Choosing a bathroom exhaust fan with a light can get technical quickly, so here's the short version. Start with the Atom Eclipse 240 if you're watching the budget, the Eclipse 290 if you want a brighter light, or the Martec Flow 295 if you need more airflow. The IXL Luminate Essential is worth a look if you also need ducting and an outside vent. The best fit still comes down to your bathroom and the space above the ceiling.

Need heating too? The Ventair Airbus 3-in-1 PVP31HLXWH puts the fan, LED light and heater into one unit. It was $791.60 and in stock when we checked on 10 September 2026. It's a complete unit, unlike the Airbus 250 motor and separate light fascia covered later in this guide.

Quick comparison

Prices and availability checked 10 September 2026. Prices are in Australian dollars and don't include installation, extra accessories or delivery where it applies. Check the product page for current pricing and stock before you order. 

A note on the numbers. The lumen figures run in the same order as the light colours above. We've printed each noise figure exactly as the manufacturer publishes it, dB or dB(A), because they don't all test the same way, so read them as a guide rather than a ranking. Airflow is a rated figure too, and your ducting decides how much of it you actually get. And whatever a warranty covers, it sits on top of your rights under Australian Consumer Law, never instead of them.

How we chose these fans

We focused on the details that tend to matter when you're choosing: price, airflow, duct size, lighting, installation needs and what's included. The main comparison is for fans with lights but no heating. If you want all three functions together, the complete Airbus 3-in-1 above adds heat. You can also browse our bathroom heaters range.

If a specification wasn't available in the manufacturer's material, we've left it unconfirmed rather than filling in the gap.

Atom Eclipse 240: best for a smaller budget

At $129, the Eclipse 240 with light is the lowest-priced of the four fans in the main table. If your existing fan connects to a 100mm duct, this is a sensible one to check first.

It has a rated airflow of 270m³/h and needs a 240mm ceiling opening and a minimum ceiling cavity depth of 220mm. The 12W LED has three colour settings, reaching 1000 lumens at 4000K, going by Atom's datasheet for the 240.

A 100mm duct is a useful starting point, but it doesn't make this a guaranteed straight swap. Before you order, ask your installer to check the airflow you need along with the existing ducting, outlet and wiring.

Atom Eclipse 240mm Round White Exhaust Fan with Tri Colour LED Light

A compact ventilation and lighting solution for bathrooms, ensuites, powder rooms, laundries and utility spaces.

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Atom Eclipse 290: best for a brighter light than the 240

The Eclipse 290 with light was $149 when checked, just $20 more than the smaller Eclipse. At 4000K, you get 1500 lumens rather than the 240's 1000 lumens. If you're choosing between the two and want more light from the ceiling, that's a useful difference.

The rated airflow steps up to 350m³/h too. You'll need a 150mm duct connection, a 290mm ceiling opening and at least 220mm of ceiling space. Atom lists the noise level at 45dB, compared with 42dB for the smaller Eclipse.

Think about your mirror lighting too. A brighter ceiling light may help light the room, but you'll still want a clear view where you shave or apply make-up.

Atom Eclipse 290mm Round White Exhaust Fan with Tri Colour LED Light

A powerful ventilation and lighting solution for bathrooms, ensuites, powder rooms, laundries and utility spaces.

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Martec Flow 295: best for higher rated airflow

The round Martec Flow 295 with light was $199 when checked. Martec rates it at 600m³/h, the highest airflow figure among the four fans in our main table. If your installer recommends more extraction for your bathroom, put this one on the list. They'll need to check that the duct system can support it..

Allow for a 295mm ceiling opening, 150mm duct connection and at least 240mm of ceiling space. The 12W LED gives you three colour settings, with outputs of 950, 1000 and 950 lumens respectively. Its IPX2 rating differs from the IPX4 products here, so your electrician must check where it can go.

One detail to watch: this comparison is for model MXFLFR30W and uses Martec's current specification sheet. Older Flow sheets show different size names and airflow figures, so make sure the model number matches.

Martec Flow 295mm Round Exhaust Fan with 12W Tri-Colour LED Light White

Designed for larger bathrooms, laundries and residential spaces requiring stronger extraction with integrated ceiling lighting.

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IXL Luminate Essential: best for a ducting and vent package

The IXL Luminate Essential Vent & Light Module 34601 was $405 when checked, with six metres of ducting and an outside vent included. If you need those parts as well as the fan, compare the whole package cost. Your installer still needs to work out a suitable duct route.

IXL lists 400m³/h airflow and a 16.5W LED with 1350 lumens and warm or cool settings. Its room guide lists up to 8.3m² with a shower or 20.8m² without one, with extra ventilation recommended above open showers. Those sizes apply to IXL's guidance for this model, not to every fan.

This model has a fan and light, but no heater. It needs a rectangular ceiling opening and room for the ducted system, so check the fit carefully if you're replacing a round fan. See IXL's installation guide.

IXL Tastic Luminate Essential Vent & Light Module Bathroom Exhaust Fan & Light

With its powerful airflow extraction, the exhaust fan quickly removes steam from your bathroom, laundry, toilet or powder room effortlessly.

