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Specs are compiled from manufacturer listings and verified buyer reviews and can change over time — please confirm the key details on the product page before buying.
If your bathroom fan has started grinding, humming, or refusing to spin, you almost never need a whole new fan. You need a replacement motor — the small cylindrical part that spins the blade — and the right one drops straight into the old bracket in about ten minutes. The catch is that motor shafts, plug ends, and rotation directions differ, so the whole game is matching numbers before you order.
I’m Min — the founder and writer behind Gadgets Feed. This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
Start by writing down your old motor’s amp rating and part number, because that is what separates a ten-minute swap from a return box. This breakdown of the bathroom fan motor market covers which units drop in cleanly and which ones need a little filing.
Our Picks at a Glance
How To Choose The Best Bathroom Fan Motor
Replacing the motor instead of the whole fan keeps the housing, the duct work, and the ceiling cutout exactly as they are. That is why the part matters more than the brand name on the box. Get the electrical match right and the install is quick.
Match the Amp Draw, Not Just the Part Number
The old motor’s amp rating is stamped on its body, and it tells you how much current the unit pulls. Order the same figure and the new motor runs at the speed and strength the housing was built for. Going bigger is rarely an upgrade — it stresses the circuit and can push noise up.
Check the Shaft and the Prong Plug Before You Order
The shaft is the spinning rod the fan blade presses onto. Its diameter and length need to line up with your existing blade, or the blade wobbles or will not seat. The plug on the end of the wire is the other quiet troublemaker: if it sits too long, the grill cover will not go back on without a workaround.
Rotation Direction and RPM
Motors are wound to spin clockwise or counter-clockwise, and the direction is set by looking at the shaft end. Get it backwards and the fan pushes air the wrong way. RPM, or revolutions per minute, sets the air-moving speed the housing was designed around, so a close match keeps airflow and sound where they were.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | Amps / Watts | Speed (RPM) | Rotation | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broan S99080517★ Best Overall | Straight Broan swaps | 1.3A, 120V | — | CCW | Amazon |
| BOJACK 686/687/8870Most Popular | Small-bracket retrofits | 0.60A / 30W | 3500 | CCW | Amazon |
| BOJACK Nutone/Broan 1ABest for Nutone | Higher-draw Nutone units | 1A / 120W | 3000 | CCW | Amazon |
| 8832NA Blower Motor 84757 | Nutone 8832 family | 120V | 1500 | CCW | Amazon |
| 2 Pack SM550 | Spare-pair buyers | 0.29A / 34.8W | 3000 | CCW | Amazon |
| 89850000 S89850000 | 665/668RP housings | 120V | 3000 | CCW | Amazon |
| Upgrade 8664RP/8663RP | Lighted Nutone 8664RP | 0.19A, 120V | 1460 | CCW | Amazon |
| Endurance Pro 3.3″ | Vintage Nutone/Broan | 1.2A, 120V | 1550 | CCWSE | Amazon |
| HHQ JA2C028G 23405Ser | Long-warranty Nutone swaps | 115V | 1550–1670 | CCWSE | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Broan S99080517 Bathroom Fan Motor
Our pick — over 4.5★ from 300+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
The genuine Broan part that makes your old fan sound like a new one.
If you own a Broan fan and want the least drama, this is the one — it is the factory motor made for the 676, 696, and 695 housings, sold as the motor alone. The numbers to match are 120 volts and 1.3 amps, with copper windings inside that carry the current more smoothly than the aluminum windings some generic replacements use. Weighing just 16 ounces, it slots into the old bracket without the housing ever coming off the ceiling.
The noise drop is the payoff. Owners of a Broan 683 who swapped out a squealing motor report the fan settling into a low, steady hum — quiet enough that you notice it only because it is on. Replacing just the motor is also the cheaper path: you skip the cost of a whole new fan assembly and the pain of cutting a new ceiling hole. That value is exactly what most buyers bring up, along with how cleanly the screw holes line up.
The honest catch is durability. This is a small commodity motor, and a slice of buyers have had units fail sooner than the decades-old originals they replaced. The way to think about it: the vast majority get years of service, but if you are replacing a 39-year-old motor, do not expect this one to match that run. It is a wearable part, and treating it that way saves disappointment.
