Transform Your Patio into a Relaxing Oasis with These Amazing Outdoor Ceiling Fans (2024)

Our Top Picks

Keep in mind that this is a no-frills outdoor ceiling fan with pull chain operation, so it doesn’t come with a light kit or remote control. The lack of a light kit is a benefit if your ceilings are low, though, since it provides extra headroom. This fan isn’t built to accommodate a light kit at all, so you may want to check out a slightly less low-profile option like the Vox Smart Indoor and Outdoor 5-Blade Flush Mount Ceiling Fan (our best smart pick) if lighting is a top priority.

_{Blade Span: 52 inches | Motor Power: TK | Damp or Wet Rating: Damp Rated | Mounting Options: Downrod, Sloped}

The Hunter Key Biscayne boasts a huge, nautical-themed light fixture that sets it apart from the competition. We tested this fan in our home and found that it is perfect for just about any covered space or patio (it’s damp-rated). Just keep in mind that while it can handle humidity, it's not designed for rain or snow.

_{Blade Span: 54 inch | Motor Power: 47 Watts | Damp or Wet Rating: Damp Rated | Mounting Options: Downrod, Sloped (requires adapter)}

_{Blade Span: 52 inches | Motor Power: 52 Watts | Damp or Wet Rating: Wet Rated | Mounting Options: Downrod, Sloped}

This fan also comes with dimmable LED lights, but we found that they weren’t bright enough. We recommend picking up two 100W equivalent LED bulbs for more useful lighting. Since you can adjust the brightness of the lights, using a brighter bulb lets you enjoy everything from inviting mood lighting to more functional lighting for times when you’re eating on your outdoor dining set.

For anyone looking for an outdoor ceiling fan with a remote control, we recommend the Hampton Bay Mena. The remote control uses radio frequency instead of infrared, so you don’t need a line of sight to use it. We found that the remote included with this fan was very straightforward, without a lot of complicated options or buttons. One button turns it on and off, a second adjusts the speed, the third changes the light brightness, and the fourth changes the color temperature.

The user-friendly remote also offers three different LED light settings: 2700K warm white, 3000K soft white, and 5000K daylight. We liked that we could modify the color temperature, but we would have preferred a dimmer switch to provide even more control over the light.We love how easy this fan is to assemble and install. Hampton Bay’s QuickFit system includes a slide-on mounting bracket for fast installation and QuickInstall blades that only take seconds to attach (no screws needed.) Our favorite is the magnetic light kit, which snaps into place effortlessly.

We found that the combination of a heavy motor and lightweight blades kept the ceiling fan more stable at the highest speed, as we noticed no wobbling at all of the motor. It's also damp-rated and a great choice for covered porches and other protected outdoor spaces.

_{Blade Span: 54 inches | Motor Power: 60 Watts | Damp or Wet Rating: Damp Rated | Mounting Options: Downrod}

_{Blade Span: 25 inches | Motor Power: Not provided (34.8 Watts estimated) | Damp or Wet Rating: | Mounting Options: Downrod, Sloped}

We like this fan from Minka Aire for large outdoor spaces because its wide blade span and powerful motor provide exceptionally strong air circulation. This fan worked very well in our screened gazebo, providing good airflow through the large interior space. It’s well-suited for outdoor use with a wet rating and durable, weather-resistant plastic blades, and it includes the hardware necessary for sloped and flat ceiling installations.We found that the blades took a bit to get going (which is reasonable given how many there are), but once they did, the fan was very consistent, with no lag or vibrations. We didn’t notice a lot of airflow at the two lowest fan speeds, but there was a definite breeze at the two middle speeds. We felt the most comfortable with the two highest speeds on a hot day, cooling down almost instantly.This fan comes with a remote that’s intuitive and easy to use, but we wish it were also compatible with wall controls. It does support app control via your smartphone, but only if you install it within range of your Wi-Fi network, which won’t always be the case with an outdoor fan (like our gazebo installation).

