Best Large Ceiling Fans – 6 Most Efficient Options for Winter

Updated Dec 11, 2023 1:47 AM

In the right spot, the best large ceiling fan can make a world of difference in a home or office. These fans make sure that hot air keeps on circulating in the cold months and provides a valuable draft in warm months that allows you to save money on your thermostat settings. Plus, there’s nothing like a great ceiling fan for getting rid of baking smells and other household odors fast! The best fans excel at this.

After many hours of research and some careful research, the best large ceiling fan is the beautiful and highly effective Minka-Aire F843-DK. In addition to the modern design, this fan has powerful fins that can really move the air, great installation options, and is even smart enough to work with apps like Alexa under the right circumstances. Those looking for a fan that really makes a difference will be pleased with this choice.

Top 6 Large Ceiling Fans Compared

 #1  Minka-Aire F843-DK Fan

Award: Top Pick

WHY WE LIKE IT: It’s a stylish, 4,818 CFM ceiling fan that sports excellent smart app technology. It’s a great model for the tech-savvy and fashion-conscious alike.

Pros
  • Most innovative design
  • Plenty of power for a single fan
  • Great smart tech options
Cons
  • Voice assistants don’t work without extra devices
  • Finish has been known to smear off in humid conditions

Combining beauty and power, this Minke-Aire fan can move a lot of air – and look great doing it. It comes with both a low and high fan speed, reaching up to 4,818 CFM with a unique blade design that really pushes air where it can do the most good. This fan features a blade pitch of 48 degrees, ideal for a large room, with a 52-inch blade span, and measures 13.5 inches from the ceiling. Rather than a wall control option, this fan comes with a remote control, and for those who are style-conscious, the fan also comes in several different shades to match various rooms.

It’s also incredibly smart for a ceiling fan. The F843-DK connects to your Wi-Fi network via its own home for effortless controls. It’s also compatible with Google Home Assistant and (if you have the right Bond hub) with Alexa, so voice commands are also a possibility for this model. For an extra energy-efficient fan, Minka Aire’s Artemis XL5 F905L model uses a DC motor, and with a 62-inch blade span, it has excellent airflow with a very low energy cost, but in itself costs about triple the price of this Minka-Aire fan. You can also check out the best modern ceiling fan.

 #2  Casa Delta-Wing XL Fan

Award: Best Large Ceiling Fan

WHY WE LIKE IT: An extra-large fan that can push 5,723 CFM, more than most of our top picks – and look great doing it. Perfect for those who want a minimalistic design with a lot of power behind it.

Pros
  • 66-inch power blades
  • Compact LED light
  • Variety of installation options
Cons
  • No smart features
  • Large blades aren’t for all spaces

Large and minimalistic, this fan looks incredible at home or in professional environments. With three fan speeds, the model offers a CFM rating up to an amazing 5,723 CFM thanks to its long 66-inch blades – finished in a beautiful walnut – and powerful, centered motor.

We’re also fans (haha) of the lighting option in the center. Compact yet powerful, this LED light can brighten a room while also saving on energy. The LED light includes a kit for a variety of installation options, but a remote also comes with the fan for all your control needs. If you need an outdoor room solution, read about the best outdoor ceiling fan.

 #3  Honeywell Xerxes Fan

Award: Best Fan with Light

WHY WE LIKE IT: Eight 62-inch blades on this fan provide it with up to 4,869 CFM airflow, plus unique lighting features. This fan is excellent for those who want performance but enjoy an industrial style.

Pros
  • Best 8-blade ceiling fan
  • LED light with dimming options
  • Multiple mounting options included
Cons
  • Fewer smart features than many Honeywell products
  • Design may not be for everyone

Honeywell is a very dependable creator of home appliances (and some excellent smart devices) so it’s no surprise they can create a great fan too. It also has a lot of large 62-inch blades for more effective airflow: Together those 8 blades can really make a difference in a room, and combined with three-speed settings they give many options for how you want to use the fan up to 4,869 airflow.

This tri-mount model (with three different installation options) also has a powerful LED light. While there are no Wi-Fi-oriented smart features, the Honeywell remote does come with some interesting capabilities, including a light delay option and light dimmer. You may also want to consider one of the best tower fans for your home.

 #4  Monte Carlo Maverick Outdoor Fan

Award: Best Outdoor

WHY WE LIKE IT: An excellent outdoor-ready fan with a wealth of options and speeds to choose from. Those looking for an outdoor fan or an extra-large model will be pleased.

Pros
  • 6 different speeds
  • Size options up to 99-inches
  • Ready for covered outdoor environments
Cons
  • No lights
  • No smart controls

The average ceiling fan is designed for indoor use. However, there are times when an outdoor fan is just what you need – patios, sunrooms, covered decks and other areas can benefit from the airflow in the hot summer months. This Maverick model fan, available in multiple sizes from 52-inch blades to enormous 99-inch blades, is specifically designed to handle outdoor spaces. While this outdoor ceiling fan can’t take on direct rain, it’s moisture and humidity resistant so it can work in most outdoor sheltered areas.

In addition to an excellent CFM rating for the larger versions of the fan (the model we picked has 70-inch blades but you can adjust this as necessary), this outdoor ceiling model also offers 6 fan speeds to move between until you find just what you want. It also works just fine indoors, too! For more personal-sized areas, consider one of the best USB fans. And for dying your carpet and other household items, read our best drying fan guide.

