Top 5 Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Lights (*2021 Review*)

The Top 5 Best Rated Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Lights

Here is my list of the best bathroom exhaust fans with lights. These bathroom fans with lights come with a light fixture as part of the unit, saving a separate light fixture installation. If you want to read my full reviews, keep scrolling.

1. Panasonic WhisperFit Retrofit Bathroom Exhaust Fan With LED Light (My #1 Top Pick)
2. The Delta BreezIntegrity Bathroom Exhaust Fan With Light  (A Close Second)
3. Hunter 83002 Decorative Bathroom Exhaust Fan With Light (Best Look)
4. Broan 678 Bathroom Exhaust Fan With Light
5. Air King Decorative Bathroom Fan With Light

What is a Bathroom Vent Fan With a Light?

A bathroom exhaust fan with a light is a combo fan that works to remove moisture from your bathroom, and at the same time also acts as a  light fixture. The fan light can be the only source of illumination in the bathroom, or it can be supplemental to a wall or ceiling fixture.

Moisture Removal

The main purpose of a bathroom vent fan is to remove moisture from the bathroom area. If not removed, moisture can eventually cause paint damage, drywall damage, rusted hardware, and may eventually cause structural damage to the wood framing. In addition, mold loves to grow in the presence of water, so a bathroom ventilation fan helps prevent toxic mold growth.

As shared by the Center for Energy and Environment, our modern homes are thoroughly insulated and nearly air tight---which is great for energy efficiency and comfort. Unfortunately, the side effect is too little ventilation or air flow. A bathroom exhaust fan is an important part of maintaining high quality indoor air.

A Light Fixture

Installing a bathroom fan that already has a light is a great choice if you need more light in your bathroom. Since you will be doing electrical wiring, and possibly cutting out the ceiling, this is a great time to add more lighting to the bathroom.

Most bath vent fans are pretty bland anyways, installing a light can significantly add to it’s aesthetics as well.

Since most of these bathroom fans typically do not include light bulbs, I highly recommend installing energy efficient LED bulbs which will go into any standard socket---so will fit 99% of bathroom exhaust fans. Most bathroom exhaust fan lights will be between 50 to 100 watts.

Read Also: How To Size A Bathroom Exhaust Fan (The Best Method?)

If you want to install your bathroom exhaust fan with a light over a shower or tub, it must be rated for that purpose from the manufacturer.

Water and electricity don’t mix, so bathroom fans rated for use over showers are designed to be safe in these wet areas. These specially rated exhaust fans need to be on dedicated electrical circuits that are GFCI protected (at the panel box or dedicated wall reset).

GFCI stands for "ground fault circuit interruptor" which basically means there is a switch that will cut off power if it detects a problem. You don't want to get shocked when taking a shower if you know what I mean.

Many of these products are already rated for use over wet areas, just don't forget to make that your electrical circuit is GFCI. The breaker at the panel box that goes to the bathroom fan will have a button on it and say "GFCI".

Bathroom fans with lights can become a bit complex to install, and it isn't usually a DIY job. That's why I created my own contractor search tool that will provide you free quotes from trusted contractors who have been pre-vetted.

Use in Rooms Other Than Bathrooms

These bathroom exhaust fans can be used in rooms other than bathrooms where more ventilation is wanted. There are bathroom exhaust fans that look like regular lights such as the Hunter 83002 bath fan which can be installed in any room.

These bath exhaust fans don’t look like the normal “bathroom fan”.

Installation in these alternative areas may include…

• Garages (smelly chemical fumes)
• Mud room (allergens, dander)
• Exercise room (smelly odors)
• Kitchen area (food smells, but do not install directly over cooktop)

Read Also: Venting a Bathroom Fan Into An Attic (My Detailed Guide)

How Does A Bathroom Ventilation Fan With A Light Work?

Bathroom exhaust fans with lights work by removing air from the bathroom. Most bathroom fans will be able to completely remove the total volume of bathroom air once per minute. This air is transferred to the outside through a flexible or rigid duct (a vent hose).

