Top 6 Best Retro Desk Fans – Buying Guide

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If you’re in a hurry and just want to know what the best retro desk fan is, we recommend the Vornado Silver Swan S Small Room Oscillating Fan as the best one.

Let’s face it, the run of the mill table or standing fans are not usually the most attractive addition to any room. But we get typically get them to “get the job done”. However, in today’s age when you have so many different options, why would you settle for a desk fan when you don’t have to?

Growing up, I’ve always had a fan nearby. Some nights, I find it almost impossible to sleep without one blowing a nice breeze over me. Other times, when I’m in my office working after hours I can also appreciate the nice faint hum of my retro desk fan and the gentle breeze it blows. 

With summer fast approaching I’m sure I’ll be making good use of the fans in my house again. 

While there are plenty of modern fans to choose from out there today we are going to focus on the best vintage and retro desk fans. Why? Well because what’s a fan without a little retro flair? Am I right?  Let’s take a look at the best retro desk fans.

Best Desk Fans

Best Desk Fan Overall
Vornado Silver Swan S
Best Powerful Desk Fan
Fanimation UrbanJet
Best Retro Desk Fan
Hunter Home Comfort Hunter
Best Vintage Desk Fan
Vornado VFAN Jr.
Vornado Room Oscillating Fan, Silver Swan S Brushed Nickel – Small
Fanimation UrbanJet 6 inch Fan, Spicy, Red
Hunter All-Metal 12" Retro Table Fan, Onyx Copper by Good Housekeeping
Vornado VFAN Jr. Vintage Fan | Small Metal Retro Air Circulator for Cooling & Décor | 2 Speeds, Adjustable Tilt | Vintage White
Best Desk Fan Overall
Vornado Silver Swan S
Vornado Room Oscillating Fan, Silver Swan S Brushed Nickel – Small
Best Powerful Desk Fan
Fanimation UrbanJet
Fanimation UrbanJet 6 inch Fan, Spicy, Red
Best Retro Desk Fan
Hunter Home Comfort Hunter
Hunter All-Metal 12" Retro Table Fan, Onyx Copper by Good Housekeeping
Best Vintage Desk Fan
Vornado VFAN Jr.
Vornado VFAN Jr. Vintage Fan | Small Metal Retro Air Circulator for Cooling & Décor | 2 Speeds, Adjustable Tilt | Vintage White

Best Retro Desk/Table Fans

Today, we are going to look at the best vintage and retro desk or table fans.

  1. Vornado Silver Swan S Small Room Oscillating Fan
  2. Fanimation UrbanJet - 6 inch - Spicy Red
  3. HOLMES Heritage Desk Fan, 6-inch
  4. Hunter Home Comfort Hunter Retro Table Fan
  5. Vornado VFAN Jr. Vintage Air Circulator Fan
  6. DecoBREEZE Oscillating Table Fan 3 Speed Air Circulator Fan

Let’s take a closer look at each vintage-style desk fan.

1. Vornado Silver Swan S Small Room Oscillating Fan

Best Desk Fan Overall

  • Powerful metal blades
  • Easy to use controls
  • Oscillates

There is something to be said about a beautiful, vintage-looking retro desk fan. This fan is awesome because it has a really nice brushed nickel finish and has a sturdy diecast metal construction. Not to mention it has a more art deco design that is edgy and stylish. Unlike many other desk fans out there. 

The way that this fan looks and performs is amazing. This fan truly looks good in any room. If you’re looking for a high-quality retro desk fan that turns heads…this is the one. 

2. Fanimation UrbanJet - 6 inch - Spicy Red

Best Powerful Desk Fan

  • Portable 
  • Uniquely designed
  • Has a total blad span of 9.4”

This is an awesome looking fan, to say the least. With its unique design, it will definitely become a talking point in your office or home. Weighing in at just over 5 pounds and just over 12 inches, this retro desk fan has a nice degree of portability while also ensuring a nice amount of sturdiness and build quality. 

With 3 different speeds with oscillation, this is a great fan to turn on when you need an extra bit of circulation or a nice breeze indoors. 

3. HOLMES Heritage Desk Fan, 6-inch

Best All Metal Construction

  • Portable fan with 2-speed settings
  • Beautiful brushed copper
  • Tilt-adjustable retro fan head

When it comes to finding a retro desk fan that looks fantastic no matter where you put it this HOLMES Heritage Desk Fan is a strong contender. This small vintage looking desk fan has 6-inch blades that create great a nice breeze in your home or office. One of the best features is its all-metal design. 

4. Hunter Home Comfort Hunter Retro Table Fan

Best retro Desk Fan

  • All-metal design
  • 3-speed retro table fan
  • Onyx Copper finish

Next up it the Hunter Home retro table fan. This is a really sleek fan that will look great in your home office, study or even your living room if your decor fits more of the retro theme. 

With an all-metal construction and a powerful 3-speed motor, it’s hard to find anything not to like. Just looking at this retro desk fan and it will certainly bring up a bit of nostalgia from an era that has since passed. 

When it comes to power, this fan offers 3 speeds and a smooth 85-degree oscillation. 

5. Vornado VFAN Jr. Vintage Air Circulator Fan

Best Vintage Desk Fan

  • Superb performance
  • Timeless retro design
  • Multi-directional airflow

This classic desk fan really performs at a high level. As any Vornado product should of course. One of the things that really stand out about this retro desk fan is that it has a turly timeless design that will take you back to the 1940s Vornado fan design. 

With its simple 2-speed controls and multi-direction airflow, you will not be disappointed. This retro desk fan is perfect for any room in the house. 

6. DecoBREEZE Oscillating Table Fan 3 Speed Air Circulator Fan

Best Orignal Design

  • Elegant design
  • Quiet 3-speed motor
  • Stylish

It goes without saying that this retro desk fan has a really unique look. It looks like an elegant piece of furniture and not a desk fan. 

With a nice brown copper finish, made with high-quality cast metal and polyresin accents this fan will provide optimal air circulation and look good doing it. 

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Matthew Brooks

Matthew is a management consultant who enjoys writing, running and gaming. His friends would describe him as bright, entertaining, and quirky. When he isn't drooling over the latest technology he loves to hoard retro-themed items.