Low RPM Ceiling Fans

Originally Published 9/27/2013 - Updated 4/25/2022
by: Greg Tillotson

We recently received the following comment sent from our "Ceiling Fan Suggestions" page:

"Idea: The point about having a reversible motor of course is to direct the hot air/ cooler air as seasonably appropriate. Trouble is, for winter the fan speed even on the lowest speed, gives you way too much of a breeze to be comfortable; it needs low speed needs to be much lower. a lower speed would be better for the summer,too, just for air distribution, not necessarily a constant breeze. My ceilings are 12 feet high, by the way. So a very slow slow-speed option would be infinitely more useful."

Here is my response to this suggestion:

"There are in fact quite a few ceiling fans where the RPM range is wider (higher and lower) than typical ceiling fans. Almost all ceiling fans that have more than 4 speeds (6 or 7 speeds) have the lowest set top operate at a lower rpm than the average ceiling fan. However, it is not actually RPM at low speed that is critical to minimize the breeze during winter operation, it is the actual airflow. This is because 2 different fans running at the same low RPM can produce quite different wind speeds due to the shape, size and pitch of the blades. It is the speed of the wind that causes the "wind-chill" effect that you want to avoid in the winter. So what you really want to compare is the "wind-speed" at each speed setting...and our website is the "only" place where you can do such comparisons.

If you are more concerned with air distribution during the summer and destratification during the winter than the actual wind-chill effect of a fan, you should consider a larger ceiling fan. Larger fans will distribute air over a larger area, so the wind-speed or intensity of the airflow (which is what creates wind-chill) is typically less than that of a smaller fan...and yes, they generally run at a lower RPM because there is more drag on the motor."

Below are the search results from all 12 major brands of ceiling fans on our site compared to the average performance of over 3,000 ceiling fan models. The search has been filtered to show only fans that meet the following criteria:

1. The fan has more than 4 speeds
2. The Airflow data is available for at least High and Low Speed
3. The blade span is at least 50"

The results are sorted by the lowest LFM at low speed. LFM is the calculation of wind speed in Linear Feet per minute, which is the best way to compare the airflow intensity of ceiling fans with different size blades. The highlighted columns are the critical data for comparison. Look for the fans with the Highest LFM on High Speed to cool you off best during the summer and the Lowest LFM on Low Speed to minimize the wind-chill effect during the winter. Be sure to consider the blade span as well to make sure you get a fan that will fit the size of the room. Keep in mind, the largest fan that will fit into the space is most likely the best to meet your considerations. Also, look at the differences in RPM so you can verify what I have said.

Top 30 Results Sorted by Lowest Wind Speed on the Lowest Speed Setting

As Of 4/25/2022

Image	Model Details	Span	HI CFM	Low CFM	HI RPM	LOW RPM	HI MPH	LOW MPH
AVERAGE CEILING FAN DATA		52"	5564.67	2156.96	200.57	85.87	4.38 MPH	1.77 MPH
	120" Modern Forms Hydra	120	76	NA	13300	3500	1.69	0.45
	60" Big Ass Fans Haiku	60	177	NA	6698	1070	3.02	0.48
	84" Minka Aire Java Xtreme	84	0	NA	8200	2200	0	0.54
	96" Modern Forms Hydra	96	95	NA	12950	3000	2.49	0.58
	80" Modern Forms Windflower	80	115	NA	10647.5	2200	2.86	0.59
	58" Minka Aire Chubby	58	0	NA	5000	1354	0	0.65
	58" Minka Aire Chubby II	58	0	NA	5000	1354	0	0.65
	56" Modern Forms Cervantes	56	164	NA	6577	1300	3.35	0.66
	52" Modern Forms Roboto	52	164	40	5194	1137	3.01	0.66
	80" Modern Forms Hydra	80	115	NA	11308.07	2500	3.04	0.67
	60" Minka Aire Curl	60	152	31	7411	1487	0	0.67
	60" Modern Forms Woody	60	153	NA	7268	1500	3.27	0.68
	52" Modern Forms Wynd	52	176	NA	6567.58	1200	3.8	0.69
	52" Modern Forms Stargazer	52	176	NA	6032.15	1200	3.49	0.69
	52" Modern Forms Mykonos	52	176	NA	5236	1200	3.03	0.69
	52" Modern Forms Wynd	52	176	NA	6567.58	1200	3.8	0.69
	56" Modern Forms Osprey	56	164	NA	6277.53	1400	3.19	0.71
	56" Modern Forms Nautilis	56	164	NA	7013.43	1400	3.57	0.71
	60" Emerson Lindbergh Eco	60	190	50	7050	1637	3.18	0.74
	52" Big Ass Fans Haiku Low Profile	52	177	NA	5629	1301	3.26	0.75
	50" Modern Fan Cirus	50	225	51	6618	1229	3.83	0.76
	80" Kichler Lehr	80	78	31	7744	2864	2.08	0.77
	52" Minka Aire Sabot	52	179	51	4941	1344	0	0.78
	72" Fanimation Subtle	72	92	29	8197	2487	2.67	0.81
	60" Modern Forms Vortex	60	153	NA	7720	1800	3.48	0.81
	60" Modern Forms Morphius II	60	153	NA	7027	1800	3.17	0.81
	60" Modern Forms Windflower	60	153	NA	8457.5	1800	3.81	0.81
	60" Minka Aire Dyno XL	60	155	49	5987	1807	2.7	0.81
	72" Emerson Lindbergh Eco	72	155	50	9497	2567	3.09	0.84