The tower fan is a simple product design which works well, and in a heatwave, they've quickly become a necessity. But why should you choose a tower fan over a traditional round-blade fan or a hand-held fan? That is a good question, and luckily, we have the answers.
The upright design of the tower fan means that, unlike a conventional round-blade fan, the cool air is not focused on a very specific point, it’s distributed more evenly. The long and cylindrical tower drum fan creates a breeze by pushing the air out, rather than chopping it up into a stuttering gale (we're looking at you, round blades). So, it’s a noticeably smoother and more pleasant breeze. This method of shifting air also has the welcome side effect of being quieter.
Closer's best tower fans, at a glance:
Best tower fan overall: Hot+Cool™ Jet Focus AM09 Fan Heater, £369.99 on Amazon
Best high-tech tower fan: 41" Premium Bladeless Tower Fan and Air Purifier, £169.99 on ProBreeze
Best tower fan on Amazon: ANSIO Tower Fan 30-inch with Remote, £34.97 on Amazon
The utilisation of space is also much smarter with a tower fan. The small footprint makes them great for saving space, as they can be placed in the corner of a room or next to a desk without creating a hazard or obstruction. The tall height can almost entirely be given over to the drum fan, which has a much larger area than its round-bladed cousin. The result? Space is saved, and cool air output is maximised.
Now, it’s time to check out the best tower fans the market has to offer:
SHOP: The best tower fans to buy for summer 2024
best tower fan overall
dysonA tower fan not just for the heatwave – the AM09 will be your companion all year round, no matter the climate. In a blistering heatwave, the cool air setting will push out 18 litres of fresh breeze every second. Even though it's painful to think about it, in the winter months the AM09 is even able to pump out some hot air - up to 37 degrees. A reviewer from the UK was grateful for this product in a heatwave, commenting that it was a brilliant bit of kit.
Pros
- It functions as both an effective cooling fan and heating appliance in the winter
- Dyson's unique low-noise bladeless design guarantees a smooth and steady flow
- Reviews praise the ability to tilt the direction of airflow from the base
Cons
- Some reviews say you can get cheaper fans of the same calibre elsewhere
| Airflow, Power | max 186 l/s, 2000 watts |
| Height | 59.5 cm |
| Weight | 2.68 kg |
| Cord length | 1.8 m |
| Remote control | Yes |
| Noise level | 64 dB |
| Oscillation | 70 degrees |
best high-tech tower fan
Pro Breezeprobreeze.com
Frequently named as the top Dyson fan dupe by many on the internet, we strongly agree that the Pro Breeze is a fantastic alternative, perhaps even better. That high praise includes their tower fan, which doubles as an air purifier. This fan is undoubtedly the most high-tech on our list, with a whopping 10 different speeds, and five modes, including intelligent temperature control. One reviewer was delighted with this fan, saying 'it is silent, powerful, and full of features'.
Pros
- We believe this to be a close Dyson fan dupe, at a much lower price point of under £200
- We love that this costs as low as 1p per hour to run
- Reviews praise how quiet this fan is, as well as its purifying abilities taking away allergy symptoms
Cons
- The HEPA filter will need to be replaced when worn
| Airflow, Power | ≥3.56 m/s, 36 watts |
| Height | 105 cm |
| Weight | 5.8 kg |
| Cord length | 1.8 m |
| Remote control | Yes |
| Noise level | 38-62 db(A) |
| Oscillation | 65 degrees |
best tower fan on amazon
amazonThe ASIO Tower Fan provides you with something that a heatwave doesn't - choice. There is a 60-degree oscillation, three-speed settings and three wind-type modes, allowing you to customise the breeze to suit your needs. There is a 7.5-hour sleep timer for your overnight convenience and a remote control. Thousands of reviewers are raving about this tower fan, saying it's a blessing that allows them to sleep in the summer heat.
Pros
- We love the top handle, which provides ease of movement
- The timer is a little more high-tech than others, allowing control up to 7.5 hrs of continuous cooling time, adjusted in increments of 0.5 hrs
- Reviews say for being plastic, the fan is surprisingly robust and very effective at cooling
Cons
- Reviews complain it can squeak a little when oscillating side to side
| Airflow, Power | Unknown, 45 watts |
| Height | 76.5 cm |
| Weight | 3.92 kg |
| Cord length | 1.75 m |
| Remote control | Yes |
| Noise level | Unknown |
| Oscillation | 60 degrees |
best quiet tower fan
amazonThis tower fan has a sleek design that will easily fit any place you need to cool down. It has a quiet operation system which will be perfect for your office during the day or your bedroom at night. We especially love the 12-hour countdown timer, so you don't need to worry about turning it off. A reviewer highly recommends this fan, saying they bought it during a heatwave and it's been a 'lifesaver'.
