Summer temperatures are back and while we can’t get enough in our downtime (hello weekend BBQs!), trying to sleep or work from home when it’s boiling out is challenging.
Most of the UK’s new builds are built to withstand British winters, which means plenty of insulation to keep us warm and toasty. That’s all well and good until summer hits the northern hemisphere, and the mercury starts to nudge towards the 30-degrees mark.
It’s these weeks that have the general public wishing for home air conditioning. And while you can get such machines, not everyone has the space or finances to accommodate. Enter the trusty old fan, something to keep the air circulating, pushing out the warmth to make way for fresh and (hopefully) cooler breezes.
There are models galore, from desk fans for localised cooling as you work, watch TV or try to drift off to sleep. High-spec bladeless options that work via app and are safe around kids and pets. There are tower fans, which sit in the corner, radiating cool air around the room. And there are pedestal fans which prop the fan head up on a stand to expel warm air from the middle of the room.
Also known as standing fans, a pedestal design is not only lightweight for easy portable use but the heads usually oscillate too, meaning it’s particularly effective at cooling down a room quickly. Most offer a range of speed settings allowing you to fine-tune your breezes to suit you best.
Aside from looks and function, one of the biggest things to consider is noise - especially if you plan to use the fan at night or while watching telly. Also think about storage; is there somewhere you can put the fan once summer is over?
We’ve rounded up the best pedestal fans to buy now before temperatures rise even further, along with the prices.
From budget to boujee, it’s the onlyfans list worth looking at (sorry).
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Duux Whisper Grey Pedestal Fan - 37 Inch
Speed settings: 26
Awarded a much-lauded QuietMark, Duux offers powerful cooling quickly and quietly, getting your space back to a comfortable temperature. When it says it’s whisper quiet, it means it: we’re talking 13dBa, which is slightly louder than breathing.
Add to that the fact that there are no less than 26 settings to pick from, and you can’t fail to find exactly the right kind of breeze to suit. It oscillates both horizontally and vertically to leave no hot spots uncovered.
The cord stretches 2.2m so you’re not stuck to mains power. Comes with a two-year manufacturer’s guarantee.
Buy now £110.50, Argos
Duux Whisper Flex Ultimate smart fan 103cm
Speed settings: 30
Hitting warm air from practically any angle, Duux’s smart fan can be controlled through the Duux app and responds to voice commands through Amazon Alex and Google Assistant.
This smarty pants fan offers a sizable menu of 30 settings, churning out 800 M³/H of airflow at full tilt. It can swing both horizontally as well as vertically and uses double blades to flood your space with as much fresh air as possible. Oh, and it can go from floor-standing to desk-side just by adjusting the stand.
A warm weather essential.
Buy now £153.00, Argos
Geosmartpro AirLit smart fan
Speeds: four modes
There are pedestal fans, and then there’s this device, which not only blows cool air through multiple speeds and modes, but also comes with a light-up mirror and rotation angles that could rival an Olympic gymnast. We’re talking 180° vertical and 270° flex rotation.
Having an illuminated mirror packed onto it as well as a phone holder makes it one for bloggers or for those who want to be able to do their makeup without it melting before it should. It’s also useful for Zoom calls.
What’s more, the telescopic stand can be shortened to the extent that it can be transformed into a desk fan. The already-impressive list of features goes on: it has an eight-hour timer, stepless dimming from 10 to 100 per cent, and it’s a fan that works hard for its RRP.
Buy now £69.99, Selfridges
Russell Hobbs RHMPF1601WDB 16inch Pedestal Fan
Speed settings: 3
Where most designers use utilitarian metal or plastic on pedestal fans, Russell Hobbs has instead leaned on our Nordic neighbours for inspiration.
The wood-effect finish looks straight out of a chic wood cabin, making it especially fitting for homes that embrace a natural or Midcentury aesthetic. Four blades spin on three speed settings and you can tilt the head to different angles so you’re always in the flow, wherever you’re sitting. Comes with a one-year manufacturer’s guarantee.
