9 Best Fog Machines

I remember when I was a kid that one of the things that made me go wow is artificial fog.

Back in the days, we actually call it smoke. Albeit an odorless type.

And during those times, how man-made fog was usually created during performances or events is via dry-ice.

Dry ice while very effective during it’s hey-days back then presented a host of challenges.

• Where to buy
• Logistics
• Limited lifespan
• It bites!
• etc

It’s a good thing that fog machines are widely available these days to replace the role of dry-ice in making odorless white smoke.

They are portable, effective, affordable, and can be used over and over again. Which makes purchasing them an easier decision to make.

There are 3 main criteria when choosing one:

1. Size
2. Weight
3. Output

We need a manageable size and weight because unless you host regular stage event at home, you will need this machine to tag along all over town.

The output level is understandably critical as you actually want to create a foggy atmosphere instead of a dusty-looking one.

There are also 3 main types of special effects that buyers of fog machines consider.

The first is the typical for or some call it haze. The second is the use of lights that create an aura when shone on the fog. And thirdly, water mist that can send crowd into a frenzy.

Also take note that all fog machines can potentially trigger smoke detector alarms.

Here are some of the best you can buy.

1) CHAUVET DJ H700 Hurricane

With an output of 1500cfm, this can literally fog up an average bedroom in less than a minute.

You would feel like you are floating within the clouds.

Jokes aside, it has a remote control that works from up to 13 feet (4m) away.

• 8.5 x 7.1 x 4.9 inches
• 5.85 pounds
• 1500cfm

All fog machines seem to come in a standard form of blocky rectangle, fog fluid reservoir inlet on top and nozzle at one end of the rectangle.

This CHAUVET Hurricane 700 is no different.

A mounting bracket arches over the device so that you can install it somewhere as a permanent fixture, while a safety cable ensures that there’s a backup plan in case the mounting clamp fails.

Take note that these products can generate heat. So do leave air space for ventilation and dissipation of heat if mounted in a confined spot.

Fog juice is stored in a 0.2 gallon capacity storage tank. And the fuse is replaceable.

And because it pumps at 1500cfm, it is best for smaller spaces and might not be very effective in wide open spaces.

The remote control has an indicator light that tells the user when the fogger has reached it’s optimal operating temperature.

It even comes with a free pint of water-based fog fluid. So you can put it to work the moment it arrives in a package. Pretty handy for an event like a wedding when husband and wife makes their entrance.

Overall, this is one of the best value buys you can come across.

2) Theefun TFM01 Portable

How can you not like the brand Theefun for a product that is supposed to make things fun.

Churning out fog at a capacity of 2000cfm, there’s little doubt that this fog spray creates uniform unscented fog that stretches up to 10 feet (3m) for up to 20 seconds.

• 9.06 x 4.33 x 4.53 inches
• 4 pounds
• 2000 cfm

It is housed in an aluminum body which enables it to dissipate heat quickly to prevent overheating.

The main switch is located behind the device.

The biggest drawback for this model however, is that it’s push-button remote control is wired to the main device. Meaning the maximum you can stay away from it is 10 feet (3m) which is the length of the wire.

And for it to continuously pump out the haze, the big red button has to be depressed at all times.

Quite a hassle I would say.

3) 1byone O00QL-0041

One of the bestsellers in this category, this 1byone 400 watt device pumps dense directed fog at 2000cfm up to a distance of 3m.

• 9.6 x 6.5 x 5.3 inches
• 4.7 pounds
• 2000 cfm

It comes with a remote control that is wire-attached to the main unit. But there is an add-on option of a remote control with a timer function. This enables you to set the timing for when the fogging happens.

Since the fog liquid in the 10.5oz (300ml) tank will be continuously heated up for extended fogging, the device will obviously be subject to certain amount of heat.

A light aluminum body with small dimensions helps to release heat quicker to extend the lifespan of the product.

With a warm up time of not more than 5 minutes, you should be able to get a fog distance of about 8 feet (2.5m).

There is also a variant model 317US-0001 that consumes 1500 watt of power but doubles capacity to 4000cfm.

While this upgraded model will extend distance by just 1m to 3.5m, it’s fog fluid tank expands to 70.4oz (2 liters). This makes it capable of lasting a longer period for each fogging wave.

4) ADJ Products Fury Jett

This is a high end model with a galactic 20000cfm that is powerful enough to blast fog evenly at a distance of up to 25 feet (7m).

Halloween cannot come fast enough.

For something so robust compared to the other models reviewed, you’d expect this to be at least 5 times the average size off all model.

But it is much much less than that.

• 19.5 x 10 x 14.8 inches
• 17 pounds
• 20000 cfm

While this product is designed for regular consumers, many event coordinators and performers find it good enough for professional use.

