With a weatherproof construction, a ceiling fan can be used outside on a patio or porch. Much like a ceiling fan in a bedroom or living room, outdoor ceiling fans keep the air circulating to prevent stuffiness. To help you select the fan that’s right for your space, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the best outdoor ceiling fans on Amazon. Here are our top four recommendations.
Top 4 Outdoor Ceiling Fans
- Best Reach: Harbor Breeze Outdoor Downrod Ceiling Fan
- Most Versatile: Prominence Home Outdoor Ceiling Fan
- Most Rustic: Hunter Fan Company Key Biscayne Indoor/Outdoor Ceiling Fan
- Most Industrial: Minka-Aire Outdoor Ceiling Fan
Best Reach: Harbor Breeze Outdoor Downrod Ceiling Fan
This product has two mini fans with three blades each on either side of a light with a frosted glass shade. With an airflow of 4,450 cubic feet per minute and a reach of 72 inches, the three-speed motor can cool large porches and patios.
Key Features
- Six blades
- Center light
- Two pull chains
- Three speeds
What Customers Are Saying
Customers said that they loved the style and value for money of this fan. Most customers also agreed that the fan was easy to assemble. Those who weren’t satisfied with the product stated that the included light bulb didn’t produce a lot of light.
Most Versatile: Prominence Home Outdoor Ceiling Fan
With a damp rating, this fan is safe for indoor use or outdoor use on a covered porch or patio. It features a motor that offers three speed settings and a reverse function. In addition, the fan can be mounted in three ways—with a down rod, angled mount, or close mount.
Key Features
- Four blades
- Center light
- Two pull chains
- Three speeds
What Customers Are Saying
Customers said that the fan was quiet and easy to install. Some customers also said that the motor moved air efficiently. Dissatisfied customers said that shipping took much longer than expected.
Most Rustic: Hunter Fan Company Key Biscayne Indoor/Outdoor Ceiling Fan
This fan is damp-rated for usage on covered patios. The pull chains and included remote control turn on and off the multi-speed, reversible motor. With blades that are designed to look like distressed panels of wood, this fan pairs well with rustic decor and furniture.
Key Features
- Five blades
- Center light
- Two pull chains
- Included remote
- Three speeds
What Customers Are Saying
Satisfied customers enjoyed the remote control, low noise, and style of this fan. However, a handful of customers complained that the fan was difficult to install. Many also said that the included bulb provided dull lighting.
Most Industrial: Minka-Aire Outdoor Ceiling Fan
This sleek fan has a quiet motor with six speed settings that are controlled with a handheld remote. With eight blades that reach 84 inches, it can circulate air in spaces that are larger than 160 square feet.
Key Features
- Eight blades
- Included remote
- Six speeds
What Customers Are Saying
Customers enjoyed this fan’s quiet operation and remote control. Most customers agreed that the fan had a unique look. Those who were unsatisfied with their purchase said that the fan started making a grinding noise after some use.
Buyer’s Guide
Read our ceiling fan buying guide below to learn about the different features that distinguish models from each other.
Rating
There are two types of ratings for outdoor ceiling fans: damp and wet.
- Damp: A damp-rated fan uses materials that won’t easily rust when they’re exposed to moisture. However, they’re not resistant to direct contact with rain, snow, or hail. This makes them best for outdoor spaces that have moisture in the air but are under some sort of covering, such as a screened-in porch.
- Wet: A wet fan is sealed to withstand any type of weather condition. It can be used in any outdoor space.
Number of Blades
You can find fans that have anywhere from two to more than 10 blades. The blade number is more of a stylistic preference, as having more blades won’t increase the fan’s airflow.
Pitch
A fan’s pitch refers to the angle at which each blade tilts. This angle—not the number of blades—is what determines a fan’s airflow. The optimum pitch is between 12 and 15 degrees, as this provides a decent breeze without making you feel like you’re in a windstorm.
Light
If you plan on using your fan while it’s dark outside, you’ll want one that has a built-in light so that you can see the people and space around you.
Motor
The motor on your fan will control how fast and in what direction it spins.
- Speed: Look for a fan that has several speed options, as this will allow you to change the speed based on the weather and your comfort preferences.
- Direction: Make sure that the fan you purchase spins in both directions so that you can use it all year long. For reference, your fan should push cold air down in the summer and pull cold air up in the winter.
