We Tested Outdoor Misting Fans During a 2-Week Heat Wave, and These Are the 7 Worth Buying

It can be tempting to retreat into air conditioning on a hot summer day, but with an outdoor misting fan, you can stay cool outside while using a lot less electricity. These fans combine a traditional fan (floor, pedestal, tower, or personal) with a water misting system to lower the surrounding temperature through evaporative cooling. They’re especially effective in two types of conditions: hot and dry, or moderately humid, making them great for decks, backyards, and workshops. Many models are even portable enough to take camping or to a weekend soccer tournament. 

To help you find the right misting fan for your favorite activity or outdoor space, we put seven popular picks to the test over 2 weeks’ worth of 90-degree-plus days. After scoring each option on setup, performance, noise, design, and value, we chose the Geek Aire Battery-Operated Outdoor Misting Fan as our top pick. It’s portable and adjustable, works with its included water tank or a hose, and runs on rechargeable batteries that double as power banks. Keep reading to see all the picks that passed our tests and the features that matter most when choosing the best outdoor misting fan for your needs.

1. BEST OVERALL: Geek Aire Battery-Operated Outdoor Misting Fan
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2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Homenote Fan Misting Kit
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3. BEST TOWER: Lasko Misto 42″ Outdoor Misting Tower Fan 
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4. BEST PERSONAL: Ryobi USB Lithium Misting Fan Kit
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5. BEST COMPACT: Lasko Misto15″ Outdoor Misting Pivoting Fan
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6. BEST CORDLESS: Ego Power+ 18″ Misting Fan
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7. MOST VERSATILE:Shark FlexBreeze Fan With InstaCool
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Outdoor Misting Fans Comparison

Our Top Picks

If you’re looking to stay cool without AC, fans that spray mist may not be the first solution that comes to mind, but they probably should be. Whether you need something small for post-mow mornings or a model big enough to cool an entire softball team, one of the misting fans on this list is sure to help you beat the heat. 

Best Overall

Geek Aire Battery-Operated Outdoor Misting Fan

Buy at Amazon

What We Like

• Works with a hose or its included water tank
• Runs off rechargeable batteries that work as power banks
• Wheeled body and tilting face

What We Don’t Like

• No onboard storage for extra battery or tubing

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Product Specs

• Type: Floor
• CFM (cubic feet per minute): 1,500
• Water source: 2.9-gallon tank, hose

Our Ratings

The portable Geek Aire misting fan earned the top spot for its versatility and user-friendly features. It comes with two rechargeable 15,000 milliampere-hour (mAh) batteries, though you only need to use one at a time. In our tests, we got almost 4 hours of runtime with the misting fan on high, and Geek Aire estimates an impressive 23 hours if you have it on low. The batteries also double as power banks, so you can charge your phone or other devices on the go. 

This pick features stepless speed control via a dial rather than individual settings, which makes it super easy to manage misting output. It’s the only model we tested that works that way, and it’s also the only one that runs on either its own 2.9-gallon water tank or a standard garden hose. If you opt to pull water in from the tank, you can even add ice for an extra-cool mist. 

The Geek Air misting fan assembles in minutes, features a tilting face that allows you to direct its output over you rather than straight into your side, and includes locking wheels and a handle that make it highly portable. We only wish there was some type of onboard storage for the extra battery, charger, and tubing (you have to change one section out if you’re using a hose instead of the tank). Otherwise, it’s hard to beat.  

What our tester says: “This misting fan is a consistent part of our weekend routine. We flip it on in the morning after we mow and sometimes don’t turn it off again until the sun starts to set. Our daughter loves to roll it over to her lounge chair, and our dogs even fight to lie in front of it. Along with being able to pull water from the tank or a hose, we really like that we can tilt the face toward the sky to enjoy a cool mist from above.”—Michelle Larson, Product Reviews tester and writer 

Get the Geek Aire outdoor misting fan at Amazon.

