I have inspected a lot of quiet bathroom fans during home inspections, and I have also seen a lot of loud and noisy fans.
Loud bath fans can literally be heard across the hallway, and they can even become a fire risk (if they overheat).
That's why I created this bathroom fan list! I want to help you save some money, time, and problems so you don't pick the wrong one.
Below is a short list of all our top quiet picks. Keep scrolling to learn more about choosing and using the best quiet bathroom fans!
Image | Product | |||
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Best Overall | Best Overall | Panasonic WhisperFit
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| View on Amazon |
Best NuTone | Best NuTone | Broan-NuTone AE110
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| View on Amazon |
Best With Light | Best With Light | Delta BreezIntegrity
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| View on Amazon |
Best Medium CFM | Best Medium CFM | Broan Very Quiet
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| View on Amazon |
Best Low Profile | Best Low Profile | Delta BreezSlim
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| View on Amazon |
Best Budget | Best Budget | BV Ultra Quiet
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| View on Amazon |
Best High CFM | Best High CFM | KAZE
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| View on Amazon |
Best Quiet Bathroom Exhaust Fans Reviews
Pick #1: Panasonic WhisperFit
Best Overall
Our overall hands-down top pick for the best quiet bathroom fan goes to the Panasonic WhisperFit. Read our full Panasonic WhisperFit review.
It is a high quality bath fan that is rated at 0.3 sones — an ultra low noise exhaust fan.
You may have trouble hearing if this exhaust fan is even on.
It also has a thin housing of 5-5/8" thickness which makes it easier to install, can fit 2x6" construction, and also comes with a flexible installation bracket.
The cool thing about the WhisperFit is that it has a small switch on the housing so you can choose between either 50-cfm, 80-cfm, or 110-cfm.
Pros
- Whisper quiet at less than 0.3 sone
- Choose 50-cfm, 80-cfm or 110-cfm by the flick of a switch on the housing
- Low profile housing (5-5/8") for easy install
Cons
- May not fit 2x4 wall construction
- Used for 4" or 6" duct, so if you have a 3" it will need an adapter
Pick #2: Broan-Nutone AE110
Best NuTone
Our runners-up top pick for the best quiet bathroom fan goes to the AE110 because it is rated at only 1.0 sone which makes it almost silent.
This quality bathroom fan is rated at 110-cfm for the fan speed, and it is designed for a 4-inch duct.
Broan-NuTone has designed the TrueSeal technology with this exhaust fan which reduces air leaks by 50% at the damper.
The AE110 is also really easy to install and was designed to be done inside the bathroom without needing attic access.
Pros
- Ultra-silent at less than 1.0 sone
- 110-cfm fan speed
- TrueSeal damper technology
- Can be installed without attic access
Cons
- Uses a 4" duct (so you may need to use an adapter if it is 3")
Pick #3: Delta BreezIntegrity
Best With Light
Our favorite choice for a quiet bathroom fan with light goes to the Delta BreezIntegrity.
This exhaust fan with light is very quiet at 0.7-sone and comes with a quality DC brushless motor for low noise.
The motor was engineered so that it could be continually used for 70,000 hours (one reason it is so quiet).
It also features a bright LED light that is dimmable. We recommend that you wire the bathroom fan and light to separate switches.
The BreezIntegrity is rated at 50-cfm so it is more suitable for smaller bathrooms.
Pros
- Very quiet bath fan at 0.7-sone
- 50-cfm fan speed
- Dimmable LED light
Cons
- Best for smaller sized bathrooms
Pick #4. Broan Very Quiet
Best Medium CFM
The Broan Very Quiet Bath Fan was designed by Broan-NuTone to be ultra quiet and comes in with a 0.3 sone rating.
It is for bathrooms up to 75 square feet, which is large enough for the average bathroom.
The Broan Very Quiet Exhaust Fan is also rated for 80-cfm and can fit 2x8 ceiling joist construction.
It is motor engineered for continuous operation so it won’t wear out prematurely, and the operation is almost silent.
This Broan fan uses a 6" duct and it comes with a hanger bar install kit if you want an in-between joist installation.
Pros
- Extremely quiet at 0.3 sone
- 80-cfm fan speed
- Includes hanger bar system for in-between joist installation
Cons
- More work to install 6" duct
- Designed for a 6" duct diameter (any smaller duct will reduce performance)
Pick #5. Delta Breez SLM80
Best Low Profile
This Delta Breez SLM80 is a quiet bathroom fan with a sone rating of 0.6 sone.
The SLM80 even has an indicator light to know if it’s running because at 0.6 sones, it may be difficult to know.
It is rated at 80-cfm and it comes with a super efficient DC motor that was designed and tested for 70,000 hours of continuous use.
And since the SLM80 has such a slim profile, it should make it an easier installation for bath fan replacements.
Pros
- Quiet at 0.6 sone
- Slim profile for easier retrofit installations
- High quality brushless DC motor
- Tested to be able to do 70,000 hours of continuous use
Cons
- If used with 3" duct, the cfm rating drops to 57-cfm
- Sound increases to 0.9 sone with 3" duct
Pick #6. BV Ultra Quiet
Best Budget
The BV Bath Fan is an ultra quiet bathroom vent fan and has a 0.8 sone rating.
BV created silent-clever technology for a pretty quiet bathroom fan, it also may be challenging to know if it's on.
The fan comes with an adjustable bracket for easy installation, and is HVI certified and UL approved.
The BV has a 90-cfm rating and is best for bathrooms up to around 90 square feet.
It uses a 4-inch duct so if you have a 3" you will need to use an adapter.
Pros
- Quiet at 0.8 sones
- Stainless steel body
- Adjustable bracket for install
- One year limited warranty
Cons
- May be difficult to install due to large housing
Pick #7. KAZE
Best High CFM
The KAZE SEP120 is a super quiet bathroom exhaust fan that is rated at 0.3 sone. You may even have trouble hearing if it's on.
