Best Box Fans for Bedrooms

For an everyday bedroom box fan, start with the Lasko Cool Colors B20308: its published 7.0 lb weight, three speeds and rotary switch make it our choice for moving between rooms. Choose the Air King 9723 when published sound levels matter most, or the Lasko Power Plus B20801 for a heavier steel body. We cannot name a quietest winner from the available documentation.

Quick picks and comparison

• Everyday choice — B20308, Blue: the lighter of the two Laskos here; its page explicitly lists no adjustable tilt, remote or timer.
• Documented sound — 9723: Air King supplies sound, airflow and wattage for each speed, plus a top-mounted rotary control and a six-foot cord.
• Heavier body — B20801, Black: Lasko lists 10.1 lb and a wide steel body; choose it for that construction rather than an unverified quietness advantage.

Compare specifications and all conditions

Lasko Cool Colors B20308, Blue

Physical controls

Rotary switch; 3 speeds

Published sound, low / medium / high

Not published in cited sources

Published electrical power

56–83 W; speeds not assigned

All specifications

Maker's product dimensions, inches

21.5 length/depth × 4.44 width × 22.56 height

Air King 9723

Physical controls

Top rotary switch; 3 speeds

Published sound, low / medium / high

51 / 55 / 60 dBA

Published electrical power

65 / 87 / 105 W, low / medium / high

All specifications

Maker's product dimensions, inches

21.38 width × 6.38 depth × 22.5 height

Lasko Power Plus B20801, Black

Physical controls

Rotary switch; 3 speeds

Published sound, low / medium / high

Not published in cited sources

Published electrical power

73–102 W; speeds not assigned

All specifications

Maker's product dimensions, inches

22.5 length/depth × 4.75 width × 21.25 height

Full comparison table ↔

Swipe to compare. Row labels stay visible.

Exact model	Physical controls	Published sound, low / medium / high	Published electrical power	Maker's product dimensions, inches
Lasko Cool Colors B20308, Blue	Rotary switch; 3 speeds	Not published in cited sources	56–83 W; speeds not assigned	21.5 length/depth × 4.44 width × 22.56 height
Air King 9723	Top rotary switch; 3 speeds	51 / 55 / 60 dBA	65 / 87 / 105 W, low / medium / high	21.38 width × 6.38 depth × 22.5 height
Lasko Power Plus B20801, Black	Rotary switch; 3 speeds	Not published in cited sources	73–102 W; speeds not assigned	22.5 length/depth × 4.75 width × 21.25 height

Exact model	Physical controls	Published sound, low / medium / high	Published electrical power	Maker's product dimensions, inches
Lasko Cool Colors B20308, Blue	Rotary switch; 3 speeds	Not published in cited sources	56–83 W; speeds not assigned	21.5 length/depth × 4.44 width × 22.56 height
Air King 9723	Top rotary switch; 3 speeds	51 / 55 / 60 dBA	65 / 87 / 105 W, low / medium / high	21.38 width × 6.38 depth × 22.5 height
Lasko Power Plus B20801, Black	Rotary switch; 3 speeds	Not published in cited sources	73–102 W; speeds not assigned	22.5 length/depth × 4.75 width × 21.25 height

Sources: Lasko's B20308 specifications and manual, B20801 specifications and manual, and Air King's 9723 page and manual. Lasko's dimension labels are reproduced as published; neither Lasko document supplies a dimensioned plan of the installed feet. Do not regard the thin housing measurement as the complete floor footprint.

Best everyday choice: Lasko Cool Colors B20308

The Blue B20308 is our default when carrying the fan between rooms matters. Lasko lists a steel frame, carry handle and 7.0 lb product weight. Its page specifies three speeds, manual controls and no app compatibility; the model-linked manual describes selecting speed with a rotary switch. That is a straightforward control scheme to choose if you want to leave a speed set by hand.

The limitations matter at a bedside: Lasko explicitly lists no adjustable tilt, remote, timer or automatic shutoff. If you need to aim air upward without changing the whole fan's position, use our quiet fan guide to compare other shapes.

The B20308 support page assigns it an older, generic instruction sheet. That sheet describes the required snap-in feet and permits grille removal for cleaning, but does not give a fastener-by-fastener procedure. Request instructions matching the supplied unit before dismantling it.

See the exact Blue B20308 at Lasko.

Best documented sound: Air King 9723

The 9723 earns its place because the operating manual connects each setting to a number: 51 dBA on low, 55 on medium and 60 on high. The corresponding airflow is 1,463, 1,900 and 2,163 CFM, and electrical power is 65, 87 and 105 W. Low therefore still has a substantial published airflow; do not choose solely by the maximum figure.

Air King specifies a top-mounted rotary switch, a six-foot cord and a grounded three-prong plug. Check the outlet and actual cord route before choosing the fan's position. Its manual requires a stable, flat, level surface and unobstructed airflow.

Buy 9723 for the fan. 9701 is a separate roll-about stand, and its listing does not include a fan. Air King's product page calls the 9723 commercial grade, while the linked manual says it is not intended for commercial, industrial or agricultural settings. Our recommendation is for the residential bedroom use covered here; do not infer workplace suitability from the name.

See the 9723 and its separate stand at Air King.

