Get the 12-inch box fan for your small apartment.

For a small apartment, a 12-inch box fan is usually the better choice.

The 20-inch is a beast. It moves a ton of air, sure, but it also takes up a ton of space, makes enough noise to drown out your TV, and doesn’t fit in most apartment windows without hanging out awkwardly. In a small apartment, that thing becomes an obstacle—you’ll trip over it, you’ll hate moving it, and you’ll never need that much airflow anyway.

A 12-inch fan is surprisingly capable. It’s compact enough to sit on a counter, a shelf, or a windowsill. It’s quiet enough that you can sleep with it on. And in a room that’s maybe 400-700 square feet, it moves all the air you need. Plus, you can easily point it where you want without rearranging your furniture.

The only reason to go 20-inch is if you’re trying to cool a large open area or you have a specific big window you want to pressurize. For a typical studio or one-bedroom? The 12-inch wins every time.

Your neighbors and your ears will thank you.