The 15 Best Humidifiers for a More Comfortable Home

People spend a lot of time dialing in the perfect temperature for their homes, but few worry about their home’s humidity levels. While people associate humidity with feeling hot and sticky in the summer, indoor humidity is important to your health. Maintaining ideal indoor humidity is a difficult task with the seasonal changes throughout the year. In the summer, your air conditioner will capture and condense air from your indoor air on condenser coils, and in winter cold air infiltrating into your home won’t hold on to water molecules as effectively. The Environmental Protection Agency advises that the ideal humidity levels are between 30 percent and 50 percent, so if you feel uncomfortably dry inside, then an in-room humidifier could help you out.

What to Look for in a Humidifier

Size, Capacity and Features

There are lots of factors you’ll want to consider when buying a humidifier, most importantly: how often will you be using it and for what purpose? Whether you’re looking for a machine to humidify a large room or a smaller version for your desk at work, the capacity, runtime and square footage will tell you everything you need to know. Most humidifiers on this list hold around a gallon of water in their water tank and runtimes range from 6 to 70 hours. If you’re looking for a machine that you can leave on all day every day with minimal refills, then you’ll want the one with a higher runtime and capacity most likely. But if you’re just looking for a humidifier to get you through the night, a smaller capacity and runtime may be okay, especially if it means a lower price point. The square footage a certain model is able to cover will also tell you if it will work in the space you have in mind because, like air purifiers, humidifiers work best in small, enclosed spaces.

Whole-house humidifiers cost thousands of dollars and require complex installs, so small units are a better investment to improve the moisture in an individual room when you actually need it. We found humidifier models covering 300–1,000 square feet to be a good balance for bedrooms to larger living rooms. While water tank size is important to determine runtime, we found humidifiers that at least offered 8 hours of runtime to be the least disruptive.

In our testing, the most important feature of a humidifier was a humidistat — basically a thermostat but for humidity — that monitored the active humidity. When left untouched, cheaper humidifier models with simple on-and-off control often raised the humidity far above the 60% maximum recommendation, leading to condensation on interior windows and surfaces in the room.

Types of Humidifiers

While they serve the same purpose, the main difference between the three types of humidifiers — evaporative, ultrasonic and hot air — is how the machines create their humidifying mist. Ultrasonic humidifiers, also known as “cool mist” humidifiers, use a piezoelectric disc that vibrates at a high-frequency signal to create micron-sized water droplets that are then slowly absorbed into the air. Evaporative humidifiers won’t actually generate any visible moisture because it’s simply a fan blowing over a wet membrane to evaporate the water into the air. (Whole-house or console humidifiers are typically evaporative.) Lastly, warm mist humidifiers heat a water reservoir to create steam which is then quickly absorbed by the air.

In practice, all of these humidifiers will raise the indoor humidity but we found cool mist humidifiers to be the best option on the market. In our testing, cool mist humidifiers were far less energy demanding than warm mist (avg. 40 watts cool vs 260 watts warm), and considerably easier to clean.

Benefits of Using a Humidifier

There are myriad benefits to using a humidifier, from helping to ease congestion to combatting the dry winter air throughout the night. But you don’t want to treat your humidifier as a cure-all and overdo it. According to a 2012 study, too much humidity can actually disrupt your sleep cycle.

And if you’re not cleaning your humidifier regularly, then its benefits will quickly go away as your machine could be growing mold or bacteria. You should be cleaning your humidifier every three days, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. And you can do so by scrubbing the parts with vinegar and rinsing with water. Furthermore using bottled or distilled water will help to prevent build-up in your humidifier.

