If you think you don't need a new fan this year, you might want to think again. Even if the dusty old pedestal fan you've been carting around for 25 years is still kicking, fans these days can do a lot more than just blow air. They're smarter, quieter, and far more versatile than they've ever been, with new tech features that would have seemed like science fiction even five years ago.The Dreo TurboPoly 707S, for instance, has radar that can track where someone is in the room and redirect airflow as they move about, while the company's 508S model can provide mood lighting in more than 1,000 color shades. There are bladeless fans, fans just for fitness purposes, and ones that can mist or cool your skin with a cryo-inspired metal plate.I've been covering fans at WIRED for almost two years, and I'm always on the lookout for the latest and most interesting fan technology. If you know of a cool fan you want me to check out, let me know in the comments.If you're looking to take your fan on the go, be sure to check out WIRED's companion guide to the Best Handheld and Wearable Fans. For more ways to keep your indoor air quality cool and under control, check out our guides to the Best Indoor Air Quality Monitors, Best Air Purifiers, Best Humidifiers, Best Dehumidifiers, and Best Window ACs.Updated May 2026: I've added new models from Vornado, Dyson, Zafro, and Levoit, and ensured that links and prices are up-to-date.Pick Your Fan in 30 SecondsBest Air CirculatorVornado Vora 8 Whole Room Air CirculatorRead moreUltra-Quiet FanDreo TurboPoly Fan 508SRead moreSpace-Saving FanDreo Nomad One (307) Tower FanRead moreCheap FanLasko 20-inch Classic Box FanRead moreBest Air CirculatorPhotograph: Kat MerckVornadoVora 8 Whole Room Air CirculatorVornado's bare-bones 660 air circulator was my top pick in this category for the past two years. It could sit on either a table or on the floor, ensuring bulk air movement through Vornado's proprietary Vortex Action (which my colleague Matthew Korfhage described—accurately—as “a fancy name for spinning a fan into a spiral grate oriented opposite to the action of the fan”). There was no remote, no oscillation, and three speeds activated by buttons on the top. It got the job done with a minimum of fuss, but darn if it wouldn't have been nice to have a remote.From my mouth to Vornado's ear, apparently, as earlier this year the brand released the Vora 8, which is basically an upgraded version of the 660. It's stronger (1,100 ft/m max wind speed to the 660's 1,083 ft/m), with 10 speeds, three airflow modes, an aromatherapy pad for the center button, and—blessedly—a remote. It also oscillates vertically as well as horizontally, and it's got a backlit touch display on the base. Note that there's no smart option on offer for now. I did find myself missing the simplicity of the 660 a little bit while trying to learn all the fiddly new features and settings of the Vora 8, but otherwise, it's around the same price and an improvement in every way.FeaturesSmart app:NoRemote:YesWind speed on high:1,083 ft/mNoise (on high/on low):69 dB/42 dBOscillation:Yes; vertically and horizontallyWarranty:5 yearsBest Ultra-Quiet Fan for BedroomsPhotograph: Kat MerckDreoTurboPoly Fan 508SDreo’s flagship PolyFan 704S has been the brand’s most popular pedestal fan for years, but I didn't have the best luck with my test unit (see below). Plus, I found the fan to be heavy, unwieldy, and difficult to move around compared to competing models. Thankfully, last year saw the release of Dreo's improvement on the PolyFan, the TurboPoly. It's not only slightly smaller and lighter than the original PolyFan, but it's also billed as Dreo's quietest fan of all time. The marketing materials said 20 decibels, but I got 29 on my meter. Regardless, this is indeed the quietest fan I've tested. Its highest wind speed is average for a pedestal fan, but perfectly sufficient.It comes in white, gold, or silver, sports nine speeds, can oscillate vertically or horizontally, and has smart capabilities (Google Assistant and Amazon's Alexa). It's controllable through the remote, the button on the fan itself, or via the Dreo app, which also includes a 12-hour timer and the ability to set a schedule. It's also got a cool RGB ring light on the back. If you use the Dreo app, you can choose from up to 1,000 colors (ostensibly) on a color wheel.If you prefer no-nonsense: My previous pick for Best Pedestal Fan, the Vornado 683 Whole Room Circulator ($77), has no Wi-Fi or smart capability, no remote, no timer, and no oscillation. It's