These Outdoor Ceiling Fans Will Keep You Cool and Comfortable All Summer Long
These Outdoor Ceiling Fans Will Keep You Cool and Comfortable All Summer Long
There's little point in having a beautifully furnished indoor-outdoor space if it's too hot and uncomfortable to lounge in during the heat of summer. For patios and decks, buying a large cantilever umbrella can help create some much-needed shade, but for covered areas, like porches or sun rooms, or spaces with open overhangs, such as a veranda or pergola, what you really need is an outdoor ceiling fan. Whether you're looking to create a cool breeze in a large space or want a light source with the added benefit of air circulation, read on for our top recommendations.
Best Outdoor Ceiling Fans
What to Consider
Figuring out how well a particular fan will cool a room can be confusing, an equation that’s determined by motor strength (DC motors are known for being powerful and quiet), the number of blades, and the blades' width, length, and pitch (which refers to the angle they’re tilted in relation to the floor). Fans typically have at least three speeds and three blades. A good rule of thumb is to consider the square footage of your room and the fan’s maximum number cubic feet per minute (CFM), which will give you an idea of how much air circulation it’ll create in the space. For more in-depth info, check out our deep dive on ceiling fans.
Ceiling fans that are intended for indoor-outdoor use are appropriate for damp or moist climates and should generally be installed in a covered space. Fans that are solely for outdoor use are rated for wet conditions and can handle exposure to the elements, so you can install them in an open-top pergola or veranda. Next up is to consider how the fan is mounted. With a low ceiling, you’ll likely want a flush-mount fan. Many ceiling fans come with multiple mounting options to accommodate various ceiling heights and angles.
Other things to look for when shopping include whether there’s a light kit included, if the fan has a reversible motor to change its direction, and if it’s fully remote-control operated or turns on and off with a pull chain. There are also smart ceiling fans on the market, though they tend to be pricey.
How We Selected
All of the fans featured below have average user ratings of four stars or more. During our research, we scoured countless user reviews, dug into our own research, and consulted expert sources, such as The Spruce and Wirecutter. Outdoor ceiling fans have a slew of features, as mentioned above, and we highlighted the most notable for every fan we cover. We also selected fans in a range of styles, from modern to traditional, plus options across multiple price points, from budget to high-end.
1) Java Outdoor Ceiling Fan
Minka-Aire
wayfair.com
$329.99
Key Specs
- Mounting Type: Downrod
- Blade Span: 54 inches
- Speeds: 3
- Airflow (Min/Max): 2782/5357 CFM
This three-blade option from popular brand Minka-Aire eliminates the pull-chain and operates completely via remote control. Its lineup of features, reasonable price point, versatile design, and finish options make it an all-around winner.
The 54-inch-wide fan is rated for outdoor use, so it’s ideal for wetter climates, and it has a metal motor and plastic blades. It features three speeds, a reversible motor, and has a maximum height of nearly 15 inches, making it a smart pick if you have high ceilings.
Choose from brushed or polished nickel, dark coal, bronze cocoa, and flat white. More than 380 customers give the ceiling fan high marks, with an average rating of 4.7 stars.
2) Cassius Outdoor Ceiling Fan
Hunter Fan Company
amazon.com
$116.99
Key Specs
- Mounting Type: Downrod
- Blade Span: 52 inches
- Speeds: 3
- Airflow: ?5537 CFM
Hunter is a top name in ceiling fans and lighting, and this model—priced at about $120 at the time of this writing—is an excellent choice for value. It’s also a customer favorite, with an average rating of 4.6 stars from more than 500 buyers.
The multispeed, 52-inch-wide fan is rated for indoor-outdoor use on covered porches and patios, with reversible motor and three potential mounting positions and there are 5- and 3-inch downrods included for adjusting the height.
It comes in matte silver, white, and bronze finishes, in addition to the matte black that’s shown. Keep in mind that turns on and off with a pull-chain, which is reflected in the price, but may be a drawback for some.
3) Rainsford Outdoor Ceiling Fan
Hunter Fan
wayfair.com
$199.99
Key Specs
- Mounting Type: Downrod; angled
- Blade Span: 52
- Speeds: 3
- Airflow (Min/Max): 4333 CFM
Featuring a handsome, traditional style, this outdoor ceiling fan is another model from Hunter that’s well-priced and can withstand the elements, so you can hang it from the top of your pergola in addition to covered patios and porches.
The 52-inch-wide fan has a bronze finish and five blades, and features three speeds and a reversible motor, with an impressive maximum airflow making it ideal for larger spaces.
4) Hedin Outdoor Ceiling Fan
AllModern
wayfair.com
$700.00
Key Specs
- Mounting Type: Downrod
- Blade Span: 56 inches
- Speeds: 6
- Airflow (Min/Max): 1633/5439 CFM
This splurgeworthy outdoor ceiling fan comes in a slew of motor and blade finishes, giving you tons of options to create the perfect look—from edgy and modern, like the matte black and brushed nickel combo shown, to something warmer and more contemporary, such as a gloss-white motor and distressed barn faux-wood blades.
The 56-inch-wide fan has a metal body and ABS plastic blades, and operates via remote control. It features six speeds and a DC motor, plus it has an energy-efficient rating and can be mounted on a vaulted ceiling.
