7 Best Fans for Sleeping — Sleep Cooler and Wake Up Refreshed

By
Romeo Vitelli
Romeo Vitelli
Expert Writer
Received his doctorate in Psychology in 1987, spent fifteen years as a staff psychologist in Millbrook Correctional Centre. In 2003 went into full-time private practice. read more
reviewed
Reviewed By
Medical Advisory Team
Medical Advisory Team
Includes well-known professionals, who together provide decades of sleep medicine experience that enables Talk About Sleep to fulfill its mission of creating access to high- read more
Last updated: August 14, 2023
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Many people choose to sleep with a fan for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you don’t enjoy sleeping in total silence or need the ‘white noise’ effect of a fan to drift off to sleep and drown out any ambient sounds. Maybe you live in a warm area and tend to get hot in the night, so need a fan to help cool down. Perhaps you have another reason for needing a fan while you sleep.

In any case, we’ve prepared a list of the very best models to help you identify the best fan for sleeping for you. We picked the toughest and sturdiest units, looking at design, construction, durability, size, warranty, and the amount of sound each model makes in order to find the very best sleeping fans. Based on these features, we found the KLARSTEIN Silent Storm Pedestal Fan to be the top choice for the majority of user needs and preferences. The models we’ve shortlisted in this article are some of the very best fans you can buy right now, guaranteed.

We looked at a lot of user and critical reviews of individual fans for sleeping and tested each one in order to identify the best models. You can find a list of our top fans in the table below, complete with ratings and nominations. Further down, you’ll find in-depth reviews of each model, complete with pros and cons lists and thorough breakdowns of every fan. Finally, there’s a detailed buying guide and FAQ section.

Quick Summary

  • "Incredible pedestal fan with 12 speed settings and 5 modes to choose from"
  • Best Tower Fan for Sleeping: Lasko T42951 Wind Curve
    "High quality low-noise tower fan with 3 speed settings and a programmable timer"
  • Best Table Fan for Sleeping: Rowenta VU2531
    "Compact four-speed table fan with an ultra-quiet operation, perfect for those that prefer a light breeze while they sleep"
  • "Tower fan with 8 speed settings and oscillation, features timer and sound level controls"
  • Best Portable Fan for Sleeping: Holmes 12-Inch Fan
    "Small-sized 3-speed fan that works even in large spaces of up to 500 sq. ft., includes a timer"
  • Best Energy Efficient Fan: Lasko 3300
    "Three-speed fan with a pivoting head and a carry handle for better portability"
  • "Great little fan at an affordable price, features 2 speed settings and a removable grill for easier cleaning"

Top 7 Fans for Sleeping Review 2024

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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 2338 people in the past 30 days
9.8
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.4
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.3
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.5
9.8
Features
  • Speed settings: 12
  • Remote control: yes
  • Dimensions: 7 x 17.7 x 54 inches
  • Warranty: 1-year limited

Extra features: LCD display; 5 modes; coverage of up to 850 sq. ft.; adjustable height and tilt; optional 90° oscillation

Easily one of the best fans for sleeping money can buy right now, the KLARSTEIN Silent Storm Pedestal Fan immediately stands out with its stylish design and modern features. It stands at an impressive height of 54 inches and comes with a stylish LCD screen and multiple modes, as well as a remote control to allow the user to adjust between its five different modes and 12 different speed settings easily and conveniently, whenever they want.

Convenience really is the main word when it comes to the KLARSTEIN Silent Storm Pedestal Fan. It’s such a fun and simple fan to use, offering all the features and functionality you could hope to find, and everything is made so much easier with the remote and the screen. Plus, it comes with optional oscillation and is very easy to adjust as well, allowing it to adapt to many environments and work for many people.

The only real ‘cons’ to this fan are the fact that it has quite a steep price tag, and also the fact that its size might make it a little inconvenient for those looking for something smaller or more portable. In general, however, users have only got good things to say about the KLARSTEIN Silent Storm Pedestal Fan and it really delivers in every area, offering powerful cooling and ventilation performance without ever getting too loud. If you’re looking for the best quiet fan for sleeping, look no further.

