Room Size & Blade Span
Room size to blade size is fairly straightforward: larger
rooms require a larger blade span and smaller rooms a shorter span. Ideally,
the fan should not look like it overwhelms the room or be dwarfed by the room,
but it should look as if it “fits” in the room.
However, the power of the fan to move air varies significantly among fans of equal size. To understand the power factor, look at a fan’s CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) which shows the volume of air this fan can move in one minute. Higher numbers indicate more powerful fans. Whenever possible we show
Also, blade span can determine the “reach” of the air
within a room. Airflow from a ceiling fan creates the shape of a cone,
descending from the blades and moving outward. Larger blades create a larger
cone of air allowing the air to reach further within the room.
Ceiling Fan Size is measured by blade span which is
the distance from blade tip to blade tip (or across the width of the circle the
blades make as they move).
Following is the general guide we have developed in our 40+ years of selling, knowing, and working with ceiling fans.
| Type of Room | Dimensions | Room Size | Blade Span |
| Tiny Area or Room | Up to 6' x 6' | up to 36 sq ft | up to 38" |
| Small Room | up to 10' x 10' | 40 - 100 sq ft | 40" to 48" |
| Medium Room | up to 15' x 15' | 100 - 250 sq ft | 50" to 58" |
| Large Room | up to 20' x 20' | 250 - 400 sq ft | 60" to 64" |
| Great Room | over 20' x 20' | over 400 sq ft | 65" and up |
However, ceiling fans with the same exact blade span can move very different amounts of air in the same room. CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) measures the number of cubic feet of air a fan moves in a minute. CFM should always be considered when comparing fans.
