8 Best Garage Ceiling Fans That Are Quiet (2022)

You can use many types of fans in a garage; one of them is ceiling fans. Ceiling fans are installed on the ceiling of the garage; obviously. But since garages are likely to have moisture in them, the fans used in them are recommended to be damp rated. That means those fans should be able to withstand moisture. You can also use wet-rated fans.

Another good thing about using ceiling fans in a garage is that they are quieter than other types of fans. High-velocity fans, including wall-mounted fans, are noisy. But since ceiling fans have larger blade spans, they can provide the same airflow at a lower speed. This comparatively low-speed operation makes them quieter.

Given below is my curated list of quiet ceiling fans I found best for garages of different sizes;

Fan Model	Blade Span	Maximum Airflow	Suitable Garage Floor Area
Hunter Fan Company Builder Elite	52 inch	4999 CFM	225 sq.ft (1 car garage)
Hunter Fan Company 59262 Cassius collection	52 inch	5537 CFM	225 sq.ft (1 car garage)
Emerson Loft	60 inch	7530 CFM	400 sq.ft (2 car garage)
Big Ass Fans i6	60 inch	9676 CFM	400 sq.ft (2 car garage)
Casa Vieja Domain	72 inch	7699 CFM	625 sq.ft (2 car garage)
Casa Vieja Predator	72 inch	6775 CFM	625 sq.ft (2 car garage)
Monte Carlo Maverick	88 inch	14784 CFM	900 sq.ft (3 car garage)
Turbina XL	84 inch	10594 CFM	900 sq.ft (3 car garage)

1. Hunter Fan Company Builder Elite

Builder Elite fan by Hunter Fan Company is a good choice for small garages having a floor area upto 225 sq.ft.

This is a 5-bladed fan with a blade pitch of 13 degrees. It runs at variable speeds and is capable of creating 4999 CFM of airflow at its highest speed. The average of its airflow rating across all speeds is 3565 CFM. This fan has an airflow efficiency of 94 CFM/W, ie, it produces an airflow of 94 CFM per Watt of power.

This fan is operated via a pull chain that comes with it. The fan is damp rated, so it can withstand moisture contents in the air. This makes it an ideal choice for garages. However, considering that even the smallest garages are 10′ x 20′ in size, this fan with its 52-inch blade span is an entry-level fan.

This fan comes with two downrods of sizes 2 inches and 3 inches, leaving ample space between the fan blades and the ceiling for efficient airflow. This fan is recommended for garages that are 9 feet or more in height.

2. Hunter Fan Company 59262 Cassius

Cassius is another ceiling fan model from Hunter Fan Company. This fan is suitable for small garages with floor areas of up to 225 square feet.

This is a very traditional-looking three-bladed fan. A pull chain controls it; it turns the fan on/off and also runs it at different speeds. At its highest speed, this fan moves 5537 CFM of air. It has an airflow efficiency rating of 98 CFM/W, which is slightly better than the above-listed Builder Elite ceiling fan. However, this fan is not Energy Star rated.

This ceiling fan comes with two downrods of 3 and 5-inch lengths. When installed, there is more than 10-inch space between the ceiling and the fan, making sure the fan always works at its best energy efficiency. This fan is recommended for small garages with 9′ or more height.

3. Emerson Loft

Emerson Loft is a great choice for garages with floor areas up to 400 square feet. While suitable for 2-car garages, this fan is an ideal choice for those who want lots of breeze in a small garage.

The fan follows a traditional, 3-blade design with a blade span of 60 inches. The blades are of a variable pitch to help it flow air efficiently. This ceiling fan is controlled using a sliding wall switch which has four-speed controls. At the fan’s highest speed, it moves 7530 CFM of air. This fan is Energy Star rated with an airflow efficiency of 115 CFM/W. Energy Star is a rating issued by EPA for fans that meet its energy efficiency requirements.

This ceiling fan comes with a 6-inch long downrod. You can also do a semi-flush style installation if your garage has a low ceiling.

4. Big Ass Fans i6

Like the name says, this is a big ass fan for garages. It is suitable for garages with up to 400 square feet of floor area. This is an excellent fan with many features compared to the rest of the fans on this list.

The i6 ceiling fan has a very modern design with helicopter-like fan blades. There are six blades on this fan, and the fan has a total span of 60 inches. This fan delivers a high CFM of 9676 at its highest speed. This is a low-speed high-volume fan; it runs slower but moves large volumes of air. This feature provides a constant breeze throughout the room.

The i6 ceiling fan uses an EC motor, which is more efficient than a DC motor. Due to this, the fan has an airflow efficiency rating of 248CFM/W, and it is Energy Star certified.

Speaking of speed controls, the fan comes with many options. It has Bluetooth remote control for basic controls as well as sensor-based automation. The remote uses SenseMe technology to detect the temperature and humidity in the room and runs the fan according to a set of preset conditions.

In addition to the remote control, you can control the fan via a mobile app. It can also be connected to voice assistants like Alexa and Google Home for voice control.

