Bathroom Exhaust Fans

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Quick answer: Match the bathroom fan to the existing duct, the room and the ceiling opening before choosing a noise rating. For a bathroom up to Broan’s listed 75 sq. ft. with 4-inch duct, the AER80K is an 80 CFM, 0.7-sone option. For a small room up to 45 sq. ft. with 3-inch duct, compare the 688ES, but expect its higher 2-sone rating.

If you need a light and have room for a larger housing, the AE110L adds an LED to a 110 CFM, 1-sone fan. Its current maker documents and Amazon warranty text disagree; confirm the warranty for the supplied unit.

This guide compares seven Broan-NuTone models. It is a source-based shortlist, not a test of every fan brand. We have not installed or measured these fans. Manufacturer pages, model-specific specification sheets and installation instructions were checked October 9, 2026. Three exact Amazon listings had New offers sold by Amazon.com when checked that morning; offers can change.

Which fan fits your bathroom?

CFM is airflow in cubic feet per minute. Sones describe the rated sound level; lower is quieter at the stated test condition. Room sizes below are the maker’s recommendations, not a substitute for local ventilation requirements or checking delivered airflow.

On a phone, swipe the table sideways. With a keyboard, focus the table and use the left and right arrow keys.

The AE110 and AE110L maker pages give two room-size numbers. Use the more conservative 100 sq. ft. when comparing their published guidance, then have the installer check the actual ventilation requirement. A bigger nominal CFM number does not fix a restricted duct.

AER80K: an 80 CFM option for an existing 4-inch duct

The AER80K is the straightforward option here when you want a fan without a light for a bathroom within Broan’s 75-sq.-ft. recommendation. Its exact model specification gives 80 CFM at 0.7 sone and a 3-year warranty. The qualified Amazon item is model AER80K, not the similarly named AE80B.

Choose it if: the installer confirms a suitable 4-inch duct, framing, wiring and ceiling opening. Skip it if: the existing 3-inch duct will stay, you need a built-in light, or the room/duct needs more delivered airflow. Room-side installation does not mean the old opening needs no enlargement.

Check the Broan-NuTone AER80K on Amazon → (opens a new tab)

688ES: a compact 50 CFM fan for a small room

The 688ES has the smallest housing here: 7½ × 7¼ × 3⅝ inches and a 3-inch duct connector. Broan lists it for up to 45 sq. ft. Its 2-sone rating is higher than the 80 and 110 CFM options above, so choose it for fit rather than the lowest sound rating.

Choose it if: that airflow meets the room’s requirement and the small housing/3-inch connection suit the installation. Skip it if: you need more airflow or want the quieter rating of a larger fan. The installation guide allows room-side installation with flexible duct; rigid duct needs attic access. A 4-inch duct needs the specified 3-to-4-inch transition. The model-specific instruction specifies 3 inches even though the guide’s general duct illustration shows 6 inches.

Check before ordering: the selected Amazon listing gives a cover size of 8⅝ × 8⅜ inches, while Broan’s current product table gives 9¼ × 9¾ inches. We cannot confirm which cover dimensions apply to the supplied unit. Measure the old cutout and confirm the actual cover; no “no-cut” or ten-minute fit promise follows from the housing dimensions. We did not establish a warranty term from the checked 688ES documents.

Check the Broan-NuTone 688ES on Amazon → (opens a new tab)

AE110L: 110 CFM with an LED light

The AE110L combines a 110 CFM, 1-sone fan with a 3500 K LED light. Its 4-inch connection and 9¼ × 10 × 5¾-inch housing suit a different opening from the compact 688ES. Broan lists room-side installation and 2 × 6 ceiling construction. The fan/light installation guide describes a two-function wall control for operating them separately; have an electrician check the wiring and control arrangement.

Choose it if: you need both ventilation and a ceiling light and the fit/airflow checks pass. Skip it if: the existing fan and lighting work, the room only needs the smaller option, or the ceiling/control arrangement cannot accommodate it.

Warranty conflict: Broan’s current AE110L page and exact AE80BL/AE110L specification sheet state 5 years. The selected Amazon AE110L catalog record states 3 years. The model and airflow match, but the warranty revision is not established. Confirm the written term for the supplied unit before relying on five years; we do not promise the longer coverage.

Check the Broan-NuTone AE110L on Amazon → (opens a new tab)

Four comparison options without purchase links

• AE80B: the current model-specific sheet states 80 CFM, 0.7 sone and a 5-year warranty. The observed Amazon item states 1.5 sones and a 1-year warranty. We have not mapped that listing to the current revision, so it is not linked as the current quiet model. The generic AE50/AE80/AE110 sheet describes different model names; its 3-year term is not evidence that the specific AE80B sheet is wrong.
• AE110: compare it with the AE110L when you need 110 CFM without a light. Broan lists 1 sone, 4-inch duct, room-side installation and a 3-year warranty. We have not qualified a current approved-seller purchase link for it here.
• AE50110DC: useful when the installer needs to select 50, 80 or 110 CFM. At 80 CFM its 0.4-sone rating matches the QTXEG080X’s nominal rating; the lower <0.3-sone number is at 50 CFM. Its current sheet lists a 3-year warranty. Do not choose the 50 setting just to obtain the lowest sound rating if the bathroom needs more ventilation.
• QTXEG080X: compare for an 80 CFM, 0.4-sone ceiling installation with a 6-inch connector and room for its deeper housing. Broan does not list room-side installation. The current page/manual state a 3-year warranty. The page describes included hanger bars, while the manual calls MHB4 bars optional and sold separately; confirm the supplied mounting hardware instead of assuming it is included.

