According to health experts, having airflow in the bedroom is one of the most important things for getting a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, opening the windows isn’t the best solution in many cases. So I’ve decided to put together a list of the best quiet fans that won’t disturb your sleep.
I’ve found some fantastic, almost noiseless fans you can keep anywhere in your home, from your bedroom to your home office. Better still, some are even small enough to bring to work with you.
Before I review the best quiet fans on the market, I’ll take some time to point out the important features you’ll want to look out for when shopping. But first, allow me to explain how having a cool room sets you up for a better rest.
How Quiet Fans Help You Get the Best Night’s Sleep
Numerous studies have shown that people have the most restful sleep when their rooms are cool and airy. In fact, sleeping in a cold room or even by an open window can have many benefits, including:
- Falling asleep more easily: once you start losing core warmth, your body will naturally feel more tired. That’s why you shouldn’t overheat your home during winter, especially as the day draws to an end.
- Abiding by your body’s natural sleep pattern. Once the sun sets, the dim light and cooling air will make your body produce melatonin.
- Increasing your metabolism and decreasing risk of illness. Enjoying brisker temperatures helps our bodies deal with sugar, which in turn, decreases our chances of getting diabetes, various heart diseases, and even cholesterol.
As long as you keep your bedroom at a brisk 60-67 Fahrenheit, which is about 15-20 degrees Celsius, you should experience all of these health benefits. Going colder than that can push you into the wrong direction, though it would only be dangerous to really small children.
Of course, there are many ways to ensure that your room is pleasantly chilly before bedtime. You should make sure you drink plenty of water or sleep nearer to the ground since heat can rise. You could also sleep in the nude or purchase a cooling mattress topper.
During really hot days, you might want to keep the blinds closed and air out the room in the evenings. Still, the simplest solution is to invest in a mechanic fan. A fan would ensure proper ventilation inside the room all night long or for as long as you need it. However, when it comes to quiet fans, there are a few requirements they must satisfy
Things to Consider Before Buying a Quiet Fan for Your Bedroom
Truly, some of the best fans I’ve ever had have been the most basic ones. However, in this day and age, there’s nothing stopping you from demanding more of your gadgets. Even with some extra features, most of them are still fairly affordable and accessible.
Since I’ve previously written about white noise fans, I was already familiar with most of the important characteristics of fans. However, this time, I wasn’t looking for fans that produce a comforting whirring noise, but rather those that were as noiseless as possible.
I managed to find them by following these guidelines.
Noise Level
Obviously, the first thing we should consider here is the amount of noise the fan makes. Fortunately, all of the devices I’m about to review are marked as quiet or silent fans. In this case, you do have to rely on the manufacturer claims in order to find quiet products. After all, it’s the inner mechanism of a fan that makes it noisy.
But if you don’t want to trust the brand, you could also discern how loud a fan is by reading user reviews. Aside from those, you can also look for fans that have more speed settings. The speed of the blades is often the very reason why a fan is noisy. Therefore, having the ability to adjust the speed of the blades allows you to adjust the loudness of a device.
All in all, a fan labeled as quiet should produce no more than 50 dB of noise. Some fans on our list generate as little as 30 dB, making them virtually whisper-quiet.
Size
Throughout this article, I’ve been assuming that you’ll be using these fans in the bedroom. Most of us appreciate silence the most when we need to get a few hours of shut-eye before our next shift. However, the devices in my reviews aren’t necessarily meant just for the bedroom. Realistically, the fan you end up with will work just fine in any room, as long as it’s big enough to circulate the volume of air in it.
Fortunately, the devices I’ve chosen to review come in all shapes and sizes, from the smallest desk fan to a 4-foot standing fan. Ultimately, you should choose a fan based on the size of the room you need to cool. After all, the size of a fan affects not only whether or not you’ll be able to carry it from room to room, but also the volume of space a machine can cover.
