Are you looking for a quiet bathroom fan? If so, you’re in the right place. We have tested and reviewed a bunch of quiet bathroom exhaust fans to find the quietest bathroom fan available.
Here are our top picks for the best bathroom exhaust fans:
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Budget Pick
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Best Overall
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Top Pick - 120CFM
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$129.99
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$139.50
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The Quietest Bathroom Exhaust Fan
The ECM motor with SmartFlow Technology ensures optimal airflow when you need it. The built-in Pick-A-Flow airflow selector lets you choose between 50, 80, or 110 CFM airflow.
Panasonic FV-0511VF1 WhisperFit DC Retrofit Ventilation Fan
The WhisperFit DC Fan is a great retrofit vent fan solution. With the Pick-A-Flow air selector, you may choose the amount of ventilation. This bathroom fan is very quiet. It operates at 0.3 sones for 50CFM, 0.7 sones for 80CFM, and 1.1 sones at 110CFM.
Single-hinged Flex-Z Fast bracket, alignment aids, and a temporary clip make installation flexible and quick.
You may use this vent fan to follow modern building codes and standards. This vent fan allows you to utilize the existing duct, while its low profile housing design ensures a perfect fit in any bathroom ceiling or other home areas with at least 5 5/8″ depth.
This premium ceiling ventilation fan now has preinstalled plastic alignment guides and a temporary retaining clip, giving you even more options when wiring and attaching the duct.
Installers may use these clips to keep the fan in place while they fasten it into the can. Use the Pick-A-Flow air flow selector to customize the airflow to your specifications after installation.
At 0.3 sones, this quiet, energy-efficient exhaust fan has a motor engineered for continual use. It works at 80 CFM in bathrooms up to 75 sq. ft for high-quality performance.
Broan Very Quiet Ceiling Bathroom Exhaust Fan
Broan has been a popular brand in ventilation for decades. The Broan-NuTone QT Series of bathroom ventilation fans provide a unique combination of power and incredibly quiet operation. A bath fan doesn’t have to draw attention to itself, especially if you don’t want it to overpower the beauty of a bathroom or powder room.
It’s also worth noting that you don’t want a fan to draw attention to itself when it’s working. The Broan-NuTone QTXE080 Ultra Silent Bath Fan performs its function quietly in every sense of the word.
This exhaust fan is very quiet and efficient. It runs on 0.3 Sones and operates in bathrooms up to 75 sq. ft. for high-quality performance.
The fan is easy to install or replace existing fans. It only takes two by eight inches of space. The fan can be used over bathtubs or showers when connected to a branch circuit protected with a GFCI device.
The BROAN QTXE080 is a very quiet bath fan certified safe and energy efficient. It meets ENERGY STAR qualifications and is UL listed for use over a bathtub with a GFCI circuit.
The 6-inch ducting is superior in performance. The installation is easy and fast. You only need 2-inches by 8-inches of space to install it. The hanger bars make it easy to install.
The fan operates very quietly- it produces just 0.3 Sones. This means that it is perfect for use in bathrooms up to 75 square feet in size. The powerful motor has been engineered for continuous operation, so you can rely on it to improve indoor air quality without being a nuisance.
This bathroom exhaust fan's quality, performance, and reliability are designed to give you peace of mind. It can deliver 120 CFM of air and operates at a noise level of only 0.3 Sones, making it super quiet.
KAZE APPLIANCE SEP120 Ultra Quiet Bathroom Exhaust Ventilation Fan
This bathroom fan’s quality, performance, and reliability are designed to give you peace of mind. It can deliver 120 CFM of air and operates at a noise rating of only 0.3 Sones, making it a super quiet fan.
It’s made with high-quality components and permanently lubricated motors. The condenser motor’s electrical configuration operates at lower temperatures, extending the motor’s life and bearings.
