Best Overall
Air King 20" 3-Speed Commercial-Grade Box Fan
Runner-up
Pelonis 20" 3-Speed Box Fan
Best Bang for the Buck
Black+Decker 9" Frameless Tabletop Box Fan
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During hot and humid months , a dependable box fan can make a house or service department find cool without consuming extravagant electricity . However , not all box fans give birth enough flow of air to improve a elbow room ’s comfort levels . To recover the best quilt - inducing option , we latterly test nine box seat fans over a span of 3 weeks .
Our top selection , theAir King 20″ 3 - focal ratio Commercial - Grade Box Fan , might be a bit noisy , but its major power is one . With a winding focal ratio of 12.6 miles per minute ( mph ) on its high mise en scene , it kept our stodgy sleeping accommodation cool and well-off all night . We also found other suitable options for those who prefer pocket-size or quieter fans .
Read on for important considerations , our top filling , advice from expert in the field , and more on the best box seat lover .
How We Tested the Best Box Fans
All box fan were test in the same locations during the same stop of time . Our main test way was a bedroom without air conditioning . The bedroom temperature stay a unbendable 74 academic degree Fahrenheit , which allow for us to evaluate each fan ’s chill ability .
In addition to assessing each fan ’s capability to keep a way comfortable , we appraise wind speed using an anemometer , noise level with a decibel ( dB ) monitoring app , and energy use on the fan ’s high and scurvy circumstance with the service of an Department of Energy cadence .
To evaluate portability , we carry each fan up and down our stairs three time , noting how hard or easygoing it was to do so . We tracked all of our test solvent in a rubric , where we awarded each buff a score from 0 to 5 based on its ease of assembly , air circulation , portability , interference , and time value . Scores were summate at the end of examination to determine the best overall box fans .
Our Top Picks
The come after top - rated product were selected based on extended enquiry and examination . To control thoroughness , we used each box buff for multiple night and in different scenario . After testing , we tallied our results and assigned each model an award to make it light to come up the undecomposed sports fan for your need .
Our military rank : Assembly5/5;Air Circulation5/5 ; Noise3/5 ; Portability4/5 ; Value5/5
We pass 3 weeks testing box fans , and none compared to the power and air circulation of the Air King . When put in a stodgy sleeping room , it instantly made the space feel more well-heeled . According to our tests , this fan delivered an impressive 12.6 miles per hour air current blow on its highest mise en scene . Even on its lowest circumstance , it allow more circulation than some of the other models ’ high preferences .
regrettably , with the knock-down airspeed come a plenty of noise . The Air King was the loudest of all the devotee we tested , pasture from 74 to 77 dB when measured from 2 feet forth . We had a grueling time carrying on conversation or enjoying a TV show when this fan ran in the background . However , it generated a great amount of white noise , making it easy to flow asleep .
We liked that we could toggle between three speeds , and the carry handle made it easy to transport up and down the stair . When test with an energy meter , the Air King consumed between 56 and 80 watts ( W ) of power . This is one of our favorite fan for the summer . We ’d recommend it to those look for abedroom fan , but it would also work well in a family gym , service department , shop , or commercial space .
Get the Air King box fan atAmazonorWalmart .
Photo: Katie Barton for Bob Vila
Our evaluation : Assembly5/5;Air Circulation3.8/5 ; Noise3.5/5 ; Portability4/5 ; Value3.5/5
The Pelonis box rooter is a modestly price option with three speed , a sleek black design , and a front - face up dial . It is lightweight and has carry grip built into the top corner . We carried this rooter back and forth from our home to our store with little crusade .
At its high setting , the Pelonis delivers powerful flow of air that effectively cool down down a stuffy room and can helpkeep you cool without air conditioning . The most noticeable con was the haphazardness level . The Pelonis was loud on its highest scope — we had to lower it to have conversation without shouting .
Photo: Katie Barton for Bob Vila
A standout feature was the recess cord computer storage . Most box fan cords look messy when not in utilisation , so we appreciate the ability to keep the force electric cord tidy and hidden . The fan came with stabilizing foot , a feature of speech often happen in gamy - oddment model . We could turn in the feet to practice this as a window box lover and turn them back out to put it on the base .
