10 best portable and handheld fans that keep you cool wherever you are

★★★★★

What we love: Three heads, plenty of control, great design

Take note: Expensive, larger than other portables, plastic case for a premium price.

The Shark ChillPill 3-in-1 is considerably more complex than any other fan in this test. The design features both a cooling plate and a misting head, while enabling you to use it as a personal handheld device or a desktop fan. It’s powered by an internal battery that can be charged via USB. The distinctive look features two cylinders, but it’s compact enough to fit in a backpack. Available in attractive colourways – glacier, iced latte, matcha, carbon, haze and dragon fruit – the fan features three attachments: the fan, misting and cool plate head. It comes with replacement wicks and a case to keep everything neat.

A clear LCD screen reveals 10 power settings and the temperature in your location. Attaching the different heads is surprisingly easy. At full blast, the fan registered 6.3 m/s, while the volume picked up to 81.5 dB. The fan’s large design makes it easier to handle and direct – but the misting attachment makes it really stand out. The cooling effect beats everything else in the test. Don’t worry about getting wet, as the mist is fine and as close as a portable fan can get to air con.

The cooling plate is essentially a metal surface disk that, when touched against the skin, feels like it’s just come out of the fridge. While I could give or take this addition, others in my household felt it’s a winning feature. Though expensive, the Shark fan’s premium, if plastic build, innovative design and features make it the best all-round option for cooling this summer.

• Dimensions: 35 x 84.1 x 112 mmWeight: 0.35Kg
• Fan power: 15w motor
• Speed modes: 10
• Noise: 39 to 78 dB
• Charge time: 3.5 hours
• Run time: 11 hours low, 1.5 hours full
• Control: Direct

★★★★☆

Best: Budget portable fan

What we love: Compact, great battery life, simple to use

Take note: Some fan rattle, relatively loud for a small fan

I escaped the British heatwave and took the JISULIFE handheld fan 5 plus on a trip to Malta. With a decidedly modern design – albeit a little plastic – it is reassuringly weighty and solidly built. Its compact size (167 x 43 x 82 mm) combines with a light weight (220g). The feature set is minimal with simple five-speed control through the Turbo Air duct design. Available in white and green, it has an internal battery is charged via USB and needs a good six hours to reach maximum capacity.

The fan is straightforward to use, with one battery charge on various power settings lasting for the duration of a day out in the Malta sun. Aside from its affordability, it remains relatively quiet through the power settings, ranging from 60.8 db to 72.6 db at the highest power. I recorded 5.8 m/s wind speed at full power, which dropped to 2.7 m/s at the minimum. A great handheld option for the commute, it was also the fan that family and friends gravitated towards due to the power and price.

• Dimensions: 167 x 43 x 82 mm
• Weight: 220g
• Fan Power: 6W
• Speed modes: 5
• Noise: 40db
• Charge time: 3 hours
• Run time: 16 hours low, 3 hours high

★★★★☆

Best: lightweight handheld fan

What we love: Compact, decent power for its size, and it can be used as a desk fan.

Take note: Long charge time, limited speed options and plastic build.

At just £12, this John Lewis is compact, lightweight and surprisingly effective. Easily slipped it into a bag or large jacket pocket without adding too much weight (210g), the fan’s available in lilac, teal, white and hot pink for the style conscious. It features a relatively large 4” fan head with a protective casing around the blades, so there’s no risk to fingers. The head is connected to the grip handle with an articulated joint for converting it from a handheld to a desktop fan in seconds. This is a simple innovation, but one that makes this option stand out against the competition, especially at the price.

The internal battery is charged using the USB-C provided. In consistent use, the fan boasts up to nine hours on low power, but drops to four hours at full. For me, it lasted the full working day with breaks. Noise-wise, it’s relatively quiet: at full power, it measured 83db, and dropped to 68db at the minimum speed. Checking the wind speed, at low it registers 3.2 m/s and high 5.9m/s, which isn’t bad considering the size. It feels a little plasticky, but the cooling is effective when used at close range. There are three speed controls, switched between using the single button.

• Dimensions: 28 x 113 x 251mm
• Weight: 0.21kg
• Fan power: 3W
• Speed modes: 3
• Noise: 44db
• Charge time: 5 Hours
• Run time: 9 hours on low speed, 6 hours on medium speed and 4 hours on high speed
• Controls: Direct

★★★★★

Best: portable desktop fan

What we love: Good air flow, AC or battery powered, and versatile to use.

Take note: Limited vertical height, and tilt is manually adjusted.

