8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (2024)

Picking the best bathroom exhaust fan for your bathroom shouldn’t be all that hard. Right? That’s true in theory. In practice, however, many homeowners found out they’ve picked an inappropriate bathroom fan only after they buy the wrong one.

To help everybody choose the perfect bathroom fan, we have tallied up all the best bathroom exhaust fans in 2024. You will find the whole list (including the best exhaust fans with lights), complete with a spec-by-spec comparison table, and top-rated bathroom fan reviews further on.

Nonetheless, it pays to focus a bit of your time on looking at the specs. That’s the only way how you can tell which bathroom exhaust fan is good for you and which one is wrong. Here are several comments by homeowners who choose inadequate bathroom fans:

“My bathroom fan leaves the bathroom moist and stale. What’s wrong?” (Sizing Issue)

“Should my bathroom fan be so d*mn loud? It’s incredibly noisy for just a fan.” (Noise Issues)

“I thought my bathroom exhaust fan came with a light. I’ve only realisted there is no light during installation.” (No Light Issue)

These are just some of the problems you can face if you don’t choose an appropriate bathroom fan. Even Energy Star guide points to the importance of choosing the right ventilation fans:

“Installing adequate ventilation helps to alleviate many common household problems. It also helps to control moisture and remove objectionable odors.” (Energy Star Guide For Ventilation)

Fortunately, there is an easy way how to choose the best bathroom exhaust fan; you just have to check (and compare) the specs.

If you’ve picked a 4 sones fan, of course, it will be loud. If you’ve picked a 50 CFM exhaust fan for a 100 sq ft bathroom, of course, it’s undersized (leaving your bathroom moist and with stale air).

That’s why we have created the spec-by-spec comparison table to illustrate how even the best bathroom vent fans differ in certain specs (size, noise levels, lights or no lights, the inclusion of humidistat, Bluetooth, and so on).

We are going to start by going spec by spec, benchmarking the best bathroom ventilation fans. Among the 5 mains specs/factors you need to check before buying any bathroom exhaust fan, are how much CFM you need (sizing the fan), what is considered a quiet fan (avoiding noisiness issues), if it includes a light, a heater, Bluetooth, and so on.

If you’re already familiar with all these main factors, you can skip directly to the list of the best bathroom exhaust fans here (make sure to check the comparison table and read the individual review before buying):

Skip To List Of 8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans Here

With that in mind, let’s look at what specs you should check in order to not get the whole bathroom exhaust fan selection wrong:

5 Main Factors To Check Before Buying Adequate Bathroom Exhaust Fan

Bathroom exhaust fans are one of those bathroom things that seem very easy to pick out. It’s just a fan, how difficult could it be?

Well, you truly can pick pretty much any exhaust fan and install it in your bathroom. The real question is this: Could you make a much better choice?

In order to pick the top-rated bathroom exhaust fan that will fit your bathroom perfectly, you need to look at 5 main specs. These include:

  1. CFM output. The bathroom exhaust fan should produce enough airflow to change the air in your bathroom 8 times per hour (8 ACH rule of thumb). We’ll show you how to adequately size the exhaust fan (in terms of CFM or Cubic Feet per Minute) to the size of your bathroom.
  2. Noise levels. Exhaust fans can be unusually loud (above 5 sones or about 51 dB). We will show you how to choose a quiet bathroom fan (down to less than 1 sone or about 28 dB).
  3. Energy efficiency. These bathroom exhaust fans don’t use a lot of electricity but some may be very energy inefficient. It makes no sense to buy a bathroom fan that’s costly to run if you have an energy-saving Energy Star certified fan alternative.
  4. Light. Many homeowners are looking for the best bathroom exhaust fan with light. It only makes sense; it’s quite useful to have a ceiling exhaust fan and light 2-in-1 combo. Not all bathroom fans come with a light, however.
  5. Extra features. Modern bathroom fans can have a range of useful extra features. These include fans with heater function (1,500W heating), built-in humidistat (to check relative humidity levels), Bluetooth (to operate it remotely), and so on. You can see some of these features outlined in the comparison table and reviews below.

Let’s quickly look at each of these specs in turn. That’s how you’ll be able to build up a specs-base ideal exhaust fan for your bathroom even before you look at the best bathroom extractor fans currently on the market:

1. What Size Bathroom Extraction Fan Should I Get? (CFM Output)

Without a doubt, picking the right size extraction fan for your bathroom is the number 1 priority. If you pick a too small fan, it wouldn’t do the job. If you pick a fan that’s too big, it will do the job but it will needlessly waste energy, it will be costlier, and, in all likelihood, it will be louder than a smaller adequately sized unit.

The right question when choosing the size of a bathroom exhaust fan is this:

“How many CFM exhaust fan do I need for my bathroom?”

You have 50 CFM, 80 CFM, 100 CFM, 150 CFM bathroom fans, and so on. Smaller bathrooms require a less powerful fan and bigger bathrooms require a bigger 80+ CFM fan.

To adequately size the fan, you generally use the 8 ACH rule of thumb. This rule presumes that the exhaust fan has sufficient airflow to change all the air in the bathroom 8 times per hour.

