13 Best Smoke Machines in 2023 – Reviewed & Buying Guide

To make your parties organized in a club, disco, or garden more original and surprising, you can think of using a machine capable of generating smoke. The atmosphere and fun will immediately benefit!

Although it is not a popular product, on the market, you can find different shapes and sizes, all made by the best brands active in the sector. In this guide, we illustrate the aspects that distinguish a product of this type. Further down, you will find the review of the models most appreciated by users.

Right here we have listed out the best smoke machines. These machines can make an amazing environment for your parties.

Buyer Guide to Choose the Best Smoke Machine

Regardless of size and price, all smoke machines work the same way and are characterized by the presence of a tank whose dimensions go hand in hand with those of the device.

An ad hoc liquid (of which we will discuss later) is placed inside the container, which is channeled into a coil which is connected to a resistance.

Once the machine is connected to the power outlet, the resistance heats the coil in a short time and transforms the liquid, which thus passes to a semi-gaseous state.

At this point, it is sufficient to operate the switch, and the gas is pushed towards the nozzle and, thanks to the atmospheric pressure, it is vaporized and produces the smoke effect.

Keep in mind that the various machines differ, in addition to their size (of the body and the tank), the density of the smoke emitted, the power of the jet, and the duration of the smoke emission.

Small, Medium and Large

As mentioned, the intended use, in our opinion, ranks at the top of the ranking of aspects to consider before choosing the model that is right for you.

For a house party, for example, you can “settle” for a smoke machine with a power between 400 and 800 watts, while to use it in a medium-sized room, it is better to go to an engine capable of delivering around 1,000 watts.

In the case of parties in a disco or rather spacious environments, however, to guarantee satisfactory results, you can not ignore a product of at least 1,500 watts. At the same time, if you want to exaggerate, you can buy a 3,000-watt one that, typically, is even used to simulate fire drills in substantial buildings.

The Liquid

To generate smoke, these appliances need you to insert an ad hoc liquid into their tank. But what is it about? It is composed of propylene glycol, an odorless and colorless chemical element that, heated by the resistance inside the machine and in contact with the demineralized water (another component of the liquid), is atomized and then transformed into smoke.

The products marketed on the market contain a totally safe and non-toxic quantity of chemicals if you come into contact with it. The liquids offered by the best brands are all up to standard and perfectly safe and, comparing prices, incredibly cheap.

That’s why our advice is to avoid attempts at-home production, so as to always use a product that is not harmful to you or the correct functioning of the machine.

Different Types of Fog Machines, Their Functions, and Areas of Application

Fog machines produce artificial fog, also called stage fog. There are different types, each based on a different technique. But above all, they create various nebulae.

Classic Fog Machine or Fogger

It creates fog by heating a water-based fluid until it evaporates. This creates a pressure that tears the fluid into tiny droplets that are released to the outside through a nozzle.

These are visible to our eyes as a cloud of fog. Before the next cloud is ejected, the machine has to reheat, which takes three to twelve minutes.

The classic fog machine plays a significant role, especially in event technology. But also in the film, on TV and in clubs. It is also used in speed measurement. The fire brigade uses them for special exercises, for example, and the fog makes gas or air currents visible.

Smoke Generator or Hazer

While the classic fog machine emits private clouds of mist, these machines permanently produce beautiful haze. This is hardly visible. Steam generators work with ultrasound instead of with a heating element, which is why they need a special fluid.

Fazer

Fazer works like classic devices, but produce continuous haze like the Hazer. In principle, they are very slow-running fog machines that emit vapor in a diluted form. Practically, they work with the same fog fluid. Their output is suitable for small to medium-sized stages.

Ground

fog machines These are fog machines that work like classic devices. However, its fog remains close to the ground because it cools it down considerably. It sinks because it is heavier than the air. It can be used to create an effect on stage, for example, as if the actors are floating in it.

Is It Worth Renting a Fog Machine?

Anyone who only needs the machine for a one-off event will sooner or later ask this question. Many event planners and event technicians rent them out, as does technology for light and sound. Often, however, at prices for which the first devices are already available online.

Therefore, it may be more worthwhile to buy a fog machine that is on budget and to sell it again after the event.

What Should Be Considered when Buying a Fog Machine?

It is essential to understand that the intensity of fog formation does not depend solely on the performance of the device. The quality of the fog fluid used also plays a significant role.

Characteristics for the quality of a fog machine are therefore in addition to its performance also the following details:

• The Materials of The Case. Robust aluminum, for example, ensures a long service life for the machine.
• Warm-Up Time. The shorter this is, the more often the engine can emit a fog.
• The Tank Size. Devices with large tanks can remain in operation longer without continually refilling them.
• The Equipment. Depending on the use, a radio remote control or a fog machine with battery is worthwhile.
• Thermal Protection should be in place for security reasons.

Which Fog Machine Is Suitable for My Event?

In order for the fog machine to meet personal requirements, the following questions need to be asked:

• How Big Is the Area to Be Fogged The larger the city, the larger the fog machine or its performance should be? Mini fog machines are ideal for the party basement. However, if the celebration takes place in the gym, a larger device is required.
• Is It Used Indoors or Outdoors To produce enough fog outdoors, fog machines with an output of a thousand watts are suitable? A fog machine with a battery may be worthwhile here if there is no power supply.
• How Long Is the Event For more extended events, buy a computer with a large tank capacity to avoid constant refilling.
• How and From Which Distance Do I Want to Operate the Fog Machine If the device is attached to the ceiling, for example, the remote control is required. With a DMX connection, it can also be operated from the lighting console. So the lighting system can be easily controlled together with the fog machine.

The Performance of The Fog Machine

Depending on the field of application, small fog machines with low wattage are better or large ones with a thousand or more watts.

• Fog machines with up to 400 watts are suitable for the party room or small bars with an area of ​​up to thirty square meters.
• 400 to 800 watts of power are also ideal for interiors or small stages, with an area of ​​up to 35 square meters.
• 800 to 1,000 watts of power are suitable for interiors measuring up to fifty square meters.
• From 1,000 watts, the fog machines are used for outdoor use. 1,000 to 1,200 watts are enough to fog the garden or a more extensive interior of up to sixty square meters in size.
• Fog machines with 1,600 to 3,000 watts are professional items. They are in discotheques or more significant stages.
• Those with more than 3,000 watts are used, for example, in firefighting exercises or for concert stages, also at open-air events and in large clubs.