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Credit:
Reviewed.com /Jackson Ruckar
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
Learn more about our product testing
We believe that the Levoit Classic 300S is the best humidifier for most people. It has great output and quiet operation. Read More
The Honeywell HUL430 offers a sleek design, good nightlight, and high humidity output. Read More
The Vornado EV100 is an energy-efficient evaporative model. Read More
The Levoit LV600HH is one of the best warm misting humidifiers we've ever tested. Read More
Molekule's Mo Glow smart humidifier is a treat to use. It boasts a set-it-and-forget-it approach, aside from needing to be filled nightly. Read More
Levoit Classic 300S
Honeywell Designer Series HUL430
Vornado EV100
Other Humidifiers We Tested
How We Tested Humidifiers
What to Consider When Buying a Humidifier
Humidifiers FAQs
More on Oil Diffusers, Aromatherapy, and Relaxation
Humidifiers offer many benefits: They can ease cold symptoms and congestion by adding moisture to the air, helping alleviate dry nasal passages and skin, especially in winter months. Your houseplants will love the extra moisture, too.
That said, humidifiers can be loud, messy to fill, and difficult to clean—and shopping for the best one for you can be overwhelming because of the sheer number of makes, models, and extra features available.
To find the best humidifier, we tested many models in a climate-controlled chamber, running them for three hours to see how much they raised the relative humidity. Additionally, we looked at efficiency, noise, and ease of cleaning. After testing, we found that the Levoit Classic 300S (available at Walmart for $74.99) was the Best Overall for most people because of its mist level, value, and power for your money.
The Levoit Classic 300S is a modern classic with its easy-to-use controls.
The Honeywell HUL430 provides lots of humidity quickly.
The Vornado EV100 is one of the most energy efficient humidifiers that we tested.
Simple, modern design
Easy to use
Can adjust mist levels
Tracks relative humidity in room
No push notifications
Have to refill nightly
To test humidifiers, we filled their tanks with water and weighed the units. We then placed each in a climate-controlled chamber and ran it on its highest setting for 3 hours. Sensors placed to either side, 5 feet apart, recorded changes in the environment. After three hours, we weighed the tanks again to figure out their water usage.
Additionally, we evaluated how easy each model was to use, move, fill, and clean. (Note: Many are not dishwasher safe.)
We tested three types of humidifiers: ultrasonic, warm mister, and evaporators.
Simply put, humidifiers add moisture to dry air. How they do so varies depending on the type of humidifier. But there are several other differences in humidifiers you should be aware of when shopping for one.
We tested basic types of humidifiers, including those with ultrasonic and warm-mist settings, as well as evaporators. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses.
Ultrasonic cool mist humidifiers: These models are virtually silent, efficient, and are among the most popular on the market. They work by rapidly vibrating a ceramic plate. The high frequency turns the water into a fine mist that is cool to the touch. Ultrasonic models work best as personal units. They tend not to be powerful enough to cover large areas.
Warm mist humidifiers: These humidifiers are pretty basic: They boil water, and the resulting steam is piped out through the top via a fan. Warm misters tend to be the most effective humidifiers, covering more square footage and outputting more moisture. However, this high-powered method makes them unsafe around small children, and they can increase a room's temperature to uncomfortable levels.
Evaporators: As the name suggests, evaporators evaporate water into the air. A fan circulates air over the reservoir. These models make a bit of noise, but if you like white noise while you sleep, you may find it soothing. If you have mineral-rich water in your area, you might want to get an evaporator. The models we tested had filters to prevent white dust from forming.
As you might guess, smaller humidifiers will generally run out of steam (pun intended) faster than those with larger tank capacities (although it depends somewhat on the settings you choose on the humidifier itself). However, if you're looking for a more portable humidifier, those with smaller tanks can be refilled faster and are easier to carry.
If you plan to make a humidifier a fixture in larger rooms or open areas, a larger, higher-capacity humidifier will probably be a good fit. When you plan to share a humidifier across multiple bedrooms, consider a smaller humidifier (or multiple smaller ones).
Efficiency is important, as well. While our top pick, the Levoit Classic 300S (available at Walmart for $74.99) , advertises 60 hours of runtime, our tests found it could run for only 16 hours on its highest setting without refilling. That said, if it wasn’t on its highest setting, it could go longer.
When looking for a humidifier, consider the size of the rooms you plan to use it in. Some are better for personal use, while others are appropriate for medium-sized or larger rooms. For instance, the Levoit LV600HH advertises that it can easily handle spaces up to 753 square feet.
What you’re looking for beyond moisture in the air can help determine what humidifier is right for you. Some can be used as nightlights while others can serve as essential oil diffusers. Others use a UV light to sanitize water. There are so many features with humidifiers that you should be able to meet your specific needs.
Humidifier cleaning instructions don't vary much from model to model. Here are some things you can do to keep your humidifier running properly and safely.
Use a bit of distilled white vinegar to regularly descale the water reservoir. Just add vinegar to the tank, shake it, and rinse. With more intense cleaning, a long-necked brush can help break up anything stuck on the sides.
Most ultrasonic humidifiers work by having the reservoir drain into a base with wick filters that draw water upward. A fan then blows moist air through these filters into the room. The base, fan, and filters are the trickiest parts to clean, so follow your humidifier's instructions.
An old toothbrush can be effective for reaching small areas, especially around and under the base's small ridges, where water can get trapped and promote bacterial growth.
The hardest part to clean is the fan in the base. These tend to accumulate dust over time, which can increase noise. The fans are usually not accessible without a screwdriver. A can of compressed air, however, may be able to blow much of it away without disassembling the humidifier.
White dust forms when hard water is used in a humidifier without a filter. The minerals are pulled up into the mist and return as dust. You can prevent white dust from forming by using distilled water, which is available at any supermarket.
All humidifiers can help with congestion by preventing the air from becoming too dry. When the air is properly humidified, the moisture will help prevent and clear built-up mucus. The majority of humidifiers on the market are cool-mist, but the best humidifier for your congestion depends largely on personal preference.
Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.
Leigh Harrington has 25 years experience as a writer and editor for myriad print and digital publications.
At Reviewed, Harrington manages Reviewed's overall content, including areas of focus like home improvement, cleaning, gardening, cooking, smart home, organization, and parenting. She focuses on developing and editing consumer ed content, product reviews and buying guides, but she also writes, too.
Harrington is also an experienced travel writer, and has authored books including Fodor's Boston, 100 Things to Do in Boston Before You Die, and Colorful Cities Boston, an adult coloring book. She was a respected, longtime regional editorial director at Where travel guide, and has written for other publications including the US News & World Report, USA Today, Boston Herald, Newport Life, Exhale magazine, Huffington Post, and many more. www.leighharrington.com
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