What Owners Rave About
- The noise drop is the thing everyone notices first — old fans go from a shriek to a low hum
- Fits the original bracket with no modification, so the swap is a screwdriver job
- Costs far less than a new fan assembly and keeps your existing ceiling cutout
Where It Falls Short
- It is a wear part; some owners see shorter life than their original motor
- You may need to tighten the mounting bolts if it runs loud from the start
Best matched for: anyone with a Broan 676/696/695 housing who wants the exact factory motor and the least guesswork.
Think twice if: your old motor has already been replaced once and you want the longest possible run before the next swap.
2. BOJACK Bathroom Vent Fan Motor 120V 60Hz 0.60A 30W (686, 687, 8870, M686)
A low-draw, high-spin motor built for narrow brackets and old wall vents.
Spinning at 3500 rpm, this is the fastest motor on this list, and it does that on just 0.60 amps and 30 watts. That is a huge gap from the Broan above: the BOJACK 1A unit later in this list pulls 120 watts, so a 4.0x difference in draw. If your old vent was a low-power wall unit, this is the closer match and far gentler on the circuit.
Fitting is where this one fights you: the 1.882-inch stud spacing and slim 7.1″W x 4″H body only clear narrow brackets. The mounting studs are 1.882 inches on center, and the motor is a slim 7.1″W x 4″H — narrower than the Broan 1A motor, which runs 5″W x 5″H. That slimmer shape is why it drops into old manufactured-home and Miami-Carey wall ventilators where bigger motors will not. The kit includes a flat paddle fan that is 6.6 inches across, along with the motor, so you have a fresh blade too.
Owners are clear that this runs strong for its size, and the install is genuinely simple — the recurring gripe is the plastic fan blade, which cracks for some people when pressing it onto the shaft. A fair number also find it louder than the motor it replaced. Press the blade on carefully, and if you have the old metal blade, reuse it.
Speed versus draw: 3500 rpm on 30 watts makes it the pick for low-power old vents where a 1A motor would strain the circuit.
Mind the blade: the plastic fan cracks on some installs — ease it onto the shaft and reuse the old blade if it is metal.
Grab this for: older manufactured-home or wall-vent housings with a narrow bracket where a full-size motor will not clear.
Look elsewhere if: quiet is your priority — this one runs loud for many owners.
3. BOJACK Bathroom Vent Fan Motor 120V 60Hz 1A (Nutone Broan 663, 668, 662, 688, 659)
The 1-amp workhorse for higher-draw Nutone and Broan housings.
This motor moves 50 CFM (cubic feet per minute — a measure of how much air it pushes per minute) and runs at 3000 rpm, drawing a full 1 amp at 120 volts. That higher draw is what separates it from the 0.60A BOJACK above: if your old motor was a higher-power unit, this is the one that replaces it, not the slim 30-watt version.
You get both the motor and a blower wheel in the kit, so the whole spinning assembly is refreshed. The shaft is 1.5 inches with splines (ridges that grip the wheel), a 3/16-inch shaft tip, and a 6 1/2-inch wire with a 2-prong plug. Owners replacing 1989-era 663 fans and 1976 wired exhaust fans report the screws line up and the swap takes under ten minutes. The polarized plug (one prong wider than the other) is a small upgrade too — it fits a built-in outlet, which some older units did not. One reviewer noted it was a “perfect replacement for 39-year-old Nutone 57N2 bathroom fan; screws align for easy install.”
The trade-off is noise, and a scattering of units that arrive damaged. More owners than not find the sound moderate, but it is not a silent motor, and the airflow is a little below the headline rating for some. A few units show up with cracked plastic, so open the box and check before you install.
The Selling Points
- 1-amp / 120-watt draw matches higher-power Nutone and Broan housings
- Comes with a blower wheel and a 1.5-inch splined shaft that fits old fan blades
- Polarized 2-prong plug works with built-in outlets
Worth Knowing
- Noise is moderate, not whisper-quiet
- A few arrive with cracked fan blades, so inspect on arrival
Reach for this if: your Nutone or Broan housing runs a 1-amp motor and you want the whole kit — motor plus wheel — in one box.
skip it if: your vent is a low-draw wall unit that runs fine on a 0.60A motor.
4. 8832NA Blower Motor 84757 JA2B099N Bathroom Fan Motor
A drop-in for the Nutone 8832 family that owners describe as an exact fit.