    Why are we impressed?
  • Oscillation
  • Quiet but effective
  • Easy to adjust
  • Remote control
  • Stylish design
  • LCD display
  • Multiple modes
    What negatives must you be aware of?
  • Might be too large for some rooms
  • High price
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 5142 people in the past 30 days
9.6
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.4
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.3
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.1
9.6
2
Best Tower Fan for Sleeping

Lasko T42951 Wind Curve

Features
  • Speed settings: 3
  • Remote control: yes
  • Dimensions: 13 x 13 x 43 inches
  • Warranty: 1-year limited

Extra features: carry handle; programmable timer; available in 2 designs

Next up, we come to the Lasko T42951 Wind Curve, which is easily our number one tower fan for sleeping. Many people are favoring tower fans these days due to their more stylish and modern designs compared to more traditional fans, and it’s easy to see why when we look at the Lasko T42951 Wind Curve. It’s a really stylish and elegant statement piece that can fit in nicely with a wide array of décor and design styles around the home.

With its carry handle, the Lasko T42951 Wind Curve can actually be easily transported around the home too, which is quite a surprising and beneficial feature for such a relatively large fan. Another fun feature is the timer, which allows you to set the fan to turn itself off automatically after a set amount of time. This is ideal for users who want the sound and cooling effect of the fan to help them fall asleep, but don’t necessarily want to leave it running all through the night.

Other advantages of the Lasko T42951 Wind Curve include the fact that it offers exceptionally strong and effective cooling and ventilation performance, but doesn’t make any compromises in terms of noise. If you’re worried about this being a loud fan for sleeping, you can forget about all those concerns. It stays nice and quiet, even on the top speed setting. Unfortunately, there are only three speed settings to choose from.

    Why did it make our list?
  • Carry handle for portability
  • Timer is a great advantage
  • Stylish design
  • Powerful cooling effect
  • Low levels of noise
    What is not ideal about it?
  • Only three speed settings
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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 2259 people in the past 30 days
9.5
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.1
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.4
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.3
9.5
3
Best Table Fan for Sleeping

Rowenta VU2531

Features
  • Speed settings: 4
  • Remote control: no
  • Dimensions: 14 x 10 x 18 inches
  • Warranty: 1-year warranty

Extra features: ultra-quiet operation – 38 to 55 dB; features a carry handle

If you’re just looking for something small and compact, the Rowenta VU2531 might be just what you need. It’s one of the best table/desk fans for sleeping you can buy, and it’s ideal for people don’t have too much free space or don’t want a large, awkwardly shaped fan taking up too much of their bedrooms. It’s also a good option if you need something portable and want to carry it around from room to room, even coming with its own little handle.

Aside from its small size, one of the most important things to highlight about this particular fan is its astonishing silence. The sound generated by the Rowenta VU2531 ranges between 38 and 55 dB, which is similar to the noise levels one would expect to find in a library, so it’s very nice and quiet for people who just want the cooling effect of a fan and a faint hum, without too much sound to disturb them as they’re trying to fall asleep each night.

The Rowenta VU2531 also comes with four different speed settings in total and is a very effective and affordable fan for sleeping overall. With that said, it does still have a few minor flaws worth mentioning. Due to its small size, it can’t offer quite the same performance as a larger tower fan or more powerful model. Plus, some users might find it lacks a little functionality, not having its own remote control or timer.

    What are our favorite features?
  • Exceptionally quiet
  • Small and portable
  • Carry handle
  • Affordable
    What could be better?
  • Lacks some functionality
  • Might be too weak for some
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 8764 people in the past 30 days
9.3
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.1
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.0
Features & Benefits
Product Review
8.8
9.3
Features
  • Speed settings: 8
  • Remote control: yes
  • Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 32 inches
  • Warranty: 1-year limited

Extra features: timer; adjustable lighting; oscillation; QuietSet feature allows you control over sound levels

The Honeywell HYF290B QuietSet 8-Speed Whole-Room Tower Fan earned our nomination for the most versatile fan for sleeping due to its vast range of features and options. This fan actually lets you adjust its control panel lighting brightness, as well as setting a timer at four different durations and boasting no less than eight different speed settings too. In short, if you want a fan that gives you a lot of control and options, this is a great one to choose.

