The Best Tower Fans

Buying Guide

Floor fans used to not only be unsightly but also space-consuming. With the advent of tower fans, though, consumers now have the best of both worlds. You can slip a tower fan into a corner and cool a decently sized area without it being all that noticeable.

But not all tower fans are the same. The most important feature is how effective your fan is at cooling, but there are a variety of factors that determine that. Some fans have integrated thermostats designed to keep an area at a specific temperature, while others only give you various settings options. With a remote, the latter isn’t all that inconvenient since they let you change how the fan reacts without having to walk over to the unit.

Like tabletop and floor versions, tower fans usually are best when they oscillate, distributing the air across an area rather than blasting you steadily. But oscillation can take up additional room. If that’s a concern, consider a tower fan that oscillates internally, meaning the exterior of the unit stays steady.

Bladeless fans have become increasingly popular in recent years, providing the same airflow without putting your family’s safety at risk. Bladeless tower fans are also easier to clean, so keep that in mind while you’re deciding between a bladeless and a bladed fan.

A bonus feature of some tower fans is an air ionizer, which not only keeps you cool but purifies the air as it works. This feature doesn’t make the fan that much more expensive, and it can save you the money you would have spent on a separate air ionizer.

One major deciding factor when searching for a tower fan is cost. Many fans are affordable, but you will find some tower fans that are much more expensive. You’ll get additional features for that cost, but only you can decide whether those items are important enough to shell out hundreds of extra dollars.

• If you prefer a fan that allows you to “set it and forget it,” consider the Honeywell Quiet Set Whole Room Tower Fan. You choose from eight different cooling options that keep your area at the desired temperature. These settings are power cool, cool, refresh, relax, white noise, calm, whisper and sleep. Most other fans operate on a three-speed setup, which is nice but doesn’t give you as much control as the Honeywell.
• Although you may not think about it when you’re looking simply at cooling power, some models pack in special air ionizer technology that keeps your air pure by removing dust from your immediate surroundings.
• Traditional fans can be dangerous for a variety of reasons. But bladeless fans keep little fingers safe. However, you don’t have to spend more to get that safety. Even though some towers aren’t bladeless, their cages are built so that even small fingers can’t get past them.
• While the Honeywell Quiet Set Whole Room Tower Fan oscillates, there are tower fans that actually oscillate internally, which means the external housing doesn’t move.
• One quick decider as you’re shopping will likely be price. No matter what features you’re looking for in a fan, you’re sure to find one that fits your budget.