Just imagine a ceiling fan that is heavy duty, powerful, and has a large span — well, that is what an industrial rated ceiling fan is all about.
These commercial ceiling fans move significantly more air than your typical 5-blade ceiling fan that you find in your average house.
In fact, the fan speed (called CFM) can go as high as 10,000-cfm which is many times your typical bedroom ceiling fan.
In this HomeInspectorSecrets.com guide, you will learn:
- Our top pick for the best industrial ceiling fan
- Things to know before buying a commercial-grade ceiling fan
- Why industrial ceiling fans usually have minimum height requirements (the ceilings can't be too low!)
- How to know if your room is correctly sized for the ceiling fan
Below is a quick list of all our top products. Keep scrolling to learn more about how to choose and use the best industrial ceiling fan.
| Image | Product | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall  | Best Overall | Big Air 96″ Industrial Ceiling Fan
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| View on Amazon |
 | Xtreme H20 Commercial Ceiling Fan
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| View on Amazon | |
 | Westinghouse Lighting Shop Ceiling Fan
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| View on Amazon | |
Best Compact  | Best Compact | Westinghouse 3-Blade Heavy Duty Ceiling Fan
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| View on Amazon |
Most CFM  | Most CFM | Big Air 108-inch Large Industrial Ceiling Fan
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| View on Amazon |
Our Overall #1 Rated Pick
Updated On January 3, 2023
My favorite industrial ceiling fan is the Big Air 96-inch because it has a very large span of 96-inches (8 feet) and it can move an astounding 13,000-cfm of air on high speed.
It also comes with an ultra-efficient DC motor for energy savings, low noise, and a long life. This Big Air commercial ceiling fan also looks great with 8 fan blades and a metallic finish. This heavy duty ceiling fan is rated for indoor and covered outdoor use.
Top 5 Best Industrial Ceiling Fans
Short on time? Check out our top 5 industrial ceiling fans here! Keep reading to learn the details on each pick and commonly asked questions.
What Is A Commercial Grade Ceiling Fan?
Industrial ceiling fans are typically much wider than your standard house ceiling fan. For example, these commercial ceiling fans can have a span as wide as 9-feet, while your typical bedroom ceiling fan is only 4-feet wide.
Heavy duty ceiling fans aren't big for no reason however, they also move much more air. They usually have at least 6 fan blades but sometimes have 8 or even 9 fan blades. Their CFM rating (which tells you how much air it can move) is also much higher, frequently 10,000-cfm and higher.
Just some of the spaces where industrial ceiling fans are used include:
- warehouses
- factories
- retail stores
- workshops and garages
- living rooms with tall ceilings
Read Also >> How To Balance A Ceiling Fan Without A Balancing Kit?
What Are The Different Types of Industrial Ceiling Fans?
Industrial ceiling fans can have different features, but pretty much all of them are significantly wider with narrow and long fan blades. Here are a few differences to consider:
Indoor Vs Outdoor
Many industrial ceiling fans are rated for indoor and outdoor use, but you need to confirm it with the manufacturer.
If it is rated for outdoor use, this means it can be used outside in a covered space such as a patio, and it is damp rated. And since it is outdoor rated, it usually means that it can be used indoors also.
Number of Fan Blades
Industrial ceilings fans can have a high frequency of fan blades, anywhere from 5 and all the way up to 8 or 9. The higher number of fan blades makes industrial ceiling fans more efficient. Many large industrial ceiling fans also have winglets or blade tip fences which helps reduce noise.
Industrial ceiling fans have different blade lengths, and the total span (how wide) of each overhead shop ceiling fan can range from 80-inches to 100-inches or greater. When industrial fans have more and longer fan blades, it usually means they can move more air and will have a higher CFM.
You need to make sure that the large shop ceiling fan is suitable for your space based on it's size and CFM.
Light Fixtures
As a rule, industrial ceilings fans don't come with light fixtures, but sometimes you can find one that does have a light, or you may be able to buy a light hub for the ceiling fan (purchased separately).
Read Also >> What Are The Best High CFM Ceiling Fans For Large Rooms?
How To Pick The Best Heavy-Duty Ceiling Fan?
1. CFM Rating
One of the most important spec to consider when buying an industrial ceiling fan is the CFM rating. CFM stands for cubic feet per minute and it is a measurement of how much air the ceiling fan can move in 60 seconds.
The average ceiling fans that are in most residential properties have a CFM rating between 3,000-cfm to 4,000-cfm. However, most commercial grade ceiling fans have a CFM rating of 7,000-cfm and all the way up to 40,000-cfm.
If you want to buy one industrial ceiling fan for a large area, you will need a CFM rating of probably 10,000-cfm or greater. But if you want to use a few smaller commercial ceiling fans (rather than one big ceiling fan) or just want to ventilate a small area, you can opt for a lower CFM.
2. Room Size
In addition to the CFM rating, the manufacturer will also likely specify the room size that the ceiling fan is rated for.
The typical square footage area for an industrial ceiling fan is between 2,000-sf to 4,000-sf. If the space you want to ventilate is bigger than the manufacturer recommendation, you will need to buy more than one ceiling fan to cover that area.
3. Minimum Ceiling Height
Another metric you will need to consider is the minimum ceiling height recommended by the manufacturer.
With most industrial ceiling fans, it needs a minimum ceiling height of 10-feet due to it's high CFM and it's wide span. Since these industrial ceiling fans are so big and have a high velocity or CFM, it can be dangerous to install these fans on lower ceilings.
4. Downrod Size
Large ceiling fans usually don't have adjustable downrods, and your purchase will come with a default downrod size such as 6-inches.
