When people think about window fans, they invariably think of the common box fan. And although there is nothing inherently wrong with thinking that, box fans are only one type of fan that can be installed in a window. There are other different types available, and many of them work better than the common box fan. We wanted to spread a little bit of love about these other types of fans, so we decided to review some of the best window fans around. Any of the following fans are sure to provide the cooling and the air circulation that our readers undoubtedly need in their homes, so let’s get to it.

Quick Summary of the Best Window Fans

Best Overall: Air King 20-Inch Whole-House Window Fan

Anyone familiar with cheaply made box fans is going to be extremely thankful that they’ve discovered this fan. That’s because this is undoubtedly one of the best window fans that we’ve come across. The simple fact is that no box fan is going to be able to compete with this model. It’s manufactured with a high-impact plastic housing and has a powder-coated steel blade and a front grill that makes it extremely durable. This fan is capable of being installed in windows that have openings up to 26.25-inches tall and are between 27 and 38-inches wide. Like most window fans, this fan is held in place by closing the window down onto the fan.

The Air-King 9166 has a 3-speed 1/6-HP motor that’s been permanently lubricated and is capable of being set on low, medium or high settings. Its low setting is capable of delivering up to 1,100 RPMs of fan speed, and its medium speed and high speed are capable of delivering up to 1,450 RPMs and 1,600 RPMs of fan speed respectively. This fan also features a front-mounted switch that makes it easy to use and is OSHA approved. This fan isn’t very loud either with its low-speed setting operating at 50-decibels, and its medium and high speeds operating at approximately 57 and 64-decibels respectively. Overall, this is a great window fan that’s sure to make a whole lot of our readers happy.

What we liked about it
It is capable of delivering 1,600 RPMs of fan speed.
This fan is extremely durable and well-made.

Best Value: Air King 9155 16-Inch Window Fan

The Air-King 9155 is a little bit less expensive than the Air King 9166, but it still does a decent job of moving air around. This product features a 3-speed 1/6-HP split-capacitor motor that’s been permanently lubricated and is designed to be both powerful and durable. This fan is made using a high-impact polystyrene house, has a front grill that’s made out of metal and has an ABS plastic blade. It’ approximately 26.5×8.25×22-inches in size and is designed to fit in a window that’s approximately 26.5 to 34.5-inches long and 22-inches high. And to top it off, this model has a front-mounted rotary switch that allows the user to select from one of three different speeds and a 7-foot power cord. The power cord is especially nice since it allows the fan to be easily plugged into an electrical outlet.

If there was one complaint we had about this model, it’s the fact that it’s pretty loud. It has a noise level of approximately 64-decibels, which is significantly louder than some of the other window fans we’ve reviewed. If that’s not a problem, then consumers who buy this fan can rest assured that it’s a durable and safe fan to use that delivers approximately 2,470 CFM of airflow on high. This is also a window fan that’s both OSHA and ETL-compliant. These safety standards and its durable construction ensure that the consumer gets a fan that’s not only safe for their home but one that should last a while, too.

What we liked about it
This product mounts easily.
It really circulates air well.

Best Remote Controlled: Bovado USA Twin Cooling Window Fan

Another window fan that did a good job of impressing us was this one from Bovado. It’s a remote-controlled window fan that’s designed to fit in windows from 23.5-inches to 37-inches with its locking extenders. It was also a unit that came with a bug net and cover that allows the fan to keep out bugs, even when they’re not using this fan with a screen. The bug screen attaches to the back of the twin turbofan and helps to keep out mosquitoes, flies, horseflies and other flying insects. The cover can be used to keep hot and humid air out of the room the fan is installed in when the fan is set to the off position as well.

What didn’t we like about this fan? Well, we did think that it was a bit noisy. It’s not the noisiest fan we’ve heard, but it’s loud enough for us to mention it. We also didn’t like the fact that the plastic of this fan seemed kind of thin. So thin that light would shine through it into the room. We don’t think the thinness of its plastic affects its durability, however, so we tended to give the fan a pass on that point. Besides, this window fan had other features that we came to like. It has three fan speeds and functions that include a low, medium, and high, as well as an intake, exhaust, and a circulate-feature. All things taken into consideration, we thought that it was a good inexpensive fan that some of our readers might want to consider.

What we liked about it
This fan pulls in a good amount of air.
It comes with a bug net and cover.

