Kitchen ceiling fans are used to add function and aesthetics to your cooking area. But given the wide variety of products available, it can become difficult to choose one that will complement your kitchen the best. There are different sizes, styles, and lighting options to consider which can add to further the confusion. So, to find what’s right for your kitchen, let’s take a look at all the offerings.
We make it easier by taking the guesswork out of finding the best kitchen ceiling fan and narrowing down our choices to four excellent recommendations. Let’s start off with our Editor’s Choice, the Minka-Aire F844-DK, the perfect example of style and performance in a contemporary ceiling fan. This fan comes with all the bells and whistles including a remote control, LED lights, reversible motor, and 3 speeds to choose from. And our other recommendations don’t fall much behind either.
Because we understand that you need to put a fair bit of consideration into choosing the right kitchen ceiling fan, we will highlight the important features you should look at when making a purchase. Whether you’re looking to install a ceiling fan for the first time or replacing an old one, you will need to look at aspects such as size, blade materials, energy consumption, and motor durability to find something that will give you optimal performance. Take a look at our comparison table to get familiar with our recommendations and read about each model in the accompanying detailed product descriptions. Finish off by reading our buying guide to get a clearer idea on how to find the best kitchen ceiling fan.
More features: koa finish, remote control, adjustable speed, non-reversing, 48-degree blade pitch, ADA compliant, light dimmer
The Minka-Aire ceiling fan series is a popular one for its efficiency, functionality, and uniquely stylish appearance. These ceiling fans not only control the air flow within your kitchen but look good doing so.
With 3 distressed blades finished to look like koa wood, this fan adds an excellent contemporary touch and flare to your room or kitchen and fits well with any sort of modern décor.
The 52” blade span makes it perfect for mid-size or larger rooms, while the rather steep 48-degree pitch moves and circulates more air around – up to 5024 cubic feet per minute (CFM).
The motor for this fan is reversible and quiet, for the most part. We say for the most part because some customers report the fan makes a bit of noise during the initial 24 hours of use after assembly. However, most users with this issue find that after this period the fan is practically silent.
The Minka-Aire works at 3 speeds which are remote controlled. The reversible feature has to be activated manually from a switch on the motor.
Presenting one of the best kitchen ceiling fans with light, the Minka-Aire integrates a full-range dimmable LED light. It’s very bright and efficient with only 17 watts required to make a total of 65.3 total watts for the entire fan.
Overall this fan is an excellent addition to your mid-size or large kitchen with plenty of features you can expect from a quality fan. But most importantly, its stylish profile makes it our favorite choice for this list’s Editor’s Pick.
More features: oil rubbed bronze, adjustable speed, light dimmer, variety of hanging options, reversible motor
For larger kitchens or rooms, your average-sized ceiling fan just won’t cut it. What you need is our best choice of ceiling fan for big kitchens, the Honeywell Xerxes.
Made with an impressive blade span of 62 inches, this fan has its place best in larger rooms of a minimum 20 by 20 feet. A sleek look with a dual finish offers boldness and a contemporary take on the traditional fan.
The dual finish is oil-rubbed bronze for the main body and the choice of either dark elm or rough pine for the eight blades, depending on your preference or the lightness of the kitchen surroundings.
This fan also includes a quiet motor capable of 3 speed settings controlled by a remote. The motor is reversible. One issue regarding the speed for some customers is that the top speed is not as fast as some would like, though it does suffice for most. If you like your fans to run very fast, this one might not do the job.
This fan is Bond Home compatible and can be operated through Alexa or Google home.
The integrated LED light is 1400 lumens bright and dimmable down to 10%, though the light could be brighter.
A variety of mounting options are available for the Xerxes fan: it can be close mounted if you’re low on vertical space, mounted standard with a 4” downrod (comes included), or with an angled mount.
More features: brushed nickel motor, 13-degree blade pitch, reversible motor, speed adjustment, low-profile housing
If you’re looking for the best ceiling fan for a small kitchen, take a look at this Dempsey series model from Hunter, a company backed with about 130 years of experience in the fan-making game. With that much experience, you can be sure you’re getting a reliable quality fan. All you need to consider are the Hunter Dempsey’s features.
The Whisper Wind motor allows all powerful movement without the noisy disruptions that often come with fans. The reversible motor feature allows you to circulate air based on the temperature for better comfort in a smaller room.
