Are Cheap Ceiling Fans Worth the Money?

Written by Matt in Ceiling Fan Basics Last Updated August 11, 2022

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With the peak of the summer months approaching, your home can quickly become hot, stuffy, and uncomfortable. You might think buying a cheap ceiling fan to cool the room will solve the problem — because who doesn’t love solving problems and saving money all at once? However, it’s best to consider if cheap ceiling fans are truly worth the money before you add one to your cart. 

Cheap ceiling fans save on costs upfront, but overall they’re not worth the money. That’s because they are made of low-quality materials that will quickly wear out, leading to necessary repairs during long-term use, hence more money spent in the long run.

Read on to learn more about cheap ceiling fans, why they aren’t ideal for long-term use, and why you should consider spending more on a quality ceiling fan.

Why a Cheap Ceiling Fan Is Not Worth the Money

An inexpensive ceiling fan may be tempting to buy when you’re investigating possible options to purchase. Why spend more money than you have to? If they serve the same overall function, how much better can an expensive fan really be? 

A low-priced ceiling fan may be a decent, quick fix for your stuffy room, but it won’t hold up over time, and you’ll be sacrificing a degree of quality for a cheaper product. 

Below are the reasons that cheap ceiling fans are not a good investment:

Cheap Ceiling Fans Have Quick Wear and Tear 

Like any product you utilize for a long time, the quality will deteriorate the more you use it. This is especially true for cheap ceiling fans. For the price to be lower, manufacturers will use more inferior quality materials to construct the fan. This means your ceiling fan won’t last as long as a higher-priced ceiling fan made of more durable and quality materials. 

Lower quality materials mean that your ceiling fan will most likely contain blades made of medium-density fiberboard or pressboard. These materials aren’t durable, meaning they can easily become warped or bent. A warped or bent fan blade causes the entire fan and its mounting to become unbalanced, which will lead to wobbling or irritating humming noises. 

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They Have Low-Quality Mounts and Motors

Ceiling fan with sagging blades.

Another factor to consider when buying an economy fan is the mount and motor the fan uses. Lower-priced fans have lower quality mounts, which depending on design and material, can mean that your fan moves less air. Moving less air means that your room will have a lower airflow, which will only add to any stuffiness or feeling of heat. 

The most common mount used in an inexpensive ceiling fan is a design consisting of a singular ball and bracket, leading to disruptive noises caused by the unavoidable vibrations. 

You want your ceiling fan to possess a top-notch motor for both lifespan and quality purposes. A higher-quality motor will last longer and provide stronger airflow, therefore keeping your room cooler than a lower-costing fan with a smaller motor. 

Suggested: Can you replace a ceiling fan motor?

Cheap Ceiling Fans Aren’t Energy-Efficient

This is another factor you’ll want to consider when choosing between a more expensive fan or a cheaper one. Ceiling fans that are energy efficient are far more costly upfront but can save you money on the costs of heating and cooling your home in the long run. 

Energy-efficient ceiling fans use enhanced designs to consume less electricity, and therefore reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

What Makes a High-Quality Ceiling Fan

Several factors make a ceiling fan “better” than the rest. The fan’s power, type of blade, and energy efficiency are all components to consider. 

First-class ceiling fans will have powerful motors that include noise-dampening features to minimize any sound it makes. According to Delmar Fans, “The size, quality, power, and efficiency of a ceiling fan motor are what decide which platform will fit your needs the best.” To learn more about the most common types of ceiling fan motors and their ratings, click here.  

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Another component that high-quality ceiling fans have is blades that are made from traditional hardwood. This means they’re far more durable and won’t become unbalanced, preventing your ceiling fan from vibrating, so it won’t have humming or shaking noises while spinning. 

Finally, top-notch fans are often environmentally friendly. When shopping for a ceiling fan, look for an Energy Star label. These fans are proven and tested to use improved materials and meet strict performance criteria laid out by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

According to Consumer Reports, choosing an energy-efficient fan can save you up to $15 per year on your home utility bill. 

How Much Should You Spend on Your Ceiling Fan? 

As a starting point, spending anything less than $75 on a ceiling fan isn’t worth the money. Any ceiling fan for this low price is almost guaranteed to be poor quality, noisy, and won’t last long. 

Ceiling fans between $100 and $150 can be worth it if you choose an appropriate model. Most of the time, these fans are the right choice if you plan on only running them occasionally, in a room where the temperature doesn’t need to be cooled drastically. 

It’s also best to keep fans within this price point in a smaller room if you want them to have better cooling effects. Keep in mind that fans in this price range will usually not contain a light component or fixture. 

It’s best to invest in a $150–$300 ceiling fan with a decent energy-efficient motor. If you spend more than $300 for a ceiling fan, that means you’re paying for a specialized ceiling fan. Specialized fans are luxurious, custom-modeled fans with unique blade designs and sizes. 

Suggested: Ceiling fan price guide

Conclusion

It’s better to invest in a good quality ceiling fan. For a long-lasting and quiet ceiling fan made from high-quality materials, you should expect to spend between $150 and 300. 

Buying a cheap ceiling fan isn’t worth the money. The overall cost may seem less upfront, but over time they’ll deteriorate, and you’ll end up spending more money than before. 

Sources

Matt

Matt moved to a location where the climate is hot and humid year round 8 years ago and got a bit obsessed with ceiling fans as an alternative or supplement to air-conditioning. He just wants the optimal ceiling fan and to get it to work the best for the specific situation. And now you can follow what he learned on ceilingfantips.com

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