Best heavier-body option: Lasko Power Plus B20801

The Black B20801 is the alternative for buyers who prefer Lasko's wide steel body and its published 10.1 lb product weight. It has three speeds, a rotary switch and required snap-in feet. Lasko lists no remote, timer, automatic shutoff or app compatibility. It does not provide a comparable sound table, so the Power Plus name earns no sound-related advantage here.

There are two documentation conflicts to resolve before relying on extra benefits. The product page promotes window use, but its assigned manual prohibits use in or near a window. The page also gives both one-year and two-year warranty language, and the manual mixes those durations too. Keep this purchase to dry indoor placement and ask Lasko which warranty applies to the supplied unit.

See the exact Black B20801 at Lasko.

Which box fan is best for white noise?

Choose the 9723 for documented sound settings, not a promise of quietness. Its published low, medium and high figures are repeated below. The table supplies no measurement distance, and the Lasko sources supply no equivalent readings. A description such as quiet or whisper-quiet cannot fill that gap.

• Low51dBA
• Medium55dBA
• High60dBA

Source: Air King 9723 operating manual; measurement distance not stated

OSHA's acoustics guidance explains that sound pressure depends on distance and the surrounding environment. These figures therefore do not predict the level at your pillow or establish a ranking against another maker's fan.

For a steady setting, select a speed manually. Both Lasko pages list no thermostat, timer or automatic shutoff. Check the return terms before buying if your preference is specifically for fan sound: published numbers cannot settle which sound you will like.

Buying guide: footprint, aiming and the complete order

Measure the intended location before ordering. The Air King specification identifies its nominal 20 inches as blade size; that is not the cabinet width. Use the comparison table's product measurements as a starting point, then confirm the span of the fitted feet. We would leave a proposed narrow bedside gap uncommitted until that measurement is known.

Fit the feet before judging placement. Both Lasko manuals describe separating two plastic feet and sliding them into the housing slots until they snap into place. Both prohibit running the fan with feet missing. If an open-box order lacks them, establish the correct replacements through Lasko's parts channel before use. The maker identifies Encompass as its parts partner; this is not evidence that every box-fan foot is interchangeable.

Plan the cord route, not just the straight-line reach. The 9723 has a documented six-foot cord; the cited Lasko specifications do not establish cord length. Air King's manual says to avoid extension cords and power strips, keep the cord out from under rugs and furniture, and arrange it away from traffic. Choose a location that follows the supplied unit's instructions.

Decide how you will aim the air. The B20308 specifically has no adjustable tilt, and none of these documents establishes a pivoting head for either alternative. Do not plan to prop a fan on loose objects. If upward aiming is essential, compare the circulators and pedestal options in our bedroom fan guide.

Separate floor placement from window installation. This shortlist concerns freestanding room use. In particular, the B20801's conflicting window instructions need clarification before any window use; the weather-resistant wording on its page does not resolve the manual's prohibition.

Cleaning: what grille access actually means

The B20308 manual explicitly mentions removing grilles for cleaning and reinstalling them before reconnecting power. It does not supply the removal sequence. The B20801 and 9723 manuals give cloth-cleaning instructions without a step-by-step grille-removal procedure. Ask for the exact unit's procedure if access behind the grille is a buying requirement; a parts drawing alone is not a cleaning instruction.

All three cited manuals describe a soft cloth and mild soap solution, prohibit immersing electrical parts or the fan, and require drying before reconnecting power. Use those instructions as the routine:

1. 1

   Disconnect power

   Unplug before moving, cleaning or servicing; the switch alone is insufficient.

2. 2

   Follow the model's access instructions

   For B20308 grille removal, obtain the missing procedure if needed. Do not improvise disassembly for the other models.

3. 3

   Wipe and dry

   Use a soft cloth with mild soap solution, keep electrical parts out of water and allow complete drying.

4. 4

   Restore the guards

   Reinstall any removed grilles and fully reassemble before reconnecting power.

Old stock, refurbished units and model substitutions

We checked the brief's 3733 and B20200 candidates too. Lasko provides 3733 instructions and B20200 instructions, but its 3733 store search and B20200 store search returned no products. That does not prove discontinuation; it leaves the current new retail version unconfirmed, so neither receives a pick.

For a substitute or refurbished unit, request a photo of the full underside label, plug, grilles and included feet. Match the actual model and manual rather than accepting a similar-looking cabinet or another color's model number. Blue B20308, Black B20801 and Air King 9723 are the exact versions covered here.

For older Lasko stock, also consult Lasko's recall information, available through its official support data. Lasko says it initiated a recall for fans made before the fused safety plug was implemented and describes a permanent-adapter remedy. Establish the unit's status with Lasko before use; a familiar model number alone is not enough.

How we choose

We researched official product pages, model-assigned manuals and Air King's specification sheet; we have not physically tested these fans. The picks weigh manual controls, carrying weight, installation requirements, cleaning instructions and the completeness of sound documentation. We leave undocumented readings and cord lengths unresolved, and flag conflicting maker statements. Official sources were checked November 3, 2026; this is a documentation-based shortlist, not a current-stock guarantee for another seller. See How we choose for the site's method.

Verdict

Choose Lasko B20308 for the lighter everyday option, Air King 9723 for sound levels documented by speed, or Lasko B20801 for its heavier steel body. Before ordering, verify the exact model, required feet and usable placement beside an outlet. If aiming or sound-only use is the deciding factor, follow the alternative buying paths above.