6 Best Natural Wood Ceiling Fans For Indoors & Outdoors (Damp Rated) | Airflow Academy (2024)

Wood ceiling fans are aesthetically pleasing in any setup whether it is indoors or outdoors. There are those made of real solid wood and those made to look like wood. It is really hard to tell these two types apart. However, many people prefer to have original wooden fans to imitations.

Given below is a list of the best wood ceiling fans in the market. The blades of all these ceiling fans are made of real, natural wood and not plastic.

1. Monte Carlo Maverick

Highlights:

• Airflow rate: 5880 CFM
• Airflow Efficiency: 208 CFM/W
• Blade span: 52 inch
• Number of blades: 3
• UL Rating: Damp rated
• Energy Star rated: Yes
• Wood type: Balsa
• Control: 6-speed remote control
• Reversible: Yes

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Maverick ceiling fan by Monte Carlo is one of my all-time favorites. It has three blades carved out of Balsa wood. And even though wood, they are made resistant to the moisture in the air (Damp rated). This makes it possible to install this awesome fan indoors as well as covered outdoor areas like patios and porches.

A 6-speed remote controller controls this maverick ceiling fan. It creates an airflow of 5880 CFM at its highest speed, thanks to its powerful DC motor. DC motors are much more efficient than AC ones, so it is not surprising to see this fan rated with an airflow efficiency of 208 CFM/W. And it is Energy Star qualified.

This fan is also available in 60, 70, 88, 99-inch sizes with higher airflow rates. It is great for indoor and outdoor uses, so I highly recommend it.

2. Ovlaim Burlywood

Highlights:

• Airflow rate: 5487 CFM
• Airflow Efficiency: 314 CFM/W
• Blade span: 52 inch
• Number of blades: 3
• UL Rating: Damp rated
• Energy Star rated: Yes
• Wood type: Oak or Poplar
• Control: 6-speed remote control
• Reversible: Yes

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Looking up at this fan, the first thing you notice is its light kit. This is one of the few wood ceiling fans that come with a light kit. Its light has three colors; warm white, daylight white and cool white. These colors can be toggled with a remote controller.

Speaking of the remote controller, it comes with many functions. Using it, you can dim the lights, swap between the light’s colors, run the fan at six speeds and set timers. In addition, it also has an anti-theft feature and a memory function that remembers what speed and light color you use the most time.

This fan, obviously, has three wooden blades. But I am not sure what wood it is; it could be oak or poplar. The blades are solid and carved smooth. The span of the fan is 52 inches, a popular size for both indoor and outdoor use.

This fan can be used indoors and outdoors but not in any space with an open top. The fan can withstand moist air as it is damp rated, but it will get damaged if exposed directly to water.

This Ovlaim fan uses an energy-efficient DC motor and has an Airflow efficiency rating of 314, which is the highest on this list. It has 6 speeds and produces a CFM of 5487 at its top speed.

This fan is available in 2 sizes, 52 and 60 inches, and also in two shades. Overall, this is a great wooden fan for both indoor and outdoor spaces.

3. Sofucor 52 inch

Highlights:

• Airflow rate: 5021 CFM
• Airflow Efficiency: NA
• Blade span: 52 inch
• Number of blades: 3
• UL Rating: Damp rated
• Energy Star rated: NA
• Wood type: Balsa
• Control: 6-speed remote control
• Reversible: Yes

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Sofucor is not a well-known name. However, this wood fan of theirs is pretty good. It has 3 wood blades carved out of Balsa wood. The fan has a span of 52 inches like all the other fans listed above. It also has a LED light kit that shines warm white light. There are also other variants without a light kit.

This fan comes with a remote controller that performs basic functions like turning the fan and the light off/on. In addition, it comes with three timers with 1 hour, 4-hour, and 8-hour durations, a reverse function button to run the fan in the reverse direction, and 6-speed controls.

The fan is damp-rated, its wood blades and motor are constructed to withstand moist air. In amazon marketplace, it is wrongly given as dry rated, which is suitable for indoor use only. However, this fan can be used in covered outdoor spaces too.

This fan uses a DC motor, so it must be energy efficient. However, no details of its airflow efficiency are mentioned anywhere. I am not sure if that is because Sofucor is a China brand. This fan is available in 52 and 60-inch sizes, and you can choose between AC/DC motors and a light kit. The 52 inch DC variant, i.e., this one, has a CFM rating of 5021, which is ample for large indoor and outdoor spaces. There is also a hugger mount variant which you can choose to install in rooms with low ceilings.

4. ALUOCYI Ceiling Fan

Highlights:

• Airflow rate: NA
• Airflow Efficiency: 105
• Blade span: 48 inch
• Number of blades: 3
• UL Rating: Damp rated
• Energy Star rated: NA
• Wood type: Paulownia
• Control: 6-speed remote control
• Reversible: Yes

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Here is another wood ceiling fan for indoor and outdoor use. Aluocyi is a Chinese brand; it is possible that you haven’t heard of it before. However, this is a reliable ceiling fan if the claims of many users can be believed. This fan is slightly smaller than the others listed above; it has a blade span of 48 inches. It has three wooden blades carved out of Paulownia wood, which is very common in China.

The fan performs very well—however, no information of its airflow rate is available anywhere. The fan’s specification does say it has an airflow efficiency rating of 105, which is not bad. However, I am not sure how reliable that information is as this fan has a DC motor; such fans should have much higher efficiency ratings.

