Best Dreo Tower Fan for a Heat Wave When You Have No AC
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The short answer: The DREO Tower Fan 554S is our top pick: it moves 1473 CFM with a 36 ft wind reach and 90-degree oscillation, and at $99.99 it costs $30.00 less than the Pilot Max S 714S. Choose the Tower Fan 117 if you want the lowest price at $69.99, or the Pilot Max S 714S if you want the tallest model at 42.52 inches and 12 speeds.
- Best overall: Tower Fan 554S — 1473 CFM air volume, 28 ft/s max air speed and 36 ft wind reach with 90-degree oscillation at $99.99, $30.00 less than the Pilot Max S 714S. See price at dreo.com
- Best value: Tower Fan 117 — At $69.99 it is the lowest-priced fan here, $30.00 less than the 518, 519 and 554S and $60.00 less than the Pilot Max S 714S. See price at dreo.com
- Best premium: Smart Tower Fan Pilot Max S 714S — The tallest pick at 42.52 inches with 12 speeds and a 5.0 rating, at $129.99. See price at dreo.com
- Best compact: Tower Fan Nomad One — At 36.22 inches tall and 11.81 inches wide it is the smallest footprint here, and at $79.99 it costs only $10.00 more than the Tower Fan 117. See price at dreo.com
| Product | dimensions | weight | voltage | wattage | Price now | 90-day low | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Tower Fan Pilot Max S 714S | 12.76"D x 12.76"W x 42.52"H | 10.1 lb | 24 | 36 watts | $129.99 | — | 5.0 | dreo.com |
| Tower Fan 117 | 8.03"D x 8.03"W x 36.26"H | 8.4 lb | — | — | $69.99 | — | 4.9 | dreo.com |
| Tower Fan 518 | — | — | — | — | $99.99 | — | 4.9 | dreo.com |
| Tower Fan 519 | 13"D x 13"W x 42"H | 9.7 lb | 120 | 45 watts | $99.99 | — | 4.9 | dreo.com |
| Tower Fan 554S | 8"D x 9"W x 42"H | — | 120 Volts | 35 Watts | $99.99 | — | 4.9 | dreo.com |
| Tower Fan Nomad One | 11.81 x 11.81 x 36.22 in / 30 x 30 x 92 cm | — | — | — | $79.99 | — | 4.8 | dreo.com |
Smart Tower Fan Pilot Max S 714S
Pros
- 12 speeds give fine-grained control over airflow
- Rated 5.0 by reviewers
- 42.52-inch height and 10.1 lb build
Cons
- Costs $129.99, $60 more than the Tower Fan 117 and $30 more than the 518, 519 and 554S
- 36 watts and 24 volts, with no bladeless design stated
Who it's for: Buyers who want a highly rated, tall tower fan with many speed settings and will pay a premium over the cheaper Dreo models.
Tower Fan 117
Pros
- Lowest current price of the six listed Dreo tower fans at $69.99, $10.00 less than the Nomad One and $60.00 less than the Pilot Max S 714S
- Rated 4.9, matching the 518, 519 and 554S and just under the Pilot Max S 714S's 5.0
- Compact and light for a tower fan at 8.03"D x 8.03"W x 36.26"H and 8.4 lb
Cons
- No speed, airflow, oscillation or timer specs are listed, so quiet operation and cooling coverage can't be confirmed from the specs
- No price history is available for this model
Who it's for: Buyers who want the cheapest of these Dreo tower fans in a small, light footprint and don't need documented airflow or quiet-operation specs.
Tower Fan 518
Tower Fan 519
Tower Fan 554S
Pros
- Moves up to 1473 CFM with a max air speed of 28 ft/s and a max wind reach of 36 ft
- 9 fan speeds plus 4 modes, 90-degree oscillation and a 12-hour timer
- At $99.99 it costs $30.00 less than the Smart Tower Fan Pilot Max S 714S and the same as the Tower Fan 518 and Tower Fan 519
- Rated 4.9
Cons
- 42-inch height and 8"D x 9"W footprint take up floor space
- Uses 35 watts at 120 volts and draws 5 amps
Who it's for: Anyone who wants a high-airflow 42-inch tower fan with plenty of speed and mode settings for about $100.
