Air speeds: 3 | Night mode: Yes | Dimensions: 19 x 19 x 81.5cm | Weight: 4.6kg | Cord length: Not specified | Wi-Fi connectivity: No | Remote control: Yes | Oscillation angle: 70 degrees | Power: 60W What we like

Our most energy-efficient fan, the Honeywell Comfort Control Tower Fan, runs at 36 watts per hour (0.036 kWh). Multiply the kWh it uses by the capped cost of electricity (as of 1st October 2022) of 0.34p per unit, and you’ll discover that it will cost 1.2p per hour to run - that’s around 12p per 10 hours. This can vary depending on factors like the time you're using it, your energy provider and the setting you use it on. What are the different kinds of fans? I have a Pro Breeze tower and it's brilliant with no squeaking. It has a remote control with three speeds and an oscillate and timer option. It's about a metre from the end corner of the bed and does the job brilliantly." (Vetted by Billandben444) Our verdict

Honeywell is one of the big players in the world of tower fans, and the HO-5500RE is a good example of why, with a decent design and a powerful blast of air at the top end. A Dyson appliance is an investment; however, the high-tech features, two-year guarantee and ability to reach the corners of large rooms make it worth the extra cost. In addition, the AM07 is light so it can travel around the house with you, and the magnetic remote control sits on the fan exterior, so you always know where it is. This isn’t the perfect fan for sleepers, as even on its lowest setting it’s far from silent, but it’s fine for cooling down a small living room or taking some heat out of the bedroom before sleep. Looking for maximum cooling for a minimal cost? The Igenix is pretty hard to beat. Oscillation is the other key feature. Nearly all tower fans oscillate, turning slowly from side to side to cover a larger area, but they differ in how wide the angle of oscillation is. Again, the bigger the space you want to cool, the wider you want it – and you can always turn oscillation off if you just want to keep yourself comfortable. How we test tower fans Air speeds: 4 | Night mode: No | Dimensions: 27.94 x 27.94 x 81.28cm | Weight: 3.82kg | Cord length: Not specified | Wi-Fi connectivity: No | Remote control: Yes | Oscillation angle: Not specified | Power: 72W What we like

Decided that a tower fan is for you? Well, now your choice comes down to size and features. Generally speaking, the larger and taller the fan, the higher the airflow and the bigger the room it can cool, with the added bonus that you might not have to push it so hard to have the same effect. This means you can run the fan at a slower speed with – usually – less noise. That’s handy, as noise is the second-biggest factor. A noisy tower fan can be distracting in the daytime, but a real issue if it stops you dropping off to sleep at night. Speed settings: Most tower fans will have three speed settings, from gentle and quiet for nighttime to fast, powerful and suitable for a hot summer’s day.We also love how easy it is to clean and the nighttime timer, which means you won’t be paying for it to run while you’re asleep. As someone interested in creating an efficient and comfortable home with functional appliances for her family, Gemma was determined to provide honest and independent advice on the best tower fans available in the UK. Why you should trust us

The best news is that the QuietSet name isn’t just marketing hype: the HY245E is noticeably quieter than most conventional tower fans, even at its higher settings, with a night mode you might actually sleep through. Other fans are bigger and put out more air over a wider space, but this one delivers more than enough cooling for the average living room during the day and works better in the bedroom at night. And if the price is a little higher, it’s well worth paying. We have a Dyson tower fan. When we bought it I thought it was a waste of money for just a fan, but my goodness, it is brilliant. So much better at making me feel cooler than any other fan I've had. So quiet on lower settings. They are pricey, but we have two now, they are saving me this week.” (Recommended by TheBitterBoy) Our verdict How it manages this impressive level of cooling is unsurprising however: it’s loud. On the top setting, measured right next to the fan, the sound level meter measured a volume of 79.1db, dropping to 50.5db two metres away. There are only three fan power levels, and although the fan does have a ‘night-time mode’, it’s really strangely implemented: the power of the fan is alternated between whisper quiet and jet-engine every few seconds. Truthfully it’s anything other than restful, and most people would be better off just switching it to the lowest setting, where it hits a far more manageable 68.5db – which isn’t too far off the Quiet model. Desk fans: A desk fan will be small enough to sit on an office desk, bookcase or bedside table. They are usually shaped like a pedestal fan, but some compact tower designs are available. Do tower fans cool better than regular fans? It’s easy to use, has a timer and a great natural breeze setting, and is reasonably powerful by compact tower fan standards; we measured the maximum airflow at 2.2m/sec. It’s also light enough to lug around everywhere, which is handy in a heatwave. Throw in low energy consumption, even at higher speeds, and this is the best of the compact options.A tower fan won’t cool the air in a room like an air conditioning unit will. However, it is one of the most effective ways of creating a powerful breeze to circulate the air around a room, so they can definitely help to make you feel cooler. Do fans use a lot of electricity? It’s compact, lightweight, and has a sturdy carry handle, so it's easy to carry from room to room. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a remote control which is a shame, but its ability to effectively cool all corners of a small space is impressive. Our biggest gripe is the noise level. It's quite loud on the maximum setting, but thankfully the lowest speed is a lot quieter for a peaceful bedtime. Overall though, we think it's a great value buy. You could say we're big fans . Remote control: A remote control lets you switch your fan on and off and alter the settings from the comfort of your armchair or bed. Some tower fan remotes are magnetic so that they can be stored safely and conveniently on the exterior of the fan.