Indoor air can be either too humid or too dry, too cold or too hot. Particularly during the colder months, when people try to keep warm at home and often have to deal with very dry air caused by lower humidity levels. This results in an array of problems, ranging from irritated sinuses to nosebleeds to cracked lips. Fortunately, a humidifier is an affordable solution to add moisture to any indoor environment.
The best home humidifier will help you combat this persistent dry air problem or provide some relief from the occasional cold. There are quite a few things to consider when picking out a humidifier, such as ease of cleanup (bacteria growth can be a problem for these devices), type (evaporative, ultrasonic, or warm-mist), and size. There are plenty of humidifiers in the market to choose from. These include small, inexpensive units to heavy-duty devices that will easily humidify large rooms. With that in mind here’s a review of the best home humidifiers you can choose from.
- Features to Consider in Good Home Humidifiers
- Top 10 Best Home Humidifiers 2023
- 1. Honeywell HCM350W Cool Mist Humidifier
- 2. Vornado Evap3 Whole Room Evaporative Humidifier
- 3. Levoit Ultrasonic Humidifier
- 4. Honeywell HCM350B Germ-Free Cool Mist Evaporative Humidifier
- 5. Vicks V745A Warm Mist Humidifier
- 6. Tekjoy Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
- 7. Pure Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
- 8. Aircare MA Whole-House Console-Style Evaporative Humidifier
- 9. VicTsing Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
- 10. Taotronics Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
- Guide to Buying the Best Home Humidifiers
- The Verdict
Features to Consider in Good Home Humidifiers
What Do Humidifiers Do? Why Use Them?
Humidifiers add water or moisture to the indoor air because it can often get dry during the winter. Humidifiers will be a great addition to any home particularly for those living in the cold north and are indoors most if not all winter. Just like any other machines, humidifiers have reliability issues and it can be a challenge finding one that doesn’t need constant maintenance.
Humidifier technology has come a long way over the years. Humidifiers are now easier to maintain, quieter, and have even omitted the white mineral dust which can cause respiratory problems. It’s recommended that indoor humidity levels in winter should be around 30 to 40%. Winter cold air holds less moisture, and when it’s heated indoors, it gets even drier. This sets the stage for itchy dry skin, sinus attacks, dry eyes, and the like. Humidifiers do the following:
- They relieve the cold, allergy and asthma symptoms by keeping nasal passages moist. This also helps speed up the healing process.
- The moisture is essential for preventing nose bleeds and relieving dry, aching sinuses.
- If your sleep with a snoring partner, humidifiers will help alleviate the intensity of that annoying snoring sound.
- It soothes dried out, itchy, cracked skin and lips.
- Humidifiers reduce unpleasant static electricity in the air.
- They protect valuable wood furniture, floors, and musical instruments from cracking and warping.
- It retains the heat in your home better saving you heating costs.
Types of Humidifiers
Humidifiers can be broadly divided into two different types – Cool Mist and Warm Mist. While the job of both of them is to increase the amount of moisture into the air, the process in which they do it is different. While there’s also another category, known as whole-house humidifier, they’re complex units that are tapped in the air ducts and are plumbed in the water supply of your home.
Cool Mist Humidifiers
These humidifiers are further divided into three categories – Ultrasonic, Impeller and Evaporative. The ultrasonic models make use of vibrating nebulizer for emitting water. Impeller models use rotating disk and the evaporative models make use of a fan to blow the air over a wick that’s wet. Based on the model, the cost of this wick can be around $10 or more.
Warm Mist Humidifiers
This type of humidifier heats the water and brings it to a boiling temperature for emitting the steam that’s formed. Some of these models feature mineral filters for trapping the water deposits. While purchasing this type of humidifier, you should remember that the filter will need constant replacement. The filters are generally inexpensive. Some pediatricians suggest that these humidifiers should not be used near small children as they can result in burns.
These two types of humidifiers can be further divided into:
1. Ultrasonic Warm/Cool Mist
Liquid water particles in the form of mist are emitted into the air where they evaporate before they touch the ground, increasing the humidity. This happens when a metal diaphragm vibrates at ultrasonic speed to agitate the water into very small particles creating the mist. A silent fan pushes the mist up and out into the room.
