Tabletop Fans

Small tabletop fans

Tabletop fans can be used to blow air directly on you or to circulate air. According to a Good Housekeeping Institute test of 32 fans, the best tabletop fan is the Honeywell HFT-114B Oscillating Base Turbo Fan (*Est. $17). On Amazon.com, more than 20 owners give this fan high scores. This simple fan features three speeds, and the angle of the fan head can be tilted up to 90 degrees. Most reviewers on Amazon.com use it as a desk fan, but many say it can cool a larger area, such as a bedroom. The noise factor is a point of contention, with owners split on whether the Honeywell fan is too noisy. The black plastic fan measures 12" x 7" x 13" and weighs 5 pounds. For a few owners on Amazon, the oscillating feature fails to work.

An even smaller Honeywell table fan is among the best-reviewed models on Amazon.com. The Honeywell HT-800 Super Turbo High Performance Fan (*Est. $15) averages very high marks from more than 140 owners. For many, it is a disproportionately powerful small fan. It measures about 6.5" x 11" x 11.5" and weighs 4 pounds. Many owners use it to circulate air throughout the home, placing it in a hallway or near a window. This fan does not oscillate, but the fan head can be tilted 90 degrees. Many reviewers complain that it is too noisy. Some even use it to create white noise. This model comes in black plastic, but a similar fan, the Honeywell HT804 (*Est. $15) is available in white plastic. Both fans have a limited five-year warranty.

Two heavier metal Hunter fans receive good reviews on Amazon.com. Both the Hunter 90021 Century 12-Inch Performance Oscillating Fan (*Est. $60) in black and the Hunter 90022 (*Est. $60) in brushed nickel receive very high ratings from 40 and 35 reviewers, respectively. Both fans measure 9" x 13.5" x 17.5" and weigh about 14 pounds. Many reviewers appreciate the retro look of these fans, in addition to their power. Some mention that the fans make an annoying clicking sound when oscillating, but for most they are quiet. Another user adds that these Hunter fans have a limited tilt range and are not suitable for directing air toward the ceiling. Both of these models come with a limited five-year warranty.

According to the Vornado website, their fans are actually air circulators that don't just blow air, but bend and twist it to create circulation throughout a room. Vornado fans come in plastic or metal, usually costing more than others. Real Simple recommends the Vornado Air Circulator 550, but this variable speed model has been discontinued, replaced by the Vornado Air Circulator 530 (*Est. $40). According to users on Amazon.com, this well-liked fan has dropped in quality now that it's being made in China. We called Vornado to confirm, and while the company still manufacturers some of its larger fans in its Kansas factory, the tabletop Circulator 530 fan is indeed now made in China. (Nearly all fans these days are made in Asia, so finding a US-made fan is certainly the exception rather than the rule.)

Amazon.com users report that the new Vornado 530 fans are noisier and don't tilt as far vertically as older models. Reviewers add that they do move air well even on the low speed setting where they are quietest. The Vornado 530 comes with a limited five-year warranty. In the review by Doree Shafrir at Slate.com, the 1940's styled Vintage Vornado Fan (*Est. $100) in classic green metal receives top marks for design, but it "is not the fan to buy if you want to stay cool." According to Shafrir, this fan's highest speed generates only a minimal breeze, and with quite a bit of noise. Shafrir recommends this fan only if your priority is to enhance a room's look (this is one of the Vornado models now made in China).

The Vivre Selection Cool Breeze Fan (*est. $75) is featured as one of "The Best!" summertime products at House Beautiful.com. The review praises the fan's appearance (it comes in a choice of two very bright colors: blood orange or Caribbean blue) and its quiet functioning.