We reviewed dozens of products to find you the very best kitchen ceiling fans. We selected mostly modern white or titanium fans that can handle the heat of a kitchen! These fans mostly include lights as well, to provide extra illumination to your kitchen while you cook. We hop you enjoy!
With a 54” blade span, the Hunter Apache is ideal for a small to midsized kitchen. A small size body with three reversible blades gives concentrated airflow and creates better ventilation. The white washed oak blades easily blend in with any indoor décor. The WhisperWind DC motor provides powerful yet quiet air movements along with energy efficiency.
A 5” downrod optimizes air movement and ensures appropriate installation height. A 17W dimmable LED bulb saves energy and gives control over the bulb’s brightness. The unique appearance is backed with Wi-Fi compatibility. It easily works with various home automation applications to provide voice controls.
Each Hunter fan has a century old legacy to back their popularity. The company has been persistent in delivering quality products in today’s competitive environment and the Apache fan series are no different. With technologically advanced features, this fan will serve you for years with minimum hassle.
The 44” Tip Top Flush Mount requires less installation space so it is suited for low ceilings. It provides better ventilation and lighting with a 3000K LED fixture. Other LED options are also available like the 2700K LED (soft yellow color) and a 3500K LED (crisp bluish color).
Besides WiFi compatibility, the fan features an easy bluetooth hand held remote control. It can be operated with voice commands from virtual assistants like Google and Amazon Alexa. An EnergyStar qualified DC motor saves monthly energy bills like never before. It also gives a quiet performance and better wind speed at 3.35 MPH. The white blade + white motor casing make it great for kitchens.
Modern Forms have designed countless ceiling fans with innovative technology for the new generation. The fans being aesthetic and functional never fail to make an impression. The Tip Top is one of their best ceiling smart fans that doesn’t come at a hefty price tag despite rich features.
The Hunter Dempsey is specifically designed for less than 9” low ceilings. The 52” blade span provides better ventilation in low profile housing flats. This indoor fan includes an integrated LED light kit encased within a painted cased white glass. The dimmable bulbs give you control over brightness , durability and energy efficiency. The all white design makes it quite nice for a modern kitchen.
The unique reversible WhiserWind DC motor provides instant cooling with its powerful air movement. The motor also provides a noise-free operation with less power consumption. It gives you consistent performance for hours without breaking down. The handheld remote operates lighting and speed adjustments. However, other types of controls are also available.
If you are into interior designing then chances are you know about Hunter. They have been in the business for years and the Dempsey ceiling fan is just one of the several hundred fan-favorite designs for its incredible performance and low maintenance longevity.
The Hunter Symphony is a smart and automated ceiling fan. It is easy to control with an integrated remote control and blends well with your home automation system for a smart operation. You get the ultimate voice control through Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Apple Homekit.
The exclusive Sure Speed technology guarantees faster cooling with high velocity airflow. With Installer’s Choice three-position mounting system, you can mount it against an angled, low or standard ceiling. This feature is on par with most building security guidelines to give a hassle-free installation. Its matte-finish nickel body bearing painted cased white glass LED light kit scores a perfect ten in style, energy efficiency and durability. This modern fan will upgrade any room in the house, but we think it goes particularly great in a modern looking kitchen.
Hunter fans are known for their beautiful and timeless craftsmanship for over a decade. The Symphony series is very popular among customers for its understated design and outstanding features that no other fan can provide in the same range.
The Hunter Sentinel comes with a brushed slate finish to complement any modern or casual space. The brand’s unique Installer’s choice mounting system allows three-position installation in either a low, standard or an angled ceiling. Thus, you don’t need any additional balancing instruments during installation.
The kit also includes a 2” and a 3” downrod to ensure you maintain that minimum height from the ceiling with ease. The correct height improves the air movement and compliments the blade design. The LED Light kit consumes less energy while illuminating bright colors. As LED lights are more long-lasting than traditional bulbs, you need not worry about their frequent replacements.
