A study was done on the numerical and experimental analyses of the aerodynamic characteristics of a counter rotating axial fan. The numerical analysis uses the frequency domain panel method developed for the aerodynamic analysis of interacting rotating systems, which is based on the unsteady lifting surface panel method. Each stage of interaction involves the solution of an isolated rotor, the interaction being done through the Fourier transform of the induced velocity field. Numerical results showed good agreements with other experimental data for single and counter rotating propeller systems. And they were compared with the experimental results of the counter rotating axial fan studied in the present paper. The performance test was carried out based on the Korean Standard (KS B 6311). It was focused on the relative efficiency increase of a counter rotating system for a single rotating one, and effects of the axial distance between the front and rear rotors on overall fan performances were investigated. As a result, it was shown that the counter rotating axial fan has the efficiency 14% higher than the single rotating one at peak efficiency points.