The shortest ceiling fans are 7” in height to around 15” in height according to data from more than 500 ceiling fan models.
Did you know? Very low profile fans are commonly called hugger fans because they are the shortest from top to bottom.
Here is information on the shortest ceiling fans of different fan sizes in diameter, lowest profile fans for popular brands like Hampton Bay, Hunter and Home Decorators Collection plus recommended fan height for ceiling height.
Minimum Height Ceiling Fan of Different Sizes
| Fan Size (in.) | Minimum Height (in.) |
| 20 Inches | 7 Inches |
| 22 Inches | 8.6 Inches |
| 36 Inches | 9.7 Inches |
| 42 Inches | 7.53 Inches |
| 44 Inches | 7.09 Inches |
| 48 Inches | 9.32 Inches |
| 52 Inches | 8.6 Inches |
| 54 Inches | 12.91 Inches |
| 56 Inches | 10.6 Inches |
| 60 Inches | 7.97 Inches |
| 62 Inches | 10.25 Inches |
| 65 Inches | 13.5 Inches |
| 70 Inches | 13.7 Inches |
| 72 Inches | 10.54 Inches |
| 84 Inches | 12.2 Inches |
| 96 Inches | 15.44 Inches |
Note: This data is based on 500 popular ceiling fans sold by Home Depot in store and online.
The larger the fan diameter, the taller the fan. That is a general rule, though not always true as you go from smaller to wider diameter.
Low Profile Ceiling Fan Sizes
Popular fan sizes like 42”, 44”, 60” and 72” give you more choices for short ceiling fans. This is because of the sheer number of fan models made in those sizes. More fans overall means that more of them are manufactured without lights.
Low profile 36” ceiling fans: Notice, for example, that the lowest profile 36” fan has a height of 9.7”. That height is greater than the shortest 42”, 44” and 48” fans. Why? Because the 36” fan has a light on it. Most of the others do not. That fan is the shortest 36” ceiling fan sold by Home Depot.
You won’t find a huge selection of 36” fans – it isn’t the most popular size, so finding a low profile 36” ceiling fan without a light might not be possible.
This is true for 54”, 70”, 96” fans and other less popular sizes.
Low profile 60” fans: Notice that if you are willing to choose a slightly larger diameter ceiling fan than 54”, such as 56” or the popular 60” size, you have fans with a low profile – from 2.3” to almost 5” shorter. This is true for 72” fans too – another popular size. You’ll find short 72” fans compared with smaller but less popular diameters.
Shopping Tip: It might not be possible to find a ceiling fan with lights that will work with your ceiling. Most will be too high to safely use with a low ceiling. As noted, you will find a shorter fan if you choose one in a more popular size.
Minimum Height Ceiling Fan of Different Brands
Shopping for low profile ceiling fans can be time consuming, so we’ve done the research for you of around 500 of the most popular fan models available today.
| Brand | Model | Ceiling Fan Size (in.) | Height (in.) |
| ANTOINE | ANTOINE 20 in. | 20 Inches | 7 Inches |
| Big Ass Fans | Haiku L 52 in | 52 Inches | 11.4 Inches |
| CARRO | CARRO Daisy 45 in | 45 Inches | 9.2 Inches |
| FANIMATION | FANIMATION Edgewood 72 in. | 72 Inches | 10.54 Inches |
| Generation Lighting | Generation Lighting Colony Super Max 60 in. | 60 Inches | 7.969 Inches |
| Hampton Bay | Hampton Bay Hawkins 44 in. | 44 Inches | 7.09 Inches |
| Home Decorators Collection | Home Decorators CollectionBritton 52 in. | 52 Inches | 9.76 Inches |
| Hunter | Hunter Low Profile IV 42 in. | 42 Inches | 7.53 Inches |
| KICHLER | KICHLER Volos 48 in. | 48 Inches | 10.25 Inches |
| MINKA-AIRE | MINKA-AIRE Roto XL 62 in. | 62 Inches | 10.25 Inches |
| Modern Forms | Modern Forms Roboto 62 in. | 62 Inches | 12.75 Inches |
| Parrot Uncle | Parrot Uncle Bucholz 52 in. | 52 Inches | 10 Inches |
| Progress Lighting | Progress Lighting Huff Collection 96 in. | 96 Inches | 15.44 Inches |
Note: This data is based on 500 popular ceiling fans sold by Home Depot
Do low profile fans have lights? Some do. Here is the list again with whether they have lights and how many with notes of explanation.
