The best desk fans — after testing, these are the only 6 I’d recommend for smaller spaces and WFH setups

Whether you're short on floor space or simply need a quick fix to beat the (ever-increasing) heat in the UK, a desk fan is the perfect solution, combining portability and cooling ability. But choosing the best desk fan for you can be a challenge... which is where I come in.

Although many assume that the tower and pedestal models in our best fans guide offer more impressive, full-size cooling power, oftentimes small desk fans are just as powerful, if not more so. From my own testing experience, they're also typically cheaper and much easier to store and move around the house. However, these desk fans do come in many different shapes and forms.

That's why I've compared the best desk fans the Ideal Home team has rigorously tested and chosen the ones I believe are well worth the investment. These suit those looking for a smart desk fan, a quiet desk fan, or one that can be seamlessly incorporated into your home decor. Alternatively, this guide may help you realise that one of the best portable air conditioners may suit you better.

Best desk fans 2025

Best desk fans

Best desk fan overall

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The MeacoFan 1056 Air Circulator Fan has been crowned the 'best overall' fan in our main fan guide, but we were so blown away by this small, powerful desk fan that we knew it had to take the top spot in this guide, too.

Developed by the leading air quality brand, Meaco, this air circulator has the power to move 1056 cubic metres of air each hour, all thanks to its impressive DC motor. During testing, our reviewer also found that the oscillating multi-directional operation ensured the whole room was cooled.

In fact, we found that the MeacoFan really thrived when compared against the cheaper Honeywell Turbo Force Power Fan and the Russell Hobbs 12" Scandi Desk Fan, as its cooling powers were obvious, and it didn't feel like the fan was simply blowing hot air around the space.

It's also incredibly easy to use thanks to the remote control that comes as standard, is one of the quietest fans on this list, and comes with a whole host of extra features that allow you to customise it to your needs and requirements. It's a little pricier than other models here, but it's also not the most expensive. So, it's the perfect all-rounder.

Read our full MeacoFan 1056 Air Circulator review for more details.

Best budget desk fan

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A bestseller on Amazon and an affordable desk fan that definitely won't break the bank, the Honeywell Turbo Force Power Fan still packs a powerful punch that'll help you through the warmer months of the year.

Of course, it is on the more basic end of the spectrum, and you shouldn't expect too many bells and whistles from a £30 desk fan, but our reviewer loved the fact that it was so light at just 1.3kg - only slightly heavier than the John Lewis & Partners Handheld and Foldable Desk Fan. This made moving it around the house incredibly easy.

Controlled by a numbered knob on the back of the desk fan, you can choose from three speed settings and then move it to a position that works for you and your cooling needs. Our tester found this to be incredibly easy, as you can choose from one of five positions - from pointing straight ahead to turning it 90 degrees upwards.

The only real downsides discovered during testing were that this budget desk fan lacks an oscillating feature, is less powerful than other fans on the market, and is noticeably louder. But if you're looking for an affordable desk fan for sporadic use, it should suit you just fine.

Read our full Honeywell Turbo Force Power Fan review for more details.

Best multi-purpose desk fan

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Although primarily known for its floorcare, Shark has quickly become a key player in the aircare game recently - as seen in its Shark NeverChange5 Air Purifier and the new Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo fan, which offers a built-in misting function for sunny days in the garden.

The Shark FlexBreeze Portable Fan is very similar to the latter release, but doesn't come with the built-in misting function (although you can buy an attachment for that if you want to). However, this model, that's well-loved by the Ideal Home team, can still be used both indoors and outdoors. After all, it's completely cordless.

And while some people may buy this fan as a pedestal fan, our Content Director for Homes Ecommerce, Lindsey, regularly uses the brand's Lift Away technology to turn it into a desk fan when she wants more targeted cooling around the house.

Our Deputy Digital Editor, Rebecca, has also used both the Shark FlexBreeze and the Duux fan in this guide, and she's stated that the noise levels are on par with each other when they're on their lowest speeds.

