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On a quest for the one tower fan to rule them all? We researched dozens of the best tower fans available today and narrowed it down to the top 9 models to test side-by-side. We did our best to blow our own socks off, creating the best test plan out there to put these air movers through their paces in the heat of the summer desert. We not only tested the sheer power that these machines can create but also how they're able to circulate the air in a room to give you a better idea of what they're capable of tackling. We tested these fans' modes, speeds, settings, timers, and remotes through afternoon movies, hot office workdays, and midday naps. We directly compared every one of these fans to tease apart even the smallest differences to help you find the perfect fan for your needs and budget.
Editor's Note: On April 11th, 2024, we updated this review to include our new test plan, assessed 9 of the best products, and included some informative graphs to help visually fill in on our results.
Measured Thrust Power: 1.02 N | Measured CFM: 508.8 CFM
REASONS TO BUY
Powerful output
Relatively quiet
Intuitive remote
Nighttime mode (turns off sound)
REASONS TO AVOID
Controls difficult to view
Removing rear grille can be tricky
The Dreo Cruiser Pro T1 towers above its competition with consistently high scores across the board. We were impressed by its power, propelling air far distances that were felt over 60 feet away. The Cruiser Pro T1 complements its powerful output by creating great circulation throughout our test room. We saw movement on all the tallest fringe sets in our circulation testing, showing us it can create cooling dispersion in even the largest rooms. Whether it's only a timid day or a scorcher, the Cruiser Pro T1 has six speed levels with four different modes to span a wide range of needs. The interface gives you other subtle positive attributes like automatic display-off and the ability to silence those pesky beep noises.
We compared the sound level of all the fans we have in this lineup. The Dreo Cruiser Pro T1 was quiet with a similar power output, but this has better power performance than most. As the levels were increased, the sound levels, too, increased. It was noticeable to our ears and the decibel reader, enough to turn up the volume when watching television to counteract the high volume. If quiet comfort is what you are seeking, then we recommend the Dreo Touch Control 40 Inch Standard. The Drea Touch isn't as powerful, but it did recede into the background when it came to sound level and pitch.
Dreo Cruiser Pro T1 excelled in all our test metrics.
Measured Thrust Power: 0.66 N | Measured CFM: 268.3 CFM
REASONS TO BUY
Easy to clean
Secure Remote Storage
Low energy consumption
REASONS TO AVOID
control area smudges easily
minor whine noise
Levoit Classic 36" stands at the crossroads of great performance and low price. The ability to move air around is pivotal to reducing the temperature. Luckily, the Levoit accomplishes just that. We saw movement coming forward on all fringe decorations that show us the air patterns are flowing back towards the front of the room where the air was first pushed out. This creates a never-ending cycle of movement, helping cool you down as air passes over. This fan also recorded one of the lowest sound volume readings at 47.5 decibels, so you can have comfortable temperatures while in peace. Since the fan will be running for long periods of time, it is great to know that it was also effortless to clean since there will undoubtedly be dust collection. We were able to not only disassemble the grille quickly but also have easy access to the propellor for diligent cleaning.
Although the Levoit Classic 36" did well overall in our power and circulation metric, it underperformed in our air volume movement test. We tested each fan's ability to draw in air in the form of measuring cubic feet per minute. The Levoit recorded an average of 268.3 cubic meters per minute in our testing, which was under our average. Drawing more air in will help to bring in cooler air at a faster rate. It will also help for long halls where you will have further distances the fan needs to reach. If you require a fan that will help move more of that cool air, then we suggest the Pelonis 40".
We were able to critically analyze our favorites, like the Levoit Classic 36", through multiple testing metrics.
The Pelonis 40" PSF40T2ABB is a notable fan for great power and circulation while also not hurting your wallet. This fan has the great ability to push air around the room. In our testing, we saw air flowing back at almost all of our fringe locations. This means it has the potential to spread around new, cooler air to help alleviate a congested room. What's better about this fan is that it combines great air flow with a big thrust of air to make a substantial shift in the temperature of your home. It pushes out 0.81 newtons of force, a measurement that's well above average in this lineup. A muggy room can really bring down your mood, so it's beneficial to be able to make the quick shift to cool temperatures, especially if you need to cool down more than one room throughout the day.
