Best fans to keep you cool during the day – and night

We always seem to be severely unprepared in the UK when a heatwave arrives, unable to cope with the sweltering heat and desperately searching for the best fans tokeep us cool.

Tossing and turning during humid nights as we attempt to get some shuteye, and then our homes heating up as we work from home trying to search for sweet relief by dumping our swollen feet in a bucket of ice water.

But instead of taking such drastic action, we've rounded up the best fans to buy now before they're sold out that will keep you cool during the day and those that are quiet enough during the night so that you can still sleep.

What type of fan should you buy?

When it comes to choosing what style of fan to buy you need to consider a few things, like the amount of space you have, how much you want to spend, where your electrical sockets are and if you want a powerful (and usually noisy) fan to really blast you, or something a little quieter so that you barely notice it.

Tower fan - a slim vertical design that will take up the least amount of space in your home. The upright design of the tower fan means that, unlike a conventional round-blade fan, the cool air is not focused on a very specific point, it’s distributed more evenly with an oscillating function.

Stand or Pedestal fan - the most common and affordable type of fan. The stand or pedestal fan is tall with a thin pole an adjustable blade unit attached to the top. A budget option, but bear in mind cheaper styles can be quite flimsy.

Desk fan - know that you need to keep cool while working from home and don't have much space? A desk fan might be a better option and means you can direct the airflow in your personal space. Surprisingly effective, but only short range.

Portable handheld fan - handheld fans can be an absolute saviour when it comes to going out and about in the heat. If you're braving a commute or travelling somewhere you know doesn't have a fan then bagging yourself a rechargeable battery-powered fan is the best thing you can do.

What features should you look out for when buying a fan?

Timer - A crucial feature for those who want to sleep with their fans switched on. A timer function means you can set it for one, two, four, eight or even 12 hours before it shuts off automatically. A timer can also be used if you want to set it when you're out and return with your home refreshingly cool.

Speed settings - If you're happy with one or two-speed settings and are not looking for anything fancy a desk fan or pedestal fan may be the thing for you. But many fans will have more than three-speed settings that can provide you with a little more option when it comes to how cold you want to be.

Noise - One of the most important features of a fan that can often be overlooked. The best way to find out if a fan you're looking to purchase is noisy are other customer reviews, they will be honest, but also factor in if you're a light sleeper or if you're happy to sleep with earplugs or headphones.

Size - When you're looking at fan options size is a big factor to consider. How much space do you have, which room will it be in? A tower fan will be a good option for a small space as it will cool the whole area, but a pedestal fan could be all you need if you don't want to spend a lot of money.

Does it purify the air? Some fans also act as air purifiers which can be a real benefit to people who suffer from allergies when the pollen count intensifies. You may also want to consider investing in a humidifier to help.

Dual function - higher priced fans like the extremely popular and expensive Dyson Hot and Cool Fan Heater offer dual functionality. So you're investing in something that will give you the cold air you desire, but also during winter months, it won't be collecting dust as you can use it as a heater.

The best fans to keep you cool day and night 2022

Dimensions: 14 x 14 x 74 cm

Features: 8-hour timer, oscillating option, three speed, sleep mode, remote control

Tried and Tested by Deputy Commercial Content Editor Natalie Corner: "After doing some research, I opted for tower fan as a pedestal fan didn't seem like a durable and long-term choice. The Bionaire Tower Fan came up as one with a lot of positive reviews and was affordable, yet is something that would last me a long time. My bedroom is fairly small so it keeps me perfectly cool and during the night, it proved to be essential to sleeping thanks to the quiet sleep mode, plus the ability to switch between the oscillating movement or keep it still and the airflow directed one way."

Dimensions: ‎72.5 x 27 x 25 cm

Features: 10 Speed settings, bladeless design, 45 Degree airflow projector, oscillation, quiet, hot and cold air, aerodynamic diffusers, remote control, 1.8m cord length

Review: "I bought this fan recently and it manages to keep me at the perfect temperature, without the awful smell some heaters can produce. It is quieter than other fans and is safe for kids and animals as it has no blades."

Dimensions: 82.6 x 27.4 x 20.6 cm

Features: Timer, whisper quiet tech, remote control, control panel, oscillation, floor mount

Review: "Really pleased with this for our spare tv room that gets quite hot this time of year due to two glass roof lanterns (converted garage to kitchen, tv room). On low, a gentle breeze blows but you can up the power from 1 right up to 5, 5 being highest but still quiet. I use a Dyson fan in the bedroom as I can't abide being too hot and like a breeze on my forehead when I sleep. The Dyson is a fairly quiet fan but this beats it in terms of being quieter and a lot cheaper too. The remote is a nice feature, rather chunky though would rather it be smaller but it's probably that shape as it's designed to fit at the rear when the fan is not in use but I just leave mine on the sideboard when not in use. Overall I am pleased and wish I bought this years ago would be cheaper than an overpriced Dyson fan."

