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how do you determine the size of a ceiling fan for a room

by Quinton Considine Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The process is very similar for the odd number of blades, with important differences in the 3rd and 4th step:

  1. Stop the fan before measuring.
  2. Use a ladder to reach the ceiling fan, or dismantle it for easier measurement.
  3. Use a measuring tape. With odd blade fans, stretch the measuring tape from the tip of one blade to the center of the ceiling fan. ...
  4. Use the measured radius of the fan and multiply it by 2. ...
  5. Label the measured ceiling size.

Compare the fan blade sweep, or diameter, to the room's square footage to determine the right ceiling fan for your room. Install a fan with a 42-inch sweep in rooms up to 144 feet. Install a fan with a 44-inch sweep in rooms from 144 to 225 feet. Install a fan with a 52-inch sweep in rooms from 225 to 400 feet.

Full Answer

What happens if a ceiling fan is too big for room?

If your ceiling fan is too big for the room, it can be dangerous . It may be mounted too low, bringing you and your family into contact with the blades, or your ceiling may fail to support it. You will also get an overpowering amount of air regulation and potentially a lot more noise.

What size ceiling fan do I need for my Room?

for YOUR Room Ceiling fan size is measured from blade tip to blade tip. Fans for Very Small Rooms or Spaces: For very small areas such as nooks, stairwells, laundry rooms, walk-in closets, or small bathrooms, we recommend 29" to 36" ceiling fans. These fans fit nicely into tiny spaces.

How big a ceiling fan should I buy?

They can range in size from 14 inches to 72 inches wide. However, the right fan will depend on the size (square footage) and height of your room. Make sure you buy a ceiling fan that is the appropriate size for your room to ensure that it performs properly.

Does a ceiling fan make a room hotter or colder?

Yes and no. While a ceiling fan doesn’t make the air colder on its own, it does help more efficiently circulate the cold air your air conditioner produces. In fact, by giving your ceiling fans the task of moving cold air through your home, you can give your air conditioner unit a much-needed break.

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Is a 52-inch fan too big for a 12x12 room?

Buy the Right Size Select a fan with the appropriate span: 36 inches for rooms up to 100 square feet, 42 inches for up to 200 square feet, 52 inches for up to 400 square feet, and either one 60-inch fan or two 52- or 56-inch fans for rooms larger than 400 square feet.

How do I know what size ceiling fan I need?

If your fan has an even number of blades, measure the distance between the tip of the blade to the tip of the opposing blade to determine the diameter. 04. If your fan has an odd number of blades, measure the distance between the tip of the blade and the center of the fan to determine its radius.

What size fan goes in a 12x12 room?

42-inchA 42-inch ceiling fan is just right for a 12×12 room. As you can see, the size of ceiling fans is measured in the diameter of the blades. We talk about 36-inch, 42-inch, 48-inch, 52-inch, 60-inch ceiling fans, and so on.

What size room is a 52-inch fan good for?

Ceiling Fans Between 52 and 56 Inches Large ceiling fans that are between 52 and 56 inches work well at moving air in spaces ranging from 175 to 350 square feet. Such areas include large living rooms, cathedral-ceiling rooms, or any room with a high ceiling.

What happens if your ceiling fan is too big?

A ceiling fan that's too big will overpower the room's design and visually pull the ceiling downwards; a fan that's too small won't properly circulate the air.

Are 3 or 4 blade ceiling fans better?

4-blade ceiling fans are less noisy and are useful in rooms with an air conditioner, to move the cool air around. They are often more stylish looking. However, 4 blade fans may move air slower than a 3 blade fan and can be more expensive than 3 blade ceiling fans.

What size ceiling fan do I need for a 16x16 room?

50" to 58"Standard rooms vary from 10'x10' to 16'x16' (100 to 256 sq ft) and includes large bedrooms, living rooms, and large kitchens. For these, we recommend 50" to 58" ceiling fans. Powerful fans are significant in cooling rooms of this size.

Can you put a ceiling fan on an 8 foot ceiling?

Most ceiling fans come ready to install on an 8' ceiling. This keeps the fan at least 7' above the floor and still provides for good air flow.

How many CFM do I need for a 12x12 room?

One cfm per square foot of floor area is the average air quantity required for a room or entire building.

What size fan should I get for a 10x10 room?

Leave at least 2 or 3 feet of space between the end of the fan blade to the closest wall to determine the largest size fan you can put in a room (3 feet for ceilings 9 feet or less, 2 feet for higher ceilings). For example: a small 10' x 10' room could accommodate a 48" to 72" fan.

Can you put a 52 ceiling fan in a small room?

Ceiling Fans Between 52” and 56” These the most commont size of ceiling fans, meaning they're better for spaces between 144 and 300 square feet. If you want any averate sized living space to get some good ventilation, this fan size works well.

