Best Desk Fans In 2023 – Top 9 Rated Reviews

Fans go back to the early 1900s, but it wasn’t until the 1930s that they were made of plastic and became easier to manage.

Their use is, to a certain extent, dependent on the climate of where they might be needed. In countries that have a low average temperature, they will not be essential. More likely occasional use if the temperature does rise. But in hot countries, they came to be necessary. Then people became interested in finding the Best Desk Fans.

Air conditioning was an alternative. Invented at very nearly the same time as the fan. It was first installed in the Metropolitan theatre in Los Angeles in the 1920s.

In very hot countries, aircon is the norm for those that can afford it. But there are plenty that can’t. They must revert to the desk fan. Likewise, those countries that would rarely use aircon would use a fan instead.

There are plenty of options, so let’s have a look at the Best Desk Fans currently available and find the perfect one for you…

Top 9 Best Desk Fans In 2023 Review

1 Vornado Pivot Personal Air Circulator Fan – Most Versatile Desk Fan

This is a compact little fan from Vornado. And it is designed to move the air that is all around you rather than just push air at you. This is achieved with Vornado’s Vortex Action circulation system. This fan measures just 5.1 by 5.7 by 6 inches and weighs just over one and a half pounds. It can, therefore, be placed easily where it is needed. And it won’t take up too much space.

Versatile and practical…

It is built with a metal stand and has a plastic housing and blade. It has quite a nice design and resembles a jet engine in some ways. Because of its compact size, it is suitable for use in a variety of different places. It’s perfect for a desktop on a hot day or maybe on a bed stand on a hot night.

In fact, there aren’t many places that it won’t function well, assuming the room isn’t too large. The airflow is multi-directional, and it has an axis that pivots. This will allow you to direct the air where it is most needed.

Choice of settings…

One of the big assets of this fan is that it has three separate options for settings. Each option produces a different experience, and they all feel quite different. The low setting gives you a nice gentle breeze. In this setting, the fan produces no noise whatsoever.

The medium level makes the wind a little stronger. It is operation is a little noisier but is still not distracting and within what we would describe as being acceptable.

In the highest setting, it generates quite a powerful wind circulation. Probably not something you would need very often. At this level, it does start to get quite noisy, but that is only to be expected. It is fitted with a six-foot cable for mains plugin, which is a little short, in our opinion.

A solid choice…

A good fan produces a nice circulation of air at an attractive price point.

Our rating: (4.4 / 5)

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2 Dyson Air Multiplier AM06 Table Fan – Most Innovative Desk Fan

We all know about Dyson. They are a British technology company with an eye for startling designs. They also produce what many consider the best in whatever market they enter. This is the company that likes producing very visual products that work brilliantly. Their vacuum cleaner will be the one that most people recognize.

So when they turn their hands to desk fans, you can expect something very special. And that is exactly what they have given us.

Something very special…

When you first catch a glimpse of this fan, the first question is, ‘where are the blades?’ Simple answer, there are none. This fan uses Dyson Air multiplier technology. This system creates a constant flow of air without the need for blades.

It is very quiet, powerful, and easy to clean. But most of all, it is safe for children and animals.

Fully-featured…

The controls for the fan include a timer that can be set up to turn off when you want it to stop, during the night, perhaps. It can be set to turn itself off in intervals from a lengthy nine hours to just fifteen minutes. It also has a remote control. This has a choice of ten different settings for airflow. Even that has a smart design and is magnetized. It fits neatly into the fan when not in use.

There is an oscillation control that allows you to direct the airflow around the room with one-touch control. Also, a built-in easy tilt mechanism that pivots the fan on its own center of gravity.

A perfect design…

This is a typical Dyson product. Brilliant technology combined with exceptional performance. But it also includes two other design essentials. Safety and it is great visually. One of the Best Desk Fans? How can it not be? But be warned. It isn’t cheap.

Our rating: (4.5 / 5)

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3 Vornado VFAN Jr. Vintage Air Circulator Fan – Best Vintage Desk Fan

From the future, we get in the DeLorean and return to the past with this vintage style fan from Vornado. In fact, this could very easily be a fan from 1955.

It is made from metal with some plastic fittings. In fact, it is actually modeled on a Vornado fan from the 1940s. More up to date though, is the air circulation it offers.

Cool as a cucumber…

This is Vornado’s Vortex air circulation system. Designed to spread air all around the room. It certainly works and a fan this size can be felt four meters away even on a low setting.

To manage the airflow, the fan has a tilt mechanism. It will move both in a downward and upward direction over quite a wide range. This gives a useful multi-directional airflow.

Simple to operate…

As per the vintage look, the controls have been made very easy to use. The fan has two speeds from which you can choose, depending on the size of your room. It is operated with a basic button control. It operates at a low noise threshold on the lower speed setting. On the higher speed, which is significantly faster, the noise does increase.

