A very 2022 scenario: A scratchy throat sends you spiraling and searching “omicron symptoms,” but then the scratch subsides, and you realize that what you really need (besides a high-quality mask) is a humidifier. Not just any humidifier will do, though, you need the best humidifier you can find for your space.
Yes, using a humidifier is the blessing your body needs—you’ll want this handy device in every room of your house. In its purest form, the machine vaporizes water into the air and balances moisture levels in any given space. So whether you’re sitting at your desk draining coffee, sleeping in your bedroom, or watching Netflix in your living room, much-needed moisture is being added back into your poor, cracked skin and sinus. In the winter your face can get so dry it hurts to blow your nose but with a humidifier running, you can balance the moisture levels. Plus, with a humidifier the static electricity dissipates, so that you don’t shock yourself every time you touch a doorknob or pet your cat.
Which type of humidifier is best?
There are a ton of variables that go into finding the right humidifier for your needs—and there are many types of humidifiers on the market. Cool mist humidifiers and warm mist humidifiers are your basic types but there are also ultrasonic humidifiers that vibrate to create vapor, evaporative humidifiers that use a fan to distribute humidity, humidifiers that double as aromatherapy diffusers, humidifiers that are also air purifiers, and many more.
When shopping for a humidifier, consider the size of the space where you want to raise humidity levels. Is it a small room like a bedroom, or a large room like a living room? Take into account how much the humidifier’s water tank holds, its run time (so you don’t have to refill it as often), noise level, and price tag. And if you plan on using the humidifier near your bed or a napping baby, it’s also useful to check that the humidifier includes a timer, automatic shut-off, a quiet mode, or a night light. So. Many. Factors.
Luckily for you, below, we’ve broken down by category, the best-selling humidifiers from brands like Levoit, Vicks, Taotronics, Dyson, Canopy, and more from retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart. From the best humidifiers for small rooms to humidifiers that purify the air, we’ve got you covered. Now, get shopping! Your sinuses and dry skin will thank you.
Best Humidifiers For Small Rooms
Amazon
Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
For a small space (up to 250 square feet) like your bedroom, office, or nursery, the Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier is a favorite among shoppers, with over 68,000 positive reviews on Amazon. One reviewer writes: “It’s so quiet you don’t know it’s on and provides just the right amount of moisture to keep me breathing easy all through cold weather months.” The humidifier has a 25-hour run time thanks to its large 1.5-liter water tank, two speed settings, and an adjustable nozzle so that you can seamlessly direct the mist toward areas that particularly need humidity (like your face or a plant on your desk). It also works as a night light, if you like, and has auto shut-off when water runs low. Easy peasy.
Bed, Bath & Beyond
Crane Ultrasonic Cool Mist Drop Shape Humidifier
Here’s another top-selling cool mist humidifier for small spaces in the range of 300 to 500 square feet. The Crane Mist Drop has a two-gallon tank (for less frequent refilling) housed in a slim body. It offers a 360-degree mist nozzle, variable humidity control (versus two settings), and a 24-hour run time. One shopper raves that her humidifier “puts out a very fine mist and keeps the room very comfortable, even when turned to a low level without leaving the room feeling like a swamp.” Nicely, it comes in a range of bright colors, should you want to liven up a dark corner.
Amazon
AquaOasis Cool Mist Humidifier
Here’s a best-selling cool mist humidifier for small spaces. The AquaOasis has over 38,000 4.5-star ratings on Amazon, thanks to its quiet noise level, 360-degree rotating nozzle for precise vapor flow, automatic shut-off, and no need for a filter. The water tank holds 2.2 liters and runs for over 24 hours without you needing to refill. One shopper writes: “I wanted a humidifier that was small, easy to use, very quiet, that would not run out of water overnight. I got all of those things. And the price was amazing.”
Amazon
Vicks Filter-Free Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
You might associate Vicks with having a cold and rubbing Vaporub on your chest. Well, the brand makes an ultrasonic cool mist humidifier too, that has top ratings at Amazon, Target, and Walmart. This petite, filter-free humidifier’s water tank holds 1.2 gallons of water, yet manages to run for up to 30 hours. Reviewers give it top marks for how powerful it is despite its small size, that they don’t need to keep buying filters, how quiet it is, easy to clean, and that it has automatic shut-off.
Best Humidifiers For Large Rooms
Amazon
Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Humidifier and Aroma Diffuser
Here’s a big-room beauty for you with over 41,000 top ratings on Amazon. This Everlasting Comfort option holds six liters of water—ideal for spaces up to 500 square feet—and lasts for 50 hours. The sleek humidifier circulates cool air and is filter-free (saving you money in the long run). Shoppers say they enjoy its quiet operation (which is perfect for babies), large tank capacity, and the fact that you can turn off the device’s light while you sleep. Did we mention it’s an essential oil diffuser too?
Amazon
Levoit Classic 300S Smart Ultrasonic Humidifier
This is one smart humidifier. The top-reviewed Levoit Classic 300S syncs with an app and can be controlled by your Alexa and Google Assistant, so you don’t need to leave bed or the couch to control it. Its water tank holds six liters and runs up to 60 hours in large rooms up to 505 square feet in size. Its smart sensor measures humidity in the indoor air so it can automatically adjust mist levels.