However, if you want a longer or shorter downrod size, you should check with the manufacturer whether you can get a different height. You may not be able to buy an off market downrod for that ceiling fan, so you should verify that you can change the downrod before the purchase.
Read Also >> How To Install A Ceiling Fan In A Mobile Home?
How Do Large Industrial Ceiling Fans Work?
Overhead shop ceiling fans really work just like residential ceiling fans except that they are much bigger and move much more air. A big difference between the two is that industrial size ceiling fans have minimum height requirements. You can't install these ceiling fans on 8-foot ceilings for example, and they usually need a minimum of 10-feet.
In regards to controls, large shop ceiling fans normally come with remote controls or wall mounted remote control just like residential fans.
Some remote controls allow you to control more than one industrial size ceiling fan at a time such as with the Big Air 96" commercial ceiling fan. This means that you can use the remote control to turn one industrial ceiling fan on high speed, and use the same remote to turn a second ceiling fan on low speed.
And similar to residential ceiling fans, you should also be able to reverse the fan blades with commercial grade ceiling fans. This means that you can flip a switch on the fan housing so that the fan blades turn in the opposite direction. In hot weather, you want the large shop ceiling fan to blow air downwards, but when it is cold, you want the ceiling fan to suck air upwards towards the ceiling (in order to disburse heat).
Read Also >> What Are The Best High CFM Ceiling Fans For Large Rooms?
Our Reviews Of The Best Large Shop Ceiling Fans
The Big Air is an excellent industrial ceiling made by Maxx Air based in Texas. It has a large span of 96-inches and has a whopping 13,000-cfm rating so it can move a lot of air.
This sleek and contemporary industrial ceiling fan is great for warehouses, barns, large living rooms, and shops.
It comes with a remote control that can be used for multiple ceiling fans at once. This means that you can control one fan on the end of a warehouse to be on low speed—and a fan on the other side on high speed. The blades are reversible so this overhead shop ceiling fan can be used to disburse heat during winter and cold during summer.
The motor is an ultra-efficient DC motor that is up to 65% more efficient than the older AC ceiling fan motors. The Big Air includes 6 different fan speeds for ventilation flexibility.
Pros
Cons
The Xtreme H20 is a great looking industrial style ceiling fan that is over 9,000-cfm on high speed.
It has an 8 blade design that spans 84 inches or 7 feet in order to move a lot of air in your warehouse, great room, shop, or garage. The Xtreme H20 comes with a 6-inch downrod, but you can also choose to install a smaller or longer downrod up to 60-inches.
I love the look of this commercial grade ceiling fan since it has a smoky iron finish with a contemporary look — it is also rated for indoor or outdoor use.
This large ceiling fan has 6 fan speeds, and there is an optional hub that can be installed that comes with a 20-watt LED light.
Pros
Cons
The Widespan by Westinghouse Lighting is a 100-inch (over 8-feet) industrial size ceiling fan that has a great look and moves a lot of air.
This overhead shop ceiling fan clocks in at an amazing 19,094-cfm to move a ton of air at low speeds.
This ceiling fan needs to be installed at least 10-feet from the floor and is perfect for industrial spaces like warehouses, shops, garages, and large living rooms.
The Widespan comes with a matte black 6-blade design, and it is rated for indoor or outdoor use (damp locations). The high quality DC motor is very efficient and keeps the ceiling fan noise to a minimum.
Westinghouse is one of the most trusted companies for high quality ceiling fans and has a global reach.
Pros
Cons
This 3-Blade industrial ceiling fan by Westinghouse is a really nice addition to any high ceiling living room, retail space, warehouse, garage, or shop.
On high speed, this commercial ceiling fan is rated at 4833-cfm and will move a lot of air (for rooms up to 400-sf).
It uses 5 different fan speeds, has a 56-inch span, comes with a remote control, and it uses a 12-inch downrod (great for high ceilings).
The three fan blades are made out of steel with a nickel brushed finish which provides a sleek industrial look for any room. This 3-blade industrial fan comes with a 15 year limited warranty on the motor, and two years on the parts.
Pros
Cons
The Big Air 108-inch is the highest CFM rated industrial size ceiling fan on my list.
It is rated for an astounding 40,000-cfm on its high speed setting to move an exceptional amount of air for your factory, warehouse, barn, store, gym, or large residential room.
The Big Air 108" is rated for indoor or covered outdoor use such as a patio, and it comes with 6 long fan blades and 9 fan speeds.
This large ceiling fan has a great look with fire engine red blades to give some flair to any environment. The red paint is also automotive grade paint for a long lasting durability in tough industrial spaces.
Pros
Cons
Our #1 top rated pick is the Big Air 96" because it has a large span of 96-inches or 8-feet.
It also has a very high CFM rating of 13,000-cfm on high speed so it can ventilate large warehouses, garages, shops, or high ceiling living rooms.
The Big Air 96" has a nice look with 9 long fan blades, a metallic finish, and contemporary style. It comes with a remote control and it is rated for outdoor (covered) and indoor use. You can find the lowest price for the Big Air 96" on Amazon right here.
Final Thoughts On Industrial Ceiling Fans
Commercial ceiling fans are a great addition for a garage, warehouse, store, workshop, or large living room. The installation is usually trickier than your standard fan, and you will likely need help for the installation, and may even need to use a temporary scaffolding.
Industrial ceiling fans take up more space, but they also move much more air. They are known as HVLS ceiling fans or high volume low speed. Since the fan blades are so long, they can move air at a lower rotational speed.
I hope you enjoyed our guide on industrial ceiling fans. If you have any questions or would like to share your experience on industrial ceiling fans, contact us below!