Some humidifier models offer you the choice of the warm or the cool mist. With the warm mist, the water is heated to about 176 degrees before the mist is created allowing it to exit the top of the humidifier at about 104 degrees so it’s slightly warm to touch. One can also select the cool mist function, which simply means that the water will not be heated before creating the mist. The mist will exit the top relative to the water temperature, which can be between 50 to 80 degrees.
2. Evaporative Cool Mist
Evaporative cool mist humidifiers produce humidity by a fan that draws the air in from the room and blows it over or through a moistened wick in water. Some of this water evaporates and this water vapor is added to the air which increases its humidity. This air is then blown back into the room to increase the humidity in the room. The air is cooled as a result of heat being removed when evaporation occurs. The air coming out will be cooler than when it went in.
3. Air Washers
These add humidity to a room and help to clean the air. Water in conjunction with rotating discs retain and remove airborne impurities, including large dust and pollen particles. They in turn return clean, properly humidified air to the room. Air washers produce a cool mist only. An air washer is the most robust kind of humidifier. They’re very reliable and can cover a larger area than other types of humidifiers. Air washers have no problems with mineral dust. However, they do require regular maintenance, as you have to rinse frequently. Keep in mind that although an air washer can remove large allergen particles from the air, they do not remove the sub-micron lung penetrating particles.
4. Steam Vaporizer Warm Mist
These humidifiers involve a heating element in the humidifier that heats the water before dispersing it into the air. The advantage of a steam humidifier is that by heating the tank water, bacteria and organic compounds are destroyed.
Top 10 Best Home Humidifiers 2023
1. Honeywell HCM350W Cool Mist Humidifier
Editor’s Rating:
Cool Mist Humidifier
The Honeywell HCM350W is good for humidifying a mid-size room for a full day on its low setting, this cool mist evaporative humidifier can be operated on one of three speed settings, varying the moisture output along with the sound level. In comparison to similar units, it’s pretty quiet. It features a large recessed tank handle that makes it easy to carry, and the large opening means refills and cleaning are not cumbersome.
The filter is easily accessible for cleaning and replacing as needed. This humidifier uses UV light to help avoid spreading germs that can accumulate in water tanks. However, its ability to kill bacteria and mold hasn’t been tested.
Filtered Cool Moisture
The evaporative technology blows moisture off a wicking filter, helping it evaporate into the air quickly. With this technology, it’s impossible to over-humidify since you can’t add more moisture to the air than it can hold. It helps improve humidity levels in your home to between 40-60%, which will make the air feel warmer and improve your breathing comfort, sleeping, nasal congestion, and dry skin.
Ideal for Babies, Children, and Adults
Humidifiers diffuse moisture into the air, and many find that a humidifier for the home, bedroom, or nursery becomes an essential part of a good night’s sleep. This is especially when the air is dry, in allergy season, or when sick. The Honeywell Cool Mist humidifier will help improve the humidity levels in your home and improve your comfort.
Pros
- It’s easy to fill and clean because of its large tank opening.
- It isn’t loud while operating.
- It has a large recessed tank handle that makes it easy to carry.
- It’s available in black and white colors.
Cons
- You need to replace the filter regularly.
2. Vornado Evap3 Whole Room Evaporative Humidifier
Editor’s Rating:
Specific Humidity Control
The Vornado Evap3 has an intuitive button interface that allows you to set specific humidity ranges, giving you more control. This is possible through the humidifier’s on-board humidistat, which adjusts the output mist to match a pre-set humidity range between 30-60 percent. More importantly, its humidistat is quite accurate, with just five-percent margin of error. This means you can choose the range that brings you the most comfort without having to worry about reaching unsafe humidity levels.
Easy Maintenance
This humidifier is easy to maintain since it comes with a 1.5-gallon tank that only needs refilling every 12 hours. Besides, replacing the filters is not as tedious and costly as one would expect. A replacement is likely to last a standard one to two months.