The number that matters here is 1500 rpm at 120 volts and 60 Hz, with a 3.3-inch diameter body and a 2-prong plug. If your old motor carried the JA2B099N or 99080520 part number, this is the replacement line to look at, and it comes with a 1-year warranty as backup. The kit includes the blower wheel too, so you are not hunting for a separate part.
Owners keep coming back to the fit — the mount lines up, so the housing never has to move. A surprising number are installing this into decades-old units: one buyer replaced a JA2C028G that had been in the bathroom for 50 years, “and it is much quieter than the old model.” The rotation is CCW (counter-clockwise), so double-check the direction on your old fan before you seat it, since a wrong orientation throws the mount holes off.
The one thing to watch is that a small slice of buyers find the mount finicky — matching the bolt and hole orientation takes a little fiddling. But once aligned, it drops in. There is no special tool requirement, and the swap is short.
Drop-in fit: the mount and blower wheel line up for the 8832 family, so you swap the motor, not the whole fixture.
Watch the rotation: the bolt holes only line up one way — confirm your old fan spins CCW before seating it.
Best pick for: Nutone 8832, 8832N, 8832SA, and 8833 housings looking for an OEM-style fit with a warranty cushion.
Not the one if: your motor is a 686-series low-draw unit — go with the BOJACK 0.60A above.
5. 2 Pack Bathroom Fan Motor Replacement for Nu-Tone B-roan Exhaust Fan Motor (SM550)
Two universal motors in one box — quiet, cheap, and built to fit a wide range of old fans.
Buying two motors at once is the trick here. The SM550 runs a very low 0.29 amps and 34.8 watts at 3000 rpm, so it sips power while still moving a rated 50 CFM of air. Because it is a universal fit, it carries a long list of replacement part numbers — 65100, C65878, VFM100, E498-1, 82423K, K111, EM550, and EM750 — plus broad Nu-tone and B-roan compatibility. If you have two tired fans or want a spare on the shelf, this is the value read of the group.
Owners keep praising how quiet it runs — the 0.29-amp draw and sleeve bearings keep it soft. It ships with a 4 1/2-inch flat fan blade, a shaft of about 3/16 inch by 1 3/4 inch, and a 6-inch wire with a 2-prong plug. Buyers report it is far quieter than the motor it replaced, and the fit delivers. It is one of the cheapest repair paths here, and the second motor makes it a genuine bargain for anyone fixing more than one bathroom.
The honest note is airflow. Because the motor is so quiet, a few owners wonder whether it is as strong as the one it replaced. Do not treat the silence as a strength signal — check that your fan moves air the way it should after the install, and if your old unit was a higher-draw motor, expect a touch less push.
Where It Wins
- Two SM550 motors in the box — the cheapest path to fixing two fans
- Runs very quietly thanks to the low 0.29-amp draw
- Universal fit covers a long list of old Nutone, Broan, and Uppco part numbers
The Honest Catch
- Quiet operation can read as less powerful airflow than the original
- Not as physically strong as higher-amp motors
Right for you if: you want quiet operation and two motors to cover more than one fan or leave a spare on standby.
Pick something else if: you need maximum airflow and your old motor was a high-draw unit.
6. 89850000 S89850000 Bathroom Exhaust Fan Replacement Motor & Blower Wheel
A motor-and-wheel combo rated to pull 70 CFM — a serious step up in airflow.
Here is the comparison that matters: this one is rated at 70 CFM, which is more air movement than the 50 CFM most budget motors in this list deliver. It runs at 3000 rpm, 120 volts, and 60 Hz with a 3/16-inch flat shaft, and it moves air strongly enough to clear a steamy bathroom fast. That extra airflow is what earns it the quiet-and-strong badge — moving more air per minute often means you clear the room in fewer minutes, so the fan runs less time overall.
Fitting is where this one shines for old Nutone housings. It is built to slot straight into a long list of Nutone housings — 665RP, 668RP, 9965, 605P, 605RP, 665P, 668P, 9905, VH668P, 665RSP, and more — and reuses your existing mounting bracket, so nothing needs to move. The kit includes the blower wheel, so the whole spinning assembly gets refreshed, not just the motor. The swap quiets an annoying fan without a new fixture going in.