Is a 60 inch fan too big for a bedroom?

Square Footage of The Room You can follow this rule of thumb to choose fan size for typical room sizes, taking into consideration that ceiling fans should always be mounted in the center of the room: 8' x 12' room - 40" fan. 12' x 14' room - 42" to 54" fan. 18' x 20' room - 52"to 60" fan.

How is a 52 inch ceiling fan measured?

Standing on a step ladder as needed, hold one end of a tape measure to the tip of a fan blade on a fully assembled fan. If the unit has an even number of ceiling fan blades, extend the tape measure to the end of the opposite blade and record the distance from tip to tip. This is the diameter.

What size ceiling fan do I need for a 16x16 room?

50" to 58"Standard rooms vary from 10'x10' to 16'x16' (100 to 256 sq ft) and includes large bedrooms, living rooms, and large kitchens. For these, we recommend 50" to 58" ceiling fans. Powerful fans are significant in cooling rooms of this size.

How long are the blades on a 42 inch ceiling fan?

Helpful Expert Reply: I measured the Replacement Blades for AirrForce 42" Hugger Style RV Ceiling Fan # 277-000398 for you and they are 16- 5/8 inches long with 4 inches wide at the bottom and 4-7/8 inches wide at the top.

How long are the blades on a 52 ceiling fan?

20.5inchThese replacement fan blades are compatible with most 52-inch fans . The product comes up with a width of 5.37 inch and length of 20.5inch.

How do you measure a ceiling fan?

Whether you're getting a new ceiling fan for the first time or replacing an older one, you'll need to select a fan in the appropriate size for your space. Even if the room already has a fan, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right size for your room. Although there are many options, styles, and models available when choosing a ceiling fan, picking the right size is important for effectively cooling your room, properly circulating fresh air, and reducing stuffiness.

How to find the diameter of a fan?

04. If your fan has an odd number of blades, measure the distance between the tip of the blade and the center of the fan to determine its radius. Then, multiply that number by two to determine the diameter.

How far should a fan blade be from the floor?

Remember: Your fan blades should have a minimum of seven feet of clearance from the floor and a minimum 30 inch of clearance from the nearest wall or door.

How to measure the length of a room?

01. Using a tape measure, determine the length of the room (in feet) by measuring from one wall to the opposing parallel wall.

How tall is a fan housing?

Most fan housings have a height between 8 to 12 inches.

How to calculate room area?

03. To calculate the room's area, simply multiply the room's length by its width. For example, a 10-foot by 12-foot room has an area of 120 square feet.

Why install multiple fans?

In larger spaces, consider installing multiple fans to increase air circulation and comfort level.

How to measure for a ceiling fan?

Measure the square footage of your room. This will help you determine what diameter ceiling fan will fit in the space. Measure the length and width of your room, then simply multiply the measurements together. This will give you the square footage of your room.

Who determines the size of ceiling fans?

A guideline for sizing ceiling fans has been determined by the American Lighting Association.

How to make a fan rotate?

You will need to make sure that there are not obstacles on the ceiling that paddles could hit. Make sure there are no other lights in the way or architectural features that will create an obstacle to the rotation of the fan.

Do you need a ceiling fan with a light?

If you want a lot of air movement, you will need to get a larger ceiling fan. You may want a ceiling fan that has a light integrated into it, so that it can function as a light and a fan. Ceiling fans with light kits, the term for the light fixtures attached to the bottom, will usually have a greater depth.

Can you downsize a ceiling fan?

If you have obstacles that cannot be moved, you may need to downsize the size of ceiling fan you install.

Do ceiling fans have down rods?

Most ceiling fans come with an optional down rod, an attachment that can lower the fan away from the ceiling. [5] If you have very tall ceilings, you may want to use it so that the fan can move the air in the room efficiently. For low ceilings, you will want to flush-mount the fan.

Do ceiling fans need support?

While all ceiling fans should have additional supports added to the electrical box they are connected to, larger ceiling fans usually weight more and thus will need stronger support to hang from.

How to Measure a Room's Square Footage

Begin to determine your needed ceiling fan size by calculating the square footage of the room. It’s easy to measure a rectangular room to determine its square footage.

How to Measure a Ceiling Fan

You may need to know how to measure a ceiling fan to determine its span or sweep, which is the same as the diameter of the fan.

How to Determine the Height of a Ceiling Fan

Another factor in how to measure for a ceiling fan is determining how low the fan will hang. If your room has a low ceiling, a fan that hangs too low runs a greater risk of hitting a tall person. In addition. ceiling fans are recommended to have at least eight inches of clearance between the blades and the ceiling for optimal air flow.

How to Determine Downrod Length

If the room has a high ceiling of greater than 9 feet, choose a downrod ceiling fan .