Quiet and Unobtrusive
Despite a slight resemblance to a Keurig coffee maker, the Vornado Evap3 is a pleasant and unobtrusive addition to any room. It will fit neatly in a corner or on a table and, on its lower fan settings, will quietly add moisture to the air without producing the distraction of wafting mist. For those who want a safe and reliable humidifier with just a bit more control over humidity levels, the Vornado Evap3 is a solid pick.
Pros
- It’s quite easy to maintain.
- It comes with push-buttons controls that have LED lights for easy confirmation of settings.
- It’s quiet and unobtrusive.
- It has a large capacity tank that provides a long running time.
- It humidifies up to 700 square feet using vortex circulation.
- It features an electronic humidistat for automatic humidity control and 3 fan settings (low, high, auto)
Cons
- The small blue light on the control panel is very bright, which might disturb some sleepers.
- The machine is noticeably loud on its highest fan setting.
3. Levoit Ultrasonic Humidifier
Editor’s Rating:
Huge Capacity Humidifier
The Levoit Ultrasonic Humidifier features a large 6 liter (1.5 gallons) tank that allows for 36 hours of continuous use in mist level 1. This large tank capacity coupled with the fact that it has a super high mist output of up to 500ml/hr. means it can service a larger space (up to 750 square feet). It’s therefore ideal for use in humidifying a bedroom, living room, or office.
Convenience
Besides, it operates both with ultrasonic warm and cool mist so you can get the benefits of both. The handy humidity readout means you can easily know the status of the room without an additional meter. You can operate it with the panel’s touch controls or the remote, adding a layer of convenience most humidifiers lack. What’s more, it has an automatic mode to choose the mist level without your interference.
High-Quality Humidifier
The water tank material on the Levoit Humidifier has been made of ABS plastic, which makes it less breakable. The special leak-proof design makes it different from other humidifiers in the market.
Easy to Refill and Clean
The wide tank opening makes it very easy to refill with less risk of spills. It’s possible to fit a soft brush or rag through the opening to wipe down the inside of the tank.
Pros
- It has an option to either run warm or cool mist.
- It features a humidity readout panel.
- This humidifier auto adjusts humidity.
- It’s convenient since it can be operated using touch controls or using the remote.
- It has a large tank that runs longer between refills.
- It can service a larger space such as a living room or master bedroom.
Cons
- It’s not one of the easiest humidifiers to clean.
4. Honeywell HCM350B Germ-Free Cool Mist Evaporative Humidifier
Editor’s Rating:
Quiet and Unobtrusive
The Honeywell HCM350B Germ-Free Humidifier features three separate speed settings. This allows you to more aptly control not only the humidity levels in your home but also the noise levels of the device. This device has a handy QuietCare Performance setting that minimized the annoying drone often associated with humidifiers.
Antimicrobial Design
What makes this device a class above the rest is its antimicrobial design. Unlike many humidifiers, the Honeywell HCM350B uses a wicking filter to remove impurities such as germs, bacteria, and mold from the water it dispenses. The tank holds enough water for up to a full day use between refills, too, and uses a wide opening for easy, spill-free refilling. However, despite its microbial design, you’ll still want to regularly and thoroughly clean it. The water tray and reservoir are dishwasher safe, making maintenance much easier than a lot of the competition.
Ideal for Babies, Children, and Adults
Humidifiers diffuse moisture into the air, and many find that a humidifier for the home, bedroom, or nursery becomes an essential part of a good night’s sleep. This is especially when the air is dry, in allergy season, or when sick. The Honeywell Cool Mist humidifier will help improve the humidity levels in your home and improve your comfort.
Pros
- It’s easy to fill and clean.
- It comes with an antimicrobial design to remove impurities from the water it dispenses.
- It has 3 different speed settings to control humidity and noise levels.
- It comes in a stylish matte-black finish with gentle contours.
Cons
- It’s rather cumbersome for a unit not suited to humidify your entire home.
5. Vicks V745A Warm Mist Humidifier
Editor’s Rating:
Warm Mist Humidifier
Whether you’re looking to get relief from coughs, colds, or comfort from dry air, Vicks humidifiers add essential moisture into the air to help you and your family feel better. The Vicks V745A Warm Mist Humidifier is quiet during its operation and comes with a convenient tank handle for easy transport when cleaning and filling. Thanks to its transparent tank, you can easily see when water levels are low.
