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Cooling your garage is made easy with the best garage fans, which we’ve researched for you to find the best options available today. Our research focused on fan power first and foremost, with additional consideration made for durability and ease of installation. We also ranked fans based on their usability and safety. You will certainly find the best fans for your garage in the list below.

With these key factors in mind, we chose the Lasko 2265QM as the best garage fan. This fan is powerful and reliable with 3460 CFM of airflow. It’s also incredibly easy to install and switch between floor and wall-mounted use. Keep reading below to learn more about other fantastic garage fans available for purchase. Our buying guides can help you find the best fans for any need.

Top 10 Best Garage Fans

 #1  Lasko 2265QM Garage Fan

Award: TOP PICK

WHY WE LIKE IT: This garage fan takes the top pick spot for its powerful airflow capacity, unique QuickMount feature, and extra-durable build. This option will keep your garage cool with ease.

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  • Powerful 3460 CFM
  • QuickMount easily converts between wall and floor
  • Metal cage and stand are extra durable

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  • Loud operation
  • Not much difference in speed levels

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The Lasko 2265QM garage fan is a powerful option that gives you up to 3460 CFM of air-blowing performance. This is plenty of power to cool down even large garages and workshops, but it also means that the fan is loud, especially on the most powerful speed level. On top of that high level of performance, the Lasko garage fan offers a full 180 degrees of tilt adjustability and three different speed levels: low, medium, and high. Unfortunately, there isn’t much of a noticeable difference between the speed levels unless you’re paying close attention.

Like the many great baby room fans, the Lasko 2265QM shines when it comes to build quality. For starters, it features a nearly 100% metal build. The fan cage and stand are both metal, while the controls are housed in plastic. The metal components add a level of durability and stability that’s hard to find in many floor fans. We were also really impressed with Lasko’s proprietary QuickMount feature, which allows you to easily swap between floor use and wall mounting, a great feature if you’re looking for the best wall mount fan for your garage.

 #2  Westinghouse Lighting 7861400 Garage Fan

Award: HONORABLE MENTION

WHY WE LIKE IT: This garage ceiling fan is both powerful and quieter than other garage fans. It also offers a sleek design that fits any kind of design aesthetic and has a much less chance of getting roughed up since it’s mounted to your ceiling.

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  • Sleek, attractive design
  • Powerful, yet quiet performance
  • Bidirectional fan blade for greater versatility

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  • Installation is more complicated
  • Bulky speed control

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The Westinghouse Lighting 7861400 is the best ceiling fan for garages available today. It offers both aesthetic appeal and high performance for a combination that’s truly hard to beat. Of course, since this is a garage ceiling mount fan, you can expect a little more complication when it comes to installation than a simple floor or wall mount garage fan. However, installation for the Westinghouse is less complicated than other ceiling fans due to the helpful instructions included in your purchase.

This quiet garage fan can produce upwards of 5370 CFM of airflow, one of the more powerful fans available today. The Westinghouse garage ceiling fan can really produce a breeze when it’s on its highest speed settings, rivaling some of the most powerful models on our best ceiling fans guide. When it comes to adjusting the fan’s speed, you’ll get a control box that you can mount to the wall with a manual twist dial. This box is a little bulkier than we’d like to see, but it allows you to adjust between five different levels and even switch the direction of your fan blades. On top of this wall mount fan’s performance, you also get a high-quality, industrial look due to the brushed nickel and stainless steel design.

 #3  B-Air Firtana-20X Garage Fan

Award: BEST ON A BUDGET

WHY WE LIKE IT: Simplicity and power are hallmarks of this garage fan, which is a great buy at an affordable price range. This budget option is also adjustable with different speeds and 360 degrees of fan-head rotation.

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  • Durable, heavy-duty metal housing
  • 360-degree tilt
  • Minimal grid spacing for better safety

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  • Highest speed is loud
  • Short, four-foot power cable

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The B-Air Firtana-20X garage fan is a simple, yet powerful option that gives you up to 4650 cubic feet per minute of air blower power. You’ll also get variable speed controls with three different levels of power. The controls are a little awkward to reach since they’re on the back of the fan, but are otherwise easy to use. The noise is a little loud on the highest speed setting but this is to be expected with such a high-velocity fan. The Firtana-20X’s body is entirely adjustable at a 360-degree angle, so you can get whatever airflow direction you need.

We were most impressed with the B-Air’s overall build quality, stability, and durability. It features a heavy-duty metal housing and a sturdy stand to keep the fan stable during use. The fan also features a fan grill with minimal spacing between the wires, which makes it very hard for fingers to get through. This safety feature is a huge perk and should not be overlooked. Assembly is easy, as well. Once you get the B-Air garage fan, you’ll only need to attach the stand to the blower’s body, which doesn’t require any tools to do. It’s a great option for anyone looking for the best outdoor floor fan.

