Some features to consider looking out for when buying the best tower fan include an ability to rotate, so as to better spread the air. A quiet running option for night time use is another top feature to look for, and for sheer ease of use, look for tower fans with WiFi and voice controls. Most come with an auto off option, so you can save power without having to physically turn off the fan yourself. Pricing varies massively on the best tower fans, so we’ve included a wide range below to help you to find the perfect option for your cooling needs. Alternatively you may want to look at the best central air conditioning units (opens in new tab) or the best thru wall air conditioners (opens in new tab), which cool actively but at a higher running cost. Best towers fans for you? Read on to find your ideal match.
1. Seville Classics UltraSlimline: Best tower fan overall
The Seville Classic UltraSlimline has a lot of power, and more features than most tower fans in its price point – like a wide oscillation range of 95 degrees, which helps it circulate air efficiently. You can also conserve energy with timer settings that can shut off the unit automatically at intervals between 30 minutes and 7.5 hours. The Seville Classics UltraSlimline is easy to use and performed well in our tests. It is one of the more affordable tower fans in our lineup, and it was one of the best performing fans in our power tests. We got good airflow right in front of the fan and all the way across the room. The remote has five buttons, so you can control all the fan’s functions from across the room. (The remote has more timer settings than the control panel on the unit itself, in fact.) The storage clip on the back is also convenient, although the remote can easily be knocked out of the clip if you bump into the fan. Bear in mind that this tower fan comes with a one-year warranty, which is one of the smallest on this list – though it’s average for tower fans generally. Powerful and affordable, you get a lot of bang for your buck with the Seville Classics UltraSlimline – we think it’s the best tower fan you can buy.
Read our Seville Classics UltraSlimline tower fan review (opens in new tab)
2. Dyson Pure Cool: Best tower fan for sheer power
The Dyson Pure Cool Tower Fan (TP04) is one of the best tower fans you can buy, period. It features Dyson’s innovative bladeless fan technology, making it safer for homes with children and pets. Plus, it combines turbocharger and jet engine science with the firm’s Air Multiplier tech to quietly but powerfully deliver 77 gallons per second of smooth, cooling airflow when you most need it. The best bit? This tower fan isn’t just a fan: it’s also an air purifier. The TP04 will remove 99.95% of ultra-fine particles, such as allergens and pollutants from the air around you – so you’ll be breathing in cleaner air, as well as feeling cooler. You can adjust the oscillation angle from 45° to 350°, to project the purified air around your whole room. And because this is the best tower fan money can buy, it doesn’t just come with a remote – you get intelligent reporting, an app and voice control too. All this comes at a price though: the Dyson Pure Cool Tower Fan (TP04) isn’t cheap. But if you’re looking for the best tower fan money can buy, this is it.
3. Holmes HT38RB-U: Best affordable tower fan
The Holmes HT38RB-U has some good features that give it extra functionality. This tower fan has the second-longest warranty of any fan we tested. The Holmes tower fan also has some unique functionality. It is a dual-oscillating fan, a feature you don’t see often in fans. This allows you to stop the fan mid-oscillation and reverse its direction using the remote. This oscillating fan has a range of 90 degrees. These features give the tower fan a degree of versatility that is not often seen. It also has a timer that you can set for one to 8 hours, so the fan will shut off automatically, helping you save energy at night. You can control most of the fan’s features using the remote, but the remote took some getting used to. The symbols are specific to the unit and not universal. Since we were working with many remotes during testing we had to relearn what the symbols meant each time. The fan itself performed decently, but it was far from the most powerful fan we tested. Still, it will do a good job of circulating air in a small to medium-sized room. Holmes has good support options if you have problems or questions and the three-year warranty is one of the best we saw.
Read our Holmes HT38RB-U tower fan review (opens in new tab)
4. Vornado Tower 184: Best tower fan for warranty
The Vornado Tower 184 is a fantastic tower fan with an excellent warranty. In fact, the five-year warranty is the longest in our review and much longer than the standard tower fan warranty of one year. The Tower 184 has a good airflow rating of 505 CFM, average among tower fans. The fan is also relatively quiet, coming in at only 63 dB, though you can turn it down for less noise. It comes with a remote control and a sleep timer, both standard features in tower fans. The remote control attaches magnetically to the top of the unit when not in use so you don’t lose it. Unlike most tower fans, the Vornado Tower 184 is a circulator, which means it doesn’t oscillate to get better coverage of a room. It must be placed strategically to produce ideal airflow in a room. This means you will feel a stronger air flow across the room than immediately by the fan. The fan is easy to assemble out of the box; you only need to attach the base using four screws. The fan can be difficult to clean, but not more so than the average tower fan. It is a little more expensive than most tower fans, but the long warranty helps make it a better value for the money.
Read our Vornado Tower 184 Circulator tower fan review (opens in new tab)
5. Dyson AM07: Best tower fan for bedrooms
The Dyson AM07 is a quiet tower fan with an unusual design that is both safe and effective. It’s state-of-the art technology, however, makes it the single most expensive fan we’ve reviewed. No matter where in the room you place it, you can easily have a conversation, watch TV or listen to music without the fan creating a large amount of noise. The Dyson oscillates up to 80 degrees – wide enough to give you good coverage. While other oscillating fans have a wider range, the Dyson’s design provides unique airflow that can fill a good-sized room. Also, a child can safely stick a hand through its bladeless design without risk of injury. This is an attractive, functional fan and is the quietest model we tested.
