Forget About AC—The Best Ceiling Fans Are Chic and Cooling

No frilly lights and foot-long chains around here.
Best Ceiling Fans in 2021

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Reading up on Domino’s shopping guides is like having your own personal product concierge. We do the tedious part—deep-dive research, hands-on testing, and tapping experts for advice—so all you have to do is hit “add to cart.” That’s why we call them Simply the Best.

If you’re in the market for a new ceiling fan, rest assured that today’s models have come a long way from their fusty forebears. “Those ugly grandma ceiling fans—you know, the wood ones with frilly lights and dangling chains—are a thing of the past,” says Erin Hiemstra, founder of Apt. 34. There are types to suit any and every decor style, from farmhouse to modern and rustic to contemporary, not to mention every space inside (and outside) of your home. 

These days, in addition to standard indoor options, you can buy outdoor versions for covered patios and wet-rated fans designed for direct exposure to rain, says John Alexander, CEO of Hunter Fan Company. To infuse a breath of fresh air (and flair) into your home, we combed the market to find the best ceiling fans, making your shopping experience a total breeze.

Our Favorites 

Best Wood: Pottery Barn Spitfire Ceiling Fan 

Speed settings: 3 | Dimmable: No | Size: 48, 60 inches

Why we chose it: Contemporary blades made with wood. 

With six wood-blade finishes, including white, black, natural, and driftwood, and options ranging from galvanized to dark bronze for the motor cover, this fan offers nearly endless opportunities to mix and match in a modern way. We’re guessing that’s why it has become known as a popular best-seller. Our editors love the clean-lined minimalist look that features just three blades. It’s damp UL listed, which means it can handle a fair share of moisture, so you can install it indoors or out. Have a need for speed? This one also goes in forward and backward directions for your preferred flow. 

Best Compact: Honeywell Ocean Breeze Ceiling Fan

Speed settings: 3 | Dimmable: No | Size: 30 inches

Why we chose it: A petite fixture that’s surprisingly efficient at moving air. 

Described by multiple reviewers as a “great little fan,” this pint-size pick is just 30 inches, making it ideal for small spaces like powder rooms and nurseries. And that doesn’t make it any less powerful. One shopper swears it moves as much air as another fan they own that is twice its size. Three combos of reversible blades let you choose your own adventure—light oak or satin nickel; dark chestnut or light oak; white or maple—and then switch things up if you get bored. But the blades aren’t the only things that are reversible: The motor offers an updraft mode to warm up the room in the winter and a downdraft mode to cool things off come summer. 

Best Color: Hunter Dublin Ceiling Fan 

Speed settings: 3 | Dimmable: Yes | Size: 44 inches

Why we chose it: A conversation-starting statement. 

As if plucked straight from the crayon box, the Dublin offers unique palette choices like dusty green and indigo blue to add a subtle pop without going over the top—a vibe even color-phobes can get behind. Funky plastic blades are quiet (it’s “almost silent” according to one shopper) while still looking cool, and the low profile means it’s an ideal fit for lower ceilings. 

Best Minimalist: AllModern Cairns Ceiling Fan

Speed settings: 3 | Dimmable: Yes | Size: 52 inches

AllModern Cairns Ceiling Fan, Wayfair

$507 $290

Why we chose it: To seamlessly blend in with your white ceiling. 

On the flip side, there are plenty out there who’d prefer a ceiling fixture that all but disappears. In that case, you’ll want to opt for AllModern’s Cairns. It ships with everything you’ll need, including the downrod, so making an extra trip to the hardware store will not be required, thank you very much. With a 52-inch blade span, this definitely isn’t a small choice by any means, but its all-white silhouette makes it the opposite of an eyesore. “Sleek, quiet, and easy to install,” one reviewer summarizes. Another adds, “Good-size fan without taking over the whole room.”

Best Modern: Hunter Cranbrook Ceiling Fan 

Speed settings: 3 | Dimmable: Yes | Size: 52 inches

Our editors are big fans of the mid-century modern design and five fun colorways that this one comes in, including powder pink, mint green, and light gray; each is paired with tapered blond wood blades. A dimmable, high-efficient exposed LED bulb gives you total control of the lighting. The low-profile mounting fits flush against ceilings less than 9 feet high.

Best Versatile: Fanimation Zonix Ceiling Fan 

Speed settings: 3 | Dimmable: Yes | Size: 52 inches

Why we chose it: Plenty of choices when it comes to finishes.

You may only need it for one room, but we love that this model from Fanimation would work for many spaces. Mounting options range from flush to 72-inch downrods and six sizes in between, and finishes are aplenty—think: matte black, matte gray, brushed nickel, matte white, and dark bronze. The simple silhouette satisfies most decor styles, and it can be installed with or without the LED light. 

Best Techy: Big Ass Fans Haiku

Speed settings: 3 | Dimmable: Yes | Size: 52 inches

Haiku Smart Fan, Big Ass Fans

$850 $729

Why we chose it: For the smart home owner. 