Dimensions: ‎24 x 24 x 76.5 cm

Features: Three-speed setting, wind mode, 7.5 hour timer function, oscillation, integrated carry handle, digital display, remote control, 1.75m power cable

Review: "Nice fan! It’s tall with a thin design making it a good space-saving option. I like that it's lightweight, I can easily move it between rooms.

"The fan is very powerful and capable of cooling a large room. The oscillating function works really well. There are three noticeable speed settings, low, medium and high. The high is very loud, but that’s expected when you want extra cooling power. I use the low setting at night and still get a nice cool breeze, the noise is tolerable, I’ve got used to overtime."

Dimensions: 32.3 x 32.3 x 106cm

Features: Six-speed setting, wind mode, 12 hour timer function, oscillation, digital display, remote control, 1.8m power cable

* We tested out the Dreo Pilot Max Tower Fan which is currently unavailable but the standard fan is a similar model.

Tried and tested by Deputy Commercial Content Editor, Natalie Corner: "The first thing about the Pilot Max model is that it's very large. So make sure you have space in your home to store it when it's no longer hot. However, the height means the power behind the fan blasts out some really great cold air, and it's extremely quiet. During the recent heatwave having this on during the night didn't affect my sleep at all, it has a Night Mode which makes the fan barely noticeable. There are plenty of settings to work your way through, including the rotating option which has four different settings, longer turns to blast the air around the room or shorter to keep it focused. Highly recommended."

Dimensions: ‎56 x 56 x 20 cm

Features: Powerful high speed motor, three fan speed settings, adjustable tilt head, copper design, free standing

Review: "I reckon you could mount this on the front of a spitfire and with enough runway it would take off."

Dimensions: ‎18 x 46 x 110 cm

Features: Three speed settings, oscillating function, adjustable tilt, low noise level, 1.6m power cord, eight retro designs

Review: "I'm pleased with this fan. It is quite powerful and creates a good airflow, across a wide area, in the large room I have put it in. It's not silent, but the noise just sounds like the woosh of air any fan is going to create, it doesn't cause me any problems. A less powerful metal fan we have is louder. The construction was straightforward and I didn't have any problem with the instructions. It looks nice too. The cord could be longer, considering that it has to stretch from the top of the fan to the socket. I don't have a huge amount to compare it to, but after umming and ahhing for a while over what to buy, I'm happy with it and feel like it's worth the price."

Dimensions: 38.1 x 13.2 x 12.9 cm

Features: 70 degree oscillation, compact and lightweight, two speed settings, max noise 47 decibel, 1.6m power cord

Review: "I bought this fan for my desk so I am ready for the hot weather. I chose this one because Black&Decker is a well-known make. It looks to be well made. I have tried the fan and the fast speed is really powerful and not too noisy. I am very pleased to have the tower design because it takes up so little room."

Dimensions: 28 x 16.5 x 29 cm

Features: Quiet operation, variable tilt fan head with up to 90 degrees pivot, powerful three speed motor, wall mount feature saves floor or desk space

Review: "Bought this fan before this summer’s heatwave and it has saved me from certain frazzlement at night... it is really quiet for a powerful fan and looks like a small jet engine. The power switch is a bit mad though, going in this order: off-3-2-1 but that’s only an issue for weirdos like me. A great fan to use in a bedroom at night or to power a small boat with a hamster on it, full-on ‘tales of the riverbank’ style."

Dimensions: 14 x 11 x 10.01 cm

Features: Fan can fold up to 180° as a mini handsfree stand, rechargeable battery, USB cable, Fully charged - speed1 can last 8 hours, speed2 can last 5 hours, speed3 can last 3 hours

Tried and Tested by Deputy Commercial Content Editor Natalie Corner: "I don't know where I would be without my trusty handheld fan, it's the best money I've ever spent. It's got me through the sweatiest of days in London on the tube where everyone looked at me with jealousy as I blasted my face. It also travelled with me to Bali where it was permanently attached to my hand as I battled the 30-degree sun. The thing I love about it the most is that the handle folds, so you can turn it into a mini desk fan or rest it on the table next to your sun lounger when you're on holiday!"

Which is the best fan to keep cool? Our verdict

It all comes down to how much money you want to invest in your fan combined with what you need your fan for.

If you're looking for a super quiet fan, cooling and heat technology, capacity to cool a large space, and it not break after a few months then here at Yours we would recommend getting your hands on the Dyson AM09 Hot + Cool Fan Heater, the best tower fan investment that means you won't have to think about buying another fan for a fair few years.

For a more affordable option, we suggest Bionaire Oscillating Tower Fan, at £55 it is not the most powerful but has a sleep mode so that the airflow sounds more natural and quiet while you sleep.

Are Dyson fans worth it?

When it comes to fans and heaters, Dyson always seems to be the brand name on everyone's lips. Investing in a Dyson fan is expensive, yes, but when you think about cost per use or how long it will last over time it could be the answer to your problem of looking for the best fan to keep you cool.

Dyson fans have so many different functions, and with the AM09 you can use that all-year-round thanks to its dual functionality. That could save you money on heating bills if you only wanted to heat up one room.

Not convinced? Check out our review of the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde.