Exhibit 12.1




                              Holmes Products Corp.
                Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
                     Dollars in thousands, except for Ratio


                                                      Year ended December 31,
                                      ----------------------------------------------------- 
                                                                                  Pro forma 
                                       1993     1994     1995     1996      1997     1997(1)
                                      ------  -------  -------  -------   -------  -------- 
                                                                       
Income before income
  taxes and minority interest (2)     $2,956   $7,730   $6,370   $9,416    $6,268   $7,355  
                                                                        
Fixed charges:                                                          
  Interest expense and amortization                                     
    of debt discount on all                                             
    indebtedness                      $1,215   $2,104   $5,231   $6,570    $7,303  $14,551  
                                                                        
  Portion of rental expense                                             
    representing interest                270      567      813    1,021     1,033    1,033  
                                      ------  -------  -------  -------   -------  -------- 
                                                                        
    Total fixed charges, as defined   $1,485  $ 2,671  $ 6,044  $ 7,591   $ 8,336  $15,584 
                                      ------  -------  -------  -------   -------  -------- 
                                                                        
Income before income taxes, minority                                    
  interest and fixed charges, as                                        
  defined                             $4,441  $10,401  $12,414  $17,007   $14,604  $22,939 
                                      ------  -------  -------  -------   -------  -------- 
                                                                        
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges       3.0      3.9      2.1      2.2       1.8      1.5 
                                      ======  =======  =======  =======   =======  ======== 
                                                      


(1)  The Pro Forma amounts reflect the ratio of earnings to fixed charges as if
     the transactions and employment agreements described in the Prospectus
     comprising part of this Registration Statement had been entered into at the
     beginning of the period presented.

(2)  The minority interest is in a subsidiary with fixed charges.