8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (2)

You can read an insightful article about how to determine how many CFM bathroom exhaust fan you need given bathroom size here, but here’s the short and easy rule to follow:

1 CFM per sq ft.

That means that if you have a 50 sq ft bathroom, you need a 50 CFM exhaust fan. 100 sq ft bathroom would require 100 CFM exhaust, and so on. This approximation presumes you have an 8 ft bathroom ceiling. With higher ceilings, you will need more than 1 CFM per sq ft.

Here is a CFM chart for the bathroom exhaust fan size (given 8 ft ceiling height):

Bathroom Size (Sq Ft):Required CFM:
20 sq ft21 CFM
30 sq ft32 CFM
40 sq ft43 CFM
50 sq ft53 CFM
60 sq ft64 CFM
70 sq ft75 CFM
80 sq ft85 CFM
90 sq ft96 CFM
100 sq ft107 CFM
120 sq ft128 CFM
140 sq ft149 CFM
150 sq ft160 CFM
160 sq ft171 CFM
180 sq ft192CFM
200 sq ft213 CFM
220 sq ft235 CFM
240 sq ft256 CFM
250 sq ft267 CFM
260 sq ft277 CFM
280 sq ft299 CFM
300 sq ft320 CFM
400 sq ft427 CFM
500 sq ft533 CFM

You can see that 1 CFM per sq ft is a very close approximation (with up to a 7% deviation from the actual CFM figures).

Note: The best bathroom exhaust fan #1 Panasonic FV-0511VFL1 WhisperFit uses SmartFlow technology. This technology can produce more than a single-stage CFM output. The Panasonic fan can, for example, produce 50 CFM, 80 CFM, or 110 CFM airflow output (Pick-A-Flow selector on the photo below). Such three-stage CFM output makes it a perfect bathroom fan for most bathrooms (small, standard, and bigger bathrooms).

8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (3)

When you have the CFMs figured out, your next spec to check are the noise levels:

2. Check Noise Levels (Anything Above 5 Sones Is Unnecessarily Loud)

When the bathroom extractor fan is running, it will inevitably make some noise. The goal here is to pick a fan with the lowest noise levels (quietest bathroom fan).

8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (4)

In the specification sheets for most HVAC products (ACs, furnaces, air purifiers, and so on), you will find a decibel rating. Example: The quietest window AC units operate at below 52 dB.

Noise levels of bathroom exhaust fans is inconveniently not expressed in decibels. Rather, units called ‘sone’ are used. You can convert sones to dB to get a better understanding of how loud the fan is.

The conversion from sones to dB is determined by a bit complex equation (this one: dB = 33.2 × log (Sones) + 28). It’s quite bothersome to use, that’s why we converted sones to decibels for you in this following table:

Sones:Decibels (dB):
1 Sone28 dB
2 Sones38 dB
3 Sones43.8 dB
4 Sones48 dB
5 Sones51.2 dB
6 Sones53.8 dB

Generally, 3 sones or 43.8 dB is the same sound television makes. Most of the best bathroom exhaust fans you will find in the list below are also the quietest ones. They generate, on average, much less than 3 sones of noise.

Nonetheless, if you’re looking at a specific bathroom ceiling fan, it’s essential you check the noise levels. Many bathroom ventilation fans on the market can generate 5 or even 6 sones of noise. Most homeowners find these above 50 dB noise levels a bit too noisy.

Here’s the bottom line:

The easiest way to avoid picking a noisy bathroom fan is to check the ‘Noise levels’ specification. If it’s below 3 sones, it’s not noisy. The best quiet bathroom exhaust fans have noise levels below 1.0 sone.

3. Bathroom Exhaust Fan Energy Efficiency: How Much Electricity Do They Use?

Bathroom exhaust fans don’t require a lot of electricity to run. The small 40 CFM fans run on as little as 6W and the bigger 300W can run on 50W or more.

An average 100 CFM bathroom exhaust fan requires about 20W to run. If you use it for 2 hours per day (be mindful to turn the bathroom fan off 20 min after showering), this results in 14.6 kWh per year. That’s about $2 worth of electricity per year.

An energy-efficient 100 CFM bathroom fan might require only 10W to run. It will cost about $1 to run per year; that’s $1 less than a standard-efficiency unit.

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Since bathroom fans are very inexpensive to run (because they run only about 1-2 hours per day on low wattage), there is less need to make them energy efficient. In fact, most manufacturers won’t even include wattage on the specs sheet.

Nevertheless, if you can get an energy-efficient bathroom exhaust fan, why wouldn’t you?

Note: Energy efficiency is more significant with bigger and more powerful fans (100+ CFM) that run more than 2 hours per day.

In HVAC calculations, we determine the energy efficiency of fans by dividing the CFM output by wattage. Standard bathroom fans have 3-5 CFM/W efficiency. Energy-efficient models can have 10 CFM/W or more efficiency.

