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When temps rise from steamy to sweltering, staying cool is essential. Add one of these best garage fan options to keep your garage or workshop cool during hot months. Cooling Fan
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Hot weather days in the garage can be brutal. Some days, the humidity, stagnant air and beads of sweat generate serious heat-induced grumpiness—until the glorious breeze of the garage fan blows the sweat off my brow and keeps the crankiness at bay.
If you’re guilty (and who isn’t?) of just buying whichever fan happens to be sitting on the shelf at your local hardware store, you’re missing out on options that may be more powerful, more durable and more compatible with your needs and workspace. In addition to keeping you cooler, the right garage fan can help reduce fumes, moisture and mold build-up.
To decide on the best garage fan for your needs, be sure to prioritize airflow, noise level, durability, price and size, along with helpful features like variable speed settings, remote controls and compatibility with smart home automation.
With those priorities in mind, I’ve compiled a list of the 10 best garage fan selections, including options for large garages and small workshops, as well as fans with helpful added features and mounting options. When it comes to beating the blazing heat, these are the best overall garage fans for ease of installation, design, effectiveness, quality and value.
Powerful and versatile, the Lasko high-velocity fan quickly converts from a wall-mounted to a floor-standing fan. Once the bracket is mounted to the wall, the fan can easily clip in and out of the stand, depending on where you need air directed at the moment.
This wire-framed fan is perfect for cooling your garage with its pivoting head, and three speeds direct high-velocity air to where you need it, maxing out at an impressive airflow of 3,460 CFM. The strong metal fan blades, powerful motor and steel construction make this fan one of the most durable options in this price range.
The control button is conveniently located in the front, so you’ll never have to find yourself fiddling around blindly on the back of the fan to adjust it. When the temps are high and the cold drinks from the garage fridge simply aren’t cutting it, you’ll thank yourself for having this breezy companion by your side. P.S. If you like this, you might want to explore the new Lasko Tower Fan as well.
With so many five-star reviews, this floor fan from Utilitech is a customer favorite. So what makes it a standout? Despite the budget-friendly price, this industrial-style steel body fan produces a whopping airflow rate of 6,100 CFM. It’s also a versatile option—it can be mounted on the wall or used on the floor. The Utilitech’s tilting fan covers a large area with ease due to its strong metal blades and three speeds.
It’s also easily portable, featuring a convenient handle and a 6-foot cord wrap for convenient storage. Many reviewers noted the fan was still running strong years later after daily use, prompting them to purchase more of these budget-friendly fans for other areas of their homes.
Sporting the space-saving convenience of a wall-mounted design and a durable steel frame, this Maxx Air is a solid choice for busy garages that see a lot of DIY projects. It features a totally enclosed motor, making it safe for use in dusty environments. The Maxx Air can tilt a full 180 degrees and has two different speed settings that you can adjust using a pull chain.
This 18-inch fan is the best wall-mounted garage fan according to Tisha Grant, owner of The ContractHer. She raves, “When working out of a one-car garage, air circulation is key, as is saving space. I love the fact that this fan is wall-mounted and has a slightly retro vibe. If the fan doesn’t blow like I’m at a Beyoncé concert, I don’t want it! For the price and the quality, it’s truly an excellent buy!”
Bring the breeze to the tailgate, garage or camping trip with this portable and rechargeable, battery-powered wind machine. The tilting fan head spins 360 degrees to keep you cool in any direction and mosquitos at bay. The easy carry handle allows you to bring this lightweight, 7-pound beauty anywhere with no cord to trip over. Even better? The fan’s metal frame is built to handle being knocked around and has a water-resistant compartment for the lithium-ion battery.
The battery charge lasts up to 20 hours on the lowest setting and about five hours on the highest setting. While other models require recharging the battery by removing it from the fan and putting it in a charging station, that’s not the case with the Geek Aire! You can charge the battery while running the fan, with it taking three hours to fully recharge.
This drum fan is a powerhouse designed to cool larger garages or workshops. It features a powerful motor and two-speed switch to provide a refreshing breeze with an impressive airflow of up to 8,300 CFM. The fan operates quietly with noise levels maxing at 67 dB, depending on the distance from the fan. It features a 180-degree adjustable tilt that stays in position, directing airflow exactly where you need it.
Wheels and carrying handles make for easy transport, and the useful 7-foot power cord adds to the fan’s convenience. The Commercial Electric is a worthwhile investment for DIYers who have a larger space and spend a lot of time in the shop.
What I like best about the Mule garage fan—besides the 3,300 CFM—is the handy remote control to adjust the three speeds. And, the fan mounts to the ceiling so it doesn’t take up floor or workbench space. Have high ceilings? No worries! There is an option for a 6-inch or 12-inch down rod to customize the mounting height.
Installation is easy—just screw two wood screws into joists to hang the fan—no extra wiring needed. Once the fan is installed, simply lift up the cover to hide the hardware, then plug the fan in and you’re all set. You can easily swivel the fan head 360 degrees by grabbing the large handle on the bottom to swivel the fan to point it in any direction you like. Whether you need a targeted breeze or widespread airflow, the Mule garage fan delivers.