The fan housing is constructed of strong 26 GA corrosion-resistant steel and coated to prevent rusting. Heavy-duty triple point mounting brackets may be adjusted up to 24-inch joist centers for quick, easy, and universal installation in various building types.
The duct size for this product is 6 inches. It also has a built-in back draft metal damper. The grill dimension is 13 by 14 inches.
Quiet Bathroom Exhaust Fan with Light
This fan features an energy-efficient ECM motor with a Pick A Flow airflow selector, allowing you to choose between 50, 80, or 110 CFMs depending on your needs! The single-hinged Flex Z fast bracket makes installation a breeze.
Panasonic WhisperFit Ventilation Fan with Dimmable LED Light
The WhisperFit DC Fan / Dimmable LED, and Nightlight is an excellent retrofit solution. This ultra quiet bathroom fan operates at 0.3 sones for 50CFM, 0.7 sones for 80CFM, and 1.1 sones at 110CFM.
While the Kaze model has a lower sone rating, at 120CFM, the rating is too large for most bathrooms. The WhisperFit allows the flexibility to choose the CFM you need.
The built-in energy-efficient ECM (DC) motor with a Pick-A-Flow airflow selector enables you to choose the amount of air expelled (50, 80, or 110 CFM).
The 2-in-1 Single-hinged Flex-Z Fast bracket, alignment guides, and temporary clip allow for convenient, fast, and easy installation. It is suitable for meeting current building regulations and standards.
This bathroom fan has a 120CFM rating yet is super quiet 0.3 sone rating. You almost can't hear the fan it's so quiet. Available in 120CFM and 150CFM models (0.5 sone rating). It also has an 11-watt LED light and a 3-year warranty.
Kaze Ultra Quiet Bathroom Ventilation Exhaust Fan with LED Light
This ultra quiet bathroom fan’s quality, performance, and reliability are second to none. The Kaze can move air at the rate of 120 CFM and a noise level of only 0.3 sones, making this unit Super Quiet.
The condenser motor’s electrical configuration operates at lower temperatures, extending the bearings and motor’s life. The fan housing is composed of sturdy 26 GA galvanized steel and painted to avoid rusting.
For easy, quick, and universal installation in various building types, heavy-duty triple-point mounting brackets adjusts to 24-inch joist centers.
This model includes a 6-inch duct connection with a built-in back draft metal damper. It includes a 4-inch duct adapter. The grille is made from polymeric resin and attaches directly to the housing with torsion springs.
This fan offers a strong ventilation fan, and disinfecting light inhibits growth on surfaces in bathrooms or other prone settings.
The 110 CFM offers strong air circulation while generating little background noise with a low loudness rating of 1.0 sone. A 3-year warranty backs it.
Broan-NuTone SurfaceShield Vital Vio Exhaust Vent LED White Light & Violet Light
The Broan-NuTone family of bathroom ventilation fans is well-known and popular. The strong bath exhaust fan aids in the removal of bathroom noxious odors up to 105 square feet in size. SurfaceShielD technology, as well as Broan’s powerful ventilation, work together to inhibit bacteria.
The sleek grilles complement the most frequent ceiling paint and stay cleaner longer. The TrueSeal Damper technology, which helps reduce air leakage by up to 50%, has never been more effective. Retrofit installations with the EzDuct connection may be entirely done from the room side, with no attic access required.
The bathroom fan light is fantastic. When it’s dark outside, the light might be a little harsh, but it performs well at night and provides enough illumination to relieve oneself without using bright white lights. This is one of the quietest models available. The sound level is about 1 sone, which isn’t loud or annoying. Showering with this gadget removes excess moisture from your skin very effectively.
It’s a touch more pricey than other comparable fans. If you don’t want the SurfaceShield, you may get something similar for a lot less money. It took me around an hour to install, and it was simple.
The quiet exhaust performance is terrific compared to my 25-year-old previous exhaust system. The replacement fan has a sleek profile and looks great in the bathroom. There is a significant difference in light output and efficiency compared to the old fan.