But how well does it actually work? Well, many users have been very impressed with the Honeywell HYF290B QuietSet 8-Speed Whole-Room Tower Fan. It’s especially effective in larger rooms, with its powerful technology and oscillation allowing it to ventilate and cool down large spaces in a matter of minutes. It’s surprisingly quiet for such a large and impressive fan too, so it’s ideal for sleeping, although those looking for a good level of white noise might actually be disappointed with how silent this fan is.

The Honeywell HYF290B QuietSet 8-Speed Whole-Room Tower Fan also stands out for its stylish and slim design. Despite being quite a tall tower fan, it’s very thin and can fit snugly in corners or little spaces around the room, making it very convenient for those who want power and performance, but don’t want a fan that’s big and bulky to take up too much room.

    What makes it stand out?
  • Lots of speed settings
  • Adjustable sound levels
  • Lots of features like timer and lighting
  • Stylish and sturdy construction
  • Effective in large rooms
    Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?
  • Too quiet for some
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 6968 people in the past 30 days
9.2
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.0
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.0
Features & Benefits
Product Review
8.8
9.2
5
Best Portable Fan for Sleeping

Holmes 12-Inch Fan

Features
  • Speed settings: 3
  • Remote control: yes
  • Dimensions: 1 x 18.1 x 19.6 inches
  • Warranty: 3-year limited

Extra features: works in rooms up to 500 sq. ft.; built-in carry handle and cord storage; rotating grill; timer

Next up, we have the Holmes 12-Inch Fan. At first glance, you might think that this seems to be quite a simple and small fan, but it actually comes with a very long and impressive list of features. It has oscillation, for example, able to rotate left and right in order to offer stronger and more balanced ventilation and cooling around a room. It also comes with a remote control, letting the user operate and adjust the settings of the fan from the comfort of their bed or elsewhere around the room.

This fan is also exceptionally portable. It’s one of the most portable fans for sleeping you can find right now, with its relatively small size, built-in carry handle, and lightweight design making it very easy to pick up and move around. The only downside to the Holmes 12-Inch Fan’s design is that it seems to be a little imbalanced and some users have reported that it can fall over during the night, so usually needs to be placed against something to provide some support.

Overall, there’s a lot to love about the Holmes 12-Inch Fan. It’s a stylish, compact, and powerful fan that offers strong cooling effects with minimal noise. It also comes with a timer, letting you program it to turn off automatically after a set period of time, saving you more energy and money in the long run and preventing anyone waking up with dry throats too.

    What makes it stand out?
  • Oscillation
  • Highly portable
  • Remote control
  • Timer
  • Lots of features
  • Strong cooling effect
    Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?
  • Can fall over
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 7617 people in the past 30 days
9.0
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
8.7
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
8.9
Features & Benefits
Product Review
8.5
9.0
6
Best Energy Efficient Fan

Lasko 3300

Features
  • Speed settings: 3
  • Remote control: yes
  • Dimensions: 1 x 18.1 x 19.6 inches
  • Warranty: 3-year limited

Extra features: works in rooms up to 500 sq. ft.; built-in carry handle and cord storage; rotating grill; timer

Next up, we have the Holmes 12-Inch Fan. At first glance, you might think that this seems to be quite a simple and small fan, but it actually comes with a very long and impressive list of features. It has oscillation, for example, able to rotate left and right in order to offer stronger and more balanced ventilation and cooling around a room. It also comes with a remote control, letting the user operate and adjust the settings of the fan from the comfort of their bed or elsewhere around the room.

This fan is also exceptionally portable. It’s one of the most portable fans for sleeping you can find right now, with its relatively small size, built-in carry handle, and lightweight design making it very easy to pick up and move around. The only downside to the Holmes 12-Inch Fan’s design is that it seems to be a little imbalanced and some users have reported that it can fall over during the night, so usually needs to be placed against something to provide some support.

Overall, there’s a lot to love about the Holmes 12-Inch Fan. It’s a stylish, compact, and powerful fan that offers strong cooling effects with minimal noise. It also comes with a timer, letting you program it to turn off automatically after a set period of time, saving you more energy and money in the long run and preventing anyone waking up with dry throats too.

