5 Best Ceiling Fans for a Hot Garage

Spending an extended amount of time in a hot, humid garage can be torture. With no airflow, hot air gets trapped, and it can get stuffy. I know how difficult it can be to deal with the heat in the summer, especially when you are working on a big project in the garage. 

One solution is to open your garage door, but then you lose your privacy. The better option is to purchase a garage ceiling fan. There are plenty of options out there, and they do a great job of keeping your garage cool even during the hottest times of the year. 


Best Garage Ceiling Fans

Finding the right ceiling fan for your garage will ultimately come down to preference. Still, there are certainly better products out there than others. We have gathered some of the best examples of ceiling fans designed for garages specifically and have come up with a great showcase of products. Here we will look at a few of the best garage ceiling fans you can find on the market.


Minka-Aire F896-65-CL Xtreme

The Minka-Aire F896 Xtreme comes in two different blade sizes, making it my top choice for garage ceiling fans. 

The 84″ diameter model moves almost 11,000 CFM of air, making it perfect for homes with 3-car garages (or bigger). 

The 65″ diameter model moves up to 9,036 CFM of air, making it better suited for 2-car or single-car garages. 

Both have eight fan blades made from ABS plastic and are available in several colors: brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, smoked iron, black, and white. It’s easy to find a look that compliments your garage design. 

Furthermore, the product is wet and ETL damp-rated. That makes it suitable for your garage, just in case you leave the garage door open during a rainstorm. There shouldn’t be many situations where it gets wet, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

The Minka-Aire F896 is an excellent option if you have an oversized garage. The only major complaint is that there’s no LED light included. You’ll definitely need to have some other type of garage lighting if you want to use this ceiling fan. 

Finally, it isn’t cheap, so it only makes sense if you need an industrial-strength garage ceiling fan.

Minka-Aire F896-65-CL Xtreme 65" Ceiling Fan
$489.95
Buy Now
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
03/14/2023 08:29 pm GMT

Big Air Industrial Ceiling Fan

If you like the look of Big Ass Fans but can’t stomach the $2,000 price tag, the Big Air ICF72UPS may just be what you’re looking for. 

Designed for massive garages up to 2,040 sq. ft., this ceiling fan has nine aluminum fan blades and a 72″ diameter. That allows it to move over 10,000 CFM of air!

With six different speeds, users can fine-tune the fan’s speed based on the temperature of your garage. It’s also reversible, so you can use it in both summer and winter. 

Finally, this product comes with a one-year warranty. So, if anything goes wrong, you can have it replaced.

Big Air 72" Industrial Ceiling Fan
$609.99
Buy Now
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
03/14/2023 07:14 pm GMT

Minka-Aire F868L-WHF

The Minka-Aire F868L-WHF looks more like your typical indoor ceiling fan than the ones we’ve seen so far. It comes in several colors, like black, bronze, and brushed nickel, but most people choose white. 

It has a standard three-blade design that moves up to 6,000 CFM of air, enough to help cool a typical 2-car garage. 

This fan comes with a handheld remote with six pre-set fan speeds and controls the internal 1200 lumen LED light. 

The Minka-Aire F868L is the first smart fan on this list. It has a dedicated app for iOS and Android devices and integration with Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Nest, and Ecobee. That allows you to use your voice to control the fan, as long as you have one of those smart devices in your garage. 

As good as it is, the Minka-Aire F868L is only 60 inches in diameter. It’s the perfect size to place directly over your workbench, but it’s too small to cool an average-sized garage. 

Minka-Aire F868L 60" Smart Ceiling Fan
$349.95
Buy Now
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
03/14/2023 06:14 pm GMT

Hubbell Industrial 72″ Ceiling Fan

Similar to the Big Air ceiling fan, but even more affordable, the Hubbel Industrial fan is next on our list. 

This product is 72 inches in diameter and has six aluminum blades that move 8423 CFM of air on the highest speed setting. It comes with a metal wall control to adjust the settings. 

Like other fans on this list, the Hubbel industrial ceiling fan can be set to spin in both directions, depending on the season. It’s also indoor\outdoor rated, so it can still operate in more humid or damp conditions. 

It has six speeds, so you can adjust it to fit your need depending on the severity of the heat or cold. We all know how those late-season days can be where the temperature is all over the place, and it’s an excellent option for just such occasions. 

Hubbell 72" Industrial Ceiling Fan
Buy Now
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

Air King 9375 1/3 HP Oscillating Ceiling Mount Fan

The final fan on the list is from Air King. Unlike the other fans on this list, it mounts vertically on your ceiling instead of on a wall.

Even though it only has three 30″ blades and three-speed settings, it moves up to 8780 CFM of air at high speed. That’s almost as much as the Minka-Aire F896 at less than half the size!

Since it’s smaller than everything else on the list, the Air-King oscillating ceiling fan allows you to install it in places where a traditional garage ceiling fan wouldn’t fit. 

It’s also one of the lightest options on the market, weighing just 44.9 lbs. If you are worried about applying too much weight to your ceiling, this product is a good option.

I use an Air King wall-mounted fan in my garage, and I’ve been really impressed with the performance. 

The detailed user manual has all the information you need to assemble this garage ceiling fan. However, if you have any questions, you can see my review of my Air-King industrial fan to get an idea of the process.

Air King 30-Inch Industrial Grade Oscillating Ceiling Mount Fan
$435.72
Buy Now
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
03/14/2023 09:14 pm GMT

FAQs

Here you can find some of the answers to your most pressing questions about garage ceiling fans.

Should You Put a Ceiling Fan in Your Garage?

There’s no right or wrong answer to this question, but if you’re asking the question, you probably should. There is no significant downside to installing a garage ceiling fan. As a result, you only stand to benefit from the purchase. It should make you more comfortable. This should make it where it should improve your overall experience while working on your projects.

How Big of a Ceiling Fan Do You Need for Your Garage?

The answer to this question depends on the size of your garage. However, if you have a standard-sized garage, you should stick to 50 to 60-inch garage ceiling fans. These dimensions should provide you with the air circulation you need without making it too windy. If you have a garage that exceeds 400 square feet, you should think about getting a garage ceiling fan around 60 inches in width.

How Many Blades Should a Ceiling Fan Have?

It does not matter if you are getting a garage ceiling fan or a ceiling fan for your bedroom. In either case, the fan should have the same number of blades. 

In most cases, three blades are optimal for efficient air circulation. Some devices work fine with four or five blades, but the installation process is more complicated with these devices. Additionally, they are usually noisier, heavier, and draw more power.

Where Should Fans Be Placed in the Garage?

Most of you will only be installing one garage ceiling fan, so you should place it in the center of your ceiling, along one of the studs or ceiling joists. Doing so will produce enough airflow to cool the entire room. When installing multiple ceiling fans, position them equidistant from the wall and each other. That ensures good airflow throughout your garage.

Can You Install an Industrial Fan in Your House?

If you want to invest in the quality of the fan you are installing, you might be thinking about an industrial fan. So, can you install an industrial fan in your house? The short answer is that it depends on the size of your garage. Safety codes state that industrial fans are only safe in areas where the blades are no closer than 10 feet from the ground. Most residential garage ceilings are around 10′, so be sure your garage has enough headroom before purchasing an industrial garage ceiling fan. 

Photo of author

Tim Wells

Tim Wells, the founder of Garage Transformed, has been featured in dozens of home renovation publications, including BobVila.com, Home Stratosphere, House Digest, Livingetc, and SFGate. Since 2018, he has helped over two million people transform their everyday garages into something they can be proud of. He lives in Central Florida with his wife and bulldog.