not as quiet or as strong as the TurboPoly, but it's lightweight and easy to move around, and will do whatever basic job you need it to do for years to come.FeaturesSmart app:YesRemote:YesWind speed on high:1,040 ft/mNoise (on high/on low):55 dB/29 dBOscillation:Yes, up and down, side to sideWarranty:1 yearBest Space-Saving Fan for ApartmentsPhotograph: Kat MerckDreoNomad One (307) Tower FanThough tower fans aren't always easy to clean and are prone to tipping over if you have active children or pets, they are less top-heavy than pedestal fans, and the slim profile and small footprint make them easy to store when you're short on space. In the tower fan category, Dreo's 36-inch Nomad One (otherwise known as the 307) is arguably the best bang for your buck, offering superior build quality and performance for this price point. It's got four speeds and a remote, as well as an easily removable front grille for cleaning.The Nomad One's wind speed is slightly stronger than my previous pick in this category, Dreo's slightly larger but pricier 519, but it's also slightly louder. Not so much, though, that the difference is super noticeable. Like the 519, the Nomad One's got a handle on the back and a slot for the remote, as well as a digital display, four modes, eight speeds, a timer, and a button that mutes any beeping while selecting menu options.FeaturesSmart app:No (unless you opt for the S model)Remote:YesWind speed on high:1,220 ft/mNoise (on high/on low):57 dB/33 dBOscillation:Yes, 90 degreesWarranty:1 yearBest Cheap Fan That Still Gets the Job DonePhotograph: Kat MerckLasko20-inch Classic Box FanThe no-frills Lasko box fan is an enduring classic—it's got plenty of surface area, there's a handle so you can move it around, and the shape makes it easy to stick in a window or sliding glass door. It's also reliable and widely available at most big-box stores. (If you live in a wildfire-prone area, you'll also know it's popular for making a DIY air purifier, also known as a Corsi-Rosenthal box.) It's not the strongest or the quietest fan you'll buy, but for around 20 bucks, you wouldn't expect it to be. It's also less than 5 inches in width, so it's easy to store in a closet.Lasko added a Cool Colors line last year, offering the same longtime utilitarian staple, but in fun colors like red, blue, fuchsia, and purple. These are no different from the old-school white version, but the hue does make the fan look more intentional in your home, rather than a remnant of a water-leak emergency or AC malfunction. Some online complaints mentioned wobbling at low speeds, and there was some slight shaking at medium and high speeds in my tests, but not so much that it affected function.FeaturesSmart app:NoRemote:NoWind speed on high:630 ft/mNoise (on high/on low):67 dB/53 dBOscillation:NoWarranty:2 yearsBest Year-Round Fan (Cooling and Heating)Photograph: Kat MerckDreoMC706 2-in-1 Tower Heater FanTower fans have a reputation for being less powerful than pedestal fans and air circulators, but Dreo's MC706, new last year, disproves this theory. The MC706 is not only the fan I keep in my office between tests, but it's also the second-strongest fan I've tested to date, bested only by the utility B-Air, below.This is not typical for a fan-heater combo; the MC706 accomplishes this feat through auto-shift positive temperature coefficient (PTC) technology, which moves the heater's ceramic element aside to allow full fan airflow. (This is also a key component in electric vehicle heating systems.) Pair this effective heating-cooling function with a boosted DC motor and 12 fan speeds, and you've got a tower fan that not only rivals but exceeds any cooling-only fan. Other perks include a flame-resistant plastic body, an inset carrying handle (the fan weighs a hefty 13 pounds), 120-degree oscillation, and tip-over protection for the five-setting heater. Note, however, that though there is a remote, there are no smart features, and this fan does not work with the Dreo app. I've had zero issues in over a year of near-daily use.FeaturesSmart app:NoRemote:YesWind speed on high:1,700 ft/mNoise (on high/on low):56 dB/33 dBOscillation:Yes, 120 degreesWarranty:1 yearBest Fan for Clean Air (Allergy-Friendly)Photograph: Kat MerckDreoAir Purifier Tower Fan MC710SMy family loves this combination air purifier and tower fan. Though it is on the larger side and looks almost like a cylindrical patio heater, it costs less than its competitor Dyson; offers 99.97 percent HEPA filtration and an air quality sensor; and can be