Small Fans

Tabletop and desk fans are best for small spaces

Tabletop fans can be used to blow air directly on an area or to circulate air. Their small size makes them ideal for offices, cubicles or dorm rooms, or to use as a personal fan if one household member prefers a cooler temperature than others. Lighter-weight tabletop fans are also the most portable and least expensive type of fan.

Among small tabletop and desk fans, we found the best reviews overall for the Vornado Compact 530 Air Circulator (*Est. $45). This fan gets ratings averaging 4 stars out of 5 from more than 75 users at Amazon.com, as well as smaller numbers of users at Walmart.com and on the manufacturer's website. The Vornado Compact 530 measures roughly 13 by 10 by 12 inches and weighs 4 pounds. It has an adjustable tilt head and three speed settings. The fan features Vornado's signature "vortex action," which directs air along a spiral-shaped path rather than in a straight line. Vornado claims this feature provides better air circulation within a room, eliminating hot and cold spots, and users generally agree that the Vornado Compact 530 provides excellent airflow for such a small fan. Many also say that it is well made and, on the lower speed settings, quiet. However, we did see several complaints that the fan is loud on high speed and produces too much motor noise at any speed setting.

Users also disagree about this fan's durability. Some say that their Vornado fans are still going strong after two, three, or even 10 years of hard use; others complain that theirs quit within a year. Vornado does back this fan with a five-year warranty, but several users find the warranty "worthless" because the cost of shipping the fan to and from Vornado for service exceeds the cost of a new fan. Vornado's response to these claims is that the company's policy is to pay all costs for warranty service, including shipping costs. It's not clear why some users were unable to take advantage of this offer.

The Vornado Compact 530 is somewhat expensive for a tabletop fan. A much cheaper alternative is the Lasko 2002 Personal Fan (*Est. $15), which earns a 4.5-star average rating from more than 75 users at Amazon.com. This fan measures roughly 8 by 6.5 by 9 inches and weighs just 1 pound, but most users say it "pushes around a surprising amount of air" for its size (although a couple find it to be underpowered). Reviewers also agree that the fan is quiet -- a feature that some find disappointing, since it can't be used to generate white noise in the bedroom. One other complaint involves the controls, which are located on the back of the fan's head, a position that some users find inconvenient. The Lasko 2002 has two speeds and an adjustable-tilt head. It comes in four colors: sky blue, purple, charcoal and white.

Another inexpensive table fan that earns good reviews at Amazon.com is the Soleus Air FTY-25 10-Inch Table or Wall Mounted Fan (*Est. $25). It is a bit larger than other tabletop fans, measuring 14.5 x 6 x 14 inches and weighing in at 4.4 pounds. Like most table fans, it has three speeds and a rotating head, and it also features a two-hour timer. The Soleus Air FTY-25 gets an average rating of four stars out of five from more than 100 users at Amazon.com. Users generally agree that it is quiet and produces good airflow. Many also praise its low price and stylish appearance. However, we saw several complaints about a variety of annoying noises, ranging from the whirr of the motor to the ticking of the timer to an "irritating rattle" of unknown origin. Several users also report problems with durability, saying the fan broke within a few months or even a few days of purchase. In addition, owners are divided over this fan's unusual oscillation feature, which causes only the front grille to oscillate, as opposed to the entire head of the fan. One user says this motion produces "a gentle, soothing movement of air," while another complains that it produces no appreciable air movement at all. The Soleus Air FTY-25 is backed by a one-year limited warranty.

The Honeywell HT-900 Super Turbo High Performance Fan (*Est. $25) is recommended in Real Simple magazine as "best breeze for your buck." It measures about 6.5 inches by 11 inches by 11.5 inches and weighs 4 pounds. Its adjustable tilt head pivots up to 90 degrees, and it has three speed settings. Honeywell boasts that this model is "up to 25% quieter than other models in the marketplace," but some users say that the reduced noise of this model comes at the sacrifice of airflow. Several reviewers at Amazon.com compare it unfavorably to the older HT-800, which they say was noisier, but more powerful, more durable and less expensive. In addition, the HT-900's quiet operation is not a plus for all users, as some are disappointed that it cannot be used to generate white noise. Still, many owners say the fan is a good value that moves a decent volume of air for its size. The Honeywell HT-900 has a one-year limited warranty.

Personal fans create a breeze you can carry with you

Even smaller than a desktop fan, mini personal fans can create a breeze sufficient to cool one person. The editors of Real Simple magazine recommend the Vornado Flippi V6 (*Est. $20), a tiny two-speed fan that measures just 6 inches tall, weighs just over a pound, and comes in four designer colors (midnight blue, passion red, raspberry, and "raindrop," a light turquoise). Editors say this "cute" fan provides "a light stream of air to cool you without blowing papers around." The four different Flippi models get about 90 reviews altogether on Amazon.com and 55 on Walmart.com, with average ratings between 3.5 and 4 stars out of 5. Users say the Flippi V6 is cute and produces a nice breeze sufficient to cool one person. Many also like the fact that it can rotate on its base to point in different directions without being picked up and repositioned. However, many users find the Flippi underpowered and noisy, especially at high speeds. We also saw many complaints that the controls are hard to use, requiring two hands to switch among the high, low and off settings. The Vornado Flippi V6 is backed by a three-year warranty. Vornado also offers the Flippi in 8-inch, 10-inch and deluxe models (costing $30, $50 and $70 respectively).

Another pint-sized offering from Vornado is the Zippi (*Est. $20), a plastic mini fan with three fabric blades that is available in seven colors: black, white, passion red, raindrop, raspberry, green and yellow. The soft blades are safe to touch even when the fan is in motion -- a huge safety benefit if the fan is to be used around children or pets. The Zippi measures 9 inches high and 5 inches in diameter when in use, but it can be folded down to a more compact size for travel. The adjustable fan head allows you to direct airflow. This model gets more than 150 reviews on Amazon.com and more than 25 on Walmart.com, with high overall ratings on both sites. Owners say the fan is quiet, safe, cute, inexpensive and great for travel. Although users agree that the fan does not produce a strong breeze, most find it adequate for personal use. However, we saw many complaints about durability, with users saying their fans quit working anywhere from one year to a mere two hours after purchase. A couple of users also complain hat the Zippi's wire stand is unstable, causing the fan to "flop down" when in use. The Vornado Zippi comes with a three-year limited warranty.