This Duux model is a modern take on the office stand fan, with a stylish yet simple design. Usable either connected into the mains or running from the internal rechargeable battery, the build is exceptionally high quality (it looks far more stylish than your average white mesh option). The functions are simple, with four power modes and an oscillating function that helps to move the air around the room, rather than just offering a static flow. There’s more to it with the vertical, telescopic column that converts it from a neat desktop solution to a mid-height floor fan. This is where this fan really comes into its own.

In the office and studio, this was by far the best fan on test for versatility, and I even ended up using it in the van to keep cool while working on site, plugged into the Bluetti Elite 300 power station. It’s very quiet, too, with the minimum setting producing an air flow of 1.8 m/s and volume as low as 43 db. Due to the size of the blades, the cooling effect is far greater than that of the smaller fans on test.

• Dimensions: 206 x 184 x 341-700mm
• Weight: 1kg
• Fan Power: 0-10W
• Cooling modes: 4
• Noise: 28 dB – 45 dB
• Charge time: N/A
• Run time: up to 15 hours
• Controls: Direct

★★★★★

Best: Office fan

What we love: Simple to use, with a remote control and a huge range of movement

Take note: Requires AC power, only available in white and plastic build quality

Logik’s L06CFW25 6 is a reimagined traditional desktop fan for the home, office or van life. It’s compact at just 212mm and weighs 2.23kg, making it easy to move around. Powered by AC (Mains Power) with a 35w power draw, it’s a great option at home or in the office. More stylish than the old mesh guard fans I’m used to, the 35W motor is impressive with flexibility over the tilt angle and oscillating motion. Complete with a remote, I was able to adjust through the three speeds and set the fan head in motion all from the comfort of the sofa.

There are three speed settings, and the full speed mode option made quite a noise (it’s still nothing compared with traditional desktop fans at just 87.6 db). The lowest speed saw that volume drop to 67.6 dB, taking into consideration the ambient noise in the office. Using an Anemometer, the wind speed measured 3.1 m/s at the lowest setting and 4.6 m/s at the full speed.

The fan is currently sold out, but you can sign up for an email notification when it returns.

• Dimensions: 323 x 212 x 212 mm
• Weight: 2.238 kg
• Power: 35w (AC)
• Speed modes: 3
• Noise: 60 dB
• Controls: Direct / Remote

★★★★☆

Best: powerful handheld fan

What we love: High build quality, excellent power, and a rotating head.

Take note: Loud at full power, limited features, and expensive.

Dyson is a company known for innovation, and its hushjet mini cool is a standout portable fan. Available in three dual tone colour profiles – Carnelian/Sky, Stone/Blush and ink/cobalt – its power, despite its size, puts it in another league to its competitors. It’s small and light enough to slip it into my bag without adding bulk or weight. There are five power modes, and the noise ranges from whisper quiet at 65.6 dB to 83.4 dB at full throttle. As its internal fan mechanism cranks through the power options, it’s able to kick out a surprising amount of air – I recorded 14.1 m/s at the lowest and 15.3 m/s at the highest, while the booster function touched just over 20 m/s.

The fan has app connectivity, but I found the direct controls more innovative, and the app wasn’t really needed for the most part. The speed is adjusted through an intuitive rocker switch: when you reach the highest speed, you can push and hold the rocker to “boost” a turbo charge of airflow. The cylinder design is comfortable to hold, although the air intake at the base sometimes gets covered by my hand. The rotating head enables direct air flow. If you wear the neck lanyard, you can keep a gentle flow of cooling air rising, which was surprisingly effective.

The targeted air flow can be widened by holding it further away, while the charging dock allows you to position it as a desk fan (note that speed is capped at the lowest setting in the dock). A carry case completes the set. While the noise at full blast could draw attention in public, it’s an impressive, highly portable device with cooling power.

• Dimensions: 38 x 38 x 180mm
• Weight: 0.21Kg
• Fan power: 40W
• Speed modes: 5
• Noise: 72.5db
• Charge time: 3. hours
• Run time: Up to 6 hours on fan speed 1
• Controls: Direct / App

★★★☆☆

Best: All-round neck fan

What we love: Completely hands-free, directs air flow around your head, and simple operation.

Take note: Can move around, single direction of air, constant noise of fans close to the head.

Neck fans are an increasingly popular choice. The devices hook around your neck so you can feel a pleasant cool breeze rise from the ventilation slots around the top of the casing. I was impressed by the quality and build of the JISULIFE portable neck fan. Featuring a neck pad at the back, it’s relatively large at 206mm x 200mm x 60mm, but it was able to slip into a backpack. Most importantly, it’s lightweight at 280g and, once you get used to it around your neck, it’s comfortable for all-day wear.

