While not needed for a solid DJ performance, fog machines are a great way to give yourself and your performance some great stage presence and an awesome effect. Especially when married with a quality set of strobe lights, a fog machine can add to the “fun factor” for the audience, giving them the sensation that they’re part of something really spectacular.
If you’re just starting on your DJ or music-producing experience, there’s a good chance implementing a fog machine may be a bit out of reach for you, especially if you haven’t started performing in nightclubs or doing gigs yet.
For those that have, however, fog machines are a powerful tool to have in your arsenal to amplify your stage presence and give you the appearance of a truly highly sought-after professional.
Not only that, but you can hit this level of interest even without investing a ton of money, all while getting involved on a relatively minor budget.
Best Fog Machine: Our Overall Choice
The ADJ Fog Fury Jett is a high-velocity vertical Fog Machine that mixes color into the fog from LEDs. With ADJ’s heater technology, the Fog Fury Jett produces a dry even blast of fog over 25 feet (7 meters) in the air. It really is a top pick!
3 Top Fog Machines – Best, Premium & Value
Below, we’ll take the time to check out some of the best fog machines currently on the market while also giving you some tips on how to fit them, use them safely, and enhance your DJ environment.
ADJ’s Fog Fury Jett (Best Overall)
Top of the best fog machines list, the ADJ‘s Fog Fury Jett fog machine is a serious contender for the most powerful fog machine option on this list. Meant for professional use, the Fog Fury Jett is not only an incredibly capable fog machine on its own, but it’s made even more unique and impressive because of its ability to shoot out fog vertically rather than horizontally.
The fog machine has a tank that is around 0.8 gallons, meaning it can put out around 20.000 CFM, and due to its ETS technology, the Fog Fury Jett fog machine can continually shoot out fog blasts without needing to constantly warm up in between fog bursts.
This allows you to push out a lot more fog compared to most other machines, and the fact that it shoots up rather than out means the fog will stay out longer before settling.
These best fog machines come with a 7-channel DMX connection alongside a 12-pack set of three LED lights. It also comes with a remote control as well as a DMX cable for manual control settings even if you’re not able to get up close to tweak things.
What We Like:
- Shoots Out Fog Vertically Instead Of Horizontally
- ETS Technology Allows For Continual Fog Blasts
- Has A 7-Channel DMX Connection
What We Do Not Like:
- On The Larger Side & More Difficult To Transport
- Fog Isn’t Quite As Dense
Read this next: 5 Best Confetti Cannons: Party Popper Machines for ALL DJ Occasions
Chauvet DJ Hurricane 1800 (Premium Pick)
The Chauvet DJ Hurricane 1800 is the best fog machine for DJs that are looking to build up a serious atmosphere for their performance.
An entirely water-based fog machine rather than using a fog juice solution, the Hurricane 1800 (H1800) has a 1-channel DMX and can hold up to 5 liters of water in its tank. This fog machine takes around 10 minutes to heat up and can produce 29.600 CFM, meaning you can fill up a room fast.
Not only that, but the fog that’s created is dense enough to really add to the atmospheric setting.
Designed for professionals, the H1800 best fog machines have a metal body alongside a rotatable body that can twist a full 180 degrees.
This fog machine comes with a 3-pin XLR in/out cable for DMX512, which you can connect with your lights and lighting fixtures, allowing you to further amplify the fog machine experience by combining fog with lights and giving your audience a complete show.
Even the tank has LED lights to illuminate it, both telling you how much fog juice water remains in the fog machine as well as adding to the lighting aesthetic.
What We Like:
- Super High-End Fog Machine Option
- Uses Water & Can Create Denser Fogs Faster
- Can Connect With Lights For A Full Performance Experience
- Great Fog Output capacity
What We Do Not Like:
- Expensive Fog Machines
Read this next: Best Soundproof Curtains Absorbing, Dampening, Blocking Curtains That WORK!
Fog Machine AGPTEK 500Wn (Value Pick)
The best-value fog machine on our list is the AGPTEK 500W fog machine. Meant to be more portable than many of the others, and comes with a wireless remote, this machine comes with an assortment of LED lights alongside a wireless remote control for performances where you’re a good distance away from the fog machine itself.
The AGPTEK has an all-aluminum exterior body, which makes this fog machine much more durable than other fog machines while also being able to last longer.
The fog machine can produce 2000 cubic feet of fog per minute and can shoot out fog at around a 3m distance. The AGPTEK fog machine has a few seconds of heating up between bursts, though the amount pumped out during each puff is both thick enough and can shoot far enough to feel like you’re getting your money’s worth.
There are three LED lights available that will provide more than enough lighting to help enhance the general fog machine atmosphere for any DJ trying to make a name for themselves.
On top of that, this fog machine will be able to do all of this at a reasonable budget that won’t break the bank, and it comes with a wireless remote control!
What We Like:
- Affordable Fog Machines
- Can Produce An Impressive Amount Of Fog Output
- Comes With LED Lighting To Enhance The Experience
- Wireless Remote Included
What We Do Not Like:
- Doesn’t Come With Fog juice Liquid
Read this next: Best DJ Gifts For DJs: DJ Gifts Made For The VIBE!
Alternative Best Fog Machines
If the three options above aren’t well-suited to you, there are still a host of other party cannons to look at. Our team also highlighted the following options for those in search of fog machines with optimal thick fog output and are also the best portable fog machines.
