Staying cool outdoors, especially in the summer, can be a challenge. Don't let the heat spoil your family BBQs and outdoor relaxation. While canopies and gazebos offer some relief, an outdoor ceiling fan takes it up a notch by keeping the air circulating on your porch or covered patio. These devices are perfect for enjoying moments outdoors, whether it's a gathering or a quiet coffee session — our favorite is the Harbor Breeze Outdoor Ceiling Fan. To help you choose the right one, we've compiled a list of the best outdoor ceiling fans for 2024, along with buying tips and answers to common questions. Keep reading for a breeze of fresh air!
Our Top Picks For Outdoor Ceiling Fan
The Best Outdoor Ceiling Fans
Best Overall
This award-winning outdoor ceiling fan delivers outstanding looks and comes with excellent durability. It has a unique design that features 3 brown wicker blades on each side, which make your porch, patio, or veranda both airy and beautiful!
This is a 74-inch outdoor ceiling fan that is ideal for large areas. The motor makes the blade spin with pin-drop silence. Looks-wise, the fan has an oil-rubbed, matte finish, and it’s specifically designed to look good in all kinds of outdoor spaces! Moreover, the 3-speed reversible AC motor provides up to 4,450-CFM airflow and an airflow efficiency of 57-CFM/watt. The light output from the included bulb isn’t extraordinary though, so you might have to get a new one. Overall, at the price of $175, you’re getting your hands on a winner. We’re giving this fan our best overall spot for its unique design and good looks.
Pros
- Essentially functions as double outdoor fans
- Great airflow efficiency
- Noiseless due to quiet motor
Cons
- Needs securing to prevent unwanted spinning
Best Lighting
This Rustic Nautical Key Biscayne Ceiling fan is an excellent-looking, LED-light outdoor/indoor ceiling fan that makes rooms feel like a dream with great air circulation. The best part? Not only you can adjust its height, but it also lets you control the speed with a pull chain control.
This outdoor ceiling fan is a high-end fan, measures 54 x 54 x 7.83 inches, and has a multi-speed reversible motor. The motor delivers steady airflow without noise! It comes with energy-efficient dimmable LEDs that add to the overall feel and lighting of your house. Our favorite part is the pull chain control on this outdoor ceiling fan, which lets you adjust the brightness and fan speed with style! We think it could’ve been the complete package if it came with a remote-control feature!
Pros
- Adjustable height with 2 and 3-inch rods
- Damp-rated and ideal for patios
- Gorgeous LED center light
Cons
- The installation process is a bit complicated
Most Stylish
The Honeywell Duvall Outdoor Ceiling Fan is energy-efficient, is no problem to install, and is quite a treat to look at. With a gorgeous bronze color and quiet motor, this fan is an aesthetic dream. The motor is also reversible, so you can run the fan in the winter to circulate warm air too. This fan has a 52-inch diameter and five wet-rated blades, making it perfect for large areas!
This fan has an iconic tropical look, and it’s hand carved, meaning its a one of a kind! You hang it in your living room, in your bedroom, or in your porch to keep things breezy during the intense summer heat! Enjoy this fan without worry, as it’s backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
Pros
- Wet-rating makes it ideal for outdoors
- Reversible motor is great for winter use
- Has three different mounting options
Cons
- Doesn’t come with an LED light kit/slot
Most Contemporary
This outdoor ceiling fan by Prominence Home lets you elevate your living space with its fresh, modern aesthetics and a frosted LED light right in the middle! It’s a contemporary-style outdoor ceiling fan that will look great in your covered patios, porches, and pretty much anywhere!
This outdoor ceiling fan by Prominence Home measures around 52 x 52 x 15.5 inches, is ETL damp rated, and it’s conveniently quiet! The fan comes with two mounting options; down rod and angled mount. This fan seamlessly packs a beautiful, modern, contemporary design with 4 sleek waterproof blades! Although the installation can take time, it’s still completely worth it.
Pros
- Comes with dimmable LED lights
- Reversible, three-speed power motor
- Multiple hanging options
Cons
- The installation process is a bit tricky
- Longer down rod sold separately
Buying Guide: Best Outdoor Ceiling Fans
If you are used to spending time on your porch, veranda, or a covered patio, perhaps for the morning coffee or brunch, you might want to think about the addition of a ceiling fan. While the idea of beautifying your porch may not come naturally to you, it certainly does make your house look aesthetically appealing. Fairy lights, a few unique ornaments, a nice pair of chairs, a table, and an aesthetic background are all the keys to building a beautiful outdoor space. And an outdoor ceiling fan? Well, that part just adds utility as well as aesthetic appeal. This buying guide is aimed at filling you in on all the important info on purchasing an outdoor ceiling fan. So, without any further ado, let us begin.
Why Do You Need an Outdoor Ceiling Fan?
It’s easy to light up a nice little bonfire, gather around it, enjoy some nice smores, and appreciate the outdoors when it’s not too warm. However, in the summertime, you have to deal with scorching heat and sweating. That’s when an outdoor ceiling fan does wonders! If you have a roof to hang your fan, you’ve got a great way to enjoy the outdoors despite the high temperatures. Most people place fans in a relatively cooler, ventilated space under the roof so the resulting airflow is even cooler. Fans are a great tool to beat the heat, which you can further improve through smart placement.