Fans with blades can accumulate an excess of dust. It cannot be helped; it is part of the operation. This fan is easy to clean. It can be dismantled using three small screws on the back, cleaned, and put back together very easily and quickly. However, you will need the right size Allen key, and that is not included. It measures 6.13 by 10.13 by 11.42 inches and weighs just under four pounds.

Days gone by…

This is a fan that operates quite well. If you are like a bit of nostalgia, it might be a good choice. Not a particularly cheap option for what it is.

Our rating: (4.3 / 5)

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4 Genesis 6-Inch Convertible Table-Top & Clip Fan – Best Clip On Desk Fan

This is a very novel idea to keep cool. This fan from Genesis doubles up as both a tabletop fan and a clip-on fan. You can, therefore, place it on a desktop or bedside cabinet near you. Or you can clip it on to something close at hand if a table or desk isn’t available. The design idea of this is good in our view. We don’t always have the option of a place to put a small fan. For us, that makes it one of the most usable Desk Fans you can buy.

Nice and quiet…

It is made from strong plastic, including the detachable clip, and has a very quiet operation. This is especially noticeable at its slower speed, which is hardly audible at all. The faster speed, as you might expect, generates more sound. But if you were sharing a room with someone and had it in operation, it won’t disturb them. Great then for dormitories at college.

It converts very easily from being a clip on to a tabletop fan. This is a simple operation by just loosening the butterfly screw on the fan head. With this overall design, you can take your fan with you. It is not battery powered though, and so it will need a mains supply.

No slippage…

The cable to connect to the mains is six feet long. That seems to be standard size these days for electrical fittings. Not long enough in our view. It is a compact little fan and measures 5 by 6 by 10 inches and weighs only two pounds.

The head of the fan is adjustable so you can direct the airflow exactly where you want it. It has been well-made and is quite a strong fan, especially the clip-on clamp. With this fan, there is no slippage, and when it is gripped on to its source, it stays there until you move it. This is a great little fan at a very attractive price. It is made in China.

Our rating: (4.5 / 5)

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5 Aikoper Desk and Small Table Personal Electric Fan – Best USB Desk Fan

This is a very cost-effective fan from Aikoper. At first sight, it resembles one of those large heaters you sometimes see in car mechanic workshops. It is a little smaller, though. In fact, it is quite a bit smaller, measuring 5.6 by 3.9 by 4.9 inches.

It is a well-made fan that is made from aluminum and plastic. The aluminum shell of the fan is painted black. This is quite an attractive look, but it also means you will need to be careful not to scratch it. Otherwise, it will lose its quite nice looks very quickly.

Touch to start…

It sits rather neatly on an aluminum stand that is actually part of the controls of the fan. Just a little touch anywhere on the stand, and it begins to operate. To turn it off when running, just do the same. Nice idea.

The pitch angle is adjustable up or down by up to 18 degrees. This allows you to project the airflow exactly where you need it. It has dual blades that produce two speeds of airflow strength. At a lesser speed, the fan is very quiet. The higher speed, as usual, increases the sound level.

Very directional…

Unlike with most conventional designed fans, this does tend to project the airflow in a very direct direction. Other fans might spread the airflow a little more, which some will see as an advantage. This will especially be the case when you need to keep cool with other people in the room who need to share it.

It is going to sit comfortably on a desktop in an office or any table at home. The stand has two rubber strips to prevent any shaking at high speed. It has a USB connection and is compatible with all devices that have a USB output. It should be noted that this does not plug into a wall outlet. Neither is it battery-operated.

Nicely priced…

A nice little fan at a very competitive price. But you will need to use it near your computer or similar device for a USB connection.

Our rating: (4.1 / 5)

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6 Honeywell HTF210B Quiet Set Personal Table Fan – Best Value for the Money Desk Fan

The name Honeywell resonates around the consumer market. Many still remember them as one of the big players in the computer industry. They made some decent machines but never did understand that you also needed the software to drive them.

Those of us there at the time though watched on…

A series of poor business decisions and the then colossus of IBM squeezed the life out of them. With machines getting smaller, IBM insisted ‘big’ was the only way for computers. Their position went up the shoot as well as others took over, and the desktop market arrived.

This amused quite a lot of us. From Honeywell’s high point in the 70s, by the early 90s, they had left the computer world behind for good.

The name lives on, though, and this fan is a good example of how they still make creative consumer products. In fact, we like this one so much that we think it should be considered as one of the Best Desk Fans.

Oscillation control…

This is a well-designed fan that has quite a small footprint. It stands 13 inches high and gives out a decent amount of air at low levels of noise. It has an oscillation control to further spread the airflow. And being a vertical design that means that plenty of cool air is distributed around the room. The fan itself inside, though, is quite small.

