The 7 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans of 2021

Best Overall: Panasonic WhisperCeiling DC Fan

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Panasonic makes some of the most popular models of bathroom exhaust fans, and the brand has a reputation for quiet operation. It lives up to this reputation with the Panasonic WhisperCeiling DC Fan.

This versatile bathroom exhaust fan is perfect for rooms of multiple sizes thanks to the Pick-a-Flow Speed Selector that adjusts fan operation between 50, 80, or 110 CFM. To live up to its quiet name, this model is rated to operate at 0.3 sones—making it one of the quietest bathroom exhaust fans on the market. Room-side installation is easy, thanks to Flex-Z fast brackets that allow you to mount the unit without having to crawl into your attic.

As for its ability to clear moisture from the bathroom, people are very happy with its performance. Many users report that the fan does a great job of removing moisture from steamy showers and keeping mirrors fog-free. It’s rated for use in bathrooms up to 110 square feet and is Energy Star rated for efficiency.

Best Budget: Broan 688 Ceiling and Wall Ventilation Fan

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Blast odors and increase circulation without blowing your budget on a pricey bathroom exhaust fan. Broan makes an efficient and affordable bathroom exhaust fan that's a good pick for homeowners on a budget.

The Broan 688 is rated for 50 CFM and is the best fit for small bathrooms of under 50 square feet. It earns frequent praise in reviews for being especially easy to install and can be mounted in the ceiling or wall. However, the somewhat limited CFM may not be the best fit for bathrooms in need of serious moisture management.

This budget bathroom exhaust fan operates at about 4.0 sones, which is considerably louder than other models. However, the increased noise level might be a good match for providing bathroom privacy.

Best with Light: Broan-NuTone 110 CFM Ventilation Fan with Soft Surround LED Lighting, 1.5 Sones; ENERGY STAR

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This model from NuTone’s InVent series provides 110 CFM to provide abundant air movement combined with a soft surround LED light you can wire separately or together with the fan.

The built-in LED light runs around the perimeter of the exhaust fan grill for even light distribution. Unlike some other models of bathroom exhaust fans that have a light feature, users find that this model is bright enough to light the bathroom, even as a standalone light source. You won’t need to worry about replacing the light source anytime soon—the 12W LED light source is rated for 25,000 hours of use.

!f you’re concerned about removing moisture from the air, keep the area this fan is serving to 110 square feet or less. The fan operates at around 1.5 sones, making it relatively quiet, but not silent.

Best with Humidity Sensor: Air King Humidity Sensing White 80 CFM 0.5 Sone Ceiling Bath Fan

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A primary purpose of bathroom exhaust fans is to control humidity. But what if you forget to flip the switch to turn the fan on or the humidity levels climb when no one is around? You may want to consider a bathroom exhaust fan with a humidity sensor so you can never worry about elevated humidity levels again.

This model from Air King moves air at 80 CFM and operates at just 0.5 sones, but what really sets this fan apart is the integrated humidity sensor. You can program it to kick on when the room surpasses a preset humidity threshold (as high as 80 percent).

Another important thing to know about this fan is that it’s Energy Star-certified for efficient operation and is UL-listed for damp environments (like above the shower). It can be installed in rooms up to 80 square feet. Some reviewers did mention that the fan is a little larger than expected, but that it wasn't necessarily a dealbreaker.

Best with Heater: Broan-NuTone 9093WH Exhaust Fan, Heater, and Light Combo

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Heat things up while keeping moisture away, thanks to a bathroom exhaust fan with a heater—like the Broan 9093WH. This combo model includes an exhaust fan, an onboard heater, and a light.

Step out of the shower or warm up your morning routine with the help of the 1500-watt heater that provides a direct source of heat into your bathroom. A 100-watt incandescent bulb provides plenty of light power to illuminate the room, while the 7-watt night light is just bright enough to help you find your way in the middle of the night. The 70 CFM exhaust fan provides sufficient air movement for bathrooms up to 65 square feet. The unit includes a four-function wall switch that lets you operate each function separately.

Best Design: Hunter Home Comfort 83002 Ventilation Sona Bathroom Exhaust Fan

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For an incognito bathroom exhaust fan, consider the Hunter Sona Bath Fan with Light. This decorative exhaust fan looks more like a conventional flush-mounted light fixture, but inside is a motor capable of moving 110 CFM. It’s a top choice if you’re designing a bathroom that is beautiful and functional.

The Hunter Sona uses two 60-watt light bulbs to provide illumination and includes the option to install a smaller 7-watt bulb for a soft nightlight. People agree that this exhaust fan for bathrooms looks beautiful and could easily be mistaken for only a light fixture. However, the frosted coating on the dome does diffuse the light, so you will need a second source of light in the bathroom as well.

At 3.0 sones, this bathroom exhaust fan is considerably louder than some other top models.