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Ventair Airbus 250: buying the motor and light separately

The Airbus 250 is different from the complete Airbus 3-in-1. You buy its motor and LED fascia separately. The PVPX250R motor is designed for ensuites and bathrooms, with 378m³/h rated airflow and a listed noise level of 42dB(A). It needs a 150mm duct, a 300mm ceiling opening and at least 220mm installation depth. The manufacturer's motor warranty is five years.

The Alstra fascia listing has it at 1290 lumens and 4200K, while Ventair's current page for ABGLED250WH-RD says 1600 lumens with three colour settings. Check the supplied version with our team before choosing your light settings. The $101.95 price covers the fascia only; you'll need to budget for the motor as well.

Choosing airflow, ducting and light for your bathroom

Start with the room and the duct route

Tell your installer how big the bathroom is, how high the ceiling is and whether it gets one shower a day or several. They'll also need to check the shower layout and the duct's diameter, length, bends and outside outlet. The fan has to move air through the whole route.

A short, direct duct route is the aim, with no tight or crushed bends. IXL's installation guide shows the layouts to avoid. Even a fan with a high airflow rating needs suitable ducting to do its job.

How to compare noise

Choosing a fan for an ensuite next to your bedroom? Take a closer look at the noise figure. A fair comparison needs the same test method, distance and operating conditions. We haven't confirmed that across these brands, so we can't call one the quietest. If noise is high on your list, ask for comparable sound figures before you decide.

Compare lumens and controls, not just watts

Look at lumens for light output and watts for power use. Check the lumens at your preferred colour setting, as output varies between settings on the Eclipse 290. It's also worth asking how you'd replace the LED panel or driver if it failed. An integrated LED isn't necessarily a fitting you can put a standard bulb into.

Want separate switches? Raise that with your electrician before installation. The Airbus 250 LED manual allows a separately switched outlet, but the building requirements still come first. Where NCC 2022 Housing Provisions 10.8.2(4) applies, a bathroom fan that doesn't run continuously must start with the room light and keep running for 10 minutes after switch-off if the bathroom lacks the natural ventilation described in 10.6.2(a).

Before you order: installation checklist

• Ceiling opening: Measure the cutout, not just the visible grille. Compare shape as well as size.
• Ceiling space: Check the manufacturer's clearances, insulation restrictions and access for installation and maintenance.
• Ducting: Confirm diameter, route, bends and a suitable exterior discharge point.
• Replacement air: Ask how air will enter the room while the fan extracts it.
• Controls: Confirm switching, any required light interlock and run-on timer before buying.
• Electrical work: Have a suitably licensed electrician carry out electrical installation and wiring work. A supplied plug is not permission to alter wiring yourself.

The rules themselves depend on where you live and what you're having done. When we checked on 10 September 2026, NSW was on NCC 2022 Amendment 2, while Victoria had moved to NCC 2025 from 1 May 2026 with transitional arrangements. Your building certifier or surveyor is the one who can tell you which edition, local variations, building class and pathway apply to your job. And swapping a fan doesn't automatically drag the whole bathroom into an upgrade.

Frequently asked questions

What size exhaust fan with a light do I need?

Check the airflow your bathroom needs first, then check what will fit. The ceiling opening, available depth and duct outlet all matter. A size such as 240mm in the product name doesn't tell you how large a bathroom the fan can ventilate.

Is a higher airflow rating always better?

Not necessarily. The fan needs to suit the bathroom and its ducting. A higher rating won't fix a crushed duct, a poor outlet or a room that can't draw in enough replacement air.

How quiet should a bathroom exhaust fan be?

That depends on where it's going and how sensitive you are to noise. Start with the published figures, but check whether they were measured under the same conditions. We couldn't find a noise figure for the IXL model in the manufacturer material reviewed.

Can I replace a fan with one that has a different duct size?

You may be able to, but have your installer check the ductwork, outside outlet and ceiling opening against the new fan's instructions. Simply adding a reducing adaptor doesn't guarantee the airflow shown on the box.

Does a bathroom exhaust fan need to vent outside?

Plan for a suitable outside outlet rather than sending moist air into the ceiling space. Venting into the ceiling space just moves the moisture somewhere you can't see it. Under the NCC 2022 Housing Provisions Deemed-to-Satisfy pathway, clause 10.8.2(2) requires bathroom exhaust to discharge outdoors, either directly or through a shaft or duct. Which rules apply to your job depends on the building, so check with your certifier or surveyor.

Can the fan and light be switched separately?

Some can, including the modular Airbus 250 setup above. Your electrician needs to check the wiring and ventilation requirements, as the fan may need to come on with the light and run on afterwards. Sort out the switches before buying.

Find the right option at Alstra

Compare exhaust fans with lights, or browse exhaust fans without an integrated light if you already have bathroom lighting you'd like to keep. Not sure which will fit? Give our Thornton team a call with your current model number, ceiling-opening measurements and duct details. We'll help you compare the options.

[ These are the fans we stock, compared on the manufacturers' published numbers. We haven't run them side by side in a lab, and there are plenty of fans in Australia we don't sell. ]