Best Humidifiers to Keep Your Home Comfortable and Healthy This Winter

• Dreo Smart Humidifier HM524S: This Dreo model is nearly identical to the HM713S in performance and features but lacks a warm mist setting. Similarly, its 6-liter tank makes it a slightly more powerful version of our budget pick, the Dreo HM311S. It's a good compromise if you want a larger tank without paying extra for warm mist.
• GoveeLife Smart Humidifier Lite H7140: I really enjoyed testing this product, especially because it has the same customizable color LED lighting as Govee's smart lights. It's the cheapest smart humidifier with a mobile app and smart features. It failed to snag our budget pick because it lags the Dreo HM311S in terms of performance and lacks a built-in humidistat. Adding an affordable Govee humidity sensor unlocks automatic humidification settings but raises the price to Dreo's level.
• Everlasting Comfort EC-H4: Despite its large, 6-liter tank, this Amazon bestseller felt out of place among similarly-priced units from Dreo, Levoit and Vornado. Although the $93 list price is definitely too expensive, even the normal $60 price won't help it beat Dreo. Skip this product unless it's on sale for $50 or less, although I'm happy to trade the larger tank for a budget Dreo or GoveeLife humidifier with better features. 
• Saunana Portable Mini: This mini humidifier matches the performance and uses the same controls as the Movtip for only $10. While I like that the smaller tank fits better in a car's cup holder, this means a shorter runtime overall. It also loses points for its multi-colored light, which always turns on at startup. I find the light distracting and annoying to turn off. At least Movtip's light is off by default.
• Raydrop Cool Mist KC-RD03A-1.0L: I thought this Amazon bestseller could be a good travel humidifier for $20 but it tied for dead last in performance testing, even trailing mini humidifiers half its size. Still, it will humidify a room, albeit very slowly. After reading the manual and comparing its similarities with Rosekm, I'm convinced they come from the same factory.
• Rosekm KC-KM13S-4L: I was drawn to this product because it includes a humidistat and timer for less than $40, but it tied for the worst results in our tests. Plus, the humidistat isn't that useful because you can't customize the target humidity. GoveeLife is a better option for a few dollars more.

Our humidifier test candidates are a mix of 12 established performers, best-sellers and promising new products from 10 companies. Adding moisture to indoor air is the sole responsibility of a humidifier -- every other feature is secondary -- so the bulk of our tests focus on how well each product does this task. I rounded out our testing by measuring power consumption and evaluating the controls.

Humidification

To measure humidification, I placed each product in an enclosed 54-square-foot room with humidity sensors-- SwitchBot Hub 2 and Ecowitt GW1200 -- about 4 feet from the nozzle on either side. I turned off our central heating system during each test to keep it from affecting the results, activating only the fan for a few minutes to remove high humidity between tests. Although I couldn't reliably return the room to the same relative humidity each time, I targeted a starting range between 45% and 50%.

I noted humidity levels upon starting and finishing each 10-minute test to track the overall humidification effects of a product. There were two rounds of testing for each device to evaluate the lowest and highest cool mist humidifier (or evaporative) settings. A third testing session followed for the Dreo and Levoit units with warm mist capabilities on the high setting.

Leviot's warm mist mode increased the humidity fastest in our testing location, from 46% to 60% in just 10 minutes, an increase of 14 percentage points. The Dreo HM713S (warm and cool mist) and HM524S tied for second place by bumping the humidity up by 10 points. Blueair is another notable standout, adding 9 percentage points during the test while consuming a fraction of the energy of other top performers.

The output of the Vornado UH100, Dreo HM311S, GoveeLife H7140 and Everlasting Comfort was lower, but these models are adequate for most people. Every product less than $38 yielded subpar humidification in our relatively small testing space: Movtip, Raydrop, Rosekm and Saunana. This suggests they would be more appropriate for use as close-range personal humidifiers -- ideal for local humidification in a shared office or enclosed vehicle -- instead of an entire room.

How airflow and mist output affect humidification

I held an anemometer 4 inches away from each humidifier's nozzle and noted the airspeed to measure airflow. I couldn't find a satisfactory way to form an airtight seal with the anemometer because of the larger nozzles on some units, so the overall accuracy is lower than I'd prefer. I gleaned enough information to reach some useful conclusions.

When I compared mist output to the total increase in humidity, I found that every humidifier used roughly the same volume of water to increase the ambient humidity by one percentage point -- the air next to a humidifier can absorb only so much moisture at a time before it becomes saturated. This means improving airflow is the best way to increase mist output and humidification.

