Best Box Fans In 2022

Hurricane is one of the biggest names in the box fan game. They make a whole range of impressive products, but this one is our favorite. The Hurricane 736501 Classic is actually the entry-level model, but it pushes plenty of air around the room for most applications. Whether you’re buying it to keep you cool in the summer or to keep the air circulating when you’re working in a dusty environment, this cooling fan is more than up to the task. One of the big draws is how economical this fan is. The 55-volt motor isn’t going to send your electricity bills soaring, even when you’ve got it on the highest setting. There are three settings to choose from – low, medium, and high. Most customers will leave it on the high setting because the other two aren’t really that powerful.

It comes with a 5-foot power cord that unfolds from the corner of the fan. This gives you plenty of slack to move the fan around the room to suit your needs. In terms of power, it puts out an impressive 2,400 CFM, which is similar to some ceiling fans. It’s also one of the only fans on this list that advertises the CFM-rating, suggesting that Hurricane are proud of this high power output.

Lasko is another big name in the world of fans. They’re well-known for making solid and reliable products, which is why you might have to pay a premium for a fan like this one. A lot of box fans are replaceable these days – they run for about a year, then give up. The Lasko isn’t one of them, it’s known for its reliability so you can buy with confidence. It’s also covered by a one-year limited warranty for added peace of mind. Like the Holmes HBF2010AWM, Lasko Black Dècor Colors 20″ Box Fan has a metal casing with thin wire grates to prevent touching of the blades when the fan is running. Everything is held together by a metal frame with rounded corners, which are designed for safety reasons. If you have young children, this is one of the safest box fans around.

On top of the metal case, there is an integrated carrying handle to make the fan easy to move around. And next to that is the control knob, which gives you the choice of three speeds – low, medium, and high. Every speed on this fan is designed to be quiet, but some customers seem to expect them to be silent. No box fan is silent, that’s just a fact of life. Interestingly, a lot of customers have bought this fan to use as a white noise machine. People that can’t sleep in total silence find the noise from this fan comforting. It’s not the intended use, but if it works we won’t knock it!

This isn’t the first Vornado product we’ve featured at GearHungry. If you’re looking for a box fan with tons of added features, Vornado 573 Small Flat Panel Air Circulator Fan is definitely the product for you. As you will probably notice, reading this buying guide, a lot of box fans have the same features. Probably because there are only so many innovative ways to make a simple product better. Vornado doesn’t subscribe to that way of thinking. The first difference is the fan’s housing. Instead of a simple metal or plastic case, the moving parts are housed in one piece of plastic. That means the front of the product is completely flat and the actual fan is protected by a spiral grill. This isn’t just to make the fan look aesthetically pleasing. No, it allows the fan to move up to 60 feet. Of course, there’s more to it than that.

Along with the spiral grill and powerful fan, it has deep-pitched blades and an inlet guide cone enclosed air duct. That might sound like a lot of fan jargon, but it basically allows the air passing through to be more directed and more powerful. Another innovative feature is the multi-directional airflow design. This allows you to tilt the fan and use it either horizontally or vertically. Use it in the traditional, horizontal setting and it will push air around the whole room, keeping you cooler in the summer months. Use it vertically and it pushed the air upwards, moving the hot air away from the roof and warming up the room, which is perfect for winter. This is the only fan on this list that is useful all year round.

The Comfort Zone CZ200ABK nearly went under the radar for this review. It’s pretty new on Amazon, which is why it only has 21 reviews. However, don’t let that put you off because 100% of them are positive so far. In terms of design and construction it’s similar to the first three fans we featured in this list. It’s a 20-inch fan with a three-speed motor. The control knob for the speed settings is situated next to the integrated handle, which makes it easy to access.

One of the things that attract customers about this fan is the power. The manufacturer doesn’t say exactly how many CFM (cubic feet of air per minute) it pushes out but it’s one of the most powerful fans in its class. The bottom line is that you won’t be disappointed if you’re looking purely for power. That power does come with a fair amount of noise. Of course, no box fan is going to be silent but this one is definitely towards the louder side. Some customers have bought this fan as a sleeping aid. Because it makes a fair amount of noise, even on the lowest setting, it’s good as a white noise machine.

Next up is the second Lasko Weather-Shield Performance Box Fan on this list. It’s actually really similar to the first Lasko fan we featured but has a few key differences. We think those added features will make you want to choose this fan out of the two, but that’s your choice. The most important feature is the innovative Wind Ring System. This is basically a piece of plastic that surrounds the fan and helps direct the air forward. It’s designed to increase the air velocity by up to 30% without the need for increased power consumption. This system makes the Lasko 20″ Weather-Shield Performance Box Fan one of the most powerful fans on this list.

Another impressive feature is the patented Weather Shield® motor. Many customers buy a box fan to put in the window so that it pushes fresh air into the house. People have been using box fans in this way for years, but with one major problem – if it starts raining, the fan can get seriously damaged. The Weather Shield® motor can stand up to rain without any damage. As long as you don’t leave it outside when it’s pouring it down, you don’t need to rush to bring it inside.

Air King 9723 was an easy choice as our Premium Pick. It stands above the competition in terms of quality and reliability, which is really important in a machine that has working parts like this one. On paper, it’s hard to see the difference between this fan and other products on this list. But when you get it out of the box, you’ll see why it costs more. Every part of this fan is thicker, sturdier, and generally higher-quality.

Like most box fans, it has a grille on the front and back. However, this isn’t a flimsy plastic grill. It’s made from metal and is designed to withstand impacts without breaking and damaging the blades. This makes the Air King 9723 a perfect choice for environments where the fan is likely to take some damage. The quality of the motor is better as well. It has a 1/25 horsepower motor that is permanently lubricated, and you can tell the difference immediately. Put this fan next to a cheaper box fan and you will notice that the blades turn around much smoother and without any clinking noises. Incidentally, this also makes it the perfect white noise machine for anyone that has trouble sleeping in silence.

The Holmes HBF2010AWM is probably the closest competitor to the Hurricane 736501 Classic. If you compared the stats of the two fans, you would struggle to tell them apart. The main difference is that this fan is around $10 cheaper, which is why we’ve made it our Best Value product on this list. If you’re looking for a cheap and effective box fan, this one will do you proud. Like the Hurricane 736501 Classic, it’s a 20-inch fan with three-speed settings. That means it kicks out around the same CFM, although Holmes doesn’t advertise the exact number. When tested, this fan doesn’t seem quite as powerful but the difference isn’t huge.

One of the big differences in the metal body. The Holmes HBF2010AWM is built like an old-school box fan, which makes it heavier but ultimately sturdier. That’s why we think this fan is such a good value. If you don’t need the extra power, this fan is one of the most durable on the market. You can also remove the front metal grille to clean the fan blades if you’re working in a dusty or dirty environment. It’s perfect for use in garages, workshops, and anywhere else you need to circulate contaminated air.