It has four levels of power, and the amount of noise generated by the fan will decide on what power level you apply. Obviously, the harder you drive it, the noisier it will become.

Take control…

There are also settings for the amount of noise it will make. Useful if you are using it during the night. At a low level, it is very quiet. It also has an automatic set up timer. Controls are placed conveniently on the front and are lit. The light from the control panel dims after 15 seconds.

A nice little fan and at a decent price point.

Our rating: (4.3 / 5)

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7 OPOLAR F401 Mini USB Table Desk Personal Fan – Best Budget Desk Fan

This is a very basic fan from Opolar with a design that is very familiar. Whereas some fans come with a variety of airflow options and other features, this does not. It is a one-speed fan with a simple on and off switch. The switch is located on the upper back area of the fan.

It is made from metal and therefore is quite stable and produces a very gentle breeze to keep things a little cooler. It has a four-inch plastic blade, and the fan is just six inches wide. Quite a compact size and certainly not going to take up too much desk space.

Computer compatible…

It is driven by a USB connection from a computer or a USB compatible device. And there are no batteries or mains connections involved. The cable for connection is just under four feet in length. This should be enough to place the fan where you need it. It is therefore good to use at home or in the office providing you can connect it up.

As we have said, it is a very basic design, and this throws up one potential hazard. The gaps in the fan cover are quite small and would prevent an adult from inserting their fingers by mistake. However, a small child might be able to put their fingers through the cover and reach the rotating blades.

A simple enough fan at a decent price point.

Our rating: (4 / 5)

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8 Honeywell HT-900 TurboForce Air Circulator Fan – Best Desk Fan for Larger Spaces

Back to Honeywell again for another option. Honeywell offers a range of fans for the home, and this is another in the range. Employing the use of a fan at home can be a good idea at times. Use it as a substitute for a while in an otherwise aircon room. It will certainly save some money over a period of time.

This is not the smallest fan you will come across. It measures 11.1 by 6.54 by 11.3 inches but is still reasonably compact. It is going to fit on a reasonably sized table or of course on the floor.

Good for bigger spaces…

This fan is a mains connection only. It has three airflow speeds, and to give you plenty of air dispersion options, it has a head that pivots through ninety degrees. Noise is not excessive in any of the speed settings. It is obviously more noticeable on the higher speed setting. It is suitable for most small to medium-sized rooms.

On the medium of the settings, the air movement can be felt from one side of the room to the other.

Basic but practical…

It is a very basic fan that is made from durable plastic. The grille on the front has a design that is too small for children to poke their fingers through. There is no oscillation option on this fan.

Set a decent price point, and it is a reasonable option for a small to medium-sized room.

Our rating: (4.3 / 5)

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9 Trekoo 8 Inch Desk Fan 3 Speeds – Best Desk Fan for Sleeping

This fan from Trekoo has a very rugged design. It has a strong ABS plastic build. We cannot say it is pleasing to the eye, but it has its very good design points. One of which is that it has a grille that will protect fingers from the blade. It has three airflow speeds and circulates the air in a room very well using its 360-degree pivoting head.

It has a compact size measuring 7.48 x 4.33 x 7.87 inches and weighing less than one pound. Therefore, it will easily fit on most tables and desks.

Night, night…

It can be operated either by a USB connection or by the included rechargeable battery. One of the big plus points about this fan is the noise level. On its low-level setting, it has a sound level of only 30dB. That means it is ideal for use near the bed at night to keep cool as it won’t keep you awake.

Even on the lower airflow setting, the movement of air is very noticeable. At a higher speed, it generates an RPM of 950. One charge of the battery will mean it will operate for about 2.5 hours on the higher setting. After that, you will need a USB connection to use and recharge.

It is easy to clean with a damp cloth by just removing the back frame.

Quality and quietness come at a cost…

This is a decent little fan. It is a little bit more expensive than some of its similar competitors, that may be because of the quiet performance level and the inclusion of the rechargeable battery. Nevertheless, it is a good fan.

Our rating: (4.4 / 5)

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Looking For More ‘Cool’ Products?

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Or how about our Best Camcorders reviews, our Best Label Makers reviews, our Best GoPro Camera reviews, our Best Bean Bag Chairs reviews, or take to the skies with our Best Camera Drones reviews.

So, What Are The Best Desk Fans?

Sometimes you have to just look at something that is very special and say, that is the best. With the fans we have looked at, there is one that is light years ahead of the others not only in its styling and looks but also in its performance and safety.

Looks are important if it is going to be in your home. Performance is very important to make sure you get what you expect. Safety is vital. You really do not want an accident. And a fan, innocuous as it looks, can cause injury.

We have therefore chosen the…

It has everything and more that you could want in a fan and is, therefore, in our view the Best Desk Fan you can buy.

Keep it cool!