 #4  Vornado 660 Garage Fan

Award: BEST COMPACT DESIGN

WHY WE LIKE IT: This compact and portable garage fan may not be as powerful as larger alternatives, but it can still move a serious amount of air due to its unique vortex design. It’s also incredibly quiet, even on the highest speed settings, so you can work in peace.

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  • Ultra-quiet operation
  • Specially designed for air circulation
  • Chrome glide bar easily adjusts direction

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  • Not as powerful as other garage fans
  • Plastic body not as durable as metal

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The Vornado 660 isn’t as big or heavy-duty as other industrial fans, but it’s still well-equipped to get the job done. Don’t let yourself be turned away by the 600 CFM rating here. What the Vornado lacks on paper, it makes up for with its proprietary vortex fan design. The unique, deep-pitched fan blades and inlet guide cone are both designed to circulate air upwards of 100 feet away, making it an excellent choice for any size of garage.

The Vornado features an all-plastic build, which isn’t as durable as metal options. However, it can still hold up to rough-and-tough surroundings in most cases. The fan’s durability struggles a bit with drops, so we recommend keeping this fan firmly on the ground. You get four different speed settings on the Vornado garage fan, and each setting is impressively quiet, even the highest. The fan also includes a chrome glide bar that allows you to easily adjust the tilt and direct the airflow exactly where you need it, a feature we love in some of the best tower fans.

 #5  Maxx Air HVWM 18 Garage Fan

Award: BEST INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

WHY WE LIKE IT: Sporting a durable, industrial design and easy wall-mount installation, this garage fan gives you the option to produce superior airflow without taking up a ton of floor space. It can also tilt a full 180 degrees and features a long power cord for maximum versatility.

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  • Powder-coated steel build
  • Easy assembly and installation
  • 10-foot power cord

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  • Only two speed settings
  • Awkward pull chain operation

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The Maxx Air HVWM 18 is an industrial garage fan that packs a powerful punch and offers lots of versatility with its wall mount functionality. This fan is perfect for larger garages that see a lot of action and work. It features a powder-coated steel frame and a stand for a high level of durability and stability. Fortunately, it also offers industrial-quality power at 2500 CFM of airflow.

This garage fan’s design is also something to be applauded. For starters, this is a wall-mounted garage fan that cannot be used on the garage floor. While this may limit you in terms of portability, it gives you a lot of options in terms of versatility. Wall mounting allows you to place the fan virtually anywhere in your garage. Installation is incredibly easy as well, which is always nice to see in a product that requires it. The Maxx Air wall mount fan gives you two different speed settings that you can adjust using a pull chain, which is a little awkward to use at times but is otherwise completely functional. You might also consider a high-powered, best modern ceiling fan model if you’re looking for more technologically advanced options.

 #6  Lasko 2264QM Garage Fan

Award: BEST QUALITY

WHY WE LIKE IT: This garage fan offers a high level of quality when it comes to performance, durability, and overall user-friendliness. It can be easily mounted to the wall or placed on the floor for added flexibility.

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  • Extra versatility with dual installation options
  • No tools needed for assembly
  • Easy-to-use speed control

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  • Louder than other garage fans
  • No horizontal tilt

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The Lasko 2264QM garage fan is one of the best quality options available today, mostly due to its unique QuickMount functionality, which allows you to quickly swap between a wall-mounted configuration or floor configuration, simply by adjusting the position of the metal stand. And this is just one of Lasko’s high-quality build features. You’ll also get an entirely metal frame and fan grill for the best durability. This fan can easily withstand drops and bumps without the worry of damaging the fan blades or motor.

This Lasko garage fan also features a user-friendly speed control dial on the front of the fan, which is the best way to do it. This way, it’s easily accessible so you can adjust speed levels on the fly while working on your projects. You get three different speed settings on this dial, but there’s minimal difference between them. As such, we recommend using the highest level to get optimal airflow circulation. The 2264QM also allows for vertical tilt, but if you want horizontal tilt, you’ll need to adjust the entire fan. For warmer, humid climates, you might also want to shop our best ventilation fans buying guide.

 #7  Air King 9020 Garage Fan

Award: BEST FOR PERSONAL GYMS

WHY WE LIKE IT: With its unique “upside-down” configuration that mounts directly to the wall and impressive 2200 CFM of blowing capacity, this fan is perfect for home gyms in your garage. This configuration also provides a ton of adjustability so you can get an individualized cooling experience no matter where you are.

