Lasko Oscillating Tower Fan with Remote - 42" Tall – Gray/Woodgrain

The Lasko 42-inch oscillating tower fan (model T42954) is one of the most-reviewed fans on Amazon, with about 63,000 reviews at 4.4 stars. It costs about $70.

What it does

It's a slim, 42-inch tower fan with three speeds and 60-degree oscillation. Lasko says it suits small to medium rooms, including bedrooms and home offices. The remote handles power, speed, oscillation, the timer and the nighttime setting, so you don't have to get out of bed. The timer runs up to 7.5 hours.

The nighttime setting is why it's on our bedroom list. It dims the LED controls and lowers the fan speed automatically, so you aren't lying there with bright lights and a fan on high. It's light enough to carry by its handle from room to room.

What a fan can and can't do

A fan doesn't lower the temperature of the room. It moves air across your skin, which helps sweat evaporate, and that's how your body cools down. You feel cooler even though the thermometer doesn't move. Our guide to cooling a bedroom without AC covers how to get the most from a fan, including window placement and the ice-bowl trick.

In extreme heat, a fan alone isn't enough to keep people safe, especially older adults, young children and people with heart conditions. The CDC advises finding an air-conditioned place in those conditions.

Who it's for

• Bedrooms without AC, or where the AC doesn't reach well
• Light sleepers who want dimmed lights and a lower speed overnight
• Anyone who wants a slim fan that doesn't take up much floor space

Who should skip it

People who need a fan to cool a large living area, and anyone who wants a near-silent fan. Every fan makes some noise on higher speeds.

Alternatives

Pair it with bedding that doesn't trap heat: the Elegear cooling blanket and our cooling pillow guide. Our article on why you can't sleep when it's hot explains what heat does to sleep.