The KAZE SEP120 is a super quiet bathroom exhaust fan that is rated at 0.3 sone. You may even have trouble hearing if it's on.
This bath fan is rated at 120-cfm and it is suitable for bathrooms up to around 120 square feet.
The SEP120 has installation flexibility since it can be installed to the joist, or you can use the included hanger bars and install it in-between the joists.
It also comes with a 6" to 4" duct reducer in case you don't have a 6-inch duct.
Pros
- Rated at 0.3 sone so extremely quiet
- 120-cfm (baths up to 120-sf)
- Comes with hanger bars for in-between joist install
Cons
- Designed for 6" duct
Buyer's Guide For Quiet Bathroom Exhaust Fans
Choosing the quietest bathroom fan requires you to pick the sone rating, the CFM rating, the duct diameter, and the housing size. Read below to see a few tips on picking the best low-noise bath fan:
- Sone Rating: The most important thing to consider for the quietest exhaust fan is the sone rating. Anything at 1.0-sone and below is considered whisper-quiet, and a fan rated 0.6-sone or less is extremely quiet.
- CFM: It's important to choose the right CFM rating for your bathroom size. CFM stands for "cubic feet per minute," which is simply a rating for how much air your bathroom fan moves in 60-seconds. If you buy a bathroom fan with too high of a CFM for your bathroom, it will be louder than you need it to be.
Read Also >> How To Pick The Bathroom Fan CFM (fan speed)?
- Sone Per CFM: Dividing the sone rating by the CFM will tell you the efficiency of the bathroom fan. A fan with a smaller 'sone per CFM' means it is more efficient and can deliver a quieter fan at the same power. This metric allows you to compare 'apples to apples' when looking at bathroom fan sone ratings.
- Housing Size: The housing size will determine whether the installation is easy or hard. It will also determine if you have to cut out a larger drywall hole, and if too big of a housing, it may not fit in the ceiling. If you have 2x6 or 2x8 ceiling joists, you need to make sure that the fan is thin enough to fit into the ceiling. Some bathroom fans are designed to be easily installed without attic access. Other exhaust fans are better suited for new construction where access isn't an issue. It is important to measure your existing housing size before you buy the exhaust fan.
- Ducting: Bathroom fan duct size is an important consideration when installing a quiet bath fan. Modern bathroom fans usually require larger 4-inch or 6-inch ducts, and if you connect a smaller 3" duct (using an adapter), you won't get the advertised performance out of the exhaust fan. And if you install a bathroom fan duct that is pre-sleeved with insulation, this will also help reduce noise from the bath fan.
Read Also >> What Are The Best Ducts For Bathroom Fans?
Sone Ratings
The quietest bathroom fans have very low sone ratings. 'Sone ratings' are the standard sound measurement for bathroom fans. Quiet bathroom fans usually have a sone rating of 1.0 sone or less.
Anything from 1.5 to 3.0 sones is considered average loudness, and anything 4.0+ is pretty loud. The absolute quietest bathroom fans that you can find on the market are rated at 0.3-sone.
Read Also >> What Are Bathroom Fan Sones (And How Does It Work)?
LED Indicator Lights For Quiet Bath Fans
The quietest bathroom fans have LED indicator lights that tell you if the fan is turned on.
Since bathroom vent fans with 1.0 sone or less are so quiet, people sometimes have trouble knowing if it's even on. And that is why some low noise exhaust fans have LED indicator lights so that you know if it's turned on and working.
But if your fan doesn't have indicator lights, a common test used by home inspectors is to put a piece of toilet paper up to the fan grille to see if there's suction.
Read Also >> How To Fix A Noisy Bathroom Exhaust Fan?
How Do Quiet Bathroom Fans Work?
Quiet bathroom fans work similar to your average bathroom fan except that they have higher quality motors for reduced noise.
These ultra quiet exhaust fans also tend to have LED indicator lights so you know that they're turned on.
The fan motor may be a brushless DC motor, or it may be an ECM-controlled motor — so overall the bath exhaust fan just runs that much quieter. Some of these motors are also variable-speed so that it can adjust the motor-speed to reach the desired CFM.
Ultra-quiet exhaust fans are also a bit more expensive. And that makes sense if you think about it — a higher quality motor is going to cost more but run more efficiently.
Larger Duct Diameter
Besides the higher-quality motors, many of the whisper-quiet bathroom exhaust fans use 4″ or 6" ducts rather than the standard 3″ ducting used with older bath fans.
When the duct is larger, the bath fan can exhaust out more air but with less power needed — reducing noise even more.
Read Also >> Can You Vent a Bathroom Fan Into An Attic?
4 thoughts on “Top 7 Best Quiet Bathroom Exhaust Fans (2024 Review)”
Which quite fan is ok for old bathroom fan ,3″ duct , 2×4 framing ?
Thanks,
Hi Jilla,
I still recommend the WhisperFit. It comes with a 4″ to 3″ adapter for smaller ducts. Also, it has a variable speed motor so it may speed up a little to compensate for smaller duct resistance which is a good thing.
Cheers,
Arie
I bought a Panasonic Whisper 190cfm for my smoking den, and it is very noisy. If you can barely hear this fan you need your hearing checked! The smaller bathroom fans are sort of quiet, but hardly silent.
Hi Yasper,
The noise can be impacted by the size of the duct, the quality of the duct (smooth metal or flex), number of bends, length, and other factors. The Panasonic bath fans are the quietest on the market in my opinion. I recommend lowering the fan speed to 50-cfm or 80-cfm using the speed selector switch on the housing to reduce the noise.
Cheers,
Arie