What Size Ceiling Fan Do I Need
“What size ceiling fan do I need?” is one of the most common questions we get here at Ceiling Fans Warehouse. It’s a great question to ask, because you will only get the most out of a fan if it’s the right size for your space.
Next, think about how you actually use the room. You will only feel the effects of the ceiling fan when you are either close to it or directly beneath it. A lot of our customers will install the fan in the centre of the room, but there’s nothing stopping you from placing it off to one side.
The larger the ceiling fan diameter, the larger the space it will cool. As long as the fan is installed directly over the area you will be using / needing the cooling the most, most sizes will be fine.
There are a few sizing categories:
Our “small” category includes fans with a diameter under 48″
Standard size ceiling fans are between 48″ and 56″ in diameter
Large ceiling fans are fans sized 56″ and over, including 80″, 84″ and 96″
Ceiling Fan Sizes – Inches & Centimeters
Most people in the industry measure ceiling fans in inches, however more and more people are asking us to help them convert the sizes into centimetres. Our listings still refer to ceiling size in inches, but you can use the information below to help guide your search:
(Note: please note that some of these conversions are rounded)
Small
| 36″ | 91cm |
|---|---|
| 44″ | 112cm |
| 48″ | 122 cm |
Medium
| 52″ | 132cm |
|---|---|
| 54″ | 137cm |
| 56″ | 142cm |
Large
| 60″ | 152cm |
|---|---|
| 80″ | 203cm |
| 96″ | 244cm |
Don’t forget the drop!
It’s easy to focus on the diameter of the fan when you’re thinking about how effective it will be. However, the ceiling fan’s installation height is also very important. And this depends on the length of the fan from the canopy to the blade.
Tip: This measurement is indicated on our listings under the specifications tab. Look for the ceiling to blade drop.
For safety reasons, the blades on the ceiling fan should be at least 2.1 metres above the ground. Most ceilings in Australia are 2.4 metres high. If your ceilings are around that height, look for a fan with a ceiling to blade drop of about 300mm. If your ceilings are lower, check out our low-profile ceiling fan category.
In contrast, higher ceilings don’t raise many safety concerns, but installing a fan with a low ceiling to blade drop up high puts more distance between you and the fan. Although this doesn’t affect the airflow output from the fan, it means it has further to travel before you feel it. The optimal ceiling to blade drop is somewhere between 2.1 and 2.5m above the ground. However if you have high ceilings, there’s no need to search for a ceiling with an extraordinary ceiling to blade drop. Most fans have extension rods available as an accessory. The most common rod length is 90 cm, which the electrician cuts down to size. Many fans also have longer lengths available rod lengths available, but not all.