Minimum Height Ceiling Fans and Lights
| Model | Lights |
| ANTOINE 20 in. | 2 circular lighted strips |
| Haiku L 52 in | 1 dimmable LED light on the fan bottom |
| CARRO Daisy 45 in | 1 dimmable LED light on the fan |
| FANIMATION Edgewood 72 in. | No lights |
| Generation Lighting Colony Super Max 60 in. | No lights |
| Hampton Bay Hawkins 44 in. | No lights – Flush mount |
| Home Decorators Collection Britton 52 in. | 1 dimmable LED on the fan bottom |
| Hunter Low Profile IV 42 in. | No lights |
| KICHLER Volos 48 in. | 1 17 watt dimmable LED |
| MINKA-AIRE Roto XL 62 in. | No lights |
| Modern Forms Roboto 62 in. | No lights |
| Parrot Uncle Bucholz 52 in. | 1 LED on fan bottom |
| Progress Lighting Huff Collection 96 in. | No lights |
Low Profile Ceiling Fans With Lights
It goes without saying that the lowest profile ceiling fans do not have attached light kits.
The data analysis shows that when fans with lights are considered, the shortest is around 10”. That is quite short considering the inclusion of lights.
Most of the shortest ceiling fans with light kits are 10.5” to 14”. Many of them have a single light on the bottom, though a few have lights above the fan blades, but outside the diameter of the fan, so that you don’t get a “strobe light” effect.
Recommended Ceiling Fan Height
A ceiling fan is designed to hang 7 to 9 feet above the floor.
| Ceiling Height | Height Above Floor |
| Less than 8 feet | 7 feet |
| 8 feet | 7 feet |
| 9 feet | 7.5 feet |
| 10 feet | 8 feet |
| 11 feet | 8.5 feet |
| 12 feet | 9 feet |
| 13 feet | 9 feet |
| 14 feet | 9 feet |
| 15 feet | 9 feet |
As you can see, the minimum height above the floor is 7’. That means that for a standard 8’ ceiling, you’ll need to find a low profile ceiling fan – one with a height of 12” or less. The good news is that there are ceiling fans 12” or shorter in most fan sizes from 20” to 72”.
Where you might have trouble finding the right fan height for your floor is in odd sizes like 54”, 65” and 70” or, of course, in very large sizes like 84” and 96”.
FAQs
How high should a ceiling fan be?
The best height for a ceiling fan is 8 to 9 feet above the floor, if your ceiling is high enough to allow this. The US Dept of Energy’s Energy Star page gives a complete answer about where to hang a ceiling fan: “Ceiling fans should be installed, or mounted, in the middle of the room and at least 7 feet above the floor and 18 inches from the walls. If ceiling height allows, install the fan 8 – 9 feet above the floor for optimal airflow.”
What size downrod do I need?
Because ceiling height varies greatly, you might need a downrod of anywhere from a few inches to 72”.
And, of course, if your ceiling fan hangs lower than 7’ from the floor with a downrod, you might have to remove the downrod during installation. Or, if the fan still hangs too low, you might need to choose another fan model.
Is 8 foot ceiling too low for a ceiling fan?
No it is not too high. However, to be sure that the fan is positioned high enough off the floor, you will need to find a short fan with a profile of less than 12”. A flush mount or hugger ceiling fan is a good choice for 8-foot ceilings.
Can a ceiling fan be too high?
Yes. The fan should be installed 8 to 9 feet above the floor, where ceiling height allows. A ceiling fan at this level provides the best airflow in all seasons. In winter, it circulates heat that has accumulated at the ceiling back down to “living level.” In summer, it creates a downflow of air that provides a cooling breeze.
Ceiling fans for 7 foot high ceilings?
There are no ceiling fans safe to use with 7-foot ceilings. This is because the building code requires the bottom of the fans to be 7 feet above the ground minimum for obvious safety reasons.