Best quiet desk fan

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The Duux Whisper Flex Ultimate Fan wowed our tester, Amy, during testing, mainly because it was so whisper-quiet while in operation. But while the noise levels were low, the cooling power was not. The fact that this model can also be used as either a pedestal or a desk fan was also a major plus.

With an incredible 30 speed settings (18 more settings than its nearest competitor, the MeacoFan), this particular desk fan is decked out in all kinds of impressive settings and features, such as smart functionality, a cordless design, night mode, goal temperature mode, and more. Amy particularly enjoyed using the 'natural wind’ mode, which offers a gentler cooling power.

At just 13-50 dB, it's also the quietest fan we've tested so far, making it perfect for those who work from home or struggle to sleep amidst the distinct whirring of most fans.

Of course, the only real downside is the price of this model. While it won't suit those looking for a cheap and cheerful desk fan, our tester felt that it was well worth the investment if you're looking for a durable, powerful, quiet, and stylish new fan you'll use regularly.

Read our full Duux Whisper Flex Ultimate Fan review for more details.

Best handheld desk fan

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If you don't have the space for a full-size desk fan but still need a little break from the heat while you're working, the John Lewis & Partners Handheld and Foldable Fan is a small fan that many of the Ideal Home editors would recommend.

At just £12, it's the cheapest desk fan we've got our hands on so far, and you can choose from four stylish colourways, too - white, sage, lake blue, or sunburst orange. But despite being so affordable, it's still enough to keep you cool while you're working.

With three speed settings and a foldable design that allows you to sit and angle it perfectly on your table, you can even use it for up to 9 hours on its low speed, 6 hours on medium speed, and 4 hours on high speed. Then, you simply charge it through the USB cable.

Our Managing Editor, Thea, also tested this particular model against an Amazon bestseller of a similar price, and she found the John Lewis model to be far superior. She's not the only one, either, as there are almost 2,500 5-star reviews on the John Lewis website at the time of writing.

Best desk fan for design

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Incorporating a new appliance into your home decor can be difficult, but the Russell Hobbs 12" Scandi Desk Fan makes it easy thanks to its Scandinavian-inspired design, wood-effect finish, and choice of colourways (white or black).

It's not just pretty to look at, though. It's also an affordable desk fan with 3 speed settings and a toggle that you push in to make the fan oscillate left and right by 90 degrees, or pull out for static airflow.

The one thing our tester, Amy, did find was that it was quite difficult and time-consuming to assemble. So, bear this in mind if you don't want the hassle of building your new appliance. If that's the case, you might want to opt for the pre-assembled MeacoFan instead.

It's also not that high-tech; it's simply a fan with a twistable knob on the back to change settings. But it'll suit you well if you don't want too many bells and whistles.

Read our full Russell Hobbs 12" Scandi Desk Fan review for more details.

Best desk fan comparison at a glance

How we test

At Ideal Home, we take how we test products extremely seriously. We only ever want to recommend products that we have hands-on experience with, and every desk fan on this list has been tested for at least two weeks (or sometimes more) to help us come to an honest and reliable verdict on whether they're worth the money or not.

We also make sure every desk fan goes through a strict testing process, focusing on the following:

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- The unboxing and setting up process to note the size and manoeuvrability of the box, how eco-friendly the packaging is, and whether the desk fan comes pre-assembled or requires assembling before use. If it does require assembly, we will always assess how long this takes and how hard it is.

- The overall performance of the desk fan, as there's no point buying a fan that doesn't help to beat the heat - especially if you want to keep a bedroom cool during hotter weather. This is a largely subjective test determined by the comfort of the reviewer, but, where possible, we will also use a thermometer to note the temperature changes in a room.

- How easy the desk fan is to use is also another factor we test, taking into account the appliance's controls (i.e are the controls on the appliance or can you use a remote control?) and how difficult it is to switch speed settings and mode.

- The portability of the desk fan is important to note, as desk fans are typically smaller and used around the house. If it's heavy, this will be more difficult for those with mobility or dexterity issues.

