Dunelm Status Neck Hanging Fan review: find out why this neck fan stands out from the crowd

Price on writing: £15 | Buy now from Dunelm

When the sun comes out, us Brits aren't always that well equipped for high summer temperatures. In the past few years, neck fans have grown in popularity, bringing a much needed blast of cool air directly where many people feel the heat most - on the face and neck.

The best neck fans are light, effective and have simple controls - and this one from Dunelm is no exception. We've named it our top neck fan for 2025, but with so many similar ones available, just what is it about this neck fan that makes it stand out?

I tested the neck fan during a June heatwave, in my WFH office and out and about. Here's my honest review.

Our verdict

The Status Neck Fan is designed much like most other neck fans, with a bladeless design made to look like a pair of headphones. However, it's the clever extras that make this neck fan stand out when compared to all the others.

There's nothing worse than picking up your neck fan (or any other chargeable device like earpods, a handheld fan or cordless vacuum cleaner), only for the battery to die after a few seconds. Other neck fans we've tested don't have battery indicators, but the Status Neck Fan does, so it's easy to check whether the fan has enough juice for the day.

This display also shows the fan speed level, of which there are 5. The other neck fans we tested tend of have 3 speeds, so this is another stand-out feature of the Status Neck Fan.

With air outlets at the two ends, as well as running up the top and bottom of the fan's arms, it gives a nice even coverage of cool air - and there's no right side up, either. The fan is shorter and chunkier than other models, and the air hits me along my jawline, upper neck and clavicle on a 1 or 2 speed. When cranked up to 5, it cools right up to the tops of my ears - although it is quite noisy at this level.

Its shorter, chunkier design is also slightly heavier than other neck fans, so if you're looking for something more lightweight the bladed Amacool Neck Fan would be a better bet for you.

At £15, the Dunelm Status Neck Fan is great value, although Dunelm do have a charge for home delivery, or free click and collect. All in all, this is a great neck fan, with thoughtful features that make it extra effective and user-friendly.

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What is the Dunelm Status Neck Hanging Fan?

This is a bladeless neck fan, meaning its brushless motor draws air in and forces it out through narrow openings, creating a cooling effect. There's no danger of getting long hair caught in a bladeless fan, and its lack of blades means it's quieter, too.

Designed to be worn around the neck, the Status Neck Fan has simple one-button controls to switch between 5 fan speeds and power off. There's also a discrete USB-C charging port, with a USB charger cable included.

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How easy is the Dunelm Status Neck Hanging Fan to use?

Using this fan really couldn't be simpler. It arrived with a full battery, so all I had to do was pop it round my neck and push the button to get it going. The battery and fan speed is shown on a small LED screen, so you can always check the battery levels - which I found really useful. the battery lasts between 4-12 hours, depending on the fan speed you use.

It's clear from the air current and the sound of the fan when the speed is increased, so I can cycle between speeds while wearing the fan to get just the right level of cooling.

When it's time to charge, I connect the neck fan to my laptop or a USB plug using the USB-C to USB charger included in the box. It's relatively quick to charge, too.

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How effective is the Dunelm Status Neck Hanging Fan?

With well laid out air outlets and 5 fan speeds to choose form, the Status Neck Fan is very effective. The higher the fan speed, the farther the air reaches, so you can customise it to hit just where you sweat or feel the heat most.

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What's the battery life like?

Depending on which fan speed you use, the battery can last between 4-12 hours, which is about average for the neck fans available right now. The battery charges relatively quickly, and there's a charger cable included in the box.

The battery indicator is a real stand-out feature of this neck fan, and one I haven't seen in other similarly-priced models. Being able to check battery levels is a game-changer that makes this neck fan more convenient and user-friendly than its competition.

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Price: Is the Dunelm Status Neck Hanging Fan worth it?

At £15, the Status Neck Fan is at the budget end of the market for neck fans. While you can pick up a neck fan on Amazon for under £10, this one has extra features that make a big difference - plus it comes from trusted brand Dunelm.

There is a delivery charge of £3.95 from Dunelm, which is worth bearing in mind. Alternatively, if you have a Dunelm local to you, they offer free click and collect.

Most of the Amazon neck fans we tested are priced between £15-£30, so even with the delivery charge, the Status Neck Fan is still great value for money.

How we tested

Poppy used the Dunelm Status Neck Hanging Fan across the course of two weeks in warm weather and a heatwave. During testing, she carefully rated the fan on its effectiveness, how long the batteries lasted, the ease of use, and overall value for money:

• Tested across a fortnight

• Used to combat hot temperatures

• Cross-compared with other neck fans 

All of the neck fans were tested under the same criteria and were compared together to help us determine which fans are the best products on the market right now.

About the author

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She researches and reviews the products Mumsnetters swear by, with a particular focus on home essentials, laundry and fans. From a highly-recommended retractable washing line to the best quiet fans money can buy, and Mumsnet's favourite dehumidifier to the steam generator iron that'll cut your ironing time in half, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the very best products on the market.