Ceiling Fan Sizes By Room & Square Footage

A ceiling fan is an elegant and subtle way to keep a room cool. Much like there are many ways to design and style a room, there are many different ceiling fan sizes that can match your room design. It is important to choose the right ceiling fan sizes for your rooms. The right sized ceiling fan can increase the amount of air circulating in your room, keeping things cool and even saving you money.

A good ceiling fan requires much less electricity to run than an air conditioner so is a much more cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to cool a room. In order to maximize the cooling ability of a ceiling fan, it’s important to choose the right sized ceiling fan.

Ceiling Fan Size Chart

Here’s a quick look at the standard ceiling fan sizes depending on room sizes and the corresponding blade span needed. Scroll down for additional details about the calculations used to determine these results.

Ceiling fan sizes by room dimensions:

Room Size	Ceiling Fan Size	Blade Span	CFM Rating
10×10 ft	Small	42″ or under	1,000-3,000
12×12 ft	Medium	44″	around 1,600
15×15 ft	Large	50″ or more	4,500 recommended

Ceiling fan sizes by square footage:

Bedroom Size	Ceiling Fan Size	Blade Span	CFM Rating
Small (144 sq. ft)	Small	Under 42″	1,000-3,000
Medium (144-255 sq. ft)	Medium	44-50″	1,600-4,500
Large (225-400 sq. ft)	Large	50″ or more	2,300-6,500

What Size Fan for Room?

The size of ceiling fan that you will need for a room depends on the proportions of the room. So not just how big the room is but also how high your ceiling is.

Ceiling fans come in a variety of sizes and are measured by taking into consideration the blade span or the blade sweep. You can get the blade span by measuring the distance from the tip of a fan blade to the tip of the blade that is directly across from it.

Basically, you need to match your ceiling fan size to the room area. General rule is, get the room’s square footage by multiplying the room length and room width in feet. Look for ceiling fan sizes that are designed to cool a room of your dimensions.

Most ceiling fan manufactures will clearly label their fan with blade span and might even give you a recommendation on the room size they should be used in.

Often, there will also be a “CFM rating”. The CFM rating of a ceiling fan is how much air the fan can move per minute. This is measured as cubic feet per minute (CFM).

To get a better idea of how well a ceiling fan can cool a space, you should compare the CFM to the room’s cubic footage. Another thing you need to consider is the ceiling height or the measure of the distance from your room floor to the peak of your room’s ceiling. [Source: Energy.gov Federal Regulations for Ceiling Fans]

To ensure adequate air circulation, you need to choose a fan that will hang at least eight inches from the room’s ceiling. For safety’s sake, however, you need to make sure that your ceiling fan hangs at least seven feet from the floor.

Fan Calculator

You can use this calculator to quickly determine the size needed based on your room size. To use input the room’s length and width and you will see the product best suited for your room’s square footage.

What size ceiling fan do I need for a 10×10 room?

For a room that is 10×10 feet, you need a ceiling fan that can cool an area of 100 square feet.

For rooms less than 144 square feet, product manufactures provide fans with blade spans of 42” or under. You should also try to ensure that it has a CFM rating of 1,000-3,000.

What size ceiling fan do I need for a 12×12 room?

For a 12×12 room, get a ceiling fan size that can efficiently cool an area of 144 square feet. Look for one with a blade span of 44” and a CFM rating of around 1,600.

What size ceiling fan do I need for a 15×15 room?

For a room that is 15×15 feet, you need a ceiling fan designed to cool an area of 225 square feet. Get a one with a blade span of around 50” and a recommended CFM rating of 4,500.

Can a fan be too big for a room?

It might seem like more is better – after all, more air circulation equals a cooler room right? But this isn’t necessarily the case.

If you get a unit that is too big, there will be too much air circulation and instead of a cooling effect, you are going to get a windy effect.

A fan too big for a room will send lightweight things flying – this means your hair-do will be messed up, your papers won’t stay in place, and even fabrics will be sent fluttering.

What is the best size ceiling fan for a bedroom?

This master bedroom features a modern ceiling fan with tray ceiling and gray wall paneling.

If you have a small bedroom with an area of 144 feet, get a unit with a blade span of under 42” and a CFM rating of 1,000 -3,000.

For a medium sized bedroom, with an area of 144-255 square feet, get a blade span of 44-50” and a CFM rating of 1,600 -4,500.

If you have a big bedroom with an area of 225-400 square feet, get a blade size of 50 or more. Look for a CFM rating of 2,300-6,500.

For those who want to circulate air in an outdoor patio it can be slightly different and its important to know the proper sizes.

Sources: Energy Star and  Energy.gov