The Pelonis 40" excels in important testing factors but does have a few interface aspects that are neglected from its design. There's no way to mute the buttons on the screen, so you'll be alarmed every time you press a button, as we found the beeps penetrating our ears. The fan also doesn't have a storage area for the remote. Not sure if you are like us, but if there's no storage location, then we tend to lose it, especially if we transfer it from room to room in the home. These are minor considerations, but if you do want to have a tower fan that has more thoughtful designs, then we suggest the Dreo Cruiser Pro T1. The Cruiser Pro T1 is more customizable with more fan modes, including a night-time mode that silences those alarming beeps.
The Pelonis 40" has great circulation patterns that can reach most areas of our testing room.
Measured Thrust Power: 786.3 N | Measured CFM: 786.3 CFM
REASONS TO BUY
High thrust power
Great room circulation
Large CFM intake
REASONS TO AVOID
Very Loud
Requires tools to install base
Do you require a fan that truly blows away its competition? The Vornado 184 stood alone, at the top, in our power and circulation testing. The brand name Vornado is derived from the Vornado Plane, a combination of vortex and tornado. A fitting name for this beast of a machine. We were quite impressed with the sheer amount of air that we could feel at distances of over 60 feet away. Also impressive is its ability to take in air at an average of 786.3 cubic feet per minute. That recording is about double what the average of other fans in this lineup were producing. This combination of excellence solves any potential hurdles to long corridors or large areas.
Since this machine can really crank, it uses more energy. Based on its watt usage, we were able to calculate the cost if it were on 12 hours a day for 90 days straight. The rough estimate came out to $14.53, which doesn't break the bank but can start to add to your energy bill over time. Unfortunately, with increased power also comes a rise in sound. The fan was substantially louder than others when compared. We recorded the fan at 57.2 decibels on the highest speed level from 3 feet away. There was an additional buzz it produced that had us overwhelmed when we turned it on. If you find the high volume of the Vornado 184 a turn off the Levoit Classic 36" is a cheaper option in terms of both reduced sound and associated costs. However, you won't have that powerful input.
The Vornado is mighty powerful with its ability to circulate air through large rooms in our testing.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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Our in-house testing team worked together to bring you the most comprehensive review for tower fans.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Why Trust GearLab
We took a deep dive into assessing what it takes to be the coolest fan. We critically analyzed each fan output so we can provide you with a comprehensive review. With our in-house testing team, we constructed demanding tests that pushed each fan to its limits. We first looked at the sheer power of each fan but added circulation to our testing to find a better understanding of how these machines work throughout an entire room. We know these things can be loud, so we took measurements at each level, being certain to include additional commentary on the pitch and characteristics of their tones. As instructed through each manual, we took apart these machines to clean the grille and other components after our extensive testing. This gave us insight into how involved a cleaning session may take. Lastly, just like you, we're concerned about how much energy these things can suck up. We know these machines are a lifeline, running daily for hours on end during the hot, smoldering summers. So we broke out the spreadsheet and crunched the numbers to provide you with the energy costs.
Our tests are broken down into these four metrics:
Power and Circulation (45% of overall score weighting)
Noise (30% weighting)
Cleaning (15% weighting)
Energy Use (10% weighting)
Our expert test team is led by our Senior Analyst, Austin Palmer . Austin grew up in a muggy town in Texas, so he fully understands what it is like to be uncomfortably hot. He relied on fans throughout his childhood and into his higher education, studying at Sam Houston State University. Austin not only tests this category of fans but has tested the full range of fan categories at our testing facility, dubbing him the lord of the fans. He notes that he is ready to “blow the competition away.” His extensive testing doesn't just stop at fans. He has tested other cool categories like portable and window air conditioners, gaining insight into the requirements it takes for us to stay fresh. Prior to living in the Tahoe basin, Jessica Riconscente lived down under in Australia and New Zealand for multiple years. She lived amongst the rainforest where humidity often brimmed to full saturation in heat that broke triple digits at times. It was hot, and Jessica has been appreciative of fans ever since. Her technical background helped to systematically test each product, thoroughly assessing each output a tower fan produces so that our review constructs the most comprehensive review out there.
We broke out all our tools to take accurate readings during our testing.
Analysis and Test Results
We know that fans may seem remedial in their construction, but what we've learned through testing is that they are not all created equal. It's important to find the fan that works best for your situation. That is why we've broken down our testing into key aspects of a fan. We're here to guide you to building your own oasis in your home or office.
What's the Best Value?