This fan is recommended for indoor use only, and ideal for rooms with lower ceilings. This 44-inch blade span will fit comfortably in any small kitchen, but still have a visually pleasing presence.
This fan also has an integrated light capped with white glass and has two dimmable 9.8-watt LED bulbs included. The light isn’t very bright, though, and can work as a secondary decorative source.
Both the fan and light are controlled with a 3-speed universal remote. Some find that the remote’s appearance, specifically color, are visibly unappealing and seem out of place in contrast with the fan’s clean finish and nice contemporary look. It is a matter of preference, though, and plays no real issue with the functionality of the fan.
A limited lifetime warranty is included with this fan so you can be confident with your purchase and know you’re backed up should something go wrong.
More features: bronze finish, speed adjustment, 13-degree blade pitch, indoor and outdoor use, reversible motor
The Honeywell Palm Island ceiling is one that truly gives you value for the price. At just over $100, it still has all the looks and simple functionality, and offers enough good features to be nominated this list’s budget pick.
With a bronze finish and five tropical leaf style fan blades made from ABS, this fan with fit in and look stylish in any mid-size or large setting, it can be even used as an outdoor ceiling fan. The 52” blade span makes it suitable for a better range of room sizes.
Though this fan does not have a remote control, it has rather simple 4 speed and reversible manual controls and is compatible with any universal Honeywell fan remote. The manual controls are your traditional pull chains that are familiar to most.
The fan is quiet and has a common 13-degree blade pitch that offers a good amount of air circulation. Some argue that the fan doesn’t provide much air flow, though this may be due to user error or issues with assembly.
The Palm Islands fan takes about one hour to assemble and set up before use. A limited lifetime warranty is included to back up your purchase as a quality and satisfaction guarantee.
This fan is overall a great one for the quality and price, and on top of that it’ll make a stylish addition to your kitchen
Adding a ceiling fan is a convenient way to update the look of your kitchen. Contemporary kitchen fans offer the perfect blend of reliable, quiet, and efficient performance that can complement the rest of your décor. To help you get the best of form and functionality in one, we have put together this buying guide to let you find the best ceiling fan for your kitchen.
Kitchens tend to get hot when ovens, toasters and other appliances are in frequent use. Even though kitchens have their own exhaust vents, installing a ceiling fan can add to the comfort when cooking. For starters, a kitchen ceiling fan can help dissipate the heat from the stove. Plus, it can disperse the smell while the food cooks. And if the kitchen is not too well-lit, you can get a ceiling fan with lights to brighten up your cooking area as well.
Important components during ceiling fan installation include the support brace, outlet box, mounting bracket, motor housing, canopy and the fan blades. To view a simple step-by-step installation guide, view this handy video here
Removing a ceiling fan for maintenance or for cleaning is also quite easy.
The ceiling fan you choose for your kitchen should be as stylish as it is functional. This means getting something that fits your kitchen’s design profile, is size-appropriate, and provides a lifetime of exceptional service. To find the right level of performance, style and comfort, look for the following features when shopping for a kitchen ceiling fan.
Installing a ceiling fan with lights is a simple solution to illuminate any dimly-lit kitchen. There is quite a wide variety of lighting choices available with everything from globe lights, bowl lights, and glass shades to downlights and everything in between.
If the kitchen already has a well-established lighting system in place, you can choose a ceiling fan without lights. These are a more cost-effective option, and a good fit for kitchens that can do with better air circulation but don’t need additional lighting.
The energy consumption of a ceiling fan depends on the number of watts the fan uses. This can range anywhere between 10 and 120 watts. Other variables include the fan size, speed, and whether there are any light fixtures or not.
For the most part, fan sizes range between 36 and 56 inches using 55 to 100 watts.
Those without lights are extremely energy efficient. For models with lights, you will have to consider the wattage of the light bulb being used. For instance, LED lights offer the most energy efficient solution using very little energy with an average life span of 50,000 hours. Halogen lights consume 15% less energy than traditional incandescent lights while fluorescent lights use 75% less energy.
Ceiling fans are measured by the full size of their blade span. If you select a fan with too small a blade span, it will wrestle to circulate the air. On the flip side, a larger-than-recommended blade span will become an energy waster.