    What are its best features?
  • Oscillation
  • Highly portable
  • Remote control
  • Timer
  • Lots of features
  • Strong cooling effect
    What could be improved?
  • Can fall over
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 8182 people in the past 30 days
8.8
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
8.7
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
8.3
Features & Benefits
Product Review
8.4
8.8
Features
  • Speed settings: 3
  • Remote control: no
  • Dimensions:8 x 7.1 x 25.8 inches
  • Warranty: 1-year limited

Extra features: pivoting head; built-in carry handle

Winning our nomination as the best energy efficient fan for sleeping is the Lasko 3300. This small and stylish fan has been designed with eco-friendliness in mind and really doesn’t use a whole lot of energy due to its clever construction. It comes in a small package, but it packs a lot of power under the hood and can offer very satisfying levels of performance, keeping you cool all the way through the night and not getting too loud either.

On the downside, due to its portable design, the Lasko 3300 is a little tricky to position just right. You’ll need to set it down on a desk, table, chair or other raised surface to get it at just the right angle to provide the cooling breeze you crave in the night, but if you can get it in the right position then it offers a lot of value for money. Plus, it’s small size and built-in carry handle allow it to be carried around and transported with total ease.

The Lasko 3300 is quite a stylish and eye-catching fan too, and it can be easily packed away when not in use, unlike much larger tower models or traditional standing fans. It’s easy to adjust and a lot of fun to use, but it does lack some features like oscillation or remote control technology, and these little flaws can detract from the overall experience of using this fan for sleeping.

    What are its best features?
  • Stylish design
  • Highly portable
  • Easy to adjust
  • Decent performance
  • Highly energy efficient
    What could be improved?
  • Simple and small
  • Can be difficult to position correctly
  • Lacks oscillation and other features

Things to Consider

Now that we’ve taken a closer look at some of the finest fans for sleeping, it’s time to look at the various factors and features you need to consider when shopping for your next fan. Buying a fan for sleeping is made a lot easier when you know exactly what to look for and really take the time to think about individual aspects like the sound, size, and features of each fan.

Advantages of having a fan for sleeping

7 Best Fans for Sleeping — Sleep Cooler and Wake Up RefreshedThere are many different advantages of having a fan in your room while you sleep:

  • Cooling Effect – Many people can get quite hot and sweaty in the night, especially during the warmer months of the year. Having a fan like the Lasko 3300 on in your bedroom helps to cool you down, making it much less likely that you’ll wake up feeling hot and sticky.
  • White Noise – Some people suffer from tinnitus and struggle to get to sleep due to ringing sounds in their ears. Fans can help to eliminate this by providing a kind of ‘white noise’, which also works to drown out the sounds of traffic and neighbors, helping you enjoy more peaceful sleeps.
  • Money Saving – Using a fan like the Vornado 133 Compact Air Circulator Fan while you sleep to cool down and stay fresh is a lot cheaper in the long run than having an air conditioning system turned on.
  • Keeps the Room Fresh and Ventilated – Fans blow air around the room, keeping it fresher and better ventilated anymore, allowing you to wake up in a more pleasant environment and even making it easier to breathe while you sleep, according to some studies.

Features to consider when choosing a fan for your bedroom

There are many different features to think about when buying a fan. The noise is one of the most important obvious, but you also need to think about the type of fan, its size, its settings, and any other features it might have, as well as its price.

Type of fan and overall dimensions

There are several different types of fan, and the first thing to do when buying a fan for sleeping is to consider which type you’d like to have. Tower fans like the Lasko T42951 Wind Curve are popular at the moment due to their efficiency and stylish designs, but they take up more room than something smaller like a desk/table fan like the Rowenta VU2531. Some fans feature oscillating designs and can move around on their own, while others are fixed in one direction. Choosing the right type of fan is all about thinking of your own needs and requirements. If you want lots of blowing power, a tower fan is a good option. If you don’t have too much space, a desk fan is the better choice.