Tower Fan Nomad One
Pros
- 42 W output on 120 V power
- Rated 4.8 by users
- At $79.99, it costs $10.00 more than the Tower Fan 117 and $20.00 less than the Tower Fan 518, Tower Fan 519 and Tower Fan 554S
Cons
- No bladeless design is specified
- No fan speeds, oscillation, timer or airflow figures are listed
Who it's for: Someone who wants a mid-priced Dreo tower fan for a heat wave and does not need bladeless operation or published airflow specs.
How we chose
How we chose
We compared the six Dreo tower fans on the specs that matter for a heat wave: airflow, wind reach, height, footprint and current price. The Tower Fan 554S lists 1473 CFM, a 36 ft max wind reach, 90-degree oscillation, 9 speeds and 4 modes, in a footprint of 8"D x 9"W x 42"H. The Pilot Max S 714S is the tallest at 42.52 inches and lists 12 speeds. The Tower Fan 519 is 13"D x 13"W x 42"H, and the Tower Fan 117 is the smallest at 8.03"D x 8.03"W x 36.26"H.
On price, the Tower Fan 117 is the lowest at $69.99. The Nomad One is $79.99, which is $10.00 more than the Tower Fan 117. The Tower Fan 518, Tower Fan 519 and Tower Fan 554S all sit at $99.99, so those three cost the same and each costs $30.00 more than the Tower Fan 117. The Pilot Max S 714S is $129.99, which is $30.00 more than the Tower Fan 518, the Tower Fan 519 and the Tower Fan 554S, $50.00 more than the Nomad One, and $60.00 more than the Tower Fan 117.
Who should skip these
If you need whole-room cooling from a compressor, these tower fans are not that. None of them is an air conditioner, and none is a window fan that fits a window frame. They move air in a room; they do not cool it the way a compressor does.
If you want a bladeless-style tower fan, look elsewhere. These are conventional tower fans, and the Pilot Max S 714S, Tower Fan 117, Tower Fan 518, Tower Fan 519, Tower Fan 554S, and Nomad One are all in that group.
Size is another reason to skip. The Pilot Max S 714S stands 42.52 inches tall and the Tower Fan 519 is 42 inches tall, so neither is a small unit. The Tower Fan 117 is 36.26 inches tall and the Nomad One is 36.22 inches tall. If your space only takes a compact or window-mounted fan, none of these fits that need.
How to choose the right one
Start with airflow and reach for the room you need to move air in. The Tower Fan 554S is the only model here with published airflow figures: 1473 CFM, a 36 ft wind reach, 90-degree oscillation, 9 speeds and 4 modes. If your space is long or open, that reach matters more than the fan's height.
Then match height and footprint to where the fan will sit. The Pilot Max S 714S is the tallest at 42.52 inches and offers 12 speeds. The Tower Fan 519 stands 42 inches tall with a 13"D x 13"W footprint, and the Tower Fan 554S is 42 inches tall with a narrower 8"D x 9"W footprint. The Tower Fan 117 is 36.26 inches tall, and the Nomad One is 36.22 inches tall.
When two models look otherwise close, let the price gaps decide. The Pilot Max S 714S costs $30.00 more than the Tower Fan 554S, the Tower Fan 519 and the Tower Fan 518, and $50.00 more than the Nomad One. The Tower Fan 554S, 519 and 518 all cost $30.00 more than the Tower Fan 117, and the Nomad One costs $10.00 more than the Tower Fan 117. The Tower Fan 518, 519 and 554S cost the same.
Questions readers ask
Which Dreo tower fan is the cheapest?
The Tower Fan 117 is the lowest-priced at $69.99, $10.00 less than the Nomad One and $30.00 less than the 518, 519 and 554S.
Which of these fans is the most expensive?
The Smart Tower Fan Pilot Max S 714S is the priciest at $129.99, $30.00 more than the 518, 519 and 554S and $60.00 more than the Tower Fan 117.
Do any of these fans cost the same?
Yes — the Tower Fan 518, Tower Fan 519 and Tower Fan 554S are all $99.99, and the Nomad One sits just below them at $79.99.
Which fan moves the most air?
The Tower Fan 554S lists 1473 CFM of air volume with a maximum wind reach of 36 ft and a maximum air speed of 28 ft/s.
Which fan has the most speed settings?
The Smart Tower Fan Pilot Max S 714S offers 12 speeds, while the Tower Fan 554S offers 9 speeds across 4 modes.
Update history
- — First published
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