Along with the blade span, the ceiling height of your kitchen will also matter. Kitchens with tall ceilings require a fan with a downrod to suspend it from the ceiling, while others with standard or low ceilings will use a low-profile or flush mount ceiling fan. These models hug the ceiling and don’t hang too low. The Hunter Dempsey featured today is an excellent low-profile option to consider. For safety, the bottom of the fan needs to be at least 7 feet above the floor.
To find the right sized fan for your kitchen, you will also need to take the kitchen dimensions in account.
Categorized as dry-rated, these fans are best suited for indoor use featuring furniture-grade wood blades. Wood is easy to work into most decors and when paired with the right finish to prevent warping, can make interesting additions to kitchens.
But for a more kitchen-friendly material, consider plastic as an option. Plastic gives a neater, simpler look and comes in an assortment of shapes and colors. There is definitely a wider variety of options to choose from with plastic possessing superior qualities to shrug off moisture and humidity, should it accumulate in the kitchen.
Ceiling fans come with the option of either pulling a chain control to adjust fan speed and lighting or with a remote control. Another option is wall control which controls the fan with the push of a button.
The pull chain models offer basic control and are best suited for low-traffic areas. They also work well with low-profile ceiling fans.
Remote controlled fans, on the other hand, offer the convenience factor. Remotes have a typical range of between 30 and 50 feet for fans installed on high ceilings or others set up in hard-to-reach places. The Minka-Aire incorporates this convenience factor by including a remote control with the initial purchase.
In terms of size, the most common blade span measures between 42 and 52 inches. Among these, fans with shorter blades offer more direct airflow and are better suited for smaller kitchens. Longer blades work better for larger rooms and deliver a softer, more comfortable airflow.
Ceiling fans typically come with 3, 4 or 5 blades, though there are some two-blade versions as well. To many this may only seem a matter of aesthetics, but the number of blades actually make a difference in performance.
For instance, the higher the number of blades, the quieter the fan and the less air it circulates. Additional blades can increase the drag on the fan’s motor and slow it down. The Honeywell Xerxes will its 8 blades will give you a gentle breeze every time you turn it on.
For indoor use, ceiling fans will typically feature 4 or 5 blades as this number provides the ideal balance between the amount of air being circulated and the tolerable ambient noise created.
Another feature to consider is the blade pitch. This refers to the angle, measured in degrees, between a 180-degree horizontal plane and the tilt of the fan’s blade. The angle makes a difference in how much air the fan circulates.
Ideally, ceiling fans with a blade pitch of 12 to 15 degrees provide the best circulation. For a kitchen setting, you don’t want a fan that moves too much air, one that snuffs out the flame if working on a propane stove. Neither should it move too slow so that it doesn’t even yield a much-needed breeze in the kitchen.
Perhaps one of the most significant design elements to consider when buying a ceiling fan is its motor. The motor size, its durability, and longevity are all factors that impact the fan’s performance. A high-quality motor delivers superior airflow and a longer life. Given its construction, a durable motor doesn’t get stressed providing adequate ventilation. It also runs quieter and cooler with less motor hum.
Basic, no-light models of ceiling fans, many of which are ideal for simple kitchens, can often be found under $100. For a bigger budget, you can get something with more style, finish, and lighting options. And if you’re willing to spend a little extra on your kitchen ceiling fan, you can add on to its functionality, motor performance, and a greater variety of styles for a price range starting at $200 with an upper limit of up to $700-$800. Of course, there are fancier ceiling fan models that go beyond this price range, but those are for other rooms in the house and not the kitchen so much.
The best overall fan for your kitchen would have to be the Minka-Aire F844-DK. This great all-round fan is stylish in its own unique way and is sure to fit in any kitchen or living room setting. Its visuals also affect its functionality, making it more effective and efficient so you’re getting a win-win deal with this fan.
The best choice for a large kitchen would have to be the Honeywell 62-inch Xerxes ceiling fan. This large 8-blade ceiling fan is a stylish contemporary piece while providing comfort and sufficient temperature regulation for kitchens from 20 by 20 feet to larger.
The best kitchen ceiling fan for smaller rooms is the Hunter Dempsey. This 42-inch ceiling fan is ideal for low ceiling kitchens with a small area and made by a company with more than plenty of experience in the field. With a powerful motor that knows how to keep quiet, you won’t get distracted by the loud, nonexistent whirring of this fan.