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Best budget fan: effective fans from just £10
Effective, not too noisy and cheap as chips? Here's our guide to the best fans under £40 to keep you cool this summer.
By Poppy O'Neill | Last updated Jul 18, 2024
This summer hasn't been the most predictable, but when temperatures rise, it can get really hot, really fast. While more and more Brits are investing in a pricey portable air conditioner for their home, not everyone wants to spend hundreds on keeping cool for what can turn out to be just a handful of weeks each year.
That's why we've turned to the tried-and-tested recommendations of the Mumsnet Talk forums to bring you our guide to the very best budget fans to keep you cool this summer.
We know it's sometimes easy to end up with a bit of a dud when you opt for the cheaper option, so we've thoroughly researched each fan to bring you the fans under £40 that are worth buying. While they may not be the quietest fans or the most stylish, they'll help keep you sane during a heatwave.
Here are the best budget fans to buy in 2024.
Fans are flexible
Relatively quiet
3 strong speed settings
No 360 cooling as with more expensive neck fans
Price: £13 | Type: Bladed neck fan | Speed settings: 3 | Battery life: Up to 6 hours on speed 1 | Battery type: 2600mah | Dimensions: Approx. 20 x 28 x 6 cm | Weight: 185g
Tested by MNHQ: Read our full Amacool Neck Fan review
We don’t just love the price of the Amacool Neck Fan, we love how flexible it is, too. The arms move so it can be adjusted to get a good angle on your face and neck or you can take it off and use it as a desk fan in your home office. In fact, this was our favourite model for getting a really good breeze onto your face.
The bladed design does mean it is bulkier than the likes of the TRILINK Neck Fan, and it doesn't target the back of your neck at all. However, for just £15 you get an impressive three speeds powered by a 2600mAh battery which, even at the lowest setting, will keep you feeling fresher and cooler. It’ll be a lifesaver if you suffer with hot flashes or simply struggle in warmer weather. The blades have even been designed so that it blows your hairs away rather than getting caught up.
Related: The best neck fans for keeping cool on the go
Great price
Cheap to run (from just 1p per hour)
Compact design
Not as quiet as pricier models
Price: £33 | Noise level: 52dB | Size: 11 x 11 x 32.5 cm
The Pro Breeze boasts 60 watts, three speeds and three wind modes from standard to natural, then sleep. It is ideal for cooling large rooms, but you will need it on sleep mode during the night as it can be a bit noisier on the higher setting.
This robust fan also has a wireless remote control that allows you to adjust the settings from the comfort of your sofa or bed, even if you’re several metres away. Reviewers were delighted with how easy this tower fan is to set up and use; they also loved the elegant yet modern design.
Read next: The best tower fans, according to Mumsnetters
Igenix DF1655 16” Pedestal Fan
Bargain price
Easy to store
Adjustable height
Not as effective as higher-priced options
Price: £24 | Dimensions: 24.41 x 24.41 x 48.82 cm | Weight: 3.89kg | Cord length: 1.5 metres | Features: Oscillating head; adjustable tilt; three speed settings
Sometimes, simple is best. If all you need is a pedestal fan to cool you and your room down, the Igenix DF1655 could be the one for you. It’s simple, affordable, and perfect for occasional use at the hottest time of the year. It has a classic design in unobtrusive white that will suit most rooms, and the generous 1.5 metre power cord adds to this great fan’s versatility.
The adjustable height and fan tilt mean you can direct the air wherever you need it in the room. It also oscillates 80 degrees so it will reach across larger spaces. There are three speed settings, and the 50-watt motor creates a nice breeze without too much noise. It might not win any prizes for style, and it doesn't have any bells and whistles, but you might not care once you’ve reached a comfortable temperature!
Related: The best pedestal fans for cooling the whole room
105 degree oscillation
Two fans for maximum air circulation
2, 4 and 8 hour timers
Noisy on highest setting
Price: £27 | Size: 14 x 14 x 39 cm | Weight: 1.37kg | Oscillation angle: 105 degrees
Mumsnet users love this bargain desk fan for its two fans, which provide an impressive breeze for less than £30. The fan has 3 speed settings, a timer for 2, 4 or 8 hours and oscillates at a 105 degree angle, effectively circulating air in the area around your desk or bedside table.
Its tower-like design means it takes up a lot less room than the other wide-based desk fans out there, so it's also a great choice if you're pushed for space.
Read next: The best desk fans and the best USB fans for WFH and bedside tables
EasyAcc Mini Handheld Fan
Super compact
Great battery life
Very quiet
Detachable base
Bigger models may be more powerful
Price: £13 | Speed settings: 3 | Dimensions: 3.81 x 6.6 x 13.97 cm
Tested by MNHQ: Here's our full EasyAcc Mini Handheld Fan review
Coming in at around the size of the palm of your hand, this handheld fan will take up less room in your bag than your mobile phone. It comes with a detachable base, so the fan can go from standing on your desk to being the ideal accessory for keeping cool when you're out and about, just with a quick removal of the base.
Chargeable by USB, this quiet fan can last up to 17 hours in the low-speed mode and five and a half hours in high-speed mode – and there's even a wrist strap included for even easier portability. If you're in the market for a compact yet powerful fan, you can't go wrong with this highly-rated option.
Read next: The best handheld fans for labour, travel and heatwaves
Affordable price tag
Quiet running volume
Caged blades for safety
Powerful cooling
Some reviewers found it can detach fairly easily when bumping down kerbs
Price on writing: £10 | Power source: AA batteries | Speed settings: One
With caged blades for safety, this powerful fan provides impressive cooling with a low running volume, using a handy clip that clamps onto your pushchair bumper bar or chassis. While reviewers found it quick and easy to attach, some found it could fall off relatively easily when navigating bumpier terrain.
It’s also worth mentioning that this pram fan isn’t rechargeable, so you’ll need to stock up on your AA batteries to ensure it’s ready when you need it. Alternatively, you could opt for Dreambaby’s three-speed USB version instead, but you’ll pay twice as much for the benefit.
Are cheap fans any good?
While you may get a more powerful and efficient blast of air from a pricier fan, if you're looking for something to take the edge off on the hottest days and nights of the year, a cheaper fan will still make a noticeable difference.
Fans get air moving, reducing stuffiness in the room and cooling your skin. At Mumsnet HQ we've tested a lot of fans, and while spending more will get you a quieter fan with more choice in terms of speed settings, a timer and a remote control, when it comes to blasting air, a good budget fan can hold its own.
Lots of Mumsnetters opt for a smaller personal fan, like the Amacool Neck Fan or the EasyAcc Mini Handheld Fan, preferring targeted cooling they can use anywhere over expensive models that can cool a whole room.
It's always important to choose the best products to suit your budget and needs, which is why we've also written in-depth guides to the best budget washing machines, the best budget tumble dryers and the best budget dehumidifiers, all based on recommendations from real families.
About the author
Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She's been researching and reviewing the products Mumsnetters swear by for 3 years, with a particular focus on home essentials, laundry and fans. From a highly-recommended retractable washing line to the best quiet fans money can buy, and Mumsnet's favourite dehumidifier to the steam generator iron that'll cut your ironing time in half, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the very best products on the market.
Poppy is also an award-winning, best-selling children's and parenting author of books such as Don't Worry, Be Happy, The Extraordinary Book That Makes You Feel Happy and Mother Power. She specialises in children's mental health and her books are used by therapists, teachers and SENCOs across the UK. She won a The Week Junior Book Award in 2023, her books have been translated into several languages and she's been featured in The Guardian, The Sunday Times and The Sun.