Once you install a ceiling fan, you will never want to go back. These simple devices that attach to your ceiling double-task by keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter by reversing the fan direction. The best part is the energy savings. You'll be able to trim back expensive heating and cooling bills with ceiling fans installed in key areas of your home. Find out what size of ceiling fan you need for each room of the house.
How to Choose a Bathroom Exhaust Fan
| Ceiling Fan Sizes Per Room | ||
|---|---|---|
| Room | Room Size | Blade Size |
| Small office, powder room | Up to 50 square feet | Below 29 inches |
| Small bathroom, mudroom | 50 to 75 square feet | 29 to 36 inches |
| Medium bathroom, bedroom, home office | 75 to 175 square feet | 42 to 48 inches |
| Large bathroom, large bedroom | 175 to 350 square feet | 52 to 56 inches |
| Large living room, room with high ceiling | Over 350 square feet | 60 inches or greater |
To work efficiently, ceiling fans need to be correctly sized for each area of operation. This means matching the diameter of the fan blade span with the room and determining fan drop height to match with ceiling height.
How to Measure Ceiling Fan Size
Ceiling fan size is the diameter of the fan blades. Ceiling fan size is measured as if the rotating fan were drawing an imaginary circle. The length from one side of the circle to its opposite side is considered to be the ceiling fan blade size.
This means that ceiling fan diameter is generally not measured from the tip of one blade to the tip of an opposing blade. This is because few ceiling fans have an even number of blades. Five- and three-blade ceiling fans form the majority.
Ceiling Fan Energy Savings
How much energy can you save by installing and using a ceiling fan? Consider that a mid-sized 44-inch ceiling fan draws approximately 45 watts for an estimated annual energy cost of between $10 to $15. That more than pays for itself in terms of HVAC energy savings.
Why Ceiling Fan Size Is Important
Ceiling fans are meant to move a certain volume of air. Increasing the speed of the fan will do little to increase that volume. Instead, the fan needs larger fan blades. At the same time, you do not want the ceiling fan to be too large for the space. Not only does this waste money but the fan can visually dominate the room.
A 44-inch ceiling fan, for example, will move 3,600 to 3,700 cubic feet of air per minute. To install a fan of this size in a small room of 50 to 75 square feet means that you are buying far more air-moving capacity than is needed. In addition, a 50-square-foot room that measures 5.8 feet by 8.6 feet would have a large portion of its ceiling occupied by the ceiling fan.
Conversely, a small fan in a large room cannot adequately move enough air to be effective. A 29-inch fan, or even a fan in the 29- to 36-inch category, is more appropriate for the space.
Ceiling Fans 29 Inches or Less
Small ceiling fans with a blade diameter of fewer than 29 inches are meant for only the smallest areas in the home. These fans are appropriate for spaces of 50 square feet or less. Use 29-inch ceiling fans in:
- Small bathrooms
- Narrow hallways
- Mudrooms
- Small porches
- Tiny houses and other ADUs
Because ceiling fans under 29 inches are special-purpose fans, use them only when it is not possible to use a larger fan. If possible, use a fan between 42 and 48 inches for the best air-moving capacity.
Fans Smaller Than 20 Inches
Tiny ceiling fans less than 20 inches wide are available and these can be used for equally tiny areas, such as in closets or near home theater A/V media racks, computer racks, or other items that need to stay cool.
Ceiling Fans Between 29 and 36 Inches
For areas ranging from 50 to 75 square feet, the correct size is a fan between 29 and 36 inches. This is a good, all-purpose fan size that doesn't take up too much room and is easy to install.
Use ceiling fans in the 29- to 36-inch category in:
- Medium bathrooms
- Bedrooms
- Children's bedrooms
- Home offices
Ceiling Fans Between 42 and 48 Inches
Most ceiling fans are between 42 and 48 inches in diameter, and they work well for spaces from 75 to 175 square feet. Because most ceiling fans on the market are in this size category, you have your greatest range of style options with this size.
Use ceiling fans in the 42- to 48-inch category in:
- Large bathrooms
- Large bedrooms
- Medium-sized living rooms
- Kitchens
Ceiling Fans Between 52 and 56 Inches
Large ceiling fans that are between 52 and 56 inches work well at moving air in spaces ranging from 175 to 350 square feet.
When the ceiling fan size reaches 52 to 56 inches or greater, you'll need to pay attention to the strength of the fan mount within the ceiling. You may need to open up the ceiling to create additional support for larger fans.
Ceiling fans in the 52- to 56-inch category are often found in:
- Large living rooms
- Cathedral-ceiling rooms
- All rooms with high ceilings
- Exercise areas
Tip
As fan blade size increases, a greater range of fan blade shapes can be found: airfoil, propellor, paddle, gyro, and more.
Ceiling Fans Over 60 inches
Super-sized ceiling fans over 60 inches in diameter—with a few mammoth fans that reach up to 99 inches wide—move air in spaces that are over 350 square feet.
Use a ceiling fan in the 60-inch or greater range in:
- Outdoor areas
- Commercial gyms
- Exercise studios
- Restaurants
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Minos, Scott. Stay Cool For Less Money With A Ceiling Fan. United States Department of Energy.
