Suitable fan for the bedroom: the big comparison

Fans for the bedroom must fulfil special requirements. They run during the night and should be correspondingly quiet.

In this article, we look at the criteria for fans that are placed in bedrooms. This is followed by a selection of recommended models that I think are well suited for bedrooms.

Construction of the fan

The first image that most people have in their mind's eye when they think of fans is probably similar to this one:

This is a table fan. In addition to this, there are other popular designs for fans. They all come with their own advantages and disadvantages. Depending on the objective you are pursuing with the fan, one type of construction may be more suitable than another.

Tower fans

The name gives it away: this design is much taller than it is wide, often cylindrical and has a single base. Like conventional table and pedestal fans, most tower fans can swivel back and forth. In doing so, they rotate on their base, allowing the airflow to reach more areas in the room.

Thanks to their shape, tower fans generally take up less space than pedestal fans, for example. A uniform, plain colouring can also ensure that they are less visually intrusive.

If you would like to find out more about the features and functionality of tower fans, I recommend the following article:

Ceiling fans

A ceiling fan can help with ventilation and heating and even look good at the same time. However, the latter depends heavily on the model.

The most obvious advantage of the ceiling fan is its space-saving positioning. At best, it could take up the space where a ceiling light would otherwise be installed. For this case, however, there are ceiling fans with built-in light sources such as light bulbs, LEDs, etc.

The disadvantage of a ceiling fan is its installation. It is definitely more difficult than a ceiling light: the weight and bulky dimensions can be an obstacle when installing it. I would therefore recommend that at least two people tackle this job.

The larger the blades, the quieter the fan.

Compared to other fans, ceiling fans have very large blades. Due to their size, they move more air in one rotation. As the speed of rotation is mainly responsible for the noise level, ceiling fans are very quiet. For this reason, they are highly recommended for the bedroom.

You can read more about ceiling fans in the following article. Among other things, the most important purchasing criteria for ceiling fans and recommended models are presented:

Bladeless fans

In recent years, more and more of these models have appeared on the market. Their advantages include new construction and design possibilities.

As many of the rotorless fans have only come onto the market in recent years, they are often equipped with modern additional functions. These include, for example, connection to the smart home:

The motor and the construction of louvres that move the air are often built into the base. Rotorless fans are therefore much quieter than pedestal or table fans. Rotorless fans are therefore also a suitable alternative for the bedroom.

You can read more about the exciting way these fans work here:

Purchase criteria for fans for the bedroom

As mentioned at the beginning, the bedroom places different demands on a fan.

This mainly relates to the volume of the appliance. A peaceful night's sleep should be supported by the fan and not prevented.

In addition to the noise level, these factors also play a role:

• Timer function
• Energy consumption
• Dimensions

Let's take a closer look at the individual points.

Volume

Fans generate a certain noise level. Keeping this as low as possible is the primary objective. The appliance itself and the way in which it is operated are decisive for a low noise level.

Select the lowest possible speed level

It rarely makes sense to set the fan to the highest setting overnight. In many cases, one of the lowest settings is sufficient.

On the one hand, the appliance runs all night long, so there is enough time for ventilation. On the other hand, excessive air flows can be perceived as unpleasant over time.

The lower the speed, the quieter the fan runs.

For these reasons, I would gradually feel my way upwards when setting the fan for the first time. If you can manage with a lower speed level, this usually also means a lower volume.

Pay attention to the manufacturer's volume specifications

The vast majority of manufacturers state the volume on the packaging or on the product page on the Internet.

However, this value is often misleading. This information will only help you if it is disclosed at which speed level the appliance has which volume.

If a volume is specified, this is usually the maximum volume. With this value and that of the air moved in cubic metres per hour, you can easily compare the products.

Fans for the bedroom should be below 45dB.

As described in the section on the different types of fans, some of them are inherently quieter:

• Tower fans
• Ceiling fans
• Bladeless fans

These types often perform better in terms of noise compared to pedestal and table fans.

Timer function

If you do not want the fan to run all night, but only for a few hours, then a timer makes sense.

Alternatively, you can connect the appliance to a timer. However, many models already have a built-in timer function. When buying, pay attention to the preset time periods. While some fans allow you to set an exact time, others only allow you to choose between fixed running times (e.g. 1, 3 or 6 hours).

Energy consumption

The energy costs of a fan are all the more important the longer and more frequently it runs. As it will potentially run for several hours a day in the bedroom, it is worth doing the maths: If a model is more expensive to buy but uses less energy, it can still pay off for you.

To determine how much it will probably cost you to operate the fan, you can use this electricity cost calculator:

Dimensions

To avoid cluttering up the bedroom, small and compact appliances are required. Make sure that the fan can stand freely and that none of its openings are blocked.

Recommended fans for the bedroom

In this list you will find fans that I think are suitable for the bedroom. I have compiled the list according to the most objective criteria possible and hope to give you a good overview:

This tower fan from Rowenta has Three speed levelsIt reaches 45db on the lowest setting according to the manufacturer. In my opinion, it is the price-performance winner in this list.

The Timer function can be set to one of the following times: 1, 2, 4 or 8 hours. If the running time is not limited by a timer, the fan switches off automatically after 12 hours.

The Oscillation (i.e. the fan swivelling back and forth) ensures that the room is covered more evenly. This function is particularly useful when the fan is used to provide a refreshing breeze on hot days.

The control panel is located on the top and features a Displaythat the displays the current room temperature.

With dimensions of 18.5 x 18.5 x 43.5 cm and a weight of around two kilograms, the "Eole Compact" fan is definitely the right size. Space-saving and light.

The fan from Brandson is also a tower fan. It has a few more additional functions that prove useful when used in the bedroom.

The strength of the air flow can be set to one of three levels. In addition, the appliance can be set at an angle of 65° swivelling back and forth. The Timer can be selected by the hour for this model; up to a maximum duration of 12 hours.

You can either make the settings using the control panel on the top or use the Remote control for this purpose. You could conveniently place the latter on the bedside table to operate the fan from bed.

In my opinion, there are two functions that make this model particularly useful in the bedroom: The Sleep mode and the Switching off the display. In sleep mode, the fan runs for a total of 90 minutes. It starts at the highest level, switches down one level every 30 minutes and then switches off.

The display on the front shows the speed level and the current temperature. However, if the illuminated LED display disturbs you while you sleep, you can switch it off (also using the remote control).

The ceiling fan has a diameter of 132 cm and a height of 33 cm. Before buying a ceiling fan, you should definitely check the height of the appliance and the Note ceiling height.

The "Cyclone" ceiling fan from Westinghouse can be set to one of three speed levels (80, 130 or 180 revolutions per minute). It moves up to 152m³ of air per minute.

You can choose between a model with Wall switch or one with remote control choose. For the bedroom, I recommend a device with a remote control. As with the remote-controlled tower fan, you can then simply place the remote control on the bedside table.

With this ceiling fan, the Change direction of rotationIn summer, it should be set so that the air is moved from top to bottom; in winter, exactly the opposite. In summer, the device provides a gentle breeze and in winter it helps to distribute the warm heating air better.

Conclusion

A fan in the bedroom can provide refreshment on hot nights. Together with an open window, it supports the exchange of air and helps you to improve the indoor climate.

When looking for a suitable model, pay attention to its volume, energy consumption and a timer function. These key data sometimes determine how suitable the appliance is for a bedroom.

If you want to find out more about particularly quiet fans, I recommend this article:

Further contributions