The fan is flush-mounted on the ceiling due to its special design. However, this doesn’t affect its efficiency.

Overall, this is a great fan for your garage. Unsurprisingly, a feature-rich fan like this is priced much higher than a standard garage fan.

5. Casa Vieja Domain

Casa Vieja Domain is a stylish ceiling fan that comes with a light kit. This is the only fan on this list that has a light kit. This light kit is an LED module of 16 W rating, and it can be replaced with a cover if you don’t want it.

This fan has a diameter of 72 inches. It has five blades which are made of ABS and are oak finished. The blades have a 14-degree pitch which increases their airflow efficiency. The fan is controlled via a 6-speed remote control. You can also reverse the fan’s direction with it.

This fan is suitable for garages up to 625 square feet in size. It runs at 6-speeds and delivers a maximum CFM of 7699. Its airflow efficiency rating is 254 CFM/W which qualifies it for the Energy Star rating. This high efficiency is due to the use of a DC motor which is more efficient than the AC motors used in standard ceiling fans.

This ceiling fan is wet rated, while all the other fans on this list are damp rated. Being wet-rated, this fan is constructed to withstand direct contact with water. This also means that you can wash this fan with a hose; this is very convenient if you do any metal or woodworking in the garage.

This ceiling fan comes with a 6-inch downrod which leaves 13 inches of space between the fan blades and the ceiling.

6. Casa Vieja Predator

Predator is a beautifully designed ceiling fan with eight long blades. It kind of reminds me of a spider, even though that sounds really stupid 🙂 This fan is 72 inches in blade span and is suspended by a 4-inch long downrod. The blades are made of ABS, and they have a pitch of 14 degrees.

Its long blades deliver an airflow of 6775 CFM, which is suitable for large garages. It uses a DC motor, so the fan has a high airflow rating of 229 CFM/W. Unsurprisingly, this ceiling fan is Energy Star rated.

This ceiling fan comes with a 6-speed remote control, just like the fan listed before it. You can use the same remote control to reverse the fan’s rotation, a feature that is useful in the winter season.

This fan, when installed, is at the height of 12.25 inches from the ceiling. This leaves ample space for the circulating air to move through its blades. It is suitable for garages that are 9 feet or more in height, but there is nothing wrong with installing it on a slightly lower ceiling.

7. Monte Carlo Maverick

Monte Carlo Maverick is one of my favorite outdoor ceiling fans. It has a blade span of 88 inches, which is large enough to cool a garage of 900 sq. ft. It is also available with blade spans of 52, 60, 70, and 99 inches but with different airflow ratings.

The Monte Carlo Maverick fan moves 14784 cubic feet of air in a minute. It has three blades which are made of Balsa wood. This wood is specially treated to make it moisture resistant so that you can use this fan in damp locations.

This fan has an efficiency rating of 380 CFM/W, which is the highest on this list. In addition, it comes with a 6-speed remote control with a reverse function.

This fan is installed using a 6-inch long downrod, and it hangs approximately 13-inches away from the ceiling.

8. Turbina XL

Turbina XL is another ceiling fan suitable for huge garages. It has a traditional design with three long blades of 15-degree pitch. Its blades are metal, and the fan has a span of 84 inches. Yes, it is slightly smaller than the MonteCarlo fan listed above, but it is hard to notice. What isn’t hard to notice is its airflow rate. The fan moves 10594 CFM of air which is lower than the MonteCarlo fan. In addition, the airflow efficiency rating of this fan is only 110 CFM/W, which is good but much lower than the other.

This fan is controlled by a 6-speed remote. It is damp rated and is suitable for garages; however, the company recommends that it shouldn’t be installed in heavy humid climates. A 6-inch downrod comes with the fan. As per the company guidelines, this fan shouldn’t be installed lower than 10 feet from the ground for its best performance.

Comparison of wind speed

Ceiling fans are not used solely for the purpose of ventilation; it is their cooling effect that makes them popular. The wind chill effect we feel depends on the wind speed from the fan. Larger wind speeds increase the cooling effect and vice versa.

A garage fan should be able to create this wind chill effect to make the people in the garage comfortable. However, there is no definite method to calculate wind speed. There are different calculators available online, but they all show different values. However, the comparison of values from the same calculator gives you an idea of how much more or less wind speed a fan delivers compared to another.

So using a calculator by Hansenwholesale, here is the comparison of wind speeds for the above-listed garage ceiling fans;

Fan Model	Wind Speed
Hunter Fan Company Builder Elite	2.89 Miles Per Hour
Hunter Fan Company 59262 Cassius collection	3.2 Miles Per Hour
Emerson Loft	3.39 Miles Per Hour
Big Ass Fans i6	4.36 Miles Per Hour
Casa Vieja Domain	2.51 Miles Per Hour
Casa Vieja Predator	2.21 Miles Per Hour
Monte Carlo Maverick	3.34 Miles Per Hour
Turbina XL	2.61 Miles Per Hour

As you can see from the above table, Emerson Loft and Monte Carlo Maverick fans produce the most wind speed. Casa Vieja Predator produces the lowest chilling effect. For your reference, it is just above 2 miles per hour speed that people start to feel a breeze.

