8 best portable fans to keep you cool over summer, tested by experts

Score: 92/100

With a massive 100 different speeds (yes, you read that right), this aesthetically pleasing handheld fan (it comes in six shades) was a hit from the get-go. Panellists loved its cooling powers with one saying it made them feel more comfortable “straight away” on a hot day on the bus.

That’s the benefit of a handheld model, too. This lightweight fan fits easily in your bag and even comes with an attachable travel lanyard so you won’t lose it on the way.

Overall, it was very easy to use, and boasts a digital screen that displays the wind speed and battery power. Speaking of the battery, it lasted three hours on the highest setting so you won’t be caught short on your commute home either.

Score: 90/100

Meaco’s portable fan is the perfect choice for keeping you cool on hot days. While there are only four fan speeds, testers noted a good difference between each setting and appreciated how simple it was to switch from one to the other, as well as how quiet the fan was. It comes with a built-in nightlight, too, so would be a welcome companion for camping or for alfresco dinner parties.

You won’t have to worry about the battery, either. Our testers found it long-lasting, circulating air at various speeds for over four hours in our tests.

Again, it’s not one for chucking in your handbag but for moving around your home, it’s an easy to use, intuitive fan that won’t disappoint.

Score: 87/100

You’ll be the envy of every person in the office or on your morning commute with this fan. It simply loops round your neck so you can keep your hands free for your phone, bag or morning coffee, and it keeps you cool by circulating air quickly and evenly through its dual-turbine motor design and the 78 air outlets distributed around the neck.

There are three wind speeds, which had noticeably different strengths; however, they weren’t as powerful as other fans we’ve tested. But we think its lightweight, intuitive design is probably worth the compromise. Our testers found it stayed on easily, too. That’s our morning commute sorted the next time a heatwave rolls around.

Score: 86/100

This lightweight fan is made to sit comfortably on your desk, in your car, or by your side on the hottest days. On test, it was great at distributing cool air and our panellists liked that you could tilt the head up and down to alter the direction of airflow. It was easy to use too, with accessible, responsive controls.

There are only three speeds and it’s not the most powerful fan we’ve tried; however, it was still effective at keeping our panellists cool with everyone saying they’d recommend this fan to others.

Score: 84/100

This compact fan comes with its own phone rest so you can watch your favourite Netflix series on the commute while staying cool. There’s also a clip-on lanyard for when you need to go hands-free. The fan head is adjustable by 90 degrees too, so you can tilt it upwards and get a cooling breeze right to your head and neck.

It has five fan speeds, but our expert found it difficult to distinguish between each one in terms of strength. On the highest setting, the fan’s battery lasted three hours and 11 minutes, giving you plenty of cooling power each day, and a recharge took under three hours, which is fairly quick in comparison to others we’ve tested (despite being over the claimed charging time).

Overall, it was easy to use but lacked durability and sturdiness so make sure not to sling it around in your handbag.

Score: 84/100

This fast-charging neck fan took just over an hour to recharge from empty and lasts over three hours on full power, giving you plenty of relief from the summer heat or hot flashes. It’s not overly powerful in terms of air flow, but our tester said the breeze helped keep them at a comfortable temperature.

As it’s a neck fan, it’s also very portable, allowing you to get on with other things while staying cool. Plus, the 34 bladeless air outlets make it safe to wear without worrying about getting your hair caught.

Score: 82/100

Lightweight and available in a range of stylish colours, this handheld fan is the one for taking to events and meals out – or for bringing a pop of colour to the office.

It was hard to fault in our ease of use tests – it’s easy to assemble, travel with, control and clean – scoring perfect marks. Testers also liked its foldable handle, which doubles up as a stand for use on a desk or table.

Again, there are only three speeds which weren’t overly strong but this is a great basic fan that will complement every summer outfit going.

Score: 77/100

Our panellists loved this Igenix desk fan for its even air distribution and large 12-inch design. It’s one of the only fans on our list to offer varying degrees of oscillation, allowing you to cool the entire room and circulate air well.

Panellists appreciated its minimalist design but were disappointed by the limited portability. While it’s fairly lightweight and compact, it isn’t battery-powered, so you’re restricted by a cord. It’s still very easy to move between rooms though, and it’s steady once in-place thanks to a well-built and balanced base.