How Many Blades Is Best For Ceiling Fan ?

Common Misconceptions:

• A ceiling fan with 5 or more blades provides better performance than 3 or 4 bladed ceiling fans.
• A bigger ceiling fan provides higher airflow compared to a smaller ceiling fan.

Does the number of blades on a fan really matter?

Believe it or not – this is one of the most of common questions we receive. As per the law of physics, additional blades increase the drag on a ceiling fan’s motor and slow it down. However, the number of blades has little or no impact on the amount of air a ceiling fan can move.  It’s more about the aesthetics than the airflow.

This is because of the recent innovations in fan design, motor, etc. that you might not be able to notice a major difference between 3 or 5 bladed fans. If you do however notice a slight difference, it might be due to various other factors that influence the performance of a fan (for eg. Motor wattage, Airflow declared by the manufacturer).

What is airflow and motor wattage?

Airflow is the amount of air a fan cam move and motor wattage is the energy the fan consumes. Ceiling fans have an average airflow of 8000m3/hr or 4708 CFM and consume about 60-70W. That being said, DC motor fans would consume less energy as compared to an AC motor fan.

So, a good idea would be to check the airflow and energy consumption/motor wattage of the fan. Fortunately, these days most of the manufacturers do provide this information.

Need more information? You can refer to our ceiling fan buying guide which offers a quick but through read – so you can purchase the fan that suits your space fine.

So, what really matters when purchasing a ceiling fan?

Well, to start with – choose something that pleases your eye! Purchasing a ceiling shouldn’t be hard, right? Don’t worry, it’s not – we have simplified it for you. Don’t forget to check the below-mentioned points before making the purchase:

Blade Features

Drag

You might have heard this term a lot while researching for your ideal fan. When a ceiling fan blade moves through the air, there’s an opposite force that slows it down, this is termed as drag. This reduces the airflow, increases energy consumption, and slows down the fan. Does this mean the lesser the blades the better? Well, fewer blades on the fan might reduce the drag but it could also provide little airflow. However, having said that there a few high airflow ceiling fans that are 3 bladed as well as 5 bladed.

Blade Pitch

Blade pitch is crucial as it mostly affects the amount of air a ceiling fan can move. But, what is a blade pitch? It’s the angle (measured in degrees) at which the blades are set relatively parallel to the ground. The curve/tilt on the blades makes a difference in how much air a fan can circulate through the room. Of course, the motor wattage should also be high enough to provide you with the right amount of airflow.

A fan with higher blade pitch can replace air more efficiently. According to a few studies, the optimal blade pitch is 12-15 degrees. One of our best-sellers – Eco Silent DC ceiling fan has an optimal blade pitch coupled with a great airflow!

Blade Material

The next important factor is the material of the blade – the heavier the blade material the more fan would weigh. This means you would require a more powerful motor to generate higher airflow.

Besides these, you might also want to scratch your head a bit and think about the below:

Lastly, the perfect blend would be a fan with good blade pitch, balanced blades, and a powerful motor.

Is that a lot of information? Take a deep breath and then just call us on 03 9017 0366. Our friendly sales team is always too happy to help.

If you’re fan-hunting on a weekend, contact us one of our sales team members should reach out on the next business day.