Small ceiling fans buying guide
A small room needs a small fan, but how small matters. A fan that is too big for its room feels too strong on its higher speeds and, on a low ceiling, can come uncomfortably close to your head. A fan that is too small moves too little air to notice. This guide sets out the size bands and what to check on a compact fan. It covers the small fans in this collection with their specifications, then covers lights, controls, installation and care.
What is the smallest ceiling fan?
Fan size is the blade span, measured tip to tip. Standard sizes run from 36 inch (91cm) to 60 inch (152cm), with larger models for bigger spaces. Compact fans of 90cm and 92.5cm suit small rooms under 13 square metres. In this collection the smallest span is the Martec Fantom, a bladeless fan of 480mm, and the next are the Eglo Noosa and Surf at 40 inch (101cm), the Eglo Seacliff at 44 inch (112cm), the Eglo Noosa at 46 inch (116cm), the Fanco Eco Silent Pro at 48 inch (122cm) and the Martec Scorpion at 1066mm.
Choosing the size for a small room
The size bands follow a pattern. By area, under 7 square metres takes 70 to 90cm, 7 to 13 square metres takes 90 to 100cm, and 13 to 20 square metres takes 100 to 112cm. A 36 inch (91cm) fan suits up to 10 square metres and 42 to 48 inch (106 to 122cm) suits 10 to 20 square metres, and 48 inch suits most Australian kitchens and bedrooms. Another reading gives 36 to 48 inch for up to 6 square metres and 48 to 52 inch for 6 to 12 square metres. A 52 inch (132cm) fan is the standard size and 48 inch (122cm) is better for smaller rooms.
Reading those together, a study or small bedroom of under 10 square metres suits a fan of about 90 to 112cm, and a bedroom or kitchen of 10 to 20 square metres suits 106 to 122cm. If the room is a little over those figures, step up one size. A slightly larger fan running at a lower speed can produce the same airflow as a smaller fan at high speed and can be quieter and more energy efficient, so a fan that is on the upper edge of its band is a reasonable choice if the ceiling and walls allow it.
Do small fans work?
Yes, within their area. A fan cools the people under it, not the room: moving air helps sweat evaporate, and the air temperature stays the same. A small fan in a small room therefore works well, because everyone in the room is close to the airflow. The limit is the span. A small fan covers a small area, so it suits a bedroom, a study, a nursery or a kitchen, and it will not do the work of a large fan in a living room. Use the size bands above, and judge a fan by the airflow figure on its specification and not by its span alone.
The small fans in this collection
The specifications give the details for each range, and the product page is the final word.
- Eglo Noosa, 40 and 46 inch: DC with a 22 watt motor, six speeds and three UV-resistant ABS blades. The maximum ceiling pitch is 8 degrees and the drop is 295mm. It has a night mode at very low speed, a remote and a timer of 2 or 8 hours, and the lit versions have an 18 watt LED of 2,000 lumens that switches between 3000K and 5000K, with 4000K in between. It suits indoors or enclosed alfresco areas not exposed to the weather.
- Eglo Seacliff, 44 inch: DC, a 16 watt motor, six speeds, three UV-resistant ABS blades, a steel low profile canopy, a drop of 234mm and flat ceilings only. It has a night mode and a remote, with a timer of 30 minutes to 8 hours, and it is for indoor locations around the home.
- Eglo Surf, 40 inch: DC and for indoor use, with or without a light. It comes in white, oak and white, or black and teak. Fanco Eco Silent Pro, 48 inch (1220mm): DC with six selectable speeds, ABS blades and a remote, for indoor and undercover outdoor use. The V2 version has an integrated flush CCT LED with stepless dimming. Both can be made smart with a separate module, sold separately.
- Martec Scorpion, 1066mm: DC at 34 watts, with Wi-Fi control through the Smart Life app. It has eight settings, among them comfort sleep, breeze and reverse modes, and a steel body with ABS blades. The maximum pitch is 15 degrees and the overall height is 346mm to 354mm.
- Martec Fantom, 480mm: a bladeless DC fan with an 18 watt motor and eight settings. Its adjustable dimmable LED gives 2,753 lumens, control is by Wi-Fi through the Smart Life app or by remote, and the overall height is 230mm. Its maximum pitch is 0 degrees, so it needs a flat ceiling.