Get the Pelonis loge fan atAmazon .
Our rating : Assembly5/5;Air Circulation3.5/5 ; Noise5/5 ; Portability5/5 ; Value4.5/5
Photo: Amazon
Do n’t let this buff ’s small stature mark you : suffer 11 inches tall , this boxwood fan from Black+Decker birth impressive flow of air . It features a unique frameless design with a front - facing telephone dial and a compact size that ’s well suited for utilisation as adesk fan . On its high background , it generates current of air speeds up to 11.6 miles per hour , which can make you feel more comfortable as you work or catch some Z’s .
This cool down devotee is also pretty quiet , with a dB range of 45 to 50 . Even at its highest setting , carry on conversation and watching TV was easy . accord to our energy usage trial , the Black+Decker is an free energy efficient choice , consume about 29 to 41W of magnate .
Since this model is small , it wo n’t work in every billet . Though it render impressive wind gust for its size , its 9 - inch sports fan blades specify the amount of air it can circulate . We also could n’t find any way to remove the casing to clean the blades . Overall , the modern design , portability , and power make this one of thebest fansfor the role or a bedside table , but its small size of it and myopic cord limit its versatility .
Photo: Amazon
Get the Black+Decker box fan atAmazon , The Home Depot , orWayfair .
Best For White Noise
Comfort Zone 20" 3-Speed Box Fan With Carry Handle
Our Ratings : Assembly5/5;Air Circulation3.5/5 ; Noise3.5/5 ; Portability5/5 ; Value3/5
The Comfort Zone 20 - in fan was n’t the trashy model we tested , but it came close . When measured from 2 foot away , it produced sound grade ranging from 64 to 68 dB , provide white background noise . We found the sports fan ’s moderately high dissonance levels to be one of the easiest to fall asleep to . It also produced fair to middling flow of air that made our chamber feel more comfortable .
We liked the fan ’s modern black facial expression and lightweight figure . It also came with stabilizing foot to help prevent the sports fan from moving around while powered on . However , one of them broke during installation . Fortunately , even without the steady substructure , we did n’t notice much motion when the fan was powered on high .
Photo: Amazon
Our energy metre tests show that the Comfort Zone used between 68.1 and 83.6W of exponent . Its top - rise dial with three speeds was easy to adjust , and the grille is removable via jailor for access and cleaning of the rooter blades . The power corduroy was a small unretentive for our liking , and in some setups , an annex cord may be necessary to situate thefloor fanwhere call for .
Get the Comfort Zone 20″ box fan atAmazonorWalmart .
Best Personal
Comfort Zone 9" 3-Speed Portable Box Fan
Our paygrade : Assembly5/5;Air Circulation3/5 ; Noise5/5 ; Portability5/5 ; Value4/5
Small boxwood fans are idealistic for placing on a desk or bedside table , and the Comfort Zone 9 - column inch fan is one of the best selection in this size mountain chain . It ’s subdued and delivers just the right amount of airflow to chill you off without blowing important papers off your mesa or desk . allot to our zip metre tests , it ’s also energy efficient , consume 16.5 to 26.9W of power .
The Comfort Zone is aquiet fanwith three focal ratio : low , average , and high . On gamy , it register 49 dB of strait , which provided some white haphazardness but was quiet enough to mouth over . On medium and low , it was nearly silent . Despite its lack of a carry grip , the Comfort Zone ’s compact design makes it gentle to blame up and transport without issue .
Photo: Amazon
At its top speed , the Comfort Zone produced wind gusts of up to 5.8 mph , which was much low than the 20 - in box seat buff we test . The airflow was powerful enough to keep one individual prosperous . However , the 9 - inch blade size of it intend this fan is n’t equipped for whole - room cooling . Even though it ’s stationary , this fan can keep you as cool as like smalloscillating fan models . The Comfort Zone is available in snowy and inglorious and at a budget - friendly price degree .
Get the Comfort Zone 9″ box seat fan atAmazon .
