6 Types of Hauntings Explained: Which One Is in Your Home?

The paranormal world is full of all sorts of strange phenomena. That’s why knowing the differences between residual hauntings and intelligent ones, or poltergeists and shadow people, can be crucial. Especially for those who are into investigating or experiencing hauntings firsthand.

Simply put, every type of haunting has its own unique vibe. Why is this relevant? Because, when you know what kind of haunting you’re dealing with may help you figure out why it’s happening—and what (if anything) you can do about it.

Here’s everything you need to know about the different types of haunting:

Residual Hauntings

Residual hauntings are the least dangerous ones. They are like echoes of the past, energy imprints tied to intense emotional or traumatic events. What does that mean? They are non-interactive manifestations left behind by significant emotional experiences. They’re not aware of you, and they don’t change.

Related: Do Residual Hauntings Fade Over Time? Why Some Ghosts Disappear

Simply put, unlike ghosts that may interact consciously, residual hauntings just replay the same scene (or sound) over and over again. In a way, this type of haunting is a time-locked event.

The most common signs of residual hauntings typically include footsteps, dark forms (silhouettes) that don’t react, and laughter or crying at specific times. I like to call them temporal echoes.

SpookySight tip:
If these manifestations start becoming active (like interacting with you or moving things), they will probably not be residual anymore. Residual hauntings are harmless, but I recommend seeking help to correctly identify what’s happening if things escalate.

Real-world residual haunting cases:

• Gettysburg Battlefield in Pennsylvania: Visitors often report ghost soldiers marching or hearing cannon fire—it’s like the battlefield is caught in a loop.
• Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Kentucky: Mostly strange, dark forms and repeated sounds from when it was operational.
• Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana: Numerous reports of the ghost of a servant girl replaying tragic moments from her life.
• Tower of London in England: Ghosts of executed prisoners, especially Anne Boleyn.
• Eastern State Penitentiary in Pennsylvania: Footsteps and echoes of cell doors slamming.
• Château de Brissac in France: A famous haunted castle known for the “Green Lady ghost” (believed to be a noblewoman murdered in the 15th century).
• RMS Queen Mary: Wartime echoes, with scenes and sounds replaying endlessly.

Intelligent Hauntings

Unlike residual hauntings, intelligent hauntings are interactive. These ghosts may know what’s going on around them and often try to communicate.

This type of haunting is often associated with direct response and spirit interaction—spirits that want to deliver a message, protect a location, or maybe just cause a bit of mischief.

Famous paranormal investigators Hans Holzer and Ed and Lorraine Warren documented several intelligent hauntings where entities responded to questions or interacted with people and objects.

Signs of intelligent hauntings can also include flickering lights and sudden cold spots (called paranormal cold spots). Maybe you ask for a sign, and suddenly… an object moves. Or you hear something in response to what you said.

Related: Residual Energy vs. Residual Haunting—What’s the Difference?

Furthermore, paranormal investigators and ghost hunters may sometimes encounter the so-called electronic voice phenomena (EVP)—voices that weren’t heard in real-time but show up on recordings.

Another thing to consider is the nature of these interactions. Sometimes, it’s as subtle as a whisper or as obvious as an object falling over. The key is that these spirits are aware of you. They’re not just replaying events; they’re trying to communicate.

Real-world cases of intelligent hauntings:

• Lizzie Borden House in Massachusetts: Several groups of investigators have allegedly received answers to questions and observed strange movements.
• Whaley House in San Diego, California: Spirits of past residents have allegedly appeared and responded to visitors.
• The White House in Washington, D.C.: Several reports of Abraham Lincoln’s ghost interacting with guests.
• Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana: Some ghosts here not only replay events but also communicate (usually through EVP).
• The Stanley Hotel in Colorado: Multiple reports of objects (and even furniture) changing place in rooms. Some reports of strange voices during paranormal investigations.
• Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California: Some visitors claimed to have seen various ghosts that reacted to people’s presence.

Portal Hauntings

Portal hauntings are a less-known type of haunting. Also, they are a bit different. For example, by portal haunting, we acknowledge doorways between dimensions or realms.

