Portable fans keep you cool during summer—whether you need an extra breeze while entertaining outdoors or on a covered porch. Their flexible power sources make them easy to use anywhere, and their automatic shut-off features help preserve battery power.
Quiet portable fans are especially useful to keep cool at night or in an office where you want to avoid disturbing others, while a wearable fan can come in handy everywhere you walk.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Best Convertible:
Shark FlexBreeze Fan With InstaCool Mist Attachment at Amazon$200
Best Wearable:
Best for Battery Powered:
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What We Like
Durable and effective
Two power options
Great battery life
What We Don’t Like
Battery and charger set cost extra
The Milwaukee M18 Jobsite Fan has a lot of cooling power, a sturdy design, and can be powered by a Milwaukee rechargeable battery or a regular plug. When operating on its lowest mode, the unit can run for up to 17 hours on its battery, making it a great option for long projects, like a garage makeover in the peak of hot weather.
You can still plug it into an outlet, but the battery and charger set costs extra, so you'll only be able to use it plugged in if you don't add that to your cart. It uses standard Milwaukee 18v batteries though, so you may already have a compatible battery if you have any 18v Milwaukee drills or saws.
The fan lacks an oscillation feature, but it can be tilted to 120 degrees and has nine locking positions, so you can control the direction where it circulates air. It also has three different speed settings and on its highest setting, the fan can reach a maximum air velocity of 18 miles per hour. Despite that, it's not noisy.
Despite being compact and light, it's is not flimsy. Plus, there are four keyhole hangers built into it, too, so you can hang it up to circulate air above you.
Dimensions: 14.07 x 10.29 x 7.15 inches | Weight: 5.2 pounds | Power Source: Battery-powered
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What We Like
Multiple ways to use
Very light and compact
Quiet operation
Two power source options
What We Don’t Like
Only one power setting
Batteries not included
With an under-$20 price tag and a well-functioning design, the Honeywell Turbo On The Go Fan is our favorite budget-friendly portable fan. The fan is incredibly compact and lightweight, weighing just under half a pound. It has a lot of useful modes as well, and you can use it as a desk fan, hang it up on a hook or exercise equipment hand, or use it as a handheld fan.
This model only has one speed setting, but it offers a good amount of air movement considering its size. That being said, the closer you are to the fan, the more you will get out of its cooling power because this small, handheld-friendly fan is not going to offer you the same power as a larger stand-alone model.
One of this fan’s greatest features is its quiet operation. When paired with its small size, that makes it an unobtrusive option you can use in a variety of spaces. You can also choose to power it by plugging it into a power source with a USB cable or with AA batteries. While the fan comes with a USB cord, it does not come with batteries.
Dimensions: 12.5 x 4.74 inches | Weight: 0.49 pounds | Power Source: Batteries or USB cable
Best Convertible
Shark FlexBreeze Fan With InstaCool Mist Attachment
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What We Like
Five speed settings
Can tilt and oscillate
Misting feature
What We Don't Like
Heavier than other portable fans
After testing the Shark Flexbreeze Fan, we can confirm it does it all. The fan transforms from tabletop to standing with the touch of a button and the clearly marked button makes it easy to detach the fan from its pedestal. The fan then has a post that opens into legs to stand the fan on your desk or dining table.
We loved the five fan speeds, the oscillation feature, and the manual tilt mechanism that ensured our fan was always at the perfect angle. You can control it all with the included remote, and it connects to the back of the fan via a magnet, so it won't get lost.
Even on the highest setting (boost mode), the fan remained unobtrusive. There's also a misting feature for really warm days—just add the included misting attachment to the front of the fan and connect your hose.
Despite being corded fan, you can also use it on just the battery, which will run for 24 hours. While the blades are exposed, there's not enough room to stick your fingers inside, so we would feel safe using the fan around children.
The only downsides of this fan are that it's quite heavy (the heaviest on our list), even without the pedestal, and you can only recharge it on the pedestal, so it's best suited for around the house.
Dimensions: 13.8 x 13.8 x 37 inches | Weight: 12,2 pounds | Power Source: Corded electric or rechargeable battery
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What We Like
Adjustable
Built-in handle and hanging option
What We Don’t Like
Battery life could be better
We recommend the Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless Hybrid Whisper Series Fan Kit for anyone looking for a portable fan that’s especially quiet, but still powerful. This fan lets you choose from a low-speed option of 930 RPM, a medium-speed option of 1,500 RPM, and a high-speed option of 1,850 RPM. The fan can be tilted up to 160 degrees and it has a hanging option.
RPM
RPM stands for revolutions per minute.
