The 5 Best Humidifiers (2024 Review)

Humidifiers release mist into the air, preventing dry skin on your hands, feet, throat during the colder months, helping clear sinuses, and improving indoor air quality. The This Old House Reviews Team has researched the best humidifiers on Amazon to keep your whole house feeling comfortable and healthy all year round. Keep reading to explore our top picks.

Top 5 Humidifiers

• Quietest Operation: Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Humidifier
• Best for Small Rooms: AquaOasis Cool Mist Humidifier
• Best for Large Rooms: LEVOIT Humidifier
• Best Sensor: GENIANI Cool Mist Humidifier
• Best for Medium Rooms: Honeywell Cool Mist Humidifier

Compare Top Humidifiers

Quietest Operation

Courtesy Amazon

Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Humidifier

• $58.99

Prices taken at time of publishing.

This humidifier has near-silent operation at less than 30 dB and offers a wanted tank capacity of six-liters with a 500-square-foot coverage area, making it one of the best air purifiers available. It pushes mist into the air of medium and large rooms for up to 50 hours or six nights. You can also opt to use its built-in essential oil diffuser.

• $58.99 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ Has a night light that also doubles as a way to check the tank’s water level
✔ Has a slim design to take up minimal space on your floor or table
✔ Lasts for up to 50 hours, which is about six nights

✘ Doesn’t fill as large of a space as other six-liter humidifiers
✘ Doesn’t have a filter to capture contaminants in the air

What Customers Are Saying

Many customers noted that this humidifier made a minimal amount of noise. In addition, reviewers said that it relieved the dry air symptoms that they were experiencing. Unhappy customers criticized this humidifier for leaking water and being difficult to troubleshoot.

Best For Small Rooms

Courtesy Amazon

AquaOasis Cool Mist Humidifier

• $29.97

Prices taken at time of publishing.

The tank attached to this humidifier can hold up to 2.2 liters of water, keeping the mist flowing for up to 24 hours. The transparent tank gives you visibility into how much water is left, and the rotating nozzle disperses mist in a 360-degree motion.

• $29.97 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ Has a budget-friendly price tag
✔ Features a 360-degree rotating nozzle that releases mist
✔ Includes a lifetime warranty

✘ Can’t moisten the air in large spaces
✘ Doesn’t offer a decibel rating to help you compare its sound level to other models

What Customers Are Saying

Happy customers praised this humidifier for increasing the humidity level in small spaces. Many also noted that it was easy to use and clean and made minimal noise. Negative reviews pointed out that this humidifier leaked water instead of releasing mist.

Best For Large Rooms

Courtesy Amazon

LEVOIT Humidifier

• $89.95
• $99.99
• 10% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

This humidifier has a digital display and a remote control, giving you the choice to select a setting from up close or across the room. Though most humidifiers release cool mist to make your home feel cooler, this model also offers a warm mist setting. You can also add essential oils to the included aroma pad.

• $89.95 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ Has a digital display with touch-sensitive buttons
✔ Can control the settings from across the room with the included remote
✔ Can release warm or cool mist

✘ Comes with a short one-year warranty
✘ Stops working if the water level drops below two cups

What Customers Are Saying

Many reviewers praised this humidifier’s warm mist setting, stating that they liked it when they were in bed sleeping. They also said that the customer service team helped with any problems or questions quickly. Negative reviews noted that this humidifier had a strong plastic odor and didn’t read the room’s humidity level correctly.

Best Sensor

Courtesy Amazon

GENIANI Cool Mist Humidifier

• $69.97

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Releasing mist for up to 18 hours, this smart humidifier uses a built-in sensor to maintain a healthy humidity level around the clock. Once the four-liter water tank is empty, it is easier to refill and clean than many other models thanks to its top-fill design.

