Determine Blade Span
The most important thing you will need when choosing a ceiling fan is to determine the span of the blades. To do this, you’ll need to know the square footage of the room you are placing the fan in. Here is our recommended blade span guide based on various room sizes:
- Less than 75 square feet: 29-36 inch span
- 76 to 144 square feet: 36-44 inch span
- 144 to 225 square feet: 44-54 inch span
- 225 to 400 square feet: 50-72 inch span
- More than 400 square feet: multiple fans with 54-72 inch span
To determine the blade span for fans with an even number of blades, you simply measure the distance between opposing blades. If your fan has an odd number of blades, measure the distance from the center of the fan to one blade tip and multiply that number by two.
Determine How High To Hang The Fan
Once you have your ceiling fan picked out and it is the right blade span to fit your room, you’ll need to figure out how high you should hang it. Too high and you won’t feel the benefits of the cool air it’s blowing. Too low and you risk smacking into it. Ideally, you want to have at least seven feet of clearance between the fan blades and the floor. You also should keep at least 18 inches between the blades and the closest wall. If your ceiling is sloped, don’t worry! You can use a sloped mount with a downrod to easily attach your fan.
Determine The Size Of Downrod You Need
Since you need at least seven feet of clearance, you’ll need to choose the right size downrod for your space. If your ceiling is eight feet or less, you should consider a flush mount or low-profile ceiling fan that will keep it as close to the ceiling as possible. For other size ceilings, use this guide:
- 9 foot ceiling: 3 or 6 inch rod
- 10 foot ceiling: 12 inch rod
- 11 foot ceiling: 18 inch rod
- 12 foot ceiling: 24 inch rod
- 13 foot ceiling: 36 inch rod
For each foot after 13 feet, you will need to extend the rod that same distance, otherwise the fan will be hanging too high.
Find A Fan Today
When you’re ready to add a new ceiling fan to your home, you can count on The Light Palace! We have been serving Omaha and the surrounding areas for many years and we are here to help you find what you need. Visit our online store today to have your fixtures shipped directly to your home or come visit our showroom to see our fans in action and get help from our staff. We have a huge selection and various styles of fans, downrods, and other accessories to explore!
