BEDROOM FANS·DREO
DREO Tower Fan 518
Editor score8.6/10
Best for: Bedrooms where the fan runs all night and must not be heard on low
Price
Check price
At Amazon · price changes often, check before buying
Buy at Amazon ↗Updated 2026-08-07
Noise (low)
20 dB
Max airflow
28 ft/s
Speeds
9
20 dB on its lowest speed with real airflow at the top — the rare fan that is quiet enough to sleep beside and strong enough to matter.
The 518 is the fan to beat for bedrooms. DREO rates it at 20 dB on low, which is below the ~30 dB of a quiet library and quiet enough that it disappears behind your own breathing, yet it still pushes 28 ft/s at the top of its 9-speed range. That spread is the whole point: most cheap tower fans are either audible at every usable speed or too weak to cool a room. 42 inches tall, 90° oscillation, 4 modes and a 12-hour timer. If you want one fan that works as both a cooler and a white-noise source, start here.
Price across 2 retailers
Prices checked 2026-08-07Prices shown were last checked on 2026-08-07and can change at any time — the price on the retailer's site at checkout is the one that applies. As an Amazon Associate and affiliate we may earn a commission on purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you.
How our prices work
We show the lowest price we found at our last check (2026-08-07) and the manufacturer's list price for comparison. Retail prices — Amazon's especially — move constantly, so treat these as a guide: the price shown on the retailer's own page at checkout is the one that applies. Tap through to see each retailer's current price.
Should you buy it?
What we like
- 20 dB on low — genuinely sleepable
- 9 speeds gives fine control most fans lack
- 28 ft/s at the top still cools a real room
- 12-hour timer and 90° oscillation
What to know before buying
- 42 inches tall — needs floor space beside the bed
- 20 dB is the brand's own lab figure, not an independent measurement
- No app or voice control at this price (that is the 519S)
At a glance
Noise (low)20 dB
Max airflow28 ft/s
Speeds9
Modes4
Oscillation90°
Timer12 h
Height42 in
MotorDC
RemoteYes
How it scores
How our 8.6/10 breaks down — rated on the dimensions that matter most for bedroom fans, from published specifications and third-party test data, not the marketing.
Quietness
9.5/10
Airflow
8.5/10
Controls
8/10
Build
8/10
Value
8.5/10
Compare with alternatives
Quick verdicts for the bedroom fans most often considered alongside the DREO Tower Fan 518.
VS·HEAD-TO-HEAD
DREO Tower Fan 518 vs DREO Tower Fan 117S
892 CFM and 28 dB for $79.99 — the value pick, and the one to buy if the fan is for a small or spare bedroom.
→ Small and spare bedrooms, or a second fan for the kids' room
VS·HEAD-TO-HEAD
DREO Tower Fan 518 vs Lasko 42" WhisperForce DC Tower Fan (TDC427)
24 dBA and 12 speeds from the biggest name in American fans — the safe pick if you would rather buy a brand your parents owned.
→ Buyers who want a DC tower fan from a long-established brand
VS·HEAD-TO-HEAD
DREO Tower Fan 518 vs Lasko Pinnacle 40" DC Tower Fan (DST100)
32 ft/s and a 50-foot throw at 24 dBA, with a built-in night light — the most airflow here without giving up bedroom quiet.
→ Larger or hotter bedrooms that need real airflow overnight
Decision support · what no other comparison site has
Take the quiz · 60 secNot sure which one is right for you?
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More bedroom fans we compared
See all →
Frequently asked questions
Is 20 dB actually quiet enough to sleep next to?
Yes, on the lowest speed. For scale, a quiet bedroom at night sits around 30 dB and a whisper about 30 dB at a metre — 20 dB is below both. The caveat worth stating plainly: that is DREO's own figure, measured in their conditions, and every fan gets louder as you raise the speed. Buy it for the low end, not the top.
518 vs 519S — what is the difference?
The 519S adds Wi-Fi, app control and Alexa/Google voice for about $10 more, and is also rated 20 dB. If you will genuinely use schedules or voice, take the 519S. If the fan lives beside your bed and you reach for a remote anyway, the 518 is the same core machine for less.
Can a fan replace a white-noise machine?
For many people, yes — broadband fan noise masks intermittent sounds the same way a sound machine does, and it cools at the same time. What it will not do is give you selectable sounds, a timer that fades, or a night light. If the noise is the point rather than the air, see our sound machines comparison.
Is a tower fan or a pedestal fan better for a bedroom?
Tower fans win on footprint and on how quietly they run at low speed; pedestal fans win on raw airflow per dollar and let you aim the head above bed height. For a small bedroom where the fan runs all night, a tower is usually the better trade.
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