Ceiling Fans Sorted by Diameter
Manufacturers classify ceiling fans on the basis of different criteria. Apart from various styles, colours, motors and add-ons, fans are also distinguished by their blade width. There are a couple of established sizes that almost all brands are using. These fan sizes have been tried and tested, but sometimes they are just not quite fitting for the intended place of application. Find out more about the individual fan and room sizes.
Contents:
Why are there ceiling fans in different sizes?
Ceiling fan brands supply distributors and end customers on a global scale. The standard room sizes are different in each country, though. One one hand this has to do with cultural conventions, on the other hand it comes back to rental and construction prices. For example, North American customers prefer ceiling fans with a much bigger circumference than users in Europe or Asia. The space available for the appliance depends on the architecture of houses and apartments. In huge countries such as the United States it is not usual to see corresponding big acommodations. In densely populated areas and major cities with a housing shortage smaller models are the better choice.
Apart from ceiling fans for private end customers, spacious hotels, office buildings and restaurants seek appropriate equipment as well. Brands go to great lengths to supply international demand and manufacture various fan sizes. They keep up with trends that are subject to annual variations. For example, if ceiling fans were required mostly for living rooms and bedrooms the majority of fan sizes in a brand’s range might be big. In case of a great demand for equipment in nurseries and kitchens in the next year, more compact models were added to the product line.
In private households ceiling fans are slowly becoming part of the interior decoration and design elements in the room instead of being just a practical appliance. Nowadays, each single category features stylish models with plain and unobtrusive to eyecatching tropical looks. You just need to determine which style goes best with your room and if several small fans might be more efficient than a single big fan.
Our ceiling fans:
Diameter up to 100cm for rooms with up to 14m2
Diameter up to 119cm for rooms with up to 18m2
Diameter up to 139cm for rooms with up to 25m2
Diameter up to 160cm for rooms with up to 38m2
Diameter starting from 160cm for rooms with 38m2 and more
Based on a square room with a height of 2.50m.
The size of the room is a crucial factor for the determination of the ideal fan size. Based on the surface of the room and the ceiling height it is possible to get an idea of the most appropriate width you need.
The smaller a space is, the less air needs to be circulated. The bigger the diameter of the ceiling, the more air volume it can circulate.
In short: Small room, small diameter. Big room, big diameter. Our overview of room sizes gives you an impression of the fan size you need. This should always be your first step, even before deciding on a style and colour.
You will find that on the packaging of the devices the fan size itself is sometimes stated in centimetres, and sometimes in inch. This is due to the fact that all the different brands are located in different parts of the world and therefore use the prevalent measuring units. English, American and Australian brands often go for measurements in inch. In our online shop we always aim to include both the metric and the imperial system to make it easier for our international customers. If you only have one single unit in front of you, stick to the conversion:
1 inch = 2.54 centimetres
Obstacles
Please keep in mind that separating walls, free-standing book shelves, suspended ceilings, etc. impact air circulation in the room. In industrial environments this can be due to tall storage racks and shelving units. In these cases consult a professional engineer specialised in ventilation for compatibility with lower hanging fans. If the fans cannot be mounted to the ceiling itself, we also offer a variety of wall-mounted units. Check out our category for with the smallest fan diameter. Some of these models can be mounted to the wall and provide quite a powerful airflow. However, those units are mostly used in domestic areas. For industrial facilities we recommend special wall and centrifugal fans.
Big and elongated rooms
A ceiling fan has a circular sphere of action that is most powerful directly underneath the fan when it is set to summer mode. In big rooms it might be wise to put up more than one ceiling fan. This ensures that every single corner is ventilated well. Starting from a room surface of about 38m2 several small fans are more efficient than a single big appliance. The devices can also be synchronised, furthermore DC motor options guarantee a low energy consumption.
Not every room has a square layout or matches any of the values given in the overview. Elongated and narrow rooms are preferably divided into small squares. The same goes for large factory buildings that are used for storage or production.
One sample calculation is available in our guide about the "ideal size of a ceiling fan".
Intermediate sizes
What should you do if your room size is right between two fan size categories? If you have to decide between two diameters, opt for the bigger one. The reason for this is that you cannot increase a motor’s performance but you can always decrease it. If you choose the smaller size it might not be enough to provide sufficient circulation. A bigger fan still gives you the possibility to run the motor on a lower speed. There are even dimmer modules and transformers that add even more speed levels to the fan. This prevents any unpleasant draught when mounting a big fan in a small room.
Large fans are usually equipped with more powerful motors. They need less rotations per minute to create the same airflow as a small fan. The frequency of the rotation impacts the noise level as well. If you are sensitive to background noise, opt for a fan with an energy-saving DC motor instead. Not only do they consume less power, but also operate virtually soundless no matter the blade size.
Make sure to adhere to the maximum recommended surface area of 38m2 for one fan. If the room is bigger, use several fans to create even air circulation. You can use one wall speed controller to operate all fans at once.
What to look out for during installation
- Safety distance
- Carrying capacity of the ceiling or beam
- If applicable, compatibility with sloping ceilings
- If applicable, IP ratings
In our range we include a variety of ceiling fans ranging from 45cm to 300cm in size. We offer small units with lights for even the smallest of spaces. The minimum clearance to the wall or furniture should be at least 6cm or the specifications given in the user manual. Make sure to consider this additional measurement when choosing a ceiling fan size.
Wide, protruding ceiling fans make a real impression and are a great choice for hotel lobbies, conference rooms and representative foyers. Some models have a slow motion speed level that acts as a “visual“ mode rather than providing air circulation. It moves only little air but creates a wonderful atmosphere. If a large ceiling fan is not suitable for your room size you can always opt for several smaller ones as well to create the same effect.
You found the right fan size, but the overall depth of the appliance is too big for your low ceiling? Our super slim ceiling fans (hugger mount) are available in a variety of widths, too.
Tip: Our range is quite extensive. Use our filters on the sidebar to enter the features you are looking for and narrow down the assortment.
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