When the temperature rises, a fan and a portable air conditioner become an instant necessity. But unless you fancy lugging one around with you everywhere you go, they’re not much use when you leave the house. The best handheld fans help you cool down on the move. They’re dinky enough to slip into a bag and powerful enough to circulate a breeze, so you can actually relax on a stuffy, sweaty commute.

And they don’t break after a few uses anymore either. The best handheld fans are significantly quieter, more powerful and more versatile than ever before, transforming from a desk-style fan to wearable units that you can hang round your neck. Some even edge into air conditioner territory, thanks to features like misting and contact-based cooling, seen with Shark’s chillpill.

I run very warm, so I’ve always got a handheld fan pointed at my face. Below, I’ve reviewed the best handheld fans to get you through the muggy British summer, and my top pick doesn’t even cost more than a tenner. From bargain buys to feature-packed do-it-all fans, these are the best handheld fans in 2026.

Read more: **Best portable air conditioners, reviewed **

Read more: **Best fans, reviewed **

The best handheld fans of 2026 are:

  • Best handheld fan overall –Commem turbo fan: £8.99, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best handheld fan for quiet operation –John Lewis handheld fan: £12, Johnlewis.com
  • Best handheld misting fan– Shark chillpill: £129.99, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best powerful handheld fan– Dyson hushjet mini handheld fan: £99.99, Amazon.co.uk

Read more: Best neck fans, tested

  • Besthandheld fan overall
  • Why we love it- Extremely powerful

  • Sleek and minimalist design

  • Take note- Quite noisy

If power is your priority, this turbo model is the one to beat. It’s the most powerful handheld fan I’ve tested to date, delivering such intense airflow that I’ve actually had to switch it off just to take a breather. The top speed genuinely feels like sitting in front of a small desk fan – it’s that strong.

It's also cleverly designed. There’s a near-180-degree hinge, so you can prop it up at different angles without it slipping or tipping over, and the overall look is slim and minimalist, which makes it easy to carry around or stash in a bag. While it doesn’t offer as much surface coverage as some chunkier handheld fans, the sheer force of the airflow more than makes up for it.

The battery life is generous, too. With a 10,000mAh capacity, it comfortably ran for five to six hours on the highest setting. If you’re not blasting it at full power, you’ll easily get much longer runtime by sticking to the lower speed modes. The only issue? It’s really noisy. It’s almost as loud as a hairdryer on the highest speed. If you don’t mind that, then this is the best portable fan to buy. It’s cheap, compact, and you can even attach a lanyard to loop it around your neck.

Key specifications

  • Speed settings:5
  • Battery life:Up to 20 hours

  • Weight:200g

  • Besthandheld fan for quiet operation

  • Why we love it- Quiet

  • Sleek, simple design

  • Take note- Not that powerful

Want something no-frills that looks pretty, is well-built and easy to use? The John Lewis handheld fan is a simple option that is super quiet, and while it doesn’t pack the same punch as some others on this list, it makes up for it with its near-silent performance.

There are three speeds to choose from, and there’s a built-in flip-out stand so you can use it hands-free on a desk or bedside table. That stand is very sturdy, and it has never toppled over. It’s just as easy to pop in your bag as any other portable fan. The battery life is good, too. You get around nine hours on the lowest setting, and it charges via USB.

It’s certainly not the strongest fan I tested, but it is the quietest. If you prioritise subtlety and simplicity over power, and want something no-frills that won’t distract you, this is a nice handheld fan, and it comes in lots of different colours.

Key specifications

  • Speed settings:3
  • Battery life:Up to 9 hours (low setting)

  • Weight:360g

  • Besthandheld misting fan

  • Why we love it- Fine-mist spray is fantastic
  • Ultra versatile
  • Strong airflow

  • Even includes a cold plate

  • Take note- Expensive

If you want something ultra-versatile, Shark’s three-in-one chillpill could absolutely save your summer. It doesn’t merely feature a high-speed fan like the others on this list; it also adds a misting spray and a contact-based cooling plate, so you’ve got multiple ways to cool down depending on how hot it gets.

The design is unlike anything else here. It’s built from two rounded barrels joined by a hinge, which lets you angle it precisely or fold it into a right angle to sit on a desk. More interestingly, it uses a modular system, so you can swap between the standard fan, misting attachment and cooling plate depending on what you need.

The airflow is super strong, far more powerful than most handheld fans I’ve tried. But the best feature has to be the fine-mist spray attachment. It feels like a cold spritz for your face, and feels so, so nice when it’s hot out. You fill up the attachment with cold water and screw it on. The cooling plate attachment is interesting – it’s essentially a handheld version of Sony’s reon pocket pro, delivering instant relief when pressed against your neck or wrist. It’s super cold, feeling like a mini ice pack.

It’s not cheap, and the cooling plate drains the battery much faster than the other modes, but it’s the best-designed, feature-packed handheld fan I’ve tested.

Key specifications

  • Speed settings:10
  • Battery life:Up to 11 hours
  • Weight:350g

Read the full Shark chillpill review

  • Bestpowerful handheld fan
  • Why we love it- Powerful airflow
  • Quiet operation

  • Premium design

  • Take note- Expensive

  • Short battery life at higher speeds

Dyson knows a thing or two about airflow, so it was only a matter of time before the company launched a handheld fan of its own. One of the most powerful handheld devices I’ve tested, the hushjet mini cool boasts six speed settings and a boost mode that is capable of delivering wind speeds of up to 55mph. It's the most powerful handheld fan I've tested. In fact, the highest setting was so strong it genuinely made me shiver.

Unlike most handheld fans, which have have exposed blades inside a plastic cage, the Dyson hushjet mini cool has a tall cylindrical design with a precision nozzle and a honeycomb mesh liner. The nozzle rotates through 360 degrees, so you can direct the airflow exactly where you want it, whether you’re holding it in your hand or using it on a desk.

Available in a range of fittingly colourful Dyson colourways, including the pretty stone/blush model I tested, it looks more like a miniature bit of Dyson haircare than most fans. At 212g, it’s light enough to carry around all day, and I can wear it around my neck with the included lanyard when my hands are full.

Although it’s super quiet, the price is the major downside. At £99, it's difficult to justify when much cheaper models deliver similar cooling. But if you want the most powerful handheld fan around, this is it.

Key specifications

  • Speed settings:6
  • Battery life:Up to 6 hours
  • Weight:212g

Read the full **Dyson hushjet mini cool handheld fan review **