Finally, floor fans, which tend to be larger and so can cool a larger room - you might find them in gyms or conference centres. Pedestal fans are larger and sit on a stand, hence they are also known as stand fans. They are height-adjustable with a rotating head, while oscillating functions distribute air over a larger space. Pedestal fans are versatile, being suitable for both personal use and larger rooms. Stand fans are usually higher spec, with additional features like remote controls and adjustable speed settings. The best thing about this fan is that instead of taking batteries, it recharges via a USB lead. The charge last around seven hours on average, depending on what mode you use most. Recharging takes five. American brand Honeywell is one of the biggest names in the world for fans (and heaters), known best for its commercial products but increasingly popular in the domestic space. Honeywell fans are known for being quiet without sacrificing on power. The handle folds in half to create a stand so that it can be propped up on the table. The fan has three speed settings ranging from quiet (I can vouch that it’s quiet enough to use during a tennis match) to reasonably powerful.

Fans are used for circulating air, this allows your sweat to evaporate faster and leaves you feeling cooler. Although an electric fan doesn't technically cool the air, you'll feel cooler as a result! Tower fans are a better choice for bedrooms or living rooms, since they don’t take up much room on the floor but reach a larger area than a desk fan would. When considering how best to keep cool, keep in mind your room size, climate and personal preferences. There are a number of advantages to both fans and air conditioners: Pedestal fans, which consist of a circular bladed unit on top of a stand, tend to be more powerful than tower fans. Some, such as the Duux above, can be converted between a desk and pedestal fan by removing the stand. Tower fans are tall and slim, with a vertical, sleek design that takes up less floor space. With widespread airflow, tower fans are great for larger rooms. They often come with multiple speed settings, oscillation functions, and additional features like timers, air purification filters and bladeless designs which are safe kids and pets.

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Secondly, look for a quiet fan: generally they range between 20dB at low fan speeds to 70dB at high speed. 20dB is about the same as a human whisper, 70dB is loud enough to hear over the chatter in an office. As soon as the temperature breaches 20 degrees in the UK, everyone goes looking for the best fan to cool their bedroom or workspace. Compared to air conditioning, electric fans are cheaper, smaller, lighter, more energy efficient (most costing around 1p an hour to run) and have an instant cooling effect on sweaty skin. Floor fans are similar to pedestal fans but without the adjustable stand. Simply place them on the floor for powerful airflow at a lower height. Floor fans are often used in garages, workshops, or larger areas that require heavy-duty cooling. They are larger and more robust compared to desk, pedestal or tower fans. Air quality - air conditioning systems often include air filters and purifying functions to capture dust, pollen and other allergens. If you suffer from hay fever, asthma or pet allergies, consider an air conditioner. Cooling effectiveness - air conditioning lowers the temperature of a room, making it effective at keeping large spaces cool, at a consistent rate. Fans don't actually reduce temperatures but create a cooling sensation by circulating air around, making them better suited for personal use.

Yes, desk fans are generally the cheapest and lowest-powered but are usually the best choice at close range. (There are also handheld fans, handy in a sweltering tube train, but so low-powered that we don’t review them here.) There are also air coolers, which use water evaporation to chill the air a bit, but we cover those in a separate feature. What is the quietest fan for sleeping? Where the data is available, look for a fan with a higher airflow than 150m³ per hour as a measure of its cooling power. Most of the fans we recommend are three to ten times more powerful than that on their highest settings.

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It’s also very quiet on its lowest settings, with a whispery minimum noise level of 20db and a maximum of 60db (roughly equivalent to the noise from a dishwasher). It has an ‘eco’ mode that adjusts the speed of the fan based on the temperature of the room, a ‘natural’ mode that replicates a breeze, plus a sleep timer, night light and a handy magnetic remote.