The caveat is the noise level — a fair chunk of owners find it very quiet, but a smaller group says it is loud for the money. That split is worth respecting: if you have a low-noise bathroom, keep your expectations steady. But if your old fan is a shrieker, this is a massive upgrade over that and the fit is clean.
Airflow strength: at 70 CFM it out-moves most of the 50 CFM motors here, clearing vapor faster.
Easy drop-in: reuses your existing bracket and includes the blower wheel, so the whole assembly gets refreshed.
The pick for: 665/668-series Nutone owners who want more airflow and a complete motor-and-wheel kit.
Not your fit if: quiet is your only goal — some owners find it louder than they expected.
7. Upgrade 8664RP 8663RP for Nutone Bathroom Fan Motor (100CFM, 3.5 Sones)
The pure-copper motor built for the lighted Nutone 8664RP and 8663RP housings.
This is the motor you buy when your fan has a light fixture attached. It fits the Nutone 8664RP and 8663RP series — including 8663P, 8663DG, 8673RP, 763RL, 769RL, 6445RP, 671R, and 672R — and it replaces a long list of part numbers, from S97017703 through S97017709. It runs 100 CFM at 3.5 sones, where a sone is a measure of how loud the fan sounds, and it spins at about 1460 rpm on just 0.19 amps and 120 volts.
The material upgrade is worth calling out: it uses pure copper windings rather than the aluminum the older OEM motor used over a decade ago. Copper carries current more efficiently, so the motor runs cooler and can handle the load better than an old aluminum-wound unit. Owners mention the fit is precise for the 8664RP with a sliding-shaft setup, and swapping it in is a screw-out, screw-in job with the original bracket reused.
Two honest notes. First, the mounting screw that drops down for the light and grill fixture runs short for some owners, so have a longer one on hand. Second, a couple of buyers find it a touch louder than the original. Neither is a defect — it is a fit-and-tolerance thing — and neither stops the fan working well once mounted.
Why It’s Worth It
- Pure copper windings run cooler than the aluminum the old OEM motor used
- 100 CFM at 3.5 sones handles a steamy shower bath with real air movement
- Fits the entire 8664RP / 8663RP family with the original bracket reused
What to Prepare For
- The grill-mounting screw can run short — have a longer one ready
- A few owners find it a touch louder than the motor it replaced
The right call for: anyone with a lighted Nutone 8664RP or 8663RP who wants copper windings and 100 CFM in one kit.
Ignore this if: your fan is a plain non-light unit — the specialty fit would be wasted.
8. Endurance Pro 3.3 Inch Diameter Vent Fan Motor for Nutone/Broan 40933, 86933, 8693000, JA2B104N
A 3.3-inch motor that slips into fans older than most houses — with a two-year warranty.
The spec sheet here is unusually complete: 3.3-inch body, 1550 rpm, 120 volts, 60 Hz, 1.2 amps, 0.2 HP, sleeve bearings (a simple bearing type that runs quietly), and a sealed 2-prong plug with a shaft that is 1 1/4 inches long and 1/4 inch across. It replaces the Nutone 86933 and 8693000 group plus the JA2B104N, and it carries a two-year, no-questions warranty — the longest coverage here besides the HHQ. Build quality reads as serious, and the rotation is CCWSE (counter-clockwise, set by viewing the shaft end).
What makes this the vintage specialist is the 1/4-inch shaft, which matches older blade hubs. Owners are putting it into 1960s and 1950s bath fans, and a lot of them report it drops in with the original brackets, blade, and cord reused. The 1/4-inch shaft is the key figure — it matches the older blade hub.
The honest trade-off is longevity on some units. A minority report failures inside two years, and one or two note the straight plug being too long for the grill to clear. The fix for the plug is simple — swap to a right-angle one, or reuse the old plug. For a small fraction of buyers the motor overheats, but the two-year warranty is exactly the hedge for that.
Warranty cushion: two-year no-questions coverage makes this the safest bet for a fan that is older than the wiring it runs on.
Plug may be long: some owners find the straight plug blocks the grill — a right-angle swap or the old plug fixes it.
Built for: 1950s and 1960s Nutone and Broan wall and ceiling fans where the 1/4-inch shaft and vintage mount matter.
Wrong fit for: a low-draw slim wall vent — go with the 0.60A BOJACK instead.
9. HHQ Bathroom Exhaust Fan Motor & Blower Wheel for Nutone JA2C028G (5-Year Warranty)
The premium pick with a five-year warranty and a complete blower-wheel kit.