Tower fans are considered at the luxury end of the spectrum compared to other fans and often hold a higher cost with this association. With this consideration, we selected a wide range of cost values to see if the higher prices are really worth your investment. Our testing was standardized across the board, not changing any aspect based on the price of the product. What we found was that the performance didn't necessarily correlate to the dollar amount.
We love the Levoit Classic 36 for its high scores and low price tag.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Through our trials of testing, we found that the Levoit Classic 36" rested in the sweet spot for great performance at a reasonable cost. To further help your wallet, this fan uses less energy than most of its competitors and is efficient in the process. Along a similar price tier is the Pelonis 40" PSF40T2ABB. The Pelonis touts a slightly higher power and circulation score than the Levoit but falls behind in every other consideration we tested. Still, we found it to be beneficial for certain applications where you may want a fan that is great for larger rooms with a nice price tag.
It's worth noting the Vornado 184 breaks above the $100 dollar tier that most other high performers don't touch in our selection. Although there is a hike in price, it may be warranted due to its revered power and circulation. If you have large, open areas in your home that have historically posed problems to cool, the Vornado may be worth the investment.
We could feel the Vornado's power over 60 feet away.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Power and Circulation
Picture yourself in your home on a hot, humid day where your air conditioning just can't cut it. You're overheated, irritable, and, honestly, sticky. It's uncomfortable to live in those conditions. Heck, you might be in that nightmare now, and why you're desperately at our site reading through this review. As a means to relieve your situation, the best way to combat those congested conditions is to move new air into your room from a cooler location and circulate that air to help push out the warmer air. That means your fan not only needs to have great power but also be effective at creating a current in the room. That is why we didn't just look at the sheer power of the fan but took into consideration the ability it had to circulate.
It's difficult to see air moving. We can feel it on our faces often in a windy storm, but to accurately see circulation patterns can be puzzling to obtain for testing. Our solution is fringe celebration decorations, and lots of them. We broke down our testing room into a grid by setting up those streams of decorations in a three-by-three set of rows. We hung the fringe at low, medium, and high heights. This helps us cover the full volume of the space so we can factor in every part of the room. Turning on the Vornado 184, you could easily see the flow of air throughout the room, making us instantly cool. The Vornado stood out in this circulation test along with all others in this metric. The Dreo Cruiser Pro T1 was a slight step down in performance, but it still got the job done. We felt cooler overall but couldn't necessarily feel the current on them where they were stationed in the corner of the room. The Pelonis 40" did an impressive job of moving air throughout the room, getting the majority of the fringe to move one way or the other.
The ability to both power and circulate air throughout a room is integral to alleviating those muggy rooms.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
To partner with circulation, we tested the power of these machines to help get an idea of what their capabilities can achieve. We know that some folks may be in a strenuous desert climate or have sizable territory to cover in their home that requires more force to get things done. We took three additional measurements: the longest distance at which we could feel the fan pump air out, max thrust, and how many cubic feet per minute of air the fan can move. Long halls, large rooms, and wide open areas pose a hurdle for tower fans. Other types of fans have no problem with these requirements, but because of the thin design of tower fans, they often struggle. We were impressed by both the Dreo Cruiser Pro T1 and Vornado184 for their ability to propel air over sixty feet.
We introduce the thrust machine, a device that measures the power of the fan to physically push out air.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Thanks to Matthias Wandel, we were able to construct a method to measure the thrust of a fan. The thrust is a measurement that basically tells us how much air the fan pushes out. The thrust machine is designed to translate that pushing force into a weight on the scale. To simplify the numbers, we converted the end result into a familiar force, newtons. The Vornado 184 again had the highest reading at 1.14 newtons, but the Dreo Cruiser Pro T1 wasn't far behind in testing, registering a commendable 1.02 newtons.
Lastly, we took a look at the amount of air the fan moves in an instant. This deals with the intake of the system and gives us the potential capacity these fans can produce. We set up our anemometer in a standardized sealed testing box. Measuring the input gave us consistent readings and was the reasoning as to why we included it in our results. Not surprisingly, the Vornado 184 stood at the top, moving an impressive average of 786.3 CFM in our testing. Dreo Cruiser Pro T1 followed this at 508.8 CFM, but we are pleasantly amazed the Pelonis 40" did great to pull in the air as well, recording an average of 425.5 CFM. View the graph above to see how others stack up against these three highlighted here.
