The UK's bestDesk Fans2022 Review

As a completely portable option, the Fancii Small Personal USB Fan can be used absolutely anywhere. It can be powered off a laptop, mains socket, or battery pack – anything that has a USB port.

If you work in a particularly warm office, or just want a personal fan that can be taken on holiday, this little model measures 12 x 10 x 10 cm and can slip easily into a laptop bag or rucksack.

Whilst it naturally doesn’t pack the power of large full-scale fans, it’s sufficient to offer a good level of personal cooling when positioned nearby. Plus, there are still two fan speeds to choose between if you want to use less power.

The pivoting handle doubles up as a stand, and means the fan can be positioned at any angle through 180°. There’s no oscillating feature, but this fan isn’t big enough or powerful enough to circulate air around an entire room anyway.

Compared to some other USB fans, it’s also quite stylishly designed, with a contemporary look and full protective casing. This should limit damage to the fan whilst it’s being transported around.

One other scenario where this fan will come into its own is on camping trips – making it easier to sleep in hot tents during the summer without having to sleep with the ‘doors’ open. There are a lot of different contexts where having a portable fan could come in handy.

Two things to note in terms of its design: firstly, the USB cable is approximately one metre long – so there are some situations where this might not be quite long enough – and secondly, the higher speed setting can be a little noisy. If using this fan in close proximity to others, or when trying to sleep, the lower setting may be more appropriate.

Overall, this is one of the best desk fans if you’re looking for something portable that can be taken anywhere. It may not have as strong an output as larger fans, but is effective when used for personal cooling.

Whilst there are a lot of expensive fans on the market, the MYCARBON Quiet Desk Fan offers a good compromise between price and function. It’s not the absolute cheapest of the bunch, but it offers good value with a decent number of features for its price range.

There are 12 speeds to choose from, as well as a programmable timer, and a display light that can be turned off to stop it from disrupting sleep. It has both horizontal and vertical oscillation, moving through 60° in either direction.

With an energy rating of A+++, it’s efficient in how it uses its power, meaning power bills won’t shoot up astronomically, and it also has different modes to choose from.

As well as the speed settings, there are four ‘wind modes’ to provide more choice, ‘Normal wind’ is a constant flow of air, ‘natural wind’ mimics the eb and flow of a breeze outside, ‘sleeping wind’ offers a gentler wind mode and ‘baby wind’ is calmer still. The sleep mode keeps noise down to 25 dB which is considered equivalent to a whisper.

If you’re worried about leaving the fan all night when sleeping, there’s also a 10-hour timer function so it can power down once you’ve dozed off.

One thing to note: although it’s useful to have a remote control for changing the settings from a distance, it’s not always easy to use. The control needs to be aimed directly at the sensor on the fan, which can take a couple of goes to get right.

Nevertheless, overall, this is one of the best desk fans if you’re after value for money. It’s relatively large, so might not be appropriate for smaller workspaces, but does offer a range of functions at a reasonable price.

When the weather is warm, sometimes all you need is a basic, functional fan. The Honeywell QuietSet Table Fan has four speed settings, helps with keeping cool and hot days, and won’t break the bank.

It’s housed in sturdy, square black casing and has a thick stable base. As a result, it stands securely on desks and bedside tables without much danger of tipping over.

The speed settings range from level 1, which is designed to be used when sleeping, to level 4, which produces a relatively powerful blast of air. On the lowest setting, the fan is quiet; however, it does need to be in quite close proximity in order to feel its benefits.

There’s no remote control, so changing the fan speed is done by pressing a button on the front of the fan, and scrolling through the options until you find the one you want. This makes it less practical to use from a distance than other fans featured on this list, and there is one other small design flaw too:

When the fan is turned on, it automatically sets itself to its highest speed level – which is also its loudest. This can make the fan quite disruptive when used at night, especially if you want to turn it on after a few hours’ sleep.

Nevertheless, it’s still a useful fan, albeit slightly more basic than a lot of models on this page which is reflected in its price. It’s one of the best desk fans to choose if you’re working to a budget, but still want something quieter than a standard rotary fan (on its lowest setting at least).

Working with an ‘A+++’ energy rating, the MeacoFan 1056 Air Circulator is a desk fan that works well even in large rooms, yet still remains energy efficient.

It can circulate air in several different ways, using either a vertical or horizontal axis. Unlike traditional fans, it doesn’t just go left to right but instead is capable of almost 360° rotation.

There are 12 speed settings in total, and levels 1 – 5 are particularly quiet. They’re suitable for most people to sleep or work near without being much of a distraction. Also, level 1 is still powerful enough to be practical, despite being the lowest setting, and will sufficiently cool anyone directly next to it.

At the other end of the scale, speed setting 12 powerfully blasts out air to a point where it’s unlikely to be required most of the time. Levels 4 – 8 are most appropriate for encouraging air to circulate around a room.

It has programmable timers and a nightlight, as well as an ECO mode that adjusts the fan speed based on the temperature of the room. This can be useful in the daytime, as well as at night, if you don’t want to keep manually adjusting the fan speed.

In terms of negatives, there are a few minor niggles. Firstly, the fan beeps when the settings are changed – this isn’t so much of a problem during the day, but if sharing a room at night it could be frustrating not to be able to mute these noises. Secondly, as the fan moves, so does its infra-red sensor –this means that if using the remote control to change settings, it may take a while to aim at the right spot.

Despite these few problems, it’s still one of the best desk fans if you want something that is energy efficient yet powerful. It also rotates on a well-designed trajectory for circulating air and isn’t too loud.

We’ve all noticed that Dyson has branched out in recent years – extending their repertoire from vacuum cleaners to hand dryers, hair dryers and now desk fans. Their AM06 Desk Fan is powerful, contemporary, and (as expected from Dyson) bladeless.

It goes without saying that this is a more premium model and not really suitable for those working with a lower budget; however, it does have its advantages.

Unlike traditional fans there are no blades or mesh guards in sight, which tend to be notorious for collecting dust and being hard to clean. The AM06 can be wiped over with a dry or damp cloth to stop dust from congregating.

Also, a lot of parents with young children prefer the security of using a bladeless fan, especially with inquisitive toddlers around.

It can oscillate through 360° and be tilted to direct the air depending on whether you are sitting or standing. In terms of volume, speeds 1 – 3 are considered quiet (just a low-level hum), acceptable for working or sleeping, and there are 10 speeds in total.

There’s a timer function, but no specific eco setting, although it’s still rated as ‘energy class A’. The settings can be changed using a remote control, so it’s possible to control from a distance.

It’s one of the best desk fans if you’re particularly interested in the bladeless technology, but otherwise it works as you might expect for a standard fan. The price reflects the quality, brand and contemporary design, but may not be worth it for everyone when cheaper desk fans are available.