Hunter is popular for its vast designs that blend well with any room decor. You get more choices and customized design options to complement your existing or new interior. In this regard, the Sentinel series is an ideal budget-friendly fan that effortlessly blends into any décor.
The 52” Modern Forms Slim is an EnergyStar qualified efficient device with a powerful 125mm X 12mm DC motor inside to save on your AC bills. The LED light kit in three different variations is also equally energy efficient. The Slim only consumes 21W per hour at full speed.
It can be controlled with voice commands using a smart application through WiFi. The App quickly adapts to your daily routine and adjusts fan functions accordingly. If you don’t need smart features then a remote or wall control is also available. A 3.41 MPH wind speed factor ensures you a moderate and comfortable cooling breeze. This fan is flush mounted to your ceiling, making it suitable for low ceilings since it won’t hang low with a standard downrod. The design goes great in any room, especially kitchens.
Modern fans truly stand up to their name by featuring all modern home needs. Just like the Slim model, their other fans also boast the latest features without compromising their efficiency.
The Morpheus III 60” uses 70% less electricity than an ordinary AC motor fan. A 125x 20 mm DC motor makes the fan energy efficient as well as less heavy. At 153 RPM (revolutions per minute) max speed, it produces a massive airflow of 7244 CFM to offer instant cooling. The large 60” blade span with 13 degree blade pitch ensures good air circulation around the room.
The fan’s Wi-Fi compatibility pairs up with any smart device – Apple or Android. The LED lighting fixtures are dimmable to adjust according to room ambiance. It is rated for outdoor wet locations so direct exposure to rain doesn’t cause any functional damage. This fan goes great in kitchens since it can handle a bit of moisture. Plus, its light provides nice illumination to any room. A bottom cap is present to install the fan with or without the light.
Modern fans are simply a staple for today’s lifestyle. Their top-notch styles and energy efficient performance, like in Morpheus, make them a must have in every home and office.
The Roboto 52” kitchen ceiling fan is a three blade fan perfect for outdoor and indoor applications. The body comes in multiple size options and fits all kinds of spaces. With an above-average airflow and wind speed factor, it meets your quality air requirement with ease. It’s UL wet rated to withstand direct rain, snow and strong winds.
The super efficient DC motor gives a smooth performance and saves big on your energy bills. You can auto schedule its operation and easily integrate it to your smart home devices. With three variable LED lighting fixtures, you get colors in 3500K, 2700k LED and 3000k luminous intensity. It’s all white color plus wet rating make this a great fan for any modern kitchen.
Modern Forms fans are designed to smoothly integrate with any smart device. It ensures you get a smart fan to make your life easier. The Roboto fan with such Smart features will make your home a better environment to live in.
The Modern Forms Axis 52” ceiling fan gives better illumination and energy savings with an integrated LED light kit. The LED light kits are energy efficient and offer colored options. The light dimming feature in remote controls gives you better brightness control.
Compatible with almost all types of home automation systems, the fan easily integrates with your smart devices to access voice commands. The 13 degree blade pitch gives an average airflow of 5053 CFM thus providing better ventilation and air movement. The 2.92 MPH wind speed rating gives a moderate cooling breeze. The titanium finish throughout the fan makes it suitable for any modern kitchen.
Modern Forms Fans guarantee reasonable prices for the functions they offer in their fans. It’s quite a steal if you invest in Axis series as you get smart functions and energy efficiency. The LED light kits variations are one of the best features this model offers.
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Everything To Know When Buying Kitchen Ceiling Fans
We have a deep love for ceiling fans and live to help others understand these products as well as we do. That is why we took the time to write a kitchen ceiling fan buyers’ guide.
Buying a kitchen ceiling fan for the first time can be overwhelming. There are many options for fans and each fan has different styles, sizes, functionality, blades, and installation steps.
Fortunately for you, we have distilled all of the key variables down into an accessible and digestible guide. You can read this guide if you want an in-depth understanding of ceiling fans or you can skim it if you only want to better understand certain aspects of the fan itself.
