9 Best Inline Fans for Grow Tents [2022 Buyer’s Guide]

When growing your plants indoors hydroponically, you must take special care to mimic the plant’s natural habitat. Bringing in tools such as dehumidifiers, humidifiers, and inline fans helps create realistic environments with ideal grow room temp and humidity levels. Today, we will share the best inline fans for your grow tent. Whether growing large plants or small, they all need a lot of TLC, and inline fans help with that to make sure your plants get fresh air indoors!

The best grow tents all have one thing in common- a great inline fan. The benefits of inline fans for your grow tent are endless, and perhaps inline fans can be deemed essential to successful indoor growing, whether hydroponics or otherwise. Inline fans cool grow areas that may receive a buildup of humidity. How do you lower the humidity in your grow tent? Ventilation and air filtration are necessary for healthy and robust plants. All important reasons to consider one for your grow tent!

The Best Inline Fans for Grow Tents: Full Breakdown

[1] AC Infinity CLOUDLINE 4-inch Inline Duct Fan

Features

• Intelligent controller controls temperature, humidity, fan speed, timer, and alarm system
• Ventilation exhausted fan for heating and cooling grow tents
• A mixed-flow design with a PWM-controlled CD
• EC motor for quiet and energy efficiency
• Includes corded sensor probe, AC power plug, two duct clamps, and mounting hardware

The AC Infinity CLOUDLINE inline fan is designed to ventilate hydroponic DIY grow tents. With this in mind, a more efficient process happens when transferring heating and cooling. Users rave about energy efficiency and saving money on their power bills. At a tiny 4 inches and with the ability to exhaust or intake, it packs a mighty powerful punch!

[2] iPower 6-inch Inline Duct Fan

Features

• 6 inches with a 5ft pre-wired power cord
• Low noise level at <65 dB
• Durable ceramic-coated fan 
• Removes heat from the system to solve air delivery problems 

The durable ceramic-coated fan is a permanently lubricated bearing that requires zero maintenance. Composite fan blades and center hub reduces noise and vibration. The iPower Inline Duct Fan is suitable for horticulture ventilation applications for clean air and temperature control. 

[3] VIVOSUN 4-inch Inline Duct Fan

Features

• The powerful fan speed of 2500 RPM creates airflow of 195 CFM
• Can use it for exhaust and intake purposes
• Lightweight and compact
• Low noise level at 30 dB
• Easy installation due to flanges on both intake and exhaust end
• Power cord length 5.9 feet for easy set-up

Quiet and tiny, users love the price and efficiency. Some users have mentioned the fan vibrates more than others, which creates additional noise. And other users have said the bearings did not last long. This inline fan has flanges on both the intake and exhaust ends for a simple and easy hook-up. This fan’s features make it ideal for controlling hot and humid conditions in grow tents. With a low price point, this may be one fan to try!

[4] Hydrofarm 6-inch Active Air Inline Duct Fan

Features

• Durable ceramic-coated metal housing
• UL-recognized components
• High-quality molded impeller
• Low noise output
• Includes mounting brackets and 8 Ft pre-wired 120 V cord

Hydrofarm specializes in making hydroponic equipment. Hydrofarm’s Active Air inline duct fan offers thermally protected AC motors and sealed-for-life bearings. This product’s durability is what makes it stand out from the rest. Since you need to run a fan continuously in your grow tent, having a fan with durability is a must.

[5] AC Infinity CLOUDLINE 6-inch Inline Duct Fan 

• Intelligent controller with temperature and humidity programming
• Fan speed control, timer, and alarm system
• Mixed flow design combined with a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) controlled EC-motor; quiet and energy-efficient
• Includes corded sensor probe and AC power plug
• Required mounting hardware included

Designed to ventilate hydroponic grow rooms and tents, transfer heating and cooling, and exhaust odors. Unique items about this inline fan that hydroponic growers love include the controller for this inline fan, which can be programmed to adjust fan speeds to respond to varying low and high temperatures, as well as humidity.

Set it to run continuously or trigger it to run at customizable speeds. Another nice feature is the detachable 12-foot water-resistant precision probe. This inline fan’s design delivers airflow even in grow tents where air movement is restricted. It sounds like a winner to us!

[6] AC Infinity CLOUDLINE 8-inch Inline Duct Fan

Features

• Ventilation exhaust fan for heating and cooling booster
• Intelligent controller with temperature and humidity at your fingertips
• Mixed flow design combined with a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) controlled EC-motor; quiet and energy-efficient
• Includes corded sensor probe and AC power plug
• Required mounting hardware. 