Amazon

Best Overall Humidifier

Levoit LV600HH Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier

• $89.00 at Amazon
  $100.00 (11% off)

• Capacity: 1.6 gallons
• Coverage: 753 square feet
• Runtime: 50 hours

The Levoit LV600HH isn’t the sleekest device, but it makes up for its sterile looks with an incredibly robust well of features and options. You can toggle between ultrasonic cool and warm mists, and with its spacious 1.5 gallon water tank, the Levoit 600 can be used for up to 60 hours without having to refill the reservoir. A built-in humidistat keeps track of the humidity in the air, and it will help the humidifier get up to the desired levels then shut off so you don’t end up with, what our tester calls, “tropical level of aerial moistness.” The humidifier is perfect for large rooms, and you shouldn’t have to worry about over-humidifying small rooms thanks to the aforementioned built-in humidistat.

Dyson

Best Splurge Humidifier

Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde

• $1,000.00 at Dyson

• Capacity: 1 gallon
• Coverage: 441 square feet for humidifying, 872 square feet for air purifying
• Runtime: 36 hours

ICYMI Dyson doesn’t just sell vacuums. And yes, this device is expensive. But when you take into account the fact that it humidifies, cools and purifiers the air all at once and is backed with Dyson technology, the price tag feels a little more warranted. It has tons of handy features as well, like a backward airflow mode that pulls air towards the machine to be purified and humidified basically allowing for circulation without making you cold in the winter months. Plus, it integrates with the Dyson Link app, so you can control and monitor your air quality remotely. And if that isn’t smart enough for you, it also has an auto mode that adjusts all three functions based on its environment.

Amazon

Best Budget Humidifier

Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier

• $40.00 at Amazon
  $50.00 (20% off)

• Capacity: 0.4 gallons
• Coverage: 250 square feet
• Runtime: 16 hours

As our tester says, “As far as materials go, I’ll say that it was very clearly a $40 humidifier.” On the operating front, it works. It’s a tiny device and will only work if you don’t try to push it past its limit (or put it in a room above over 250 square feet). Our reviewer says he could feel the increase in humidity, and his dog’s skin did become less dry. Operating it is easy since there’s only one button, and you only really need to toggle between high and low speeds. The tank shape makes it a bit annoying to clean, but it’s not impossible.

Home Depot

Best Humidifier for Large Rooms

Honeywell HEV685W

• $91.00 at Amazon
  $130.00 (30% off)

• Capacity: 3 gallons
• Coverage: 1,000 square feet
• Runtime: 24 hours

This humidifier is huge. It has two water tanks, and each holds 1.5 gallons of water. If size isn’t an issue, this is a damn good humidifier (if you can find it in stock). Our tester found that in less than an hour, the full-moisture setting brought his bedroom up from 25 percent humidity to the high 30s or low 40s — after a few hours, he’s hitting the high 40s, low 50s. The two tanks are both a blessing and a curse. You can fill up less often, but you also have two tanks to clean and refill. Luckily cleaning the tanks is easy. Our tester likes especially likes their sink-friendly flat-bottom, top-fill design and ergonomic grips.

Amazon

Best Humidifier for Small Rooms

Levoit Classic 200S Smart Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier

• $54.00 at Amazon
  $60.00 (10% off)

• Capacity: 1 gallon
• Coverage: 376 square feet
• Runtime: 40 hours

Our tester has had the Levoit Classic 200S Smart Humidifier on my nightstand for a couple of years, and he says it’s greatly improved his sleeping environment. It has a clean design, whisper-quiet operation, a light that can be turned off, and it’s compact. All of this adds up to a humidifier that easily blends into any bedroom environment without intruding on your sleep routine. What it will do is humidify your air, and it will do it well. The cool mist is only slightly visible, but it’s highly effective. How does our tester know this? Because the humidifier tells him. This is a smart humidifier, and while you may scoff at that notion, it’s actually what our tester likes best about it. Not only can he control the humidifier via his Amazon Echo, but by linking the humidifier to the VeSync app, he can easily see the humidity levels in his bedroom at any time from anywhere. He can also set the humidifier to kick in once the humidity in the room reaches a certain threshold, ensuring that he’ll never wake up with a scratchy throat or a dried-out nose.