These portals (or dimensional rifts) may allow different entities to move between worlds. Because of this, you can get a mix of paranormal entities at one location. On top of that, the signs can also be unpredictable, making it tricky to categorize them. Basically, these types of hauntings can manifest as anything from benign spirits to darker, more malevolent entities.

To make things even worse, the fluctuating activity levels make these hauntings quite challenging to investigate. However, some common signs can include ghost sightings (but typically not the same spirit or entity) and weird energy vortex readings.

In the paranormal world, we refer to these entities as multidimensional beings, hinting at their origin beyond the physical realm. I think that’s a very appropriate term. Because they are not really ghosts. They may not even be death… but rather living beings from another dimension.

Real-world portal hauntings cases:

• Skinwalker Ranch in Utah: Known for various paranormal activity, from ghostly entities to UFO sightings. Researchers believe the location might act as a portal due to its history of high-energy phenomena, including strange lights, cattle mutilations, and cryptid encounters.
• St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans: A famous burial ground where multiple spirits, including that of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau, have been sighted. The diversity and frequency of the sightings suggest a potential portal allowing various entities to come and go.
• Bobby Mackey’s Music World in Kentucky: Known as “Hell’s Gate,” the bar has been plagued by numerous types of paranormal experiences, including demonic activity. The well in the basement is believed to be a portal, potentially inviting different entities to cross over.
• Sedona Vortex Sites in Arizona: Sedona is famous for its natural energy vortexes that are believed to open doorways to other realms. Many visitors report feeling intense vibrations, seeing spirits, and experiencing time anomalies inside these energy sites.
• Helltown, Ohio: This abandoned area has long been associated with strange energy fields and reports of otherworldly beings.
• Poveglia Island in Italy: Known as one of the most haunted places in the world, Poveglia’s dark history, including its use as a quarantine site and insane asylum, may have left spiritual doorways open.
• The Devil’s Tramping Ground in North Carolina: This barren circle where nothing grows is a site of repeated strange events, from spectral voices to sudden temperature drops. Local legends claim that the ground is a portal through which malevolent entities pass.

Shadow People Hauntings

Shadow people are mysterious entities that typically manifest as dark, shadowy figures (thus the name), usually just out of the corner of your eye. They’re unsettling due to their dark entity nature—lacking facial features.

There are lots of theories about shadow people. Some say they are interdimensional beings (which means they may be linked to other types of hauntings). In contrast, others claim they could be a psychological phenomenon—linked to stress, sleep paralysis, or other emotional triggers. That leads to the concept of a psychological haunting.

Shadow people often seem to thrive on fear-based energy, which explains the dread of seeing them. They have a different presence than other hauntings—they evoke fear, but their intent isn’t always clear.

Are they just watching, or maybe existing in a realm that overlaps with ours? Nobody knows for sure.

Real-world shadow people cases:

• Old Charleston Jail in South Carolina: Shadowy figures have been reported moving through the corridors, often accompanied by an oppressive atmosphere, likely due to the building’s violent history.
• Ohio State Reformatory: Shadow people are frequently seen, particularly in solitary confinement areas. Visitors report feeling that someone is watching them.
• Waverly Hills Sanatorium: Shadow people are among the most common paranormal sightings here, often appearing in the infamous “body chute” where hundreds of deceased patients were stored.
• Eastern State Penitentiary: Cellblock 12 is particularly well-known for bizarre noises, sudden temperature drops, and undistinguishable silhouettes.
• Fort Mifflin in Pennsylvania: Reports of shadowy entities throughout the grounds, often in areas linked to significant wartime activity (such as the blacksmith shop and the casemates).
• Villisca Axe Murder House in Iowa: Shadow figures have been linked to the tragic 1912 unsolved murders, often appearing in the bedrooms where the victims were found.

Poltergeist Activity

Poltergeist is German for “noisy ghost.” It’s a fitting name. This type of haunting is the second most disruptive and, oftentimes, quite violent.

A poltergeist can manifest through objects flying across the room, large furniture moving, things breaking for no visible reason, and loud bangs. Sometimes, it can lead to actual injuries like cuts, scratches, bruises, burns, etc). All these can make a poltergeist extremely dangerous.

As an interesting theory, some believe that poltergeists are caused by psychokinesis (which is a type of energy produced by people, often someone under emotional stress). Another theory suggests that poltergeists aren’t even spirits at all. But rather manifestations of intense emotional energy being pushed outward.

