Need an outdoor ceiling fan for your porch, gazebo or patio? What can you expect to pay for one? Here’s what you want to know.
Outdoor ceiling fans can cost anywhere from $60 to $5000 per unit but are commonly around $100 to $250. Outdoor fans cost more than indoor ones because the construction and materials have to be able to deal with moisture or direct water contact.
Let’s get into what you can expect to pay for an outdoor fan and what you can get for your money.
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How Much Do Outdoor Ceiling Fans Cost?
Outdoor ceiling fans can cost between $60 per unit and up to $5,000 per unit. These fans are specifically designed for outdoor use, so they come in varieties like damp-rated and wet-rated.
Let’s explore these outdoor ceiling fans to help you decide which one is best suited for your needs.
Damp-Rated Ceiling Fans
A damp-rated ceiling fan is capable of handling small amounts of moisture but not direct rainwater or splashing. These fans are commonly found in four-season rooms, covered patios, or even indoors in bathrooms or kitchens. Anywhere prone to dampness and moisture in the air will require a damp-rated ceiling fan.
There’s a huge price range when it comes to damp-rated ceiling fans. You can expect to spend anywhere from $70 to $5,000 for damp-rated ceiling fans based on the size, blade amount and size, type of motor, and light fixtures. Damp-rated ceiling fans are also available for use in commercial areas such as barns, warehouses, and workshops.
The vast majority of residential ceiling fans are under $1000 although there are a few exceptions. Commercial fans can get more expensive but they are often very large as well.
Suggested: Do I need an outdoor ceiling fan for a covered patio?
Wet-Rated Ceiling Fans
Wet-rated ceiling fans are the most durable type of ceiling fan when exposed to the elements. These fans can withstand direct water, snow, or moisture of any kind, making them perfect for exposed pergolas or gazebos, uncovered porches or patios, and any other areas with possible wetness.
Despite their waterproof and robust build, wet-rated ceiling fans will typically cost about $60 to $750. This relatively low price is because most wet-rated ceiling fans will be elementary in build and may not include a light fixture.
Suggested: Can indoor ceiling fans be used outside?
What Do You Get For Your Money?
Ceiling fans are fairly simple appliances. The principles of how they work has been the same for a very long time. Is paying more going to get you something better?
There are a few things that paying more gets you in outdoor ceiling fans.
- Size
- Design
- Build quality
- Materials
- Features
- Support
The first difference is size. Bigger fans need more materials, engineering, etc. This costs more money.
Besides size the biggest thing you get for more money is design. Like furniture, certain designers/styles cost a lot more than others. If it’s worth spending money on this is completely up to you. If you spent a lot of money on a designer and furniture already, it makes sense to get a fan that fits in perfectly. For others, the fan is just a way to stay cool. Like designer clothes, objectively they aren’t worth the money but they could be right for you if it’s the experience you’re looking for.
More expensive fans also tend to have better build quality and material use. This results in these fans lasting longer, working as intended longer and stay looking nice for longer. Most fans have DC type motors now which are quieter and more efficient but some very cheap ones might not have them yet.
Another difference between the cheapest fans and mid-range ones is the features they get. Wet rated fans almost never have a light kit but damp rated ones often do. Other features are remote controls, number of speed settings, smart capability and things like that. These features can be found in mid-range models and it’s not necessary to spend a lot of money to get them.
Finally, customer support can be something you get from a more expensive fan or rather, more expensive brand. However, this still really depends on the brand. Buying through a good retailer is also helpful if this is important to you. This can add some cost but is often worth the extra support.