And while this humidifer has a lot going for it, it still isn’t perfect. Because the humidifier lacks a filter, it needs to use distilled water. But even when following this device, it still gets dirty and grimy quickly and needs to be cleaned often. (The app will tell you when it needs to be cleaned, and our tester recommends heeding that advice.) The tank is also quite small, holding only a gallon, which means you’ll have to fill it at least once a week. But overall, this is an affordable and highly capable smart humidifier that’s perfect for small rooms like a bedroom.

Courtesy

Best Designed Humidifer

Miro NR08M

• $152.00 at
  $172.00 (12% off)

• Capacity: 1 gallon
• Coverage: 600 square feet
• Runtime: 8 hours (at maximum power) and 24 hours (at minimum power)

Miro’s humidifiers are simple yet elegant and even offer a pop of color in your space thanks to a customizable LED display. Our tester owns two of these humidifiers and loves their beautiful design. He says the humidifier is easy to clean, but it does have a lot of parts, which can make the process a little tedious. The humidifier can cover a whopping 600 square feet and run for as long as 24 hours, depending on the power setting you use.

Our tester’s only complaints are that if you’re light-sensitive when you sleep, then this may not be the humidifier for you as it is always emitting light from the base. And thanks to its many components, our tester says it’s not the most kid-friendly machine.

Amazon

Best Humidifier for Congestion

Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier

• $39.00 at Amazon

• Capacity: 1 gallon
• Coverage: Medium rooms
• Runtime: 24 hours

If you have frequent allergies or occasionally suffer from a cold, then you’ve probably used Vicks VapoRub at some point to ease your congestion. But now instead of slathering it on your body (or in addition to) you can inhale the warm medicinal steam with the use of Vicks VapoSteam ($10) or Vicks VapoPads ($9) in the brand’s humidifier. I thought the humidifier worked quite well in my small- to medium-sized bedroom that has tall ceilings. I tested it with the VapoPads that go into a small compartment in the side of the humidifier, as opposed to the VapoSteam which is poured into a reservoir on top of the machine. It does take a few minutes to get going, but the minty fresh vapor was subtle yet present. And the use of two pads or the steam may have made the Vicks scent stronger. I can see myself using this as an everyday humidifier and adding the Vicks accessories when I’m sick or suffering from allergies.

Amazon

Best Portable Humidifier

Pure Enrichment MistAire Travel

• $30.00 at Amazon
  $40.00 (25% off)

• Capacity: 0.1 gallons
• Coverage: 160 square feet
• Runtime: 6 hours

Whether you need a humidifier for all your jet-setting adventures or just one to sit on your desk in your office cubicle, this ultrasonic machine from Pure Enrichment can do both. Much smaller than your average humidifier and essentially a mini version of our top pick, it’s only 5.6 inches on its longest side and weighs less than a pound. The genius feature of this humidifier is that it doesn’t have a tank but instead uses any standard-size water bottle as its water source, which is what makes it so compact and convenient, especially if you’re on the road.

Amazon

Best 360-Degree Humidifier

HoMedics TotalComfort Deluxe Humidifier

• $90.00 at Amazon
  $120.00 (25% off)

• Capacity: 1.5 gallons
• Coverage: 426 square feet
• Runtime: 70 hours

Instead of a bulky, space-hogging body, the Homedics TotalComfort Deluxe Ultrasonic Humidifier is shaped like a tower so it eats up less precious real estate. The 360-degree nozzle spews cool or warm mist throughout my home and actually makes me feel like my body is slowly taking in more moisture. Like the Levoit 600, the water tank has a 1.5-gallon capacity, except Homedics claims it can last for up to 70 hours of continuous use. Set your target humidity levels, and let the Homedics humidifier fill your home with some sweet, sweet humidity.

