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Enjoy a gentle breeze without cluttering up your desk.

Even if you have air conditioning in your office, there's a good chance you'll occasionally find yourself feeling a bit steamy on summer days at the office—particularly if you religiously head out for your midday run. But as nice as it is to have some extra breeze coming your way, many fans are too loud, too powerful, and way too large for an office setting—particularly if you're working in a shared space.

However, even if you don't have the space for a pedestal or tower fan, there are plenty of desk fans on the market that are tiny, portable, and quiet enough to keep on during a Zoom call. Look below for our top picks and the most important features to consider before you buy.

The most important factor to consider before buying a desk fan is any given model's size. We've listed the dimensions of every model we cover, so you can assess how much room you'll need for it on your desk. You should also consider whether or not you want a fan that can tilt; if you typically change positions at your desk or switch from standing to sitting during the day, this may be an important factor if you want to keep cool.

To find the best options among the many desk fans out there, we researched some of the most popular models available through Amazon and other retailers. We then took into account price, design, effectiveness, size, and adjustability. Finally, we consulted reviews written by people who’ve bought these models on sites like Amazon to settle on the desk fans you'll find below, all of which have average customer ratings of four stars or higher.

For some more great office upgrades, check out our picks for walking desk treadmills and office chairs.

This desk fan not only has a cute, retro design, but it's affordable, effective, and small enough that it won't overpower your desk. It is super quiet and provides a gentle breeze instead of an aggressive gust of wind—even on the highest setting, its airflow is similar to the breeze you get from your car vents. Since it is so quiet, it's great for using in an open-concept office without disturbing your co-workers.

If you have a tiny desk or just don't want to spare a lot of space, this clip-on fan is a great choice. You have the option of clipping it onto the side of your desk or securing it to the small base that's included, allowing you to use it as a traditional standing desk fan. This model is quiet yet effective, blowing a noticeably cool breeze, even on the lowest setting.

You won't have to worry about extension cords or how close to an outlet you'll need to be with this cordless model, which runs on batteries. It is super lightweight and has a slim profile that doesn't take up too much space. It has a decent airflow, even on the low setting, and it is great not only for the office, but is also for travel or camping trips when you want a bit of a breeze but don't have access to electricity.

If you are worried about little fingers getting injured—or you just want a sleek-looking option—you may prefer this bladeless fan. Compared to similar bladeless options, this one is quite affordable, and it's small enough to fit on most desks.

While it's technically battery-operated, it also comes with a USB cord that can keep it running continually. It also comes in three cute color options and has colorful LED lights that illuminate the area the airflow comes from.

This desk fan is particularly tiny at only 4 inches tall. It has an adjustable head tilt and won't take up too much room on your desk. It comes in both black and a copper color, and despite having a vintage look, it's USB-powered. It is also very affordable at under $17, and is easy to use with a simple on and off switch.