Thanks to Wi-Fi connectivity, Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility, and app control, our experts agree this fan is a supersmart choice (really, even for the name alone). You can change fan speed and lighting levels, set preferences, schedule routine operations, and enable different modes like “eco” right from your smartphone. Choose from bamboo or aircraft-grade aluminum blades, which come in 10 finishes such as driftwood, oil-rubbed bronze, and brushed copper. Best of all, there are seven airflow speed settings to suit every which way your wind blows. 

More Ceiling Fans We Love

Dempsey Low Profile Indoor Ceiling Fan, Hunter

$150 $118

Hampton Bay Tudor Integrated Ceiling Fan, Home Depot

$209

Leda Indoor Outdoor Ceiling Fan, Lulu and Georgia

$598

Brambling Ceiling Fan, Rejuvenation

$509

How We Chose These Products 

When we put together our list of ceiling fans, we wanted to stick to simpler styles that are versatile, made with durable materials, and quiet. They got bonus points for being potentially outdoor-compatible and Energy Star rated. Above all, we believe that this ceiling fixture should be a balanced blend of form and function—the best-designed products reflect your personal style and are a joy to use. We also paid close attention to reviews and editor- and expert-given advice to make sure these pass the test IRL. 

Our Shopping Checklist

Controls and Settings

Modern fans offer really easy touch-button control, Hiemstra says. “I like having at least three speed settings that give you plenty of options for air movement,” she adds. Control systems are really a matter of preference. Simple ceiling fan controls rely on a wall switch that lets you turn the fan on and off, and adjust the speed with a pull chain. More advanced ceiling fan systems allow you to control the fan’s settings from a wall control or handheld remote. Then there are the smart iterations. “Hunter, for example, has a SIMPLEconnect smart home line of fans that are Wi-Fi enabled and compatible with Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa, which can be controlled with an app on your phone,” Alexander says. 

Lighting Options

Fans with lighting give a room central illumination. “The number of bulbs a ceiling fan features influences the ambience of the space,” Alexander says. Ceiling fans with single-bowl light kits are ideal for bedrooms, offices, kitchens, and living rooms, which require medium-level ambient lighting. For spaces where no other lighting is provided, fans with multi-arm lighting are a great option—these often feature three to four bulbs, depending on their design. The multiple bulbs spread light across the space, brightening the entire room, Alexander says. “Functional single-source lighting provides a space with overall illumination; in spaces where your primary goal is to accentuate decorative elements, a ceiling fan with an integrated downlight kit creates a clean and sophisticated look that won’t overpower the other lighting in the room,” he says. When looking for ceiling fans with lights, Alexander suggests checking for integrated light-dimming features. “Ceiling fans with dimmable lights allow you to set the mood in your space. Wall controls and handheld remotes make the process of adjusting your lighting easy, too,” he adds.  

Installation and Mounting

How high you hang your fan depends on the height of your ceiling. Ceiling fans should be mounted 7 feet from the floor for optimal air circulation, Hiemstra says. Flush-mount fans (meaning the fan is hung right up against the ceiling) are intended for rooms with a ceiling height of around 8 feet or less so the blades hang at a safe distance overhead, Alexander says. Standard ceiling fans, which usually come with a 6-inch downrod, are designed for a room with a ceiling height around 8 to 9 feet. “For sloped or vaulted ceilings exceeding 34 degrees, a sloped ceiling adapter kit must be used to ensure proper ceiling fan installation,” Alexander says. This type of adapter replaces the ceiling fan canopy (the bowl-shaped covering that hides the wires between the ceiling and the fan).

Ask Domino

Q: How do I choose the right size ceiling fan?  

The number of blades you choose really comes down to style preference; what matters most is the total diameter of the fan. “The amount of air circulated by a ceiling fan is determined by its diameter,” explains Alexander. Generally, larger rooms require fans with larger diameters, while smaller spaces require fans with smaller diameters. He advises using fans ranging from 30 to 48 inches in rooms under 100 square feet, such as laundry rooms and powder rooms. For rooms under 400 square feet, such as bedrooms and kitchens, fans ranging from 48 to 54 inches work best. For larger rooms, open-concept spaces, or lofts, ceiling fans 56 inches or larger are ideal. 

Q:  Do ceiling fans use a significant amount of electricity?

The short answer: No, they don’t, especially when compared to air conditioning units. “Adding a ceiling fan can help your home feel up to 6 to 8 degrees cooler, so you won’t be tempted to run your AC as much in the summer,” says Alexander. “By creating a draft in the room, your air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard and you can save up to 47 percent on cooling costs.”

“If every household in America turned on their ceiling fan and turned up their air conditioner just 4 degrees for the entire day, together we could save nearly $13 billion in energy costs this summer alone,” says Alexander. Experts also recommend considering the CFM measurement when buying a fan. “This stands for cubic feet per minute and refers to the measurement of how much air is moved by a ceiling fan,” he adds. “More energy-efficient ceiling fans produce higher airflow while consuming less energy than standard fans.” Also, look for the Energy Star label—these fans move air 20 percent more efficiently, on average, than standard models.