Best For Large Rooms
Genesis G20 20" High-Velocity Box Fan
Our Ratings : Assembly5/5;Air Circulation3/5 ; Noise3/5 ; Portability4/5 ; Value4.5/5
The Genesis G20 offers a sleek design with two carrying handgrip nestled in its top corner . It features a copper motor to advance longevity and in high spirits velocity . The sports fan felt lightweight and was easy to bear around the family , and the brace feet enabled it to lie on any unconditional aerofoil without wobbling . The front - face dial also made it gentle to adjust when propped in the window .
The Genesis ’s three speed met depart needs , and on its highest setting , this corner fan produced enough air flow to help keep a single elbow room comfy . It also worked well as an air cooler electric fan to circulate the air from AC units . unluckily , it did n’t have a removable grillroom . The black purpose showed more dust than calorie-free colouring , but without being able to reach the sword , all we could do was clean the outside .
Photo: Amazon
The Genesis produced moderate stochasticity on the low and intermediate place setting . However , it was moderately cheap on its mellow setting . While this might be helpful for some to fall at rest to , the legal level was n’t contributive to carry conversation or watching TV . While the noise grade will be a impediment for some , it ’s a solid option for large room .
Get the Genesis loge fan atAmazon , The Home Depot(white ) , orWalmart(white ) .
Best Energy Efficiency
Utilitech 20" 3-Speed Box Fan
Our Ratings : Assembly5/5;Air Circulation3.5/5 ; Noise3/5 ; Portability4/5 ; Value4.5/5
The Utilitech box fan tender three speeds and a sleek , modern design with a recessed carry handle . It ’s affordable and available in two colours : white and black . grant to our free energy time trial run , it was also the most energy - effective 20 - inch box sports fan we try out , consuming between 43.2 and 54.7W of electricity .
Despite its lightweight design , the Utilitech boxwindow fandelivered impressive performance . Its stabilise feet insure it remained unshakable even when power at full f number . On its highest mise en scene , it generated wind blast of up to 11.6 mph , providing tune circulation corresponding to fans that were twice as expensive .
Photo: Amazon
The Utilitech produced plentiful white noise , which may be helpful to those who use a boxwood fan to slumber . However , the fan ’s loudness on its high setting was a disturbance when partake in in other activities . Fortunately , the fan ’s noise story was n’t an event on its low setting .
Get the Utilitech loge fan atLowe ’s .
Best Color Options
Lasko 20" Cool Colors Box Fan
Our valuation : Assembly5/5;Air Circulation4/5 ; Noise3.5/5 ; Portability5/5 ; Value5/5
While box fans are handy household tools , they are n’t always the most stylish . If you ’re stock of a patently ashen or black fan hamper your style , the Lasko Cool Colors line might suit you . These fans are available in four colors : white , black , light blue , and purpleness . They feature a 20 - inch blade diam , three speeds , and a lightweight design that ’s easy to carry from way to room . The grill is also obliterable for brand cleaning via six fuck that hold back it in place .
Despite being one of the most low-cost options on our leaning , this box lover delivered mountain of cooling baron , reaching wind gusts of up to 11.6 miles per hour at its high fastness . Its sound point was in the moderate range , producing 59 to 65 dB. This noise level was loud enough to provide some white noise for slumber yet not terribly disruptive to other activities .
Photo: Lowes
We did notice a couple of small issues , though . There was a clicking noise when the fan first power on , but it disappeared after a few seconds . Another sting was its shaking . Even though the fan has stabilise feet , it still wobbled at the fastest hurrying .
Get the Lasko Cool Colors box fan atWalmart .
Best Purifying
Lasko Air Flex 2-in-1 20" Box Fan and Air Purifier
Our rating : Assembly5/5;Air Circulation2.5/5 ; Noise4.5/5 ; Design5/5 ; Value4/5
When you need to purify the line , this two - in - one box seat fan and air purifier will do the job . It feature a eminent - quality sword body twist ; three fan speeds ; and a removable filter that can clean pollen , smoke , and dust from the breeze . The Lasko Air Flex comes prefabricate and carry one MERV10/42 CADR pleated box fan air filter , so you could immediately use it . Two door latch on the back of the lover make it easy to swop out the air travel filter .
