The 10 Best Misting Fans

If you want mist without a hose, the Shark FlexBreeze Pro Mist carries its own water in a removable tank and runs on a cord or its built-in battery. On the lowest speed, Shark says a charge lasts about a day. It swings side to side, tilts, comes with a remote and lifts off its pole to sit on a table. The spray reaches well short of the maker's distance claim, and it can leave patio chairs damp.

For a big yard or a job site, the EGO Power+ FN1800 moves a huge amount of air and pumps its own water from a bucket or a garden hose. It rolls on wheels, offers steady or on-and-off mist, and EGO rates it at up to 60 hours on low with a large battery. That battery and its charger cost extra, which stings if you don't own EGO tools. It gets loud on high, and the pump hums.

Hook the NewAir AF-600 to a garden hose and it mists for as long as the tap runs, so there's never a tank to refill. It swings across a wide arc, has three speeds and lets you run the fan with the mist off. Its plug cuts the power if it senses a shock hazard, which matters around water. You need an outlet and a spigot close together, and the tall stand is awkward to carry around.

The Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo is a small carry-around fan with a water tank built in, and Bob Vila's testers called it the best portable misting fan they tried. The spray is fine enough to feel dry on skin, and it runs from a wall plug or its own battery. A handle and a tilting head let you aim it at one or two people. The tank is small and needs frequent refills, and the fan doesn't oscillate.

Built for a covered porch, the Dreo TurboCool 711AS is a slim tower that connects to a garden hose and sprays from near the top. It shrugs off splashes and sun, and it stays very quiet on its lowest setting. You get a dozen speeds, a wide swing, a remote and a phone app. There's no tank, so it only works on a hose, and Dreo's warranty covers a single year.

Ryobi tool owners can set the Ryobi Bucket Top PMF01K on a five-gallon bucket of water and get mist anywhere, or hook it to a hose instead. This kit includes a battery and charger, and Ryobi rates it for about three and a half hours of steady misting. It suits sideline chairs at summer games and campsites. Durability reports are mixed, and Ryobi now sells a newer bucket-top model.

On a budget, the Ausic P30 pairs a rechargeable fan with a water bucket that doubles as its carrying case, so it packs up for camping or the beach. Ausic claims several hours of mist on one charge and much longer as a plain fan. You can spray from one jet or three. It comes from a little-known brand with no outside tests, and the tiny jets can clog with hard water.

Garages, shops and big patios suit the iLiving ILG8P30M, a heavy pedestal fan with metal blades and a misting ring you can take off when you only want air. It moves far more air than a living room fan, it's certified to the U.S. safety standard for electric fans, and its plug cuts power on a ground fault. It's loud, and putting it together takes patience.

For a theme park line or a hot walk to the car, the Otlonpe Handheld puts a breeze and a puff of mist in a pocket-size body that charges like a phone. Set it down and it folds into a little desk fan. The water tank is tiny, so expect about 20 minutes of mist before a refill, though the fan keeps going much longer. It cools one face, not a room.

Made for bedrooms and offices, the Dreo TurboCool 516S makes its mist by vibration, which leaves it fine enough to keep floors and desks dry. Its tank lasts about half a day on low, and the fan is quiet enough to sleep beside at gentle speeds. It swings side to side and works with a remote or an app. It isn't for patios, Dreo says to skip it in very humid rooms, and the touch buttons can be fussy.