Summer’s on the way, and with most people working from home this year, it can be challenging to remain productive in hot temperatures. The best quiet desk fan can help you keep working with improved air circulation in the most tropical conditions.
Short on time? Check out our top choices:
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Desk fans also reduce irritability and fatigue, conditions that can affect productivity.
However, there is nothing worse than a fan that interferes with your concentration as you work or rest. Thankfully, desk fans happen to be some of the quietest fans available as they typically have smaller blades and not much oscillating power.
In this comprehensive review and buying guide, we reveal our top five choices for the best quiet desk fans and examine the features that you need to consider when choosing your model.
The 5 Best Quiet Desk Fans:
Check out our five top choices ordered by how quiet they are.
Bear in mind that if you want more power from your fan then you will need to sacrifice a certain amount of quietness. The Dyson Air Multiplier is a great choice for anyone looking for a powerful fan that isn’t too noisy (only 50dB at max power).
1. Fancii Small Personal USB Desk Fan
This two-speed Fancii personal USB desk fan is ideal for office use as it has incredibly quiet operation, delivering an airflow capacity of up to 4.2m/s. It is also suitably lightweight, weighing in at only 7.8 ounces, making it highly portable and ideal for traveling or camping.
The twin-turbo cyclone-blade technology and 180-degree tilt rotation deliver maximum airflow and a wider cooling area. As its USB-powered, you don’t need a spare outlet or batteries to power it in, and it uses only 5V of power for efficient energy-saving operation.
You can use this quiet desk fan as a hand-held personal fan to deliver a fresh breeze straight at your head or shoulders. It also functions as a laptop fan, which keeps your laptop or other electronic devices cool, preventing overheating.
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Pros:
- Extremely lightweight
- Efficient, energy-saving operation
- Affordably priced
Cons:
- Low-quality power cord
- Not as powerful for its size
Also Read: Quiet Air Purifiers: Counting Down The Top 6
2. Glamouric USB Quiet Desk Fan Retro Design
This retro Glamouric quiet desk fan features a sturdy, rust-resistant metal frame, bracket, and blade that will last the distance. It also has an anti-injury frame that keeps the blades safely out of reach from prying hands.
This well-designed 12-ounce fan showcases 360-degree rotation and super-quiet, up-and-down airflow with free angle adjustment. These features guarantee a steady stream of cold and quiet air wherever you need it.
This unit delivers 5W energy-saving operation through its brushless motor and features three anti-vibration pads that enable its quiet operation. It also comes with a 3.9 ft USB cable for convenient use with computers, laptops, and other USB output devices. However, the fan does not come with a USB/AC adaptor cable.
This mini-fan takes up little space at only 6.3 inches high and with a 4-inch blade, making it the ideal cooling companion for study, work, or travel.
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Pros:
- Energy-saving operation
- Lightweight; ideal for travel
- 360-degree oscillation
Cons:
- Short power cord
- AC/USB adaptor cable not included
3. Honeywell HT-900 TurboForce Air Circulator Fan
This high-performance fan has a 90-degree pivoting head for focused directional airflow with three-speed settings for convenient operation. It is powerful enough to provide cooling action up to 25 feet away, easy to assemble, and compact enough to place on nightstands or work tables, or even wall-mount.
The aerodynamic turbo design maximizes air movement and offers intense cooling, and its DC motor uses 50% less energy than conventional AC motors. The cumulative effect is the Honeywell HT-900 can help reduce your power bill by up to 20%.
At 10.9 inches high and weighing in at 2.6 lbs., this fan is not too big to distract you. What’s more, you can use it as a heater in the colder winter months. Simply turn down the thermostat and pair this fan with a heating system to warm up your workspace, bedroom, or living space.
The Honeywell HT-900 comes with a 1-year limited warranty.
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Pros:
- Quiet and powerful
- Great value for money
- Excellent oscillation
Cons:
- Power knob is difficult to operate
- Unnecessarily large for a desk fan
4. Dyson 10” Air Multiplier AM06 Table Fan
Dyson’s calling card is its innovative design. The AM06 desk fan, like most of Dyson’s other room fans, uses Dyson’s Air Multiplier technology to create powerful and steady airflow without fast-spinning blades. This bladeless quality makes them one of the safest desk fans to use around children and pets.
The design is understated and sleek and can also pivot on its center of gravity. It is also reasonably lightweight with a diameter of 10 inches and a weight of 6.72 lbs.
Apart from looking good and offering high functionality, the Dyson AM06 is very quiet and powerful, with streamlined air channels for reduced airflow turbulence that make it 75% quieter than its predecessor, the AM01.
This fan includes a programmable sleep timer in 15-minute to nine-hour intervals, especially useful if you’re prone to leaving your appliances on for too long.
This beauty also comes with a magnetized remote control with a choice of 10 precise airflow settings and stores neatly on the machine.
The AM06 is also safe and easy to clean and maintain because there are no cumbersome safety grills or blades. However, the price is its most considerable disadvantage—it cools as well as fans that sell for much less.
This fan comes with a 2-year limited warranty when purchased from Dyson or an authorized reseller and includes triple-A batteries.
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Pros:
- A stylish, understated design
- Easy to clean
- Bladeless technology makes it safe to use
Cons:
- Quite expensive
- The built-in night light can be too bright
Also Read: Best Quiet Fans For Sleeping
5. Vornado Zippi Small Personal Fan
Although its not the quietest in our list when at high power this fan is very highly rated.