controlled through a remote, the Dreo app, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa.I like that the 12-speed fan and purifier can operate independently, and the large, heavy base with its blue or orange motor just looks cool. After a year of nightly use in a bedroom (it's quiet!), the MC710S is still going strong, and filter replacements ($40 for one) are reasonably priced.FeaturesSmart app:YesRemote:YesWind speed on high:1,024 ft/mNoise (on high/on low):52 dB/31 dBOscillation:Yes, 120 degreesWarranty:1 yearBest Tabletop FanPhotograph: Kat MerckLevoitWindi Pro Mini Portable Tower FanAs a gear reviewer, there are some products I struggle to let go of once the testing window ends, and this little 15-inch-tall tower fan with a handle is one of them. It may not be the best-performing fan in terms of wind speed, but it is so insanely convenient that it's been my most-used fan so far this year. It's also got a remote and a little USB-C–powered dock upon which it sits. When you're ready to use it, just carry it to where you need it (it weighs about 3 pounds) and enjoy the breeze. It's also stylish enough to sit out in view, and there's an amber light around the bottom, I assume for vibes purposes. Note that it also oscillates and has a timer for two, four, eight, and 12 hours, though the latter two settings seem unnecessary given that the charge only lasted a few hours in my testing, especially if the fan was on one of its higher speeds (there are five).FeaturesSmart app:NoRemote:YesWind speed on high:748 ft/mNoise (on high/on low):50 db/30 db (slight rattle on low)Oscillation:Yes, up to 90 degreesWarranty:2 yearsBest Misting FanPhotograph: Kat MerckDreoTurboCool Misting Fan 765SAmong Dreo's new lineup for 2026, this 12-speed 765S misting tower fan borrows patented technology from Dreo's humidifiers—namely, the ability to diffuse ultrafine mist particles as small as 17 microns. This effectively lowers the perceived temperature in front of the fan (significantly—my family all agreed it felt exactly like an air conditioner). The mist particles are so small that they won't wet surfaces like other misting fans do. This means that, unlike my previous category pick, the Shark FlexBreeze, this misting fan is perfectly fine to use indoors. I admit I was dubious of this claim, but I stood in front of the fan on its highest mist setting for several minutes, and my clothes and skin remained perfectly dry. (The tank holds 6 liters, which should last a whole day.)In addition to a built-in thermometer and humidistat, the 765S also hits all the Dreo-fan high points, including 90-degree oscillation, smart capability (Amazon Alexa and Google Home), and a remote. Dreo specs claim 20 dB on low, and while my decibel meter only went down to 32 dB, I can attest it was barely audible. If you're not able to have air conditioning wherever you are, this is a viable alternative.FeaturesSmart app:YesRemote:YesWind speed on high:1,200 ft/mNoise (on high/on low):66 dB/32 dBOscillation:YesWarranty:1 yearA Fan That Turns Into a LampPhotograph: Kat MerckPhotograph: Kat MerckVornadoEOS 9 Whole Room Air CirculatorI unboxed this fan without reading anything about it first, so I admit I was perplexed as to why it looked like a barrel-shaped basket. It wasn't until I turned it on and started using it that I realized why—one click of the side button on the remote, and the fan stopped and slowly tilted upright, a soft white ring glowing on its underside. It was a lamp! An actual, lamp-shaped lamp! I've yet to find someone who's been unimpressed by this party trick when I show it to them.It's otherwise a lot like the Vora 8 above, in that it can oscillate vertically and horizontally, has a center pad for aromatherapy, and has 10 speeds. It's available in short (tabletop/floor) and pedestal versions; I have the short version. The light has five modes of brightness, but even the brightest is a soft glow—maybe bright enough to read by if you're right next to it, but otherwise more of a mood light, akin to Vornado's Ara tower fan, below. It's even more fiddly than the Vora 8, but I'm willing to forgive it for this, given it's one of the strongest fans I've tested. (Note that the fan and lamp modes cannot run concurrently; if it's being a lamp, it can't be a fan, though the light can still glow in fan mode.)FeaturesSmart app:NoRemote:YesWind speed on high:1,417 ft/mNoise (on high/on low):75 dB/45 dBOscillation:Yes; vertically and horizontallyWarranty:5 yearsBest Fan for Home GymsPhotograph by Kat MerckVornadoFly Max