The power is easy to adjust using a button, which cycles you through the options until you settle on the one you like. While I could feel the cooling effect, I was less impressed with the upward flow of air, which felt a little odd. However, the five speed options give plenty of flexibility: I found that settings one and two were cooling without being distracting. I must admit, I became very aware of odd looks when venturing out in public. Its relatively loose fit move around as you move, so it takes a while for your body to naturalise to the balance. Neck fans are arguably better suited to sedentary working from home or long journeys – and, for on-the-go, I much preferred the cooling effect of the handheld options. But if you like the idea of a wearable neck solution, the ease of use and price make it a good option.

• Dimensions: 206 x 200 x 60 mm
• Weight: 280g
• Fan Power: 5W
• Speed modes: 5
• Noise: 51 db
• Charge time: 3-4 hours
• Run time: 16 hours low, 2.5 hours high
• Controls: Direct

★★★★☆

Best: For directional cooling

What we love: Ultra compact, directional air flow, and powerful for the size

Take note: The spread of air is limited, and the head is fixed with no tilt.

The smallest and lightest fan I tested, Gaiatop’s mini portable fan, is particularly pocketable. While its compact size (35mm x 45mm x 109mm) does limit the features and spread of air flow, it’s one you can always have in your bag. It's extremely light at 112g, containing an internal battery and fan on top, fully protected by the casing design.

At full charge, I was surprised by the amount of power it kicks out, especially given the 5W motor. The fan lasted a full day’s use. Simplicity is key to its success: it provides excellent directional, focused cooling. Complete with a small LCD screen which highlights battery life and power. Even at the lowest setting, this fan is quite audible at 64.3 dB, rising to 72.2 dB at full power. It registered 9 m/s wind speed at full power, very impressive considering the size.

• Dimensions: 35 x 43 x 109Weight: 112gFan power: 5W
• Speed modes: 6
• Noise: Not Stated
• Charge time: N/A
• Run time: 3.5 to 16.5 hours
• Controls: Direct

★★★☆☆

Best: Neck fan

What we love: Good airflow for a neck-style fan, long battery life, and quiet.

Take note: No rear air flow, and best used when seated.

While most neck fans have vents along the top edge that help to push the air up around your face and neck, the Warmco 10000mAh portable neck fan features two large fans on the front that push air out of the two apertures on the inner edge. This helps to circulate the air around your head.

It’s slightly larger – and heaviest at 500g – than most portable fans, but still neatly fits inside a small bag. The build is good quality, but the grey inserts give it a cheaper aesthetic. There’s a small screen on the side revealing the power setting – but you obviously can’t see this when wearing the device. The fit is adjustable and comfortable, and there’s a single button to switch through the power options.

The power and spread of air is well controlled, with the lowest setting even providing subtle cooling and pleasant relief from the heat. There’s a notable increase in volume in the higher settings, which did get loud to the point of distracting at 62.1dB. When it comes to air flow, the lowest setting registered 6.8 m/s while the maximum was 9.1 m/s.

• Dimensions: 210 x 50 x 280mm
• Weight: 500g
• Fan power: 5
• Speed modes: 4
• Noise: 40db
• Charge time: Not Stated
• Run time: 15 to 30 hours
• Controls: Direct

★★★★☆

Best: high-tech portable fan

What we love: Alternative to a fan, wearable under clothing, and app control.

Take note: A different way of thinking, and the cooling sensation can feel odd

When it comes to personal cooling, the Sony reon pocket pro is a look at the future. This device uses cooling thermal pads that sit neatly on your back, and while there is a fan, it’s just used to expel the hot air. It’s packed with the market-leading innovation that we expect from Sony – and frankly looks like something out of a Sci Fi movie (even more so once you hook it over your shoulders and push the contact surfaces into your back).

The device is chargeable, and it becomes far easier to use once you download the companion app (Reon Pocket), enabling full adjustment over the settings and functions of the device. With direct metal plate-to-skin contact, hot air is vented away from the body above your collar (I found that some clothing adjustment was needed to ensure it remained clear). In the heat of the day, you could also just about hear the small internal fan at work, but really only if you listened out for it.

The effect of the cooling on your body temperature is staggering and completely different to a standard portable fan. While it takes a little getting used to, I liked that it was wearable without adding too much weight or bulk under my clothes. Although it is clear you have some type of tech attached to your back. While not a fan, the Sony device offers innovative personal cooling for the tech-savvy.

Owing to demand, the Sony fan has sold out, but you can sign up to be notified when it’s restocked.

• Dimensions: 125 mm × 60 mm × 175 mm
• Weight: 259gFan
• Power: n/a
• Cooling modes: 4 warm / 5 coldNoise: N/A
• Charge time: 3 hours, 20 minutes
• Run time: 5.5 to 34 hours
• Controls: Direct / App