Type of Fan
Usually, the size of the device is determined by the type of fan you’re looking at. There are several different kinds of fans:
- Regular standing fans are the basic type of fan we’re all familiar with. They’re typically the largest type of fan, with a tall stand and a rotating head.
- Tower fans are usually somewhat shorter than regular standing one, and they take up less space as well. They usually rely on oscillating mechanisms to create airflow.
- Box fans can come in various shapes and sizes, but they basically consist of a box with fan blades and a small stand. They can be circular or square, small enough to be set on a desk, or large enough to put on the floor or hang off a wall.
All of these types of fans have their own capabilities when it comes to circulating the air. Additionally, all of these types of fans can also have little individual tweaks in design.
Design
As always, the look of a product is a matter of personal taste. However, there are some design characteristics that we can all agree are pretty neat.
Firstly, when shopping for a fan, you should consider the material it’s made of. Most of them are made of plastic, but you may want to invest in a sturdier material if you want your fan to last a long time. However, you should be prepared to pay a higher price for a more durable product.
The design of a fan also determines how hard it is to maintain and keep clean. Some of us use our fans during the summer and keep them in storage during the winter months. When you take them out of storage at the beginning of summer, there’s the inevitable film of dust settled on top of the blades. Having the ability to clean the blades, or whichever other mechanism the fan uses, is always useful.
Finally, if you have children, you may be concerned with the safety aspect of these fans. Fortunately, brands are way ahead of you. Many fans are now bladeless or otherwise come with some type of safety feature. Some even have hidden mechanisms, ensuring that your child will never stick their fingers where they don’t belong.
Extra Features
Of course, some fans do come with additional features, aside from the on and off buttons and a few speed settings. For example, some of the ones I’ll review shortly come with a remote control and a timer. Many of the fans on the market also support various airflow modes, and some even have ionization settings. So if you’re interested in some of those extra features, I’ll be sure to mention them in my reviews.
Top 10 Best Quiet Fans on the Market
At this point, I should mention that I’ve decided to list the following ten quiet fans by size, going from the largest to the smallest. Therefore, if you’re looking for a machine that’s capable of cooling a larger room, you’ll find it in the first few. However, if you’re looking for a tiny fan for your bedside table or even office desk, it’ll be near the end of the list. Now, without further ado, let’s get into my reviews.
1. PELONIS PFS40D8AWW Oscillating Pedestal Fan
This PELONIS fan may look like a garden variety regular standing fan, but it’s anything but. The 16-inch fan sits on a 54-inch adjustable stand. The blades are encased within a wire cover that is easy to open, making cleaning a breeze.
More importantly, the fan uses an ultra-quiet DC motor that only produces 35 dB of noise. It’s not only silent but also very economical since the fan operates on only 25 watts. At that kind of energy usage, you could have the fan running the whole night or use the timer feature to put the fan to sleep in up to 12 hours.
The fan also has 3 airflow modes, including the normal, slumberous, and silent. Furthermore, you can set the speed of the machine to one of 12 speeds by using the dial near the top of the stand under the head of the fan. You’ll also be able to see your settings on the LED screen right above the speed dial. There are two buttons under the speed dial, one of which enables oscillation while the other turns on the fan itself.
However, if you’re not a huge fan of having to get up to adjust the fan during the night, I’ve got great news. This quiet fan also comes with a remote control device that can turn it on or off, as well as adjust the speed, timer, and even oscillation.
Main Features:
- Regular fan with an adjustable 54-inch stand
- 12-hour timer
- 3 airflow modes
- 12 speed settings
- Remote control
» PELONIS Pedestal Fan on Amazon «
2. Rowenta Turbo Silence Standing Floor Fan
Rowenta is famous for the amazing design of their products, and this standing fan certainly doesn’t disappoint on that front. When I first saw it, I immediately noticed the uniquely shaped stand that holds the control panel. The sleek silver and black design is heightened by blue blades, which leave a futuristic blur as they spin. Even better, the wire cage around the blades is removable, allowing you ease of access.
