On hot days when you just can't seem to cool down, the common practice is to pour cold water on your head and neck.
And there's a good reason for that: "The neck and head are thermoregulatory hotspots — areas where your body can efficiently release heat," says Dr. Heather Viola, a board-certified internist and an assistant professor in the department of medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. "Major blood vessels, like the carotid arteries, run close to the surface of the skin in the neck, and cooling these can help lower your core body temperature."
Plus, she adds that since the head is home to your brain — which is super sensitive to overheating — keeping the head and neck cool can help prevent things like dizziness, headaches or heat exhaustion.
But since you can't always be dousing yourself with water, neck fans are one helpful tool that can keep you cool (and dry) as the temperatures start heating up.
Below, we tried a number of popular options for our Shop TODAY Ranked series and spoke with experts to get their thoughts on what to look for and the benefits of using a neck fan.
Do neck cooling fans really work?
Yes, the right neck fan really can be an effective way to help you cool down. "They work by creating airflow around your neck and head, promoting evaporative cooling — your body’s natural way of dissipating heat through sweat," Viola shares.
While they probably won't actually be able to drastically change your body's temperature, "they can significantly improve comfort, especially in humid or still-air environments where sweat doesn’t evaporate easily," Viola says.
Dr. Fernando Carnavali, an associate professor at Mount Sinai, notes that if it's a heat-related emergency (such as heat exhaustion), neck fans shouldn't be relied on as the primary cooling method. But, he shares that they can be a "significant aid" for keeping your neck and head cool when temperatures are high.
What to look for in a neck fan
For a neck fan to be effective, Viola says that you want to look for one that has strong airflow with multiple speeds, so you can adjust the cooling to fit the environment. You also want to make sure it has multi-directional air flow so it hits both sides of your neck and face.
Many fans now also have a bladeless design, which Carnavali says is an important safety consideration.
Other things to look for include a long battery life, quiet operation (especially if you plan to wear it at work), a lightweight feel for comfortable wear even after an extended period, as well as sweat and water resistance so that it can be used when it's humid out or when you're exercising, Viola says.
I tried a number of popular options — many of which had multiple of these features. Keep reading to see all my thoughts, including my top pick.
Best overall neck fan
Power: 5/5 | Comfort: 4/5 | Battery life: 4/5 | Noise level: 4/5 | Additional features: 5/5 | Overall rating: 4.4/5
Power: This fan does a great job of delivering a customized cool that you can tailor to your situation. There are three cooling levels, and on really hot days, I found myself depending on the strongest one. It did a good job of keeping me from getting overheated. On a particularly hot commute day, when I had to wait in stuffy subway stations for my trains to arrive for over 15 minutes, I was much less sweaty than I normally would have been.
What really sets this fan apart from others is its design: Instead of just having air blow out of one side, this has slots all along the top and bottom, so air blasts all along the nape of your neck, into your face and toward your chest, so it provides more of an all-over cool, which makes a big difference (and was also one of the things the experts said to look for).
Comfort: This fan has a small cushion at the back, which helps it rest more comfortably against the back of your neck. I like how the foldable design makes it somewhat adjustable, so that you can bring the two front sides closer to your face for more direct cooling. However, those with larger necks may find it hard to get on.
Battery life: According to the brand, the device provides up to 14 hours of cooling at its lowest setting and up to 4 hours at its highest. It can be recharged via the USB-C port.
Noise level: Compared to the other models, the noise level is pretty average. On its lightest setting, it's barely noticeable. But on the top setting, it can be hard to hear others.
Additional features: This model's foldable design is a standout feature and makes it more easily portable than other options.
More of the best neck fans, tested by the author
Best budget:
Power: 5/5 | Comfort: 4/5 | Battery life: 4.5/5 | Noise level: 4/5 | Additional features: 3.5/5 | Overall rating: 4.1/5
Power: If you're looking for a neck fan that delivers a surprisingly powerful cooling effect for an affordable price tag, this is it. While some similar models had to be on the highest setting for you to actually feel cool, the second setting on this fan makes a difference. Though you'll feel the fan's full effects on the highest setting, its third level.
Comfort: There's nothing that makes this fan feel particularly comfortable, but it's not uncomfortable either. There is some give to help it stretch around larger necks.
Battery life: According to the brand, the battery life will last more than 15 hours at the lowest setting and up to 5 hours at its highest.
Noise level: As compared to other models, this one is not overly loud, even at its highest setting.
Additional features: This fan has color-changing lights that turn on on the side. And while it's a fun feature, it doesn't add much to the overall experience, other than making you feel a bit like a DJ at a nightclub.
Most unique:
Comlife Portable Neck Fan
Power: 3/5 | Comfort: 3.5/5 | Battery life: 2/5 | Noise level: 4/5 | Additional features: 5/5 | Overall rating: 3.5/5
Power: Out of all the neck fans I tried, this one was probably the weakest when it comes to power. That's mostly due to the fact that the fans don't cover the entire surface area of your neck, so you're only cooling a small space and don't feel as much of an effect. However, the attached fans themselves are pretty powerful.