With grow tent design in mind, AC Infinity Cloudline has thought of it all. This version of their inline duct fan also has a mixed-flow design, and the duct fan can maintain airflow even in high static pressure applications. Users who have it in their grow tents have used it as an intake fan and say it perfectly cools their grow areas.

[7] VIVOSUN 8-inch Inline Duct Fan

Features

• Air Flow 420 CFM, HVAC Exhaust intake fan
• 8-inch diameter with a speed of 2970 RPM, power 42W
• Use as intake fan or exhaust fan
• Low noise due to superior blades and permanently lubricated bearing
• Extra-long grounded power cord at 5.5 Ft
• Button controller

Use this inline fan for your indoor grow tent to bring fresh air into your grow room. The motor has a permanently lubricated bearing, operating quietly with no maintenance. It can also be used as an exhaust fan in smaller setups with LEDs. Easy to install, durable, and inexpensive; however, this one has some drawbacks to the hydroponic grower. Carbon filtration is not an option, which is something to consider for your grow tent before purchasing.

We suggest building your own carbon filter for your grow tent. Check out that guide for step by step instructions.

[8] Can-Fan Max-Fan Mixed Flow 10-inch Inline Fan

• Quality craftsmanship, made in Germany
• Up to 2,990 RPM, Max Watts 228
• 10-inch duct diameter
• Includes 5-year manufacturer warranty
• Cools at a rate of 1019 Cubic Feet Per Minute

The Max-Fan was developed with a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) program. CFDs are used for engineering aircraft propulsion engines, making it strong and energy-efficient. It is quieter than comparable fans because of its optimized mixed flow. This inline fan has an extremely high aerodynamic efficiency and an easy installation process. It’s not the quietest fan since it moves air like a jet engine. The price is on the high end, but if you’re looking for expert craftsmanship and quality, look no further than the Can-Fan Max-Fan.

[9] iPower 12-inch Inline Duct Fan

Features

• 12-inch diameter with airflow at 1060 CFM
• Speed of 238 RPM with 290W Wattage
• Ceramic coated, fluted on both ends to receive ducting
• Noise level at 71 dB, 110V standard house plug
• It comes with 5 ft prewired power cord
• Use with iPower carbon filter and iPower ducting

Durability comes to mind when purchasing an inline fan for your grow tent. With the amount it needs to be run, you want a fan with a permanently lubricated bearing that requires zero maintenance, and this inline fan has just that! It also removes heat from the system, solving air delivery problems that may arise. Use this inline fan with the iPower carbon filter to remove odors. Easy to install; within minutes, this inline fan is up and cooling your plants. 

FAQ

Do I need an inline fan in my Grow Tent?

Yes you need an inline fan in your grow tent! Not only does indoor air get stale and stagnant for people, but for our plants too. It is also doubly important to mimic the plants’ natural environment in the indoor setting. An inline fan circulates air and creates air movement where there would be none. It controls airflow and humidity and can help exhaust any unwanted odors. 

What size inline fan do I need for my grow tent?

Inline fans come in a variety of sizes, from 4-inches to 12-inches. The wider the fan, the less relative humidity of your grow room. Smaller diameter inline fans will not decrease a grow room’s relative moisture as fast. Depending on what you are growing indoors, it is certainly something to consider when making your purchase. 

How long should I run my inline fan?

The unit for running an exhaust fan is CFM or cubic feet per meter. CFM depends on the size of the exhaust and the grow tent’s size. To calculate how much time to run your inline fan, measure your grow tent first and divide the grow tent’s total volume by three. This is because it is best to circulate the air in a grow tent every 3-5 minutes. Others say on for 15, off for 45 minutes. It truly depends on your crop and the size of your grow tent. Err on the side of fresh air is best!

Should I leave my fan on when the lights are off?

Keep oscillating fans on during dark hours to circulate air for your plants. Turn off inline fans- exhaust and intake- around half an hour after nightfall. Depending on what stage your plant is in will determine the amount of air movement needed when lights are on and off.

Do you need two fans for grow tent?

Two types of ‘fans’ are needed to produce healthy plants in an indoor environment: an oscillating fan and air-extraction systems such as intake and exhaust fans. Using an inline fan for exhaust purposes removes odors, and with the help of a carbon scrubber any smells will disappear.

If you have an inline fan all set to work for intake purposes, consider using another fan, such as a standing oscillating fan near the vent, so the fresh air is dispersed throughout your grow tent. By pushing fresh air from outside the grow tent and making sure it is dispersed throughout the room, plants receive CO2, helping them grow.