5) Koa Zephyr Outdoor Ceiling Fan
Modern Forms
wayfair.com
$350.58
Key Specs
- Mounting Type: Downrod
- Blade Span: 52 inches
- Speeds: 6
- Airflow (Min/Max): 2975/4655 CFM
There are a lot of smart ceiling fans out there, but we love this one for its Midcentury modern style and solid lineup of features. In addition to being smart-enabled and rated for outdoor use, it has a powerful and quiet DC motor and is Energy Star-rated, plus it comes with a light kit, which includes an artisan-crafted opal glass fixture and a replaceable LED luminaire bulb from WAC Lighting.
There’s also a battery-operated Bluetooth remote control and wall cradle. This model comes in two sizes, several finishes, and different color temperature options for the LED bulb.
6) Modern Outdoor Propeller Ceiling Fan
Minka Aire
wayfair.com
$369.95
Key Specs
- Mounting Type: Downrod
- Blade Span: 44 inches
- Speeds: 6
- Airflow (Min/Max): 1615/5323 CFM
This sleek outdoor ceiling fan’s blades have an attractive and subtle curve to them, which adds visual interest to its overall minimalist design.
The 44-inch-wide, propeller-style fan operates via remote control and reverses direction, featuring a powerful DC motor inside a metal body and three hard plastic blades.
It only has one mounting option, with a maximum downrod length of 72 inches. The fan is available in several other finishes, including oil-rubbed bronze, brushed nickel, and white, and gets rave reviews, with a 4.8-star average rating from more than 100 customers.
7) Island Outdoor Ceiling Fan
Honeywell Ceiling Fans
amazon.com
$131.48
Key Specs
- Mounting Type: Ceiling
- Blade Span: 52 inches
- Speeds: 4
- Airflow: ?3516 CFM
If you’re going for breezy island vibes on your veranda, you won’t do better than a ceiling fan with blades fashioned like palm fronds. This option also gets bonus points for being affordable, priced at around $132 at the time of this writing.
The 52-inch-wide fan features a steel body with a matte bronze finish and the hand-carved blades are reversible, with palm-leaf-embossed wood on one side and wicker on the other.
It has three speeds, a reversible motor, and three mounting options: closemount, downrod, or angled. Its drawbacks are reflected in the price: It has a pull chain and you’ll have to shell out extra for a universal remote, as there isn’t one included.
8) Misael Outdoor Ceiling Fan
Birch Lane
wayfair.com
$384.00
Key Specs
- Mounting Type: Downrod
- Blade Span: 56 inches
- Speeds: 3
- Airflow (Min/Max): 2269/5655 CFM
Galvanized iron and faux walnut wood blades give this ceiling fan an industrial look, with a touch of Midcentury modern style. It’s 56 inches wide, so it’ll cool off medium- to large-size spaces, and it's rated for outdoor use, suitable for wet climates.
The fan has three speeds, a reversible motor, and comes with a light kit, all of which can be operated with the included remote control. Its downrod mount is adjustable, with a minimum clearance of about 14.5 inches. If you like the fan but want a more contemporary look, it’s also available in two-tone brown and matte black.
9) Mill Valley Outdoor Ceiling Fan
Hunter
wayfair.com
$279.99
Key Specs
- Mounting Type: Downrod; angled
- Blade Span: 52 inches
- Speeds: 3
- Airflow (Min/Max): 3209/3497 CFM
This attractive outdoor ceiling fan features an eye-catching design that mixes modern farmhouse style with industrial-chic details. It features a bronze fixture, five blades accented with faux grasscloth, and vintage-inspired hardware. Add an old-fashioned Edison bulb—one of which is included with this model—to complete the look.
The 52-inch fan offers two mounting options and three speeds, a reversible motor, and operates with two pull-chains. The light is dimmable and several customers use the words "quiet" and "powerful" to describe its performance. It also gets high marks, with an average rating of 4.9 stars from more than 200 reviewers.
10) Wynd Outdoor Smart Ceiling Fan
Modern Forms
wayfair.com
$429.95
Key Specs
- Mounting Type: Downrod; angled
- Blade Span: 42 inches
- Speeds: 6
- Airflow (Min/Max): 3199/4981 CFM
If you don't love the look of a large outdoor ceiling fan but still want to crank up the airflow on your porch, this 42-inch option is an excellent choice.
It's made with marine-grade stainless steel for humid climates and features a reversible DC motor with six speeds, as well as a light kit and included Bluetooth remote. The smart-enabled fan is compatible with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Samsung Smart Things, and you can choose from a downrod or angled mount.
11) Brushed Steel Outdoor Ceiling Fan
Minka-Aire
wayfair.com
$569.95
Key Specs
- Mounting Type: Downrod
- Blade Span: 65 inches
- Speeds: 3
- Airflow (Min/Max): 4198/8848 CFM
This outdoor ceiling fan spans more than five feet, with 12 blades and an impressive maximum airflow of 8,848 CFM, making it ideal for cooling larger spaces. While it may be on the pricey side, it’s also smart-enabled, with extra functions like programmable timers available via app, plus it has a dimmable light and it comes with a remote control.
The fan has three speeds and a downrod mount, with a metal body and high-density plastic blades that have a faux wood finish. It’s available in white and dark coal black in addition to the brushed steel that’s shown.
Finish your beautiful sun room or outdoor entertaining area with an outdoor ceiling fan. It's an efficient way to improve air flow and keep cool as you lounge outside.