A basic 9-inch twin window fan with two speeds and manual controls. Bob Vila tested it, rated it 4.3 out of 5 and named it Best Bang for the Buck; TechGearLab tested it, scored it 66 out of 100 and named it Best Window Fan on a Budget, measuring 755 CFM of airflow. Both found the same main drawback: to switch between intake and exhaust you have to take the fan out and turn it around.
Full review
Two budget awards from two test labs
Bob Vila tested 10 window fans and gave the Amazon Basics Twin Window Fan a 4.3 out of 5 and its Best Bang for the Buck award, with sub-ratings of 4.5 for installation, 4 for air circulation, 3.8 for noise, 4.5 for cleanability and 4.7 for value. TechGearLab bought and tested 8 window fans and scored this one 66 out of 100, naming it Best Window Fan on a Budget.
Airflow and noise in testing
In TechGearLab's CFM box the Amazon Basics and the Bionaire both came in at 755 CFM, tied behind only the whole-house Air King, and its thrust rig recorded 1.27 newtons. TechGearLab still calls its CFM readings "lackluster air movement" for larger spaces, and recommends it particularly for smaller rooms.
One TechGearLab tester said, "I appreciate the relatively quiet operation that doesn't disturb my daily activities." Bob Vila notes it has a copper motor built for continuous operation and two speed settings.
Simple to install, awkward to reverse
Bob Vila says installation takes minutes thanks to side panels that expand from 25 to 32 inches wide, and TechGearLab gave it a 9.0 installation sub-score, the highest in its test, crediting its zip-tie-like curtain lock. It also comes with feet so it can stand on a sill or the floor.
The trade-off is reversing: there is no switch, so the fan has to be pulled out and turned around to change between intake and exhaust. A TechGearLab tester called that inconvenient, and Bob Vila lists it as the one thing it did not like. There is no thermostat, and TechGearLab notes it cannot stand vertically.
Strengths
- +Bob Vila rated it 4.3 out of 5 (Best Bang for the Buck); TechGearLab scored it 66/100 (Best Window Fan on a Budget)
- +TechGearLab measured 755 CFM, tied for second-highest in its test, and 1.27 newtons of thrust
- +Bob Vila found installation takes minutes; TechGearLab gave it its highest installation sub-score (9.0)
- +Can be used freestanding and has a power switch on both sides, per TechGearLab
- +TechGearLab's tester found it relatively quiet and easy to clean
Watch-outs
- −No thermostat or temperature-based shut-off
- −TechGearLab says it cannot stand vertically, and its CFM readings reflect lackluster air movement for larger spaces
How it compares
TechGearLab measured it at 755 CFM, tied with the Bionaire BWF0910AR and above the Genesis A1WINDOWFAN's 669 CFM, but the Bionaire adds a remote and electric reversing. Bob Vila gave it the same 4.3 out of 5 as the Vornado Transom, which costs more and adds a remote, a digital touch panel and push-button reversing. Unlike the Genesis and Holmes HAWF2043, it has no thermostat.
Rating sources
Counts as 3.98/5 in our score — this publisher's 42 scores on the site average 4.53, so its scores are adjusted down to compare fairly with other publishers.
Counts as 3.79/5 in our score — this publisher's 138 scores on the site average 3.66, so its scores are adjusted up to compare fairly with other publishers.
Our 3.9 score is the average of these published ratings, each adjusted for how strictly its publisher scores. More about methodology.
