To wire a ceiling fan we first have to know the options available on the fan. Most common fans either come with a light or without a light. Although you can get just a ceiling fan most units offer a light kit that can be added in the future.

More often than not, your going to have a ceiling light fixture at the location you are planning on installing a ceiling fan. If this is the case, then odds are that this old ceiling light only has enough wires to switch off & on the fan and not the light. If so then a new wire must be ran to control the light as well. So instead of a three wire cable going to the fan, it must be replaced with a 4 wire cable. When taking down your old fixture you will be able to see if you have the correct cabling.
 

If you are installing a fan where there is no previous fixture, then you'll be running a new circuit to the fan and can accommodate for the light as well.
 

These diagrams to follow are based on the ceiling fan wires having a color code of:

White = Neutral
Black = Fan
Blue = Light
Green = Ground

Some manufacturers may use different color codes so be sure to follow the instructions that come with your particular product.
 

Here's a list of different scenario's to choose from:

No Switches Controlling the fan. You turn on/off the light & fan from the ceiling fan controls:

This is assuming that you are installing a ceiling fan in a location that had no fixture there before. This would be a new circuit ran to the ceiling fan.

A single two way switch turns on/off both light & fan. (this one is fairly common. Using the switch to control the light then turning on/off the fan from the fan itself).
 

This diagram is for those who are replacing a light fixture with a ceiling fan. Your existing light fixture was controlled by a switch and only one switch. Chances are, you only have a three wire cable ran to the fixture so you would be limited to powering the ceiling fan & light both. Typically using the switch for the light and turning the fan on/off by the fan switch on the unit. Of course this is all based on not replacing the existing wiring that you currently have.


 

Two switches at one location. One two way switch that turns on/off the light and one 2-way switch that turns on/off the fan.

Maybe you are just replacing an old ceiling fan with a new one and you already had (2) separate switches. One controlling the light and one controlling the fan. Then this should look like your connections.

Now for the good one. This one is the same as above but an additional switch so you can turn on/off the light from 2 different locations. The fan is still operated from one location. The two way switches for the light will now change to three way switches.
 

The diagram above looks complicated but it's really not. Just focus on one circuit one at a time and it will fall right into place. Notice this circuit has a three wire cable "power source" coming into the double switch box. Then leaving the double switch box is a 3-wire cable going to the ceiling fan and a four wire cable going to the other three way switches. Then a 3-wire cable from there also going to the ceiling fan. Make connections as shown.