Read our Dyson AM07 tower fan review (opens in new tab)
6. Honeywell QuietSet Whole Room: Best tower fan for versatility
The Honeywell Quietset Whole Room is one of the most versatile tower fans we have tested, and has eight settings. This is twice as many settings compared with most of the other fans we evaluated and tested. The only fan that has more is the Dyson which had ten settings. However, the Honeywell tower fan is a more affordable than the Dyson. The settings are clearly marked on the control panel – relax, calm, whisper – you will never have a problem finding the right setting for your needs at any given moment. This fan is not the most powerful fan we tested, but it is great for a small- to medium-sized room. The Power Cool setting provides good coverage. The minimalist and simple remote is very intuitive and works from across the room. This fan also has the advantage of having the longest power cord of any of the fans we tested, giving you greater flexibility in where to place the fan.
Read our Honeywell QuietSet Whole Room tower fan review (opens in new tab)
How to buy the best tower fan for your space
Most tower fans aren’t complicated to operate. If you want the best one, there are a few must-have features to look out for. Firstly, make sure your tower fan can oscillate: this will enable it to sweep the air stream from side to side, cooling more of the room. Also, check for different speed settings and sleep-timer options. Finally, a remote control will make it easier to control your tower fan from a distance. Additionally, there are some convenience features you might want to choose. Here’s a quick guide to what else to look for in a tower fan – plus some key considerations to make before buying one… LCD display: An LCD display will feature all the functions your tower fan is using. This display makes it really easy to use, as you always know which functions are currently active, and can track any changes you make. Pre-programmed features: These provide an easy way for you to program a range of options into a tower fan, with a single click of a button. They can be life-savers when you just want to come home from work and collapse. Remote control: We’ve mentioned that most manufacturers provide you with a remote control. This enables you to control your tower fan from across the room – just remember that remotes need a clear line of sight to work. Timer: Timers are a great way to control the operating time of your tower fan. Most come with two timer settings:
A turn off timer, which will lets you set a specific time for the timer to turn off. This is a fantastic feature if you want the fan to stop after you’ve fallen asleep. A turn on timer, which lets you pre-program the time that your tower fan turns on. This is particularly good if you want to come home to a cool house.
Should I consider what the tower fan looks like?
Although the main reason for people buying a tower fan is to cool down and circulate air, looks are an important consideration for many. If you care about whether your fan will enhance your home’s décor, choose a model with a color that complements your interior design. (And look at Dyson’s range.) If you find all tower fans unappealing, perhaps consider buying a ceiling fan (opens in new tab) instead, though you should be prepared to pay more, especially if you choose not to install it yourself.
How much do the best tower fans cost?
Tower fans with special features like Dyson’s fans will cost twice as much – around $350. Dyson fans have a unique, stylish, multifunctional design. They run relatively quietly, and are easy to clean and maintain. There’s no denying that they are attractive and effective at creating strong air channels in a room. However, the other tower fans in our lineup perform at a comparable level, and for a fraction of the price. There are a lot of options out there, many of them quite affordable.
What’s the difference between a tower fan, a desk fan and a pedestal fan?
The type of fan you need really depends on three factors: room size, budget and personal preference. Having a clear plan about fan placement (opens in new tab) is a great way to decide on which type of fan you need. Desk fans: For a quick, cheap solution to staying cool as you study, a desk fan is a great solution. They’re perfect for the office, as they are usually within arm’s length, and are easy to manipulate and customize to your needs without the need of timers or remotes. They are a great low tech option if you are sitting in a small area, but not ideal for cooling down a whole room. Pedestal fans: Pedestal fans usually have wider blades than a tower fan, and offer better power. This means they are better at circulating air than tower fans. But as pedestal fans have wider blades, they usually require more space. These fans also allow you to control the direction of the air-flow easier without having to readjust the whole machine. However, their increased power usually means they are more basic looking, noisier and come with less features than a tower fan. They are also less safe around children and toddlers who often poke their fingers into the blades. So, you should invest in a pedestal fan if you value power over aesthetics and gadetry. Tower fans: Tower fans are narrow, and save a lot of space. Although they are not as strong as pedestal fans, they still create a strong air-flow in the room and are very quiet. These fans usually come with a wide range of features that increase functionality. They offer a wide range of coverage, often providing a whole room with a circulation of air. Tower fans are more decorative than pedestal fans, and they often give a room a nice piece of flair or a talking point. They are usually a lot quieter than pedestal fans as well. Tower fan bases can be a little unstable, however, meaning they often topple and fall over when bumped by pets and children. If you are in a busy household, you might want to tuck away into areas where there isn’t a lot of traffic, or choose a tower fan with a wide base. So, these fans are for people want a large air cooled, but want something decorative and with greater functionality.
Tower fan warranties
A long warranty can help you get repairs or a full replacement if your tower fan malfunctions. Our research revealed that most tower fans have a one-year warranty, which is typical among most types of electrical appliances. Three brands we looked at have longer warranties: Vornado, Holmes and Dyson offer a five-, three- and two-year warranty on their respective tower fan models.