Withholding a link means the exact offer or revision was not qualified for this guide. It does not establish that every New offer is unavailable.

Check the opening, framing and duct before buying

Housing dimensions, the ceiling cutout and the grille’s coverage are three separate checks. Broan’s room-side Flex installation instructions show a retrofit cutout of 9¾ inches parallel to the joist by 10½ inches perpendicular to it. That is larger than the 9¼ × 10-inch housing. Confirm the model instructions and the old opening before ordering.

Have a qualified installer check the joist position, wiring, mounting and required clearances. Replacing the whole fan is unnecessary if the existing unit already delivers suitable airflow and only needs an identified service part. This guide does not establish that a replacement motor or grille fits an older housing just because its dimensions look close.

Duct resistance changes the airflow and sound

Broan’s instructions call for a short, straight duct route to an outdoor roof or wall cap with a damper. Do not vent into the attic or assume a smaller duct preserves the fan’s rating. Existing ductwork may keep a fan from reaching its rated airflow.

The AE50110DC specification makes the difference visible. At the 80 CFM setting, its test rating is 80 CFM and 0.4 sone at 0.1 inch of water static pressure; at 0.25 inch it is 71 CFM and 1.1 sones. The AER80K sheet lists 80 CFM at 0.1 inch and 60 CFM at 0.25 inch. These are published test points, not measurements of your bathroom. The duct’s length, bends and restrictions matter as well as the fan label.

For a rigid duct connected to the 688ES, budget for the access its instructions require. For the QTXEG080X, its 6-inch connector and deeper housing can make a low sound rating an expensive retrofit choice even though it is attractive on paper.

Controls, a shower location and necessary extras

None of these model pages lists built-in humidity or motion sensing. A timer or humidity wall control needs exact fan compatibility, suitable wiring and the correct load rating. Do not assume any speed-control switch works: the 688ES instructions prohibit a solid-state speed control, and the Flex fan/light instructions prohibit a fan speed control. The AE110L’s separate fan/light operation also needs the proper wall control and wiring.

Before selecting a wall control, compare the exact timer’s minimum fan load and neutral requirements in our bathroom fan timer guide. It explains why similarly named timers can have different limits, and separates motor ratings from resistive ratings.

Installation and electrical work must follow the model instructions and applicable codes. Broan’s documents require a GFCI-protected branch circuit for use over a tub or shower; the Flex model specification limits that approval to ceiling mounting, and the QTXEG080X is ceiling-only. Have the installer confirm the exact placement and approval before buying.

Ask what is included in the installed price: the correct duct/transition, outdoor termination, sealing, any ceiling repair, compatible wall control and electrical work. The fan’s box does not supply a complete outdoor duct system. Broan’s instructions also require precautions around hidden wiring and combustion-equipment backdrafting. Buying a higher-CFM fan is not a substitute for that installation check.

Bathroom ventilation can help reduce humidity, but water around a toilet may be a leak rather than condensation. Our toilet sweating guide starts with telling those causes apart.

Common questions

What size bathroom exhaust fan do I need?

Start with the maker’s room-size recommendation, then check the local ventilation requirement and actual duct performance. Broan lists the 688ES for up to 45 sq. ft.; AER80K, AE80B and QTXEG080X for up to 75 sq. ft.; and AE110/AE110L at 100 sq. ft. in features or 105 in specifications. The AE50110DC’s selectable setting must meet the actual airflow need.

Which of these fans has the lowest noise rating?

At 80 CFM, AE50110DC and QTXEG080X both list 0.4 sone at the nominal test condition. AE50110DC lists under 0.3 sone at its lower 50 CFM setting. Compare equal airflow and test conditions; installed duct resistance can change both airflow and sound.

Can I replace a bathroom fan without attic access?

Broan lists room-side installation for AER80K and these Flex models, subject to the opening, duct and wiring checks. The 688ES instructions allow it with flexible duct but require attic access for rigid duct. QTXEG080X is not listed for room-side installation.

Can a bathroom fan vent into the attic?

No. Broan’s installation instructions say ducted fans must vent outdoors. Use the suitable roof or wall termination and the duct specified for the model.

Does the AE110L have a five-year warranty?

The current Broan page and model-specific sheet state five years, but the selected Amazon catalog record states three. We have not established which warranty revision applies to the supplied unit. Confirm its written terms before relying on five years.

Sources and how we chose

Read October 9, 2026. Ratings and dimensions come from the named maker/model documents, with conflicts identified above. We favor a fit-based choice over a universal “best” claim. Sources below are reference documents; buying links go only to Amazon. No published price, star rating, promised installation time or first-hand test result is used.

• 688ES: manufacturer product page (broan-nutone.com) · model specification (PDF) (broan-nutone.com) · installation instructions (PDF) (broan-nutone.com)
• AER80K: manufacturer product page (broan-nutone.com) · model specification (PDF) (broan-nutone.com)
• AE80B: manufacturer product page (broan-nutone.com) · model specification (PDF) (broan-nutone.com)
• AE110: manufacturer product page (broan-nutone.com)
• AE110L: manufacturer product page (broan-nutone.com) · model specification (PDF) (broan-nutone.com) · installation instructions (PDF) (broan-nutone.com)
• AE50110DC: manufacturer product page (broan-nutone.com) · model specification (PDF) (broan-nutone.com) · installation instructions (PDF) (broan-nutone.com)
• QTXEG080X: manufacturer product page (broan-nutone.com) · model specification (PDF) (broan-nutone.com) · installation instructions (PDF) (broan-nutone.com)
• AER80K / Flex fan room-side retrofit: manufacturer-linked installation instructions (PDF) (broan-nutone.com)

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