Our picks at a glance
For most home parties and Halloween porches, the VIRFUN 400W is the small fog machine to get: it’s 9.5 inches long, comes with both a wired and a wireless remote, and reheats in about 45 seconds between bursts. Want lights built in? Get the VIRFUN 500W with 6 LEDs, and for a name-brand machine with published specs, the 471-watt Chauvet Hurricane 700.
Small fog machines run about 400 to 500 watts, fit on a shelf, and fill a room, a garage or a porch. For a big yard or a stage, a bigger machine from our best fog machines list makes more sense.
1. VIRFUN 400W Fog Machine
#1Best Overall
Why we picked itSmall, with wired and wireless remotes and a 45-second reheat.
- 400W
- Wired + wireless remote
- Overheat protection
Available on Amazon as of Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
- ~45 sreheat
- 9.5 inlong
Why we like it
- Two remotes included
- Small enough for a shelf
Keep in mind
- First heat-up about 4 minutes
- Good fit if
- You want fog for a porch, garage or home party.
- Skip it if
- You need fog for a big yard or stage.
The small machine I’d start with. VIRFUN says the first heat-up takes about 4 minutes, then about 45 seconds between bursts, and a red light comes on when it’s ready.
It comes with a wired remote and a wireless one, has overheat protection and a fuse, and measures 9.5 x 4.3 x 4.75 inches. VIRFUN rates its output at about 2,000 CFM.
2. VIRFUN 500W Fog Machine with LED Lights
#2Best with Lights
Why we picked it500W with 6 RGB LEDs and a 500 ml tank.
- 500W
- 6 RGB LEDs
- 500 ml tank
Available on Amazon as of Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
- 500 mltank
- 12colors
Why we like it
- Lights built in
- Bigger tank than most small machines
Keep in mind
- Lights add another thing to set up
- Good fit if
- You want colored fog without separate lights.
- Skip it if
- You only need plain fog.
The same idea with more power and lights. It has a 500W heater, 6 RGB LEDs with 12 colors and 4 effects, and a 500 ml tank that VIRFUN says is about twice the usual size, so you refill less often.
It comes with a wired remote and 2 wireless remotes. Like the 400W, VIRFUN lists about 4 minutes for the first heat-up and 45 seconds after that.
3. Chauvet DJ Hurricane 700
#3Best Brand Name
Why we picked itChauvet's small machine with a published spec sheet.
- 471W
- 2.5 min heat-up
- Fluid included
Available on Amazon as of Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
- 2.5 minheat-up
- 4 lbweight
Why we like it
- Full published specs
- Ships with a pint of fluid
Keep in mind
- Wired remote only
- Stock was limited on 10/27
- Good fit if
- You want a known DJ brand.
- Skip it if
- You need a wireless remote.
The name-brand pick, with a full spec sheet. Chauvet lists 471 watts, a 0.6 L tank, a 2.5-minute heat-up, 1,500 CFM of output and 7.5 ml of fluid per minute.
It weighs 4 lb, measures 8.5 x 7.1 x 4.9 inches, and comes with a 6 ft wired remote and a pint of water-based fluid, so it’s ready out of the box. Amazon showed limited stock when I checked, so look at the delivery date.
4. GS 400W Fog Machine
Out of stock on Amazon as of Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
A compact 400W machine with wired and wireless remotes. The maker lists a 3- to 4-minute heat-up, a single continuous spray of about 35 seconds that reaches 2 to 3 meters, and a 0.3 L tank.
It weighs 1.6 kg and measures 27 x 17 x 16 cm. The listing warns that the nozzle can reach 600°F, which goes for any fog machine, so keep it away from costumes and decorations.
5. Retisee 400W Fog Machine, 2-Pack
Available on Amazon as of Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Two small 400W machines in one box, each with a wired remote, a wireless remote and 3 LED lights. Two machines let you fog the front porch and the back yard at once, or cover both ends of a haunted walkway.
Retisee says to wait 3 to 5 minutes for the ready light, and each machine gives about 30 seconds of fog per burst.
How Do You Pick a Small Fog Machine?
Look at the heat-up and reheat times, the tank size and the remote. A wireless remote matters most on a porch, where you want to trigger fog as trick-or-treaters walk up. Our guide to how long a fog machine takes to heat up explains the reheat pauses.
Use water-based fog fluid made for fog machines, and never run one dry. Read whether fog machine fog is safe to breathe if anyone has asthma, and how to use a fog machine in a small room before you fog indoors.
Next, read how to clean a fog machine so it’s ready for next season.
Please be careful and use at your own risk
None of the authors, contributors, administrators, or anyone else connected with Wild Fog, in any way whatsoever, can be responsible for your use of the information contained in or linked from these web pages.
Compare our picks
| Feature | VIRFUN 400W | VIRFUN 500W LED | Chauvet Hurricane 700 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Best Overall | Best with Lights | Best Brand Name |
| Heater | 400W | 500W | 471W |
| Heat-up | About 4 min first, ~45 s after | About 4 min first, ~45 s after | 2.5 min |
| Remote | Wired + wireless | Wired + 2 wireless | Wired (6 ft) |
| Tank | Not listed | 500 ml | 0.6 L |
| Buy | Check at Amazon | Check at Amazon | Check at Amazon |
How to choose
In shortA 400 to 500W machine covers a room, garage or porch. Pick by remote, tank and heat-up time.
Remote
A wireless remote lets you fog on cue from across the yard.
Heat-up and reheat
Small machines pause to reheat between bursts. Shorter reheat means steadier fog.
Tank
A bigger tank means fewer refills during a long night.
FAQ
What size fog machine do I need for a house party?
A 400 to 500W machine is enough for a room, garage or porch. Bigger spaces need a bigger machine.
Will a small fog machine set off a smoke alarm?
It can, especially if the fog drifts onto an optical smoke detector. Keep the machine away from detectors.
What fluid goes in a small fog machine?
Water-based fog fluid made for fog machines. Never run the machine dry.
What changed on this page
- Published.