This includes how to select a fan to buy, the types and angles of a fan’s blades, the pros and cons of the AC and DC motors that power fans, and how to install the fan on your ceiling. If you follow this guide you can be confident that you are making a well informed buying decision.
We know all things ceiling fans and want to pass on our learnings and insights to help you.
Most importantly, we know that once you evaluate, select, and install a ceiling fan it will likely remain in place for many years to come. That is because ceiling fans can be heavy, expensive, and labor intensive to install. And these processes can impact your cooking – which we don’t want to get in the way of!
What are kitchen ceiling fans?
Kitchen ceiling fans are fans placed in your kitchen to provide your three tangible benefits:
- Air flow: a fan in the kitchen can remove odors, improve air quality, decrease smells, and leave your cooking environment cleaner and more pleasant.
- Lighting: kitchen ceiling fans usually have built-in lights to improve lighting quality while cooking.
- Design: these fans look great and add a lovely décor to your kitchen space.
These fans are efficient as well. A central air conditioning system consumes 3 kiloWatts, which is about 36 cents per hour. Running a kitchen fan only runs at 30 Watts, equivalent to only a cent per hour.
This makes fans affordable. Many people love these fans as they are good for you, your wallet, and the environment.
Running a kitchen fan that turns off when a certain temperature range is reached is even more affordable – I have mine turn on or off automatically when baking to keep the kitchen cool throughout my pre-dining experience.
Take the time to do research now before buying because the switching costs of changing your mind can be high.
Go through this evaluation check-list so that you better understand the types of motors, blades, installation units, and fans that exist. We encourage you to optimize for:
- Overall quality: in particular the speed of the motor to optimize for cooling efficacy and quietness.
- Aesthetics: in particular ensure that you are happy with how the fan looks, its color, shape, design, and blade count.
- Size: select the right size fan for the room you will be placing it in. Larger rooms require larger fans to create strong air flow.
First, measure the size of the kitchen.
Knowing the approximate size of the room in which the fan will be placed is important.
Larger fans are best suited to larger kitchens as their blades and motors move greater volumes of air.
Kitchen Ceiling Fan Size Chart
| Room (in feet) | Cubic Feet/Minute | Fan Size |
| 6′ x 6′ | 3,000 – 4,500 | Shop: 24″ to 36″ |
| 10′ x 10′ | 4,000 – 5,500 | Shop: 37″ to 48″ |
| 12′ x 12′ | 6,200 – 7,500 | Shop: 49″ to 56″ |
| 15′ x 15′ | 7,000 – 9,000 | Shop: 60″ to 72″ |
| Larger | 9,000 – 11,000 | Shop: 80″ to 99″ |
The length of the blade of the fan and the size of the room go hand in hand.
In short, if you have a large kitchen, buy a larger fan. The bigger the fan the better.
The common sizes for ceiling fans are 36, 44 and 52 inches, with the large fans having a blade wingspan of 60 inches.
Of course you can technically go even larger, with the largest recreational home fans having up to 99 inches of wingspan.
99 inches is 8.25 feet. That is a large fan indeed.
Measure the height of the ceiling and allow at least 7 feet and 6 inches of space.
It is wise and safe to place your fan at least 7 feet above your flooring.
Placing a ceiling fan high up protects tall individuals from hitting their head or having their hair caught while the fan is in motion. Fans need to be installed on ceilings and these installation bases take space as well.
An installation base is adjoined to a downrod, which is a simple piece of metal that the fan is connected to and hangs from.
The average American ceiling height today is 9 feet (2.7432 meters). This means that the average room can support a fan but with a shorter downrod.
If you have average sized ceilings you can afford to install no more than 1 foot and 6 inch downrods.
How to measure downrods and base mounts
A ceiling fan is composed of fan blades, a downrod, and an installation base.
The installation base attaches to the ceiling. The downrod connects to the base. And the fan itself hangs from the downrod.
Per the measurements mentioned above, the fan must be at least 7 feet and 6 inches above the ground if you have a standard 9 foot ceiling.