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  • Can also be installed on your ceiling
  • Durable, powder-coated steel construction
  • Omni-directional tilt

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  • Pull string speed control
  • Loud airflow

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The Air-King 9020 is one of the best garage gym fans you can purchase in today’s market. Since your home gym will need a lot of floor space for exercise equipment, you won’t want to clutter it up even further with fans. This is where the Air-King comes into play. This versatile option can be either a garage ceiling fan or a wall fan, depending on how you mount it. It includes all of the necessary hardware you need for mounting and the overall installation process is incredibly easy. Just be aware that the 9020 operates via a pull chain, so you’ll want to install it somewhere you can reach.

This garage gym fan offers three different speed levels that you can adjust with the pull chain, and each speed level is noticeably different in both power and noise. The blower’s motor itself isn’t very noisy, but the Air King does produce a noisy airflow, especially on the higher setting. However, for gym settings, this isn’t a problem. We were pleased with the overall build quality that the Air-King offers, but the best part is the omnidirectional tilt functionality. This means you can adjust the fan head both horizontally and vertically so you get the perfect angle during your workouts. If you really want to cool during your gym sessions, you can also consider the best misting fan options.

 #8  Hurricane 736565 Garage Fan

Award: BEST ADJUSTABILITY

WHY WE LIKE IT: If you need a greater level of adjustment with your garage fan, you cannot go wrong with this option. With multiple speed settings, modes, and oscillation patterns, this oscillating fan is perfect for smaller garage spaces that need more precise cooling power.

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  • Oscillating head for air circulation
  • Wide variety of modes and speeds
  • Whisper-quiet operation

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  • Short, five-foot cord
  • Plastic fan blades aren’t as durable as other fans

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The Hurricane 736565 is a garage that offers the most amount of adjustability that your money can buy. This is increasingly important for smaller garages and workshops where you need more precise performance to cool down hotspots. For starters, this is an oscillating garage fan with three different oscillating settings: Normal, Natural, and Sleep. The difference between these settings is how frequently the fan head turns. You also get three different speed settings: Low, Medium, and High.

The Hurricane garage fan isn’t as durable as some of the other industrial-grade garage fans you can get, but it’s still of high quality. The least durable part of this blower is the plastic fan blades. As long as you have the fan mounted securely, you won’t have to worry about bumps or drops damaging the fan blades. This fan is also super quiet and even includes a remote control, making it the best garage fan with a remote. Don’t need a full-on, industrial-grade fan? You can also opt for the best window fan for cooler climates and smaller garage spaces.

 #9  Maxx Air High-Velocity Air Movement Garage Fan

Award: BEST POWER

WHY WE LIKE IT: This option is the best drum fan for garages that your money can buy today. With immense power, added stability, and OSHA-compliant build features, this drum garage fan is a reliable choice for any cooling application.

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  • Safe, OSHA-compliant grills
  • 10-foot long power cord
  • Extra stable with dual stand

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  • Extra loud
  • Heavy and bulky

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The Maxx Air High-Velocity Air Movement garage fan really lives up to its name with a whopping 4,000 CFM rating. This is more than enough power to cool down commercial spaces and large garages alike. However, as you’re probably well aware, this amount of power also comes with a very noisy experience. Fortunately, the noise isn’t so loud to prevent you from hearing anything.

This drum garage fan is also built extremely well. It’s built from powder-coated steel and features OSHA-compliant fan grills which are spaced to prevent fingers from accidentally slipping through. We were also impressed by this fan’s dual stand configuration, which adds stability even on the most powerful speed setting. This durability does come at the sacrifice of portability. The Maxx Air high-velocity fan is bulky and heavy, making it harder – but not impossible – to move the fan around your shop. It’s as powerful as the best drying fan options on the market, but with added cooling features.

 #10  Vornado 293 Garage Fan

Award: BEST DURABILITY

WHY WE LIKE IT: With an IP54 ingress rating, sturdy steel base, and compliance with OSHA compliance, this garage fan is one of the most durable options available today. It’s also great and circulating air, even despite its lower CFM rating, which makes it perfect for small- to medium-sized spaces.

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  • IP54-rated motor is dust and splash resistant
  • Incredibly stable, steel base
  • Includes helpful carrying handle

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  • Not as powerful as larger fans

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Vornado specializes in creating garage fans that are super-efficient in circulating air without needing a ton of power, and the Vornado 293 is an example of that design approach. While it only gives you around 700 CFM of power, it’s designed in a way to push and circulate more air around your garage. You can see this unique design immediately in the fan’s grill, which is shaped like a vortex instead of the classic concentric circular design. The fan’s body is also designed like a jet engine to expel more air at a higher velocity.

