It's not too late to cool down
Cai Cramer is a shopping writer at PEOPLE.com with 2 years’ experience in journalism and digital media. She regularly tests the best and buzziest products in the beauty and lifestyle spaces and has researched and written about moisturizers, blow dryers, clothing, and luggage, among many other popular products. Ventilator
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Walking outside into the thick summer heat and away from the chilly embrace of your air conditioning unit or ceiling fan is a daunting feat — luckily for summer travelers, a few cooling devices exist to make your commute a breeze (literally). Enter: portable fans.
You can take the cool air with you on the go with a portable mini fan or neck fan. The handheld devices emit a stream of fresh air at the press of a button. It’s no wonder mini fans have gone viral amongst TikTok users who take their fans with them everywhere, including subway rides, long days at theme parks, and while gardening.
There are a few different types of portable fans available on the market, including neck fans, handheld fans, and clip fans. To make your shopping experience easier, we rounded up the seven best mini fans and neck fans at Amazon based on battery life, design, and customer reviews.
Keep reading to find portable fans to keep you chill this summer.
If you’re looking for a hands-free fan that’ll keep you cool while you move, this neck fan is a great choice (and it won’t draw attention!)
If you’d prefer a handheld device that doesn’t go around the shoulders, then check out one of our other picks
Neck fans are a great way to stay cool on the go, thanks to their hands-free design. This one from Jisulife is a best seller on Amazon, and it’s earned over 26,000 five-star ratings. The neck fan is sleekly designed with air outlets around the entire neck piece, which blows a constant stream of cool, soft air around the head and shoulders. It’s designed to look more like a pair of headphones than a mini fan, which shoppers say helped them feel less self-conscious.
One customer noted that the Jisulife neck fan is a "game changer" in the gym, saying, “Normally, by the end of a workout, my shirt is drenched in sweat, but with this, I barely even sweat through the gym shirts anymore!” Another happy shopper said this portable fan is a "life saver" on hot summer days in Florida.
Price at time of publish: $23.99 (orig. $39.99)
Type: Neck fan | Battery life: 4-16 hours depending on speed used | Fan speed: 4000 mAh | Weight: 9 ounces
This portable fan is the perfect size to slip in your purse or backpack, and we’d recommend it to anyone who wants cool air on-the-go
Because this is a handheld fan, you’ll either have to hold it or set it up on a table to use, so it isn’t the best choice on our list for treadmill workouts
Before you head out the door and into the heat, grab a mini fan and slip it into your bag. We especially love the Jisulife handheld fan for use on the go because it folds down to be about the size of a restaurant salt shaker and is surprisingly powerful. Plus, it has a few extra features that make it a great multi-use tool, including a built-in charging back for your phone and a mini flashlight that’s useful in a pinch.
The Jisulife fan is USB rechargeable, and the battery lasts for up to 21 hours of use (less if you use it on the highest setting), which is more than most others on our list. The blades are made from a soft plastic that automatically stops when touched, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally nipping your finger. We also love the adorable design and cute color options.
Price at time of publish: $17.99 (orig. $24.99)
Type: Handheld mini fan | Battery life: 14-21 hours depending on speed used | Weight: 4.4 ounces
If you’re looking for a basic portable fan that costs less than most other options on the market, then this is a great choice
For anyone who wants more than two speed options and a few more features; you may be disappointed by the simplicity of this device
This handheld fan does exactly what it claims to do and is priced very well compared to other portable fans at Amazon. That’s probably because it doesn’t have as many fancy features as some of the other options on our list, but it doesn’t need to — it has two speeds and can flip open, closed, or to 90 degrees to be propped up on a table. It’s USB rechargeable and about the size of a small pencil case. So, if you’re looking for a basic portable fan to store in your bag or at your office desk, this one is a great (and reasonably priced) option.
Price at time of publish: $9.99 with coupon (orig. $10.99)
Type: Handheld mini fan | Battery life: 9-15 hours depending on speed used | Weight: 3.66 ounces
This handheld fan propels a stream of air that can help set down makeup and cool you off
Because it has a larger fan head compared to other handheld devices on our list, this one isn’t the most compact
Cream makeup products are the key to a dewy look, but getting them to set down on your face (especially when it’s hot out) can be an uphill battle. Using a fan to dry down makeup can help it to last longer and still maintain the dewy finish without the need for powder. The Gaiatop Mini Portable fan fits in the palm of your hand, making it easy to comfortably maneuver around your face to set your makeup down — or just cool down. The mini propellers create a cool breeze that feels oh-so refreshing, though that does also make the head of this fan larger than some of the others on our list, so it’s not our top pick for on-the-go use.
Price at time of publish: $9.99
Type: Handheld fan | Battery life: Not listed | Weight: 3.17 ounces
This clip-on Tuxedo fan is a great choice for anyone who wants a device to keep them cool while they walk around (perfect for a trip to a theme park on a hot day!)