Must Vent To Exterior

It is important to make sure that it is actually being vented to the outside, as stated by University of Southern California. If the bathroom vent goes into a wall cavity or into the attic, the excess moisure can lead to mold growth or wood decay — a potentially costly problem.

During my home inspections, I frequently come across bathroom vents to go directly into the attic. It is okay for a bathroom vent to go through an attic if it goes all the way to the roof. On the roof, there needs to be a special roof cover that has a flap.

Wall Switch For The Light

Bathroom exhaust fans with lights are designed to be used with wall switches for operation. You have to option to wire the exhaust fan to one switch, so it will turn on the fan and the light at the same time.

You can also wire the fan to one switch, and the light to another. 

How To Pick The Best Bathroom Exhaust Fan With a Light?

There are a few key essentials in picking the best bathroom fan that comes with a light.

Since having a light is important to you, it is good to know that there are a few different options…

1. Decorative Light. These lights look like a normal bedroom light fixture, and people won’t even notice that it is a fan (at least until it’s turned on).
2. Recessed Light. These bathroom fans look like a normal recessed ceiling light. There is a small, barely noticeable gap above the light bulb that pulls in air. These exhaust fans are great if you want the exhaust fan to match existing recessed lights, or for installation in a closet.
3. Normal Light. These are the units that look like your average bathroom exhaust fan. If your install is in the bathroom, and you don’t need anything fancy, this is the most affordable choice.

Fan Strength in “CFM”

The most important rating for bathroom fans is called CFM or Cubic Feet Per Minute. This metric simply means how much air the fan takes out, let’s say 50 cubic feet in one minute. Then the fan is rated at 50 CFM.

Most fans will be anywhere from 50 CFM and up to 120 CFM. The general rule for CFM is that you want 1 CFM per square foot of bath area.

Let’s say your bathroom floor is 8′ x 8′ or 64sf. In this case, you would want a bathroom fan that is at least 64 CFM or higher.

Regardless of size, a bathroom will always need a CFM rating of at least 50 CFM as stated by the Berkeley Lab.

How Are Bath Fans With Lights Different From Other Bathroom Exhaust Fans?

A bathroom exhaust fan with a light is different in a few ways from other bathroom exhaust fans. There are bath exhaust fans that come with humidity sensors. These special fans will turn on and off automatically without needing to flip a wall switch. Humidity sensors are perfect for homes where you don’t think the residents are actually using the bathroom exhaust fan and are worried about causing damage.

Besides humidity sensors, there are bath fans that include heaters. Installing a fan with a heater is a great idea if your bathroom get’s very cold in the morning. The heater will heat up the bathroom in a few minutes without having to touch the central thermostat — so you also save energy.

Where To Buy The Best Fan With a Light Included?

You can buy bathroom fans with lights at most big box stores such as Lowe’s or Home Depot. At Home Inspector Secrets, we recommend Amazon because it is the biggest online retailer in the world.

Besides, who wants to drive to a department store, possibly in poor weather, when they may not even have the bathroom fan that you want? When you shop on Amazon, you can be sure that they have the widest possible selection of bathroom exhaust fans with lights.

You will be able to easily compare prices, read informative reviews, and make a decision in the comfort of your own home.

What Are The Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans That Include Lights?

Here are my top picks of bath fans that include built-in lights...

My #1 Top Pick: The Panasonic WhisperFit Retrofit EZ Bathroom Exhaust Fan With Light

Here are a few reasons why the Panasonic WhisperFit is my top choice...

1. Dimmable 10-Watt LED Light

The fan comes with a dimmable LED light panel. The LED lighting is much more energy efficient than standard lighting, and frankly, it looks better.

2. Night Light

A less than 1-watt LED night light is also included with the lighting.

3. Quiet

At less than 0.3 sones, this fan is very quiet, hence the name "WhisperFit".

4. Speed Selector Switch

An awesome feature of the Panasonic fan is that you can flick a switch and go from 80cfm to 110cfm. You can control the fan speed to your liking.

5. Easy Install

Included is a flexible metal bracket that makes installation so much easier.