Comfort: While the back is pretty stiff, it's nice that the arms are adjustable, so you can wear it tight or loose around your neck.
Battery life: According to the brand, you'll get up to 5.5 hours of battery life from one charge, which is a lot less than most of the other models.
Noise level: On the first setting, the noise level is pretty quiet. The higher levels get louder, but they're not overly noisy.
Additional features: This one really gets extra points here because of its versatile design. While it can easily be used as powerful neck fan, the adjustable arms make it so you can attach it to a stroller or even stand it up on your desk to keep you cool in multiple situations.
Most quiet neck fan:
Power: 3.5/5 | Comfort: 3.5/5 | Battery life: 5/5 | Noise level: 4.5/5 | Additional features: 2/5 | Overall rating: 3.7/5
Power: Some reviewers had noted that this fan was not as powerful as they expected, but I was pretty pleased with the level of air flow that this fan put out, especially on its highest setting. While it wasn't quite as powerful as some of the others I tried, it effectively helped me cool down, both on the subway and in the office.
Comfort: There was nothing that made this gadget particularly comfortable, but it wasn't necessarily uncomfortable either. It's lightweight, so you don't feel like it's weighing you down. But it doesn't have much give, which could make it hard for some people to put around their necks.
Battery life: Of the picks on this list, this one had the longest predicted battery life. According to the brand, it can last up to 16 hours on its lowest setting.
Noise level: Don't get me wrong, this fan still makes plenty of noise (I think it's almost impossible to find one that doesn't), but on its lowest setting it's barely audible and at its highest it was quieter than other options, though just barely.
Additional features: This neck fan doesn't have any additional features of note, but given it's affordable price tag, it's a good choice for someone who doesn't need all the extra bells and whistles.
Best splurge:
Power: 5/5 | Comfort: 4.5/5 | Battery life: 4/5 | Noise level: 4/5 | Additional features: 5/5 | Overall rating: 4.5/5
Power: Out of all the fans that I tried, this one was by far the most powerful. And that's partially because it's not just a fan, it's actually a neck air conditioner. While it can be used as a fan, with three different effective cooling modes, you'll feel the coolest when you use it for its A/C capabilities.
The brand says that its internal chip can lower the temperature of the device by 30 degrees Fahrenheit in just 5 seconds. While I don't know if that's technically true, when placed on its highest cooling setting, you feel the effect almost instantly. It delivers a powerful chill through the top openings and the internal plates, which press up against your neck and rapidly cool to help provide targeted relief.
Comfort: I don't think any of these devices are made to truly feel comfortable, but I appreciate how this one has a soft, bendable material at the neck, so you can adjust it as you're putting it on and it doesn't feel hard against the back of your neck.
Battery life: While I didn't fully test its battery capabilities, the battery life seems pretty solid, based on what the brand says. You'll get more from it while using it in fan mode (up to 15 hours). In cooling mode, it lasts a little less than 3 hours, which is just enough to power you through a handful of commutes or a few walks.
Noise level: The noise level is pretty average for each level, with the cooling and fan functions having similar noise levels at each setting. At their highest, it can be hard to have conversations with those around you.
Additional features: This device has a helpful small digital screen, which shows you the battery percentage, as well as which setting it's on. It also connects to an app on your phone where you can control it, which makes it easier to switch between settings while you have it on.
As an added bonus, it also has a heating feature, so you can use it to warm up during the colder fall and winter months.
This impressive neck fan would have been my overall favorite (given its high rating), but the affordable price of the Torras Coolite was a deciding factor.
How we tested the neck fans
I, Emma Stessman, tested eight neck fans in total. I tried each of the neck fans by wearing them in different warm settings, including subway stations, walks and the office. I tested each fan individually, using them according to their instructions. I evaluated each one based on the following five criteria from there and picked my fans to feature:
- Power: What's the air flow like? How cool does it feel at each setting?
- Comfort: Is it comfortable to wear? Would I be OK wearing it for hours at a time?
- Battery life: How long does the battery last? How does the battery life change with each setting?
- Noise level: Is it loud? How does the volume change when placed on different settings?
- Additional features: Are there any notable features aside from its fanning abilities?
Why trust Shop TODAY
Emma Stessman is a writer for Shop TODAY who joined the team in 2020. Through the years, she has tried and written about a wide variety of products, from the best shoe deodorizers to the best fitness trackers. She covers everything from sneakers and tech news to celebrity shopping habits in our Shopping Diaries interview series.
Meet the experts
- Dr. Heather Viola, DO, is an assistant professor in the general internal medicine division at Mount Sinai's Department of Medicine in New York City.
- Dr. Fernando Carnavali, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. His clinical focus is primary care.