Best Bang For The Buck

Homenote Fan Misting Kit

Buy at Amazon

What We Like

• Economical way to turn regular fan into mister
• Durable brass nozzles and hose adapter
• Comes with zip ties for installation

What We Don’t Like

• Requires attaching to an outdoor fan for safety
• Zip ties aren’t the most attractive

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Product Specs

• Type: Misting kit only
• CFM: n/a
• Water source: Hose

Our Ratings

The Homenote conversion misting kit transforms a standard outdoor desk or pedestal fan into an effective misting fan for a remarkably modest investment. The preassembled kit includes five rustproof brass nozzles connected by a UV-resistant polyurethane tube in a 12.5-inch-diameter ring. It also comes with a 16.4-foot water tube and a durable brass garden hose adapter.

This kit was super easy to install. In under 10 minutes, we had it zip-tied to our fan’s grill and were able to start misting. However, you need to be careful about the type of fan you attach it to, as putting it on a fan that isn’t outdoor-rated (and therefore okay to get wet) poses a definite safety risk. Also, the zip ties work well, but they aren’t especially attractive. Still, for the price, it’s a really nice way to make a large misting fan out of a fan you already own. And if the default ring is too big for what you have, all you have to do is remove a nozzle or two and reconnect the tube for a better fit. 

Get the Homenote outdoor misting fan at Amazon.

Best Tower

Lasko Misto 42" Outdoor Misting Tower Fan

Buy at Amazon Buy at Ace Hardware Buy at Walmart

What We Like

• UV- and weather-resistant body
• Carry handle; only weighs 15.11 pounds
• 10-foot cord, inline GFCI, and 3-prong grounded plug

What We Don’t Like

• Not height-adjustable or tiltable
• Oscillation feature isn’t especially effective

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Product Specs

• Type: Tower
• CFM (cubic feet per minute): 273
• Water source: Hose

Our Ratings

Lasko’s 42-inch Misto tower fan was built to be outside. Its height makes it ideal for use next to an outdoor dining table or seating area, while its UV- and weather-resistant body means you won’t need to run out and grab it if a summer storm pops up. At just over 15 pounds with a carry handle, it’s easy to move, and its 10-foot power cord and 7.5-foot water tubing hose give it plenty of reach. The power cord also has an inline GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) and a 3-prong grounded plug for safety.

This tower mister was incredibly easy to assemble, as it comes entirely put together except for inserting the nozzle panel. And we were very impressed with how far it propelled its cooling spray—about 15 feet by our measure. The only downside to that distance is that it can soak everything in its vicinity, especially since you can’t tilt the angle of the mist. It takes a bit of trial and error to get it positioned where you can feel its cooling power without drenching one side of your body or furniture. But on a hot summer day, its quiet operation and impressive misting output make enjoying an afternoon outside infinitely more relaxing.

Get the Lasko Misto tower outdoor misting fan at Amazon, Ace Hardware, Walmart, or Costco.

Best Personal

Ryobi USB Lithium Misting Fan Kit

Buy at The Home Depot

What We Like

• True go-anywhere misting and cooling
• Clamps to umbrella poles, stroller handles, chairs, and more
• Up to 7 hours runtime per charge

What We Don’t Like

• Only enough water for ~90 minutes of misting
• Mist output is pretty light

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Product Specs

• Type: Personal
• CFM (cubic feet per minute): 110
• Water source: 2-ounce tank

Our Ratings

Where were these fans when we were kids, or when our kids were young? This personal-sized Ryobi misting fan is perfect for attaching to a stroller to keep you or your baby cool, connecting to an umbrella pole during an afternoon of baseball, or clamping a table while you prep some steak for the grill. Its onboard reservoir holds enough water for about 90 minutes of operation, and the rechargeable USB has enough juice to run the fan for up to 7 hours per charge.

The uses for this little fan are virtually endless. It’s great for camping, tailgating, or just sitting on your deck. With only a 2-ounce water tank, it definitely requires more refilling than any other option on our list, but that’s super easy to do straight from a water bottle, hose, or faucet. It only has two speeds and puts out just 110 CFM of airflow, but that’s really more than enough since it’s designed for personal use. The biggest downside to this option is that it isn’t sold as a multi-pack—one simply isn’t enough for a family. 

