Consumer Reports Tests Nine Room Fans, Highlights Quiet and Efficient Models

Consumer Reports tested nine room fans—tabletop, pedestal, and box—for wind speed, noise, and energy efficiency, aiming to help shoppers choose despite price not always reflecting performance. The $18.49 Vornado Flippi V6 was the quietest tabletop model at 68 decibels, while the $86.39 Dreo Air Circulator PolyFan 311 offered eight speeds, the widest wind-speed range (2.1–6.4 m/s), and second-best energy efficiency. The Lasko 1827 pedestal fan consumed the most energy, and the $50 AirFort 20-inch glow-in-the-dark box fan was the most stable but loudest among box fans at 78 decibels. The $36.89 Amazon Basics 20-inch box fan was the quietest box fan at 63 decibels. Some fans, including the Mainstays tabletop and AirFort, lacked UL or Intertek certification. Prices ranged from $13 to $86.39, with performance varying widely across all categories.