We buy all the products we test — no freebies from companies. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission, which helps support our testing.
We bought seven top table fans for in-house testing in our lab and real-world testing in our homes. Our side-by-side analysis compared important features like power, perceived noise, and sturdiness and measured each fan's size.
The Honeywell Kaz HT-904 is the best model for most people. It is nearly silent on the low setting but cranks up to create a refreshing breeze on the highest setting. It also comes at a great price.
Not sure which type of fan you need? Check out our favorite fans in our general overview, which spans multiple fan types and outlines the best models for different applications. Our home appliance experts have also tested space-saving options like tower fans and selected the top floor fans and window fans for moving serious amounts of air.
Editor's Note: On December 2, 2024, we updated our selection and award recommendations.
Designed on a solid base, the Honeywell HT-904 has a hemisphere casing that houses the fan and motor on a U-shaped harness. The airflow produced by the motor has three settings that push out a range of 4.3 to 6.4 mph wind, all on a head that will tilt vertically up to 90º. You can incrementally adjust the speed to suit your preference. Changing the settings is simple, and it can work well on most desktops due to the cord's 6-foot length. This model can also be wall-mounted.
Despite the solid airflow, the Honeywell HT-904 does not have an oscillating setting. And, with a noise level of 51 dBa on high, it creates more of a racket than most of the fans we tested. For desktop use, the head's pivot is a decent range. However, if you want to mount it on the wall, it is hard to reverse the airflow because you have to un-mount it, flip it 180º, and re-mount it. Regardless, the airflow is impressive when you consider the small stature of this fan, and the noise it produces is pretty quiet compared to table fans with equal power.
The Genesis 6-inch Clip is compact, lightweight, and quiet across all settings. The clip mode is great for a headboard or the side of the desk. It's a good choice for tight spaces with its relatively low airflow — 1.7mph on low, 3 on high. Additionally, the rubber feet on the clip are grippy and insulating, so the fan won't take itself for a walk or vibrate your keyboard off the desk. This fan is also simple to clean; just remove the screen with the turn of a screw and get to work.
We like the clip configuration on this unit, but we found the tabletop stand option slightly flimsy and fairly easy to knock off balance. The 5-foot-long cord that can pull at the unit further exacerbates this issue. Moreover, the head pivot is limited to 130º due to the clip configuration. However, oscillation and pivot are possible when using the stand, and we think this table fan is an excellent inexpensive option.
Keeping cool with the fan in its traditional stand configuration.
This 360º pivoting Vornado PivotC clip fan is a preferred deskspace air stimulator. This model gives off a pleasant breeze while going virtually unnoticed due to its extremely compact size and moderate noise output. Moreover, the clip is small but effective and won't eat up precious desk space, and the long cord provides more options for placement.
The caveat to this personal space fan is that the clip is neither deep nor wide, so this fan won't work on thick or beveled surfaces. Additionally, this model does not oscillate, and the airflow coming off the fan is only noticeable within 10 feet. That said, this unit is inexpensive and effective when it's within close proximity to you.
What makes the Treva 10-Inch Desktop Battery Fan stand out in the class of table fans is its slender profile and ability to run on 6 D-cell batteries if needed. Both features make it a go-to for those desiring a table fan for travel. The machine also produces a high wind speed of 4.5 mph at 3 feet, which is gentle but still detectable at 20 feet.
This fan's flat design makes it easy to pack. Unfortunately, this same feature limits it from oscillating and pivoting. Also, while the unit is compact, if it's loaded up with batteries, that adds about 2.5 pounds to its weight. Despite these limitations, you can't do better than this portable desktop air circulator if you need a fan for your on-the-go lifestyle.
Compact, but the base is narrow and less stable than others in the class.
The Comfort Zone Oscillating 3 Speed is the big kid in the class, assuming a more mature look. The traditional design enables the fan to both pivot and oscillate. The unit has three speeds, and the airflow produced is above average and can be felt across a moderate-sized room. Moreover, the rubber feet under the base provide ample grip on smooth and firm surfaces.
On the downside, this unit requires some assembly, and the final build feels a bit flimsy. As an additional critique, we found the black-on-black labeling of the speed setting buttons difficult to read. Despite these shortcomings, we think the ease of taking apart the screen and blade for periodic cleaning more than compensated for the drawbacks.
This big boy is nice for open spaces but a little too big for the average desk.
The Vornado Flippi V6 is a pint-size desktop fan that is best suited to circulating air in a personal space. The footprint of this little tyke is among the smallest in the class, and the purr of the rotor and motor is soft enough to go unnoticed. Additionally, the 6.5-foot cord will accommodate most outlet locations without the need for an extension cord, and the ~130º pivoting head provides sufficient airflow options.
Unfortunately, the Vornado Flippi V6 does not oscillate, perhaps because the unit is too light to remain stable with side-to-side movement. To prevent a tip-over, we had to use two hands when turning the control dial. This fan's small size also makes cleaning difficult — enough so that the user manual recommends using a vacuum with the brush attachment. Still, the fan is great for tight spaces, and it folds up when unneeded, adding to its minimalist appeal.
A wise man once said, looks aren't everything, but they ain't nothin' either. The Vornado VFAN proves this point because it maintained its visual appeal despite its lackluster performance in our testing. The metal head and domed motor cover present a circa 1960s vibe that ensures this unit will look good on a bookshelf or wooden desk for years to come.
