We’ve all been there — you put time and effort into looking your best on a hot summer day, only to sweat away all of your hard work by the time you reach your destination. While you may be tempted to hide inside and relish in the comfort of air conditioning, sometimes you just can’t avoid going out into the heat. Luckily, there’s one helpful tool that can keep you cool when temperatures are rising: handheld fans.
Whether you’re waiting for the subway, going on a walk or sightseeing in a new city, the importance of staying cool in the heat remains the same. “Heat-related illness is preventable in many cases, and small interventions make a big difference,” says Anthea “Nurse Noel” Noel, a registered nurse and certified health expert who sees handheld fans as just one component of her “heat safety toolkit.” (Other components include consistent hydration, breaks in shaded or cooler environments, awareness of early indicators of heat illness and lightweight, breathable clothing.)
But not all handheld fans are created equal, so we put a few options to the test as part of our Ranked series to determine which ones will blow you away... or at least cool you down while you’re out and about this summer.
Who should use a handheld fan?
While you don’t need to fall into a particular group to use a handheld fan, there are some who may find it more beneficial than others.
Women going through menopause, those with medical conditions or medications that affect temperature regulation, athletes and anyone that spends time outside are all people who can benefit from the effects of handheld fans, says Noel. She adds that they can even help prevent clogged pores caused by sweat!
How I tested handheld fans
During a particularly hot week in May, I tested six different handheld fans. I used them while sitting in the park, walking around New York City and during my subway commute to and from work, making sure to try each feature offered. I then rated them on a scale from 1-5 based on the criteria below (1 being the worst, 5 being the best):
- Cooling ability/efficiency: How well does it work? Does the coverage and airflow actually make me feel cooler?
- Noise level: How loud or quiet was it? (1 for very loud, 5 for very quiet)
- Portability: How convenient is it to carry around and store in a bag, purse or pocket?
- Ease of use: How difficult is it to learn how to use? Is the design intuitive?
If you’re relying on a handheld fan to regulate your temperature, battery life is among one of the most important things to look for, according to travel reporter Dayvee Sutton. All of the fans I tested are rechargeable and, while it’s not a category used for scoring, I made note of their battery life during the testing process.
Best overall handheld fan
Cooling ability/efficiency: 5/5 | Noise level: 3.5/5 | Portability: 4/5 | Ease of use: 5/5 | Overall average score: 4.38/5
Cooling ability/efficiency: Thanks to its seven-blade turbo design, this fan provides wide, powerful airflow, so you can stay cool without having to constantly change the angle you hold it at. The thoughtful handle design prevents you from accidentally blocking the airflow, so you can enjoy uninterrupted cooling. There are five cooling levels, but the powerful effects already kicked in from the first setting. By the fifth, my hair was blowing in the wind! The all-around cooling coverage you get from this fan is truly what made it land the number one spot.
Noise level: Compared to the other models I tested, the noise level is average. Around the fifth level is where it gets a little noisy, but the efficient cooling level makes it worth it.
Portability: While it’s one of the largest models we tested, its sleek body and 180-degree foldable nature allows it to comfortably fit in a purse, backpack or side pocket. Plus, it comes with a lanyard so you can wear it around your neck hands-free, which is what I often did and it never felt too heavy. When I no longer needed it, I easily fit it into the side pocket of my backpack. It struck a nice balance between powerful cooling and convenience, and was the one I kept finding myself reaching for.
Ease of use: What sets this fan apart from the others is how easy it is to use while still being effective. There is only one button on the fan to turn it on and off, adjust the airflow and check the battery, and a handy LED screen to indicate the latter two.
More handheld fans, tested by the author
Best budget handheld fan:
Cooling ability/efficiency: 3/5 | Noise level: 4.5/5 | Portability: 5/5 | Ease of use: 4.5/5 | Overall average score: 4.25/5
Cooling ability/efficiency: Compared to some of the other models we tested, the cooling ability is average. But for under $10, its value is unmatched. It features three airflow levels but I found the full effects best felt on the third level.
Noise level: As compared to other models, this was one of the quietest models we tested, even on the third level.
Portability: Thanks to its slim and compact form, this handheld fan was one of the easiest to store. It easily fits in your pocket, bag or purse and is incredibly lightweight — only weighing 5.3 oz — making it perfect for travel and on-the-go use. I walked around New York City with this fan in my pocket all day and almost forgot it was there!