High-Velocity Fitness FanA fitness fan, you might be asking yourself? Does one really need a special fan just for riding a Peloton or running on the treadmill? I wouldn't have thought so, but that was before I tried the Fly Max. I live in a hilly neighborhood, so I find myself running indoors on a treadmill whenever the thought of scaling a steep hill is just too unappealing. (Which, I'll be honest, is most days.) The Fly Max has shifted this activity from a hot, sweaty, unpleasant mess into something I don't mind doing, even on a hot day.I've used other fans next to my treadmill before, but the makers of the Fly Max have thought of everything to make it as perfect as can be for indoor workouts. It doesn't oscillate, but it does tilt 180 degrees to whatever angle you need it to hit, and the airflow is meant to simulate air resistance while exercising outdoors. My favorite feature: A little round magnetic remote with a cradle on a Velcro strap that you can attach to your machine to turn the fan on and off or up and down—it fits perfectly around the handle of my treadmill. (It looks like a watch, but an icon on the back reiterates that it most certainly is not.) I wish the fan cord were a little longer, and I wish it had a handle for moving around, as it is heavy and bulky. Overall, though, this is an amazing addition to any indoor workout room or machine, and I've been using it without incident for almost a year now.A Fan For Taking to the Gym: Vornado makes another fitness fan, the Fly Move ($70), which is small, USB-C rechargeable with a 17-hour run time (I can't vouch for this, but I have also used it for a week's worth of hour-long workouts and never had it run out), and has a leather-esque strap for carrying. The output is not super powerful at 750 feet per minute. It's not adjustable and sits right on the floor, propped up by a little bumper, so it's mostly good for floor work, but I do love putting it on a weight bench to keep me cool while I do my reps.FeaturesSmart app:NoRemote:YesWind speed on high:1,772 ft/mNoise (on high/on low):72 dB/60 dBOscillation:NoWarranty:5 yearsBest Fan for Emergencies, Floods, and Heavy-Duty JobsPhotograph: Kat MerckB-AirVP-20 1/5 HP Air MoverSometimes one simply needs a fan to provide a breeze on hot, lazy days. Other times, a fan is necessary for less-pleasant purposes: flooded basements, dishwasher leaks, or clearing out smoke. Or the time a freak storm blew several inches’ worth of snow through my home’s gable vents, which I didn’t realize until it melted and started leaking through several light fixtures.You could always rent a high-velocity commercial fan, but keeping this commercial-grade, three-speed floor fan on hand could potentially save time and money. It’s small enough to be stored in a garage or basement when you don't need it, but this is no wimpy box fan; its 1/5-horsepower motor almost blew my anemometer out of my hand during testing.It’s got a handle for carrying and two 120-volt outlets on the side for auxiliary power or daisy-chaining other fans, plus a 6-foot cord to facilitate placing it in the middle of the room. Be forewarned, though, that this truly is a utilitarian piece of equipment—don't expect to be able to carry on a conversation in the same room.If You Want Less Intensity: The VP-20 is borderline ridiculous on the intensity front. My previous top pick, the Lasko Superfan Max ($90), is slightly smaller and thus easier to store, and it's more widely available. However, it is only about half as strong, with an output of 1,200 feet per minute. It may be easier to live with, however, if you need to have it on for long periods near your living area.FeaturesSmart app:NoRemote:NoWind speed on high:2,600 ft/mNoise (on high/on low):73 dB/63 dBOscillation:NoWarranty:5 yearsBest Desk FanPhotograph: Kat MerckVornadoVFan Vintage Air CirculatorIf you're going to keep a fan on your desk, it may as well look good. The VFan series is an official rerelease of Vornado's original 1945 classic, in authentically retro colors like off-white and green. Just like the first version, it's all-metal with three features: It turns on, it turns off, and it can run at high or low speed. That's it. No apps, remotes, oscillation, lights, or other doodads. It's awesome. Even the box it comes in has a vintage look, which makes it a good potential gift for dads, grads, or even a coworker.I tested the small but more powerful Mini and the larger but slightly quieter “Jr.”, which are both desk- or table-sized fans. At their lowest speeds, they run 275 and 413 