Ceiling Fan Buying Guide Size

For a cool breeze on a summer day, a ceiling fan can bring comfort both indoors and outdoors. Whether you are replacing an old fan or remodeling an entire room, follow our guide to understand how to choose the correct ceiling fan sizes.

ceiling fan buying guide size

If your ceiling is sloped, choose an angled mount. They are designed so that the blades do not hit the ceiling or the walls. The mount consists of a regular downrod and a special ceiling fan adapter that firmly attaches to your ceiling. The downrod's length will vary depending on the slope of your ceiling and the size of your fan's blades.

Now that you've determined the correct ceiling fan sizes for your rooms, play around with style, finish, blade type, light fixture, and features to customize the perfect ceiling fan. For more information on types of ceiling fans, read our Ceiling Fan Buying Guide and once you decide on what size ceiling fan, read How to Install a Ceiling Fan.

• Ceiling fans come with three, four, or five blades. Generally, three-bladed ceiling fans run faster and create a cooler, more powerful breeze. However, they are more unbalanced and can create more noise. Four and five-bladed ceiling fans run slower than three-bladed fans, and do not create as much air movement. They are more balanced, however, and are quieter. "}},"@type": "Question","name": "How do I know which size ceiling fan to choose?","acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer","text": "The size of the ceiling fan you choose should be dependent on the size of the room where the ceiling fan will be placed. The larger the room, the bigger the fan diameter should be. Use the square footage of your room to dictate the blade size of the fan. Tara points out that you should also factor in ceiling height. "If you have a large room with high ceilings, you might want to consider purchasing a larger-than-average ceiling fan. Large fans can run at lower speeds and still move a lot of air. The larger the blade diameter on your fan, the more air it will move in your room."","@type": "Question","name": "What happens if a ceiling fan is too big or too small for a room?","acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer","text": "If a ceiling fan is too big for a room, it will look disproportionate and overpower the room. It may also create too strong of a breeze for the space. If a fan is too small for a space, the fan will be unable to move air effectively and will therefore not create the airflow you need. "]}]}] .icon-garden-review-1fill:#b1dede.icon-garden-review-2fill:none;stroke:#01727a;stroke-linecap:round;stroke-linejoin:round > buttonbuttonThe Spruce The Spruce's Instagram The Spruce's TikTok The Spruce's Pinterest The Spruce's Facebook NewslettersClose search formOpen search formSearch DecorRoom Design

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Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home.Subscribe The Spruce's Instagram The Spruce's TikTok The Spruce's Pinterest The Spruce's Facebook About UsNewsletterPress and MediaContact UsEditorial GuidelinesHome Design & DecoratingDecoratingHome AccessoriesHow to Choose Ceiling Fans ByErica Puisis Erica Puisis LinkedIn Erica Puisis writes about home products for The Spruce and specializes in interior design and plant care. She's contributed to Forbes and smart home blogs like Smart Home Solver and TechDigg.Learn more about The Spruce'sEditorial ProcessPublished on 01/18/23Fact checked bySarah Scott Fact checked bySarah ScottSarah Scott is a fact-checker and researcher who has worked in the custom home building industry in sales, marketing, and design.Learn more about The Spruce'sEditorial Process ChuckSchugPhotography / Getty Images

The size of the ceiling fan you choose should be dependent on the size of the room where the ceiling fan will be placed. The larger the room, the bigger the fan diameter should be. Use the square footage of your room to dictate the blade size of the fan. Tara points out that you should also factor in ceiling height. "If you have a large room with high ceilings, you might want to consider purchasing a larger-than-average ceiling fan. Large fans can run at lower speeds and still move a lot of air. The larger the blade diameter on your fan, the more air it will move in your room."

Remember to select the mounting option or downrod length appropriate for your ceiling. For more tips on selecting the proper ceiling fan for varying room sizes, please refer to our blog: Ceiling Fan Size and Installation Tips!

If the ceiling height is more than 3m then you might benefit from using an extension rod. These usually come in a 90cm length size and the installer can then cut it to size if need be. You will generally need a 90cm rod for ceilings up to 3.7m high depending on the drop of the fan selected and how high you intend to have the fan sit. The lower you have the fan the more you will be able to feel the airflow and therefore if preferred you may wish to have it sit at 2.1m from the floor to the blades which is the minimum based on Australian regulations. Some fans come with the additional option of purchasing a 1.8m rod for those ceiling heights that exceed the 3.7m mark.

Thanks to its size, an HVLS industrial ceiling fan can move air efficiently in large, open spaces. In the summer, these fans create a gentle breeze to keep an expansive area cool. During winter an HVLS industrial ceiling fan can pull trapped heat from above and distribute it evenly. HVLS fans are perfect for large spaces, such as manufacturing facilities, large open warehouses, and gyms.

An important consideration is how much coverage area you need. An expansive structure may require multiple fans. The coverage area of HVLS industrial ceiling fan units varies depending on the manufacturer, and different sized fans provide different levels of surface.

Installation factors to consider when choosing the right HVLS industrial ceiling fan model include the size of and layout of your facility. You should also consider whether there are any obstructions in the way of the large fans.

For maximum performance, choose the right fan to fit your room size. In a room up to 50 square feet, like a bathroom, choose a 29" fan. Breakfast nooks and laundry rooms up to 75 Sq. ft. choose a 36" blade span. Medium size rooms up too 100 square feet can fit fans from 36" to 42". Standard bedrooms and family rooms up to 400 square feet work most efficiently with fans that are 50" or 52". Great rooms or large areas over 400 sq. ft. require a ceiling fan with a 54" or larger blade span. For long or large rooms, you should consider more than one fan to handle your cooling requirements. For maximum comfort, the fan should be placed as close to the center of the room as possible. Keep blade tips at least 18 inches from any wall. Ceilings Lower Than Eight Feet. Use the Ceiling Mounting Kit or go with a Snugger or Hugger model to achieve the desired seven-foot blade clearance. For ceilings above eight feet, the fan should be hung by a downrod extension so that the fan is eight or nine feet from the floor. You will want to hang it at this level since the higher the fan is hung above eight feet, the less air circulates near the floor.

For example, windmill ceiling fans fit the modern farmhouse theme perfectly when mixed and matched with other rustic finishes in the room. Focus on style and size first, then narrow down your options based on their energy efficiency.

How do you know what size ceiling fan to buy? You need to know how to measure the size of your room to determine the ideal fan blade measurement. Then you need to understand how ceiling fan size measurements are expressed.

Now that you know what size fan you need; how do you measure the size of a ceiling fan? Fans are measured not by the individual blade length but by their full blade span. This is called the blade sweep.

Fan blades are made out of a wide variety of materials for you to choose from. These will change the look and style of your fan. You should also consider the material when buying a ceiling fan for outside use, as some materials are better suited for outside than others.

After reading through this ceiling fan buying guide, you should have a clear understanding of how to go about buying a ceiling fan for your home. The first place to start is measuring your room to determine the size of the fan that you need. Then you can decide how you want to operate it, the style, and if it should have a light.

Rooms with 9-foot tall ceilings or higher will likely require a down rod to position the fan at the most energy-efficient height. Follow this guide to select the perfect-size down rod for your space: 041b061a72