- We also assess the future maintenance requirements of the desk fan, as this could be an extra cost if you need to replace filters or batteries. In most cases, you'll simply need to clean your fan, but it's important to know if there's more to it than that.

- We also like to compare the desk fans to others we have tested, as this allows us to come up with a well-rounded verdict and determine which features suit certain people.

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With all of the above at our disposal, we can then assign the best desk fans a dedicated star rating. They are as follows:

5 stars - an exceptional desk fan that does exactly what you expect and cannot be faulted.

4.5 stars - we always look at products with a critical eye, so any desk fan that leaves us wishing for a bit more will take that crucial half-mark.

4 stars - an amazing desk fan that is worth your money, but may need some fine-tuning before it suits everyone.

3 stars - a good desk fan that works well but doesn't blow us away. It may be under-specced, too expensive, or difficult to use.

2 stars - the desk fan lacks key features but is affordable, so it may suit someone if they're in a rut.

1 star - the desk fan does not work as intended, and we would advise you not to buy it.

How to choose the best desk fan

While this guide should help you choose the best desk fan for your needs, I understand that the process can be daunting, and you may question whether an air conditioner would suit you better or whether a pedestal or tower fan would be a more practical option.

However, there are some questions you can ask yourself to make the process easier. These are:

• What size is the desk fan? If your plan is to pop a fan quite literally on your desk while you're working, you need to be conscious of how much space you have to work with. This is especially true as an oscillating fan is better than a still fan, so if you opt for a desk fan with oscillating functionalities, it needs to have space to move.
• How many speed settings does it have? Although no fan actively cools a room, the air circulation of a fan does help to expel the hot air, cooling a room in the process. So, if you have a hot house, you should opt for a desk fan that has more speed settings.
• How noisy is it? If you're easily distracted while you're working or sleeping, you should also pay attention to the noise levels of the desk fan. This should be included within the specs of the product in decibels, and the higher the decibels, the louder the appliance. If you want a quieter model, try to opt for a desk fan that has the Quiet Mark accreditation.
• How heavy is it? The beauty of desk fans is that they're more portable than pedestal or tower fans, and they're generally a lot lighter. This allows you to avoid the places you shouldn't put a fan and aids those with mobility issues or limited strength.

FAQs

Are desk fans expensive to run?

Generally, desk fans are not that expensive to run and will set you back just pennies to keep it on for a couple of hours; however, the exact cost of running a fan (desk fan or not) will entirely depend on several different factors such as wattage, size, and power source. If your desk fan requires it to be plugged into an outlet during use, then you can calculate it as you would any other electric fan.

'To work out the cost of running a fan, you need to know how much you pay for one unit of energy (1kw), which should be listed on your energy bill. According to Ofgem, the national average price per pence/kWh of electricity is 24.5p,' explains Andy Kerr, founder of BOXT.

'Next, you need to work out the kW output of your fan. You can do this by checking its wattage, which can be found on the fan or the instruction leaflet. Once you know the wattage, convert this figure into kilowatt-hours by simply dividing the wattage by 1,000. This will reveal the amount of energy your fan uses per hour.'

'Multiply these two figures, the cost of a unit of energy by the kW output of your fan, and that will be how much it costs to run your fan per hour. To work out how much this is costing you per day, you can multiply by how many hours your fan is switched on.'

Are desk fans worth it?

Yes, investing in a desk fan is definitely worth it, especially if you're someone who is often tied down to desk work for the majority of the day because of an office-style job or other creative endeavours.

As long as you've done your research or opted for tried and tested recommendations, chances are you won't be disappointed with your choice to invest in a desk fan. Better yet, you can still own some really great desk fans that won't cost you very much upfront at all to ease you into preparing for a potential greater purchase.

Can you leave a desk fan on overnight?

Generally, yes, you can leave a desk fan on overnight to help make sleeping conditions more comfortable during hot weather. However, it's more advisable you do this with models that require being plugged into a direct outlet or are rechargeable rather than with desk fans that requiring a USB connection so as to not risk overheating.