Best Box Fans: 2022 Options Rated and Reviewed

| Last Updated: July 21, 2021

Although box fans have been around for ages, unlike other technological innovations, their popularity never seems to wane. Perhaps their ubiquity can be attributed to their simplicity. With a box fan, what you see is what you get. A five-winged blade humming inside a metal encasement.

Box fans are usually used as cheaper, eco-friendly alternatives to air conditioning. As they assist with natural ventilation while saving on energy. In this article, we will review the best box fans on the market and compare models to help you decide which box fan is the best for your intended use.

Comparison of the Best Box Fans

IMAGEPRODUCT
  • 3 quiet speeds
  • Designed to be energy efficient
  • Easy-carry handle for portability
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  • Runs at 2,400 CFM
  • Slim frame and adjustable feet
  • Lightweight yet durable construction
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  • Best for the Money
  • User-friendly controls
  • Sleek, frameless design
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What Are Box Fans?

Box fans are large portable fans which are usually square or rectangular in shape. The ‘box’ contains a propeller blade that circulates air which is encased by a grill or metal lattice at the front and back. Designed to encourage air flow, such fans are usually strategically placed on window sills and doorways. So they can assist ventilation by drawing cool air from one area to another.

A box fan could be a great appliance to add to your home. It is budget friendly, environmentally friendly and easy to maintain. Some main features to consider when buying a box fan are its size, airflow in cubic feet per minute (CFM), noise and remote control options.

Box Fans vs Tower fans

Now that you have a basic idea of what box fans are, it is time to introduce tower fans. And to compare the two to give you a better idea of which appliance most suits your needs.

Tower fans like box fans are portable in nature. However, instead of the traditional propeller found in the box fan, tower fans consist of a series of small blowers set in a vertical unit. Tower fans are popular in Europe and Asia where central conditioning is not as widely used as in the American continents.

Photo credit: afresherhome.com

Design Considerations

While box fans come in a basic rectangular shape, tower fans come in an entire range of sizing options. And have the advantage of taking up less floor/desk space. Since they’re sleeker, they can fit into narrow corners and won’t compromise on the aesthetic nature of a room. They can, in fact, add something to it.

Pricing Options and Affordability

Box fans are a much cheaper option than tower fans, but they’re also less versatile and flexible. There are a lot of pricing options available. Tower fans and lower priced fans usually have fewer features than the higher-priced models.

Features

Tower fans often have cool features you can experiment with. Such as an ionizer, night light, variable speed settings, air purification and different operation modes.

They usually also come with a timer to determine how long the fan is to run for. Unlike tower fans, box fans lack the oscillation feature, and different wind modes let alone ionizers and other fancier features. Box fans perform the function they are designed for. A powerful airflow in the chosen direction.

Maintenance

Since they’re cheap, box fans can be easy to replace, and spare parts are readily available. Due to their basic design, box fans can be fixed up at home with the help of the provided instruction manual. If a tower fan malfunctions, it needs to be fixed by a professional electrician or sent to a professional service. Since they are built more intricately.

Review of the Best Box Fans

With so many box fan models available on the market, it can be difficult to decide which one may be the best for you. In this section, we will give you our top recommendations based on some factors. Such as air flow, maneuverability, noise levels, build quality, and energy efficiency.

Best Overall

Lasko B20401 Decor Box Fan

Lasko 20 Black Dècor Colors Box Fan

Specifications

No. of Speeds: 3

Dimensions: 20.5 x 4.25 x 21.75 inches

Special Features: N/A

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Review

The Lasko fan comes in a 20-inch square Save-Smart design and has a top-mounted control knob with 3 speeds. It costs less than 2 cents to run, and its small size and rounded corners make it perfect for small spaces.

Bottom Line

Despite its lightweight build, the fan is quite durable and powerful, it moves a good amount of air. It isn’t very noisy and is perfect for sleeping according to users. It is environmentally friendly and easy to operate so comes highly recommended.

Pros

Powerful

Looks nice

Energy efficient

Cons

It is loud

The material is slightly flimsy

Runner-up

Hurricane Box Fan Classic Series

Hurricane Classic 20' Floor Box Fan – Compact and Portable, Powerful and Quiet 3-Speed Cooling for Home, Greenhouse, Office, Gym, Garage, and Workshop

Specifications

No. of Speeds: 3

Dimensions: 20 x 20 x 3.5 inches

Special Features: N/A

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Review

The hurricane box fan has a basic but simple square design and measures 20 inches. It has 3-speed settings which are said to be energy efficient. It has a compact design and is made from lightweight materials. It also comes with a 5 foot 120 v power cord.