Best Hybrid Humidifier/Essential Oil Diffusers
Geniani
Geniani Top Fill Cool Mist Humidifier and Diffuser
The Geniani diffuser/humidifier dynamic duo holds up to four liters of water, lasts up to 18 hours, and is best for small to medium-size spaces up to 220 square feet. It has over 26,000 positive reviews because it’s easy to wipe down, filterless, quiet, easy to refill via the top, has a night light, auto shut-off, and doesn’t “scream ‘humidifier’” in its looks, as one shopper writes. Plus, it features a smart mode that senses if your air needs more humidity.
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Fridababy 3-in-1 Humidifier with Diffuser and Night Light
The 0.5-liter Fridababy humidifier/diffuser is a nice addition to a baby’s small nursery (up to 300 square feet), balancing moisture levels in the dry air for their breathing, dispensing soothing scents, and serving as a night light that gently changes colors. It requires no filter, runs quietly to add soothing white noise for nap time, and automatically shuts off when it’s run out of steam.
Amazon
Levoit Classic 200 Humidifier with Essential Oil Diffuser
Reduce pesky sinus pressure with this four-liter capacity Levoit that can run up to 40 hours in a medium- to large-sized rooms up to 376 square feet in size. “This is the best ultrasonic humidifier I have owned to date,” writes one shopper. “I love its durability, ease of use (it only has three settings and that’s all you need), and I easily clean it with a microfiber cloth every other day before leaving for work. Oh, and it looks amazing too. I’’s sleek, but even my large hands can fit into the tank.”
Best USB-Chargeable Humidifiers
Amazon
Geniani Portable Small Cool Mist Humidifier
This tiny, portable humidifier solves the problem of dry air in cars, as it conveniently fits into a cup holder and charges with a USB cord. Beyond cars, it’s versatile in many environments, from bedside to nursery to desk to dining table. Though small, the Geniani dispenses 250 ml of cool mist for up to eight hours, has two speeds, a night light, and an automatic shut-off feature.
Amazon
Movtip Portable Mini Humidifier
Here’s another little portable, USB-charged humidifier to consider. One owner writes on Amazon: “This is by far one of the best humidifiers I’ve had. It’s very stylish, holds a lot of water, and is super easy to assemble. It’s the perfect size for my desk, there’s no noise, and it stays filled for a full day of work.” The Movtip holds 500 ml of water (double the Geniani) and runs longer—anywhere from 12 to 18 hours, depending on whether you run it at full blast or intermittently.
Best Hybrid Humidifier/Air Purifier
Nordstrom
Dyson Pure Humidify + Cool Purifying Humidifying Fan
This SELF-Certified Dyson hybrid humidifier is the priciest of the pack but offers some of the best features: It’s a humidifier that runs for up to 36 hours, an air purifier, and a powerful fan that mimics a natural breeze. The Alexa-enabled Dyson’s intense carbon filters remove gases and trap tiny allergens as small as 0.3 microns. Using UV light technology, the Humidify + Cool also kills bacteria in the water before vaporizing it, so what you inhale is always fresh. It’s app-monitored and has all the bells and whistles you could want: a highly specific sleep mode, ultraviolet technology that removes bacteria in water, deep-clean cycle, filters that last for a year, and more. Our former senior commerce editor thoroughly reviewed this model, writing, “Where has this beautiful hybrid been my whole life??” Of note: At around three feet tall, the Dyson is sizable, but it’s great if you want an all-season device that knocks out multiple functions in one. And if you have psoriasis, this is the first humidifier/purifier combo with a seal of approval from the National Psoriasis Foundation.
Best Warming/Cooling Humidifiers
Target
Vicks Warm Moisture Humidifier
If you’re fighting a bad cold, warm mist may come as a relief. This Vicks steam vaporizer runs up to 24 hours on its one-gallon tank, and you can add Vicks VapoSteam (a cough suppressant) or VapoPods (which contain menthol) to help ease your cold symptoms. One Target shopper writes: “Love this so much because of the warm steam. Great for winter when the air is more dry. I use at night when I sleep and don’t wake up with a headache. Also can add Vicks VapoSteam when you need a little pick-me-up.”
Amazon
Levoit Ultrasonic Warm and Cool Mist Humidifier and Aroma Diffuser
For large rooms (up to 753 square feet), this six-liter Levoit will do the job. The ultrasonic humidifier produces both cool and warm mist (great for year-round use) for up to 60 hours. And while you can fiddle with the mist level as much as you want, the Levoit has a built-in humidity sensor that detects just how much vapor your parched air needs. You can customize a timer so it runs as long or as short as you like, and it comes with a remote control so that you never have to leave your bed or couch to make changes. Lastly, this model is also an aroma diffuser. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the aroma tank and let the fragrance fill your room.
Related:
- 23 Best-Selling Essential Oil Diffusers to Help You Unwind
- Review: Dyson Pure Humidify + Cool Fan
- 15 Best-Selling Space Heaters for Perpetually Cold People