What our tester says: “We use this fan so much that we lose track of where we had it last. It might still be in the shed from when we were organizing the fertilizer, in our daughter’s room from when she was sick, or in the car since we took on our last hike. My dad liked it so much after using it during a recent visit that he went out and bought his own for the drive home.”—Michelle Larson, Product Reviews tester and writer 

Get the Ryobi outdoor misting fan at The Home Depot.

Best Compact

Lasko Misto 15" Outdoor Misting Pivoting Fan

Buy at Lowe's Buy at Tractor Supply Buy at The Home Depot

What We Like

• Pivoting, oscillating design provides a lot of coverage
• Weighs just 16.1 pounds
• 9-foot water supply hose, 6-foot power cord, inline GFCI

What We Don’t Like

• Only works via garden hose; limited portability
• Relatively heavy mist gets things pretty wet

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Product Specs

• Type: Floor
• CFM (cubic feet per minute): 350
• Water source: Hose

Our Ratings

The Lasko 15-inch pivoting outdoor misting fan is a compact and durable solution for combating hot summer conditions. Though it’s only about as big as a medium personal cooler, it puts out a surprising amount of mist—enough to drop ambient temperatures by up to 25 degrees Fahrenheit. It has three speeds, a head that pivots a full 90 degrees, and oscillating louvers that help it cover a wide area.

This model’s lightweight yet tough ABS plastic body makes it ideal for tossing in the car and taking with you. Just make sure you’re near a hose hookup, as there’s no internal pump or water tank, so it needs to be connected to a garden hose within 9 feet. Like the larger Lasko we tested, it also pumps out a substantial amount of mist, which is great if you don’t mind getting a bit wet, but not ideal if you do. Still, it’s nice and quiet, easy to set up, and has important safety features, like an inline GFCI. If you need something for personal or small-group use, this compact mister delivers big results in a small package. 

Get the Lasko Misto pivoting outdoor misting fan at Lowe’s, Tractor Supply Co., The Home Depot, Walmart, or Wayfair. 

Best Cordless

Ego Power+ 18" Misting Fan

Buy at Amazon Buy at Lowe's Buy at Ace Hardware

What We Like

• Wheeled design and battery-powered operation
• 2 mist settings and 5 speeds
• Powerful 5,000 CFM airflow

What We Don’t Like

• Requires separate battery purchase
• Fan is too loud to talk over on high

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Product Specs

• Type: Floor
• CFM (cubic feet per minute): 5,000
• Water source: Bucket (sold separately)

Our Ratings

We’ve tested a lot of Ego tools over the years: everything from mowers and tillers to snow blowers and power washers. While this was our first misting fan from the brand, we can’t say we were surprised that it was the most powerful and well-designed pick on our list. With five speed settings offering up to 5,000 CFM, two misting modes (intermittent and steady), and a telescoping handle and rugged wheels, it’s obvious that this fan was built by a brand that specializes in tools.

This cordless misting fan runs on Ego’s 56-volt lithium batteries (sold separately) to deliver up to 60 hours of runtime (with a 5.0 Ah battery). Rather than connecting to a hose, it uses a built-in pump to draw water from a bucket (also sold separately), making it great for camping trips, barbecues in the park, or outdoor sporting events. When it’s on high, however, the fan is too loud to talk over, and on low, you’ll be able to hear the water pump working. Plus, if you don’t already own an Ego battery and charger, this already somewhat pricey pick will be even more expensive. In terms of power and portability, though, you’d be hard pressed to find a better option. 

Get the Ego outdoor misting fan at Amazon, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, or Walmart.

