A humidifier's main purpose is to add moisture to the air. As basic as that sounds, that extra moisture can make all the difference in your indoor environment — especially in the wintertime. If you suffer from irritated sinuses, chapped lips, or the occasional nosebleed, chances are, the air in your home is too dry.
A humidifier is an affordable way to help minimize these issues, and some researchers say that humidifiers may even help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Unfortunately, all humidifiers have their own set of flaws and there isn’t a singular perfect humidifier that’ll work for every home. There are three major types of humidifiers (which you can learn about below) and which kind will work for you varies based on factors including water type, what size space you're trying to humidify, your budget, and more.
Types of Humidifiers
Warm mist-style humidifiers — these use a heating element to boil water and make steam. They do slightly heat rooms, which is a perk — however, they may lead to accidental burns, so the American Academy of Pediatrics doesn’t recommend them in homes with children. Not only that, they also use a lot more energy, which adds up in the long run.
Ultrasonic cool-mist humidifiers — these high-frequency vibrations that cause micro-sized droplets of water to form at the surface while a small fan below the unit pushes out the misty air to humidify a room. They don’t require as much energy as warm mist-style humidifiers, however, we don’t recommend them for homes with hard water. Basically, they leave white dust (limescale) around your room and belongings if you don’t use distilled water with them.
Evaporative humidifiers — these the most effective when it comes to the amount of humidity they provide versus the amount of energy it requires to do so. This type of humidifier uses wick filters and fans to release water vapor into the air. Although evaporative humidifiers do an excellent job at humidifying a room (or entire home if you opt for a console humidifier), they require more maintenance and get quite gross over time because mold and bacteria can grow on the wicks.
It's worth noting that the ideal humidification range is in the 30% to 60% range, according to the EPA. If it’s above 60%, you’ll likely be faced with mold, allergens, and dust mites. To check your levels, consider buying an inexpensive hygrometer before investing in a humidifier to determine if your levels are too low or high.
You should also replace the wicks or filters per the manufacturer's recommended instructions (which is oftentimes seasonally), and you can also use liquid water treatment to inhibit the growth of bacteria. Taking these steps should prevent foul, musty odors.
How We Chose
To separate the best from the rest, we researched and compared dozens of humidifiers to find models that’ll help you stave off the negative effects of a too-dry home. We've scoured the internet, reading reviews from authoritative publications, including our sister site Popular Mechanics — who tested some models in-house — and also read several customer reviews on Amazon, Home Depot, and Walmart, along with some hatetweetsand a column about why the Wirecutter-recommended Honeywell HCM350W humidifier is a pain to live with. Our vetted picks — which include every type of humidifier — are easy to clean and maintain, they offer quiet output, and they'll keep your home's humidity levels balanced.
Whether you need a small humidifier for your bedroom nightstand to help you sleep better, a personal one for your office, or a heavy-duty option for a large open floor plan, we've done the legwork to help you find the best one for your needs and budget. Say goodbye to chapped lips and parched skin, and check out these top editor-approved humidifiers.
The TaoTronics Ultrasonic Humidifier works incredibly well. It’s much more reliable than the competition, it requires less maintenance, and it’s easier to clean. Most importantly, it’ll keep your home in line with the EPA’s recommended humidity levels.
The humidifier provides enough oomph to be used in spaces up to 500 square feet and has received top marks from the likes of CNN Underscored, Popular Mechanics,Prevention, among many others. Testers have noted that the humidifier runs quieter than its competitors and is quick to humidify a room. It also has lengthy runtimes before needing more water. You can get a full 24 hours of use before needing to refill its water reservoir.
Although it doesn’t have the ability to purify the air or diffuse essential oils, we like that it features a built-in humidistat that’ll let you know your room’s current humidity status. With this, you can select the right setting to get your room's humidity level where it needs to be.
We also appreciate that, with this model, you won’t need to buy replacement filters. The included one is reusable and only needs to be cleaned once a month. You can set this humidifier's built-in timer if you don't want it to run through the whole night, and it’ll automatically turn itself off when the water runs out.