Other Factors for Choosing a Ceiling Fan

You may need to consider these additional factors when determining the ceiling fan you need.

What size ceiling fan do you need?

For maximum efficiency, choose an appropriate ceiling fan size for each room. Installing a fan that's too small for the space won't circulate air effectively to make the room feel cool. Alternatively, if you install a fan that's too large for the space, it could overpower the room, even on a lower setting. Use our ceiling fan size guide to determine what size ceiling fan you need for your room.

Where will you install your ceiling fan?

When choosing a ceiling fan size and design for your space, location matters.

What airflow/efficiency do you need?

When factoring how to choose a ceiling fan for your space, start by learning how energy-efficient fans can help your energy costs. Energy-efficient ceiling fans can help keep your space cooler in the summer and warmer during cold winter months.

What is a simpleconnect ceiling fan?

Hunter's SIMPLEconnect© Collection of Wi-Fi-enabled ceiling fans let you adjust your fan's settings using your smart device with our SIMPLE connect app or via the included handheld remote. Use our ceiling fan smart home technology and your favorite home automation system to conveniently operate your fan.

What does CFM mean on a Hunter fan?

CFM stands for Cubic Feet per Minute and refers to the measurement of how much air is moved by a ceiling fan. More energy-efficient ceiling fans produce higher airflow while consuming less energy than standard fans. Hunter fans typically have higher CFM ratings than other models because we pitch our blades at the maximum possible angles and custom-engineer our motors.

What is a refined ceiling fan?

These refined fans typically feature intricate details and thoughtful designs that add richness and warmth to a space. Our traditional ceiling fans blend classic style and innovative features.

What is a wet rated fan?

Wet-rated fans are designed for use in outdoor spaces that may be exposed to elements like heavy snow or rain. Ideal for gazebos and pergolas, our wet-rated fans are engineered to withstand direct contact with water and moisture. These fans are built with moisture-resistant motors and all-weather blades for long-lasting and safe performance.

Why is it important to know the size of a ceiling fan?

Determining the correct ceiling fan size for a room is important because fans are meant to move a certain volume of air. Increasing the speed of the fan will do little to increase that volume. Instead, it needs larger fan blades.

How tall should a ceiling fan be?

60 inches or greater. To work efficiently, ceiling fans need to be correctly sized for each area of operation. This means matching the diameter of the fan blade span with the room and determining fan drop height to match with ceiling height.

How many blades does a ceiling fan have?

Fan blade diameter is generally not measured from the tip of one blade to the tip of an opposing blade because few ceiling fans have an even number of blades. Five- and three-blade ceiling fans form the majority.

How to measure fan blade size?

Instead, ceiling fan size is measured as if the rotating fan were drawing an imaginary circle. The length from one side of the circle to its opposite side is the ceiling fan blade size.

How much energy does a 44 inch ceiling fan use?

Consider that a mid-sized 44-inch ceiling fan draws just 45 watts for an estimated annual energy cost of between $10 to $15. That more than pay for itself in terms of HVAC energy savings.

Do ceiling fans go back?

Spaces Images / Getty Images. Once you install a ceiling fan, you will never want to go back. These simple devices that attach to your ceiling double-task by keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter by reversing the fan direction. As long as electricity is in place, ceiling fans install relatively easily.

How much space between ceiling and floor for a ceiling fan?

According to the ALA (American Lighting Association), a ceiling fan installation should not be less than 2.1 meter (7 ft) of area between ceiling and floor. If you are going to put a thick carpet, consider the size as well when measuring the area between ceiling and floor.

How to Find the Number of Fans?

In case of bigger areas like hall, the number of fans can be found by dividing the total area of the room by the area of a single fan. Let’s see the following solved example.

How many watts does a ceiling fan use?

Generally, the power wattage of a ceiling fan is 100 watts. For this reason, no more than 6 fans can be connected to the final sub circuit having 5 amperes current rating.

What is the downrod on a ceiling fan?

If case of tall ceiling, an optional down-rod can be used to connect the fan to reduce the length to floor for an efficient air moving circulation.

How tall should a speed regulator be?

The minimum height of Speed regulator should 1 ½ meter. To be on the safe side, the max length between fan and ceiling should be 3 meters (10 feet) and it should not be installed below 2.75 meters (9 feet).

How To Measure Ceiling Fan Size? (Diameter Of Blades)

We talk about 36-inch, 42-inch, 52-inch ceiling fans, and so on. In short, that is the size of a ceiling fan. When sizing a ceiling fan it’s quite useful to know how to measure the ceiling fan size.

High Ceiling Rooms (You Will Need A Bigger Ceiling Fan)

Any ceiling fan should provide adequate ventilation in a room. We primarily base the size of the ceiling fan on square footage. What we shouldn’t omit, however, is to account for rooms that have a higher than standard 8 feet ceiling height.

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