Unfortunately, in terms of performance and maintenance, the Vornado VFAN has several marks against it. It is noisy in comparison to its competitors. It does not oscillate, and it will only produce perceptible air movement within 15 feet. Additionally, the signature “V” head design does not come apart easily, making the interior hard to clean. Yet, the fan can pivot up to 180º and maintains a sleek look.
A classic look in miniature.
Credit: Laura Casner
How We Test Table Fans
Using our test team's background and experimental knowledge, we began by defining the perfect table fan. We then broke up the aspects of this imagined product into multiple avenues of investigation for our testing. These criteria were power, noise, size, and stability. We utilized an anemometer at multiple distances to determine wind speed and measured their noise output in decibels. The ideal tabletop fan would be a small, quiet, sturdy machine that can produce a wide range of revolutions per minute. Simply put, we want the air to move, but we don't want to notice what's moving it.
Why Trust GearLab
Senior research analyst Austin Palmer has been testing electronics, and home appliances specifically, for several years. His previous employment operating oil derricks produced a callused-hands perspective on product testing. Supplementing this approach is Senior Review Editor Nick Miley, who has earned his daily bread as a custom finish carpenter, shipwright, and wind turbine technician. His understanding of rotating machines — be they hand tools, boat props, or turbines — was paramount for evaluating table fans.
Our research revealed that having a cordless option is nice but expensive and heavy.
The Honeywell HT-904 is a solid tabletop option that fits smaller spaces and budgets.
Anemometer and a tape measure proved accurate information about a fan's windspeed output.
Analysis and Test Results
To test the quality of these machines, we ran several tests assessing their power, perceived noise, dimensions, and sturdiness. The details of this analysis and the products that performed the best in each are discussed below.
Power
For our purposes, power is simply how much air a fan can move on its highest setting.
Wind speed at three feet is the primary way we assessed a fan's power. Here the anemometer takes a reading.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Some folks might not be looking for a stiff breeze across their desk, in which case the Vornado models offer a softer touch with a top speed near 2 mph. Alternatively, if airflow at a distance is what you require, consider the Honeywell HT-904 or the Comfort Zone, which generate noticeable air movement at 20 feet.
One tester getting blown away by this powerful fan.
Credit: Austin Palmer
To standardize this evaluation, we used an anemometer (i.e., a wind speed meter) at 3 feet in a direct line from the fan. This distance was selected because it's the minimal range needed to cover a typical table with air movement. To give the experiment a more real-world feel, we also turned our cheek to the machine at 20 feet to see if we could detect any air movement. If we did not, we moved closer to the fan until we felt a breeze.
Perceived Noise
Similar to the power tests, our noise analysis evaluated the sound (measured in decibels) put out by each machine at three feet. The Genesis, Vornado Flippi V6, and Treva were the quietest of the bunch, issuing little more than a whisper from the blades and motor. However, the noise emanating from the Treva was higher pitched and thus more noticeable despite the low reading on our sound level meter.
Decibels (dBa) at three feet away is one way we measured perceived noise. The pitch was another.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Generally speaking, there is a strong correlation between the noise level produced by the fan and the amount of air it can move. However, because more powerful fans are necessarily set further away from the user, they may be perceived as quieter. The opposite is true for quieter fans. As we discuss below, the quietest and least powerful are almost always the smallest fans.
In general, smaller equals quieter. This pivot head machine just whispers.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Size
Fan size matters when they're taking up precious desk or tabletop real estate to supply airflow. The manufacturers address this issue with a few different designs. Perhaps the most effective at minimizing the footprint are the clip and clamp models like the Vornado PivotC and the Genesis. However, some tables can't accommodate a clamp because they're too deep, or the edge is beveled. In that case, the Vornado Flippi V6 and the Treva are the best bets.
Regardless of the table size you have in mind, there's a fan that will fit your needs.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Of course, height is an aspect worth considering as well. The Vornado Flippi V6 is the shortest of the group at just 6.5 inches. The Vornado PivotC is also small in stature at 8.75 inches. On the other end of the spectrum, the Comfort Zone is an 18-inch monster, while the Honeywell HT-904 is a rangy 14.25 inches.
The broad base and squat center of gravity make this machine a winner.
Credit: Laura Casner
Sturdiness
Sturdiness refers to how well-balanced or secured a fan is, as well as our assessment of the quality of the design and manufacturing. No one wants a fan that is, for example, top-heavy or wobbly. Similarly, no one wants a rattly or squeaky unit — not only because this is annoying, but because it can be indicative of problems to come. The Honeywell HT-904 as well as the Genesis set the standard in comparison to their peers. At their highest speeds, these machines are reasonably quiet, steady on their stands, and (in the case of the Genesis) secure when clipped.
This hollow base and lengthy cord creates some possible problems with tipping.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Conversely, the Treva issued an unusual electrical whirring sound that we found alarming and a bit worrisome. Similarly, the Comfort Zone had an annoying rattle right out of the box that gave us pause and caused us to speculate about the quality of the manufacturing. As for balance issues, the Genesis in its free-standing configurations is top-heavy and prone to vibrating on hard surfaces.
There were some fans that issued less than ideal high pitched noises, particularly when set to high.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Conclusion
There's a fair amount to consider when shopping for a table fan. However, we tried to structure this review to make it easy to compare all aspects of fan performance. These are power, sturdiness, noise output, and last but not least, size. With these metrics to guide you, we hope it's a breeze to find the right fan to match your needs and budget.
