A fan that is too small for the room barely stirs the air; one too big for a small room is noisy and overpowering. The size that suits a room depends mostly on its floor area, and the mounting depends on the ceiling height.
How to use this calculator
- Measure the room's length and width. For an open plan, measure the part the fan should cool.
- Enter the ceiling height: it decides between a flush (hugger) mount and a downrod.
- Read the blade span, then check the mounting height and wall clearance.
Worked examples
A small bedroom
Room: 11 × 10 ft · Ceiling height: 8 ft
- Fan size (blade span)
- 36 to 42 in in
- Room area
- 110 sq ft
- Blades about
- 7.2 ft above the floor
A living room
Room: 16 × 14 ft · Ceiling height: 9 ft
- Fan size (blade span)
- 44 in in
- Room area
- 224 sq ft
- Blades about
- 8.2 ft above the floor
A large family room
Room: 20 × 18 ft · Ceiling height: 10 ft
- Fan size (blade span)
- 50 to 54 in in
- Room area
- 360 sq ft
- Blades about
- 9.0 ft above the floor
A low basement ceiling
Room: 12 × 12 ft · Ceiling height: 7.5 ft
- Fan size (blade span)
- 36 to 42 in in
- Room area
- 144 sq ft
- Mount
- flush (hugger) fan
Fan size by room size
- Up to 75 sq ft: a fan of 29 to 36 inches.
- Up to 144 sq ft: 36 to 42 inches.
- Up to 225 sq ft: about 44 inches.
- Up to 400 sq ft: 50 to 54 inches. The most popular size is 52 inches.
- Bigger rooms: split the room in two and size a fan for each part.
How high to hang it
ENERGY STAR asks for the blades to be at least 7 ft above the floor and at least 18 inches from the walls, and 8 to 9 ft up is best for airflow where the ceiling allows. A Department of Energy guide adds that the blades work best about 8 to 10 inches below the ceiling and never closer than 6 inches.
Under a ceiling lower than 8 ft, choose a hugger fan that mounts flush. Standard mounts come with a downrod of 3 to 5 inches; taller ceilings need a longer one so the blades come down to that best height.
Save energy with it
A ceiling fan cools people, not the room, so turn it off when you leave. Running one lets you set the thermostat about 4 °F higher in summer with no loss in comfort. Run it counterclockwise in summer for a breeze, and clockwise on low in winter to push warm air down from the ceiling.
Common questions
What size ceiling fan do I need?
It depends on the room's floor area: 29 to 36 inches up to 75 sq ft, 36 to 42 inches up to 144 sq ft, about 44 inches up to 225 sq ft, and 50 to 54 inches up to 400 sq ft.
How do I calculate ceiling fan size?
Multiply the room's length by its width for the area in square feet, then find the band in ENERGY STAR's table. The calculator does both and checks the mounting height.
How high should a ceiling fan be?
At least 7 ft from the floor to the blades, and 8 to 9 ft is best when the ceiling allows.
How far should a ceiling fan be from the wall?
At least 18 inches from the blade tips to any wall.
Which way should a ceiling fan turn in summer?
Counterclockwise, seen from below, so it blows air down. In winter, run it clockwise on low.