Tower Fan vs Pedestal Fan: Which One is Better?

Updated November 30, 2023

Pedestal and tower fans are some of the most widely recognized fans on the market. With so many options to pick from, it can be hard to narrow down what the best fan for your application is. 

To help with decision-making, we can first answer the question: are tower fans or pedestal fans better for most functions? While the answer will depend on your intentions, one fan type is better in general.

What is a Tower Fan?

Tower fans are slim, space-saving fans meant for residential and light-duty use. They’re often used as a floor fan that can be placed in a corner or hallway without taking up a lot of room and easily can blend in with most decor. 

Many tower fans are marketed as “bladeless fans”, although this term can be a bit misleading. In a bladeless tower fan, the blades are actually hidden from sight, providing a sleek and modern appearance. This design is often associated with safety benefits, especially for households with children or pets.

Tower fans are mainly used to provide cool air and ventilate small spaces such as bedrooms, living rooms, and home offices. 

Features of a Tower Fan

Power

Tower fans are designed to provide lower levels of CFM air movement for smaller spaces.  

Noise

Tower fans are very quiet due to their use of small rotating blades. They are great for use in a small space like a bedroom or home office where noise is a concern.

Placement

Tower fans are very mobile and slim, which makes them easy to place anywhere around your home. Further, some models offer oscillation which helps distribute air flow over a wider area.

Cost

Tower fans are relatively inexpensive, especially for the basic models with fewer features. They’re meant for intermittent use in a residential setting and are constructed from light-duty, less expensive materials which make them a great option for budget-minded home owners.

Options

Tower fans offer user-friendly and smart features such as wireless remote controls, oscillation, simple air filtration, safety-minded bladeless construction, multiple fan speed settings, and on-off timers for ease of use. 

What is a Pedestal Fan?

Pedestal fans are constructed of a round fan head with a basket-style safety guard, attached to a height-adjustable pole and base. They’re the more common type of traditional standing fan. 

Pedestal fans are mainly used to generate a high CFM of cool air in commercial and industrial settings. 

Features of a Pedestal Fan

Power

Pedestal fans are able to generate a high volume of air movement for large spaces in commercial and industrial settings. They’re available with multiple horsepower options to meet your CFM requirements. 

Noise

Pedestal fans can move a high volume of air with relatively low noise levels. Some options have fan blade designs that make them very quiet when noise is a major concern.

Placement

Pedestal fans are mobile and easily placed in a variety of locations. Some models include wheeled bases for easy transportation. They typically have an adjustable height pole which makes it easy to direct the airflow exactly where you want it. 

Cost

Pedestal fans vary widely in price, from lower HP, basic models for the budget-minded user, to high HP specialty applications. There are many product options available to fit the budget and features you need.

Options

Pedestal fans are available with multiple options for your commercial or industrial space with features such as high CFM output, waterproof washdown capabilities, stainless steel construction, oscillating, high ambient motors, and safety yellow construction used in OSHA-regulated environments. 

Tower Fan vs Pedestal Fan – Which is Better for Commercial & Industrial Applications?

Power

The pedestal fan is the more powerful fan. Its design allows for greater rotational power. Ultimately, pedestal fan blades use the same technology as propeller airplanes. This allows for very fast RPM. It also allows for larger and wider fan blades that can move a lot of air. Tower fans cannot match the raw power of pedestal fans.

For applications that require a larger volume of air to be moved by the fan, pedestal fans are clearly superior. The power and larger blades move substantially larger volumes of air, making them better for cooling, air circulation, venting, and drying applications.

Longevity

Pedestal fans are built for continuous use in commercial and industrial applications. They feature high-quality motors with commercial-grade windings, shafts and housings, as well as thicker gauge fan blades, sealed bearings and heavy-duty bases.  Pedestal fans can withstand the abuse and tough environmental conditions that are experienced in factories, warehouses, gyms, and commercial office spaces.   

Options

Pedestal fans have more options than tower fans that are useful in a commercial or industrial workplace. These include the ability to function in a high ambient temperature environment or wet and corrosive conditions. Safety yellow pedestal fans are painted a specific shade of yellow for visibility and to conform to OSHA rules. Other options include low-noise or ultra-quiet pedestal fans and high CFM output pedestal fans.

Noise

The more powerful the fan, the more noise it will create. A tower fan, which is typically less powerful and used in residential applications, will be quieter. Because pedestal fans are more often used in commercial and industrial settings, they’re often stronger and louder than a tower fan would be. It’s also entirely possible to have a quality pedestal fan where the only noise you hear is the movement of the air. 

Some manufacturers build their pedestal fans to be used in spaces where less noise is a necessity. The Airmaster Industrial Ultra-Quiet pedestal fan has one of the lowest noise ratings available, while still generating a high CFM or air movement.

Placement

One of the primary differences between pedestal and tower fans is that tower fans have blades and air movement throughout their height. Instead, a pedestal fan sits on an adjustable base that allows it to sit behind materials or obstructions without losing airflow. They also sit higher off the ground, providing wider air distribution throughout your facility, making pedestal fans more convenient and flexible for placement in industrial applications.

Conclusion

All factors considered, pedestal fans are better for big commercial and industrial workspaces than tower fans. They're stronger, last longer, and fit different settings better. Tower fans, on the other hand, are weaker and mainly for homes.

Shop Industrial Fans Direct today and check out our wide selection of industrial and commercial pedestal fans.