Need to know
- Our Bedroom score rates how well a ceiling fan moves air at the lowest setting without disrupting your sleep
- Ceiling fans using a DC motor tend to be quieter and have more settings, so they can perform better
- You can also use your ceiling fan in winter to recirculate heat and help keep you warm
Ceiling fans can be a stylish, cost-effective alternative to air conditioning. They can also help you in winter by moving warm air from your heater around the room.
But a noisy fan whirring above your head while you try to sleep isn't ideal, so it's important to choose a quiet model with a range of speed settings. That's why the Bedroom score is such an important part of our ceiling fans test.
We've looked at almost 90 models in our CHOICE labs, giving each one a Bedroom score for its ability to move enough air on the lowest setting to keep you cool, but without disrupting your sleep.
We also measure each fan's noise level on the medium setting. Anything below 35dB should allow you to sleep soundly.
How many blades is best?
A good number of blades is very important for defending your family's honour, à la The Princess Bride. But do more blades make for a better ceiling fan? Not so much.
Air flow performance is mostly determined by the design and shape of the blades and the quality of the motor. We've come across a range of top-scoring models that use two, three or four blades of varying materials. So as far as numbers go, it's really a matter of personal preference.
Smart fan functions
There are some advantages to buying a fan with an associated app or Google Assistant, Siri or Alexa support. Think of apps as a replacement for wall switches or remotes with more options.
You can set timers to adjust speeds throughout the night, turn the inbuilt lights on and off and even trigger the light to slowly turn on in time with the sunrise (depending on the brand). Some even support voice commands for basic functions like turning the fan or lights on and off and adjusting speeds.
But if apps aren't your cup of tea, don't worry. Most fans still include a remote with basic dimmer and timer settings.
CHOICE tip: One question we're often asked is 'Can you install a ceiling fan with a DC motor in a standard home?' The answer is absolutely: The DC motor has an internal rectifier so it's compatible with normal AC electrical systems. But always use a licensed electrician to carry out the installation.
The best ceiling fans for your bedroom
These are the best ceiling fans for your bedroom based on our expert assessments. They're not the only bedroom-friendly fans, though, and may not be the best all-rounders.
For the full results of our tests and to find out which ones our experts recommend, head to our ceiling fan reviews.
Aeratron AE2+.
Aeratron AE2+
- Cost: $879
- Bedroom score: 90%
- Features: Stylish, quiet design; energy efficient, remote control, reverse mode, Wi-Fi module for smart controls (optional).
With a design inspired by bird wings to create noiseless movement, this stylish fan is also efficient. It uses far less energy than an ordinary AC ceiling fan, costing around $11 a year to run. It's also one of the quietest fans in our test at all speeds, making it an ideal choice for the bedroom.
It has six speed settings and provides excellent air movement performance at all fan speeds, including the lower settings required for a good night's sleep. Reverse mode also allows it to run in conjunction with a reverse-cycle air conditioner to help circulate warmth.
Aeratron is also one of the few manufactures that supports retrofitted lights. The optional lighting kit can mount to the fan after it's installed, unlike most other brands which require you to add a light at checkout.
Read the full Aeratron AE2+ review.
Aeratron AE3+.
Aeratron AE3+
- Cost: $1179
- Bedroom score: 90%
- Features: Stylish, quiet design; energy efficient, remote control, reverse mode, Wi-Fi module for smart controls (optional).
This is the three-blade equivalent of the Aeratron AE2+ and test results are identical save for one result – noise. At 32dB The AE3+ is one decibel quieter than the AE2+. You're unlikely to notice the difference.
Read the full Aeratron AE3+ review.
Big Ass Fans Haiku L.
Big Ass Fans Haiku L
- Cost: $865
- Bedroom score: 90%
- Features: 30W lighting kit (optional), remote control, reverse mode, smart controls including Google Assistant and Alexa support (optional).
The Haiku range has seven speed settings, whereas most other brands stick with six or less. This offers you a little more air flow finesse and may provide the ideal middle ground for your sleeping conditions.
Air movement is excellent across all fan speeds so you can still keep things circulating on the lower settings suited for sleeping. Reverse mode can help your heater evenly warm the bedroom in winter as well.
But the 41-decibel operating volume is a little louder than the quietist models in our test, which hover around the low 30s. This is still pretty quiet all the same, well below the volume of a normal conversation, for example, which is 60-70dB
As well as a 30W lighting kit, Big Ass Fans also sells an optional Wi-Fi module that adds smart controls and voice commands via an official app. You can use it to change speeds, set schedules, control all the fans in your house at once using group mode or activate the 'woosh' setting (which automatically adjusts the speed to simulate the feel of a breeze).
Read the full Big Ass Fans Haiku L review.
Big Ass Fans Haiku I.
Big Ass Fans Haiku I
- Cost: $1495
- Bedroom score: 90%
- Features: 30W lighting kit (optional), remote control, reverse mode, Google Assistant and Alexa support, SenseME motion sensor and room temperature monitor.
The Haiku I is the more technologically advanced sibling of the Haiku L. While performance results are the same (save for a minor difference in operating noise), the Haiku I comes with a handful of fancy smart functions called SenseMe – for a price.
Motion sensing and temperature control are the two drawcards that may justify the $1500 price tag. For example, SenseMe's motion sensors can automatically turn the fan, light or both on and off whenever someone enters and exits a room.
Temperature control, meanwhile, consistently monitors the room's temperature and humidity, so fan speeds can regularly adjust and maintain a comfortable environment. But this feature only works if you have the optional Bluetooth remote which, you guessed it, costs extra.
The Haiku I also includes the Haiku L's optional Wi-Fi module and app support, by default.
Read the full Big Ass Fans Haiku I review.
Milano Slider Junior DC.
Milano Slider Junior DC
- Cost: $699
- Bedroom score: 90%
- Features: Wooden blades, LED light (optional), remote control, reverse mode
At just 33dB, the Slider Junior DC is another quiet operator. In fact, it's among the softest spinners in our test, but it still does an excellent job of circulating air at all six speeds.
Like most fans in our test, this one comes with a reverse mode to use in cooler seasons and a remote control. It has a fairly unique design too which is worth keeping in mind if you're chasing a particular aesthetic for your home.
LED lighting is available but only as an optional extra. You can't retrofit a lighting kit to the Slider Junior DC so don't forget to tick the LED box when buying if your bedroom requires a little extra luminance. Annual energy fees aren't too expensive at around $18, but this is also well above the most efficient models in our test.
Read the full Milano Slider Junior DC review.
Milano Slider Nova Full Moon.
Milano Slider Nova Full Moon
- Cost: $759
- Bedroom score: 90%
- Features:Wooden blades, 18W LED light, remote control, reverse mode
Susceptible to sounds while you sleep? Consider installing the Slider Nova Full Moon fan in your bedroom, because it's the second softest fan to come through our test labs. Operating noise is a comfortably quiet 30dB.
It also comes with an LED light built in, which you can easily replace at home when it burns out. This could end up being a cheaper option than adding the optional lighting kit to the Slider Junior DC. Performance wise, the Slider Nova Full Moon is the same as the Slider Junior DC according to our test experts.
Read the full Milano Slider Nova Full Moon review.
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Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