You don’t have to worry about all that too much. The easiest way to ensure you have an energy-efficient bathroom exhaust fan is to check if the fan you’re looking at has an Energy Star certificate. Energy Star bathroom fans have, in general, above 10 CFM/W efficiency.

4. Check If Bathroom Fan Has A Light

The inclusion of light is the most sought-after extra feature bathroom exhaust fans have; this is specifically true for the best bathroom ceiling fans. Most homeowners prefer a ceiling bathroom fan with light. Not all exhaust fans come with a built-in light, however.

In order to avoid the case of missing light, ie. ‘Where do I turn on bathroom fan light’, make sure the fan has an included light.

8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (6)

You can’t add a light on the bathroom ceiling fan without a hassle.

Also, be aware that there are a variety of lights that can be built into a bathroom fan. Most of them are 40W to 200W LED lights that work as standard lights.

Some bathroom fans also include a separate nightlight (less powerful 3W to 15W light) that creates a pleasant surrounding. If the fan has a light, that doesn’t necessarily mean it also includes the nightlight. You have to check for both of them if you want a bathroom exhaust fan with light and nightlight all in one fan.

Note: The light on a bathroom fan can work even when the exhaust fan is not running.

5. Extra Features: Heater, Bluetooth, Humidistat

The bathroom fan isn’t only a fan. Many bathroom extractor fans have a built-in light. These units can also have other useful features.

These include:

  • Heater. Some bathroom fans include a heating element. This is usually a standard 1,500W heater that can generate upwards of 5,000 BTU of heating output. Of course, the drawback is that bathroom fans with heaters are costlier, bigger, and can generate higher noise levels.
  • Bluetooth. Bathroom ceiling fans with Bluetooth are actually audio devices. You can connect to Bluetooth via your mobile phone and play music while showering. In 2024, Bluetooth bathroom exhaust fans are all the rage.
  • Humidistat. You know that controlling the relative humidity in the bathroom can prevent mold growth (usually found in the corners). Bathroom exhaust fans with humidistat usually turn off when the relative humidity levels in the bathroom fall below 60%. When you turn off a bathroom fan without a humidistat, you don’t really know what the humidity levels are. If you turn it on when humidity levels are above 60%, you increase the likelihood of your bathroom suffering from mold growth.
  • Easy installation kits. You can install a bathroom exhaust fan yourself. This task is much easier if you have a user-friendly DIY installation design and kit. Flex-Z simple installation kit Panasonic bathroom fans come with is a great example of an easy installation design.

With all of this in mind, let’s have a look at the best bathroom extractor fans you can buy in 2024:

List Of 8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans

  1. Best Bathroom Exhaust Fan With Light By Far: Panasonic FV-0511VFL1 WhisperFit
  2. Best Bathroom Fan With Light And Heater: Broan NuTone 9093WH Fan With Heater
  3. Quietest Bathroom Exhaust Fan: KAZE APPLIANCE SEP120
  4. Most Powerful Bathroom Exhaust Fan: Broan NuTone L300 High CFM Capacity Fan
  5. Best Bathroom Exhaust Fan With Humidity Sensor: Homewerks 7146-80-MS
  6. Best Bathroom Exhaust Fan With Bluetooth Speaker: Broan NuTone SPK80L Bluetooth Fan
  7. Small And Cheap Bathroom Exhaust Fan: Tech Drive 50 CFM Bathroom Fan
  8. Best Ductless Bathroom Exhaust Fan: Broan NuTone 682 Duct-Free Fan
Bathroom Exhaust Fan:1. Panasonic FV-0511VFL1 WhisperFit2. Broan-NuTone 9093WH Fan With Heater3. KAZE APPLIANCE SEP120 Quiet4. Broan-NuTone L300 High CFM Fan5. Homewerks 7146-80-MS Humidistat Fan6. BROAN NuTone SPK80L Bluetooth Fan7. Tech Drive 50 CFM Bathroom Fan8. Broan-Nutone 682 Duct-Free Fan
Photo:8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (7)8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (8)8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (9)8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (10)8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (11)8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (12)8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (13)8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (14)
CFM (Airflow):50 CFM, 80 CFM, or 110 CFM70 CFM120 CFM308 CFM80 CFM80 CFM50 CFMN/A (120W)
Bathroom Size:50 to 105 Sq Ft65 Sq Ft115 Sq Ft290 Sq Ft75 Sq Ft75 Sq Ft50 Sq Ft/
Noise Levels:0.1 to 1.0 Sones3.5 Sones0.3 Sones2.9 Sones1.5 Sones2.5 Sones1.0 SonesN/A
Lights?8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (15)8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (16)8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (17)8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (18)8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (19)8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (20)8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (21)8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (22)
Extra Features:CFM Selector, Flex-Z Simple Install, Energy Star1,500-Watt Heater, 100W Light, 7W NightlightExtremely Silent, 4″ Duct ReducerFor Very Large Bathrooms, Heavy-Duty HousingSmart Motion, Built-In HumidistatHigh-Fidelity Speak, Bluetooth EnabledVery Quiet, Below $50 Price Tag, Energy StarDoesn’t Require Ductwork, Plug-In Model
Price:$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Average Rating:8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (23)8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (24)8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (25)8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (26)8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (27)8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (28)8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (29)8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (30)
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1. Best Bathroom Exhaust Fan With Light By Far: Panasonic FV-0511VFL1 WhisperFit