Upon receiving this fan , we immediately put it to work in a stuffy bedchamber . While we appreciated the air filter , this fan utter less of a breeze than some of the other 20 - in models . At its highest background , it produced wind gusts up to 9.4 miles per hour ; at its lowest scene , it emit gust up to 5.6 mph . The breeze circulation was enough to cool down a distance , but we favor a more powerful model to keep our chamber comfortable .
Photo: Walmart
Those who like a quieter fan will value the Air Flex . While it was a little noisy on its highest setting , it was quiet on the medium and lower mount , allowing us to easily watch out TV without being distracted . The bountiful con to this modeling was that it shake up when we tend it at the gamey amphetamine .
Get the Lasko Air Flex box fan atAmazon , The Home Depot , Walmart , orMenards .
Jump to Our Top Picks
What to Consider When Choosing a Box Fan
When denounce for a box seat lover to help circulate fresh air within the rest home , it ’s important to find an option that is powerful enough to cool the elbow room and make the place more comfortable . The fan ’s randomness level , weight , efficiency , and speed preferences are also important to consider .
Size
Before deciding on a box fan , it ’s important to shape where it will be used to ensure the fashion model you choose is appropriate for the locating . For illustration , a belittled 10 - inch - square box fan is great for personal use and can be helpful in a little office — on a bookshelf or right on the user ’s desk — for direct air flow . However , placing this same fan in a large living room would n’t be as effective , as a small-scale buff lacks the ability to adequately cool down the entire room .
Box fans come in a wide mixture of sizing , including small personal rooter , standard box devotee , and with child industrial fan . Personal fan typically value about 10 column inch square , while standard box fans average 20 inches straightforward . Most received corner rooter can alsobe used as window fans . Industrial fans , measuring 24 in or more , can rapidly transcend the sizing of stock box fans but are n’t a favorite choice for home because they ’re designed for superpower , not style or disturbance minimization .
CFM and Speed Settings
A sports fan ’s cool power is evaluate by how much air it can move within 1 minute , which is a metric that is expressed in cubic feet per minute ( CFM ) . The ordinary CFM of a standard box fan is 1,100 to 2,500 CFM . maker use the CFM to measure the amount of airflow the buff can produce , which is especially important for cooling large room , garages , and industrial or commercial-grade spaces .
The CFM is typically provided as the maximum amount of airflow , but many box fans have extra speeding options that can be used for reduced airflow and quiet operation . It ’s rough-cut to have a crushed , intermediate , and high setting , which may also be represented as 1 , 2 , and 3 on a fan . The low setting is great for but moving the air in the room without feel a direct air , while medium and high setting will increase the speed and airflow so it can reach people across the room .
Energy Efficiency
“ Box fans are a great room to keep a home poise , as long as the temperature outside is lower than the temperature within , or if you are standing in front of it , ” articulate Hannah Bastawrose , a mechanical and energy applied scientist and the laminitis ofItty Bit Better , an energy and sustainability confab company . Box fans are good to home warming and cooling bills because they do n’t use a plenty of vim .
On modal , boxwood fans employ about 50 to 100W per hour , which is an average of $ 0.011 per hr across the United States . start the fan for 24 hours , for instance , would only be about $ 0.26 on an electric poster .
To help oneself trim back energy consumption even further , calculate for product that meet or surpass Energy Star standards , and remember to twist off the fan when it is n’t needed . While box seat devotee can assist anyone within their range , they can be a waste matter of vigour when they are left to function indefinitely , as nobody will do good from the circulating air flow . If you ’re not slaked with the output of your box fan , you could alsoconsider whole - house fansfor energy efficiency and cost saving .
Photo: Amazon
Air Purification
While the master aim of most box fans is to help keep users nerveless while the fan circulates the air throughout the room , some boxwood fans can reduplicate as gentle wind filters . When strain is pulled into the fan with a filter , it must be pulled through the filter before it can be pushed back out to the room . This simple add-on helps to pin detritus , debris , smoke , and other molecule that could make it more hard to breathe .
