Label literacy
How to Read the BEE Star Label on a Ceiling Fan
A practical guide to reading and comparing BEE star labels on ceiling fans: air delivery, wattage, service value, and what the label does and does not tell you.
Read the label in this order
To compare ceiling fans, first match the sweep size and label period. Then compare service value (CMM/W) for efficiency and air delivery (CMM) for the airflow each model is rated to provide. A higher star count alone does not tell you which fan moves more air or suits your room.
On a BEE ceiling-fan label, check:
- Model and sweep: Make sure the label belongs to the exact fan you are considering. Sweep is the diameter of the circle traced by the blade tips.
- Validity period: Star thresholds change between periods. Compare labels from the same period, or compare their service values against the applicable table below.
- Air delivery (CMM): The rated volume of air moved per minute under the test conditions.
- Power (W): The fan's rated electrical input under those conditions. One kilowatt-hour (1,000 watts used for one hour) is one electricity unit.
- Service value (CMM/W): Air delivery divided by power. A higher value means more rated air delivery per watt; this is the label's efficiency measure.
For example, at a 1200mm sweep, a label showing 230 CMM and 35W gives a service value of 230 ÷ 35 = 6.57 CMM/W. Under the 2026–2028 table for that sweep category, that value falls in the 5-star band. A different fan's star rating or CMM should not be inferred from its motor type or marketing name; check its own label.
BEE ceiling-fan service-value bands for 2026–2028
The Government of India's 2024 amendment sets these bands for labels valid 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2028. The sweep categories are 600–750mm inclusive, over 750mm to 1050mm inclusive, and over 1050mm to 1500mm inclusive. Thus a 1050mm fan belongs to the middle category; a 1200mm or 1400mm fan belongs to the largest category.
Sweep 600–750mm
| Star rating | Rated service value (CMM/W) |
|---|---|
| 1 star | ≥ 2.0 to < 2.5 |
| 2 star | ≥ 2.5 to < 3.0 |
| 3 star | ≥ 3.0 to < 3.5 |
| 4 star | ≥ 3.5 to < 4.0 |
| 5 star | ≥ 4.0 |
Sweep over 750mm to 1050mm
| Star rating | Rated service value (CMM/W) |
|---|---|
| 1 star | ≥ 3.6 to < 4.1 |
| 2 star | ≥ 4.1 to < 4.6 |
| 3 star | ≥ 4.6 to < 5.1 |
| 4 star | ≥ 5.1 to < 5.6 |
| 5 star | ≥ 5.6 |
Sweep over 1050mm to 1500mm
| Star rating | Rated service value (CMM/W) |
|---|---|
| 1 star | ≥ 4.5 to < 5.0 |
| 2 star | ≥ 5.0 to < 5.5 |
| 3 star | ≥ 5.5 to < 6.0 |
| 4 star | ≥ 6.0 to < 6.5 |
| 5 star | ≥ 6.5 |
These are the BEE bands for the stated period, not a promise that a fan will deliver a particular level of comfort in your room. The 2024 amendment (S.O. 3471(E)) sets the 2026–2028 thresholds; the base notification (S.O. 246(E)) defines the sweep categories. Confirm the period printed on the model's label. A 5-star label on a 900mm fan uses a different threshold from a 5-star label on a 1200mm fan, so compare the actual service value and CMM as well as the star count.
Does 5-star mean BLDC?
No. The BEE star band is determined by rated service value for the fan's sweep category and label period, not by whether its motor is BLDC or induction. The label is the evidence for that model's rating; do not assume a star level from motor type alone.
If you are comparing two models, use the service value to compare rated airflow per watt, and use CMM to compare their rated air delivery. Wattage alone can mislead: lower power does not mean a better fit if the fan also has much lower air delivery. For the expected electricity cost of a fan's wattage and use hours, see the fan running-cost calculator.
What the BEE label cannot decide
The label helps compare tested energy performance. It does not tell you whether a fan fits a particular room, how noisy it will sound, whether it works with your wall regulator, or how convenient local servicing will be. Check the room-size estimate, model specifications, installation clearances, regulator requirements, warranty, and service availability separately. The fan size calculator estimates a sweep from room dimensions, ceiling height, and AC use; it does not assess a fan model's CMM.
For a BLDC-versus-induction running-cost estimate, the BLDC payback calculator uses its stated planning assumptions. It does not compare BEE labels or take model-specific CMM and wattage as inputs. Use each model's label for the product comparison, then use the calculator as a household-level estimate.
Try it next
Check the fan size for your room
Use the calculator with your room dimensions, ceiling height, and AC usage to get an assumption-based recommendation.
Open fan size calculatorCommon questions
How do I read a BEE star label on a ceiling fan?
First check the exact model, sweep size, and label period. Then read air delivery (CMM), power (W), and service value (CMM/W). For fans of the same sweep and period, service value compares rated airflow per watt; CMM compares rated air delivery.
Is every 5-star fan a BLDC fan?
No. BEE assigns stars from the fan's rated service value for its sweep category and label period. Motor type alone does not establish a star level; check the exact model's label.
What service value is needed for a 5-star fan?
For labels valid January 2026 through December 2028, 5 stars requires at least 6.5 CMM/W for sweeps over 1050mm through 1500mm, 5.6 for sweeps over 750mm through 1050mm, and 4.0 for 600–750mm. A 1050mm fan belongs to the middle category.
What does a BEE star label not tell you?
The label is an efficiency certificate only. It does not tell you whether the fan fits your room, how noisy it is, the build quality, whether it works with your existing wall regulator, whether a service centre is nearby, or what a repair would cost. Check those separately — efficiency is one piece of the buying decision, not the whole of it.
Should I choose a 5-star fan or a BLDC fan?
Compare actual models rather than treating a star level and motor type as alternatives. First choose a suitable sweep, then compare CMM, service value, price, controls, warranty, and service access. The BEE label rates efficiency, not every buying factor.