This is a fairly lightweight fan (it weighs under 4 pounds), and it has a built-in handle on top, so it’s easy to carry. You can power up the unit with its battery (it'll run for up to six hours) or AC adaptor. On the job site, you can just pop on a new battery when the current one dies since it uses standard Ryobi 18v batteries. It's a similar setup to our best overall—the batteries work with other Ryobi power tools.
Dimensions: 15.5 x 12.9 x 11.2 inches | Weight: 3.9 pounds | Power Source: Corded electric or rechargeable battery
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What We Like
Flexible tripod handle
Great battery life
Includes built-in LED lights
What We Don’t Like
Fragile tripod legs
Some ship with the wrong cable
Handheld fans need to be especially flexible, which is why we like this Amacool fan so much. Instead of a basic handle, it's built on a flexible tripod that lets you stick it just about anywhere you need a cooling breeze. It's especially good for clipping onto a stroller handle or exercise equipment, and you can also set it up like a desktop fan or fold the legs together to hold it like a regular handheld fan.
We love that the cover is designed with openings closer together than normal for added safety (making it great for strollers), and it also has a built-in LED light with three settings to work as a nightlight or flashlight.
Amacool says that this fan lasts up to 10 hours between charges, so you can easily leave it on all night while you're sleeping. Plus, you can use it while it's plugged in and charging.
The tripod legs are especially flexible and useful but they are a little fragile. That isn't an issue if you use it in handheld mode, but you may want to be a little careful when wrapping and unwrapping the legs from around a stroller handle.
Dimensions: 5.10 x 1.65 x 1.65 inches | Weight: 0.40 pounds | Power Source: Rechargeable battery
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What We Like
3 different speed options
Light and comfortable to wear
Good battery life on low mode
What We Don’t Like
Have to be mindful of hair
Battery life on high mode could be longer
While handheld fans are great to take with you, the Jisulife Portable Neck Fan simply sits around your neck, so your hands are free. It's lightweight and comfortable, and it douses you with air around your neck for a remarkable cooling effect.
This fan is bladeless, but it is still possible for hair to get caught in the fan’s openings, so those with longer hair are best off wearing this with their hair tied up. On the plus side, this neck fan is very light, weighing just a little over half a pound, so most people shouldn’t find the unit uncomfortably burdensome to wear around their neck.
The fan has a modern, low-profile design with three different modes. This model is designed to circulate air all around your neck, including at the back, which makes it an extra efficient option compared to models that only circulate air in front of the wearer.
The battery can last up to 16 hours on the lowest mode, which is great, but it can only run for up to 4 hours on the high mode. When the unit does run out of power, you can recharge it with the included USB Type-C charging cable.Also, it's not completely quiet—you will hear a constant white noise while wearing it.
Dimensions: 7.8 x 7.8 inches x 2.4 inches | Weight: 0.57 pounds | Power Source: Rechargeable battery
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What We Like
Powerful
Sturdy, water-resistant build
Battery life indicator
Integrated charging port
What We Don’t Like
Heavier and larger than many other models
If you’re spending an extended period of time in a warm and expansive outdoor space, you may want an especially powerful portable fan like the Geek Aire CF1 Outdoor Rechargeable Floor Fan.
This is a water-resistant fan, which makes it especially suitable for the outdoors. This fan is heavier and larger than most of the other fans included in our list, which can actually be beneficial when using the fan outside since it will be more difficult to knock over than a lighter model. In terms of power, the fan’s highest setting operates at a powerful speed of 1500 CFM.
The fan tilts on its base by up to 120 degrees, and it has an integrated carrying handle. We also like that the fan has a clear LED battery life indicator, so you can easily monitor when it will need a recharge.
The fan's battery can run for four hours when operating on its high mode and for an impressive 24 hours while operating on ow mode. As a bonus, the fan has a USB charging port built into it that you can use to charge other devices when you need it.
Dimensions: 14.5 x 16.7 x 7.09 inches | Weight: 6.54 pounds | Power Source: Rechargeable battery
Final Verdict
The Milwaukee M18 Jobsite Fan is our pick for the best portable fan because it offers a lot of power in a compact and adjustable design, and its handle, hanging option, and ability to run on either corded electric or battery power make it a versatile model. For a less expensive option that still gets the job done, we recommend the Honeywell Turbo On The Go Fan (our best budget pick), because it can be positioned multiple ways, operates quietly, and is very lightweight and small, making it easy to throw in a bag and take with you anywhere on-the-go.
What to Look for in a Portable Fan
Type
Before deciding what type of portable fan is best for you, consider the scenarios and spaces in which you intend to use it.
- Standing Fans: Standing portable fans are easy to carry from place to place and use in an array of settings, but once they are operating they should be situated on a stable surface and remain stationary, unlike handheld fans. Some standing fans, such as our pick for the best overall portable fan, the Milwaukee M18 Jobsite Fan, also have hanging options so you can raise them off a low surface if needed.