If running for a full day, you’ll likely have to refill mid-day as one gallon tank can run for about 12 hours. There’s an auto-shut off features when it runs out of water. It won’t keep trying to run if it’s empty. Besides, you have the option to add an inhalant like Vicks VapoSteam into the device’s medicine cup, which can help relieve cough symptoms.
Humidity Monitor
This humidifier features an extra-large display that accurately shows the temperature and humidity level. You can use it alongside your humidifier to confirm when the ideal humidity level is reached.
Protec Humidifier Cleaning Ball
The V745A comes with a Protec Humidifier Cleaning Ball that features a patented antimicrobial, Aquastat. This helps keep your humidifier cleaner and for a long period. The Protect aids in killing up to 99% of odor-causing bacteria. All you need to do is drop it in your humidifier tank for fresh, clean mist.
Pros
- It’s quiet during operation.
- It can be used with an inhalant.
- It features a convenient tank handle for easy transport and cleaning.
- It’s safe to use since it doesn’t get too hot.
Cons
- There are only two output settings.
6. Tekjoy Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
Editor’s Rating:
Best Compact Humidifier
The Tekjoy Ultrasonic Humidifier provides up to 24 hours running time with a maximum output of 280ml/h. This ensures you are comfortable in your own room. While other brands may be bulkier, the Tekjoy has an optimum size (2.5-liter tank) vaporizer designed to perfectly complement both your living and working space for a comfortable stay.
Easy-Lifting Handle
The Tekjoy features a unique Swiss-style tank lifting handle that makes it easy to refill and clean. Besides, it has a 360-degree rotating spout so you can direct the mist wherever desired to allow a refreshing relief.
Automatic Shut-Off
It features an automatic shutoff, which ensures you peace of mind when water runs out or the tank is in the wrong position. Besides, it comes with a convenient timer with 3 settings you can choose from. These are 4, 8, or 12 hours that enable you to diligently follow your own schedule bringing timely calming moisture.
Quiet Touch Panel
Utilizing the whisper-quiet operation technologies, the Tekjoy features a fun to play with touch panel. This may give you low, medium, or high misting options along with 7 colors of LED lights for magical and peaceful night sleep. This may also be a fun feature for kids’ rooms if operating during the day.
Pros
- It features an auto shutoff feature when it runs out of water.
- This humidifier has timer settings (4, 8, or 12 hours).
- It comes with a cleaning brush included.
- It has a rotating spout to direct mist wherever desired.
- The handle makes it easy to refill and clean the tank.
Cons
- The top can be tricky to get off.
7. Pure Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
Editor’s Rating:
Huge Capacity Humidifier
The Pure Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier safely moisturizes the air for up to 16 hours of continuous operation. This makes it easy for you to breathe and get more restful sleep. It has high and low settings, which make it easy to adjust the mist direction and speed to fit your comfort level.
This humidifier comes with a 1.5-liter water tank that provides ideal coverage for bedrooms, offices, and other medium-sized rooms. The top-mounted clear tank lets you easily see its water levels, allowing you to keep track of your next refill time.
Other Features
The 360-degree nozzle offers quick and convenient speed and directional mist adjustments. The unit also shuts off automatically if it runs out of water, so you don’t have to worry about wasted energy if the humidifier empties while you’re out. The device also doubles as a nightlight, too. All you need to do is activate the nightlight, and the Ultrasonic produces a gentle blue glow which serves as a perfect nighttime ambiance in the bedroom.
Pros
- It has a long running time.
- It doubles up as an optional nightlight.
- This humidifier automatically shuts off once it runs out of water.
- You can easily see the water levels in the transparent tank.
- It comes with a cleaning brush.
Cons
- Due to its shape, the device can be difficult to clean if you don’t stay on top of the recommended weekly cleaning.
