Is An 8’ Ceiling Too Low For Mounting a Ceiling Fan?

Rooms with lower ceilings are pretty common and often they can feel even hotter than larger rooms because of this. A ceiling fan seems like a good solution but can also seem a bit dangerous. Can you use a ceiling fan on a 8’ high ceiling? Here’s what you want to know. 

It is possible and allowed to mount a ceiling fan on 8’ high ceilings as long as the bottom of the blades is at least 7’ from the floor. This will require the use of a low profile or hugger fan to make sure the blades don’t come too low and pose a potential danger.

Let’s dive in a little deeper and find out how you can mount a ceiling fan on a 8’ high ceiling safely below. 

Can You Mount a Ceiling Fan On a 8’ High Ceiling?

The main worry about mounting a ceiling fan on lower ceilings is of course the fact that you could be caught in the blades. Is this really a problem? The biggest issue is the height of the blades of course. The spinning blades can do some serious damage if you get anything stuck in it so taking safety serious is important. 

The height of the blades impacts how easy it is to touch the blades with some body part. The lower the ceiling, the lower the blades will be. 

In general (rules depend on location), 7’ is the minimum distance from the floor to the blades that’s allowed. And this rule makes a lot of sense. This distance means pretty much everyone can stand up under that fan and not have the fan hit their head or catch their hair. 

Since 7’ is less than 8’, we can safely say that it’s possible to mount a ceiling fan IF you can find a ceiling fan that has 12” or less of distance from the ceiling to the bottom of the fans. 

Minimum height for a ceiling fan with dimensions.

What Type Of Ceiling Fan Works On 8’ High Ceilings?

As said above, if you can keep the blades at least 7’ from the floor, it’s safe to mount a ceiling fan on a 8’ high ceiling. That means a fan with the blades 12” or less from the ceiling is necessary. There are some so called “low-profile” and “hugger” fans that have the blades very close to the ceiling. You can usually find the dimensions in the listing for a ceiling fan. Especially with models that are targeted towards lower ceilings, the manufacturer will tell you how far the blades are from the ceiling. 

If the dimensions aren’t listed, you’ll have to either; Measure the distance yourself if you’ve got physical access. Or find another model. Don’t just take the marketeers word for it if the model says; “low-profile”. Low-profile doesn’t actually mean anything so you’ll have to look at the dimensions to be sure. 

The key dimension you’re looking at is the distance from the bottom of the blades to the ceiling. To be clear; you’re looking for a distance of at most 12”. Less is good too but be aware that there is a relationship between the distance from the ceiling and performance. 

The closer the fan is to the ceiling, the more difficult it becomes for the fan to ‘suck’ up the air above the blades and push it down and so create airflow. The closer the blades are to the ceiling, the smaller the gap on the sides becomes. This means when the fan creates a low pressure area above the blades, the pressure doesn’t equalize as quickly. That has as result that the fan has to work harder to push the same amount of air as with a bigger gap. 

However, you have to deal with the space you have available. This means that a little reduced efficiency is something you’ll have to accept in order to still be able to use a ceiling fan with lower ceilings. Having a slightly less effective ceiling fan is better than having nothing at all. 

Suggested: Should ceiling fans be close to the ceiling?

How Can People Get Hurt From Ceiling Fans?

People can get hurt by ceiling fans in multiple ways, like hitting their heads and getting concussions. The medical injuries that occur from ceiling fans seem minimal, but they can be very serious. 

Surprisingly, tall people are not the only ones who can get hurt by fans. People who carry things on their shoulders are also at risk of hurting themselves when they come in contact with a low-hanging ceiling fan. 

Ceiling fans are more dangerous than people assume. The following are some of the ways that people can get hurt from ceiling fans: 

  • Hitting their heads on ceiling fans.
  • Hitting items against them.
  • Hitting other body parts on ceiling fans, such as your arms, feet, and legs.
  • Items/clothes becoming caught in ceiling fan.
  • Hair becoming caught in ceiling fan.

8 Reasons your ceiling fan isn’t working

Is It Legal To Install a Ceiling Fan on a 7′ Ceiling?

Installing a ceiling fan in a 7′ (2.1 m) ceiling is legal in some places, but doing so is very dangerous. Ceiling fan blades must be at least 7′ (2.1 m) above the ground to meet safety standards. Therefore, installing a ceiling fan on a ceiling any shorter than 8’ (2.4 m) is against safety guidelines. 

Inspectors are allowed to come at any time to evaluate new residential or commercial builds. Not abiding by city codes can have any build torn down without a refund. To save money and labor, consult with a contractor before beginning any large build. 

Contractors and architects are knowledgeable about ceiling fans and are more than happy to help. 

Suggested: What could cause a ceiling fan to spark?

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

Recent Posts