Check the drop, the pitch and the walls
A small room often has a low ceiling, so a fan's drop matters as much as its span. Blades must hang at least 2.1 metres above the floor, and fans should sit at least 30cm from walls and obstructions. Subtract the drop from your ceiling height to find the blade height: with a 2.4 metre ceiling, the Eglo Seacliff's 234mm drop leaves the blades at about 2.17 metres, and the Eglo Noosa's 295mm drop leaves them at about 2.1 metres, which is the minimum. Most Australian ceilings are 2.4 metres, and rooms with a lower ceiling generally need a low-profile fan. Low profile or no-rod fans may not suit angled ceilings, so read the maximum canopy pitch: it is 0 degrees on the Seacliff and the Fantom, 8 degrees on the Noosa and 15 degrees on the Scorpion.
See low profile fans for close-fitting fans, which is also where many searches for a small ceiling fan end up, and ceiling fans for ceilings under 2.7m for fans chosen by ceiling height.
A bladeless fan
The Martec Fantom has no exposed blades. It is a bladeless design with an ABS body and a polycarbonate light cover, safe, energy efficient and easy to maintain. It measures 480mm across and 230mm high, so it suits a small room with a low ceiling where a conventional fan would feel too large. It is a flat-ceiling fan, and it has a light built in. Check the airflow figure on the specification against the room, because a very small fan covers a small area.
Motor, speeds and noise
Most of the small fans here are DC. DC motors are now the most common type, cost more to buy, use less electricity and offer up to seven speeds, while AC motors are older and generally have three. A small fan is often used in a bedroom or study, where quiet matters. Test a bedroom fan on its lowest speed, because clicking or knocking is more irritating than general noise, and the Noosa and Seacliff have a night mode at very low speed. See DC motor fans and quiet operation fans.
Lights on a small fan
On a small ceiling, a fan with a light replaces the fitting, so the ceiling stays uncluttered. Integrated lighting suits compact rooms. A fan near downlights can strobe as the blades pass in front of them, universal fittings take E27 or B22 bulbs, and many models are sold as light or no-light versions only. A light adds height, so check the drop for the version you are buying. The Seacliff has a drop of 234mm and 258mm across its versions, and one hugger adds 40mm of height with a light. See ceiling fans with lights.
Controls, timers and smart fans
These fans all come with a remote, and the Noosa and Seacliff list timers. The Martec Scorpion and Fantom work with Wi-Fi and the Smart Life app, and the Fanco Eco Silent Pro can be made smart with a separate module. A fan with a night mode and a sleep timer suits a bedroom, because the fan can be left on a very low speed and turn itself off. The smart ceiling fans collection covers app-controlled fans.
Reverse mode in winter
Reverse mode runs the fan clockwise at low speed so it pulls air upward and moves warm air from the ceiling without a direct draught. It can help in winter, and the Noosa and Seacliff have all-seasons reversible operation. In a small room the effect is gentle, which is what you want.
Placing a small fan in the room
Placement changes how well a small fan works. Centre the fan in the room and keep furniture clear of it. Two variations apply indoors too: if a fan has to be mounted off to the side, a slightly larger fan is recommended for even airflow, and a room that splits into two zones may suit two small fans, so that only the part in use needs a fan running. Keep blades away from the edges of a space. For a bedroom, centre the fan over the bed or the middle of the room, and keep it at least 30cm from the walls.
Installation and care
A ceiling fan is a fixed electrical appliance, and hard-wired fans must be installed by a licensed electrician. Fitting a wall-switch fan without a licence is illegal. Wipe the blades every few weeks, and check that screws and brackets stay tight, since loose parts cause ticking. If the fan wobbles, a balance kit corrects it, and a fan that is out of balance is both louder and less efficient.
What about a bathroom?
A bathroom needs a fan that removes steam, which is a different product. A ceiling fan only moves air within the room, and it does not extract moisture. For that, see bathroom exhaust fans.
Related collections
For larger rooms see large fans, and for every style ceiling fans. By brand, Martec ceiling fans and Fanco ceiling fans.