After testing, I found that airspeeds equal to or above 1.0 meters per second yielded the best performance and mist output. Blueair (2.3 m/s) and Vornado (1.8m/s) use larger fans than the competition. Unsurprisingly, they had the highest airflow in our tests, followed by all three Dreo units at 1.2 m/s. All of these products improve humidity by at least eight percentage points.

Although Everlasting Comfort matched Dreo's airflow, its humidification was weaker overall. Levoit's airspeed was a little lower at 1.0 m/s, but it still outperformed the budget products in cool mist mode -- the lower air movement didn't keep the warm mist result from providing the best humidification in our lineup. GoveeLife's 0.7 m/s met the bare minimum for noticeably improving the humidity quickly and was the high point among the budget models less than $50.

Movtip, Raydrop, Rosekm and Saunana produced the lowest airflow, which makes them much slower at humidification than pricier rivals. They should perform better when used alongside a fan, but this also makes them more susceptible to losing their potency whenever dry air enters the room as the furnace or air conditioner runs. (You can offset low-humidity air with humidifiers in other rooms or a whole-house humidifier, but that's beyond the scope of our review.)

Power consumption

The Blueair H35i was the most energy-efficient humidifier I tested -- pulling just 6 watts on the high setting. You can expect similar performance from other evaporative-wicking humidifiers. Movtip and Saunana used less energy than Blueair, but they were also the least effective options for humidifying a large area.

Ultrasonic cool mist humidifiers consumed less than 30 watts of electricity when running, with the products in our review averaging 11 watts on low and 17 watts on high. This is more than a typical LED light bulb, it's still very efficient, and eight hours of daily runtime won't add more than 75 cents to your monthly power bill.

I based this estimate on the national average electricity price of 18 cents per kilowatt-hour from an October 2024 report from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. I recommend using an online calculator for a figure that more accurately reflects your local electric rates.

Warm mist humidifiers, like Dreo HM713S and Levoit OasisMist, consume more than 10 times as much energy with a maximum power draw of 280 watts. They use about half as much energy after the initial heating cycle based on our testing. This would increase your monthly electricity bill by roughly $6 to $12. Fortunately, both models have cool mist modes, so you can reserve warm mist for times when you need it.

Controls

The manual controls on all of the humidifiers are straightforward to use. I like that the control panels on Dreo, Levoit and Blueair offer the same functionality as their respective mobile apps. Still, the apps were easier for customizing settings like the timer and humidistat. (A humidistat allows a unit to reach and maintain the optimal humidity level.) Although Vornado doesn't use an app or timer, the clear labels on its automatic humidity controls help you know what settings are active.

Rosekm also features a built-in humidistat, but you can't choose a target humidity. Instead, the unit reduces its output as humidity levels go up before shutting off entirely at 80% humidity -- this seems awfully high unless you're using the unit in a grow chamber for houseplants. Fortunately, the display shows the current humidity, so you can track the moisture levels over time. Rosekm's timer, which tops out at 12 hours, might be better for controlling humidity levels as you sleep.

On-device controls on Everlasting Comfort, GoveeLife, Movtip, Raydrop and Saunana and were simplistic. These devices offer multiple mist settings, but they lack humidistats and timers, so the units operate until you turn them off or the water runs out. GoveeLife offers timer settings in the Govee app but needs an add-on humidity sensor to enable its automatic functionality.

Ultimately, I preferred units with timers and humidistats -- which are less likely to over-humidify a room. Still, choosing a lower mist setting on simple devices can achieve a similar result, even if you don't know the exact humidity levels.

Price

According to our test results, the best humidifiers cost between $40 and $100, while the average price of our top performers -- Levoit, Dreo, Blueair and Vornado -- is about $85. Prepare to pay extra if you need a larger tank size than the 3.5- to 6-liter capacity found on these models.

The minimum price for an effective whole-room humidifier in our lineup was around $40 for the GoveeLife H7140. You can buy cheaper units for as little as $10, but these are more suitable for personal humidification within a few feet of where you're sitting because the low mist output and airflow aren't powerful enough to treat an entire room.

Mist type

As you look for a humidifier, you'll come across three humidification technologies: cool mist, warm mist and evaporative. They offer similar levels of humidification performance but have different strengths and weaknesses.

Cool mist (or ultrasonic) humidifiers use a small electronic component called a transducer to vibrate water particles so quickly that they vaporize. This is the most popular type of humidifier on the market because it produces a visible mist and doesn't require filters. It can leave a white residue on nearby surfaces when using tap water -- and it needs regular cleaning to prevent the spread of bacteria compared to evaporative and warm mist humidifiers.