To be sealed that the filter will fit properly , look for a size that play off the devotee or get a boxful fan that is specifically designed to be used with an air filter . Many filters can also be modify for a secure paroxysm . When it ’s time to transfer a filter , some can be washed and reused , though others demand to be replaced . Look for strain purification standards , like theMinimum Efficiency Reporting Value ( MERV ) , to ensure the filter blocks the specific contaminant that is a common problem in your home .
Noise Level
Historically , loge buff were notorious for raise a lot of noise , which was often a major pain in the neck . However , modern loge fans do n’t typically have this trouble . The ordinary noise level is nowcomparable to normal conversation , ranging from just 55 to 65 dB. For compare , whispering is about 30 dB , ambient billet noises are around 70 dB , and a noisy restaurant is more or less 80 dB.
Melanie Powers , president ofGoodberlet Home Services , which provide HVAC , plumbing , construction , and electrical service in Illinois , advises shoppers to consider about sound level before prefer a fan . “ While some people prefer that white randomness , see if it is practical to have that noise going in the domain you are placing it , ” she say . If it ’s important for your box rooter to operate quiet , agree the product details . The info provide by the manufacturer can help determine the ordinary dB level produced by the fan , enable you to find a merchandise that is appropriately quiet .
Additional Features
Standard boxwood fans are wanton to expend and can help oneself circularise atmosphere throughout the home , keeping users nerveless in hot weather . Unlike sometower fans , rotate fans , ceiling rooter , or an oscillatory fan , they ’re stationary . However , some intersection come with extra feature that can make them even easier to use and enjoy . These features include remote controls , removable grills , and front - facing ascendancy .
Ease of Cleaning
so as to ensure that the box fan is a beneficial addition to the home , it ’s important to keep the fan , the buff blades , and the grill unobjectionable . When a fan is fair , the breeze produced by the sports fan wo n’t carry accumulated dust , scandal , and rubble that could be inhale by anyone in the way . Generally , a loge fan can be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner and a moist fabric . The void will pull most of the dirt and detritus out of the devotee , and you’re able to clean the external frame and grillwork with the material .
However , if the box fan is design with a removable grill , cleansing becomes much leisurely . Just unplug the sports fan or remove the batteries to ensure that it can not be by chance turned on . murder the grillwork and completely clean the blades , grill , and frame of the fan with a moist textile .
FAQs
Armed with new cognition about box devotee , you may have some lingering questions about possible features , how to practice a box seat fan , and where to set it up . Before investing in a new box fan , take a look at the following answers to some frequently require interrogative sentence .
Even if you ’re already using an atmosphere conditioner , a box fan is a good idea because it can assist circulate coolheaded aura more efficiently throughout the elbow room . Using a fan in tandem with air conditioning can denigrate the burden on the AC whole , potentially thin your energy monetary value .
No , boxful devotee do n’t use a lot of electricity . On intermediate , they eat about 50 to 100W per hr , though some large products may employ up to 200W.
Photo: Katie Barton for Bob Vila
Old models of box sports fan were very loud , but forward-looking products have been designed to be much quieter with an ordinary evaluation between 55 and 65 dB.
To pull in the cool , sweet air , place the box devotee in front of a windowpane and place it facing inward toward the way — or flip the fan around to push spicy , stagnant air out of the elbow room . The fan also can be placed in the corner of a room to allow for airflow to everyone in the elbow room . thick Cartesian product can be mark up on your desk for personal use . The choice of placement come down to where the lover will have the most benefit for the home plate and the user .
In most case , it ’s secure to die hard a boxwood fan for elongated periods of meter . However , contaminating , obstructed , or damaged loge fan can overheat , create base hit hazards . It ’s best to turn off your box sports fan when you ’re not in the elbow room .
Meet the Tester
Katie Barton has over 10 years of experience in product writing , has tested wads of cleansing products , and has author hundreds of articles for major media outlets . Her cleaning and organizing advice has been featured on GOBankingRates , Realtor.com , Yahoo ! , Cabin Life , and more . She aim an unbiassed coming to merchandise testing , using each Cartesian product multiple times or for several days / weeks to determine efficaciousness . Her goal is to help reader decide which products are worth their severely - earned money and which fall flat .
Additional research leave by Timothy Dale .
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