8. Aircare MA Whole-House Console-Style Evaporative Humidifier
Editor’s Rating:
Console-Style Evaporative Humidifier
The Aircare MA Console-Style Evaporative Humidifier is sure to complement any décor. It has an easy single bottle design and works to add invisible moisture to your environment by moving dry air through a saturated wick filter. Despite the fact that it doesn’t have the best design, it efficiently humidifies the air in your entire home.
This device offers humidity control for 3,600-square-foot homes, and has a set of wheels lining the bottom, which allow you to move the unit around with ease. A digital readout on the top of the device incorporates refill and “check filter” indicators, too, helping eliminate any operational guesswork.
Capacity
The 4-gallon tank humidifies your environment for up to 36 hours. This particular humidifier also adds moisture to the air by circulating dry air through a saturated wick filter. As a bonus, this filter also traps mineral deposits.
Pros
- It’s ideal of large sized rooms without daily refills.
- It has a set of wheels at the bottom for moving around with ease.
- It has a digital readout on the top to eliminate operational guesswork.
- It has a large capacity tank that provides a longer running time.
Cons
- It’s better suited for an infirmary than a living room.
9. VicTsing Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
Editor’s Rating:
Best Value Humidifier
This VicTsing Ultrasonic Cool Mist humidifier has an easy-to-control dial knob to control the output. It features a rotating, angled nozzle on the top which means you can have the mist directed toward a certain area. It includes an auto-shut off feature if it runs out of water and alerts you with a red light. This humidifier additionally features a grooved grip which makes trips to the sink more comfortable and convenient.
It has been designed for a small room measuring between 100 and 270 square feet. This makes it ideal form home offices given its small tank size (1/2 gallon). However, it’s not great for rooms where you plan on running it all day, as it can only run for about 10 hours on a fill.
Easy to Refill
As mentioned above, this humidifier features an arc-shaped handle with anti-slip grooves. These offer you a more secure grip than others and makes refilling and cleaning quite easy.
Running Time
The tank on this humidifier can hold up to 2 liters (0.53 gallon) of water, which gives it up to 10 hours of working time in low mist. It will automatically shut-off with red LED light on when it runs out of water. You can maintain an ideal humidity level for comfort and health with the VicTsing Cool Mist Humidifier.
Pros
- It’s quiet when running.
- This ultrasonic humidifier auto shutoffs when it runs out of water.
- It’s relatively easy to clean.
- The grooved grip makes it comfortable and convenient when cleaning.
- It’s ideal for home offices, bedroom, and other medium-sized rooms.
Cons
- Some reviewers have complained that this humidifier has leakages.
10. Taotronics Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
Editor’s Rating:
Stylish Design
The ability to produce quality and consistent humidity should be the primary focus when choosing any new air humidifier. However, seeing as the unit might be prominently displayed in your home or office, the design is certainly something to consider. Many humidifiers are boxy and unattractive, but most of the Taotronics units are sleek and stylish.
Capacity
The Taotronics Cool Mist Humidifier comes with a 3.5-liter tank that allows the unit to run for 10 hours while still being a compact size. This size is perfect for most bedroom, living room, and offices measuring from 107-322 feet. It also has a 360-degree nozzle, so you can choose exactly where you want the mist to go. You can also use these nozzles to adjust the volume to a comfortable humidity level by simply rotating the knob and nobbles.
Smart Low-Water Protection and Handy Refill
This humidifier has an LED smart indicator light that turns red when the water is low. Besides, the Taotronics will automatically shut off when the tank is depleted of water. It also features a non-slip handle for easy refilling.
Pros
- It has a quiet operation.
- It has a non-slip handle for easy refilling.
- The 360-degree nozzle allows you to adjust the direction of the mist.
- It has a sleek and stylish design.
Cons
- It’s not ideal for larger rooms.
Guide to Buying the Best Home Humidifiers
From newborns to adults, humidifiers are a great way to maintain a healthy humidity level in your home. By maintaining a good level of humidity in your environment, you can safeguard your family’s health, protect your home’s structure from the effects of dry air, and improve your overall indoor comfort. Before you choose the best home humidifier, there are some factors that you need to consider.
Cleaning
It’s very important to clean the humidifier regularly to ensure that it functions flawlessly. So, while buying one make sure that the model is easy to clean and maintain. Drain the machine, rinse it and then dry it before switching it on daily.