Many people enjoy selecting the fit and finish of the downrod as these pieces of metal or plastic come in different colors, shapes, and sizes and compliment the overall fan’s aesthetic.
As a general rule, more expensive ceiling fans enable you to have longer and more customizable downrods. The downdrods tend to be longer – between 6 and 18 inches.
This is for functionality and aesthetics. Cheaper ceiling fans sometimes have very short – or almost nonexistent downrods – because the base and the fan are fused together.
Design and Look: What to Think about a kitchen fans general aesthetics
A hugely important aspect of kitchen ceiling fans is what it looks like. If you spend a lot of time preparing food, you will want that fan to be functional and to look great.
The base and downrod are not nearly as important as the blades for how a fan looks in a room.
Blades come in different cuts, lengths, seizes, finishes, colors and of course quantities.
How many blades should a kitchen ceiling fan have?
At a minimum, a kitchen ceiling fan will have two blades though four or five are certainly more common.
A two blade fan can be made of one long piece of metal connected at the mid-point or two distinct blades.
Blades add functionality and impact the air flow.
When you look at a kitchen fan that is turned on, the blades are hard to see. When the fan is stationary, however, the design and color of the blades will need to align with your preferences for style and decor.
Fans with four to six blades produce a lower pitch, softer volume noise output. Three blade fans use the air surrounding the fan most efficiently and require the least effort to clean as you have fewer blades and surface area to collect dust.
The color, material, and quantity of the blades impact how the fan looks and performs.
Another subtle variable is at play too: the angles of those blades. If the blades are too flat, they won’t whisk through the air and create air flows. We highly advise blades with angles between 12 and 14 degrees.
Nearly all of the fans we provide you here have angles in that range for optimal air circulation and air flow efficacy.
More than a fan: how a kitchen fan provides lighting, symmetry, and aesthetic benefits.
Some people buy ceiling fans simply to cool or heat a room. Others buy ceiling fans because they can be elegant and add character to a home. Some fans have lights and others do not.
If you are going to place your fan in the center of your kitchen you might do so at the expense of a central lighting system.
For this reason, adding lights to kitchen fans is popular. If you add lights you will want to also consider how easy it is to change the bulbs, especially if the fan is very high above your floor.
LED, Halogen, and Fluorescent lighting options are available on all fans that have integrated lighting.
Control Your Environment: Noise and Air Flow
Fans without lights produce two types of energy outputs when they are on: noise and air-flow. Both will impact your experience with the fan. Fans with lights also produce illumination as an energy output.
Firstly, noise is a byproduct of any fan. The rotation of the blades and the motor can cause distinct sounds. Larger motors produce more power and, as a result, can generate more noise.
The good news is that noise can be mitigated.
Motors that are built from higher quality and durable screws, armature, bearings, windings, and rotors are more expensive.
Cheaper kitchen fans have motors that usually produce more noise as a byproduct.
If you want a quieter fan, buy a more expensive one. You won’t regret it. The second type of energy output is air-flow. Fans can not only cool rooms, they can also heat rooms and reduce air moisture.
They substitute central cooling or work in conjunction with air conditioning.
Fans do not lower air temperatures. They produce air flows and circulation which can in turn create the effect of a windchill.
The wind chill temperature is how cold people feel. The air flow, which leads to evaporative cooling (deratification), is generated by the ceiling fan.
If you are using a fan for general kitchen cooling, you will want a fan that accelerates the heat loss from exposed skin.
Put simply, you will want a fan that generates significant air-flows point downwards and towards the center of the room.
Air Flow Deep Dive: Cubic Feet per Minute
Air flow is the volume of air that is produced by the fan.
The most common way to measure air flow is Cubic Feet per Minute (or CFM).
All of the fans we review have a CFM rating so that you can easily compare how much air that each fan produces.
The average CFM is around 5,000.
For nearly all non-industrial use-cases, like your home bedroom, kitchen, living room, or garage, a CFM of 6,000-7,000 is optimal.
