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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.
Our 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
*Links open to product retail page.
- Best Overall: 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
| Product | Tank Size | Mist Release | Coverage | Noise Level | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Humidifier | 6 liters | 50 hours | 500 square feet | Under 30 decibles | 2 years |
| AquaOasis Cool Mist Humidifier | 2.2 liters | 24 hours | Not listed | Not specified | Lifetime |
| LEVOIT Humidifier | 6 liters | 50 hours | 753 square feet | 28 decibles | 1 year |
| GENIANI Cool Mist Humidifier | 4 liters | 18 hours | 220 square feet | 38 decibles | 2 years |
| Honeywell Cool Mist Humidifier | 4.7 liters | 24 hours | Not listed | Not specified | 2 years |
| Product | Tank Size | Mist Release | Coverage | Noise Level | Warranty |
Best Humidifier Overall
Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Humidifier
- $58.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
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 6-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
AquaOasis Cool Mist Humidifier
- $29.97
Prices taken at time of publishing.
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
LEVOIT Humidifier
- $89.95
- $99.99
- 10% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
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 1-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
GENIANI Cool Mist Humidifier
- $69.97
Prices taken at time of publishing.
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
Honeywell Cool Mist Humidifier
- $75.92
Prices taken at time of publishing.
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%
✘ Relatively expensive for its tank size
✘ Weighs more than most humidifiers, limiting its portability
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.
Humidifier Buying 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.
Humidifier FAQs
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 tell you 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.
Our Methodology
This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIY-ers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content. Our team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products in the home space, including power tools, outdoor equipment, major appliances, kitchen gadgets, electronics, and more that focus on product quality and helpfulness to our readers.
To provide our readers with the best recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.
Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of garbage disposals with a significant number of verified buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers.
Expert Insights: To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.
Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we compared each model’s feature set to create a final shortlist, selecting the best-in-class options for various buyers, budgets, and scenarios.
Once we conclude our research, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.
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