Sourcing ceiling fans comes with a number of considerations, from ensuring the right size for proper airflow, to meeting codes, to simply choosing one that best fits the design style. When the project calls for a ceiling fan, here are the 5 factors to think about to get it right:
1. Fan Size
The size of a ceiling fan is typically referred to as blade span, measuring the distance across the fan from blade tip to blade tip. The smaller the room, the smaller the fan needed:
| Room | Room Size | Ceiling Fan Size needed |
| Bathrooms Breakfast nooks Laundry, mud or other utility rooms | Up to 75 square feet | 29 – 36 inches |
| Bedrooms Kitchen Dining rooms | Up to 175 square feet | 42 – 48 inches |
| Large Bedrooms Family Rooms Media rooms | Up to 350 square feet | 52 – 56 inches |
| Great Rooms Other Large Spaces | 350+ square feet | 60+ inches |
2. Ceiling Considerations
| If working with a ceiling that is… | Choose… |
| 8 feet or lower | A hugger or flushmount fan |
| ~9 feet high | A low-profile ceiling fan, which will have a short downrod |
| 9+ feet high | A ceiling fan with a downrod, ensuring the total hanging height is no lower than 7 feet above the ground |
| Sloped | 1. A fan that specifies “sloped-ceiling adaptable” to ensure the downrod can rotate to a certain angle and that the fan hangs straight. 2. A separate sloped-ceiling mounting kit. |
3. Hanging Height
Two tips on ensuring a ceiling fan hangs safely and properly:
- The bottommost point of a ceiling fan should hang no lower than 7 feet above the floor.
- To determine how much downrod is needed, aim to leave a minimum of 8 inches between the ceiling fan blades and the ceiling for maximum airflow.
4. Airflow: Cubic Feet per Minute
To ensure the ceiling fan brings the breeze, look at CFM: Cubic Feet per Minute.
This is how much air a fan moves. It is affected by the fan’s motor, blade pitch and the span of the blades. The higher the CFM number, the more air a fan moves.
5. Blades, Lights, Style + More
With function comes form, and there are also considerations to make to ensure the right fan is chosen without sacrificing design:
Number of blades: While there is a bit of physics involved, the difference between a 3-blade, 4-blade or 5-blade fan is slight in terms of performance and air movement, and these are the most common choices for a residential space. A higher number of blades on a ceiling fan can be slower and circulate less air.
Light Kit: Some fans come with an integrated light for overhead illumination; some include a cover that can be used over the light itself for a no-light look while still having the option. And others forgo the light altogether. The choice is really about preference; if forgoing the light, be sure the room still has the right layers of light to create general illumination for the whole room.
Style: The finishes and overall look of a fan can play into the design of the room; a white finish can help a fan disappear into the ceiling, while decorative blade styles become a focal point to rival any chandelier.
Accessories: Far from the pull-chain of yesterday, smarter controls are the norm for many higher-end fan brands. It’s now possible to kit out every fan in your project with compatible add-on light kits, wall controls, remote controls and even smart hubs that control multiple fans via WiFi.
Try our step-by-step Fan Finder to discover the just-right design for your project.
