Blade span is the only real choice you have to make. Everything else about the fan stays the same from one size to the next: the motor, the remote, the mounting, the finish options.
Match the span to the room
| Room size | Blade span | Typical room |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 110 sq ft | 42″ | Bedroom, study, small dining room |
| 110 to 270 sq ft | 52″ | Most living rooms and main bedrooms |
| 270 to 325 sq ft | 60″ | Open plan rooms, high ceilings |
Two of our ranges come in 45 inches rather than 42, and one in 38 inches. They sit in the same brackets: treat 45 as a 42, and 38 as a small 42.
How to measure
Multiply the length of the room by its width, in feet. A room 12 feet by 14 feet is 168 square feet, so it takes a 52 inch fan.
For a room longer than about 20 feet, two smaller fans move air more evenly than one large one, and each can be run at a lower speed.
Ceiling height
The blades should sit at least 7 feet above the floor. That is the figure the electrical code works to, and it is also the height at which nobody thinks about the fan being there.
On a standard 8 foot ceiling, choose a low profile model. Ours mount flush and stand about 9 inches tall, which leaves more than 7 feet of clear headroom.
On a 9 or 10 foot ceiling, a downrod model brings the blades down to where the air actually moves people rather than the ceiling.
Distance from the walls
Leave at least 18 inches between the blade tips and the nearest wall or sloped ceiling. Closer than that and the airflow breaks up against the surface.
Still not sure?
Send us the length and width of the room and the ceiling height, and we will tell you which span to take. Email support@rafterfan.com or call (614) 207-3008, Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Mountain Time.