Most Versatile

Shark FlexBreeze Fan With InstaCool

Buy at Amazon Buy at The Home Depot Buy at Best Buy

What We Like

• Corded and cordless functionality
• Converts from a pedestal fan to a desktop model
• Comes with a magnetic remote control

What We Don’t Like

• Not as powerful as other picks

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Product Specs

• Type: Pedestal/desk
• CFM (cubic feet per minute): 415
• Water source: Hose

Our Ratings

The Shark FlexBreeze with InstaCool isn’t your average fan—it’s a flexible outdoor/indoor misting fan, standing/desk fan, and corded/cordless fan. It offers five speeds, noise levels as low as 32 decibels, and the ability to convert from a pedestal to a tabletop unit in seconds, making it easily the most versatile pick on our list.

Like most misting fans, this unit connects to a standard garden hose to deliver its misting power. But it doesn’t drip or dribble, and it puts out enough airflow to feel it across a patio. Even better, it runs corded or cordless, with the included rechargeable battery delivering up to 24 hours of runtime per charge. At just over 12 pounds, it’s also easy to carry, and you can buy optional accessories like a 12-volt DC car charger and a storage cover to make it even more travel-friendly. It even comes with a remote control (magnetically stored on the fan head) for additional convenience. If you want one fan that can do it all, the FlexBreeze will be tough to beat.

Read our full review: Shark FlexBreeze Fan With InstaCool

Get the Shark outdoor misting fan at Amazon, The Home Depot, Best Buy, or Shark.

Jump to Our Top Picks

How We Tested the Best Outdoor Misting Fans

To assemble a lineup of high-quality misting fans, we researched dozens of popular models and selected seven based on factors such as airflow, water source, power source, and special features like wide-angle oscillation. We made sure to include personal, floor, and pedestal fans to ensure we offered both portable and more stationary picks. 

In terms of actual testing, we used all the fans over a 2-week period of particularly hot summer weather. We rated each option on ease of assembly, air circulation, misting power (at both low and high settings), durability, portability, stability, noise, and overall user-friendliness. Once our efforts were complete, we tallied each model’s score and assigned it an award according to its best use case.

What to Consider When Choosing an Outdoor Misting Fan

There are hundreds (if not thousands) of outdoor fans on the market. But outdoor misting fans for patios, workshops, or camping trips are a special breed. They’re easier to set up than full outdoor misting systems, and they pull double-duty, functioning like regular fans as well as fans with water mist. To choose the best outdoor misting fan for your summer adventures, consider the following key features. 

Type

A handheld fan with a mister​ is the smallest type of outdoor misting fan. Handheld personal misting fans don’t always need to be held; they can typically be placed on a table or clipped to a pole or other surface to free up your hands. Other types of outdoor fans with misters include freestanding pedestal models, wall-mounted models, and portable floor fans.

At a glance, these fans look similar to their non-misting counterparts. But aside from the standard components found in a fan, misting fans also need a water supply. Some misting fans have a self-contained tank, while others require a hose hookup. However, there are exceptions: Some battery-powered misting fans, for example, are designed to sit atop a plastic bucket filled with water, which can be very convenient for camping or dealing with extreme heat at sporting events.

Size and Coverage

Handheld misting fans are small enough to slip into a backpack, though bear in mind there’s a small water reservoir that’ll need to be emptied before carrying this way to avoid spills. A bucket-top misting fan kit will be compact and easy to move.

Pedestal and wall-mounted misting fans are very similar in size to standard fans. As such, they occupy a similar amount of space. As might be expected, fans with a self-contained water tank are larger and more difficult to maneuver. But wheeled models make positioning relatively easy.

Coverage can be difficult to assess. Manufacturers often specify the coverage area of their pedestal misting fans in square feet, while others provide an effective range (i.e., the distance at which cool air is felt). Some models are described as being capable of lowering the ambient temperature, though statements such as “reduces the temperature by up to 25 degrees Fahrenheit” generally quote performance in ideal conditions and may be unrealistic. 

A CFM (cubic feet per minute) figure represents the volume of air the fan moves. While this doesn’t offer a precise understanding of the fan’s cooling effects, it can be a useful metric to compare one fan’s capabilities against another’s.