At this rate you will be left feeling cooler without greatly enhancing your energy bill or having papers strewn all over the place from the powerful wind currents that larger fans produce.
You might also see a measurement similar to CFM which is air (or wind) Miles Per Hour.
Much like measuring the speed at which one drives, a fan can have its air speed measured too.
Nearly all fans produce between 3 and 5 Mile Per Hour air flows. Naturally, the higher the MPH, the stronger the air flows.
Controlling Your Fan and Your Energy Output for Efficiency
Mobile apps and the internet have changed how we communicate, manage, and control various technologies.
Kitchen ceiling fans are no exception.
Kitchen fans are well suited for management by a digital switch, remote, or mobile app because you can power the fans on or off (or even alter the speed) from afar.
A connected fan is controlled via a remote control or smartphone. In contrast, less expensive and simpler fans are controlled via a manual switch.
Lastly, some kitchen ceiling fans are controlled by pull chains.
While chains are usually made long enough for all users to reach them, please keep in mind that this can cause discomfort or annoyance on high ceilings or fans that need to be frequently turned on or off.
If you plan on installing your fan over 9 feet above the ground, you should buy a fan that can be controlled digitally.
All kitchen ceiling fans can create air-flows bi-direactionally.
Usually a simple switch exists on the fan’s motor or external base that enables you to change the direction in which the blades rotate.
Changing the directional air propulsion is critical during the winter months.
Rather than have air convected from the center of the room for cooling, you will want air to move from the blades horizontally down through the walls.
Lateral air-flow is used for heating rooms and maintaining central warmth while reducing your energy bill.
Choosing the right ceiling fan direction
How you control your kitchen fan is correlated with how much energy your fan uses. Will you leave it running all the time? Or will you use smart logic to power it down after a certain amount of time? Most people only run their kitchen fans when they are cooking or eating in the kitchens.
We have gone above and beyond to think about fans not just as cooling mechanisms but as a tool that can help you save money while lowering your ecological footprint. These efforts will, most importantly, save you money.
Let me explain further.
When you use central cooling or air conditioners, you are physically reducing the temperature in a room.
An air conditioner sucks air into its ducts through a vent. This air cools the gas in the evaporator and as the heat is removed from the air, it is cooled. Cool air then flows into your room.
This process is energy intensive and expensive.
In contrast, a ceiling fan does not cool the room or remove heat. Rather, it moves air around which creates the feeling of cooling. Actual cooling is not occurring. Less energy out means less energy in. And in total this means a lower energy bill.
What does a kitchen ceiling fan look like?
This guide provides ample information pertaining to how a ceiling fan works and things you should be aware of before buying one or many fans for your home.
What we have not discussed in great depth is how a fan looks and the importance of design aesthetics.
A fan will need to fit aesthetically into your kitchen and, as a result, you should think about material (wood, metal, plastic), color, and design patterns. Some questions to reflect on:
- Is the kitchen light or dark? Is it naturally well lit or does it require lots of electrical light?
- Do you want a smart fan that connects with your digital applications and services (Google Home, Nest Apple Siri, Amazon Alexa)?
If you control other aspects of your home – like the temperature and humidity – via smart apps, you might want to add a ceiling fan as another connected Internet of Things device. Likewise if you have high ceilings and plan to install a fan that you can’t easily reach by hand.
Smart fans can be controlled via your phone, tablet, or voice, and these controls will make turning them on or off easier.
- What color do you want the fan? What style finish do you want?
Sleek and minimalist fans have fewer blades. These fans, made of lightweight metal, have universal white, grey, or black finishes.
Where to buy a kitchen ceiling fan?
Kitchen ceiling fans are heavy and can be difficult to fit in a car or to transport yourself unless you have a large vehicle or flat-bed truck. Given this, it makes a lot of sense to have your fan shipped to you so that it arrives ready for home assembly.
You can self-install a ceiling fan. This work requires moderate technical skills and physical strength. This is because you will need to install not only the fan (the blades) but you will need to connect the fan’s base to the ceiling and its electrical fixture hardware and wiring.
