HVAC & Airflow

Bathroom Fan CFM Calculator

Exhaust fan size for any bathroom.

Enter your values

ⓘ Live results

Results
Recommended fan
70 CFM
By floor area rule
63 CFM
By 8 ACH rule
67 CFM
Room volume
504 cu ft
Suggested duct
4 in

Quick answer

The standard rule is 1 CFM per square foot for bathrooms up to 100 sq ft, with a 50 CFM minimum, or 8 air changes per hour for larger rooms.

CFM = area x 1, or volume x 8 / 60 for large rooms

How to use the Bathroom Fan CFM Calculator

  1. 1Measure the bathroom in feet and enter length, width and height.
  2. 2Say whether there is a jetted tub or steam shower, which needs extra extraction.
  3. 3Buy the next fan size up and run it 20 minutes after showering.

Worked example

Using the values the calculator loads with:

Inputs

  • Bathroom length9 ft
  • Bathroom width7 ft
  • Ceiling height8 ft
  • Has jetted tub or steam shower?No

Results

  • Recommended fan70 CFM
  • By floor area rule63 CFM
  • By 8 ACH rule67 CFM
  • Room volume504 cu ft
  • Suggested duct4 in

Frequently asked questions

What CFM for a 5x8 bathroom?

40 sq ft needs the 50 CFM minimum; an 80 CFM fan clears steam faster and is barely louder.

Do I need a bigger duct?

A 50–80 CFM fan works on 4 inch duct; 100 CFM and above wants 6 inch to hit its rating.

About this calculator

Results are estimates for general information. For medical, legal, structural or financial decisions, confirm with a qualified professional.