However, this fan isn’t just attractive — it’s also practical, with a fully adjustable height of 42-54 inches. Like the previous product, this fan has a silent motor that produces only 35 dB of noise, according to the brand. On top of that, the fan does have 5 speed settings, one of which is the Silent Night Mode.
If you’re going to be using it at night, you’re probably interested in whether this fan has a timer. The answer to that question is yes. You can set the timer to up to 8 hours, and there’s even an energy-saving mode. Also like the previous one, this fan comes with a simple remote control device.
Main Features:
- 42-54 inch regular standing fan
- 8-hour timer
- 5 speed settings
- Remote control
» Rowenta Turbo Silence Fan on Amazon «
3. Dyson Cool AM07 Air Multiplier Tower Fan
The Dyson Air Multiplier fans can look very peculiar, especially if you’ve never seen a similar device. This tower fan is about 53 inches tall and fairly narrow, as tower fans often are. However, the thing that makes it unique is that it directs airflow through the open bladeless fan that takes up the top 3/4 of the machine’s height. This design makes it look like a decor element, and it’s even available in two classic colors: black and white.
Seeing as the fan doesn’t have rotating blades or any closed-off parts, it’s exceedingly easy to clean. You can just wipe it down like you would a piece of furniture. It’s also safe for children and pets since there’s absolutely no possibility of injury.
The mechanism within the fan is not only quiet but also cost-efficient. Moreover, this fan also has an oscillation feature, meaning that it can rotate around at the base. Aside from that, there are also 10 airflow settings as well as a 9-hour timer, which is adjustable in 15-minute increments.
While the tower does have an LED display, all of the controls are on the remote control. Best of all? The remote control can magnetically attach to the top of the fan — which is great if you tend to lose that kind of stuff. Follow the link if you want more information about Dyson fans.
Main Features:
- 53-inch bladeless tower fan
- 9-hour timer
- 10 airflow settings
- Rotates at the base
- Remote control
» Dyson Air Multiplier AM07 on Amazon «
4. Ozeri Oscillating Tower Fan with Noise Reduction Technology
The next largest fan on my list is this 42-inch tower fan from Ozeri. However, the sturdy stand includes a removable section that can shorten this tower fan to 32 inches. Like all tower fans, this one is very narrow, making it perfect for use in rooms that are on the smaller side, or simply too crowded. In fact, this is the most compact product on my list so far — but remember, we’re only going smaller from here.
Unlike the previous tower fan I’ve reviewed, this one takes it back to the basics. It does have blades inside the case, hidden by a grille at the front. Right above the grille is an LED screen that shows you which settings you’re using.
The controls themselves are under the protective plastic on top of the tower, along with the remote control device. They include the power button, the timer, which you can program in 1-hour increments up to 12 hours, and the speed settings. There are indeed 3 speeds, all of which are supposed to be quiet, as well as 3 airflow patterns and an oscillation feature.
The updated version of the fan comes with Bluetooth connectivity as one of its latest enhancements. This added feature allows you to seamlessly connect the fan to your iPhone or Android phone. It’s a convenient and user-friendly upgrade that significantly improves the overall experience.
Main Features:
- 32-42-inch tower fan
- 12-hour timer
- 3 airflow modes
- 3 speed settings
- Remote control
» Ozeri OZF1 Ultra Wind Fan on Amazon «
5. Honeywell HYF290B QuietSet Whole-Room Tower Fan
The Honeywell tower fan is another great example of how even smaller fans can make your life much easier. The fan is only 40 inches tall, but the manufacturer managed to pack in a lot of features. In fact, it could even be effective in larger rooms, at least according to the manufacturer. Now let’s see if the features can back that claim up.
There are 8 speed settings in total, which are essentially also the sound controls. The lowest speeds are Sleep, Whisper, Calm, and White Noise — you can see how much they tried to make this product a silent one just by those names. However, the fan also has a Power Cool option, the highest speed setting, to get you through hot summer days.
