Creating a breeze in a space is necessary to enhance convective heat transfer and accordingly body heat dissipation. In most tropical countries, ceiling fans are extensively used to create an indoor breeze, improve the space air distribution and, hence enhance the feeling of comfort. The fan speed, diameter, number of blades, blade angle, and location all play an important role in determining the induced flow pattern features in the space. Few previous studies have investigated fan induced flow and its characteristics under different geometric and operating conditions. In this study, an analytical as well as a computational model was used to predict the flow pattern induced by a ceiling fan into a selected space. The numerical and mathematical results were compared to published experimental data. The results showed that the flow pattern has different features as it leaves the fan and proceeds towards the floor. It has a divergence angle of almost 150 degrees. Two correlations are introduced to help predicting the air velocity distribution due to using a ceiling fan. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.