This industrial-grade fan will quickly become your favorite new fixture in the garage on a sweltering summer day. Wall-mounted with a pivoting head, this fan can be adjusted to tilt up and down and rotate side to side for optional circulation. Another standout feature is the large mounting bracket that is big enough not to restrict the fan’s head movement.
The 9-foot power cord is long enough to install the fan so that it is high enough out of the way of foot traffic so you have more room for storing tools. An attached pull chain allows you to conveniently change the three fan speeds to your preference.
The fan is waterproof, an important feature to have in a garage to withstand the unpredictable outdoor elements. It’s also easy to assemble and mount and includes all necessary hardware. I’ve enjoyed the Air King to direct air where I want it—you could even say I’m a fan of it!
When warm weather rolls in and your garage feels more like an oven, this oscillating fan is a game changer. First, it offers three different speed and oscillating settings, and it moves in figure 8 patterns. This ensures that airflow reaches and cools every corner of your garage. Don’t let the lower CFM score of 2,118 deter you—its multiple oscillating options mean you will still achieve whole-room cooling with ease.
You also get a timer function that allows to you to automate how long the fan stays on for convenience and peace of mind. The SPT is also super easy to mount on the wall, thanks to its included bracket, hardware and comprehensive instructions. An added bonus? The included remote control enhances the convenience, allowing you to change the fan settings from anywhere in the room.
Garage fans tend to be known for moving a lot of air while simultaneously being very loud. The Simple Deluxe industrial fan is a quieter model on the market due to its lightweight aluminum blades that help keep sound levels low. Also, the high-velocity motor uses lubricated ball bearings that help the fan run smoother and quieter, keeping the noise level below 50 decibels. Customer reviews confirm this, with many revealing that the fan is unobtrusively quiet.
Now that we’ve covered sound, let’s talk about features: The fan head can tilt 360 degrees to direct airflow up to 4,650 CFM. It can be easily moved around the garage since it sports a handle and weighs less than 12 pounds.
The Minka-Aire is well worth its higher-than-average price tag given its smooth and quiet operation while still moving a lot of air. It comes with a 65-inch blade span and moves 9,036 CFM of air with its eight-blade design—perfect for standard single or two-car garages. The contemporary design has multiple finish options: Flat white, brushed nickel, coal or oil-rubbed bronze, so it’s easy to find a finish that complements your dream garage. Even more, this ceiling fan is wet-rated in case you leave the garage door open during a rainstorm.
A major perk of a garage ceiling fan is that it can be used year-round to make your garage more comfortable and safe, just by changing the fan direction. By circulating air counterclockwise in the summer, the fan pushes cooler air down. Adjusting the direction clockwise in the winter months warms the garage by pulling cool air up toward the ceiling, which displaces the warm air that rises and collects near the ceiling. Finally, a one-year warranty is included making this ceiling fan amazing from all angles.
Here are some things you need to consider when buying a garage fan:
As an award-winning woodworker, I have experience with woodworking, DIY and home decor. I’m also the owner of a one-woman woodworking shop where I’m slowly replacing out-of-the-box furniture with furniture made by hand. For this article, I also enlisted the expertise of Tisha Grant, who specializes in interior design, and Daniel Dunlap, who has been a professional woodworker for more than 25 years.
With my years of experience as a professional woodworker, and personal experience completing a garage makeover, I scoured hundreds of models and their reviews from a handful of retailers including Amazon, Costco, Home Depot and Lowe’s. I considered floor, pedestal fans, oscillating and vortex fans, among other designs. I didn’t include tower fans because they’re rarely as powerful as most other large fans (and tower fan maintenance is a pain—involving disassembly to gain access to the blades). When narrowing down the choices of the best garage fans, I considered multiple factors like noise output, CFM and how easy it is to assemble. In addition, I reached out to a slew of experts who have an intimate knowledge of garage fans, having used them often in their own workshops.
The best CFM (cubic feet per minute) for a garage fan depends on several factors, including the size of your garage and fan blades, and tilt or direction of the fan. Generally, you want at least 1,000 CFM per 100 square feet. A standard two-car garage that is approximately 450-square feet would need a CFM rating of 4,000-6,000.
If you want personal cooling that is easy to move around, then a 12-inch fan would work well. If a fan is stationary and not moved often, then 18-inch fan or larger will benefit most garage spaces. The CFM rating is another consideration and will tell you how much our flow is being moved. Manufacturers also give an idea of the area covered. A ceiling fan for a standard two-car garage would require a blade span of 50 to 60 inches. For a larger garage that is more than 400 square feet, a larger fan with a blade span of over 62 inches is best.
There are many advantages to putting a fan in the garage. It helps ventilate your garage and cool it down, providing you with a more comfortable and safe workspace. Garage fans also draw odors and fumes out leaving you with healthier air to breathe.
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