A 6-speed remote controller controls this fan. The controller also has a light switch (yes, it has a light kit), four timer settings, and a reverse button. The light kit has three color options; warm, cool, and daylight and these can be switched using the remote controller.

This fan is damp rated to be used in moist spaces. Unlike other models listed here, this fan doesn’t have any other variants.

5. Hykolity

Highlights:

• Airflow rate: 5374 CFM
• Airflow Efficiency: 228 CFM/W
• Blade span: 60 inch
• Number of blades: 6
• UL Rating: Dry rated
• Energy Star rated: Yes
• Wood type: Plywood
• Control: 6-speed remote control
• Reversible: Yes

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Hykolity is a US brand owned by a Chinese company. They have several products selling in the USA, and they offer reliable customer services.

The first thing you notice about this ceiling fan is its blades. Unlike the other fans listed above, this fan comes with 6 wooden blades. The blades are made of high-quality plywood. The fan is large, with a blade span of 60 inches. It can move up to 5374 CFM of air which is pretty good for most indoor spaces.

This fan is run by a DC motor, and it is Energy Star rated for its efficiency. The fan has an efficiency rating of 228 CFM/W, which is pretty good compared to many other wood fan models on this list. It also has a nice-looking LED light kit.

The fan comes with a 6-speed remote controller. The first thing that catches your eye is its color and shape. It is a mix of black and grey colors and is oval-shaped. In addition to speed settings, the controller has options to turn the lights on and off, dim them, reverse the fan’s direction, and set three different timers.

Unlike the wood ceiling fan listed above, this fan is dry-rated, i.e., it can be used only in dry, indoor areas. So, for example, you shouldn’t use them in the kitchen, laundry rooms, or anywhere where it comes in contact with moisture.

6. Springer Collection Windmill

Highlights:

• Airflow rate: 6377 CFM
• Airflow Efficiency: 206 CFM/W
• Blade span: 60 inch
• Number of blades: 12
• UL Rating: Dry rated
• Energy Star rated: Yes
• Wood type: Plywood
• Control: 5-speed remote control
• Reversible: Yes

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The Springer Windmill fan has a stunning design that makes it look great anywhere, whether in a modern or rustic room. The fan has 12 wooden blades made of high-quality plywood. An outdoor fan with this design would have been a great match for any patio or pergola! Unfortunately, the fan is dry-rated; it cannot be used outdoors and in places with moisture.

This fan is large not only in its blade span but also in the width of its blades; it hovers over the whole floor space under it. There is only a small space between its blades. Normally having so many blades should have reduced the airflow from this fan. However, its blades are pitches at a greater angle than standard fans. As a result, this 60-inch fan moves up to 6377 CFM of air.

Its large number of blades doesn’t stop the fan from achieving high energy efficiency. The fan uses a DC motor, and hence it is energy efficient enough to win an Energy Star rating. The airflow efficiency of this fan is 206 CFM/W which is one of the best among the fans listed here.

This great-looking fan also comes with a remote controller, which has 5-speed controls and an option to reverse the fan’s rotation. This fan is available in a 52-inch size also. If you are looking for a great looking fan for indoor use, this is the right one for you.

Detailed comparison

Given above is a brief review of some of the best wood ceiling fans. But to make the differences and similarities between these models more distinct I am comparing their various aspects. This includes a comparison of airflow efficiency, blade spans, UL ratings and suitable locations, room sizes etc.

Comparison of performance

* Wind speed based on: https://www.hansenwholesale.com/ceiling-fan-wind-speed

GIven above is a brief comparison of the ceiling fans on this list. As you can see, Monte Carlo Maverick delivers more airflow than any of the other 52-inch wood ceiling fans. However, for fans with a blade span of 60 inches, the Springer Windmill fan moves most air.

Another highlight of the above comparison is the wind speed. Wind speed refers to the breeze effect of the fan. The Monte Carlo Maverick fan produces the fastest breeze, and the Hykolity fan produces the slowest. All the fans in the above list except the Springer Windmill have 6 speeds.

Comparison of UL ratings and floor area

Ceiling fans are UL rated to indicate the locations where they can be used. There are three such fan types;

1. Dry rated
2. Damp rated
3. Wet rated

Dry-rated fans can be installed only indoors. Damp-rated fans can be installed in covered outdoors, and wet-rated ones can be used anywhere.

It is also important to look at how much floor area a fan can cover. This depends on the fan’s blade span. Let’s see how they compare;

Since three of the above-listed wood ceiling fans are damp-rated, I didn’t list the outdoor floor area they can cover.

As you can see from the above table, 52-inch fans can cover up to 225 square feet of indoor area and 100 square feet of outdoor area. The difference in coverage is because the fans used indoors can cover more area as the walls help recirculate air; this recirculation is not possible outdoors.

Additional reading: Can you use ceiling fans in a kitchen?

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the common woods used to make fans?

USA-made fans are mostly made of Balsa wood due to their reliability and better availability. The fans made in China use Paulownia since that wood is easily available there. Other fans use plywoods for blades.

What are the benefits of wood ceiling fans?

Wood ceiling fans look great in all spaces, whether that is outdoors or indoors. Even though wood can sag if exposed to moisture, damp rated fans use specially processed wood to withstand it.

Recommended reading: 18 Best outdoor ceiling fans