Best Affordable: Holmes Dual 8-Inch Blade Window Fan

After taking the time to look at this window fan, and quite a bit of debate, we’ve decided to list this product on our list in the #4 position. That’s because we feel that it’s a good budget window fan that does a good job of circulating air, but no one is going to mistake it for being the best window fan ever made. It’s a product that measures 13.3×25.5×6-inches and is designed to fit into most double-hung or slider windows. It comes with a bonus extender panel and an adjustable extender screen that helps it to fit into windows 37-inches wide. And it has dual blades that work independently of one another and each of them is electronically reversible.

This product can be set for exhausting air, taking air in, or exchanging air so the entire room can have its air circulated properly. This product has two-speed settings, too, and water-resistant motors that are designed to perform well in rainy weather. The one thing that we didn’t like about this window fan was that it was a bit noisier than just about any other fan we’ve reviewed. However, even though that’s the case, we feel that it’s still a good fan. Sure, the consumer might not want to use it in a bedroom or a nursery due to its noise levels, but it’s good for using in just about any other room in the home. And it’s inexpensive as well.

What we liked about it
This is a well-built budget fan.

A Guide To Buying Window Fans

Anyone who is currently reading this guide probably is looking for more than just us rattling off the best window fans available. They’re probably also looking for some good information on choosing a new fan and putting that fan to good use in their home. To help our readers find the window fan that’s right for them, we’ve decided to go ahead and write this little guide. It contains everything our readers needs to know to buy a window fan that will provide cooling and air circulation to their home.

How To Choose A Window Fan

The first part of this guide is concerned with giving our readers the information they need to buy not only one of the highest quality models available but also one that will fit their circumstances and the homes in which they reside. Let’s start with the most important features window fans should have and then work our way down the list.

Look For An Electrically Reversible Fans

The problem with most box fans and some window fans is that if the consumer wants to exhaust air from their home, then they have to take the fan physically out of the window and turn it around. Although this isn’t all that difficult of a task, it’s still kind of annoying and that’s why we think that people should choose electrically reversible fans instead. If the fan can be electrically reversed, the user can turn it from intake to exhaust with the flip of a dial or the push of a button. That makes the fan a lot more convenient to use and prevents them from having to move the fan in and out of the window all of the time.

The Power Of The Fan’s Motor

Another thing that the consumer needs to consider is the power of the fan. As a generalized rule, most fans operate somewhere between 800 RPMs up to 2,000 RPMs. Of course, the higher the revolution of the blades, the more air it will be able to push around. Most people are happy with a fan that moves 1,600 to 2,500 cubic-feet-per-minute of air through their home. That’s a good amount of air circulation and is more than enough for most consumers.

Consider Noise Levels

Another thing that consumers should consider is the noise level of the fan. Some fans are noisy because the design of their grills restricts air so that a whistling sound is created, and some fans are noisy because they tend to rattle their frames. If a person is buying a window fan for their bedroom, they are naturally going to be extremely interested in the fan’s sound levels, but some people are fine with a noisy fan if it does well in other key areas of its design. It’s really up to the consumer how important the noise level is and most consumers are going to want to weigh the fan’s noise level against other key features found on the fan.

Consider The Fan’s Speeds

The number of fan speeds the window fan has is also important. At the bare minimum, a window fan should have three speed settings: low, medium, and high. Consumers should try to avoid the fans that have either all air or no air models that are either blowing at full blast or are turned off. Being able to choose fan speeds makes the fan more versatile and allows the consumer to get more use out of it.

Choose Between Single Or Dual-Fan Designs

We think that both single and dual fan designs have their benefits. With single blade fans, most of the power of the fan is concentrated, so it can push a large volume of air. However, dual-fan designs aren’t ones that should be completely overlooked. That’s because most studies have shown that when the consumer needs a fan that’s on the smaller end of the fan size spectrum, then a dual-fan design is the best choice. A dual-fan design makes the most use out of the space available. Sure, dual-fan window fans don’t have the power of single fans, but they aren’t as bulky either.

Additional Features To Consider

The above features are the basics that the consumer needs to keep in mind when choosing a new window fan. However, they aren’t the only features that need to be considered. Below are some additional features that help to make the fan easier to use or more versatile in the consumer’s home. Let’s look at them briefly before we conclude this guide.

  • A Removable Grill Design
  • Window Extenders For A Perfect Fit
  • A Durable Design
  • A Good Window Seal
  • Controls That Are Intuitive

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