Apart from the obvious cooling utility of an outdoor ceiling fan, another important benefit is that it adds to the look of your semi-outdoor sitting area. While a ceiling fan is certainly less prominent than a pedestal fan, it will still contribute to the overall look of your porch/patio. Some designers, including the folks from Forbes and Masters, believe that the aesthetic appeal of a ceiling fan needs to be more subtle. Other designers hold opposite views about the topic, but we happen to believe that it all comes down to your personal preference. Also, you need a dedicated “outdoor” fan and not just an “indoor” one. Why? Because these ceiling fans are specifically designed for outdoor use and are built to withstand weather conditions, guaranteeing proper protection and weatherproofing.
How To Choose the Best Ceiling Fan
It isn’t a good idea to just go out there, choose a fan that looks appealing to you, and finalize your purchase. There are a couple more things you should be considering before your purchase, or you might just end up with the wrong buy. To get you going, here are a few factors for you to consider:
Type
There are multiple types of fans out there, standard, hugger, outdoor fans with light kits, and so on. These could be categorized based on the rod they’re hanging from or any other extra utility they may offer. For example, Hugger fans are usually very close to the ceiling, with a small hanging rod; these fans provide you increased space over your head in case your porch’s rooftop hangs low. Standard fans, meanwhile, are more prominent but may circulate air better depending on your ceiling shape. We’ll discuss fan type more in another section.
Style
Outdoor ceiling fans come in multiple design styles – from bohemian to modern – and there are many options to choose from. It’s important to note that these are just design styles, and in no way will they have any impact on air circulation.
Size
The size of your fan directly correlates to the space of your semi-outdoor setting. If you have a large patio setting or a veranda, you may probably end up needing two fans. At other times, a single fan can do the job, but you’ll have to choose a reasonable size. For example, maybe you have low ceilings, which means your fan should not hang down too low to hit someone’s head. A hugger fan with a large diameter may be your best bet, then.
Blade span
A fan’s blade span is its measurement from the tip of one fan blade to the tip of the blade directly across from it. In other words, it’s the diameter of a fan. The longer the blades are, the greater the diameter would be, and the more air it’ll be able to circulate. Large blades may be more efficient, but they also can compromise speed. Don’t go too wide, or you may run into speed and safety issues.
UL and ETL rating
The UL and ETL certifications and ratings ultimately help you choose the product that’s well-tested by a third party, for instance, Underwriter Laboratories. For instance, fans with a dry rating shouldn’t be placed outside in most environments because their materials and build were never designed to withstand humidity or moisture. Usually, you’ll want a damp-rated fan.
What Are the Different Types of Outdoor Ceiling Fans?
You already know the importance of choosing the right fan type; here are our two cents about a few types:
Standard outdoor ceiling fans
A standard fan is just your average fan with a motor and blades. However, it may or may not hang from a rod that’s a bit long. These are usually fine to go with for your outdoor settings unless you need a hugger ceiling fan.
Hugger ceiling fans
A hugger ceiling fan is the same as your standard fan, except that it hangs very close to the ceiling, providing you more headroom if your porch’s roof isn’t that high.
Ceiling fans with light kits
To make things fancier, some ceiling fans come with a holder for light bulbs in the center. If you’re planning to revamp your existing outdoor sitting space, such as a screened porch, fixing it up with a ceiling fan of this sort is a great idea.
What Else Can I Do To Choose the Right Outdoor Fan?
Outdoor ceiling fans come in a lot of varieties – since the outdoor space requires profound airflow, the most common types of outdoor ceiling fans have five blades. But the blades can vary, and a ceiling fan with just three blades could potentially do the job just as well.
Things like blade span, distance from the floor, pitch, speed, wall control, and even the size of a fan all are important factors that contribute towards building a richer, cooler airflow. Here are a few tips to help you narrow down your options even further:
- Choosing the right size goes both ways; you don’t want to end up choosing a too-large fan for your small space, or else the noise and air will become uncomfortable.
- Choosing a fan with a greater number of blades will move more air, but it will be noisier. That’s particularly why most outdoor ceiling fans have more blades – outdoor spaces accommodate extra noise better.
- Bigger spaces can be accompanied by two or more ceiling fans.
How Do You Install a Ceiling Fan?
It’s probably easier to show you than tell you, so check out this YouTube video by Becky Figures It Out!
People Also Asked
What size ceiling fan should I get for my outdoor patio?
For small spaces that are up to 75 square feet, a 30 to 35-inch ceiling fan should fit well. For spaces as high as 200 square feet, a 44-inch ceiling fan will do the trick. You can use these measurements to have an idea about the size that's best for your outdoor patio.
Are outdoor ceiling fans waterproof?
Yes, in many cases, outdoor ceiling fans are waterproof. Even if they aren't exactly waterproof, they're still designed to withstand all kinds of weather conditions.
I have an extra indoor fan, can I put it to use on my porch?
That depends. If your porch is covered well and your fan will not be in direct contact with the pouring rainwater, then perhaps the fan will do the trick for a while. It must be noted here that indoor fans aren't equipped to deal with harsh humidity. So, there's no guarantee how long your ceiling fan is going to work, even if you do place it in a dry spot outside.
Do outdoor ceiling fans really work?
They certainly do! Outdoor ceiling fans are great at creating wind and moving air within a particular covered area. If you have a frequent breeze in your semi-outdoor space, your fan will have relatively less effect. If the air is very still outside, you'll feel your fan for sure.
How many fan blades is ideal for my outdoor space?
The more fan blades you have, the more air you'll move with your fan. Also, the larger your fan blades are, the more air you'll move. Thus, you may want to have a fan with four to five blades of average thickness or three blades that are wider.