The Vornado Zippi is a small, sleek, and colorful desk fan with an adjustable tilt head and a powerful motor that moves a decent amount of air in a medium-sized area of approximately 100 – 300 square feet. It has three innovative soft nylon blades that quietly propel air, and are safe to touch even while the fan is operating.
With two speeds and an adjustable pivot head, this fan offers the perfect blend of comfort and convenience.
The Vornado Zippi combines portability with style and comes in six attractive colors—white, black, grey, lime green, light blue, and pink. At 7.6 inches high and weighing in at 16 ounces, this fan is the go-to quiet desk fan for studying or travel learning.
This fan also features convenient slip-resistant silicone feet for extra safety and security around pets and young children. It comes with a 6-foot power cable and a 3-year limited warranty.
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Pros:
- Safe to use
- Durable metal construction
- Six attractive colors
Cons:
- Not battery or USB-compatible
- Lack of oscillation
Desk Fan Buyer’s Guide
Thanks to some impressive developments in fan engineering, it is now possible to buy a near-silent desk fan while enjoying all of the features and benefits that a small desk fan can provide.
Beyond the overall noise level, another essential consideration when choosing a desk fan is its size to ensure that it fits comfortably on your office desk, nightstand, or any other surface. Safe and stable operation around pets and children is essential, too.
In our mini buyer’s guide below, we delve deeper into these considerations to help you make the best purchasing decision when choosing your quiet desk fan.
Oscillation
Fan oscillation refers to the direction of airflow as the fan spins during its operation. Whether you have a tower fan or a standard axial flow fan, the oscillation capacity determines the volume of air circulation in a given space.
Oscillating fans provide more efficient cooling as they rotate, which allows for better airflow around the room. The higher the oscillation, the more airflow the fan delivers, and the wider area it cools.
Fan oscillation varies from model to model; some fans have no oscillation at all while others feature 180 to 360-degree oscillation.
Airflow Capacity
Airflow capacity or CFM (cubic feet per meter) is a unit measurement that determines the amount of air a fan can move at maximum speed. A good fan should have a rating of at least 1 CFM per square foot of area.
Most good quality desk fans have a CFM of 150 – 200.
Noise Level
Desk fans are among the quietest room fans available. A fan’s noise level is measured by the sound it makes on its highest setting, given in decibels (dB).
Most desk fans operate at less than 40 dB, with the quietest coming in at approximately 30 – 50 dB. Average household noises usually measure 55 dB, so if your fan’s noise level is well below this level, you can expect quiet operation.
Also read: How to make a room fan quieter
Design
A desk fan will likely become part of your home décor, so aim for one that functions well and also looks good. Bladeless and tower fans tend to be sleek and modern, while other designs like oscillating desk fans range from rustic to industrial.
Newer model desk fans also feature flexible necks that rotate the fan’s direction to suit your position.
Functionality
The functionality of your fan is also crucial.
The most common desk fans work with:
- Horizontal axial flow technology (pedestal fans)
- Vertical airflow technology (tower fans)
- Bladeless technology
Axial flow fan blades have an impeller shaft at the center, which typically rotates parallel to the spoke and blows air through a safety grill. The impeller shaft in tower fans has a vertical orientation that pushes air both up and down. However, bladeless fans (counter to their name) use hidden blades in their base to dispel air creating a directed breeze.
If you have children or pets in the home, bladeless fans are generally better and safer choices.
Durability
Ensure that your fan is sturdy and durable enough for your needs. Usually, desk fans get placed on elevated surfaces, and there’s always the risk of falling. Metal fans are more durable than plastic fans, with metal-plastic combinations providing a suitable compromise.
A durable desk fan will save you money in the long run as it will most likely last longer through the wear and tear of daily use than a flimsier fan.
Power Source
Most desk fans use electricity, provided by a power cord that connects to the socket. However, some use multiple power sources, which add to their versatility.
Other portable desk fans, especially those that are light enough to travel, use rechargeable batteries. This power source versatility makes them ideal for use when camping in remote areas or where no immediate power source is available.
If you plan to use your desk fan with your laptop or PC, a USB-powered desk fan is ideal. Here, you won’t need a separate socket to power your appliance as your laptop or desktop will power it for you.
Size
Most desk fans are small. However, you should still consider a fan’s size to ensure that it fits the space intended for its use.
The ideal desk fan should be compact, slim, flat, and lightweight to avoid taking up unnecessary space or distracting you as you work.
Budget
Your budget is a consideration when buying a fan, but so are all the elements listed above. You can set a price you can afford and find a desk fan that fits that budget or make a list of your needed features and look at all the fans in that category.
Unless your budget is unlimited, you’ll probably have to compromise on the features or the cost. However, the Fancii Small Personal USB Desk Fan is a high-quality fan at an affordable price.
Bonus Features
Other beneficial features of the best quiet desk fans include remote controls, programmers, and timers. These added features offer the ultimate convenience.
Remote controls enable you to operate the fan from anywhere.
At the same time, timers allow you to run the fan without worrying about what will happen if you accidentally leave your appliance running. Finally, programmers give you the benefit of pre-selecting your preferred power and cooling settings.
Conclusion
Whether it’s hot or not outside, a small desk fan is a useful appliance to have in your home or office to keep you comfortable as you read or work, they are also great for keeping your electronic devices cool..and as they’re also portable, you can take them with you when you go outdoors because many newer models are battery-operated or USB-compatible.
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