Our favourite box fans of 2021

The Lasko Weather-Shield Performance is a versatile, portable, 20″ model that effectively and efficiently cools your room. With no assembly required, it is ready for use as soon as you take it out of the box. Those of you familiar with the Lasko 3300 wind machine will notice the pivoting head feature is missing, but this model has additional features that make it one of the best box fan choices available. The Wind Ring system provides 30% more air velocity than standard fans, and the patented Lasko Weather Shield motor further differentiates this model from its competitors.

While most options can be placed near an open window to increase air circulation, this added feature allows it to withstand minor rain damage. Why is this important? It means you can operate the fan near an open window without worrying that it will be damaged by outside conditions. You can safely leave the windows open, giving you cold air even when it’s drizzling outside. Note that even with this technology, this box fans are designed for indoor use only.

The Air King 9723 20-Inch 3-Speed Box Fan comes with an 8-foot power cord and has a powerful air supply making it great to cool larger areas not fitted with air conditioning units. This fan is built for durability, with impact-resistant grills to protect the blades and a 1-year warranty, should anything go wrong.

Air King’s Air Circulators are known for their powerful motors and this box fan is no exception. The 1/25-horsepower permanently lubricated motor means that the fan produces a lot of airflow, so it gets the job done! On high speed, the airflow measures an impressive 2140 Cubic Feet per Meter (CFM), perfect for areas in need of high-volume air movement.

The Comfort Zone Full-force Box Fan is designed for use in homes, garages, warehouses or other large spaces. As such, it is more powerful than several of the other top models that we have reviewed. Its no-nonsense design comes with an easy-to-use rotary dial for 3-speed fan control that lets users optimize air circulation and airflow for improved ventilation.

If you want a product to boost your existing air conditioning and move air around those large spaces, then this is a strong contender. The high-performance industrial fan can lessen the strain on an air conditioning unit by helping the cool air produced to circulate more quickly. In the long run, this saves you energy and money by making your a/c more efficient. With a lightweight construction and a convenient carrying handle, this product is easy to transport. Despite its deceptively light model, it is highly effective and durable, if a little loud.

Our top style pick, this 20″ box fan from Lasko has the same functions as the Lasko Weather Shield Performance model; 3 quiet speeds, a weather-resistant motor for worry-free use as a window fan, and Save-Smart® technology. Plus with the Cool Colours box fan, you will enjoy fresh airflow in your home for less than $0.02 per hour to operate.

Inside, there are the standard 20-inch blades and, as you would expect, it is constructed from steel and plastic. Outside however is where the fun begins! It is available in Royal Blue or Purple and these colours are bold and bright. While you might not want this design on show in your office or neutral living space, it is great for accessorising a child’s room or brightening up an area that needs a splash of colour!

This quiet box fan for home use is designed to keep you refreshed without distracting you from work or disrupting your rest. The Table-top design and power of this 9″ fan from Comfort Zone make it one of the best for keeping small spaces comfortable. The Comfort Zone Portable Home Box Fan is portable, quiet, and is incredibly easy to move from space to space due to its built-in handle and compact build. Plus it weighs in at less than 3 lb. The white finish blends effortlessly into any color scheme, making this a discrete, versatile fan for use in any room.

While the high setting isn’t particularly strong, this box fan is still capable of creating a refreshing environment at your desk, in your living room or bedroom. As with most other models, it is ready to use straight out of the box, just plug it in and off you go! Whether you choose this table fan for use at home or in the office, you’ll appreciate how the quiet operation keeps noise disruption to a minimum.

The Optimus 10-inch Box Fan is perfect for use as a personal cooling device. Move it around the house with you or take it to work and leave it on the floor under your desk for instant cooling action. This is a cost-effective and energy-saving compact fan that can be used for different purposes. It can serve as a window fan, or, because of its size, it can work just as well on a desk or table-top. Its 10-inch diameter fan blades provide you with decent cooling at two different speed settings and the noise levels are very reasonable.

Although there is no remote control, it is equipped with just one slide controller, so it doesn’t get much easier to operate. It is light and easy to transport using the convenient carry handle, so an excellent portable option.

The Impress 9″ Box Fan is worth considering if you are looking for a smaller box fan option. It is good quality, portable fan which is quiet comes with three speeds on a rotary dial and is perfect for your desk, kitchen, or bedroom. It also produces an exceptionally low level of sound that will not disturb others around you. And with the compact and portable design, it is suitable for use in a home or office, as well as for travel.

Made of polycarbonate, the Impress has raised feet to ensure it has excellent stability and it can produce an impressive airflow for its size. This top-rated product is great if you are looking for a small, more personal fan that you want to keep near you.

The WP Box Fan combines the cooling power of three fan speeds with a wide-area airflow and a 20-inch fan diameter, all enclosed in a compact, lightweight, energy-efficient design. You may think this description sounds similar to any of the other products and you would be right. However, for those of you concerned with aesthetics and color coordination, this is one of the few models that come in black with no visible branding. So if you are looking for something different from the traditional white fan, this could be a great choice for you. While there are limited fan reviews for this model as it is a lesser-known brand, it is just as good as the best box fans from the big brand names.

This personal box fan comes with a 2-speed setting and provides a decent airflow for a fan of its size. Think of a pleasant breeze blowing, not a strong wind machine. Well designed for the home environment, the Holmes 10-Inch Personal Box Fan is best suited for areas with minimal space and is an ideal option for use on desks or bedside tables. This box fan has a 10-inch blade span and the dimensions are approximately 10 by 5 by 2 inches.

Its stylish and lightweight design allows effortless portability and versatility. The quiet and efficient operation makes it the ideal solution for use in virtually any situation where you want cooling without noisy disruption. This fan also comes with a 1-year limited warranty.

The BLACK & DECKER Frameless Tabletop Box Fan is our budget pick for the best box fan. It is the perfect addition to just about anywhere in the house or office where increased airflow is needed. The three speeds allow you to customize the airflow to meet your needs and the 9″ blade is housed in an attractive, self-standing frameless design. So a 9-inch fan really is only 9 inches, not 9 plus the frame.

Plus, if you are tight for space, the base of this model is also only 3″ wide so that it can be positioned almost anywhere. It can be used as a great alternative to less powerful desk fans. The sleek, compact design of this model, together with its’ value for money, make this an attractive choice but don’t be fooled by its size. It’s quite powerful but uses more energy and produces more noise than you might expect.