Where the Vornado 293 really shines is in its build quality. For starters, the fan’s motor has an IP54 ingress rating, meaning it is extra resistant to dust and water getting into the motor. It’s not fully waterproof, but it can withstand splashing from all angles. This blower also features an incredibly stable and durable steel base, which is hard to find in many fans. You also get OSHA compliance with this fan, meaning you can safely use it in your shop. Additionally, if you’re looking for high-powered fans for your outdoor kitchen, you might enjoy our best exhaust fan for the kitchen guide.

How We Decided

When we first started researching the best garage fans, we looked primarily at power and durability. Things can get really hot in your garage, so you’ll want to get a fan that can blow a lot of air. We focused our research on fans that offered at least 2,000 CFM of airflow power but included fans with lower ratings if they were still able to move air around your garage with ease. We awarded bonus points to fans with 4,000+ CFM airflow power.

Things can also get rough and tough in your garage and workshop, as you well know. This is why it’s important to purchase a blower fan that’s built to last. We gave the most points to fans made from steel or other types of metal, especially in the fan blades. We also gave preference to fans with OSHA compliance or with different types of motors made for durability and reliability.

Finally, we only included garage fans if they were easy to use and install. You won’t want to spend too much time getting your fan set up. It’s simple to choose pedestal fans, as they don’t require too much setup. Most top-rated outdoor floor fans don’t require any kind of installation, but the wall and ceiling fan options we selected are all fairly easy to install. We gave the most points to fans that included all of the installation hardware and comprehensive instructions. We also awarded bonus points to options with speed controls that were easy to reach and use.

Best Garage Fan Buyer’s Guide

The Most Important Features to Consider

  1. Performance and Power
    Garages can get really hot, really fast. This means you’ll need to get reliable and powerful performance out of the garage fan that you purchase. Like all fans, performance for garage fans is measured in how much air they can move in CFM or cubic feet per minute. In general, you should choose a garage fan that can move at least one CFM of air per square foot in your garage. However, since garages typically need more power to cool down, it’s never a bad idea to get something that packs a little more punch.
  2. Durability and Stability
    You should never have to feel worried about accidentally knocking something over in your garage, especially if you’re in the middle of a project. This is why it’s important to purchase a garage fan that’s both stable and durable. Stability can come in many forms but look for frames and stands made from metal. If you need mounted fans, you should look for high-quality mounting hardware. Mounted fans are incredibly versatile, but many options aren’t as stable as they should be. You should also look for a garage fan that can take a bump or two without having to worry if it will get ruined. Things like metal frames and metal fan grills are good indicators of high durability.
  3. Adjustability and Speed
    With garage fans, you usually only need a powerful blast of air going in one general direction, but there may be times when you’ll need to adjust fan speed or direct the airflow in a better way. As such, we recommend finding an option that provides variable speed levels. We also recommend finding a garage fan that allows you to change the direction of the airflow. Fans with tilting fan heads are the best because they allow you to customize your cooling experience to your liking.
  4. Noise Level
    As with most fans, you’ll want to consider how much noise yours produces. However, this is less of a concern with garage fans. This is because garages are typically noisy places where you won’t have to worry too much about sound. On the flip side, though, you won’t want to purchase something extremely loud, especially if you like working in your garage consistently.

Garage Fan FAQs

Where should a fan be placed in a garage?

The best way to cool down your garage is by using multiple garage fans to exhaust the hot air from your space and replace it with cool air from outside. To do so, place one garage fan just inside your garage door, facing outward. This fan sucks in the hot air and blows it outside. Then, place another fan just outside your garage door, facing inward. This will intake the cool air and start lowering the temperature. You may also want to consider purchasing a garage ceiling fan or wall fan for a more flexible placing. Ceiling fans can move a lot of air from above, which helps you create more room in your garage. Ceiling fans are also surprisingly easy to install if you purchase the right option.

How many CFM do I need for a garage fan?

The amount of airflow you need for your garage – measured in cubic feet per minute, or CFM – is really dependent on the size of your garage. A good rule of thumb to follow is one CFM per square footage. If you have a 300 square foot garage, you should get a fan that can move at least 300 CFM of air.

Should I put a fan in my garage?

If you’re looking to keep your garage cool, then using a garage fan is definitely one of the best and most cost-effective ways to do it. If you decide to go this route, though, make sure you purchase a fan that’s large enough and powerful enough for your space so you get the most effective garage fan ventilation. You should also consider where you want your fan. Wall and ceiling fans give you lots of room, whereas floor fans are more portable and versatile.

How do I cool my garage fan?

If you notice your garage fan heating up, it’s best to give it a little break so it can cool down. Power down the fan and let it sit for an hour or two, preferably out of direct sunlight and away from other heat sources.

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