In addition to the speed settings, you can also use the oscillation feature and set the shutdown timer to 1, 2, 4, and 8 hours. There is an LED screen on top of the tower. Unlike with all of the other fans, you can control the brightness level of the display and set it to one of 4 brightness levels or even turn it off. This is a great feature for someone who’s easily distracted by light during the night.
Like the other fans on my list so far, this one also comes with a remote control that even has housing on the fan itself.
Main Features:
- 40-inch tower fan
- 8-hour timer
- 8 speed settings
- Oscillation
- LED display with brightness settings
- Remote control
» Honeywell Quiet Tower Fan on Amazon «
6. Lasko 2510 Tower Fan With Remote Control
This Lasko 36-inch tower fan is another fairly straightforward device that should be reliable and portable as well. There’s a grille going down the front of the machine, protecting the blades inside. Like the previous tower fan, this one has an LED screen and control settings right above the grille.
Also like the previous tower fans I’ve mentioned, this one should only take up a bit of floor space. However, I should say that you ought to have some empty space around fans of any kind, just in case.
The tower fan is very quiet and can operate at 3 different speeds. It can also oscillate or remain stationary, and it even has a 7-hour timer. The fan does come with a remote control, which you can use to adjust the settings from your bed. But if you’re worried about losing the remote control, you can also keep it hooked on the back of the fan, right below the handle near the top.
Because this tower fan is nothing if not compact, you can’t really expect it to handle huge rooms. If you only use it in small or medium rooms, though, you should be just fine.
Main Features:
- 36-inch tower fan
- 7-hour timer
- 3 speed settings
- Oscillation
- Remote control
» Lasko 36-Inch Tower Fan on Amazon «
7. Vornado 630 Mid-Size Whole Room Air Circulator Fan
Finally, we’ve left the category of tower fans behind and reached the least space-consuming products. And since no brand is more famous for their box fans than Vornado, we might as well start with one of theirs.
This Vornado fan is only 13.6 inches tall, with an 8.6 x 12-inch base. It weighs in at just under 6 pounds, making it incredibly easy to move with you wherever you go. Furthermore, the fan should be easy to clean since the grille can be taken apart. If you need to, you can manually tilt the head of the fan to the angle you prefer, since it doesn’t have automatic oscillation.
The fan uses the same technology most Vornado fans use to shuffle the air around the room. The Vortex Circulation technology allows the box fan to remain static while pushing the air around up to 70 feet. Each part of the fan, from the grille to the blades, was created to aid in this process and keep the machine quiet. It only makes about 52 dB of noise, the equivalent of a hushed conversation.
On top of that, the lowest of the 3 speeds available should be even quieter than that. The speed dial is on the right foot of the stand, and it’s pretty much the only setting this fan has.
Main Features:
- A 13.6-inch tall box fan
- 3 speed settings
- Vortex Circulation
» Vornado Air Circulator Fan on Amazon «
8. Dreo Lynx Oscillating Fan for Bedroom
If you can only spare the smallest amount of space for your fan, here’s another small box fan that might suit your needs. This Dreo Lynx fan is around 13.2 inches tall and 11.5 inches wide. It stands on a circular pedestal and has a roughly ball-shaped head, which is easy to take apart and clean.
Unlike the previous fan, this one does have 4 speed options with the lower two being quieter. In fact, according to the manufacturer, the fan only produces 28 dB of noise.
In addition, the fan even has automatic oscillation and rotates both horizontally and vertically for maximum coverage. Furthermore, there’s also a timer that can be set from 1-8 hours. And if you press the oscillation and timer buttons simultaneously, you can activate the child-lock feature.
Even though all of these features have settings on the pedestal itself, you can also control them with a small remote control.
