliver impressive airflow, and the four speed settings let you choose your ideal level of cooling.
Being able to tilt or oscillate a fan also makes a big difference in where it can live in your home, so we considered these abilities as well. To score each model’s overall noisiness, we started off by taking decibel readings of each fan at all of their various speeds. We then qualified each Lasko Box Fan fan’s sound, including relative pitch, quality of noise, and respective annoyance levels. We noted if they had extra noises, like clicking, beeping, whirring, or vibrations. And because gunk getting stuck in your fan can affect its noisiness, we also inspected how easy they are to clean.
It’s also not particularly powerful or especially quiet, falling about in the middle of the pack on both fronts. Though the Comfort Zone doesn’t feel like it’s made of the most bombproof materials, we had absolutely no issues with its sturdiness or durability during our testing. At the end of the day, though this fan lasko pedestal fans lacks the bells and whistles of fancier models, it still gets the job done, making it a good value item. This Lasko 20-inch oscillating remote control pedestal fan has a simple design that offers easy tool-free assembly. The included metal grill is simple to install and remove, making it easy to clean the fan blades.
When it comes to keeping these units clean, all of them have removable grills that can be rinsed or wiped, allowing easy access to the blades to keep them dust-free. The Honeywell Double Blade, Pelonis 18″ 3-Speed Oscillating, and Black+Decker 16″ make it even easier, with simple clasps that can be twisted to the side with your thumb for removal. The Comfort Zone, Lasko S16612, and Lasko Cyclone grills can be popped on and off, as they utilize plastic tabs to stay in place.
Of all the models we tested, this one operates at the lowest pitch, sounding more like a hum than the traditional whirring of a fan. Though it can’t point down, it can be angled nearly vertically to bounce air off the ceiling and blow it effectively around an entire room. It’s the only one with the cord coming out of the bottom of the stand, as well, rather than dangling off the base of the motor halfway up the stand. It’s easily felt from across a room, though only if you’re standing directly in its tunnel-like path.
It includes a timer and a remote — though no CR2032 battery — and features a remote caddy on top of the motor. We also love that it remembers its last settings when you turn it back on and is surprisingly quiet and pleasant at every speed. Our favorite pedestal fan is the PELONIS Silent Turbo for its myriad options and fully functional range of speeds. This fan has 12 different speeds, allowing you to achieve the ideal airflow for your needs. 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.