_{Blade Span: 65 inches | Motor Power: 40 Watts | Damp or Wet Rating: Wet Rated | Mounting Options: Downrod, Sloped}

With hand-carved balsa wood blades evocative of airplane propellers, the Maverick II is easily our favorite outdoor ceiling fan in terms of design. We loved the simple, minimalist design that really stands out from other ceiling fans, including other propeller designs. The fan includes just three blades, but fine-tuned aerodynamics allow them to push a surprising amount of air in addition to looking good. We installed this fan in a covered porch area immediately above our favorite outdoor sofa, and we were impressed by the airflow. At the lowest setting, it provided a comfortable cooling breeze to the sofa, and at the highest setting, it could be felt at the furthest corners of the porch (12 x 20 feet).The blades are well-balanced, and we didn’t notice any vibration, even at the highest speed. It was very quiet as well, with the movement of the air being the only noticeable noise during operation. Since the blades are carved from real balsa wood, the fan is available in a variety of finishes that imitate other types of wood (oak, walnut, koa) in addition to matte white and black.This fan is remote-operated, which means you can only operate it with the included remote. We found the remote to be very easy to use, but we wished that the fan worked with wall controls or had some smart home connectivity as a backup, like the Vox Smart Indoor and Outdoor 5-Blade Flush Mount Ceiling Fan (our best smart pick).

_{Blade Span: 52 inch | Motor Power: 30 Watts | Damp or Wet Rating: Damp Rating| Mounting Options: Downrod}

With its smart home compatibility, high energy efficiency, and dimmable, replaceable LED lights, this fan is definitely worth splurging on. We installed the 2Modern Windflower in a screened-in patio, replacing an older fan, and immediately fell in love with its sleek, elegant look. It was an instant upgrade, with more airflow, less noise, and a higher-end look compared to the fan it replaced.Our favorite thing about this fan, aside from the sleek design, is its performance. It features a wide blade diameter for excellent airflow across a large area, easily cooling down our entire patio. With the fan set to high, we could feel the air even when standing outside the screened patio area. This fan uses an energy-efficient DC motor that we found to be virtually silent in operation and vibration-free. We installed the fan without any professional assistance (just a helper to hold the motor in place), and it looks and feels very stable, not vibrating at any speed.Outside of its core functionality, this fan also includes a large central LED light (available in soft, warm, and bright white) that’s fully dimmable. It’s also replaceable, which is great since you aren’t locked into one color temperature if you change your mind later. We wish the wall switch was more responsive (you need to hold the button down for several seconds to operate the light or fan), but that’s the only issue we had.

_{Blade Span: 60 inches | Motor Power: 49 Watts | Damp or Wet Rating: Wet Rated | Mounting Options: Downrod, Slope}

This smart fan from Vox features advanced smartphone controls and comprehensive smart home integration, which is why we recommend it as the best smart outdoor ceiling fan. We installed this fan in the enclosed back deck at a lake cabin, and we were impressed with the strength of the airflow for such a small fan. We could feel the airflow at every speed, but the highest speed setting circulated the air well and cooled us off with a pleasant breeze.

_{Blade Span: 38 inch | Motor Power: 56 Watts | Damp or Wet Rating: Wet Rated | Mounting Options: Flush}

Final Verdict

The Hunter Cassius is our pick for the best overall outdoor ceiling fan, with its low profile design that’s crucial for outdoor porches without a lot of headroom, weather-resistant stainless steel construction, and sleek modern design that works well in most spaces. For an option you can install in more exposed areas, we recommend the wet-rated Vox Smart Ceiling Fan (our best smart pick). It’s flush-mounted to provide a lot of headroom, comes with integrated LED lighting and a remote, and works with smart home systems like Alexa and Google Home.

Damp-rated ceiling fans are designed to handle moisture in the air, but they can’t withstand direct contact with water, so they need to be installed under cover. They work well in humid environments and covered outdoor spaces. The Hunter Cassius (our best overall pick) is damp-rated, so it’s a good fit for screened patios and three-season porches where rain won’t be an issue.

Wet-rated ceiling fans are designed to handle direct exposure to the elements, including rain and snow. If you have an outdoor area that isn’t totally covered, like a pergola, you need a wet-rated ceiling fan. You should also consider a wet-rated ceiling fan if your outdoor area is covered but not screened. If there’s any chance of wind-blown rain hitting your fan, it should be wet-rated. The Hinkley Lighting Tropic Air (our best quiet pick) is wet-rated, and its tropical leaf blades are perfect for poolside installations.

The Vox Smart Ceiling Fan (our best smart pick) is Energy Star certified, so you don’t need to give up features like smart home connectivity and app control to save energy.

For even more energy savings and the added convenience of outside lighting, look for models that include built-in LED lights. A number of our recommendations use LED lighting, but we like the Hunter Fan Key Biscayne (our best with light pick) in particular because you can use any standard LED light bulbs you want to achieve the brightness and color temperature you desire.

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