The UV light is the main draw of this fan, and it makes a difference. The bathroom has no mold growth due to regular UV light usage. The UV bulb is impressive; however, when the fan is in UV mode, I wish it were quieter.
How Many Sones is a Quiet Bathroom Fan?
When selecting a quiet bathroom exhaust fan, your first consideration is the sone rating. This is a measure of how loud the fan is and is expressed in terms of “sones.” The lower the sone rating, the quieter the fan. For reference, a conversation between two people is about four sones.
Generally, a sone rating of 3.5 is considered a quiet bathroom fan. However, the quietest bathroom exhaust fans can have a sone rating of 1.0 or less. As a comparison, a sone rating of 1.0 is equivalent to a refrigerator humming.
The sone rating is often determined by the size of the fan and the motor. The fan size is calculated in cubic feet per minute (CFM). This indicates how much air the fan can move in one minute. The larger the bathroom, the higher the CFM rating you will need.
Sones vs. Decibels
The sound levels of the bathroom exhaust fan will depend on the fan speed. The decibel level will be different depending on how powerful the fan is.
The greatest decibel levels are found on the loudest fans. Most cheaper fans have a rating of 4.0 or higher.
- A sone rating of 4.0 is about 48 decibels
- A sone rating of 1.0 is about 28 decibels
Many believe a bathroom fan with a noise level of 33 decibels (1.5 sones) or less is considered an ultra quiet bathroom fan.
For more, check out the Sones to dB calculator.
What CFM for a Quiet Bathroom Fan?
CFM is an acronym for cubic feet per minute. This acronym describes how much air a fan motor can move in one minute.
The size of your bathroom determines the CFM rating you need. The CFM is calculated by multiplying the room’s cubic volume by 0.13.
For example: Length x Width x Height = Cubic Square Feet
Cubic Square Feet x 0.13 = CFM Rating
For smaller bathrooms, like 8′ x 5′ with 8′ ceilings, you’d have:
8 ft x 5 ft x 8 ft = 320 ft3
320 x 0.13 = 41.6 CFM
We recommend a bathroom exhaust fan with at least a 40 CFM rating. Most quiet exhaust fans have a minimum rating of CFM 50. Most bathrooms will need either a 50CFM or 80CFM rating.
Larger bathrooms will need a larger bathroom exhaust fan.
Quiet Bathroom Fan FAQs
How many sones is a quiet bathroom fan?
For a quiet bathroom fan, look for one which a sone rating of 3.0 or less. The quietest bath vent fans have a sone rating of 1.0 or less. A good example is the Broan Very Quiet Ceiling Bathroom Exhaust Fan.
What is considered a quiet bathroom fan?
Most bathroom fans are quiet compared to other common household appliances such as vacuum cleaners or hair dryers. Many newer models of bathroom fans are designed to produce less than 50 decibels of noise.
Is 3 sones loud for a bathroom fan?
3 sones are not considered a particularly loud noise level for a bathroom fan. Many bathroom fans produce noise at this level or even higher, between 4 and 5 sones. If you are looking for a quiet bathroom fan, however, you may want to consider models that produce less than 3 sones of noise.
How many decibels is a bathroom fan?
The sound of a bathroom fan can vary greatly depending on the fan’s model, age, and size. Many newer models of bathroom fans are designed to be as quiet as possible, so a quiet bathroom fan would likely produce less than 50 decibels of noise.
What is the price range for bath fans?
The price of bath vent fans can vary greatly depending on the model, features, and brand. However, most bathroom fans cost between $30 and $300. Some high-end models may cost more than $300.
Conclusion
There are important considerations when choosing a new bathroom fan. A noisy fan can be a nuisance and cause bathroom moisture, mildew growth, and bad air quality if the fan doesn’t run enough. The best bathroom fans will have a quiet fan motor which is critical to a low noise rating.
