Skip to main content TechRadar the technology experts Search TechRadar View Profile België (Nederlands) Deutschland North America US (English) Australasia New Zealand Tech Radar Pro Tech Radar Gaming World Password Day Nintendo Switch 2 Best laptop NYT Wordle today Small Appliances Air Quality Air circulator vs fan: what's the difference, and which one should you buy? Ruth Hamilton Both can keep you cool when temperatures rise, but they work in different ways When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Future) In this article we're going to explore the difference between a fan and an air circulator, and help you figure out which is the best choice for your needs. Both types appear in our best fan roundup, and both have their pros and cons, depending on what you want to achieve. As you can see from the image above, the two types of fan can look extremely similar at a glance, but they operate in different ways. An air circulator is designed to circulate air around larger spaces. This type of fan really shines when combined with a cold air source, because it'll ensure the cooler air is distributed quickly and efficiently around the whole space. You may like Help! All the Dyson fans look exactly the same – which one should I buy? Shark goes for broke and straps a water tank onto its latest fan so it can blast you with cool mist all day Get ready for summer with massive discounts on Dyson fans at Amazon – here are today's 3 best deals In contrast, regular fans use a directed flow of air to enhance the evaporation of sweat, helping you feel cooler. They're great for personal cooling, but they will only have an effect if the air is pointed right at you. Want to know more? Read on for a closer look at air circulators vs fans. Air circulator vs fan: what is an air circulator? What is an air circulator? An air circulator is a type of fan that is designed to circulate air around a whole room, rather than just blowing it in a specific direction. For this reason, air circulators are especially effective when combined with a cool air source like an air con unit (here's more on air con vs fans). In this setup, an air circulator amplifies the work of the air con unit, helping drop the overall temperature in the room far more efficiently and ensuring the cooling air is evenly distributed. If you don't have air con, they can still be useful, for example by circulating the breeze from an open window. Say your bedroom has heated up during a sunny day – if you pop an air circulator next to an open window when night starts to fall and the temperature outside drops, it'll help distribute that cool air around your room in double-quick time, for a cooler sleep. They're also good for improving room ventilation. Air circulators like the MeacoFan 1056P shift air around large spaces (Image credit: Future) How do air circulators work? Often air circulators look like pedestal fans or desktop fans, with a fan head sitting atop a pole or on a base. They work by sucking air in through the back of the fan head, and pushing it out though a tight spiral grill and out into the room, where it bounces off the walls and ceiling. Eventually, the air will be bounced back towards the air circulator unit, and the whole process will start again. The fan head doesn't necessarily need to move around to circulate air effectively. However, sometimes the fan head will rotate – and not just side-to-side like a regular fan, but up-and-down, too. Today's best air circulator deals Dreo Polyfan 508S $119.99View See all prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Air circulator vs fan: what is a fan? What is a fan? 'Fan' is the umbrella term; an air circulator is a type of fan. However, if we're talking about traditional fans (including tower and pedestal fans), they're typically designed to direct a flow of air to a specific area. This is great if you want to cool just one or – if the fan has oscillating capabilities – a few people at a time. As a general rule, traditional fans aren't designed to circulate air around a whole room. However, fans with wide oscillating properties will help shift air around a fair bit. Some Dyson fans can oscillate a full 360 degrees, for example. Whether its a tower – like this Dreo 519S – or a pedestal, regular fans offer a directed flow of air (Image credit: Future) How do fans work? Fans don't actually cool the air; it's the movement of air on your skin that helps you feel cooler by boosting the evaporation of sweat. That means you'll only feel the benefits when you're sitting directly in the airflow path. Today's best fan deals Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S $109.99View See all prices Shark FlexBreeze Portable Fan $199.95View See all prices Dyson Pure Cool Tower Fan $469.99View See all prices Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde See all prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Buy an air circulator if... 1. You have an air con unit Air circulators can be hugely effective at amplifying a source of cool air – for example from an air con unit – and ensuring it reaches the whole room. As a side note, this can help save energy and potentially lower your utility bills by helping your AC work more efficiently. For example, in our Dreo TurboPoly 508S review, our tester found this air circulator fan was incredibly efficient at lowering temperatures in her home when paired with her usually ineffective AC unit. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Air circulators like the Dreo 508S help amplify the effects of AC (Image credit: Future) 2. You need to cool a large area Traditional fans will only cool one or two people at once, whereas an air circulator is designed to create a flow of air around a whole room. That has the added benefit of meaning you could pop your air circulator out of the way, in the corner of a room, and it'll still do its job – whereas a fan would need to be positioned so you're directly in its airflow range. Don't expect powerful individual cooling from an air circulator unless you're adding a source of cool air, though. 3. You want something for year-round use While a fan is only really helpful in the hot weather, air circulators can also be used alongside a heater in the colder months. While hot air will naturally rise, adding an air circulator will help evenly warm a room. They can also help with room ventilation if you have areas that tend to feel stuffy. Buy a fan if... 1. You want something for personal cooling Non-air circulator fans direct a flow of air at an individual, helping them feel cooler by enhancing the evaporation of sweat from their skin. You don't need a source of cold air for this type of fan to help cool you down. 2. You want something to use outside The effects of an air circulator are going to get lost outside, whereas a fan can help generate a cooling breeze. Misting fans like the Shark FlexBreeze or FlexBreeze HydroGo can be especially effective for outdoor use. A misting fan like the FlexBreeze HydroGo is a great choice for outdoor use (Image credit: Future) 3. You don't have air con Air circulators are designed to amplify an existing source of cool air – usually from an air con unit. While an air circulator can still be useful without AC, traditional fans tend to be more efficient at cooling when used on their own. See more News about The Home Ruth Hamilton Social Links Navigation Homes Editor Ruth is TechRadar's Homes Editor specializing in air (vacuum cleaners, fans, air purifiers), and hair (hair dryers, straighteners and stylers). She has been in consumer journalism since 2020, reviewing and writing about everything from outdoor kit to mattresses and wellness gadgets, with stints on Tom's Guide and T3. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. Help! All the Dyson fans look exactly the same – which one should I buy? Shark goes for broke and straps a water tank onto its latest fan so it can blast you with cool mist all day Get ready for summer with massive discounts on Dyson fans at Amazon – here are today's 3 best deals The new Shark fan can blast blades of air in any direction, and it's set to make summer far more bearable Shark TurboBlade fan review: supreme cooling in any direction Remember the Shark fan that spits on you to keep you cool? Now it has a portable sibling for on-the-go misting Latest in Air Quality Shark goes for broke and straps a water tank onto its latest fan so it can blast you with cool mist all day Paired with my usually ineffective AC, this circulator cooled down my house phenomenally quickly Help! All the Dyson fans look exactly the same – which one should I buy? I tested this portable misting fan, and it immediately became my summer essential Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S review: a well-priced fan that's packed with useful features Remember the Shark fan that spits on you to keep you cool? Now it has a portable sibling for on-the-go misting Latest in News Grand Theft Auto 6 release date confirmed, but it's been delayed - here's why Three massive UK retailers have been hit by cyber attacks this week – so what's going on? Google reveals powerful NotebookLM app for Android and iOS with release date – here's what it looks like Microsoft is making all new accounts passwordless by default The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has just leaked in full – including specs, renders, and pricing Alexa+ rollout hits major milestone, but Amazon warns the technology is currently still ‘primitive’ LATEST ARTICLES Air circulator vs fan: what's the difference, and which one should you buy? 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