6 Best Low Profile Bathroom Exhaust Fans

Low profile bathroom exhaust fans are the sleekest bathroom ventilation options on the market, with casings thinner than the traditional bathroom fan so that they are perfect for any project, from new construction to remodels. Here is what we found for the best low profile bathroom fans on the market.

1. Overall Best: Panasonic WhisperFit EZ

The best overall low profile bathroom exhaust fan on the market is the Panasonic WhisperFit EZ due to its combined features of affordability, quietness, and versatility. It boasts of a low-profile design fit for old-style 2″ by 6″ constructions.

This fan can adapt to different energy needs, allowing you to choose between the 80 or 110 CFM settings.

It also boasts of having a near-silent motor, having less than 0.5 sones at its 80 CFM setting, which is large enough for an 80 square foot bathroom. Bathroom ventilation fans are considered quiet below 1 sone and near-silent below 0.5 sones.

Pros

• This fan is highly adaptable in its ability to switch between CFMs so that it can fit small or large spaces.
• This fan is one of the most noiseless models available at just 0.3 sone at 80 CFM and 0.8 sone at 110 CFM.  
• It has high value for its cost, which is lower than many competitors on the market.

Cons

• This fan doesn’t come with a light. Panasonic makes a WhisperFit model with an LED light _{^{(amazon link)}}, but we determined it to be a less cost effective option.
• Installation may be difficult for some.

2. Best for Large-Spaced Bathrooms: Broan-NuTone CleanCover

Larger bathrooms require higher CFM (cubic feet per minute) ratings. You can estimate what CFM bathroom fan you will need by going off of square footage. You will need approximately 1 CFM per square foot, but you can use my handy bathroom CFM calculator for more accurate results.

The Broan-NuTone CleanCover bath fan features a super sleek and slim design with 12.25” x 12.25” x 5.75” dimensions which will easily fit in a 2” x 6” ceiling construction, making it ideal for a retrofitting project. Its high-powered engine, running at 110 CFM along with its desirable features led us to choose this fan as the ideal large-space bathroom fan.

Pros

• This fan features customable LED lighting which can be switched between daylight, cool white, bright white, and soft white.
• It is highly powerful, operating at 110 CFM and providing ventilation for up to 105 square feet.
• It features high performance sealing technology causing 30% less air leakage than other brands.

Cons

• It is not the most silent fan on the market at 1.0 sone.
• Some may prefer warmer light color than the 3000K lowest setting this fan offers.

3. Best for Small-Space Bathrooms: Panasonic FV-0510VSCL1 WhisperValue Multi-Flow

We chose the highly versatile Panasonic FV-0510VSCL1 WhisperValue Multi-Flow fan as the best small-space bathroom fan for its impressive features giving you a lot of bang for your buck.

It is the slimmest on the market with a housing depth of just 3 3/8”. Due to its narrow design, it is highly versatile and can be used in a ceiling or a wall mount. It allows you to choose the CFM (50, 80, or 100), allowing it to work for a variety of spaces.

Pros

• It is one of the two lowest-profile fan available (the other is #5 on this list).
• This is a nearly silent option with less than 0.5 sones for its 50 CFM setting. This makes it ideal for smaller bathrooms.
• It includes an LED light as well as a condensation sensor.

Cons

• This fan is more expensive than others.

4. Best on a Budget: Delta Electronics BreezSlim SLM80 Exhaust Fan

The best inexpensive low-profile fan option is the Delta Electronics BreezSlim SLM80 Exhaust Fan. While the BreezSlim SLM50 _{^{(amazon link)}} model is even less expensive, we eliminated it due to its high noise level of 2.0 sones. The SLM80 runs at 80 CFM, allowing it to ventilate up to 80 square feet while producing just 0.6 sones.

Pros

• It is the most cost-effective low-profile option we found on the market.
• Its housing is one of the lowest profiles out there, with the ability to fit in a 4” space.
• It is silver, which may be a bonus if this is preferred over the white of many other models.

Cons

• Reportedly, overhead/attic access for installation is more successful for this fan design.
• The motor rate of this fan is constant at 80 CFM and is unable to move to other CFM settings.

5. Best Wall Insert: Panasonic FV-0510VS1 WhisperValue

This is another high value for the cost Panasonic design that features the slimmest body depth available at 3 3/8”. This extra low-profile design makes it perfect for wall installation. This fan features adjustable CFM (50, 80, and 100) making it great for a wide range of needs.

Pros

• This bathroom fan is very quiet at 0.3 sones at 50 CFM, 0.4 sones at 80 CFM, and 0.9 sones at 100 CFM.
• The WhisperValue is one of the most inexpensive options you can get without missing out on any important features.

Cons

• This fan doesn’t come with a light of any kind.

6. Best Appearance: Broan-NuTone AER11SLW Humidity Sensing Fan

While the best appearance is highly subjective, we found that we liked the look of Broan-NuTone AER11SLW Humidity Sensing Fan the best due to its sleek round appearance and lack of grates. This fan boasts of being easy to install with room-side installation and comes with a dimmable LED light. Its housing dimensions are 9.25” x 10” x 5.75”.

Pros

• This is a highly powerful bathroom fan running at 110 CFM.
• It comes with a dimmable LED light so your bathroom can whatever tone you would like it to be.
• It comes with a humidity sensor allowing it to turn on and off as needed.

Cons

• It is the noisiest fan option on this list, as are many of the more attractive fan designs available, running at 1.5 sones.
• This fan does not have an adjustable speed