Bottom Line

The hurricane box fan seems to be everyone’s favorite. In addition to the easy installation process and excellent airflow, the product offers good value for money. It is, however, a little noisy to operate, and there aren’t a lot of part replacement options in case of malfunction.

Pros

Easy installation

Excellent air flow

Gives perfect white noise effect

Cons

Uneven oscillation

Lowest speed still too fast

Best for the Money

BLACK+DECKER BFB09W

BLACK+DECKER Mini Box Fan Tabletop Quiet 9 Inch Desk Box Fans Frameless BFB09W White

Specifications

No. of Speeds: 3

Dimensions: 11 x 11 X 4

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Review

Another popular choice, this fan model is perfect for use in the home, garage, or office. It has 3-speed settings that allow variable air circulation, 9-inch blades and a compact, stable, self-standing frameless design. It is also EPL certified.

Bottom Line

Most buyers love the sleek finish on this model and report that it gives one of the best white noise effects. Because of its size, it’s quite powerful but uses more energy than one would expect. Overall, a good buy.

Pros

Quiet

Durable

Sleek, simple design

Cons

Cord at the back

Comparatively energy inefficient

Lorell LLR84551 Tilt Box Fan

Lorell LLR84551 3-Speed Tilt Box Fan, 16'

Specifications

No. of Speeds: 3

Dimensions: 21.73 x 6.54 x 19.13 inches

Special Features: N/A

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Review

The Lorell fan model is a popular choice. It offers three fan speeds for cooling and direct soothing airflow with tilting angle adjustment. Additionally, it comes with a 7-inch power cord and plastic base (ETL approved).

Bottom Line

This model comes highly recommended and has excellent ratings on Amazon. It is a cost-effective option which performs its function well. Users have described it as versatile and easy to clean.

Pros

Powerful

Good value for money

Almost noiseless at low speeds

Cons

Loud at higher speeds

Knobs may loosen up over time

OPOLAR 8 Inch Desk Fan

No products found.

Specifications

No. of Speeds: 4

Dimensions: 8.2 x 3.1 x 8.2 inches

Special Features: N/A

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Review

This desk fan has some really cool features. Including USB operation with a 4-speed control, a unique 7 curved blade design that assists quiet operation, and a timer and rotation feature. The portable fan comes with a range of power options and can be used with an AC adaptor.

Bottom Line

This fan is perfect for desk operation and moves a lot of air so it cools down heating laptops and other electronic devices pretty fast. The speed range is great and the USB power option allows power saving and reduces wire clutter. All-in-all a great option.

Pros

Cost effective

Almost inaudible

Sturdy construction, yet light

Cons

Adapter is unattractive

Additional cord is a little short, an extension cord is required for operation

Cleaning Box Fans

Over time, the blades on the box fan tend to accumulate a layer of dust if they aren’t being used regularly or if they are left out in the open. Hence, it’s a good idea to clean your box fans every now and then. So that dust particles are kept out of your home and so that the motor runs smoothly as it tends to get clogged by dust. This may cause the appliance to overheat and catch fire in extreme cases.

With a little care, you can keep your appliance operating well beyond the expected duration. To clean your box fan, you need a few simple tools such as a screwdriver, a vacuum cleaner, and a damp cloth.

You will want to start by removing the cord from the power source and then unscrewing the grills from the back and front using your screwdriver. Most box fans have 12 screws in place.

Next, you should wash your grills by using a high-pressure detachable shower head to blast most of the grime off. Pull out any clumps of accumulated animal hair and leave to dry.

As for the motor and blades, first, you should wipe off any obvious dust with a cloth and suck dust out of crevices with a vacuum cleaner hose (with crevice attachment). Don’t go near any copper wiring as it may get damaged. Go over the blades with a damp (but not completely wet) cloth and leave to dry. Once that’s done, reassemble the appliance and observe the improved air flow.

Conclusion

Box fans are an energy efficient way of improving natural ventilation and cooling spaces. There are lots of models available in the market nowadays, and it can be hard to come to a decision without proper research. We hope our review of top products will help you choose and maintain a box fan that best suits your needs.

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My name is Bob Wells and I am a retired HVAC tech from Washington state. I am currently retired and no longer do much with HVAC, however, I feel like I have a lot of knowledge in the subject and I wanted to create a website where I could talk about what I've learned and help upcoming HVAC techs. Find more info about me and HVAC Training 101.