This fan is slightly more expensive than some of the others on our list, so if you’re looking for a simple, cheap fan, then we found other options that you might prefer
You can cool down hands-free thanks to the clip-on EZ Tuxedo fan. The device is small, only about 3 inches across, and attaches to your shirt collar with a built-in silicon clip so that you can cool down while you go about your day without worrying about the device slipping off.
One happy customer wrote that they purchased the EZ Tuxedo for their daughter to wear on a hot day at Walt Disney World, saying, “This was lightweight for her and able to keep her cool the whole day at the park.” It’s a little more expensive than some of the other options on our list, but from that glowing review, we think it’s worth the price.
Price at time of publish: $18.99 with coupon (orig. $19.99)
Type: Clip-on fan | Battery life: Not listed | Weight: 4.2 ounces
Available in a variety of fun colors, this neck fan is great for anyone looking for a wearable device that resembles a pair of headphones more than a fan
This fan is slightly heavier than some of the others on our list, so if you want a lighter fan, then choose a smaller option
The Asnug is another one of the most popular neck fans at Amazon, and with a nearly 5-star rating, it’s not hard to see why. We love that it comes in a variety of fun colors and looks like a pair of headphones when worn around the neck, keeping you cool while being semi-discreet.
One shopper says that this fan “cools me down significantly," while another shopper says it is a "must-have" for hot flashes. With three speeds and multiple vents that direct the cool air around your face and neck, the Asnug neck fan is a discreet portable fan that you can use anywhere. One thing to note is that this neck fan is heavier than the other personal fans on our list, but the adjustable arms distribute the weight across your neck and shoulders comfortably, so it won’t feel as heavy as it is.
Price at time of publish: $21.67 with coupon (orig. $31.99)
Type: Neck fan | Battery life: 4-16 hours depending on speed used | Weight: 12 ounces
If you’re looking for a device that works on-the-go or can prop itself up on your desk, then the Aocoolfan with a built-in kickstand is what you’re looking for
This fan has a lower battery life than others on our list, so look elsewhere if you need a device that will last for a long time on a single charge
There are many ways to use the Aocoolfan — hanging around your neck like a lanyard, propped up on its built-in kickstand on a desk, or clipped onto the waistband of your pants. The rechargeable fan has three gears and a working battery life of 7 hours on the lowest setting with an LED power display screen, so you can always know how much cool air time you have left.
It also comes with an adjustable lanyard, which sets it apart from other portable fans at Amazon. It is slightly larger than some other portable fans, but the multiple ways to carry it make it feel just as convenient as a smaller model.
Price at time of publish: $13.99 (orig. $16.99)
Type: Hanging fan | Battery life: 1-7 hours depending on speed used | Weight: 4.9 ounces
The number of options for personal fans can be overwhelming, so it’s best to start your shopping journey by considering what kind of device is best suited for your needs. Neck fans sit around your neck like a pair of headphones and are great for use while moving around when you want to be hands-free. Our favorite neck fan, the Jisulife Portable Neck Fan, is a great choice for activities like gardening and running errands because it allows you to still have full use of your hands.
If you’re looking for a cooling device that you can prop up on your desk while you work, then a fan with a kickstand, like the Aocoolfan Portable Hanging Neck Fan, is just what you’re looking for. And, if you’re looking for something small that you can slip into your purse, then handheld mini fans are a great option that generally costs less than neck fans.
All of the mini fans on our list are rechargeable, but the battery lives vary by device. The personal fans that offer multiple strength settings generally lose their charger faster when on the highest setting, so keep that in mind when picking out a neck fan or mini fan.
Personal fans come in all different shapes and sizes, and some are smaller and lighter-weight than others. The Nezylaf Handheld Mini Fan is one of the lightest mini fans we’ve found at under four ounces, and is the perfect size to slip into your handbag (even if you’re carrying a small, trendy purse).
This is totally dependent on which fan you choose, but generally, the battery life of a mini fan is around 1 to 16 hours. If your fan has multiple strength settings, then using it on the highest setting will drain the battery faster than if you use the fan on the lowest setting.
Both mini fans and neck fans are types of personal fans, but their main difference is how you carry them. Mini fans are generally handheld devices that require you to hold onto a handle while in use. Neck fans sit around your neck like a pair of headphones and can cool you down while keeping your hands free, making them ideal for running errands or gardening. Neck fans are generally more expensive than mini fans but can also be much more discreet.
Generally, personal fans cost anywhere from $10 to $36, depending on what kind of fan you buy. Neck fans are generally more expensive than handheld fans — but many types of personal fans are often on sale at Amazon.
Cai Cramer is a commerce writer at PEOPLE, covering the best and buzziest products across the beauty, fashion, health, and lifestyle spaces. For this story, Cai scoured the internet for the best personal fans and neck fans based on real customer reviews, battery life, strength, and functionality. Cai also took into consideration the price and quality of materials used in each fan when making her decision on which mini fans are truly the best of the best.
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