The 3 best humidifiers we tested in 2021

Best humidifier overall

The Honeywell Designer Series Cool Mist Humidifier is easy to use, long-lasting, and humidifies extremely quickly and efficiently. 

Pros: Adjustable settings, extremely efficient, easy to set up and clean, lasts 24 hours on one tank, no filter to change

Cons: Occasional dripping noise, no smart settings, essential oil function is so-so, doesn’t disperse humidity as evenly in large rooms 

The Honeywell Designer Series Cool Mist Humidifier worked so quickly and efficiently on its highest setting in my smaller bedroom and office spaces that I actually worried about over-humidifying my home.

In fact, it raised the humidity levels in my office by 30% in just four hours, a feat many of the other humidifiers I tested couldn’t even do after eight hours. Luckily, the settings are highly adjustable via an easy-to-use scroll knob so you can set the humidifier to a lower level once your desired humidity has been reached.

The Honeywell is incredibly easy to use; setup took mere minutes. It has a simple and wide removable tank that you fill up and then slip back in. Plug it in, and you’re ready to go. The humidifier also alerts you with a refill light when the water levels are low, and it automatically shuts off when it’s empty. On the lowest settings, it can last for a full day on one tank.    

There is an occasional dripping noise, though I didn’t find it too distracting, and it’s quiet enough that you won’t hear it over a fan or some background music. While it worked more than well enough on its own in smaller spaces, you may also want to use a fan near it for bigger rooms to help better disperse the vapor stream.  

It has a small pullout tray where you can add essential oils, but this is not a diffuser. I did get a whiff of a pleasant aroma when I used that option, but if your main goal is to have your room smell nice instead of humidifying, you’re better off getting an actual diffuser.

There’s no filter that needs changing, and it was easy and quick to clean. As a bonus, its sleek look is far more aesthetically pleasing than many other humidifiers on the market, and it can easily fit on most desks, nightstands, and shelves.

Designer Series Cool Mist Humidifier (button)
Best humidifier on a budget

The is an elegant, no-fuss option that gets the job done.

Pros: Good price, 360-degree nozzle, lightweight, lasts all day or night on one tank

Cons: Not good for bigger rooms, doesn’t humidify rooms as evenly as other picks, no extra features or settings

The doesn’t come with any fancy features, but you don’t necessarily need any. It’s lightweight, easy to fill and clean, adjusts with a simple dial knob, is small enough to fit on nightstands and desks, and has a 360-degree nozzle so you can better aim the stream in specific directions.

Most importantly, it raised the humidity levels next to my bed by 28% when used overnight, taking my sleeping quarters from desert-levels of dryness to a noticeably nicer climate. 

However, it didn’t disperse the humidity as evenly as other options I tested; across my small bedroom, the humidity was about 5% less than right next to the humidifier, making this pick best for smaller spaces or for placing directly near where you sleep or sit. 

While it does make a low gurgling noise on the highest settings, it’s overall pretty quiet. Its sleek, tapered look also means it’s not an eyesore. Cleaning was relatively easy, and it comes with a little brush for scrubbing the base.

TaoTronics TT-AH026 Small Humidifier (button)
Best humidifier with an air purifier

The Dyson Pure Humidify + Cool is a three-in-one smart humidifier, air purifier, and fan that automatically reads and adjusts levels on its own.

Pros: Smart automatic features, works with an app, reads home and outside air levels, easy cleaning mode, three-in-one machine 

Cons: Takes up a lot of space, very expensive 

There’s no getting around the fact that the Dyson Pure Humidify + Cool is expensive. But as a three-in-one machine that’s also an air purifier and a fan, you can make the case that it’s more convenient and potentially cheaper just to get the Dyson rather than buy those three devices separately. 

While the Dyson has a smaller footprint than three machines would separately, it’s going to take up some floor space. That said, for those in the market for a smart humidifier and air purifier option that does all the thinking for you, the Dyson Pure Humidify + Cool is an excellent choice. 

You connect the Dyson to the Dyson Link app, and from there you can check your current home humidity and air quality levels. The machine can be controlled with a remote, the app, and via voice control with Alexa and Siri.