Power and circulation is our highest weighted metric to focus on the big concern of reducing temperatures during those hot, humid days.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Noise
You can get excited by selecting a powerful fan, bringing it home, and turning it on only to find the thing that sounds like you're right next to a jet engine. Noise can be a critical factor in your enjoyment and can sometimes be a dealbreaker. You want to create an oasis in your home or office, so a fan that operates like it is shooting off rounds will most likely not construct that sanctuary. Since this is an important factor, we tested the noise level at all levels while also comparing them relative to the same power output. Decibel readings alone don't fully characterize the noise these fans produce, so we additionally noted any unusual pitch, rattling, clicking, or vibration that came sputtering out.
Although the decibel reading is about average, we found the Dreo Touch Control to be one of the most pleasing to our ears overall. We didn't notice any annoying sounds that could distract you, allowing the natural fan noise to fade into the background, granting you peace in just a small space. The Dreo Cruiser Pro T1 did remarkably well when testing along a similar power output. However, when you crank up the levels on the fan, you can notice a bump up in volume as well.
It's no surprise that our top performer for power and circulation is our lowest performer in this metric. The Vornado 184 hits 57.2 dBa from 3 feet away. It's pretty dang loud. Sometimes, it even makes you unable to hear your own thoughts. Although the Lasko Wind Curve is much lower on the decibel scale, we found it aching to listen to the device. The thing whined like a child while also hearing a bird flapping from the blades. An overwhelming combination of noises pushes the Lasko Wind Curve down the list.
We took sound level measurements at every speed for every fan to understand the full range of what these machines can blast out.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Cleaning
Realistically, if you are in need of a fan, we know that it is going to be cranking out for multiple days on end, running constantly for long, extended times. This fan will inevitably suck in lint and other small particles that will build up in the grille and on the blade. So, we broke out the manuals for this metric. We went step-by-step through what the manufacturer states for cleaning each fan. We took them apart, whipped them down, and put them back together. We recorded the ease of access along with how much you can effectively clean. We want to let you know which fans made it easy for us while others made it more of an ongoing saga to complete.
Cleaning was a breeze with the Dreo Nomad One Stand and Levoit Classic 36". Removing the cover is simplistic and gives you easy access to the grille and blade. You have the ability to clean everywhere dust collects with ample room to put a sponge or end of a vacuum hose. The Dreo Tough Control performed great in our cleaning tests as well. The only notable inconvenience was the difficulty in popping off the tabs to access the internal compartments, but we found it got easier to work with each session.
We broke down each fan to properly clean and took notes about the process.
Credit: Austin Palmer
The Honeywell QuietSet, Lasko FH550, and Lasko Wind Curve were like prison bars, difficult to open up unless you have the keys. Unfortunately, those keys are a security torx, and seeing as most households don't have that specific tool, it begs the question of whether the manufacturer actually wants us to disassemble them to clean. Some manuals told us to never take the fan apart, while others neglected to even write cleaning instructions. These bottom three fans stood out as an ache on our side with such a simple task.
After hours and hours of use in an office or home, the fan is bound to accumulate dust, so we've broken down each machine to accurately get an account of how difficult it may be to thoroughly clean.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Energy Use
To help understand the full cost of these machines, we took into account the amount of watts they used and how efficiently they were able to utilize that consumption. We measured the watt usage at high, then extrapolated that measurement as if it were running for 12 hours a day for 90 days straight. The range wasn't wide when compared to other products, but the Honeywell QuietSet did edge out the competition. More likely due to the fact it doesn't pump out a ton of power.
This graph breaks down the power by watt usage for each speed level to show you which fan is most efficient.
Credit: Austin Palmer
We took the ratio of thrust to watt usage to figure out which fan was most efficient. If we're able to select a fan that is not only powerful but also doesn't take a ton of energy to use, it would be quite a beneficial appliance to have for our home. The Dreo Cruiser Pro T1 has the highest ratio, marking it the best for energy usage.
We measured the fans' midpoint to better assess where their center of gravity stood.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Conclusion
Tower fans have the great ability to transform your room into a refreshing escape from the humid reality that's looming outside. They can make you feel like you're in a cool shadow versus a direct desert sun beating on you. They have substantial effects. We want to make sure that you have the insight into which fan performs best. We tested each of these products, pushing them to their maximum readings to let you know where they fall on the spectrum.
After record-breaking high temperatures this past summer, it is even more precedent now to have a system that helps cool down your house. After researching tower fans, you may be interested in our other fan categories like the best floor fans and table fan. If you don't think these machines can cut it, you may try reading our best air conditioners review.