feet per minute, respectively, which is strong enough for a hot day but not so strong as to be distracting or blow too many papers all over the place. (I found the 6-foot cord plenty long enough for most desks.) Note that there are also larger “Sr." and pedestal versions if you like the look but need something bigger.FeaturesSmart app:NoRemote:NoWind speed on high:550 ft/m (Mini), 453 ft/m (Jr.)Noise (on high/on low):61 dB/49 dB (Mini), 56 dB/35 dB (Jr.)Oscillation:NoWarranty:5 yearsA Fan That Follows YouPhotograph: Kat MerckVideo: Kat MerckDreoTurboPoly Fan 707SThis standard pedestal fan looks nearly identical to Dreo's PolyFan 704S from 2024, except for one difference, and it's a major one: A light-up strip at the top of the stand uses a millimeter-wave sensor to track movement with high-frequency radio waves. You move to the right, the pedestal head turns over to where you are. Move to the left … here comes the fan. It will also adjust its strength based on your distance. It's interesting, strange, and not un-creepy, but I can see it being super useful for someone in a hot environment who's moving around a lot, like a chef in a kitchen.Otherwise, like all Dreo fans with S in the model number, it's compatible with Alexa and Google Home, and works with the Dreo app, where you can “identify” yourself to the fan by waving, so it only tracks you and not anyone else walking into or around the room. I'm usually not moving around much when it's hot enough to use a fan, so I didn't find too much practical use for these features in my own life, but I'm still impressed by the fan's tech and overall reliability in the year I've had it.FeaturesSmart app:YesRemote:YesWind speed on high:1,122 ft/mNoise (on high/on low):70 dB, 50 dBOscillation:YesWarranty:1 yearOthers TestedPhotograph: Kat MerckShark ChillPill 3-in-1 Personal Cooling System for $150: New for 2026, this handheld fan from the brand known for always doing the most comes in eight colors (including a limited-edition red-orange collab with Justin Bieber’s SKYLRK) and sports three attachments: a respectable 740 feet per minute fan that can be propped up, a mister, and—my favorite of them all—a cryo-inspired cold plate you can press to your skin. It comes with a little bag for the attachments, all of which must be used separately. Because of this, I found myself struggling with how to carry it all when out and about. The ChillPill itself doesn't come with a lanyard, clip, or strap (though most marketing images show these, they cost extra), and it's too bulky to fit in a pocket, especially with the accessory bag. I also am not sold on the value. The most ridiculous handheld fan I've ever tried, the 1,614-feet-per-minute–wind-speed Jisulife Ultra 2 ($90) ("this fan is so strong it’s almost comical," I wrote last year) costs half as much on sale and has 40 hours of battery life compared to the ChillPill's 11. For more personal fans, check out our guide to the Best Handheld and Wearable Fans.Dyson HushJet Mini Cool Fan for $100: This is Dyson's first portable cooling fan, and, as expected, it was far stronger than I expected it to be, at 1,043 feet per minute. It comes with a charging stand, a USB-C cable, and a matching adjustable neck lanyard. (The fan comes in pink, blue, and red.) However, I did find it quite loud at 70 decibels—loud enough to impede my ability to participate in a conversation with people several feet away. There is also, as is the case with many Dyson products, the issue of the price. If you like this style of fan, Aecooly makes something similar and reliable for just $20.Zafro Coozi Tower Fan for $90: This is an interesting tower fan with a hidden digital display and a cheery little electronic tune when you turn it on and off, reminiscent of a Samsung washing machine. It's a little bit quieter than Dreo's Nomad One, but it is taller and therefore easier to knock over, despite the airflow grate dimensions being roughly the same. Still, if it ever goes on sale for less than the Nomad One, it would be worth a grab.SwitchBot Standing Circulator Fan for $130: This is the first fan from a company known primarily for robot vacuums, with a brushless motor, adjustable height, and USB-C rechargeable battery. It's lightweight and quiet, registering around 30 dB on my decibel meter, and has rare Matter compatibility with the optional SwitchBot Hub 3 bridge ($120). The Dreo TurboPoly 508S is priced the same and offers better build quality, but if Matter compatibility is important to you, the SwitchBot is a great pick.Dreame MF10