If you’ve ever heard the term “hugger fan,” you might have wondered what it means. It is a pretty strange term.
What is a hugger fan?
A hugger fan is a fan without a downrod and mounted flush with the ceiling. They are designed for ceilings lower than 8′ off of the floor. Hugger fans are also called low profile fans, low ceiling fans, or flush mount fans.
Even with this simple definition, lots of people still ask many questions about hugger fans. This article answers the most asked questions.
What Does Hugger Ceiling Fan Mean?
A hugger ceiling fan is made for rooms or spaces with low ceilings.
Since ceiling fan blades must be at least 7′ from the floor, the blades of hugger fans “hug” more closely to the ceiling than other, standard ceiling fans.
This so-called “hugging” gives hugger fans their memorable name.
Read: Why Are Noctua Fans So Expensive? (Explained)
Here are some related questions that help further define hugger fans:
What Does a Low Profile Ceiling Fan Mean?
A low-profile ceiling fan is the exact same thing as a hugger fan.
It’s called “low profile” because of the slightly less conspicuous design where the blades spin close to the ceiling.
In other words, the hugger fan style attracts less attention than regular fans.
At least, that’s the idea.
Is Low Profile the Same as Flush Mount?
Yes, low-profile fans are the same as flush mount fans.
Most traditional fans are mounted with space between the ceiling and the blades of the fan.
Flush-mount fans are installed flush (or nearly level) with the ceiling.
The reduced space allows you to put a fan in rooms with ceilings lower than 8 feet off of the floor.
What Is the Difference Between Flush Mount and Hugger Ceiling Fans?
There is no difference between a flush mount and a hugger ceiling fan.
They are two names for the same type of fan.
You can also call them low ceiling fans, low profile fans, and flush mount fans.
Can a Hugger Fan Have a Downrod?
By definition, a hugger fan does not include a downrod.
A downrod is an extension piece used to raise the fan up from the celing.
The rods are usually 3, 6, or 9 inches long.
However, the longest downrods can be as long as 177 inches.
One reason people ask about downrods on hugger fans is that they want to convert their flush mount fan into a “standard fan.”
Keep in mind that most manufacturers do not make hugger fans with downrods.
The point of low ceiling fans is to reduce space between the blades and the ceiling.
However, for the right price, you can probably pay for a custom-made hugger fan with a downrod.
One could argue that the downrod disqualifies the fan from being a traditional hugger fan.
How Low Do Hugger Ceiling Fans Hang?
Hugger ceiling fans typically hang 7′ off of the floor.
This is the lowest the blades of a ceiling fan are allowed to hang in the United States.
Any lower and fans would break building codes for safety.
Therefore 7′ is also the lowest ceiling height for a ceiling fan.
Types of Hugger Fans
When you’re looking into hugger fans, you quickly figure out that there are many different kinds of hugger fans.
The types of hugger fans include:
- Hugger fan with lights
- Hugger fan without lights
- Modern hugger fan
- Hugger fan with a remote
- Small hugger fan
- Medium hugger fan
- Large hugger fan
- Convertible hugger fan
- Outdoor hugger fan
- Bladeless hugger fan
- Smart hugger fan
What Is a Convertible Hugger Fan?
A convertible hugger fan is one that comes with an optional downrod.
Therefore, you can convert the fan into a hugger fan for low ceilings or into a standard fan with a removable downrod.
Get a convertible hugger fan when you may want to move your fan.
Either you want to take your fan with you to another space or want the option to use the fan in another room in your current house or building.
What Is a Smart Hugger Fan?
A smart hugger fan is a low-profile fan connected to a smart device, such as your phone or a smart speaker.
With the smart device, you can control:
- Speed
- Frequency (on and off periods)
- Light (on and off)
- Light intensity (dimming options)
When Do I Need a Hugger Fan?
There are several times when you might need a hugger fan.
The most common reason you need a hugger fan is when you have a small room with a low ceiling.
For example, if you need a ceiling fan for a ceiling lower than 8′. Or, if your fan comes with a light that will hang too low in the room.
You can also choose to purchase and install a hugger fan in any room, no matter how tall the ceiling.
You can even put a hugger fan on a sloped ceiling.
In this case, it comes down to personal preference and taste.
What Are the Main Features and Benefits of Hugger Fans?
There are many benefits to using hugger fans in your home décor.
They include:
- Sometimes less expensive to purchase than other types of ceiling fans
- More aesthetically pleasing than standing fans
- More efficient, especially when used with a light kit
- Less noise
- Look appealing
- More unique and rare
You are sure to be the talk of the town with hugger fans.
Some hugger fans are surprisingly simple to install. For example, check out this 1-minute video of someone installing a hugger fan with a single click:
I’ve installed a number of these fans over the years, so here’s one of my stories.
I was looking into buying a new ceiling fan and I needed something for my spare bedroom.
My old ceiling fan had broken and it was time to purchase a new one.
I wanted something that would run quietly and look great in my small bedroom. And since the room already got great circulation from the house air conditioning, I didn’t need a super-powerful fan.
With those three main factors in mind, hugger fans seemed like the best choice for me.
What Are the Main Downsides of Hugger Fans?
Probably the biggest downside to hugger fans is that they move less air because their blades are mounted closer to the ceiling.
This can cause the fan to be less efficient, and consequently more costly to use.
Another downside is that hugger fans with lights tend to be on the small and short side (12″-24″ blades).
However, huggers without light kits feature blades of 25″-36″, making them a little bit closer to the power of many other fans on the market.
The Best Hugger Ceiling Fans
The best hugger ceiling fan, in my opinion, is the Hunter Dempsy Indoor Low Profile Fan with LED light.
Aside from the fact that it is simply one of the best and most durable hugger fans on the market, this fan also has a ton of accessories and benefits.
It comes with remote control, four blades (18″ and 26″), and an LED light kit. And the price is pretty great too!
A few of my other favorites:
- Casa Elite Modern Hugger
- Sofucor Wooden Hugger
Final Thoughts
Definitions in almost any subject can get complicated fast.
Knowing clear definitions is the first step toward making better decisions on what products you need and don’t need.
Happy fan shopping!
What to read next:
- How Do Remote Control Fans Work (Explained)
- Why Are Noctua Fans So Expensive? (Explained for Beginners)
- Are Fans Bad for Vegetable Gardens? (Answered)