• $69.97 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ Comes in other colors and sizes
✔ Can manually choose the output level if you don’t want to use the sensor
✔ Operates at 38 decibels, which is as much noise as a ticking clock

✘ Offers a limited number of mist settings
✘ Has a run time of only 18 hours

What Customers Are Saying

Customers loved the sleek, minimalistic look of this humidifier. Many also noted that it had quiet operation and several also complimented the ease of cleaning. Dissatisfied users didn’t like how little power it had and how often it leaked water.

Best For Medium Rooms

Courtesy Amazon

Honeywell Cool Mist Humidifier

• $75.92

Prices taken at time of publishing.

This humidifier has 1.25 gallon-tank, or about 4.7 liters. It adheres to the recommended home humidity level, keeping your medium-sized room between 40% and 60% humidity at all times. After 24 hours, the tank runs out of water and notifies you with a light.

• $75.92 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ Has a top-facing handle that you can pull to remove and refill the water tank
✔ Offers an essential oil feature
✔ Keeps the humidity level in your home between 40% and 60%

✘ Has an expensive price tag
✘ Weighs more than most humidifiers, limiting its mobility

What Customers Are Saying

Happy customers praised this humidifier for being easy to use and clean and for offering an essential oil function. Negative reviews criticized this product for smelling like plastic when it was running.

Buyer’s Guide

Noise, filtration, control, diffusion, capacity, and coverage are the main factors you should consider before purchasing a humidifier for your home. Keep reading to learn about each of these elements and how they different in various types of humidifiers.

Noise Level

Some humidifiers are loud, while others are silent. If you are sensitive to noise or plan to use your humidifier in a room that requires silence, look for an ultrasonic model that operates at a high frequency that human ears can’t hear.

Capacity

A humidifier’s capacity refers to how much water it can hold, which is usually labeled in liters or gallons. The capacity of your humidifier should match the room size you plan to use it in. A humidifier that can hold six or more liters works in large rooms, while a four-liter humidifier is better for small rooms. You could also install a whole house humidifier.

Coverage

Similar to capacity, most manufacturers tell you the square footage that their humidifier covers. This allows you to map out where you should place the humidifier to get the most reach out of it.

Filtration

Humidifiers are prone to growing bacteria, mildew, and mold growth because they have standing water in their tank. To prevent these contaminants from entering the air and your lungs, look for a humidifier that isn’t filter-free.

Control

Most humidifiers have a dial or display that you can use to control the mist level. Occasionally, a model also comes with a remote control or mobile app. Some humidifiers also let you control if you want to release cool or warm mist. Others have automatic shut off that turns the humidifier off once it reaches a certain level.

Essential Oil Diffusion

Some humidifiers have a built-in oil diffuser that can make the air in your home smell like whatever essential oil tray you put in it. With this function, you’re getting a device that does two jobs for the price of one.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the ideal humidity level for a home?

Most homes sit between 30% and 50% level of relative humidity, but if you prefer a home that’s slightly less humid you may use one of the best dehumidifiers.

How do I clean my humidifier?

The owner’s manual should give you instructions on how to clean your humidifier, but here are some general guidelines:

• Disassemble the humidifier.
• Pour one to two cups of white vinegar into the tank. You can use bleach instead of vinegar to kill more bacteria.
• Place the vinegar-filled tank on its base, allowing it to drain into the reservoir to loosen any mineral buildup.
• Let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
• Empty the tank.
• Use a small cleaning brush to scrub any crevices.
• Wipe the small components of the humidifier with a clean cloth or vinegar-dipped sponge.
• Rinse the humidifier.
• Let it dry.

You should clean your humidifier once a week or once every two weeks. In addition to this thorough cleaning, rinse the tank daily with tap water. Some humidifiers by also be dishwasher safe, but it’s important to check the product closely to make sure.

What time of year should I use my humidifier?

You can use your humidifier at any point during the year. However, when you use your humidifier may largely depend on your climate. For most people, it’s most useful in the winter months and fall when the air is dry and moisture levels are low.

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We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.

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