If there are any visible residue on the machine, clean it with vinegar and then follow it with a bleaching solution for disinfecting it as per the instructions of the manufacturer. You should then thoroughly rinse it. You should remember to do this before and after storing away the humidifier for the season.
Easy Operations
Despite the fact that you’ll be picking a console model or a tabletop model, it should be easy to use, move and clean. The water tank should easily fit under the faucet as well. If you’re going for an evaporative model, make sure that the wick is easy to find, replace and isn’t expensive. All the humidity settings and levels should be clearly visible as well.
Humidistat
Some of the humidifiers have a built-in humidistat that turns off the unit when it reaches a pre-set level of humidity. The models that don’t have humidistat can raise the humidity to an extent where you’ll have condensation on the windows. Even if you want to go for a unit that doesn’t feature a humidistat, you can always purchase a hygrometer separately to keep track of the humidity level and then manually turn off the unit when the required level is reached.
Low Noise
As mentioned above as well, ultrasonic models are a lot quieter than evaporative units. Even the warm mist humidifiers are louder than ultrasonic models, but they are quieter as compare to evaporative models.
Filling Ease
It’s important to choose a mode whose water reservoir can be easily removed. Wide reservoir mouth handle to carry the tank are added benefits.
What Kind of Water is Supplied to Your Home?
If the supplied water is hard, you’ll need a demineralization filter along with the ultrasonic humidifier to reduce the dust of minerals in the water. While some of the units come with such filter, with many others they are an optional accessory. Also, make sure that you replace the filter periodically.
Maintenance Required
Humidifiers do not generally require a lot of maintenance. You generally need to only clean its water tank to make sure that mildew, mold, and bacteria are not growing in the tank. Also, check the misting outlets to ensure that the mist can flow smoothly.
While these are some of the basic maintenance requirements of almost all the different types of humidifiers, there are some cool-mist models that feature a wick filter for creating a soothing blanket of mist for the surrounding. These filter needs to be replaced periodically. Also, make sure that you go through the manual that comes with the humidifier to know more about its maintenance requirements.
Warranty
You should check the warranty that comes with the humidifier you choose. This is mainly because the manufacturer will only repair the unit or get its part or the entire unit replaced for free within this period only. Generally, the warranty should cover at least 2 years.
How Much Space Do I Need to Humidify?
Deciding whether you need focused humidification for a single room or whole house humidification is one of the most important steps in choosing a humidifier. To add moisture to a small- or medium-sized area such as a bedroom or home office, a tabletop humidifier (room humidifier) is the best choice.
These lightweight humidifiers can be easily moved to other areas as necessary. Besides, many models can operate up to 24 hours before requiring a water refill. Single room humidifiers are also available in germ protection, multiple speeds, built-in hygrometers, combination warm or cool mist outputs, easy-to-use controls, and low water indicators.
If you need to add moisture to multiple rooms or your entire house, console humidifiers and whole house humidifiers are well-suited for the job. Considerably larger than a single room humidifier, a console humidifier can deliver moisture as large as 3,000 square feet. These humidifiers are typically placed in a central location and come in a variety of designs and finishes that allow the devices to blend easily with your décor.
For homes and offices that have a significant need for moisture, a bypass, flow-through, or drum humidifier is a great choice. These humidifiers work with a central air system – and install onto your HVAC unit and directly connect to the water line to continually disperse moisture to your home environment. These humidifiers do not need to be refilled because water is drawn directly from the building’s water supply.
The Verdict
Humidifiers come in handy during the cold winter months when dry indoor air is more than likely to affect your sines and skin. Our review and guide above has given you plenty of home humidifiers to choose from. They range from small, inexpensive units to heavy-duty devices that’ll easily humidify large rooms.
The best home humidifiers add the right amount of moisture to the air to alleviate pesky symptoms and maintain an optimal humidity level of 35 to 50 percent. However, before buying one, you need to take certain factors such as ease of maintenance and operation and noise levels among others into consideration. The Honeywell HCM350W and HCM350B will cover most of anything you require in a home humidifier.