Though you can change the humidity and fan levels yourself, you can also set it to auto, and it will decide the best levels for you based on local weather data and your Air Quality Index score. When I used the auto feature, it raised my humidity levels to a nice 50% and kept it there even throughout my larger open-concept kitchen and living room area.

The one-gallon tank also lasts a long time. Dyson claims it lasts for 36 hours even on high settings, and though I didn’t time it down to the exact hour, one tank was easily able to last me a few days.

The fact that it’s also a fan makes this a nice year-round option, as it can easily switch between adding extra humidity during winter months to circulating cool air on sticky summer nights. While the fan is very loud on its highest settings, it’s nice and quiet on settings of four and under, and it does have a night-mode feature that will keep everything automatic but at the quietest levels possible. 

Additionally, for anyone who worries about potential bacteria from humidifiers, the Dyson uses UV light to kill bacteria before expelling the (invisible) water vapor into the air. It alerts you when it needs cleaning and comes with citrus powder packets for that purpose (you can also buy your own). Fill up the water tank, add a packet, and hit the self-clean button.

I haven’t needed to change the HEPA filter yet, but be aware those will cost you an additional $80 each time.

Pure Humidify + Cool (button)
What else we tested

We tested nine humidifiers for this guide. These are the ones that missed the cut.

What else we recommend and why:

Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier: This humidifier worked perfectly fine and is another good relatively low-cost option that’s easy and effective. However, the TaoTronics Space-Saving Filterless Humidifier slightly outperformed it in terms of how much it raised humidity levels. Additionally, while this has a high/low option, the TaoTronics gives you more control over the vapor output via its dial knob. 

Levoit Evaport Ultrasonic Top-Fill Cool Mist 2-in-1 Humidifier & Diffuser: I owned this humidifier for a year and absolutely loved it except for one huge drawback: It’s extremely hard to clean. You have to take out tiny parts to give it a proper scrub, and getting them to go back in was like a puzzle that could easily take me 30 minutes or more. However, both the actual humidifier and diffuser functions worked very well. 

What we don’t recommend and why:

TaoTronics 4L Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier: While this TaoTronics machine did work well for raising humidity levels, there was some leakage around the machine when I used it. Additionally, while it has more buttons and options than the simpler TaoTronics Space-Saving Filterless Humidifier recommended above, I didn’t find them particularly intuitive or useful and actually preferred the ease of the simpler model.

Canopy Humidifier: Canopy is a buzzy new brand that boasts anti-mold technology, invisible vapor, an essential oil diffuser puck, and the ease of being able to clean it by running it through the dishwasher. I was probably most excited to try out this humidifier. Unfortunately, it did not perform well. It raised humidity levels by a measly 5% after a full eight hours, was extremely loud on the highest settings, and the essential oil function didn’t work at all (though the Open Spaces aroma kit it came with did smell fantastic on its own).  

Aishna Colorful Cool Mini Humidifier and Essential Oil Diffuser: Cheap and small, I also tested this as a potential portable option. However, it needs to be plugged in to work, which limits how portable it really is and where you can use it. It also didn’t raise the humidity levels much, even around my small desk space, and I found the intermittent spray mode distracting.

Our testing methodology

I researched thoroughly to shortlist and test a total of nine humidifiers for this guide. What you need out of a humidifier will depend on the size of your space, how frequently you want to use it, and what your main goal for humidifying is. However, some universal factors make for a good humidifier. Here’s what we looked for while testing and choosing our top picks:

Raised humidity levels: This is the most obvious and most important factor. If a humidifier doesn’t actually raise the humidity levels of your space to the EPA-recommended 30% to 60%, it doesn’t serve its main function. I used a hygrometer to definitively test the humidity levels of my home before, during, and after using each humidifier. I tested the levels right near the humidifiers, as well as across rooms of various sizes.    

Ease of set-up and use: If a humidifier is hard to figure out, a pain to fill up, or doesn’t last a full day or night on one tank fill, chances are you’re not going to want to use it very often. All of our top picks take five minutes or less to initially set up, are easy to fill, and last at least 10 hours on one tank. Some can even last days on a single tank.