Modern warm mist humidifiers heat the water in the unit's base with a small heating element before atomizing it with an ultrasonic transducer. This allows the humidifier to produce a large quantity of mist without boiling the water outright. Many people find warm mist more pleasant in cold weather and enjoy how it can increase the temperature in a room over time. The hot water in a warm mist humidifier poses a safety hazard if it splashes on bare skin when refilling the tank and still isn't hot enough to stop bacterial growth. These units also cost more to buy and run than cool mist humidifier models.

Although you can buy traditional steam humidifiers that boil water, the added safety risks and higher energy consumption aren't worth it.

Evaporative humidifiers are also technically cool-mist units, but they achieve humidification by blowing air over a wet wick. Unlike ultrasonic products, there's no visible mist, and the wick acts as a filter against microorganisms entering the air. This humidifier type uses less energy than other variants, and you don't need to clean it as often. Still, you need to replace the filter regularly, which somewhat offsets the energy savings.

Water tank

Capacity

If you've never used a humidifier before, a 4-liter (1-gallon) tank is generally a good starting capacity for most bedrooms because it won't take up much space and is easy to lift when filled. For folks replacing an old humidifier, consider the size of your existing unit and how often you fill the tank. If a full tank lasts two to three days while maintaining your target humidity, you don't need a larger size. Still, most brands sell large-tank variants if the need arises.

You should avoid getting an oversized tank to extend the runtime beyond three days, the EPA's recommended cleaning rotation for all humidifiers. Regular cleaning minimizes the buildup of mineral deposits and the growth of microorganisms in the unit. This helps it run more efficiently and reduces the chance of infection. As for smaller tanks, they can work in small rooms, but our tests suggest these are more appropriate for use as personal humidifiers to keep by your desk or in a shared bedroom. Just be aware of the mist landing on sensitive electronics.

Fill type

An equally important aspect of humidifier water tanks is whether you fill them on the top or the bottom, which also affects how easy they are to clean. 

A top-fill design -- as found on Blueair, Dreo, GoveeLife, Levoit, Movtip and Saunana -- enables quick refills using another container, and the large opening makes cleaning easier. Unfortunately, the lids on top-fill tanks aren't watertight, so they'll spill if knocked over. While every humidifier works best in a place where it won't tip, it's required for top-fill designs.

Bottom-fill designs -- as found on Everlasting Comfort, Raydrop, Rosekm and Vornado -- feature a watertight seal that makes them easy to carry and less likely to leak. However, the opening on most bottom-fill designs is too small for human hands, so you must clean them with an awkward long-handled brush. The small opening also makes it easier to fill most of these units with a faucet instead of using a container of purified water. Sometimes bottom-fill tanks have large openings, like the Vornado UH100, but this is uncommon.

Nozzle

Most brands offer models with adjustable nozzles, you won't see them as often on budget brands. The nozzles on units with powerful fans -- like Vornado and Blueair -- may not be adjustable, but the added airflow on these models usually makes up the difference.

There's a connection between your water quality and how well your humidifier will function over time. Tap water contains dissolved solids. Those minerals and nutrients eventually lead to algal, fungal and bacterial growth, which can spread from the humidifier as it runs. The minerals in tap water can accumulate in the tank and the base in a process called calcification -- similar to the hard water buildup you see on a showerhead. Ultrasonic humidifiers can also deposit minerals on nearby surfaces as white dust. If left unchecked, the minerals form a layer of limescale that can affect components like pumps, valves, floats, filters and transducers.

Manufacturers recommend a water change and quick rinse with fresh water every 1 to 3 days to deal with nutrients. Prevent limescale buildup by descaling the unit at least once a month. This process involves pouring vinegar into the empty tank before placing it on the empty base. Leave the unit to soak for about 15 minutes before dumping the vinegar to give the parts a light scrub. Always dry the parts completely before refilling.

Some brands offer add-on cartridges to help with tap water, purified water is always the better option. Any filtered water will improve your humidifier's performance, but water purified via distillation is the most effective. You can get reverse-osmosis-filtered water (RO water) cheaply from grocery store water filling stations -- especially compared to pricier distilled water. If you plan to buy a water purifier, ZeroWater is one of the most affordable options, but it's slower than a home distiller or RO filter. Home distillers can be a viable mid-range option but use a lot of energy compared to reverse osmosis filters. Splurging on an RO filter will provide relatively fast filtration, long filter lives, lower energy costs and a worthwhile alternative to store-bought bottled water.