Noise levels

The level of noise produced by any fan is one of the most significant things to think about, especially if you’re buying it for sleeping. Some people can happily sleep with relatively loud fans, but many prefer quieter models like the Rowenta VU2531. The noise level of a fan can vary enormously, and fans with multiple speed settings allow you to adjust the power and sound of the fan to suit you.

Speed settings

Most fans will come with multiple speed settings, usually 3 or 4, but some can come with much more. The more options you have, the more flexible and versatile the fan will be in terms of letting you find the right speed and power to suit you. Fans with lots of speed settings are also better for use all through the year, as you can lower the speed during cooler weather and boost it up on hotter nights.

Modes and timer settings

Some fans will come with advanced modes and timer settings. These fans often cost a little extra compared to the standard, basic models, but they offer a lot more functionality overall and can be much more enjoyable to use during the night. Having a night mode or timer is a great feature as it will allow you to turn the fan on to help you drift off to sleep and then let it shut down automatically over time, rather than staying on needlessly and wasting energy through the night if you don’t really need it.

7 Best Fans for Sleeping — Sleep Cooler and Wake Up Refreshed

Oscillation

Oscillating fans can offer significant advantages over fixed models. The oscillation of a fan, as seen in the Holmes 12-Inch Fan, helps it to have a wider effect and provide better ventilation all around the room. It also reduces the risk of you waking up with common symptoms like a dry throat or stiff muscles, and it allows multiple people to benefit from the cooling effects of a fan if sharing a bed.

Remote control

A remote control is a nice convenience to have with your fan and can be seen with the KLARSTEIN Silent Storm Pedestal Fan. It allows you to control the device with ease from the comfort of your bed, or elsewhere around the room, adjusting the speed and settings as you like or simply turning the fan off whenever you want, without needing to stand up and physically adjust it.

Portability: weight and carry handle

The portability of a fan is dependent on its size, weight, and how easy it is to pick up and move around. Some fans are much more portable than others, even featuring carry handles like the Lasko T42951 Wind Curve, which can be beneficial if you’re going to be moving it around a lot, but if you just plan on leaving the fan in one place most of the time then this won’t be such an important issue.

FAQ

Can sleeping with a fan on cause a sore throat?

Yes, unfortunately, this is one of the few possible negative side effects of sleeping with a fan on. The constant blast of air towards your body has the potential to dry out your mouth and throat, so you may wake up with a slightly sore or scratchy throat. This can be prevented by not aiming the fan directly towards your face or by lowering its speed and intensity. Another good way to reduce the risk is to use a fan that rotates, rather than one which is aimed straight at you all the time.

Why do I wake up with stiff muscles when I sleep with a fan on?

This doesn’t happen to everyone, but some people can wake up feeling stiff and sore after sleeping with a fan on. This usually happens because the cold air can cause involuntary muscle contractions in your body through the night, leading to stiff muscles around the neck and shoulders when you wake up in the morning. A rotating fan could help to reduce the risk of this problem occurring, or you could simply place the fan further away.

Is it dangerous to leave the fan on all night?

Will it overheat? It shouldn’t be dangerous. Good quality fans are designed to be left on for many hours at a time without any problems. Cheap and poor quality fans can overheat and cause problems, but as long as you invest in a solid model, you shouldn’t have to worry. If you do wake up and see that your fan has overheated or encountered some kind of technical fault, it’s important to get it checked out at a service center. Another option would be to buy a fan with an automatic turn-off feature or timer like the Lasko T42951 Wind Curve.
Our Verdict

Overall, the KLARSTEIN Silent Storm Pedestal Fan stood out as our favorite fan of all. It has cutting edge features like an LCD screen and remote control functionality, as well as five super strong but astonishingly silent modes, providing the high levels of performance you need.

Next up on our buying guide for the best fan for sleeping was the Lasko T42951 Wind Curve. With its slick and stylish design, this tower fan catches the eye and performs even better than it looks, offering strong cooling effects with minimal noise.

Finally, the Rowenta VU2531 was our favorite desk fan for sleeping and really excels in terms of size, affordability, and silence. It’s one of the quietest sleeping fans money can buy, providing the perfect environment for people to drift peacefully off to sleep without any disturbances.

9,8
Total Score
KLARSTEIN Silent Storm Pedestal Fan - Editor’s Choice
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