Ease of cleaning: I’ve personally gotten rid of a humidifier because it was such a pain to clean, so I know first-hand how important that is. Without proper cleaning, humidifiers can grow mold or bacteria that can then be dispersed into your home. I did a deep clean of every humidifier we chose and found it to be an easy process for all. 

Extra features: Some humidifiers come with fancy extras that range from simple night light settings to app and voice control. These extras were taken into account to discern if they actually provided additional value and ease of use.   

Longevity: I’ve been testing most of these humidifiers for about two months and have not run into any issues with my top choices. However, I will be continuing to test to ensure they hold up over time and no serious issues arise, such as mold growth.

What we look forward to testing

We’re always testing new humidifiers and retesting our top picks to determine the best ones. Here’s what we’re looking forward to testing for potential inclusion in this guide:

Levoit 6L Humidifier for Large Room: The company notes that this humidifier is especially good for big rooms. It features options for both warm and cool mist, a built-in humidity sensor, timer settings, the ability to add essential oils, and a remote to control it all. 

Air Innovations Cool Mist Digital Humidifier: Featuring a unique and slick design, this humidifier boasts a permanent ceramic filter, antimicrobial tank, aromatherapy tray, a smart display screen, and a lengthy 96-hour run time. 

Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier: This humidifier stands out because of its optional night light and long 5-year warranty. We like that you can easily see into the reservoir to gauge whether it needs more water to last through the night.

Humidifier FAQs

What to consider when buying a humidifier

There’s a wide spectrum of humidifier functions out there, not to mention a variety of design options. You’ll need to consider the following when choosing the right humidifier for your needs:

Room size: The first step you should always take is knowing the room’s square footage you want to primarily humidify. Then read up on the humidifier you’re considering and whether the brand recommends it for small, medium, or large spaces. 

“If you buy a model that is designed for a larger space, the room will be uncomfortably humid and create an environment that could encourage mold and mildew growth,” says Sydney Rexroad of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. “If the model is too small, it won’t generate adequate humidity for the space.”

Filter vs filter-free models: This one is a personal preference based on a few factors. “Filtered humidifiers are evaporative and use a fan to humidify the air. Filter-free models will put a mist directly into the air,” says Rexroad. Additionally, filter-free models can carry a higher risk of bacteria or allergens getting in the air, so be sure you’re willing to commit to cleaning it well once a week.

On the other hand, filters need to be replaced and add an additional cost you may not want to pay. Filter models are also often noisier.

Cold mist vs warm mist: According to all three experts we spoke with, this is entirely based on personal preference. Depending on what your main use for the humidifier is, you may want to ask your healthcare provider before making a choice.

Additional features: First and foremost, humidifiers have one main function. If you want a humidifier that performs more than one service, you’ll need to look for a model that states it was made to do so. With essential oils in particular, you should never add them to a machine that is not explicitly made for that dual purpose. “Essential oils, medications, or other substances can damage the humidifier’s mechanical parts,” says Rexroad.  

How humid should your house be?

According to the EPA, “Indoor relative humidity (RH) should be kept below 60% — ideally between 30% and 50%, if possible.”

While low humidity can cause health issues ranging from dry skin and bloody noses to making asthma worse, over humidifying your home can come with adverse effects too, such as creating condensation that can ruin appliances and mold growth that can present health problems. A too-humid home can even attract unwanted insects. 

How to clean a humidifier

Cleaning your humidifier is vital. Purvi Parikh, MD, notes that humidifiers can be a double-edged sword if not properly taken care of. “If you are prone to dust mite or mold allergies, humidifiers can grow these allergens if not properly cleaned and thus make your symptoms worse.”

Jeanine Downie, MD, also notes that if not properly maintained, humidifiers can blow out mold spores. She recommends thoroughly cleaning your humidifier at least once a week. 

You should always refer to your specific humidifiers manual and instructions for proper cleaning. However, for a simple and effective way to clean many standard humidifiers, Downie recommends that you “place a half a cup of bleach inside of a gallon of water and add that to your humidifier.” 

If you have a filter model, you should also be replacing the filter regularly. Read up on how often your specific model recommends changing the filter.

Check out our other home heating and cooling guides

• The best space heaters
• The best throw blankets
• The best tower fans
• The best dehumidifiers
• The best portable air conditioners

Jen Gushue contributed reporting.