Main Features:
- 13.2-inch box fan
- 4 speeds
- 8-hour timer
- Oscillation
- Remote control
» DREO Air Circulator Fan on Amazon «
9. TriPole TF01 Small USB Desk Fan
For an even smaller alternative, I present this TriPole Desk Fan. It is only 5.7 inches high, 5.9 inches wide, and 2 inches thick. With its ultra-compact size and minimal noise output, it caters especially to light sleepers and those sensitive to sound.
The TF01 is equipped with 3 adjustable speed settings, operating at a near-silent 30 dB on its lowest setting. A single button on the backside effortlessly controls all functions, making it easy for you to cycle through speeds or power off the fan. The addition of a USB cable for powering the fan enhances its practicality and versatility, adapting to your needs.
The fan includes 4 rubber pads on the stand to prevent vibrations, noise, and slipping. This attention to detail not only ensures the fan remains securely in place on your nightstand or desk but also contributes to the overall tranquility of its operation.
To top it off, the TF01 is designed for easy disassembly and cleaning, offering you a consistently fresh and hygienic experience. With just a few straightforward steps, you can keep your fan in optimal condition, paving the way for countless restful nights.
Main Features:
- 5.7-inch desk fan
- 3 speeds
- 5 different colors
- USB cable
» TriPole Desk Fan on Amazon «
10. Fancii Small Personal Desk USB Fan
The smallest quiet fan I’ve found is this cylindrical personal fan from Fancii. The whole thing is only about 4 inches wide and 6 inches long, with a little stand that sticks out from the cylindrical fan. Since the cylinder fan is static, you’ll be using the handle to sort of prop the fan up in your direction.
It has 2 speeds that you can set by touching the top of the device. The faster speed is about 9.3 mph of airflow. Aside from being very quiet, this fan is also energy-efficient, as it runs on 5V of power. There’s a 3-foot cable attached to the bottom of the fan with a USB connection, so you can plug it into an outlet adapter or even a laptop.
Main Features:
- 6-inch long cylindrical personal fan
- Use the handle to prop it up
- 2 speed settings
- USB cable
» Fancii Personal Desk Fan on Amazon «
Where to Put a Quiet Fan in Your Bedroom
As you search for the best place to put a quiet fan in your bedroom, consider a few key factors: air circulation, noise, and convenience. By keeping these in mind, you’ll be able to create a comfortable and peaceful sleeping environment.
First, take note of the layout of your bedroom. To maximize air circulation, place the fan in a corner or near a window, aiming it towards the center of the room. This helps distribute cool air evenly and prevents any hot or stuffy spots.
Next, position the fan on a solid surface or a rubber mat to minimize vibrations, and keep it at a slight distance from your bed. That way, you’ll enjoy the benefits of the fan without being disturbed by its hum.
When it comes to convenience, think about how you’ll be using the fan. If you want it to blow directly at you as you sleep, place it on a nightstand or dresser beside your bed. Angle it slightly upward to ensure the air flows over your body without being too forceful. Alternatively, if you’d rather not have the fan pointed at you all night, position it across the room so that it circulates air around the space instead.
Finally, make sure you have easy access to the fan’s controls. This might involve choosing a fan with a remote control or simply positioning it within arm’s reach.
By following these simple guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to a cooler, more comfortable night’s sleep in your bedroom.
A Word or Two in Closing
Ultimately, when it comes to quiet fans, any of the ones on this list will do the trick. However, it’s up to you to find the one that suits your needs. So before you go shopping, make sure to consider the features you want your fan to have.
In fact, you may discover that it’s not really a fan you need at all. In cooler months, you may be happier having a quiet air purifier in your room. Or you might prefer a quiet portable air conditioner.
Now, if having silent gadgets opens your ears up to other sources of noise, you can always check out one of the many articles I have on soundproofing your home. If all else fails, you can always invest in some noise-canceling devices for sleeping.
Finally, if you find yourself sleeping a tad too soundly once you have a quiet fan lulling you to sleep, you can check out my list of recommendations for quiet alarm clocks.
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