 #5  Honeywell Carnegie Fan

Award: Best Smart Light Fan

WHY WE LIKE IT: Carnegie is a high-quality fan with traditional style elements and excellent lighting controls with dimming and more. It’s a great pick for those who need a lot of light in a dark room.

Pros
  • Great smart lighting
  • Interesting rustic style with clear glass light cover
  • Good installation options
Cons
  • No smart app controls
  • Voice assistant requires extra hub

There are several features we really like about this Honeywell model. The unique LED lights mimic more classical lighting options for a very interesting design – and a lot of illumination for a dark room. The light also includes a dimmer switch, a “walk away” delay for turning the light off at night, and compatibility with Alexa (as long as you get the right hub) for voice commands. Those lights are rated for a 25,000-hour lifespan too, so they’re going to last!

The broad blades with three different speed settings can also be very effective, and they sport a traditional rustic style that’s a great fit for many different homes. The blades are available in either rough pine or chestnut finishes.

The lighting features on the fan – in addition to their unique style – also have plenty of customization options, including a light dimmer. It is one of the top fans for sure.

 #6  Westinghouse Cayuga Fan

Award: Best Modern Design Fan

WHY WE LIKE IT: An eclectic design grounds this solid fan, which includes 4-speed options and dimmable lighting. A worthy choice for anyone who likes more modern styles and wants a fan that can handle 6,000 CFM of airflow.

Pros
  • Up to 6,000 CFM airlfow
  • 4 fan speeds
  • Unique off-center brackets
Cons
  • No smart options
  • The design isn’t for everyone

Looking for a modern-style fan that’s nearly a conversation piece on its own? The Cayuga offers that with its interesting off-center blade brackets, but it also has great settings: You can choose between four different speeds for the fan, and a dimmer option for the LED light, all controllable by remote control. The powerful motor and 60-inch blades can move up to 6,000 CFM, so it also does very well with performance.

If you have a large main living space or especially a large bedroom, this fan could be just what you’re looking for. Unfortunately, there aren’t any smart features on this model, so you’ll have to make do with the traditional functions. Our heating cooling and air section have even more choices. Also, see our air conditioners.

Note: Most if not all ceiling fans come with free shipping by Amazon within the continental US.

How We Decided

There are many different considerations for a ceiling fan, from the light it provides to how much air it moves, to what settings it offers! We took a look at all of this to find the best fans for the job. One of the most important features is airflow capacity (which we’ll talk a little more about below), or the amount of air that the fan can easily move, which is measured in “CFM” or “cubic feet per minute.” We preferred fans that could move at 5,000 CFM, but gave preference to fans that exceeded 6,000 CFM, which is a good sign that the fan can handle a larger area of space.

Just as it is with a fine floor fan, design is also especially important for a ceiling fan: Does it look good? Can it easily match other inside materials like wood or steel? Does it come in different colors so you can match it more easily with your home or business? This also means taking a close look at the lighting options a fan provides, if any. A good fan light can be useful, but LED lights tend to provide superior performance with their low wattage requirements and longevity, so it’s no surprise the best fans use LED lights. The installation also matters to many homeowners, so we like to see fans with multiple installation options including downrods and against the ceiling, as well as wiring options to connect the fan to a switch.

Of course, we also care a lot about how these fans operate! The best ceiling fans with smart features that are easy to control via voice assistant are great, but we also like simple settings that are easy to switch without having to get on a ladder and explore the fan itself. However, overall performance is the most important part. Does the fan noticeably move air and make the room more comfortable? Is it noisy? These questions ultimately help define the best fans on the market.

Product Category Buying Guide

The Most Important Features to Consider

  1. Air Performance
    CFM, or cubic feet per minute, describes how much air a fan can push or pull as it works (the measurement is used to describe all types of fans, including ceiling fans). Generally, you want a fan to have as high a CFM rating as possible, because this means it’s creating a lot of airflows and really making a difference when it operates. Ceiling fan CFM can vary by a surprising amount. A fan may move anywhere from 3,000 to 6,000 CFM, and that’s just on average. The size of the fan, how fast it moves, the angle of the fan blades, and other factors can all impact CFM. If you are primarily interested in fan performance and airflow, this is a number that you need to pay attention to. Don’t forget to also check out our page on fan direction in summer vs. winter to help with energy costs.
  2. Size
    Ceiling fans come in a variety of sizes, and are frequently 50 to 60 inches across. It’s important to pay attention to the size because, well, not every ceiling has enough room! Always measure your space before you buy, even if you think that the fan will fit. Ceiling space can sometimes be trickier than it looks.
  3. Lighting
    Does your fan need a light? If a ceiling fan occupies a central position in the room and the old model provided important light, then the new model probably also needs to come with lights. Look for energy-efficient LED lights: These lights can come in a variety of shades and may be softened by coverings if you prefer, so there are plenty of options here. If the fan is particularly high, remember that you will need to change the light bulbs from time to time.
  4. Downrod Installation
    Fans have what is called a “downrod,” or a primary rod that holds the fan to the base. The length of the downrod indicates how low the fan can be placed – how much space between it and the ceiling. Downrod length can vary, but 4 inches is a typical length. Some buyers may prefer to place the fan even lower, to get it closer to the people in the room so the airflow makes more of a difference. In this case, it’s important to look for a fan that has a longer downrod and is designed to hang lower. On the other hand, some fans can be placed flush against the ceiling if you prefer, but this is another feature you need to watch out for. A good fan will often come with a variety of mounting options.

Best Large Ceiling Fans – 6 Most Efficient Options for Winter Questions (FAQ)

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