Control
Ceiling fans usually connect to a light switch. When you flip this switch, it’ll turn the fan on to the last setting you used. If you want to adjust these settings, the fan will typically have chains that you can pull. High-end fans may even have a remote that allows you to change the settings without getting up from your seat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size ceiling fan should I use for my space?
The fan you choose will depend on the size of your outdoor space. Here are some general guidelines for choosing a size, with square feet representing the size of the space and inches representing the fan:
- Up to 75 square feet: 26–29 inches
- 75–144 square feet: 36–42 inches
- 144–225 square feet: 44 inches
- 225+ square feet: 50–54 inches
If you have a larger space, you could also purchase several smaller fans to ensure adequate airflow.
Where should I place my outdoor ceiling fan?
You should mount the fan in the center of your space with at least 18 inches of space between the blades and any walls. There should also be at least seven feet of space between the fan and the floor so that people can walk under it without hitting their heads.
Can I use any ceiling fan outdoors?
No. Indoor ceiling fans aren’t made of weather-resistant materials, so they could get damaged if you use them outdoors. However, outdoor ceiling fans can usually be used indoors.
Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team
This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.
We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.
FAQs
What type of fan is best for outdoor patio? ›
Damp: A damp-rated fan uses materials that won't easily rust when they're exposed to moisture. However, they're not resistant to direct contact with rain, snow, or hail. This makes them best for outdoor spaces that have moisture in the air but are under some sort of covering, such as a screened-in porch.
How many blades are best for outdoor ceiling fan? ›Your Outdoor Fan Have? Three is generally the most efficient number of fan blades for outdoor cooling. Four to six blades are usually used because the extra 1 to 3 blades makes for a quieter fan. More blades than six is almost always less efficient, but it can be more decorative.
What is the best material for outdoor ceiling fans? ›For maximum durability and exposure to the elements, a stainless steel ceiling fan is the absolute best choice. For less expensive alternatives that will hold up well, look for fans made from aluminum, plastic or fiberglass.
Which company makes best ceiling fans? ›- Havells.
- Crompton.
- Orient Electric.
- Luminous.
- Candes.
- USHA.
- Bajaj.
- atomberg.
The Harbor Breeze Parklake ceiling fan received an average of 4.3 stars out of 5 stars for overall ratings by buying customers. A satisfying 81% gave this ceiling fan either a 5 star or 4 star with only 7% giving it a 1 star rating, as can be seen by the reviews to the left.
How many fans should a patio have? ›For a rectangular patio area, consider installing two small fans to help circulate the air throughout the patio. You may also consider one large fan that's about as wide as the width of your patio area, but keep in mind that a large fan may have a much slower RPM, which may not be ideal for creating a strong breeze.
Are 3 or 4 blade fans better? ›4-blade ceiling fans are less noisy and are useful in rooms with an air conditioner, to move the cool air around. They are often more stylish looking. However, 4 blade fans may move air slower than a 3 blade fan and can be more expensive than 3 blade ceiling fans.
What color outdoor ceiling fan should I get? ›If you want your outdoor ceiling fan to blend with the ceiling, pick one that has a solid color which is identical to the color of your ceiling. If you intend to make a conversation piece of your ceiling fan, select a bold color or style that would stand out.
What is the best blade pitch for outdoor ceiling fans? ›The optimal blade pitch for a ceiling fan is 12-15 degrees. This degree of blade pitch will allow your ceiling fan to move a “just right” amount of air…not too much (you don't need a wind tunnel) and not too little (you do need to feel a nice breeze).
What to look for when buying an outdoor fan? ›- THE SIZE OF THE SPACE. It's crucial to consider the size because you want to ensure that the fan is large enough to effectively circulate air throughout the entire porch. ...
- FAN SIZE. ...
- CEILING FAN MATERIAL. ...
- ENERGY-EFFICIENCY. ...
- CHOOSING A STYLE. ...
- CEILING FAN MOUNT.
How many blades on a ceiling fan is best? ›
Most ceiling fans deigned for the home come with 4 to 5 blades for the ideal balance between the amount of air circulated and the amount of ambient noise.
What ceiling fans does Joanna Gaines use? ›During a recent episode of HGTV's Fixer Upper, Chip and Joanna Gaines installed the Casablanca's industrial-style ceiling fan in room that doubled as both a home office and mudroom. Casablanca Designer Patrick O'Connell notes that the room's wooden desk paired wonderfully with the Caneel Bay.