The Best Desk Fan - 2021
We looked at the top 10 Desk Fans and dug through the reviews from 28 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Desk Fans.
Why Trust The DWYM Score?
DWYM is focused on helping you make the best purchasing decision. Our team of experts spends hundreds of hours analyzing, testing, and researching products so you don't have to.Learn more.
Our Picks For The Top Desk Fans
- The Best Desk Fan
- 1. SkyGenius Battery Operated Clip Mini Desk Fan
- 2. OPOLAR USB Desk Fan
- 3. Aluan Adjustable Mini Personal Desk Fan
- 4. Honeywell Kaz HT-904 Tabletop Desk Fan
- 5. Vornado Flippi V10 Compact Oscillating Desk Fan
- 6. SmartDevil Small Personal USB Desk Fan
- 7. HOLMES Heritage Desk Fan
- 8. Treva Portable Battery Desk Fan
- 9. Aikoper Personal USB Desk Fan
- 10. Dr. Prepare Tower Oscillating Desk Fan
Lightweight and PortableThis battery-operated mini desk fan has 360-degree vertical and horizontal rotation.
Multiple Power SupplyRunning at less than 50 decibels, this desk fan stays nice and quiet.
Three Color OptionsWith this desk fan, you'll have a choice between a pink, sky blue or deep blue finish.
Traditional DesignThis desk fan is also designed for use on floors, to help circulate air upward.
Why we recommend these desk fans?
Products Considered
Products Analyzed
Expert Reviews Included
User Opinions Analyzed
Our experts reviewed the top 10 Desk Fans and also dug through the reviews from 28 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Desk Fans.
DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.
The Best Overall
SkyGenius Battery Operated Clip Mini Desk Fan
Our Take
Need to move from the kitchen table to your office desk? This lightweight desk fan moves with you. Its base is a clip that can be attached to any surface. The fan offers a little personal relief from the heat on a warm summer day.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
The Best Bang For Your Buck
Aluan Adjustable Mini Personal Desk Fan
Our Take
Although this desk fan measures just 5.1 inches, it's quite powerful. It's made with a sturdy base and has a 360-degree fan rotation, so you can position the airflow where it feels the most comfortable. The USB cable also makes the fan easy to charge.
What other experts liked
Our Desk Fan Findings
SkyGenius Battery Operated Clip Mini Desk Fan
What We Liked: Need to move from the kitchen table to your office desk? This lightweight desk fan moves with you. Its base is a clip that can be attached to any surface. The fan offers a little personal relief from the heat on a warm summer day.
OPOLAR USB Desk Fan
What We Liked: This desk fan comes with a long USB cable that allows you to charge it a multitude of ways. The fan itself is lightweight, so you can use in while reading a book in the living room and then move it to your nightstand when going to bed. Consumers have a choice between a black, white-and-purple or black-and-blue unit.
Aluan Adjustable Mini Personal Desk Fan
What We Liked: Although this desk fan measures just 5.1 inches, it’s quite powerful. It’s made with a sturdy base and has a 360-degree fan rotation, so you can position the airflow where it feels the most comfortable. The USB cable also makes the fan easy to charge.
Honeywell Kaz HT-904 Tabletop Desk Fan
What We Liked: Versatile is the best word to describe this desk fan. It can be placed on a tabletop, a floor or mounted to a wall. The fan uses a turbo force air circulator, which reaches a distance of 27 feet. It also offers three speed options and has a 90-degree tilt.
Vornado Flippi V10 Compact Oscillating Desk Fan
What We Liked: If you’re looking for a desk fan that’s easy to use, this model is an excellent choice. It has a dial that allows for turning the fan speed up or down. Users can also adjust the direction of the fan’s airflow by tilting the head or turning the base.
Our Desk Fan Buying Guide
Whether your office space is without air conditioning or you just need a boost of air once in a while, a desk fan can be a lifesaver. Most desk fans are designed to save energy, so they don’t cost that much to run. Additionally, work productivity has been known to increase when a person is nice and cool versus when they are hot and bothered.
As you shop for the best desk fan, determine which size would work best for your space. For example, the SkyGenius Battery Operated Clip Mini Desk Fan is on the smaller side at less than 6 inches in height. It’s meant for personal use at a close distance. Consumers can use the built-in clip to attach the fan to a baby stroller, lawnmower handle or the edge of a desk or shelf. Other models are larger and can be placed on the floor, on top of a desk or mounted to a wall.
Check the power of the desk fan’s motor and the number of speeds the model is able to offer. Smaller models may only have one speed, while larger desk fans typically have three speed settings. The Honeywell Kaz HT-904 Tabletop Desk Fan is equipped with a motor that is so powerful that it has a reach of 27 feet.
Look for a desk fan that is adjustable. The Aluan Adjustable Mini Personal Desk Fan swivels a full 360 degrees. That means you’ll be able to position the fan at the angle the provides you with the best breeze. Other models have a limited tilt; however, this isn’t a bad thing so long as you can tilt it far enough to get the cooling effect you need.
Consider any special features that make the desk fan a prime choice. For example, the OPOLAR USB Desk Fan runs at 50 decibels or less, so you won’t have to worry about the fan being so noisy it distracts you or keeps you awake if you run it at night. Other desk fans are sold in a choice of colors, like pink, sky blue or white.
DWYM Fun Fact
It may surprise you to learn that desk fans have been around since 1822. Dr. Schuyler Wheeler created the fan, and his first model wasn’t equipped with any safety features. Early desk fan models had blades that resembled those of a windmill. They were so expensive that for the most part, they were only used by businesses and wealthy homeowners.
Desk fans have come a long way in the last 100 years. They are now equipped with safety features, such as cages around the blades and casings around the wires. The fans are more lightweight and easy to move around the house. Today’s fans are also adjustable, so you can position them exactly where you need the air to go.
The Desk Fan Tips and Advice
- If you find that your desk fan vibrates and moves across desk when you have it on a higher speed, you can place a non-slip mat underneath it to prevent this. The non-slip liners made for kitchen cabinets are an excellent choice as they don’t cost that much.
- Check the length of the desk fan’s battery charge. Some run for just 6 hours after a charge, which is great if you’re working, but not long enough if you’re using it to stay cool while you sleep.
- Positioning your desk fan on the floor is a good move. Since hot air rises, the coolest air in the room is near the floor. After setting your fan on the floor, you simply need to tilt the fan’s head upward in the direction where you’re sitting.
- Your desk fan will build up with dust over time, so you’ll need to clean it once a month. Make sure you always turn the fan off and unplug it from its power source before you attempt to clean it. Afterward, remove the fan’s grill and wipe down the grill and blades with a soapy dish rag. Go back over the grill and blades with a clean wet rag to rinse them off. Use a soft bristle brush to clean out the motor. Once the fan has fully dried, you can reassemble it.
- Fortunately, desk fans are extremely affordable. You’ll find the OPOLAR USB Desk Fan and the Aluan Adjustable Mini Personal Desk Fan are as cheap as buying a couple of coffees at Starbucks. You’ll pay a bit more for the Honeywell Kaz HT-904 Tabletop Desk Fan, while the SkyGenius Battery Operated Clip Mini Desk Fan has the highest price tag, although it is still affordable.
About The Author
Alicia Bodine is a New Jersey-based writer that is always on the hunt for kitchen gadgets that can help save time and money, especially with two food-loving daughters at home. With more than 15 years of experience, her work has appeared in sites like on leading food and drink publications.