Pros
- It runs as the quietest fan on our list, at 25 dB
- We rate this as the best tower fan for the office, due to its silent nature and 70° oscillation
- Reviews praise the strong and particularly cold air that it blasts out
Cons
- Some reviews complain the button beeps can be annoyingly loud
| Airflow, Power | Unknown, 60 watts |
| Height | 91.44 cm |
| Weight | 3.3 kg |
| Cord length | 1.5 m |
| Remote control | Yes |
| Noise level | 25 dB |
| Oscillation | 70 degrees |
best tall tower fan
argoswww.argos.co.uk
If you're looking for an extra tall tower fan, Argos' Dimplex Tower Fan packs a lot of punch for under £60. Standing at 121 cm high, this is sure to cool down any large room and reach you in bed if you have a particularly high bed frame. Reviews praise its price point and efficient power.
Pros
- We love that this is the tallest tower fan on our list, reaching 121 cm high
- Reviews praise its sleek modern look, as well as its quiet airflow
- One review says they've had two of these for years, and they're still going strong
Cons
- Reviews note the remote doesn't come with a battery, and is fiddly to put together
| Airflow, Power | 4.1m/s, 40 watts |
| Height | 121 cm |
| Weight | 3.8 kg |
| Cord length | 1.8 m |
| Remote control | Yes |
| Noise level | 52.6 max |
| Oscillation | 78 degrees |
best affordable tower fan
amazonIt's too warm and you want to be cool. The cheap Q-Connect is what you need. Settings are adjustable, so dial the fan speed up or down as necessary. The same goes for the oscillation – you can have it on a 180-degree rotation or stationary focus. It's simple and it works. Customers are raving about its powerful airflow, with one reviewer going as far as to say it's 'the best fan ever'.
Pros
- At under £30, this is a great price for such a tall tower fan
- Designed as an office-level tower fan, reviews call it powerful for its wattage
- It's one of the lightest fans on our list, at 1kg
Cons
- Not as high-tech as other options - it's cheap and cheerful
| Airflow, Power | Unknown, 30 watts |
| Height | 76.2 cm |
| Weight | 1 kg |
| Cord length | 2 m |
| Remote control | No |
| Noise level | 55 dB |
| Oscillation | 180 degrees |
best desktop tower fan
argoswww.argos.co.uk
The Challenge Mini is a brilliant, affordable desktop tower fan. The compact size makes it great for your table and the small fan means that the breeze is cooling without being obtrusive. Now half price thanks to the Argos summer sale, it's a hard purchase to pass. One reviewer called it a 'god send', with others praising its excellent value for money.
Pros
- At 35cm, it's perfect for your desk and oscillates to create airflow around your table
- We love the basic button selection with three speeds - keeps it simple
- Reviews praise its small-but-mighty power and say it's a must-have for your home office
Cons
- Reviews do warn it is a noisy fan, providing white noise for those who like it
| Airflow, Power | Unknown, 30 watts |
| Height | 35 cm |
| Weight | 1.2 kg |
| Cord length | 1.7 m |
| Remote control | No |
| Noise level | 52 dB |
| Oscillation | Yes, degree unknown |
What is the best tower fan to buy?
According to our extensive research on the top tower fans in the UK, we strongly believe that you get the most bang for your buck out of the Pro Breeze 41" Premium Bladeless Tower Fan and Air Purifier. Not only is it an ideal Dyson fan dupe (for half the price), but it is equipped with a state-of-the-art HEPA13 filter. Therefore, this fan removes up to 99% of dust, pollen, odours, and pollutants from your environment. 10 fan speeds and 65-degree oscillation effectively cool down your space quickly with Pro Breeze's pioneering Air Stream Cooling Technology. The best news? It costs as little as 1 pence per hour to run. It's fair to say, the Pro Breeze Tower Fan is a Team Closer favourite.
What is the quietest tower fan?
Ranked as our quietest tower fan tested, the MYLEK Tower Fan runs as low as 25dB, which according to experts at IAC Acoustics, is the equivalent of a "whisper" or "rustling leaves". In comparison, below it, 10dB is considered at the level of barely audible "breathing", and above it at 30dB is labelled the same as a very "quiet rural area". Ranked second for the quietest tower fan is the Pro Breeze 41" Premium Bladeless Tower Fan and Air Purifier, at 38dB at its lowest setting. This would be comparable to "library ambience" and the "lowest limit of urban ambient sound".
Are tower fans expensive to run in the UK?
In our tower fan guide, we've included labels of wattage, so you can make a comparison of which fan would consume the most energy, and money, as you run it. For example, the Dyson Hot+Cool™ Jet Focus Fan Heater uses 2,000 watts, calculating around 50p per hour on your energy bill. However, tower fans don't have to be expensive to run in the UK if you look for the right wattage - the Pro Breeze Tower Fan runs at 36 watts, which they say costs just 1p per hour.
Ruby Barry is a Product Writer for Closer magazine, specialising in fashion and beauty. The team has nicknamed her “dupe queen”, as there’s not a product in the world she can’t find a cheaper alternative of.