- Desktop Fans: Desktop fans are similar to standing fans in that they are easy to move from place to place, but they are meant to be situated on a flat surface when operating and have a smaller footprint. These fans are best suited for people looking for a portable fan to take into a hot office or keep on a nightstand in their bedroom.
- Handheld Fans: Handheld fans are typically the lightest and smallest portable fans you can buy, as they are meant to fit in the palm of your hand. Our best handheld pick, the Amacool Battery Operated Stroller Fan, has a built-in flexible tripod that lets you use it as a desk fan or even hang it securely on the handle of a stroller or the control panel of your favorite exercise equipment.
- Wearable Neck Fans: Like handheld fans, wearable neck fans offer air circulation that moves with you. However, unlike handheld models, you will not have to keep holding them the entire time they are in use, as they just sit around your neck for hands-free operation. Since they are also very compact options, neck fans offer less air circulation than standing models. Our pick for the best wearable fan, the Jisulife Portable Neck Fan, weighs a little over half a pound.
If you can't decide what type of fan is best for you, opt for one that converts to best fit your situation. For example, our best convertible, the Shark FlexBreeze Fan converts from a standing fan to a desktop fan with the touch of a button.
Size
When deciding what size fan you should purchase, you should consider your intended use of the fan. For instance, if you’re looking for a fan to keep you cool as you walk through an amusem*nt park, you will likely want a handheld fan option that is slim enough to easily and comfortable grip in your palm, such as our pick for the best handheld fan, the JisuLife Handheld Mini Fan.
If you are looking for a fan to use while you work in your garage, investing in a larger portable fan that measures over a foot wide and provides greater air circulation may make more sense. Since the fan will spend a lot of time sitting on a floor while it operates and as you engage in some other activity, and you will only need to move the fan from point A to point B, rather than carry it around for long periods.
Power Source
Different fans rely on different types of power sources. Three of the most common types of power sources used are outlined below, please note that many fans included in our list can operate on two different types of power sources, with the majority of the models having one battery-operated option and one plug-in option.
Disposable battery: Portable fans can run on disposable batteries that, once depleted, must be disposed of and replaced with new batteries. These types of fans tend to be lighter since disposable batteries tend to be lighter than rechargeable batteries. Disposable battery-operated fans also tend to cost less than rechargeable models upon initial purchase. However, you will need to buy new batteries when the fan’s battery dies, which is an added cost over time. Our pick for the best budget fan, the Honeywell Turbo On The Go Fan, can be powered via a USB cable or with AA batteries.
Rechargeable battery: Just as their names suggest, rechargeable fans have a battery that can be recharged instead of disposed of once they run out of power. While rechargeable fans may cost more when you first purchase them, they spare you trips to the convenience store to buy new batteries and thus have less long-term maintenance cost. They also lead to less waste being produced.
It can be useful to purchase a rechargeable battery-operated model that can also operate while plugged into an outlet. Our pick for the best overall portable fan, the Milwaukee M18 Jobsite Fan, can run on a rechargeable battery as well as while plugged into an outlet via its AC adaptor. When operating on its lowest mode and on its rechargeable battery, the model can run for up to 17 hours.
How long a rechargeable or non-rechargeable unit can last on a single charge or set of batteries, respectively, will depend on factors such as the type of battery used, as well as how much power is required of the speed setting you use. For instance, if the fan you are using has a low, medium, and high mode, the battery will typically drain faster when operating on its high mode and slower when operating on its low mode.
Most battery-operated fans, whether rechargeable or not, will have the battery life listed in their product description. Keep in mind, that most product descriptions will list how long the battery lasts while operating on the fan’s lowest mode.
Corded electric: Many of the fans on this list are battery-operated and thus can be used as a cordless model, but they also have a corded option. Corded electric options tend to offer more power than battery-operated options. However, since they need to be plugged in, you have less flexibility as to where you can place and use this type of fan.
Performance and Noise Level
Before purchasing a portable fan, you should check to see how many speed settings the fan offers—if it only has one, it will be hard to customize to suit your preferences.
We also recommend you check the fan's noise rating, especially if you're going to take this fan to work or another shared space. Our pick for the best quiet fan, the Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless Hybrid Whisper Series Fan Kit, has a sound rating of 47 dBA, quieter than your average dishwasher.
Biermeier tells us that an overall well-performing fan is "easy to keep clean, stable enough not to have to keep an eye on, [and] can move as much air as necessary for the given job,” while also offering speed settings that are easy to control.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This story was written by Julia Fields, associate editor for The Spruce, who has extensive experience writing about home improvement products, especially ones that keep you cool, like fans and patio umbrellas. To select the best products possible for this roundup, she researched and thoroughly analyzed each product's specs.
Our experts:
- Deane Biermeier, a member of The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board
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