Buying The Right Size Ceiling Fan

Ceiling fans come in different sizes, so it’s best to measure the size of your room before you shop for one. It’s important to buy a home ceiling fan of the right size because a model that’s too small may not cool your room adequately and one that’s too large may be too close to the walls, lights, and other things.

First, determine the area of your room and the height of the ceiling.
This will help you to decide on the size of ceiling fan and the type and size of the mounting that will be needed to install it.
If you head out to buy a ceiling fan without considering these things, you could end up with the wrong fan and/or the wrong mounting.

These guidelines will help you to buy a home ceiling fan of the right size:

How to measure your room

Use a measuring tape to measure the length and breadth of your room and multiply the length by the breadth to arrive at the area in square feet. For example, if the length of your room is 12 feet and the breadth is 11 feet, multiply 12 by 11 to get the area of the room, which is 132 square feet.

Then measure the height of the ceiling to decide on which type and size of mounting will be needed to install your fan.

Once you have this crucial information, you are ready to shop for a fan. You will find ceiling fan size guides on the websites of most fan makers, which will help you to decide on the right ceiling fan size for your room. Sales people at stores will also help you to decide.

How to measure the blade span of a ceiling fan

Look for a ceiling fan with a blade span that’s right for your room. For a ceiling fan with an even number of blades, the blade span is the diameter in inches, which is the distance between the opposing blades.

For a ceiling fan with an odd number of blades, the blade span is determined by measuring the distance from the center of the fan to the tip of a blade in inches. This length is then multiplied by 2 to arrive at the blade span.

Ceiling fan size guide

If the area of your room is up to 75 square feet, look for a ceiling fan with a blade span of 29 – 36 inches. Ceiling fans of this size are normally used in utility rooms, bathrooms, breakfast nooks, etc.
If the area of your room is up to 175 square feet, look for a ceiling fan with a blade span of 42 – 48 inches. Ceiling fans of this size are normally used in dining rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, etc.
If the area of your room is up to 350 square feet, look for a ceiling fan with a blade span of 52 – 56 inches. Ceiling fans of this size are normally used in media rooms, family rooms, big bedrooms, etc.
If the area of your room is over 350 square feet, look for a ceiling fan with a blade span of 60 inches or more. Ceiling fans of this size are normally used in great rooms and other large areas.

Decide on how you want to suspend your ceiling fan

Choose the ceiling fan mount based on the height and type of ceiling. If your room has a sloping ceiling, look for a specially designed slope ceiling mount with a down rod.

If your ceiling height is less than 8 feet, pick a low profile, flush mount or hugger fan
With a ceiling height of 8 feet, use a 3-inch down rod or a hugger
If your ceiling height is 9 feet, choose a 3-inch or 6-inch down rod
With a ceiling height of 10 feet, pick a12-inch down rod
If your ceiling height is 11 feet, use an 18-inch down rod
With a ceiling height of 12 feet, choose a 24-inch down rod
If your ceiling height is 13 feet, ask for a 36-inch down rod

Consider air delivery

Look for a ceiling fan that has the capacity to move enough air to cool your room adequately. The volume of air that a fan can move is measured in cubic feet per minute or CFM. This data is provided by fan manufacturers. You can use it to compare different models and decide on which one is right for your room.

If you have a small room, a very powerful fan that’s capable of moving large amounts of air will not be needed. On the other hand, if you have a large room, you may need a ceiling fan that’s capable of delivering large volumes of air for long periods of time without overheating.

Maintain adequate gaps

Adequate gaps need to be maintained between the fan blades and the floor, walls, light fixtures, and other things.

Insist on a minimum gap of 7 feet between the blades and the floor.
Keep a gap of at least 8 to 10 inches between the blades and the ceiling
Maintain a minimum gap of 39 inches between the blades and light fixtures.
Allow a gap of at least 18 inches between the blades and the walls.

Wrap-Up

These guidelines will help you to buy a ceiling fan of the right size for your room. It’s best to go through customer reviews and compare specifications before you make up your mind. Shop around for the best offers to get a good ceiling fan at a great price.

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