8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (31)

CFM (Airflow):50 CFM, 80 CFM, or 110 CFM
Bathroom Size:50 to 105 Sq Ft
Noise Levels:0.1 to 1.0 Sones
Extra Features:CFM Selector, Flex-Z Simple Install, Energy Star
Dimensions:17.1 x 14.1 x 9.8 Inches
Price:$$$$
Rating:8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (32)

Panasonic FV-0511VFL1 WhisperFit is the perfect bathroom exhaust fan (and not just because of the SmartFlow tech). If you go spec by spec, you can see that the Panasonic bathroom fan hits the highest marks for all of them: versatile sizing, very quiet, energy-efficient, has a light, and it’s very easy to install.

Let’s start with the CFM output. Most bathroom fans have a single-stage CFM output (we talk about 50 CFM fans, for example). SmartFlow technology Panasonic FV-0511VFL1 uses has a three-stage CFM output. You can switch between 50 CFM, 80 CFM, and 110 CFM output. That makes it the most versatile bathroom fan.

The beauty of the SmartFlow tech is that you can use this extraction fan in pretty much any bathroom. If you have a small 50 sq ft bathroom (or there about), you set it on 50 CFM. If you have a standard-sized 75 sq ft bathroom, you simply use the 80 CFM output setting. For a bigger up to 105 sq ft bathroom, you use the most powerful 110 CFM output. Basically, you have all 3 settings in a single fan.

Panasonic FV-0511VFL1 is also one of the quietest bathroom fans on the market. Depending on the setting, it will generate anywhere from 0.1 to 1.0 sones of noise; that’s below 28 dB (thanks to WhisperFit tech). Just to give you an idea of how quiet this fan is; most standard fans generate 3 to 4 sones.

On top of that, it’s an extremely energy-efficient bathroom exhaust fan. Not only does it have an Energy Star certification, but it’s also one of the most efficient fans if you compare all Energy Star bathroom fans. At 110 CFM output, it has a 12.4 CFM/Watt efficiency. Normal efficiency rates are in the 3-5 CFM/Watt range (just to give you perspective).

This is the best exhaust fan with light as well. Its primary light is a 10W dimmable LED light. Furthermore, the 1W nightlight is also included when you need a pleasant surrounding when showering.

All in all, the Panasonic FV-0511VFL1 WhisperFit is the quintessential bathroom exhaust fan; it basically has everything. Variable three-stage CFM output to fit majority of bathroom sizes, extremely quiet and energy-efficient operation, and useful dual lights (even nightlight):

Panasonic FV-0511VFL1 Review

Pros

  • By far the best bathroom fan according to every specification
  • SmartFlow enables for three-stage (50, 80, 110 CFM) output (appropriate for most bathroom sizes)
  • Record low noise levels (below 1.0 sones for any setting)
  • Both 10W light and 1W dimmable nightlight
  • Extremely energy efficient (Energy Star certificate + 12.4 CFM/Watt efficiency)
  • Panasonic is one of the most reliable brands

Cons

  • It doesn’t include extra features like heater, Bluetooth, or humidistat

2. Best Bathroom Fan With Light And Heater: Broan NuTone 9093WH Fan With Heater

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CFM (Airflow):70 CFM
Bathroom Size:65 Sq Ft
Noise Levels:3.5 Sones
Extra Features:1,500-Watt Heater, 100W Light, 7W Nightlight
Dimensions:18 x 18 x 12 Inches
Price:$$$$
Rating:8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (34)

The heater is a useful addition to a bathroom exhaust fan. Among selected fans with heaters, the Broan NuTone 9093WH is the best bathroom ceiling fan that includes a heater. The 1,500W heater that is built into the fan can generate more than 5,000 BTU of heating effect.

Broan NuTone 9093WH is a 70 CFM bathroom exhaust fan. With such airflow, it’s perfect for 65 sq ft bathrooms; that’s an 8×8 bathroom. Of course, you can also install it in a smaller bathroom.

The heating element can provide additional heating to your bathroom. That’s especially useful when you come out of the shower. Usually, the extra heat from the ceiling will help the chilling after-shower effect.

In addition to the heater, Broan NuTone 9093WH also includes dual lights. The primary light is a 100W incandescent light that can provide lighting to the entire bathroom. For a dimmable option, you have the 7W nightlight that provides a softer light (perfect lighting for taking a bath).

The drawback of every bathroom exhaust fan with a heater are higher noise levels. The heating element usually makes more noise than just a fan. That’s why Broan NuTone 9093WH produces 3.5 sones or about 50 dB of noise. These noise levels are in line with what other 1,500W space heaters produce.