This is the highest-price motor on the list, and the five-year warranty is the reason. It runs 115 volts at 60 Hz, spinning between 1550 and 1670 rpm with a 1/4-inch by 1-inch shaft and a 2-prong plug, plus a 5.75-inch by 2-inch blower wheel you get in the box. It fits the Nutone 8662, 8662N, 8831, 8832, 8832N, 8833, 8672, 8672N, 8572, 8661, and 8661N families and replaces the 23405 and JA2C028G part numbers.
The install is a strong point — the motor and impeller swap without removing the housing, reconnecting the duct, or cutting a new ceiling hole. The rotation is CCWSE, so use the shaft-end view to confirm direction. Customers note the fit is exact for a wide range of Nutone units, and the whole job takes a screwdriver and a few minutes.
Two things justify the premium: the five-year warranty is class-leading, and the upgraded motor runs quieter and more efficiently than the old shaded-pole type (a basic motor design) it usually replaces. That efficiency claim is about electrical design, not a promise of a set power bill reduction — it draws less while turning smoother. If you want the longest coverage on the shelf and the complete kit with the wheel, this is the one to reach for.
What You Pay Extra For
- Five-year warranty — the longest coverage of any motor here
- Includes the blower wheel, so the whole spinning assembly is refreshed
- Runs smoother and more efficiently than the old shaded-pole type
- Swaps the motor and wheel without removing the housing or duct
The Trade-offs
- Priced higher than every other motor on the list
- Fits a specific Nutone family, not a universal bracket
Best for you if: you want the longest warranty and a complete motor-and-wheel kit for a Nutone 8662/8832-family fan.
Not for you if: budget is the priority and a two-year warranty is enough — the Endurance Pro above covers that.
Understanding the Specs
Amp Rating and Wattage
The amp rating is stamped on the motor body and tells you how much current the motor pulls while running. Order the same figure your old motor had and the fan runs at the strength the housing was built for. Going higher than the old motor stresses the circuit and can make the fan louder. Lower can mean weaker airflow. That is why the 0.29-amp SM550 and the 1.2-amp Endurance Pro serve very different fans.
RPM and Sones
RPM, or revolutions per minute, is how fast the shaft spins the blade — higher RPM generally means more airflow but more sound. Sones measure the loudness of the fan: a 3.5-sone rating tells you how noisy the running unit is, so a lower sone figure means a quieter fan. Match RPM close to your old motor to keep the airflow and the sound where they were, and use sones to set your own quietness expectation.
Shaft Diameter and Length
The shaft is the metal rod the fan blade presses onto, and its diameter and length must line up with your existing blade — a 3/16-inch or 1/4-inch shaft must match the hub it receives. Push the blade on too far and it can rub the housing and stop turning. Too short and it never seats fully. Measure your old shaft before you order.
Rotation Direction and Prong Plugs
Rotation direction tells you which way the shaft spins — CCW (counter-clockwise) or CCWSE when viewed from the shaft end — and the wrong direction pushes air backwards. The 2-prong plug slides into a built-in outlet on the fan, so the wire length and the plug angle need to clear the grill when you reassemble the cover, or the housing will not close.
FAQ
How do I know if my fan needs a new motor or a whole new fan?
Will the amp rating of the new motor have to match the old one?
What is the difference between CCW and CCWSE rotation?
Can I replace just the motor without removing the whole fan from the ceiling?
Will a 3500 RPM motor be louder than a 1500 RPM one?
Does a bathroom fan motor come with the fan blade or not?
Do I need to shut off the power before I swap the motor?
Why does the fan plug matter so much on a replacement motor?
Is a higher CFM always the better choice for replacing a fan motor?
How long should a replacement motor last compared to the original?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most people, the bathroom fan motor winner is the Broan S99080517 because it is the exact factory part for the most common Broan housings, and the noise drop is what owners notice instantly. If you have a low-draw old wall vent, grab the BOJACK 0.60A motor, since 3500 rpm on 30 watts suits a slim bracket. And for the longest coverage, the HHQ JA2C028G backs its motor and blower wheel with a five-year warranty. Match your amp rating and shaft first, and the swap is a ten-minute job instead of a return box.
How We Picked
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources & Methodology
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of September 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
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