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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 our 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 April 2026: I've reformatted and rewritten portions of this guide, rearranged the picks, added new fans from Dreo, Dreame, SwitchBot, Antarctic Star, Shark, and Costway, and ensured that links and prices are up to date.

Pick Your Fan in 30 Seconds

The Do It All FanVornado 660

$130 $90 (31% off) Best Buy

Ultra-Quiet FanDreo TurboPoly Fan 508S

$130 $117 (10% off) Amazon

Space-Saving FanDreo Tower Fan 519

$100 $90 (10% off) Amazon (519)

Cheap FanLasko 20-inch Classic Box Fan

$23 Walmart (Classic)

Best Fan That Can Do It All

Photograph: Kat Merck

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Vornado

660

$130 $90 (31% off) Best Buy

$100 $90 (10% off) Amazon

$90 Home Depot

Vornado’s 660 air circulator is the Swiss Army Knife of fans, designed to make full use of Vornado's proprietary Vortex Action. (Which my colleague Matthew Korfhage describes—accurately—as “a fancy name for spinning a fan into a spiral grate oriented opposite to the action of the fan.”) This sends air out in a sort of high-volume corkscrew column, the shape of which allows it to travel longer distances. The front grille unscrews for easy cleaning; the back has a handle for carrying around (which is easy to do, as it weighs only about 7 pounds); the three-speed buttons are simple and easy to press; and it has a generous five-year warranty.

Its portability and compact size mean it can be placed on a table or on the floor. It's great in the living room, tucked out of sight; in an office so it doesn't blow papers around on a desk or bulletin board; or on the floor in the bedroom, because there are no lights and it doesn't blow air directly on your face.

I have used many fans over the years, and if I had to choose just one, this would be it. There's a smart version with Alexa (Vornado 660AE) for around 20 bucks more, and if you want something a little cheaper, the smaller Vornado 630 usually runs about $80 (even less when on sale). WIRED editor Julian Chokkattu has one and confirms that it does a great job of pushing air through his living room.

FeaturesSmart app:Yes, if you get the 660AERemote:NoWind speed on high:1,083 ft/mNoise (on high/on low):63 dB/42 dBOscillation:NoWarranty:5 years

Best Ultra-Quiet Fan for Bedrooms

Photograph: Kat Merck

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Dreo

TurboPoly Fan 508S

$130 $117 (10% off) Amazon

$130 Dreo

Dreo’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 with competing models. 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, 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 Alexa) and control through the Dreo app, which also includes a 12-hour timer and the ability to set a schedule. It's got a cool RGB ring light on the back, controllable via remote or via a button on the fan itself. If you use the Dreo app, you can choose from up to 1,000 colors (ostensibly)

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