In short, if you’re looking for a ceiling bathroom exhaust fan with a heater and light, the Broan NuTone 9093WH is a very good pick:

Broan-NuTone 9093WH Review

Pros

  • Includes 1,500W heating element that can produce about 5,100 BTU of heating output
  • 70 CFM airflow is most appropriate for 65 sq ft bathrooms (8×8 bathroom, for example)
  • Powerful 100W light can be used as the only light in the bathroom
  • Dimmable 7W nightlight is perfect when you’re taking a bath
  • Eliminates the after-shower chill

Cons

  • Noise levels are higher than average (3.5 sones) due to the inclusion of the heating element
  • Heating is always costly; 1,500W heating element will cost about $0.20/h to run

3. Quietest Bathroom Exhaust Fan: KAZE APPLIANCE SEP120

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CFM (Airflow):120 CFM
Bathroom Size:115 Sq Ft
Noise Levels:0.3 Sones
Extra Features:Extremely Silent, 4″ Duct Reducer
Dimensions:11.38 x 10.5 x 7.63 Inches
Price:$$$$
Rating:8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (36)

One of the main concerns when buying a bathroom exhaust fan is noise. Any producer that can deliver very quiet bathroom fans will have a major advantage. KAZE is one of the best-known brands of whisper-quiet fans; their model KAZE SEP120 is the quietest bathroom exhaust fan currently on the market.

When a bathroom fan generates more than 3 sones of noise (about 48 dB), we always see complaints about the fan being too noisy. KAZE SEP120 is on the other side of the spectrum; it produces merely 0.3 sones of noise. That’s absurdly low noise level not just for bathroom fans but for fans in general.

What’s even more impressive is that KAZE SEP120 can generate 120 CFM airflow at 0.3 sones. That’s less than 23 dB of noise; you literally can’t heat it even when running at 100% output. Bigger 80+ CFM bathroom fans produce more noise (on average). This is due to the larger fan blades, higher rotation frequency, and bigger motor needed to run them.

KAZE SEP120 is a great exception to this rule. Even at 120 CFM (appropriate size for bathrooms with square footage up to 115 sq ft), the fan generates less than 1.0 sones of noise. The key here is the permanent lubrication system for the motor and noise-resisting (and rust-resisting) 26 GA galvanized steel case.

This extremely quiet bathroom fan also includes light and has optimal energy efficiency.

All in all, if you’re looking for the quietest bathroom ceiling fan even for bigger bathrooms, the KAZE SEP120 is the most silent choice on the market:

KAZE SEP120 Review

Pros

  • Quietest bathroom ventilation fan on the market
  • Even at high 120 CFM airflow, it generates only 0.3 sones of noise (22.5 dB)
  • Appropriate for a whole range of bathroom sizes up to 115 sq ft
  • Affordable price for such a quiet fan

Cons

  • It doesn’t include Bluetooth or a heater
  • A little bit harder to install yourself
  • Has a main light but it doesn’t include nightlight option

4. Most Powerful Bathroom Exhaust Fan: Broan-NuTone L300 High CFM Capacity Fan

8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (37)

CFM (Airflow):308 CFM
Bathroom Size:290 Sq Ft
Noise Levels:2.9 Sones
Extra Features:For Very Large Bathrooms, Heavy-Duty Housing
Dimensions:12.25 x 11.75 x 12.25 Inches
Price:$$$$
Rating:8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (38)

For big bathrooms, a 50 CFM or even a 100 CFM fan won’t cut it. You will need a high CFM bathroom fan to adequately ventilate a 150+ sq ft bathroom. Of all the high power fans, the Broan NuTone L300 is the single most powerful bathroom exhaust fan.

Broan NuTone L300 is a powerhouse. While most bathroom fans generate less than 150 CFM airflow, the Broan NuTone L300 can generate a very powerful 308 CFM airflow. That’s +100% more powerful airflow than standard fans.

This powerful bathroom exhaust fan is appropriate for bathrooms up to 290 sq ft. That means that high 308 CFM airflow will be enough to change all the air in the 290 sq ft bathroom 8 times per hour (8 ACH or change every 7.5 minutes).

Now, the key consideration with powerful high CFM bathroom fans are the noise levels. If you see noise levels above 3 sones, you might have problems with fan generating too much noise. Fortunately, Broan NuTone L300 generates at most 2.9 sones of noise (that’s less than 48 dB). Essentially, this is both a powerful and quiet exhaust fan at the same time.

The drawback Broan NuTone L300 has is the absence of light. This is done by design; in large bathrooms (that require high flow exhaust fans), you usually have a set-up lighting system to light the entire bathroom adequately. An additional light could mess with that set-up.