Ease of use: There’s just one button that turns the fan on and off and toggles between the three fan speeds. I found it to be simple and easy to figure out.
Best splurge handheld fan:
Cooling ability/efficiency: 5/5 | Noise level: 3/5 | Portability: 3.5/5 | Ease of use: 4/5 | Overall average score: 3.88/5
Cooling ability/efficiency: The cooling power of this fan is simply unparalleled. The fan includes 10 speeds, a misting attachment and a cooling plate attachment for direct skin relief, which can drop your skin temperature up to 16 degrees on contact, according to the brand. The misting attachment was the standout for me and was particularly useful during a record breaking hot day commuting to the office.
Noise level: The fan can get pretty noisy, but the adjustable airflow speeds allow you to choose your noise level accordingly. Level five and below are manageable, but I’d avoid going above that in an enclosed space.
Portability: It’s small enough to fit in a bag or purse, but if you want to enjoy all that it offers, you’ll have to carry the other attachments separately. The brand offers straps, lanyards and travel cases, but those are all sold separately.
Ease of use: While the bells and whistles are great, it can make figuring out how to use this handheld fan a little difficult. There’s an on and off switch, an interactive LED screen and multiple attachments, which take some getting used to. Before leaving my apartment, I had to spend about 15-20 minutes with the instruction manual and all the components laid out in front of me before feeling fully prepared to use it in the wild. While this was more preparation than I had to do for any of the other fans I tested, once I got the hang of it, I couldn’t put it down.
Additional features: The two-pronged design allows you to prop it up on a desk or surface at the perfect angle so that you can enjoy its effects hands-free. While I understand that the higher price point may cause some to be a little hesitant, I’d actually highly recommend it if you’re willing and able to splurge.
Most versatile handheld fan:
Cooling ability/efficiency: 5/5 | Noise level: 2/5 | Portability: 3/5 | Ease of use: 3/5 | Overall average score: 3.25/5
Cooling ability/efficiency: This fan was by far the most powerful one I tested. It has a scroll wheel that gives you 100 different speed settings to choose from. By level 20, I was already feeling the cooling effects. By level 100, it had turned into a full-on leaf blower!
Noise Level: While it’s powerful, it was also the loudest fan I tested. A high-pitched whirring sound can be heard from level one, and it continues to get louder from there. If you care more about functionality than noise level, this is a great option, but I’d avoid using it in enclosed spaces — I received some disgruntled looks when using it on the subway.
Portability: Compared to the other fans I tested, this was the bulkiest model. It’s heavier than most and its awkward shape made it difficult to slip into a pocket, so I had to repeatedly reach into my backpack to use it which, truthfully, was pretty inconvenient at times. For that reason, I wouldn’t recommend it for travel or on-the-go moments, but it would be great to keep in your car or at your desk for convenient use. I stood it up on a table while I was doing some work outside and it was exactly what I needed to keep me cool under the sun.
Ease of use: There are many different switches, toggles and buttons to learn, but once you do, it’s pretty intuitive. My biggest qualm is that the power button sits right next to the flashlight button, which I accidentally pressed more times than I’d like to admit. To make matters worse, you have to cycle through all of the flashlight modes —including the flashing setting — before you can turn it off. After a few accidental flashlight clicks, however, I rarely made that same mistake again during the rest of the testing period.
Additional features: This fan features a flashlight with three brightness levels and an extra level that flashes. It also comes with attachments that can turn your fan into various other useful tools like a mini blow dryer or a mini vacuum for cleaning small messes.
Frequently asked questions
Noel stresses that when it comes to staying cool, early intervention is key: “Don’t wait until you feel overheated to respond — cooling strategies work best when used early and consistently.”
Noel says fans don't treat dehydration but can be useful in preventing dehydration and heat exhaustion "when used early."
According to Sutton, it all depends on where you’re going. When going to hot and humid climates, she has started to pack a handheld fan, especially if she knows she will be sightseeing, exploring or going on excursions.
Battery life is her most important consideration, so she recommends investing in a fan that you can rely on lasting long days without access to power.
Why trust Shop TODAY
Josh Liu is a Page currently working with the Commerce Studios team. He has been living in New York City for just one year and is figuring out the best ways to battle summer heat.
Meet the experts
- Anthea “Nurse Noel” Noel, RN, BSN, MS S.A.N.E, is a registered nurse, health advocate, author and TODAY Health contributor.
- Dayvee Sutton is an award-winning national travel reporter and on-air travel expert.
