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We tested the best neck fans in the UK, here's our verdict
If you're looking for ways to keep cool in this heatwave, a neck fan could be just what you’re looking for. Check out our pick of the best on the market, suitable for all budgets.
By Gemma Wilcock | Last updated Apr 11, 2024
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Whether you’re on the school run, rushing around the shops, or working from your humid home office, the long summer days can leave you feeling hot and sweaty. With a portable neck fan, you can keep cool wherever you are.
Hands-free, wireless, and designed to look like headphones, they sit around your neck with two fans that blow air onto your face and head to keep you cool. The best neck fans run off rechargeable batteries that can last long enough for a day trip, so you don’t have to worry about overheating when you’re out and about. They’re ideal for use at home, too; we can’t all afford to splash out on a portable air conditioner or an air cooler, and they’re an effective, budget-friendly alternative.
How we tested
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We put all the portable neck fans on our list through their paces against hot flushes and warm weather, comparing and contrasting each fan's performance in terms of ease of use, effectiveness, battery life and comfort. You'll find our in-depth reviews linked under each of our recommended neck fans.
To help you find the right neck fan, we first scoured the Mumsnet forums to find the products our users have tried, tested and loved. We then consulted authentic consumer reviews and expert websites to cross-check our recommendations and make sure our list has a range of fans for different needs and budgets. Finally, we hand-tested each fan to bring you a detailed, authentic review.
These are the best neck fans to buy.
Best neck fans UK - editor's pick
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Sleek design looks like a pair of headphones
Bladeless so safer for long hair
Wind outlets for 360° cooling
Some users said it can be quite noisy
It has also been known to run out of charge after a few hours
Price: £18 | Type: Bladeless | Speed settings: 3 | Battery life: 2.5 to 7 hours | Battery type: 1800mAh | Dimensions: 20.7 x 22.2 x 5.8 cm | Weight: 225g
Tested by MNHQ: Read our in-depth TRILINK Neck Fan review
At first glance, the TRILINK Neck Fan could be mistaken for a pair of stylish headphones. The bladeless, lightweight design sits comfortably around your neck to keep your face and head cool, with users claiming to have worn it at work on hot hospital wards, sweaty trains, while doing housework, and for keeping cool on holiday - so the neck fan can be worn anywhere.
The fan charges easily with a USB cable which can be plugged into your computer, car, or power bank and can last for up to seven hours. We found it wasn't as effective as other models at spreading cooling air evenly around your neck and face, but it's a great price and will certainly provide relief on a hot day.
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Four colours to choose from
Flexible arms allow it to be used as a stand-alone fan
Three strong speed settings
Bulkier than bladeless designs
Price: £15 | Type: Blades | Speed settings: 3 | Battery life: Up to 6 hours on speed 1 | Battery type: 2600mah | Dimensions: Approx. 20 x 28 x 6 cm | Weight: 185g
Tested by MNHQ: Read our full Amacool Neck Fan review
We don’t just love the price of the Amacool Neck Fan, we love how flexible it is, too. The arms move so it can be adjusted to get a good angle on your face and neck or you can take it off and use it as a desk fan in your home office. In fact, this was our favourite model for getting a really good breeze onto your face.
The bladed design does mean it is bulkier than the likes of the TRILINK Neck Fan, and it doesn't target the back of your neck at all. However, for just £15 you get an impressive three speeds powered by a 2600mAh battery which, even at the lowest setting, will keep you feeling fresher and cooler. It’ll be a lifesaver if you suffer with hot flashes or simply struggle in warmer weather. The blades have even been designed so that it blows your hairs away rather than getting caught up.
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Sleek, lightweight design
Silicone material can be bent to adjust for comfort
A bit noisy on the fastest speed
Battery doesn’t last as long as other models
Price: £16 | Type: Bladeless | Speed settings: 3 | Battery life: Up to 8 hours | Battery type: 1800mAh | Dimensions: 6.6 x 18.2 x 25.7 cm | Weight: 220g
Tested by MNHQ: Read our full SLuB Neck Fan review
If you’re looking for a sleek neck fan that doesn’t cost too much, then the SLuB Fan is a good option. The lightweight design and bladeless turbo fans are effective at keeping you cool when sightseeing on hot sunny holidays or working in stuffy workplaces, such as care homes.
We like that it is made from soft silicone so it can be bent to get the right angle for your face or to make sure it sits comfortably around your neck. There are a couple of things to bear in mind, though - the battery doesn’t last as long as other models, up to eight hours, so this one may be better suited for those wanting a quick cool down. We also found this one to be quite noisy, compared to other models.
Related: Cool down quickly with our guide to the best pedestal fans
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Can last up to nine hours on lowest speed
Adjustable fan arms
60 air outlets for more air distribution
Some users found it uncomfortable to wear
Pricier than other models
Price: £20 | Type: Bladeless | Speed settings: 4 | Battery life: Up to 9 hours (speed 1) | Battery type: 5000mAh | Dimensions: 5 x 16 x 20 cm | Weight: 274g
Tested by MNHQ: Read our full Amacool Bladeless Neck Fan review
The Amacool Bladeless Neck Fan fan has been designed to offer flexibility so that it can fit any neck size comfortably, including both adults and children. The bladeless design makes it sleek and lightweight when sitting around your neck so it shouldn’t get in the way if you’re exercising or doing housework and need to keep cool.