Buy now £66.99, Currys
Honeywell Advanced QuietSet Pedestal Fan
Speed settings: 5
The last thing you want when you’re trying to drift off is the clatter of a fan keeping you awake. This model has quiet in its very name, guaranteeing blissfully peaceful and cool nights. There are five settings to enable whole room cooling, and a remote to allow you to operate without having to get out of bed.
Even better a timer with an automatic shut-off means you can drift off without worrying about leaving the fan running all night.
Buy now £89.00, Wilko
John Lewis Spectrum Circulator Stand Mount Fan
Speed settings: 4
A well-made fan with all the basic functions - oscillating, check; tiltable, check - this is a great design at a decent price.
As well as four-speed settings, there are three wind modes to choose from to customise your airflow further. Fall asleep in peace knowing the shut-off will trigger automatically once the timer is up, or turn off using the battery-powered remote control.
This 10-inch fan is weighty at 4kg, so best placed in a corner where it won’t be disturbed.
Buy now £52.50, John Lewis
John Lewis ANYDAY Pedestal Fan
Speed settings: 3
If you’re after a basic fan to see you through a few weeks of hot weather, John Lewis has it nailed with this ice-white model in its ANYDAY range.
Spanning 16 inches and with a 1.5m cord, there are three speeds to pick from as well as an oscillating function which is useful for keeping stifling air moving. You can also keep it stationary for the one spot you want to keep cool.
Buy now £21.00, John Lewis
BONECO F220 Air Shower floor-standing fan 85cm
Settings: 4
Some days are so screamingly warm, they make you want to stand inside a wind tunnel. Boneco’s Swiss-made design answers that breezy daydream, with 270-degree manual rotation, multiple speed levels and a max of 33W power usage.
Thanks to the deep blades, the flow will flood your indoor spaces and circulate air effectively around the entire room, bringing the temperature back down to reasonable levels.
If you’ve got high ceilings or multiple floors that you want to cool, the Boneco F220 is ideal: it will pour cool air in, just like a shower, to help you regulate temperatures quickly and quietly.
Buy now £189.99, Amazon
LOGIK L16PFGM17 16” Pedestal Fan - Gun Metal
Settings: 3
This triple-speed fan will cut through stuffy rooms like bedrooms and home offices quickly and quietly, taking up as little room as possible. With adjustable height and wide blades to project air more efficiently, it’s the perfect investment buy to have in place as summer begins.
It’s a design that is made to last but should the worst happen, breakdown support is available, and you can also get a three-year replacement for an extra £9.60.
Buy now £34.99, Currys
FUTURA Oscillating Pedestal Standing Fan
Settings: 3
This three-speed fan comes with a remote control as well as a telescopic stand, making it simple to set up and control from wherever you are in the room - particularly helpful for anyone with mobility issues.
Operated by mains power, the 16” head oscillates so air projection will reach most corners of the room and there’s a built-in timer function too, which means you can keep it on to cut through muggy nights as you sleep without worrying about having to turn it off.
Best of all, it does all this while using as little power as possible (50W), making it one of the most economical and eco-friendly fans available.
Comes with a two-year guarantee.
Buy now £41.99, Amazon
AirGo Smart Fan
Settings: 6
Picture the scene: a sweltering night before a day WFH. Avoid toiling at a stuffy desk and turn your fan on while you’re brushing your teeth; the AirGo can be controlled through an accompanying app. You can use it to adjust the speed or temperature when you’re busy fixing lunch or making a call - handy if the fan is on the other side of the room.
It also works with Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa voice assistants so you don’t even have to use your handset if it’s charging or not in the immediate vicinity.
Noise-wise, it comes with noise-reduction technology which means it won’t make a racket when you need to concentrate or are trying to get off to sleep.
Buy now £99.99, Amazon
