It is best to keep indoor humidity levels between 30 and 50%. If the air in your home is too dry or if you suffer from respiratory problems, a humidifier will certainly help. Dry air can be problematic for babies and adults with asthma or sinus problems, but using a humidifier can help restore the balance by rehydrating the air. In fact, they can help relieve sinus congestion symptoms, which can lead to better sleep at night - for you and your partner, because there’s no more congestion-related snoring.
DeliverItX tests humidifiers for performance, efficiency, and noise level. We evaluate ease of use, including installation, controls and cleaning, as well as tank and flow capacity, and humidity levels. Our overall top pick is the Levoit Classic 300S Smart Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier. Its main selling point? It’s easier to fill than most other humidifiers thanks to its large water tank opening. It also humidifies the air quickly and isn’t noisy when running. Bonus for homes with smart home devices: It’s compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Our picks for the best humidifiers are based on our extensive testing and knowledge in this category to review specifications and documentation.
1. LEVOIT Humidifiers for bedroom large room home
The brand claims this cool mist humidifier can last up to 60 hours on a tank set to the lowest mist levels, and it’s quiet enough to run all night. (It also has an optional built-in nightlight.) This machine can connect to an app or work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for hands-free, remote controls, and offers scheduling options and an automatic mode to prompt it to adjust mist levels to desired humidity levels. We can easily refill the clear tank through a large opening on top. Plus, if you want to use it for aromatherapy, this humidifier also has a tray for essential oils.
Buy: LEVOIT Humidifiers for bedroom large room home
2. Pure Enrichment® MistAire™ Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
With its compact design and quiet operation, you might forget you’re using a humidifier. That’s why the auto shut-off feature comes in handy when the water level is low or they misaligned the tank - in case you really forget. The one-button operation makes this humidifier very intuitive to use, and its back-light makes it easy to see in the dark (in case you need to turn on the built-in nightlight or adjust the mist level). While it’s not the easiest to clean since the tank opening is medium-sized, this humidifier comes with a cleaning brush to make maintenance a little less daunting.
Buy: Pure Enrichment® MistAire™ Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
3. LEVOIT LV600HH 6L Ultrasonic Hot & Cold Steam Humidifier
The Levoit’s larger 1.5-gallon tank means you can serve a larger space (up to 753 square feet) or it won’t need to be refilled as often (up to 60 hours on the lowest mist setting!) It works with both hot and cold ultrasonic mist, so you get the benefits of both. The convenient humidity display makes it easy for you to know the condition of the room with no additional meter. You can operate it with the touch controls on the panel or with the remote, adding a level of convenience that most people lack. Best of all, it has an automatic mode to choose the most level, with no intervention from you.
Buy: LEVOIT LV600HH 6L Ultrasonic Hot & Cold Steam Humidifier
4. Air Innovations Large Capacity 6.4L (1.7 Gal) Humidifier
The sleek design and extended nozzle of this humidifier are perfect for discreet humidification. It’s available in several brilliant colors to match (or blend in with!) your decor, such as black, platinum and wine. It claims to humidify rooms up to 600 square feet for 96 hours continuously, and it has five different mist settings. The aromatherapy oil diffusion tray is perfect for adding essential oils to the air, as well as a little extra moisture. With the built-in humidistat, you can easily control the humidity level. Bonus: it comes with a remote control!
Buy: Air Innovations Large Capacity 6.4L (1.7 Gal) Humidifier
Other Humidifiers to Consider
Crane Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier: Sure, it’s an adorable and fun addition to your baby’s room, but this machine will also add moisture to the air to help your child breathe better. It comes in 16 different kid-friendly designs, including unicorn and alien themes. While the cuteness of the device may appeal to parents and lovers of all things adorable, its design may not appeal to everyone, so it just missed our inclusion. It’s silent when it’s running, so it won’t wake up your baby. With a one-gallon tank, this baby humidifier adds moisture to the air in rooms up to 500 square feet, and the base is also relatively easy to clean. It has an automatic shut-off sensor when the water level is low, so you don’t have to constantly monitor it. If you prefer a simpler design, try the Crane Drop Cool Mist version.
Trusens Clean Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier: Although it’s considerably larger than our other choices, this humidifier has some prominent features that prompted us to include it. The built-in hygrometer lets you know and control the humidity level in your room precisely, and the Bluetooth remote control makes it a snap to adjust. It performed very well in our output capacity tests, dispersing up to six gallons of water over a 24-hour period. We also liked the fact that a single tank fill could humidify your room for nine hours on its maximum setting.
How we test humidifiers
When DeliverItX evaluates humidifiers, our experts look at criteria such as ease of installation, filling, cleaning and transporting, intuitiveness of the controls, noise level and energy consumption. We also look at features such as tank capacity, production capacity (gallons/day) and the time to fill the tank once. We measure the time to reach set humidity levels in our lab’s controlled humidity chamber.
What are the benefits of a humidifier?
Adding a humidifier to your bedroom (or any other room) not only provides the dry air with the moisture it needs but also makes you feel and look cooler.
A humidifier can reduce water loss from your skin. It can also keep your eyes from itching or your lips from chapping. “A humidifier that puts 30 to 40 percent moisture back into the air hydrates all exposed surfaces,” says Dr. Janet Hill Prystowsky: Because your skin is more hydrated, scars, wrinkles and facial imperfections will be less visible.
You’ll also breathe easier. Humidifiers are not just for people with asthma. Inhaling air that’s too dry can lead to nosebleeds and make breathing difficult for everyone, Prystowsky says. The extra moisture in the air helps lubricate dry airways, soothe persistent coughs and even combat snoring. But don’t overdo it: “High humidity can make your home feel stuffy and encourage the growth of harmful bacteria or mold, which can lead to other respiratory problems,” says Tonya Winders, president and CEO of Allergy & Asthma Network. Both Winders and Prystowsky suggest using a hygrometer, which measures the humidity in the air. You should also clean your humidifier every so often to prevent mold from growing inside. “As long as you clean it, you shouldn’t have any problems,” Prystowsky says.
What to look for when buying a humidifier.
✔️ Cool mist or warm mist: Both cool and warm mist humidifiers effectively add moisture to the air, but cool mist options are better for homes with children and pets, as there is no risk of burns associated with a heating element, while warm mist options are better for zapping more germs and bacteria.
✔️ Size: Depending on factors such as tank size and flow rate, they designed your humidifier for a certain room size. The manufacturer typically lists the square footage they sized it for on the humidifier’s packaging and marketing materials. And while this article focuses on portable tabletop humidifiers for small to medium-sized rooms, if you need humidity help throughout your home, consider a whole-house humidifier.
✔️ Runtime: Beyond selecting the type of humidifier that is right for you, there are other attributes to think about. Some can only run for a few hours before needing to be recharged, while others can last a full 24 hours. For those that require more frequent refilling, it’s a good idea to have an automatic shut-off feature so that the humidifier doesn’t keep running when the water runs out.
✔️ Tank design: For most humidifiers, the design of the tank will be critical to your experience. Look for ones with large openings for easy filling and cleaning. Translucent models are also helpful because they allow you to see how full the tank is, so you know when it’s time to refill.
✔️ Ease of Cleaning: It’s extremely important to clean your humidifier at least once a week to prevent the growth of mold, bacteria, and germs (the last things you need flying around in the air when you’re dealing with respiratory issues). Make sure the unit is easy to disassemble and clean, as you will need to do this often.