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Best USB fans for a chilled desk set-up
Small, portable and an easy way to keep cool when working from home, here’s our pick of the best USB fans as recommended by Mumsnet users.
By Lucy Cotterill | Last updated Aug 19, 2025
It may be long overdue, but the warmer temperatures are finally starting to make an appearance. While the sunshine can be lots of fun when you’re sat by the pool with a sangria, stifling heat and stuffy rooms can be far less appealing when attempting to work from home or a sweltering office without air conditioning.
While investing in a pedestal fan or tower fan can help improve airflow in large spaces, a small, portable USB fan can make a great alternative - cooling the person rather than the space. Compact enough to pop into your laptop bag and take with you on your commute, they plug directly into the USB port of your laptop or monitor, creating a quiet and discreet way to keep cool when temperatures rise.
To help you pick the best USB fan for your needs, we first tapped into the tried and tested experiences of Mumsnet users, gaining their feedback on the USB fans they rate and would happily recommend to others. After scouring retailer sites, collating wider consumer feedback and gaining the views of industry experts, we’re confident with our pick of the best, with options to suit every budget.
Best USB fan overall
Can be handheld or folded and used as a mini desk fan
Lightweight
Powerful
Long charging cable
Costly
Key specs
Price on writing: £25 | Type: Handheld | Speed settings: Four
What Mumsnet users say
Tested by MNHQ: Read our full EasyAcc Portable Handheld Fan review
While it may seem a little pricey for its size, this handheld fan from Mumsnet trusted brand EasyAcc comes with hundreds of five-star reviews on Amazon. It’s also praised by Mumsnetters for its compact and lightweight design that converts from a handheld to a desk fan in an instant.
Our tester Poppy loved the USB rechargeable battery, which provides between three and 17 hours of use depending on the setting.
There are four different fan speeds to choose from, ranging from gentle flow to a brisk breeze, so you can easily turn up the power if you start to feel the heat. It is worth noting however that it can be a little noisy on full power, so you may want to use a less vigorous setting if you make regular calls when working from home.
Related: The best budget fans from just £10
Best budget USB fan
Budget-friendly price tag
Small, compact and discreet
Easy to tilt and angle
While it’s quiet on the low settings, reviewers found it a little noisy on high power.
Key specs
Price on writing: £7 | Type: Desk | Speed settings: Three
What Mumsnet users say
If you’re feeling the heat when working from the office, this small and portable USB could be the perfect solution to pop inside your laptop bag. From menopausal hot flushes to coping with a heatwave, simply plug this compact desk fan straight into the USB port of your laptop and tilt the fan to provide a cool and comfortable breeze across your entire face and chest.
Despite its budget-friendly price tag, this lightweight USB fan creates an even and steady air flow with a choice of three speeds. While it’s whisper quiet and discreet on the lowest setting, some reviewers did find it a little noisy when used on high power.
Read next: The best handheld fans for heatwaves, labour and hot flushes
Best USB desk fan
Affordable price tag
Stylish design
Available in a choice of six colours
360-degree adjustable head
A sturdy base reduces vibration noise
Some reviewers found it too small
Key specs
Price on writing: £13 | Type: Desk | Speed settings: Three
Available in a choice of six colours, this affordable yet stylish desk USB fan makes a great addition to your work or home office space.
The small and compact design sits on its own base, reducing unwelcome vibration noise even on the higher settings. With a 360-degree tilt, you can easily angle the fan to the perfect position - creating a welcome cool breeze when you need it the most.
It's worth noting that some reviewers felt it was too small for their needs, so we recommend you check the dimensions before you commit.
Related: The best quiet fans for bedrooms
Best clip-on USB fan
Handy clip for attaching to your table or monitor screen
360-degree rotation
Quiet operation
Choice of four colours
Relatively pricy
Key specs
Price on writing: £17 | Type: Clip on | Speed settings: Three
This USB fan comes with a convenient clip, allowing you to attach the fan wherever you need it - whether that's clipping it onto your monitor screen, attaching it to your treadmill or using self-standing on your desk or bedside table. Thanks to the sturdy base and long USB cable, it provides plenty of freedom to use in and around your home.
While it's a little more pricey than some USB fans, we love the quiet operation and choice of four colours that allow you to easily match your home office aesthetic.
Related: The best neck fans for keeping cool on the go
Best USB-C fan
Ultra quiet operating volume
Timer function
Low energy consumption
12-speed settings
More readily available USB-C charging
Costly
Key specs
Price on writing: £70 | Type: Desk | Speed settings: 12
What Mumsnet users say
Mumsnetters and online reviewers couldn’t speak more highly of Meaco fans for their impressive cooling performance, so while its price tag is certainly on the eye-watering end of the scale, you certainly get what you pay for.
With a super quiet operating volume, this USB fan is well suited to those who make calls or attend Teams meetings when working from home, with a whisper-quiet hum that won’t distract or disturb your focus.
With low energy consumption and a handy timer function that can automatically turn itself off after a set duration, you can select from 12 different speed settings to find the ideal breeze for your needs.
Best of all - this USB Fan uses the more modern USB-C charging cable, so chances are you already have a compatible USB-C socket from your mobile phone or tablet.
Read next: The best portable air conditioners for your home
What is a USB fan?
Unlike traditional pedestal and tower fans that are plugged into the mains, USB fans are powered by a USB connection, meaning you can plug them into any device with a USB port such as a laptop, desktop computer, USB socket or power bank. While some USB fans also have a rechargeable battery, many can be left plugged in, meaning you won’t be restricted by battery life when attempting to keep cool. Most USB fans also come with long charging cables, providing flexibility about where and when they are used.
Related: Best cooling towels
Can you use a USB fan away from your computer?
While plugging into your laptop or computer is the obvious way to operate a USB fan, you can also plug USB fans into a traditional plug if you have a USB charging socket. They can also be plugged into the USB port of a power bank for use outside of the home.
What’s the best USB fan to buy?
We think the EasyAcc Handheld Portable Fan is the best USB fan you can buy today. With a relatively affordable price tag, this portable fan can quickly switch between a handheld fan and a desktop design. With four powerful speed settings to keep you cool when temperatures rise.
While the rechargeable battery makes it ideal for use outside the home, it can also be plugged into your laptop for constant use on those stifling hot days.
How we chose our recommendations
Recommendations from real Mumsnet users
From when to open your windows to whether or not you should keep your curtains closed, there is a lot of debate within the Mumsnet forums on how to keep cool during summer, with many users sharing their hints and tips and the best tools for the job.
First, we sought out the trusted opinions of Mumsnet users, to get their feedback on the USB fans they’ve used, rated and would happily recommend to others.
We also looked out for any negative reviews, where Mumsetters highlighted USB fans that they felt were poor quality, noisy or simply failed to keep them cool.
Expert opinions
Next up, we considered reviews and feedback from trusted industry experts. We want to be confident that the products we recommend are fit for purpose, so we looked out for award-winning products or those that were well regarded in the marketplace, including those recommended by industry experts.
Authentic consumer reviews
Finally, to bring you our definitive list of the best USB fans on the market, we thoroughly investigated genuine, in-depth customer reviews on retailer sites such as Amazon, Argos and John Lewis to get wider consumer experiences regarding the products on our shortlist.
About the author
Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and a Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in baby/child and lifestyle product reviews and round-ups. Having written product reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of products, scrutinising reviews and consumer feedback to help parents make confident purchases that benefit their families.
As someone who struggles with the heat in summer, Lucy has also written a number of product roundups to help us keep cool this summer, including the best pram fans and best paddling pools.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find products that real parents rate.
Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.