7 Best Fog Machines for Holidays and Your Home

If you are looking to purchase your first fog machine or want to upgrade your current one, consider this medium-sized option by ADJ that offers great versatility. Create an unforgettable atmosphere at a birthday party, whether it's in your home or at a bowling alley. It has an impressive 1300 watts and can emit 12,000 cubic feet of fog per minute. We also appreciate that it can warm up in 7 minutes, according to the brand, and that it has a fluid indicator light so you can easily see when you need to add more water-based fog fluid.

On top of these features, the VF1300 can be controlled via remote. It has a 4.2-star rating from online shoppers who enjoyed using the product for outdoor Halloween decorations, DJ sets, parties and lighting production shows. One five-star review writes, "With a quality fog juice, this will NOT disappoint! I ran this non-stop for an hour on Halloween and it just kept pumping out thick clouds." While Amazon customers appreciated its more affordable price and simple set-up, some reviews did note that the fog machine didn't last as long as they were hoping.

After researching top-performing fog machine brands, AGPTEK came up as a popular choice more than once. While this machine doesn't pack as much power as other styles, its affordable price point is unbeatable if you are a beginner or plan to use it minimally throughout the year. Control via a wired or wireless remote and switch on LED lights for a multi-color experience the kiddos will love. The fog machine only takes 2 to 3 minutes to heat up, but it can only cover 2,000 cubic feet per minute (that's one-sixth of our top-rated machine).

Still, our pros like that the machine is light enough to bring to and fro party destinations and that it can emit fog for 20 seconds before pausing and then starting up again. One online shopper called it "small but mighty" while others praised its performance despite its budget-friendly price. Use it for holidays, sports games and even weddings. Note that the included remote control is on the small side and can be lost easily.

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Whether you host spooky gatherings every year or enjoy throwing upbeat dance parties year-round, a fog machine is a great way to show your guests what's up. This 500 W fog machine has 13 LED lights, including single and mixed colors from blue to fuschia. "They add a vibrant and dynamic touch to the fog, creating stunning visual effects that captivate guests," writes one five-star review. You can also choose between different light effect speeds including fade, flash, smooth and strobe.

We like that you can set this fog machine on the floor or hang it above to direct smoke (and light) downwards. Alternatively, the iron handle can help you direct the fog upwards. You can also toggle between light and fog separately if you want to isolate the two effects. The LED-500 fog machine has close to 5K ratings and satisfied shoppers who reported it was straightforward to set up and produced an impressive amount of fog. This machine is slightly more expensive than our best value by AGPTEK but still falls under $60. It's also made from durable materials like iron and aluminum to extend its lifespan — and improve its overall value.

When perusing a Reddit thread on the best fog machines, the Chauvet Hurricane 1600 came up as a fan favorite. Over 200 Amazon shoppers agree — this fog machine has a 4.2-star rating. Consumers appreciate the wireless remote for easy operation. We like that it's designed to deliver fog on demand and despite having a high output, it's still compact for easy storage when not in use. Note that at just under $250, this is a pricey pick and may not be worth the splurge if you don't plan to use a fog machine often.

But if such a machine will elevate your hobbies or parties, then the investment may be worth it. One five-star review has us convinced: "When it comes to setting up a hair-raising approach for trick-or-treaters, this fogger is the real deal. It's like having a mini ghost factory right on my front porch." Multiple shoppers were impressed with how much fog was produced — one consumer had leftover fluid at the end of the night! Another shopper noted that the instructions weren't the easiest to follow.

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Maybe you want to direct fog on your lawn rather than throughout a haunted house's hallways. In that case, opt for a low-lying fog machine like this one from Eliminator Lighting. It only takes 3 minutes to warm up and can create a fog output of up to 3,000 cubic feet per minute (CFM). At 700W, this medium-sized machine is still compact and lightweight enough for easy transport and storage. Note that this machine only comes with a wired remote, but the cord is 12 feet so you won't have to struggle too much to operate from slightly afar.

One unique feature of this fog machine is that it uses water-based fog juice and ice cubes. A drawback to this is that you will have to buy four pounds of ice on top of the fog liquid. However, the idea behind combining the two types of "fuel" is to avoid oftentimes more expensive fog chillers that can also keep fog low to the ground. We appreciate the included water collection bag that collects liquid via the water drainage valve system.

While the Titan 1200 is the most expensive fog machine on our list, it has an almost perfect Amazon rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars and an impressive output of 20,000 CFM — a.k.a. enough fog to fill a 2,500 square foot house. While you may not want to do that in your own home, if you have a large outdoor space or are renting a venue for a special occasion such as a wedding reception, then this fog machine is the one for your needs. Despite its large output, it is ready to go in just 10 seconds flat — the fastest warm-up of all the machines on this list! We also appreciate that you can use it indoors and outdoors.

A durable metal exterior is designed to help extend the machine's lifespan so you won't have to replace it after one season — a common drawback from shoppers when it comes to purchasing a fog machine. One five-star review writes: "I am a photographer and have had about a half a dozen diggers over the years. This is by far the best! Puts out a boatload of fog!" More satisfied shoppers chimed in to praise the machine's quality construction, flawless performance and helpful wired remote that lets you control the fog.

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Not everyone is a DJ, but if mixing music is your side hustle or hobby, you may be on the hunt for a top-performing fog machine that will help create the right atmosphere at your next show (or party). The Antari Z-800 III is designed for small venues and DJs, featuring a continuous fog output and portable design. It will be ready to go in 2 minutes, a relatively low warm-up time, and comes with a wired remote. Our pros also appreciate the built-in voltage protection that will alert you if you plug the machine into the wrong outlet.

While DJs will appreciate the continuous output so they can focus on setting up the next track, this fog machine does come at a pretty high cost for recreational use. It isn't our most expensive pick, but it rings in at over $200. Plus, a wireless remote is sold separately. But if the machine will get a lot of use throughout the year, it may be worth the splurge.