With 60 large fan outlets to blow air on your neck and face and a 5000mAh battery, we found it provided a nice even breeze, but wasn't the most powerful fan we tested. Its battery can last for up to nine hours, so you can use it for travelling to work or on hot days out - however, that is at the lowest setting.
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78 air outlets
Can work for up to 16 hours
Quiet
Pricier than other models
Price: £33 | Type: Bladeless | Speed settings: 3 | Battery life: Up to 16 hours (speed 1) | Battery type: 4000mAh | Dimensions: 19.7 x 19.8 x 6 cm | Weight: 257g
Tested by MNHQ: Read our in-depth Jisulife Neck Fan review
There’s a lot to like about this fan. Firstly, it has 78 air outlets for making sure you can get plenty of air flow to your neck and face - something you’ll appreciate on those really hot sunny days. You can also pick from three speed settings depending on how powerful you want the breeze to be. We found it effectively cooled the front and back of our tester's neck as well as her ears.
Another great feature of the JisuLife FA14 Bladeless Neck Fan is the battery life. The 4000 mAh battery can last for up to 16 hours on the lowest setting, so you shouldn’t need to worry about recharging it too often, and you can use it when you’re away from home. The one-touch button design also makes it easy to adjust.
Read next: The best quiet fans for bedrooms and home offices
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Six colours available
78 air vents for 360-degree cooling
Up to 16 hours of battery life
Pricier than others on the list
Users claim it can be quite loud
Price: £34 | Type: Bladeless | Speed settings: 3 | Battery life: Up to 16 hours | Battery type: 4000 mAh | Dimensions: 5.99 x 19.2 x 19.99 cm | Weight: 240g
Tested by MNHQ: Read our full CIVPower Portable Neck Fan review
Another bladeless option, the CIVPower Portable Neck Fan comes in a range of stylish colours for keeping - and looking - cool on the go. The turbo fans and 78 vents allow air to flow all around your neck and face, although we found it cooled the back of our tester's head much more than the front.
The 4000 mAh battery can last for up to 16 hours of usage, more than long enough for a hot day out or the commute to and from work. It doesn't have the same flexibility as other designs, so it can’t be adjusted to fit you better or get a better angle, but it will look like a stylish pair of headphones around your neck if you’re conscious about wearing the fan out and about.
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Are neck fans safe?
In general, neck fans are not considered dangerous. The only thing to bear in mind is if you have longer hair and don’t want to tie it up - in this instance, it would be better to go for a bladeless neck fan rather than a bladed model which could get your hair caught.
What to consider when choosing a neck fan
Power
Take a look at the wind speeds when shopping for your neck fan. This will affect how hard it blows into your face. Many come with multiple speeds, but bear in mind that sometimes the faster the fan, the louder it may be. There are quieter designs available, too.
Battery life
If you plan to use the neck fan on a sweaty commute or for long days out - or you just don’t want to have to keep charging it - look at how long the battery lasts. The high-end designs on our roundup can last for up to 16 hours.
Design
The main difference between fans is whether they are bladed or bladeless. Bladed fans tend to offer more airflow but are bigger around the neck. Bladeless neck fans look more like headphones so aren’t as obvious and, as they use small turbines to create airflow, are more suitable for people with long hair.
How long do neck fans last?
This will depend on the size of the battery. On average, neck fans with a smaller 2,000mAh battery will run from three to nine hours, depending on what speed setting you use. While fans with 4,000mAh or 5,000mAh batteries can last up to 16 hours on low. So, even if it has a smaller battery life, a good neck fan is a smart addition to your bag along with the best reusable water bottle during the summer months.
About the author
Gemma Wilcock is a freelance writer and copywriter. At Mumsnet, she creates content providing useful parenting advice, information and top products to make life easier – as a mother of two children herself, Gemma knows how important it is to get the right advice.
After working on women’s weekly magazines for nine years, Gemma turned to freelance writing to fit around family life, writing for a range of online and print publications, charities and small businesses. She loves writing about subjects that will be helpful to the reader – and herself! - including recommending top products on Mumsnet that help parents in their day-to-day life. She knows how important online reviews are when it comes to making a purchase, so she always makes sure to thoroughly research every product so we are recommending the best ones on the market.
How we chose our recommendations
Recommendations from real parents
We started our research by trawling our forums to find out what our Mumsnetters thought about neck fans and which products they recommend. Our forums have over 8 million monthly users, so we know that the neck fans Mumsnetters independently suggest have been tried and tested and will cater for different needs and budgets.
Authentic reviews
We looked at in-depth reviews of neck fans to see which brands and products impressed experts the most. This helped us to narrow down our shortlist and focus on the products that excel across the board.
We also checked verified consumer reviews on websites such as Amazon, making a note of both positive and negative feedback, to help us pick the best products.
Celebrated best products
Finally, during our research, we always make sure to look at products that have received awards. This, combined with real parent recommendations, reviews and expert advice, helped us recommend a variety of neck fans to keep you cool on hot summer days.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.
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