We measured its highest power at 12.7 mph, which is significantly above average for this group. It tilts both up and slightly down and has quieter beeps that are less obnoxious than many. To test each pedestal fan’s power, we performed multiple airspeed tests on different settings and combined that with how well it translates into what you can feel across a room.
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 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.
It also lets out a chirping “beep” every time you plug it in or change a setting. Though its timer allows you to program more precise half-hour increments, the oscillation feature isn’t controlled by the remote — only by the classic push-pull tab on the back of the motor. It’s also a bit more wiggly than we’d like, though the very solid base adds a lot to its overall stability.
For a futuristic-looking fan, it still has the old-school oscillation knob on the unit, with no button to control it remotely. It chirps loudly and obnoxiously with every setting change, and though the lights dim, they never turn off. Switching between speeds, the unit we tested also had considerable lasko pedestal fans difficulty finding the right rotation rate, shifting awkwardly between several speeds before settling at a constant pace. At the end of the day, though we find much to like about this quiet, effective fan, we’re not quite sure its shortcomings make it worth the hefty price tag.
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. The Double Blade also won’t recall your last settings when turned off and defaults to the lowest speed when powered on, without oscillation. It’s not a quiet fan, either, particularly on the highest settings, which makes it difficult to watch TV over without turning up the volume.
And because gunk getting stuck in your fan can affect its noisiness, we also inspected how easy they are to clean. A quiet fan that offers a comfortable indoor breeze, ideal for watching a movie in bed without having to crank the volume. I found that I stayed the coolest when I had the fan pointed at me as directly as possible. I tried using it at different heights and preferred to keep it at a shorter height so it could fan directly on me as I was laying down. When it was up higher, I could still feel the airflow but didn’t feel like I was staying as cool.
Keep your space at the perfect temperature all day with the optional thermostat function of this Lasko. This Honeywell is a solid fan that’s easy to love, in no small part because of the more-than-fair price point. We tested every fan in multiple scenarios and rooms to help you find the right fit for your work or living space. While I found it easy to use, I wished this Lasko fan had more settings. The highest setting is very strong and while I enjoy it on particularly sweltering nights, I find that it can be strong enough to make my eyes water like they would in a strong wind. The No. 1 criteria I have with any fan is does it keep me cool?
Additionally, this fan may not quite reach the top of your bed — at its tallest, it stands just 38 inches high. It’s also quite loud on higher settings, though the lowest speed is reasonably quiet. But if you’re looking for a pedestal fan with far-reaching power that you can stick in the corner and forget about, the Vornado may be exactly what you want. Despite being the smallest of our tested fans, the Vornado 683 Medium is also among the most powerful.
And while the operation lights on the front will dim after several seconds, if you’re particularly sensitive to lights in the bedroom, you may end up covering the front of this one. Overall, however, we found this to be a useful fan with a fair range of features and good power for less money than many others, making it a great value option. Despite its limited settings, it still has a powerful airflow that does a great job of cooling you down. The adjustable height and tilting head provide plenty of flexibility so you can use this fan just how you need it.
Packing a big punch, we measured this little fan hitting 13.4 mph. While this will certainly help cool you off when pointed directly at your face, it’s also fairly effective as an air circulator when positioned just right in larger spaces. Instead of a solid base, this lightweight model has five sturdy legs that give it a small but stable footprint. 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.