How much do kitchen ceiling fans cost? What impacts the price of these fans?
Kitchen ceiling fans range in price from $125 on the cheap-end to over $1,900 on the high-end. There are several reasons why the range in price is so large.
A kitchen ceiling fan, made of plastic instead of more durable wood or metal, is cheaper.
Additionally, less expensive fans have weaker motors. This means that they are capable of producing less air flow or have smaller Cubic Feet per Minute scores.
More expensive kitchen fans are akin to those you would experience at a resort or high end hotel. A ceiling fan over $1,200 will likely come packed with high tech solutions built-in.
These fans will enable you to:
- Program the fan based on motion, temperature, or humidity.
- Turn the fan on or off based on preset logic or rules for maximum physical comfort.
- Enjoy very efficient and quiet DC motors that have multi-decade support and lifetime expectations.
Moreover, these pricer fans come with app based (smart phone, iPad) mobile management and remote controls.
It is common for expensive kitchen ceiling fans to come with mount options so that you can install a panel adjacent to your light switch. These wall mounts enable you to control not only the fan (on/off) but also the fan speed and direction.
Cheaper kitchen fans do not come with these in depth level of controls or sophisticated management features.
And that is ok. Simplicity might be what you crave.
Cheaper fans cool rooms as well and can be easily turned on/off with pull chains.
Less expensive fans (in the $100-$300 price point) still come with energy-efficient dimmable lightbulbs.
AC vs DC fans: Understanding a fan’s power source
Most inexpensive fans leverage AC motors.
Although AC motors are more powerful than DC motors, they typically are less efficient and are not as good at using their energy output.
This can cause additional noise (thereby making it harder to sleep if that fan is in your bedroom).
When buying a fan, please take a moment to see the Power Source listed in the fan’s essential product information that all suppliers provide. If you buy a fan with an AC motor, it will be louder.
AC motors are durable and longer lasting. While this might seem positive, DC motors are better (and therefore more costly).
DC motors are simpler to install into the fan’s base, have high startup power, and have a faster response time.
This means that time will be shortened from when you switch the “on” button to when the fan is accelerating to cool your room.
Although more expensive, ceiling fans with DC motors consume 70% less power which will enable you to save money over time as you pay less to power them.
Where to place the ceiling fan: voltage and flush mounting
Many people place their ceiling kitchen fans in the center of their kitchens. This is to maximize comfort and the impact of the fan’s air flows.
A centrally placed ceiling fan also creates room symmetry.
Voltage is the pressure from an electrical circuit’s power, and the most common electrical outlet in any home is a 110 volt. If you live in the United States, you will need to select a fan that complies with this voltage limit.
Luckily for you, nearly all off-the-shelf ceiling fans support this standard.
When installing a kitchen ceiling fan you will need to get a few things absolutely right. We have done this many times for ourselves, our family, friends, and of course our clients.
Firstly, some ceiling fans support flush mount integrations. Flush mount fans sit directly against the ceiling and point downwards. These fans are typically useful for cooling a small room.
Not all ceiling fans are flush mountable.
This means that they will hang lower from the ceiling. If you buy a fan that cannot be flush mounted, please ensure that the lower point of the fan is at least 7 feet and six inches from the ground.
Additionally, ensure that the weight bearing load of the ceiling can support the fan.
Similar to voltage, this should be routine in many homes.
But it is worth investigating because you don’t want to buy a fan just to see it unable to stay upright.
For most fans that we review and see our clients deploy, a ceiling must be able to support approximately 35 pounds of downward pressure.
Buyer’s Guide Summary: Bringing It All Together
Buying a kitchen ceiling fan for the first time does not need to be overwhelming.
Simply follow this guide to evaluate and buy the fan that fits best in your room and adds the most value in your life.
Don’t get too bogged down in the details. If nothing else, pick a fan that looks great, fits well within your room, and that is priced according to your budget.
Remember to install the blades last, so that they don’t break. This will be written in every installation manual.