Typically, this type of haunting is centered around a specific person, called the focal person. This person can be unaware of what is happening and might unknowingly project this energy.

More often than not, the focal person is an adolescent (or even a child) going through a tough time, which might explain why poltergeist activity can be so chaotic.

Real-world poltergeist cases:

• Borley Rectory in England: Called the “most haunted house in England” due to intense poltergeist activity.
• The Enfield Poltergeist: Objects moving, loud noises, focusing around one of the Hodgson children.
• Bell Witch Case: Objects thrown, strange noises—classic poltergeist behavior.
• Rosenheim Poltergeist in Germany: Phones ringing without reason, loud bangs, office items moving, bizarre voices and whispers, people allegedly getting hurt.
• South Shields Poltergeist in England: Household objects thrown, and frightening messages left for the family.
• Thornton Heath Poltergeist in England: A series of violent disturbances centered on one family member.
• Mackenzie Poltergeist in Edinburgh: Known for violent incidents—over 500 documented reports of people scratched, cut, or burnt. Some fainted or needed medical attention.

Demonic Hauntings

Demonic hauntings are the most terrifying types of hauntings out there. By far. How so? Because, unlike residual or intelligent hauntings, demonic entities always have malicious intent, trying to harm or spread fear.

Signs of a demonic haunting? Foul smells—like sulfur or rotting flesh—feelings of intense oppression, sudden outbursts of anger, or even physical attacks, like scratches and bites. Aggressive object movement, extreme drops in temperature, or strange markings appearing on walls or people are also strong indicators.

Demonic hauntings often start subtly—small disturbances that seem harmless but grow into something much worse. The ultimate goal of a demon is to weaken you—mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—starting with the most vulnerable members of your household.

They chip away at your strength, making every day a struggle.

Real-world cases of demonic hauntings:

• The Southend Werewolf in England: In the 1960s, Bill Ramsey reported numerous episodes of feeling an uncontrollable urge to attack others, accompanied by strange physical symptoms. At some point, he claimed he was a werewolf. However, demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren believed Ramsey was being tormented by a demonic presence.
• Loudun Possessions in France (1634): A notorious case of demonic possession involving Ursuline nuns who exhibited strange behavior, speaking in tongues, contorting their bodies, and accusing Father Urbain Grandier of causing their torment through witchcraft. It led to Grandier’s execution and is often cited as a historical example of demonic activity.
• The Heol Fanog Case in Wales: Known as “Hellfire Farm,” this farmhouse was plagued by dark energy, leading to disturbing visions, violent attacks, and unexplained fires. The relentless activity suggested a powerful demonic force was at work.
• The Tanacu Exorcism in Romania: In 2005, a nun reportedly possessed by demons underwent an exorcism that ended in her death. The case highlighted the dangerous extent to which demonic influence could push someone, as well as the extreme measures people took to remove it.
• The Surrency Haunting in Georgia: The Surrency family home became infamous in the 1870s for its violent poltergeist-like disturbances, but many elements—like bodily harm and the targeting of family members—point toward a demonic presence.

Differences Between the Types of Haunting

Residual hauntings don’t interact, while intelligent hauntings do. Demonic hauntings are aggressive and evil, whereas poltergeist activity is very chaotic. Shadow people are unique because of their fleeting, featureless appearance.

Here’s a quick comparison table to make it clearer:

How to Identify the Type of Haunting in Your Space

If you think your home might be haunted, figuring out the type is vital. Start by documenting some specifics. Are they repetitive, like footsteps at 3 AM every night? That’s probably residual. Are objects moving after you ask a question? That’s more likely an intelligent haunting.

Notice the emotions you feel, too—a sense of dread or danger might mean you’re dealing with something more sinister, like a demonic presence.

Basic ghost-hunting equipment (like an EMF meter and an audio recorder) can also help you gather clues. Fluctuating electromagnetic readings could mean a portal, while EVP recordings often indicate an intelligent spirit.

Remember: If manifestations become active, it’s likely not residual (which is usually harmless). In that case, I suggest contacting a professional to correctly identify the type of haunting and figure out what to do next.