What size ceiling fan do I need?

Match blade span to the room

Measure the room's length and width and multiply to get square feet. Then use this as a starting point:

• Up to 75 sq ft (bathrooms, laundry): 29 to 36 inch blades
• 76 to 144 sq ft (bedrooms, offices): 36 to 44 inch blades
• 145 to 225 sq ft (large bedrooms, kitchens): 44 to 50 inch blades
• 226 to 400 sq ft (living rooms): 50 to 60 inch blades
• Over 400 sq ft or two-story great rooms: a 60 inch plus fan, or two fans

Get the height right

Blades work best about 8 to 9 feet above the floor and should never be lower than 7 feet. On a standard 8 foot ceiling, a flush or low-profile mount keeps clearance safe. Taller ceilings need a downrod to bring the fan down into the room:

• 9 ft ceiling: about a 6 inch downrod
• 10 ft ceiling: about a 12 inch downrod
• 12 ft ceiling: about a 24 inch downrod
• 16 to 20 ft great rooms: a 48 to 72 inch downrod
• Sloped ceilings: an angled mount rated for the pitch

Pick the right rating for porches

Indoor fans are for indoor rooms only. A screened or covered porch needs a damp-rated fan. Anywhere rain can blow onto the fan, choose wet-rated. Humid Carolina summers ruin indoor fans used outside.

Set the direction by season

In summer, run the fan counterclockwise when you look up at it, so it pushes air down. In winter, switch it to clockwise on low to move warm air off the ceiling, which makes a real difference in tall great rooms.