Comparison of energy efficiency

The energy efficiency of a fan is said in terms of airflow efficiency. Airflow efficiency is the cubic feet volume of air a fan can move by expending one Watt of power. Here is a comparison of the energy efficiencies of the fans listed above.

Fan Model	Airflow Efficiency	Blade Span
Hunter Fan Company Builder Elite	94 CFM/W	52 inch
Hunter Fan Company 59262 Cassius collection	98 CFM/W	52 inch
Emerson Loft	115 CFM/W	60 inch
Big Ass Fans i6	248 CFM/W	60 inch
Casa Vieja Domain	254 CFM/W	72 inch
Casa Vieja Predator	229 CFM/W	72 inch
Monte Carlo Maverick	380 CFM/W	88 inch
Turbina XL	110 CFM/W	84 inch

As you can see from the list above, the airflow efficiency rating is the highest for Monte Carlo Maverick and the lowest for Hunter Fan Company Builder Elite. However, the energy efficiency of the fan also takes into account the blade span of the fan. Therefore, a large fan should have a larger airflow efficiency rating to qualify for an Energy Star certificate.

Given below is a graph between airflow efficiency and blade span plotting the efficiency requirement for Energy Star rating;

As you can see from the above table, the fan Turbina XL does not qualify for the Energy Star rating even though its airflow efficiency is higher than that of the Builder Elite fan.

FAQ

What size ceiling fan do you need for a garage?

Selecting the right size ceiling fan is not as difficult as it sounds. The size/blade span of a fan depends on the area it needs to cover and the CFM it is expected to deliver. I have already mentioned which of the above fans are suitable for different sized garages. Feel free to check my table listing garage sizes and suitable fan sizes.

Fan Size	Recommended CFM	Suitable Garage Floor Area
52 inch	4999 CFM	225 sq.ft (1 car garage)
52 inch	5537 CFM	225 sq.ft (1 car garage)
60 inch	7530 CFM	400 sq.ft (2 car garage)
60 inch	9676 CFM	400 sq.ft (2 car garage)
72 inch	7699 CFM	625 sq.ft (2 car garage)
72 inch	6775 CFM	625 sq.ft (2 car garage)
88 inch	14784 CFM	900 sq.ft (3 car garage)
84 inch	10594 CFM	900 sq.ft (3 car garage)

You can also use multiple smaller fans instead of a bigger fan. Instead of a 6000 CFM fan, you can use two 3000 CFM fans.

Dry, Damp & Wet rated ceiling fans: What are they?

Ceiling fans come with three types of ratings which show their resistance against water and moisture.

Dry-rated ceiling fans are not resistant to moisture, they will rust if you place them in the kitchen, outdoors, in garages, or any place where it will be exposed to moist air.

Damp-rated ceiling fans are resistant to the moisture content in the air but not to water. So ceiling fans with damp rating cannot be installed in places where they will come in direct contact with water. An example of such a place would be an open patio where a fan will come in contact with rain or snow. On the other hand, damp rated fans can be used in moist areas like in the kitchen, bathroom, or in garages.

Wet-rated fans are those ceiling fans you can install basically everywhere. They are resistant to both water and moisture. They can even be washed with a hose pipe.

Is it wise to put a ceiling fan in a garage?

I don’t see any reason why one shouldn’t use a ceiling fan in a garage. The only downside of a ceiling fan is that it cannot be moved if necessary but so are wall fans. If you think you will need to move the fan, then go for a pedestal or a tower fan. Having a fan in the garage will help to reduce the heat and humidity there, giving you a better, more comfortable place to work.

Where to put the ceiling fan?

The best place to put a ceiling fan is in the center of the garage. This will help the fan to move air throughout the garage without creating any heat pockets. But there is nothing wrong with installing it away from the center if that makes sense to you. After all, what is important is our comfort.

You can also use two or more small fans and install them at an equal distance from the center of the garage. This will ensure sufficient airflow as well as wind speed throughout the garage.

How many blades do you need for the fan?

I would recommend going for a 3-blade or 5-blade fan for a garage. While both fans will have the same CFM rating, a 3-blade ceiling fan will provide more wind speed. But again, 3-blade fans may not be available if your CFM requirements are high. In that case, you can use multiple smaller fans with three blades, but this can be bad costwise. On the other hand, fans with more blades are quieter.

Feel free to refer to my article on 3-blade vs 5-blade ceiling fans to know more about this.

Can I install a ceiling fan if the garage has a sloped ceiling

You can install a ceiling fan even if the garage has a sloped ceiling if you have the right size downrod. Here is a good article to calculate how long the downrod should be for a sloped ceiling;

Downrod Length for Sloped & Vaulted Ceilings: Calculation

The downrod length depends on the slope of the garage ceiling. The more the slope, the longer should be the downrod.