The AIRCARE H12600 is a reliable, affordable, and convenient whole-house humidifier. It covers up to 3,700 square feet, holds 2.5 gallons of water, has a hygrometer, and works extremely well at humidifying large spaces. The unit is equipped with a fan, so it is a bit louder than other humidifiers. It also requires a large wick filter that you'll have to occasionally replace, but overall it's incredibly simple to use.
We think this model is more attractive-looking than the Vornado Evap40, but it doesn't have as large of a capacity so it'll need more frequent refilling. You can expect to refill it every 12 hours or so. Really, our only complaint about the humidifier is that it's hard to tell when it needs refilling.
If you're searching for something that's slimmer, we also recommend the Honeywell HEV620B Cool Moisture Tower Humidifier, which holds about 2 gallons of water, is equipped with a humidistat, and offers a 24-hour runtime.
The problem with personal or portable humidifiers is that they commonly are equipped with tiny tanks about the size of a water bottle, which results in short run times. They typically lack filters, don't allow you to adjust mist strength, and require a power cable that's likely different than the one you use to recharge your phone, which is one extra cord to carry.
The PureMist Bucket solves all of those problems and is one of the most smartly-designed and attractive-looking personal humidifiers we've come across. It's completely battery-powered, recharges with a standard USB cable, and there's even a USB port onboard that you can use to recharge your other devices, too.
The Bucket offers a 12-hour runtime, includes replaceable cotton filters to keep things clean, and comes in three colors. We also appreciate that its color-changing LED lights add extra ambiance, but can be disabled at night time while you're sleeping.
For those looking for an affordable humidifier that looks nice and performs well, the Levoit Classic 200 is the best option. This humidifier offers users a generous 1.05-gallon tank, which helps it achieve its 40-hour run time.
The Levoit Classic 200 works best in bedrooms, and it can humidify rooms up to 375 square feet. It’s incredibly simple to use and has three power levels. We like that it has a wide mouth that makes it easy to clean and refill with minimal spillage — it even has an aromatherapy tray for diffusing essential oils.
It’s relatively quiet, and it automatically shuts off when it runs out of water. Levoit backs its humidifiers with a 1-year warranty, and if you register your device online, you'll get an additional year of coverage.
Whether you want cold or warm mist, this humidifier's dual design allows you to pick the perfect mode for whatever you need. It's a versatile option that's perfect for users in search of a humidifier with a huge tank.
It's powerful enough to humidify rooms up to 750 square feet, and it has a 1.5-gallon tank that can go over a day between refillings. We appreciate its minimalistic design and were glad to see that it comes with a remote control.
Buyers in search of a smart humidifier that can be controlled anywhere by your smartphone or smart speaker should opt for the newer but similar Levoit Classic 300S humidifier, which adds an essential oil tray.
It's even capable of reading the current humidity level in the room. Our biggest complaint is that it's not as easy to clean as our other picks.
A note on availability: Due to increased demand, this product may fluctuate between in and out of stock. We will be frequently checking and refreshing the links as it becomes available again.
This humidifier from Honeywell proves that these practical devices don’t have to be an eyesore! It flaunts a sleek design in either black or white and will look great in any room.
It holds 1.2 gallons of water and has a convenient handle for removing and carrying its tank. The tank’s wide-mouth opening makes it easy to fill and clean. A knob on its side can adjust how much mist is emitted.
The humidifier is extremely quiet, making it perfect for use in the bedroom. Since it has a separate oil tray for adding your favorite aromatherapy drops, it’ll work well in the living room, too.
This simple-looking humidifier has a medicine cup and scent pad heater that lets you add medicated liquids or essential oils to help you breathe easier when you have a cold. It offers a 1-gallon capacity, an auto-shutoff feature, and a convenient handle for easy refilling.
Warm mist humidifiers don't humidify a room any better than evaporative or ultrasonic ones, but they can slightly warm the air in the room. That's because they use a heating element to boil water and make steam. For safety reasons, though, we don't recommend using them around children.
Brandon CarteSenior Electronics EditorBrandon Carte has been the technology editor at BestProducts.com since 2017, where he's been covering the latest gadgets and scouring the internet for the greatest deals; His tech reporting has been featured on TopTenReviews.com and USA Today.
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