Which Dyson fan cooled down our testers the most? We found out… (2024)

How we test fans

Our testers don’t just sit in front of the fan for hours on end (although there is an element of this).

Firstly, they assess how powerful each setting is using an anemometer, which measures how much air is blown in feet per minute (FPM). Ideally, there should be a noticeable difference between each air speed setting, so you can find the right level more easily.

Then they measure how noisy each fan is, as well as its energy efficiency (note that none of the fans we tried used much electricity). And they assess the range of oscillation is, making sure each device lives up to its advertised claims.

Finally, they take a seat. Three testers each take it in turns to sit in a room heated to 30C. They use the fan for half an hour to see if it makes them feel more comfortable.

Every fan is also scored for its ease of use and design. Here’s how the range of Dyson fans performed.

Score: 93/100

With a stand-out range of air strengths, an air purifying function (including a formaldehyde filter) and a humidifying setting, it’s little surprise that this is our best in test tower fan – not just of the Dyson ones tried, but of all the tower fans our experts have got their hands on.

Testers found all its functions easy to use, and loved its overall design, noting how well it improved their comfort levels. It does has a more limited oscillation range than the other fans on this list – only 90 degrees in comparison to the 350 degrees of others, so it won't be the best for cooling a group of people, if you plan on sharing.

It was relatively noisy on its highest air speed too (although that’s hardly surprising given that it exceeded 700FPM on test), but there’s a night mode and 10 different speeds, so you should be able to find a quieter one that’s still effective – our testers certainly did.

Key specifications

Score: 89/100

If you like the sound of our winner, but don’t think you need a humidifier, then you’re in luck because this model ticks all our other boxes for air purification and cooling. And because it has slightly less functionality, it’s not as expensive.

It still has 10 air speeds, plus 350 degrees of oscillation, so it can reach multiple people at once. Because there are so many settings, our panel said it can take a while to figure out the best one for you and they don’t all seem that different. But ultimately, testers said they felt noticeably more comfortable when using this fan.

It was quiet on test, and it’s tall, which means you won’t need to stack this fan on a pile of books to feel its effects in bed. Dreamy.

Key specifications

Score: 86/100

Already thinking ahead to winter? Well then, this warmer will be just what’s needed – testers praised its warm air projection in particular, but note that it uses more electricity to run as a heater than the relatively light-lift fan.

Trust us though, it will do a good a job in the summer thanks to its 350 degrees of oscillation. While it has the same 10 air speeds that already wowed our testers with other models, it wasn’t quite as high on max as our winner. This wouldn’t be that noticeable, however, and testers found it relatively quiet. They also liked that intuitive Dyson design.

Key specifications

Score: 85/100

While this is the cheapest fan on our list, it’s still an investment. And because of the lower price, you do sacrifice some functionality. The key difference is that it can’t connect to the MyDyson app. But it still comes with a handy remote control (all on this list do), 10 air speeds and air purification capabilities.

If you feel overwhelmed by the number of settings, our testers liked the mid-way ones the most. They also praised its height, straightforward design, and the fact it’s lightweight so it’s easy to carry from room to room as needed.

Impressively, it was the quietest of the Dyson fans we tried, earning a perfect score in our decibel test – the measurement wasn’t any louder than the ambient noise of our testing room.

Key specifications

The verdict on Dyson fans

Our top pick if you’re shopping for the summer is the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde. It’s very breezy, and testers liked the humidification feature for counterbalancing the drying effect fans can sometimes have.

But, if you want maximum versatility, we’d pick the Dyson Pure Hot+Cool Formaldehyde as you can use it year-round, which is ideal given the price tag of all the fans on this list.

Why you should trust the Good Housekeeping Institute?

We’ve been testing household essentials for 100 years, and our homes testing manager Blossom Boothroyd draws on that history to ensure our testing protocols are as thorough as possible – including for tower fans.

Hannah Mendelsohn is our homes editor and makes sure we’re testing the latest innovations and products so our reviews are always up to date. She also looks after our tower fan buying guide.