Tank vs. Tankless

All outdoor misting fans require some type of water supply. Most outdoor misting fans connect directly to standard garden hoses. Bucket-top and wall-mounted models might connect to hoses or draw water from a tank using a pump. Generally speaking, the pumps for these models are included, but it doesn’t hurt to double-check before buying. 

Although outdoor misting fans with a self-contained tank offer freedom from the use of a hose, the tank size affects runtime. Those with larger tanks can provide several hours of continuous operation before needing a refill. Without the need for a hose, mobility is improved, though an electrical connection is typically still necessary.

Nozzle vs. Centrifugal Mist

Outdoor misting fans cool the air with “flash evaporation,” meaning that water droplets are sprayed into the fan’s air stream and evaporate quickly, drawing the heat out of the air. Some misting fans produce more mist or larger droplets, which can get nearby surfaces rather wet, whereas others produce such a fine mist that you feel only cool rather than damp.

Water is delivered into the fan’s air current in one of two ways, either via fine-misting nozzles arranged around the fan head or a centrifugal system mounted in the center. We have found that the nozzle version is simpler, but tiny dirt particles in the water supply can cause blockages. We recommend using a filter in the hose line to prevent this.

The centrifugal method produces a finer mist, which provides more efficient evaporative cooling. These models use a high-pressure pump. As a result, centrifugal fans are considerably more expensive than their nozzle-based counterparts.

Speed and Angles

The faster the fine mist evaporates, the quicker it cools the air. As with window fans, speed can make a significant difference. Some outdoor misting fans have just a single speed, while others may have up to five. This can provide added flexibility in terms of coverage area and noise levels.

Another way to increase the size of the cooled area is to choose an outdoor misting fan with an oscillating head, as the continuous back-and-forth action delivers cool air across a large area. Freestanding portable misting fans often use a vertical pivot system. These move up and down, which isn’t always effective unless placed on a higher surface.

FAQs

If you’re ready to upgrade from a standard outdoor fan or even an outdoor ceiling fan but still have a few questions, the following answers may help.

Q. Do misters work in high humidity?

Yes, although perhaps less well than in dry areas. These devices work using evaporative cooling, so if air moisture levels are high, it can reduce effectiveness, though it will not usually negate it completely. Some manufacturers claim significant temperature drops even in 60 percent humidity, whereas others clearly state their model is not suitable for use in high humidity.

Q. Can misters also be used indoors? 

Many misters can be used indoors or outdoors as long as they can reach an outlet or have a charged battery. That said, larger models tend to put out quite a bit of moisture, so it may be smart to go with a personal-sized model or one that specifically states it’s also for indoor use. A versatile indoor/outdoor model can be an effective alternative to portable air conditioners. 

Q. Do misters keep mosquitoes away? 

Using a mister will temporarily disorient and deter mosquitoes and other flying pests. The fine mist of water clings to their wings, making it impossible for them to fly. But this only works if they fly directly through the actual spray area. If bugs are a particular problem, you may want to look for a misting system that either covers a particularly large area or is specially designed to combat bugs.

Q. Are filters necessary to use with misting fans?

Filters for misting fans aren’t necessary, but they can be helpful since they prevent small particles from clogging the misting nozzles. Some misting fans have filters built into their nozzles, but you may be able to add a filter to your actual garden hose as well.

Q. What precautions should be taken when using a misting fan?

Misting fans are generally very safe, provided they’re on a stable surface and their cords are tucked out of the way to prevent tripping hazards. Those with a GFCI safety plug provide added safety against electrical faults. However, it’s important to be extra cautious when it’s time to clean your fan. Unplug it and allow it to dry fully before following the specific instructions provided by the manufacturer. 

Meet the Tester

Michelle Larson has been a writer and editor for more than 10 years, covering topics related to health, business, and the home. As someone who spends a lot of time outdoors, she values products that can stand up to the elements and would rather spend a little more up front than buy an item twice. When it comes to testing products and writing reviews, she focuses on suggesting products that work well in real-world conditions and deliver long-term value.    

Additional research provided by Bob Beacham.

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