Despite being so powerful, the price tag for Broan NuTone L300 is still less than $200. With 308 CFM airflow and up to 290 sq ft bathroom coverage, this is the strongest high power bathroom exhaust fan:

Broan-NuTone L300 Review

Pros

  • Incredibly powerful exhaust fan with 308 CFM airflow
  • Can cover any bathroom with up to 290 sq ft square footage
  • Generates 2.9 sones of noise (less than 48 dB); impressive for such a powerful bathroom fan
  • Reasonable below $200 price tag

Cons

  • Doesn’t come with a light
  • Because it’s so powerful, it is costlier to run

5. Best Bathroom Exhaust Fan With Humidity Sensor: Homewerks 7146-80-MS

8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (39)

CFM (Airflow):80 CFM
Bathroom Size:75 Sq Ft
Noise Levels:1.5 Sones
Extra Features:Smart Motion, Built-In Humidistat
Dimensions:‎10.2 x 10.2 x 7 Inches
Price:$$$$
Rating:8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (40)

The main purpose of any bathroom exhaust fan is to ventilate your bathroom and thereby lower relative humidity levels. Acute high relative humidity levels can during and after showering can cause mold to grow. That’s why it makes sense to monitor the humidity levels, and for that, you need the best bathroom exhaust fan with a humidity sensor – the Homewerks 7146-80-MS.

Homewerks 7146-80-MS is a humidity sensing bathroom fan. Most fan have to be manually shut off; you usually shut them off 20 minutes after showering. But how do you know that the humidity levels have truly been decreased to 60%? With standard fans, there is no way of telling that. That’s why having a bathroom exhaust fan with a built-in humidistat is so useful.

Here’s how the Homewerks 7146-80-MS works: While the fan is running, the humidity sensor is continuously monitoring the decrease of humidity levels. Only once the humidity levels hit 60% (adequate for bathrooms), the bathroom fan is shut off. This is done automatically.

There are two benefits of this. Namely, you don’t have to worry about having too high relative humidity levels in the bathroom after showering; this is the 1st benefit. The 2nd benefit is that you don’t have to worry about how long the bathroom exhaust fan should run. The fan will shut off automatically when you don’t need to decrease the humidity levels anymore.

Homewerks 7146-80-MS is a standard-sized bathroom fan, capable of generating 80 CFM airflow. That’s enough ventilation airflow for a bathroom up to 75 sq ft in size. This CFM is appropriate for a large proportion of bathrooms in the US and UK.

On top of that, Homewerks 7146-80-MS comes with included light (15W LED light that can double as a nightlight – you just set it to night light mode). The noise levels are very low; at 1.5 sones, this humidity sensing bathroom fan has a smooth and quiet operation.

All in all, if you truly want to control the humidity levels in your bathroom, the Homewerks 7146-80-MS is the best bathroom exhaust fan with a humidity sensor you can get. It will automatically help you keep the bathroom humidity levels below 60%:

Homewerks 7146-80-MS Review

Pros

  • Superb humidity sensing exhaust fan
  • Humidity sensor will make sure the humidity levels after showing fall below 60%
  • Automatic shut off when hitting 60%; you don’t have to worry about when to turn it off manually
  • 15W LED light that includes a night light mode (dimmable lighting)
  • Low noise levels (1.5 sones)

Cons

  • It is not appropriate for big 100+ sq ft bathrooms
  • Doesn’t include Bluetooth or a heater
  • Higher price tag due to humidistat sensor inclusion

6. Best Bathroom Exhaust Fan With Bluetooth Speaker: BROAN NuTone SPK80L Bluetooth Fan

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CFM (Airflow):80 CFM
Bathroom Size:75 Sq Ft
Noise Levels:2.5 Sones
Extra Features:High-Fidelity Speak, Bluetooth Enabled
Dimensions:‎8.25 x 8 x 5.75 Inches
Price:$$$$
Rating:8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (42)

Bathroom exhaust fans with Bluetooth are all the rage in 2024. In addition to ventilation, you’re basically installing a ceiling audio system in your bathroom. Of all the Bluetooth-enabled bathroom fans, the Broan NuTone SPK80L is the best Bluetooth model currently on the market.

This is an 80 CFM fan that is adequately sized for the majority of bathrooms. With this airflow, you can install it in every bathroom up to 75 sq ft in size.

Broan NuTone SPK80L includes built-in Bluetooth high-fidelity Sensonic speakers. With a Bluetooth bathroom exhaust fan, Bluetooth connectivity is the baseline. What you really want is a good stereo system and Broan NuTone SPK80L has the best audio speakers found in a bathroom fan.

You can use Bluetooth to connect the bathroom exhaust fan’s audio system with your smartphone and play your favorite music or listen to podcasts during showering.

Here’s an interesting drawback: With 2.5 sones, this is not the quietest 80 CFM bathroom fan. However, the key difference between Bluetooth bathroom fans and those without Bluetooth, is that noise levels are not all that important. That’s because you’re usually blastic music at a much higher noise level; obviously, 2.5 sones will not mess with your music.

