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I tested desk fans to help stay cool working from home – the winner surprised me and is great value too

All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue.

AS temperatures soar, many home workers will be missing the office air conditioning.

It's no picnic trying to plough through work while you swelter in a hot and humid room.

It's no picnic trying to plough through work while you swelter
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It's no picnic trying to plough through work while you swelterCredit: Oliver Dixon

Sales of desk fans have been on the rise since the warm weather hit - but which will keep you the coolest?

Lynsey Hope, 42, works from her home in West Malling, Kent, and tried out a range.

And the winner is compact and will only cost you £20.

Tower Scandi Metal Desk Fan

  • £24.99 
  • towerhousewares.co.uk

More from money

A bit of a faff to put together but once up, it's wonderful
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A bit of a faff to put together but once up, it's wonderfulCredit: Oliver Dixon

This Scandi-inspired grey and wood desk fan is super stylish and a practical addition to any home office.

It was a bit of a faff to put together but once up, it's wonderful.

It has three speed settings and you can adjust the direction of the airflow across an 80-degree angle.

It has a carry handle making it easy to move around and was the most powerful in our test.

Amazing price too. Perfect for instant cooling.

  • Ease of use: 7/10
  • Cool factor: 10/10
  • Overall score: 9/10

Voxon Desk Fan Air Circulator

  • £32.99
Not the most attractive but you can wall mount it, which might suit some
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Not the most attractive but you can wall mount it, which might suit someCredit: Oliver Dixon

Not the most powerful but quiet and provides a gentle breeze.

What I liked most about this was the tilt, which you could adjust by up to 90 degrees.

It has three settings and ran quietly.

It's not the most attractive but you can wall mount it, which might suit some.

  • Ease of use: 10/10
  • Cool factor: 7/10
  • Overall score: 8/10

Igenix Clip On Desk Fan

  • £8.49
Handy to clip on to a bunk or cabin bed as well as your desk
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Handy to clip on to a bunk or cabin bed as well as your deskCredit: Oliver Dixon

The biggest issue with this was that it was too narrow to clip on my desk, so it would be no use to me.

Check measurements before you buy.

It has two speed settings and is compact to store if you only need it out a few hot days of the year.

It would be handy to clip on to a bunk or cabin bed too.

  • Ease of use: 7/10
  • Cool factor: 4/10
  • Overall score: 6/10

Beldray 4 inch USB Desk Fan

  • £6.50
  • Wilko
Very basic but cheap and good for carrying from home to work
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Very basic but cheap and good for carrying from home to workCredit: Oliver Dixon

Quite noisy considering its small size. I found it a bit off-putting whilst I was doing work.

It's very basic but cheap and at just 15cm wide and 15cm tall, it's easy to store and easily portable so you can transport it between home and work effortlessly.

The USB cable means the fan can be connected to a wall socket and your laptop if you're on the go.

  • Ease of use: 10/10
  • Cool factor: 6/10
  • Overall score: 7/10

Daewoo Rechargeable Table Fan

  • £20
  • Wickes
A sleek design with four speed settings, ideal for keeping you cool whilst your work
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A sleek design with four speed settings, ideal for keeping you cool whilst your workCredit: Oliver Dixon

I was surprised by how much air this gave off given its compact size.

It provided a good breeze and didn't take up too much space on my desk.

It's a sleek design with four speed settings, ideal for keeping you cool while you work. Great value at Wickes too.

  • Ease of use: 10/10
  • Cool factor: 10/10
  • Overall score: 10/10

Scandi Style Desk Fan

  • £34.99
  • The Range
Perfect for anyone who wants to keep cool while keeping their room chic
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Perfect for anyone who wants to keep cool while keeping their room chicCredit: Oliver Dixon

Designed with wood-effect blades and base, this metal fan is perfect for anyone who wants to keep cool while keeping their room chic and stylish.

You can adjust the angle and it has three settings. It's quite big for a desk but a lovely addition to a home office if you have the space."

  • Ease of use: 9/10
  • Cool factor: 8/10
  • Overall score: 8/10

Status 9 inch Desk Fan

  • £15
  • Asda
Cheap and cheerful but does the job
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Cheap and cheerful but does the jobCredit: Oliver Dixon

A bit plasticky looking but it does the job and is a good price.

It has two speed settings but you can only adjust the angle by 15 degrees so not as versatile as others.

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Bit of a rattling noise whenever it was on, which I didn't like.

  • Ease of use: 6/10
  • Cool factor: 4/10
  • Overall score: 4/10
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