An LCD display and control panel is embedded on the back with 4 buttons. However, don’t for a moment think that settings for this device can be challenging.

The 4 buttons are just for menu, navigation, and enter. It is very user-friendly to set or adjust settings.

An external 100oz (3 liter) tank enables it to fog with an extended runtime.

Do be mindful that it is designed to shoot fog at high velocity vertically. 12 3-Watt RGBA LEDs add color to the fog dispensed creating a carnival atmosphere of pyrotechnics.

I can see this being ideal for certain types of performances like dance music or just grand introductions. Even live concerts.

There is a lot of technology packed into this product. But the amount of features is the least that you’d expect from a fog maker commanding a premium price.

5) ADJ Mister Kool

Conceptualized as a low lying for machine, ADJ Mister Kool is both a fogger and chiller.

This playful combination requires it to be filled up with both fog liquid and ice cubes.

Maybe you have seen one of those spray machines at bars and clubs that sends mist into the air. It’s cool and serves a practical purpose too.

I remember a time when I was in a club dance floor and standing unknowingly right at the mouth of one of these equipment. It blasted right in my face. While annoying, it was fun.

The crowd always goes wild whenever they go off.

This mid-sized machine is capable of doing that.

• 13 x 20.2 x 12.5 inches
• 20 pounds
• 2500 cfm

The remote comes with a timer and ON/OFF switch. You can control the duration and output.

Regular ice cubes are all that are required. There’s no need for dry ice.

6) MARQ Fog 400 LED

This fog machine is an entry-level lightweight model that has 1500cfm under the hood.

But what it lacks in cubic feet per minute, it makes up with a set of strategically positioned colored LED lights to create pyro effects.

Available in 4 different colors instead of the typical matte black, it has a wired remote with a single switch.

• 9.3 × 4.6 × 6.4 inches
• 3.8 pounds
• 1500 cfm

The transparent part of the tank has a fluid level indicator so that you can monitor liquid levels.

The drawback however is that it is quite pricey when compared to other entry level model. The difference with this model is the LED lights.

7) Antari W-510

Antari W-510 is a fog making machine that can be controlled wirelessly instead of the conventional wire-attached remote.

For it’s deceptive size, it has an output of 10000cfm

• 18.5 × 10 × 5.8 inches
• 25 pounds
• 10000 cfm

The unique selling point of this device is that you can control it with the remote control from a distance of up to 165 feet.

The 95oz (2.8l) water tank protrudes out from the top part of the housing. While 2 handles are also installed on top with one on each side for easy carry.

The warm up time is up to 12 minutes which is considerably slower than most of the models on this list.

8) Fansteck Professional Fog Machine

This model is priced in the budget range and has a capacity of 2000cfm.

It takes up to 3 minutes to warm up in order to be ready and fog can reach a distance of up to 10 feet (3m).

• 9.1 x 4.3 x 4.5 inches
• 2.98 pounds
• 1500 cfm

Unlike comparable models like CHAUVET Hurricane 700 and MARQ Fog 400 LED, it has a wireless remote control in addition to a wired remote.

You’d wonder why anyone would need a wired one when there is already a wireless one.

Well, if you have been using these machines for a while you might have come across occasions when the wireless remote stopped working for one reason or another. Often due to low battery.

In these emergencies when a wireless remote is suddenly rendered useless, there is at least a wired control backup that will not fail.

I actually find this double remote feature making a lot of practical sense.

The form factor is quite like the typical rectangle as explained earlier. So it’s nothing to shout about.

But what must be emphasized is that this Fansteck fog machine weighs only less than 3 pounds. Making it the lightest of all the fog machines we’ve tested.

And at such a manageable size, it is easily the most portable fog maker of all models on the list.

9) DIY fog machine

Finally, who says that you need to spend more than $5 to create fog?

Here’s a video that teaches you how to make your own fog machine at home within minutes.

This might be a fun activity to do at home if you really need fog for that in-house one off event that is less serious.

Which fog machine to buy?

While there are 9 of the best fog machines listed here, they are all different with their own differentiators.

Some are focused on color effects, some are highly portable, some are monsters with powerful capacity, and even one with a mist function.

So it really depends what you need in order to decide which one to buy. What you can be assured of is that they are of high quality and have countless reviews by users that you can read about.

Finally, be mindful that not following instructions on how to use them can be hazardous.

These types of products for example need to be clean with cleaning solution every once in a while as they can clog up after hours of continuous use.

Remember to always use non-toxic fog liquid and check that there is enough fog fluid in the tank before operating it. And never spray fog directly at people, especially if there are people or have an open flame nearby.