All in all, if you need a superb audio system in your bathroom, choosing Broan NuTone SPK80L is a great idea. This is the best Bluetooth-enabled bathroom exhaust fan currently on the market:

BROAN NuTone SPK80L Review

Pros

  • Bluetooth connectivity (very popular in modern bathrooms)
  • Has superb high-fidelity Sensonic speakers for playing music, podcasts, YouTube, etc.
  • 80 CFM airflow with up to 75 sq ft coverage will fit most bathroom sizes
  • Relatively low price for a new-tech bathroom fan

Cons

  • It has above-average noise levels for an 80 CFM fan (2.5 sones)
  • Not appropriate for 100+ sq ft bathrooms
  • Doesn’t include heater or humidistat

7. Small And Cheap Bathroom Exhaust Fan: Tech Drive 50 CFM Bathroom Fan

8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (43)

CFM (Airflow):50 CFM
Bathroom Size:50 Sq Ft
Noise Levels:1.0 Sones
Extra Features:Very Quiet, Below $50 Price Tag, Energy Star
Dimensions:8.7 x 8.7 x 4.5 Inches
Price:$$$$
Rating:8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (44)

If you have a small bathroom and would like to pay the minimum amount for a good bathroom exhaust fan, you need to check two things: the price of the fan (initial investment) and energy efficiency (low running costs). Tech Drive 50 CFM fan includes both of these things; this is the cheapest bathroom exhaust fan for small bathrooms.

With 50 CFM airflow, the Tech Drive 50 CFM is adequately sized to ventilate small bathrooms up to 50 sq ft. It also has very silent running noise levels. When outputting 50 CFM airflow, it generates only 1.0 sones.

Specs-wise, this is a good exhaust fan. Even when you’re looking for a bargain, you need to check the specs first. And the Tech Drive 50 CFM is a bargain.

It costs about $50. This is a great reduction in price compared to most $100 – $200 bathroom fans. On top of the budget-friendly price, the Tech Drive 50 CFM is Energy Star certified. That means you will have the minimum running costs due to higher-than-average energy efficiency.

Sadly, the Tech Drive 50 CFM doesn’t include a light. That’s it’s main drawback.

All in all, if you’re looking for a cheap bathroom exhaust fan, Tech Drive 50 CFM’s price tag of $50 is the lowest you can go while still maintaining good specs (quiet operate, adequate CFMs for bathroom size):

Tech Drive 50 CFM Review

Pros

  • Good cheap bathroom exhaust fan (costs about $50)
  • Very low operating costs (Energy Star certificate)
  • Appropriate for smaller bathrooms (50 CFM is enough for up to 45 sq ft bathrooms)

Cons

  • Doesn’t include a light
  • Tech Drive is not a well-known brand
  • Doesn’t include heater, Bluetooth, humiditistat
  • Only appropriate for smaller bathrooms

8. Best Ductless Bathroom Exhaust Fan: Broan Nutone 682 Duct-Free Fan

8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (45)

CFM (Airflow):N/A (120W)
Bathroom Size:/
Noise Levels:N/A
Extra Features:Doesn’t Require Ductwork, Plug-In Model
Dimensions:‎7.5 x 7.13 x 3.75 Inches
Price:$$$$
Rating:8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (46)

Needing ductwork to install a bathroom exhaust fan is a bother. That’s ductless bathroom exhaust fans are such a good niche in bathroom HVAC. These units are duct-free; they don’t require ductwork. Among these, the best ductless bathroom fan is the Broan Nutone 682.

CFM and noise levels of these duct-free bathrooms fans are usually tricky to get. Even Broan Nutone 682 doesn’t have specified CFMs, bathroom size, or noise levels (measured either in sones or decibels). That’s why it’s very hard to say how good it actually is and how it compares to other vent-free models.

In addition to requiring no ductwork, these duct-free units are rather cheap. They also require less wiring because they are simple electric plug-in bathroom exhaust fans.

Honestly, however, their performance seldom compares to the ducted bathroom fans. This is also true for Broan Nutone 682 model, despite being very popular among homeowners who don’t have preexisting ductwork.

All in all, if you’re looking for a duct-free plug-in bathroom fan, the Broan Nutone 682 is a valid choice. However, it cannot be reliably compared to other better bathroom exhaust fans that require ductwork:

Broan-Nutone 682 Review

Pros

  • Doesn’t require ductwork (ductless fan)
  • Is an electric plug-in model
  • Cheaper than standard ducted fans

Cons

  • No specifications available
  • High running costs (Broan Nutone 682 runs on 120W)
  • Variable and unreliable CFM output
  • It’s the best ductless fan you can get but it cannot compare to ducted fans in performance (CFM, noise levels)

This has been an in-depth overview of how to go about selecting the most appropriate fans for your bathroom. We hope that our digging into the specification helped you learn more about bathroom exhaust fans and made your deciding which fan to buy for your bathroom easier.

Thank you.

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  5. 4 Best Wall-Mounted Fans In 2024 (+ 5 Key Specs To Check Out)
8 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Light (For Any Bathroom) (2024)

FAQs

What's the best bathroom exhaust fan? ›

More
  • Best Overall: Homewerks Bath Fan with Bluetooth and LED Lights » ...
  • Best Budget: Hampton Bay 50 CFM Roomside Bathroom Exhaust Fan » ...
  • Best for Large Bathrooms: Panasonic WhisperGreen Select » ...
  • Best for Quiet Operation: Panasonic WhisperFit DC Fan with Dimmable LED and Nightlight »
Jan 19, 2024

How to pick an exhaust fan for a bathroom? ›

Choose a fan that can ventilate at least 1 CFM per square foot of room. So, for an 80 square foot bathroom, select an 80 CFM fan. For bathrooms 50 square feet and smaller, it's recommended you purchase a bath fan designed for small rooms. In other words, choose under 79 CFM bath fans.