Target

Best Compact Humidifer

Honeywell Designer Series Cool Mist Humidifier HUL430

• $70.00 at Target

• Capacity: 1.3 gallons
• Coverage: 250-400 square feet
• Runtime: 24 hours

Humidifiers are not the nicest home appliance. Honeywell clearly knew this when it launched the Designer Series line of humidifiers, which our tester says looks like a Sonos speaker (if you’re into that). The cylindrical shape gives the unit a smaller footprint, which was a bonus for our studio-living tester. A huge plus is there is no fan noise, and a lack of an evaporative filter that must be made wet was nice to not have to deal with. Cleaning is relatively simple, too, though dragging the cord to the sink to clean the whole unit is a minor pain point. In short, the Designer Series looks good, it works, but as our tester notes, “humidifiers on the whole are kind of a pain in the ass to deal with.”

Amazon

Best Humidifier for Plants

Elechomes SH8830 Humidifier

• $80.00 at Amazon
  $100.00 (20% off)

• Capacity: 1.7 gallons
• Coverage: 861 square feet
• Runtime: 72 hours

Humidifiers don’t just help out us humans, but they can be good for our plants too. Whether you’re an aspiring plant parent or already living in an indoor jungle, you probably need this one from Elechomes to help you out. The first box this humidifier checks is that it can make both cool and warm mist, whichever is best for your plants depending on the season. It has a timer, child lock, sleep mode and a nozzle that can swivel 360 degrees for maximum coverage.

Walmart

Best Circulating Humidifier

Vornado EV100 Evaporative Humidifier

• $88.00 at Walmart
  $128.00 (31% off)

• Capacity: 1 gallon
• Coverage: 300 square feet
• Runtime: 24 hours

The Vornado EV100 has a futuristic look to it, and offers a little more control than most humidifiers on this list. Dial in your desired humidity levels (but only between 40 percent and 60 percent) and let this thing run freely on high, low or auto. Like Vornado’s other products, the humidifier Vortex Action technology to better circulate air throughout the room. The tank is easy to carry and clean, and because it’s clear, it’s easy to tell when it’s time to top up.

Amazon

Best Smart Humidifier

Levoit VeSync Dual 200S

• $55.00 at Amazon

• Capacity: 0.8 gallons
• Coverage: 290 square feet
• Runtime: 25 hours

Adding “smart” to a home appliance usually means tacking on a lot of extra money. The Levoit VeSync Dual 200S is smart, but it’s also incredibly affordable. The humidifier has an easy-to-clean three-liter water tank, with a runtime of 25 hours and a coverage area of 290 square feet. When you pair the humidifier with the accompanying app, you can get a wealth of added functionalities. The app gives you remote control and compatibility with voice assistants (Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa). The humidifier is great to leave on at night with its quiet operation, the option to turn of the display lights and auto-off function. All you have to do is set your desired humidity level and let the 200S do all the work.

Amazon

Best Quiet Humidifier

Crane Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier

• $40.00 at Amazon
  $60.00 (34% off)

• Capacity: 1 gallon
• Coverage: 500 square feet
• Runtime: 24 hours

The teardrop-shaped Crane humidifier is one of the quietest humidifiers on the market with a coverage area of 500 square feet, an impressive feat considering its small size. Mist is dispersed 360 degrees from the spout, and the humidifier is made of an antimicrobial material, which the brand claims reduces mold and bacteria growth by up to 99.96 percent. The gallon-sized water tank can keep mists going for up to 24 hours, and it’ll automatically turn off when the water tank is depleted.

Canopy

Best Subscription-Based Humidifier

Canopy

• $125.00 at getcanopy.co
  $150.00 (17% off)

• Capacity: 0.7 gallons
• Coverage: 500 square feet
• Runtime: 36 hours

Canopy is a new brand of humidifiers that posits the device as the missing part of your skincare routine. And it’s true: Proper humidity levels can make your skin healthier. The Canopy humidifier uses evaporative moisture that’s filtered to be free of bacteria and unwanted particles. People tend to forget to change their humidifier’s filter, but if you sign up for Canopy’s subscription program, you can make sure you’re always stocked with filters. It has 36 hours of runtime, and its smart sensors ensure it maintains the proper humidity levels. Canopy is one of the nicer humidifiers out there, and it also doubles as an oil diffuser.

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