ATDAWN Halloween Fog Machine
If you’re someone that needs a fog machine but also wants something on a smaller budget, you’ll be happy to know that ATDAWN’s Halloween Fog Machine may seriously be worth considering. This option may not be as extensive or as replete with different features and options, but it’s much more affordable than the others while still being just as effective and reliable.
The Halloween Fog Machine, as its name implies, is ideally meant for homes during the Halloween season, but can be used in professional settings if you’re just starting out.
Its fog machine tank can hold 300ml of fog fluid and can produce 1500 cubic feet of fog per minute. It has an average consumption rate of 7.5ml per minute, which is more than enough for most DJ (or trick-or-treat) performances.
On top of its practical nature, the fog machine is also very durable. It has an all-black metal exterior, which makes it highly resilient to scratches, breaks, and other forms of damage.
On the other hand, it also has a manual and remote control option, the manual control comes with a 5m cable so you can directly run things even if you’re not right on top of it.
While this is not going to be your end-all fog machine, if you’ve been in the game for a bit and want to get started using one in your DJ performances, this is a great starting fog machine option that is useful and effective.
What We Like:
- Affordable Fog Machines
- High Quality & Very Resilient
- Fog Output: 1500 Cubic Feet Of Fog Every Minute
What We Do Not Like:
- Not As Many Features
- Fog Juice Tank Is On The Small Side
Read this next: How To DJ A Silent Disco (Silent Parties With Headphones)
Stairville AF-250 Fog Machine
Last on the best fog machines list is the fog machine from Stairville. Meant ideally for clubs and professional events, their AF-250 makes a point of standing out as a higher-end and more impressive quality machine that only offers and expects the best.
The fog machine is a larger, heavy-duty item with around 1.9 liters of space for fog solutions. It can put out 180 m3 of fog every minute, with a dispersion of up to 5 meters out.
The fog machine is powered by a 1300W motor. While it technically only gives out 1300W of power, many would argue that it looks closer to 1800W from a visual standpoint.
Regardless, it takes up less power than other fog machine motors, meaning you’ll spend less for much of the same results.
The AF-250 can be manually and remote controlled, coming with a DMX512 cable as well as a built-in timer that both let you do everything you need to even if you’re not directly in front of it (which you probably won’t be if you’re on stage performing). The machine has a 3-pin XLR in/out cable for its DMX port.
Not only that, but the AF-250 has a very durable and resilient body, able to last much longer than other machines while also enduring much more. It comes with a hang-on bracket for hanging immediate-use items, rounding it out to be a great product that is definitely worth your time if you’re serious about presenting yourself at the highest and most professional level.
What We Like:
- Professional Grade Fog Machine
- Very High-Quality Fog Output
- Super Durable & Highly Resilient
- Comes With A Remote Control
What We Do Not Like:
- Expensive Fog Machines
Read this next: Best Portable PA System Picks (Top 10)
Best Fog Machine: Buyers Guide
Fog machines are, as the name implies, smoke or fog machine units that are able to produce a sort of artificial misty fog. Many of the. best fog machine units work exclusively indoors while others can be used outside. Regardless, these machines work in different ways to elicit different responses from the audience.
For those that plan to use fog machines when DJing at the club, fog machines can enhance the overall atmosphere. Personal fog machines used at homes or in the backyard, however, tend to be a bit more on the silly side, ideally being used during holidays like Halloween or also during personal parties or celebrations.
How Long Does Fog Machine Fog Last?
One of the big factors to contend with is the fact that a fog machine’s fog generally will have variable amounts of time before fading away. This is based on where the fog machine is being used as well as the overall temperature and if there are any strong winds being blown.
For fog machines being used while indoors, the fog should last much longer when compared to those used outside. The same is true for settings where there isn’t a fan or heavy wind blowing. These areas will have fog that lasts much longer compared to those with strong breezes or a fan operating.
Regardless of the setting, you should ideally have at least a minute of foggy activity for every spray of fog solution.
Is There A Difference Between Fog Machines & Haze Machines?
While they are often mixed up with one another, there is quite a difference between fog machines and haze machines. Fog machines can create thick white clouds of foggy smoke that are difficult to see through. This fog is dense enough to sit around the floor or light enough to lift off into the air.
Haze machines, on the other hand, are more of a misty veil of smoke. It lasts much longer than fog machines but is also much thinner and meant primarily to stay in the air and help create different light patterns when used with different LED lights.
Are Fog Machines Bad For Your Health?
It may seem like the smoke being produced by fog machines may be bad for your health if breathed in, but that’s actually not true. In many cases, the smoke is just water, while others may include glycol syrups to help thicken it up a bit.
Either way, there aren’t any dangerous chemicals or poisons that you’ll be breathing in provided the machine is working properly.
There is a slight chance that a person may deal with some fog machine irritation, but this is very rare and usually passes shortly after leaving that fog machine area.
Best Fog Machine: The Verdict
Having the best Fog machine isn’t a requirement for stellar DJ performance and you don’t need one to do well in most gigs. That said, as with most other tools, the better fog machines work as an awesome addition that makes your set stand out all the more compared to most others out there.
If you’re just getting started and just getting your feet wet with DJing, investing in a fog machine is probably not your next step. However, if you’ve been performing for a while and want to step your game up, it may be worth it to consider seeing what some of these best fog machines can do for your next gig.