What is the best CFM for a bathroom exhaust fan? ›

Ventilation rates based upon eight air changes per hour are generally suggested. For most bathrooms this works out to one CFM per square foot of bathroom area. For example, a 7' x 10' bathroom would require a 70 CFM fan. A 50 CFM rating is recommended as a minimum for bathrooms 50 sq.

What is the difference between a bathroom fan and a bathroom exhaust fan? ›

Exhaust Fan: Primarily focuses on removing moisture and odours, aiding in humidity control and air quality improvement in targeted areas. Ventilation fan: Helps regulate temperature by drawing in cooler outdoor air, reducing indoor temperatures, and aiding in overall humidity control.

Who is best to install a bathroom exhaust fan? ›

A general contractor is a great option for installing a bathroom exhaust fan because they're skilled in all home renovation projects. Even though they might specialize in something other than electrical or HVAC work, they can ensure everything gets done correctly and coordinate the installation smoothly.

Are Broan and NuTone the same company? ›

NuTone® is a registered trademark of Broan-NuTone LLC, and manufactures and distributes residential built-in convenience products including door chimes, central vacuum systems, ceiling fans, intercom systems, ironing centers and ventilation fans. BROAN® is proud to be an ENERGY STAR® partner.

How many CFM fan do I need for my bathroom? ›

The rule of thumb is that you need at least 1 CFM per square foot of room area. To determine the square footage of your bathroom, multiply the length times the width. For example, if your bathroom is six feet wide and nine feet long, its square footage is 54. Therefore, it should have a fan rated for at least 54 ​CFM.

Can you have too much CFM in a bathroom exhaust fan? ›

Yes, a higher CFM is better for a bathroom fan, but only within limits. If your bathroom area calls for 60 CFM, an 80 CFM fan would be better to use and even acceptable by most standards. But if that same space calling for 60 CFM is then replaced with a fan with a 90 CFM rating, you might be pushing your luck.

What is the best duct for a bathroom exhaust fan? ›

Rigid Metal Duct

Professionals consider it the best choice for a bathroom fan in terms of performance, namely venting air and moisture from the bathroom. With its smooth inner walls, rigid metal ducting reduces friction making it the most effective choice for a bathroom fan duct. Rigid ducts are low maintenance.

Can a bathroom fan be too powerful? ›

Over-Sized Exhaust Fans

If an exhaust fan is too powerful for the space, it will cause drafts and make you feel cold (not great when you get out of a warm shower!).

How many CFM do I need for a 10x10 bathroom? ›

How many CFM do I need for a 10x10 room? It is considered that 135 CFM is needed per square foot of space. So 13.5 CFM would be required for a 100-square-foot area. A room of 1,000 square feet would require 135 CFM.

Is a 110 CFM fan good for a main bathroom? ›

We recommend at least an 80 CFM for most bathrooms but a 100/110 for a larger master bathroom.

Who makes the best bathroom exhaust fans? ›

Final Verdict. Our pick for the best bathroom exhaust fan is the Broan-NuTone AE110 Single-Speed Ventilation Fan, is a great choice for bathrooms up to 100 square feet in size. With 110 CFM of air flow and a sound level of a mere 1.0 sones, this fan will keep moisture and odor under control without annoying noise.

How to pick a bathroom exhaust fan? ›

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Bathroom Exhaust Fan

The CFM rating measures the volume of air the fan moves. As a general rule, you'll need at least 1 CFM per square foot of space. A fan that's too small won't remove moisture and odors efficiently and will need to run longer, increasing wear on the motor.

What can I use instead of an exhaust fan in the bathroom? ›

If you don't want an exhaust fan put into your bathroom, installing a fresh air intake vent can be an excellent alternative - and they often give better results. A new air intake will improve air circulation and control humidity, and channel fresh, natural ventilation from the outside air.

Can you have too powerful bathroom exhaust fan? ›

A bathroom exhaust fan must be strong enough to cycle fresh air into the bathroom 8 times an hour. Fans that are too small will not be able to remove moisture from the room. This can cause warped cabinetry, foggy mirrors, and mould or mildew growth. A fan that is too big can cause a bathroom to be cold and noisy.

What is the difference between 80 CFM and 110 CFM? ›

The higher the CFM number, the more cubic feet of air the fan can process and the better the ventilation potential. The air in the room becomes saturated from the moisture created by each water fixture in the room.

What type of fan is best for exhaust? ›

If the exhaust air contains a small amount of smoke or dust, a backward inclined centrifugal or axial fan should be selected. If the exhaust air contains light dust, fume or moisture, a backward inclined or radial centrifugal fan would be preferred.

Should bathroom exhaust fan go through wall or roof? ›

Whether it's new construction or a remodel, a bathroom vent should always vent through the roof instead of an eave, overhang, or soffit. The point of a bathroom exhaust vent, or any vent really, is to remove hot, moist air from the house.

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