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These top-rated gadgets combat dry air, helping to relieve cold symptoms and sinus issues. Running Backpack
We updated this article in March 2023 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive research done by our team.
The changing of the seasons is beautiful, but certain times of the year also bring an unwelcome guest: dry air. Luckily, the best humidifiers for your home can add much-needed moisture into the air—helping to relieve your cold symptoms and even improve your skin health.
“When humidity levels are low, people tend to experience dry eyes, cracked lips, and irritated sinuses,” says Stephen Canfield, M.D., an allergist at ColumbiaDoctors Midtown in New York City. If you’re suffering from asthma, allergies, or sinus congestion issues, dry air can certainly exacerbate your symptoms. That’s why having a humidifier is great for alleviating respiratory issues like a runny nose, dry throat, and a cough—but its benefits aren’t just limited to soothing nasal passages and airways, either. Added moisture can also help dry, flaky skin at bay, improving any discomfort from tight, dehydrated skin.
But, with so many options available online, it can be challenging to find the right humidifier for your home. So we rounded up all the best home humidifiers out there as recommended by experts—so you can spend more time breathing easy.
Meet the Experts: Stephen Canfield, M.D., an allergist at ColumbiaDoctors Midtown in New York City; Purvi Parikh, M.D., an allergist with the Allergy & Asthma Network.
Ready to feel more comfortable and soothe your irritated sinuses? These top-rated humidifiers will improve your home’s air in no time, whether you’re looking to add moisture to your bedroom, nursery, or the entire house.
This cool mist humidifier blows away the competition with a smart design, including a top-fill tank, a removable lid for simple cleaning, and WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. Better yet, you can even control it with Amazon Alexa, making it the smartest device on this list. Plus, the brand claims it can last up to 60 hours on one tank set to the lowest mist levels and quiet enough you can let it run through the night. “It’s super-quiet and easy to fill,” one reviewer says. “This humidifier is quite simply the best I’ve tried,” says another, who tried 10 other ultrasonic options before finding this one.
It’s difficult to find a great humidifier for less than $30, but this filterless option proves that it’s not impossible. While others in this price range usually hold less than half a liter of water, this one fits 1.5, which translates to far fewer trips to the sink. Take advantage of its lowest setting, which offers seven to 25 of continuous mist—it’ll shut off when it runs dry. We love that it’s super quiet and has a slight blue glow for nighttime use. “I really like this humidifier, especially since it doesn’t require a filter,” one reviewer notes. “It is small enough so that I can have it on my nightstand.”
If you’re looking for a humidifier to place in your small bedroom or office, this top-rated pick is the perfect compact size: With a water tank capacity of 0.7 liters, it quickly moisturizes dry air in spaces up to 175 feet (But if you need a slightly bigger option, it also comes in a 1.5 liter size for spaces up to 250 square feet, too). Plus, it also comes with a handy night light and auto shut-off feature—not to mention 77,000 users gave it a perfect rating on Amazon. “This humidifier is perfect for my small bedroom. It fits nicely on my nightstand and runs very quietly,” writes one reviewer.
This humidifier provides both warm mist and cool mist for year-round use, letting you also choose from three different mist flow options. Not to mention, it also has a handy digital humidistat that allows you to customize your desired humidity level—as well as a 12-hour timer mode, adjustable LED lighting, and a 100-hour run time. Reviewers love that it’s easy to use, with one reviewer writing, “It has a very quiet kind of white noise sound when it is on, and it is great that you can point the output in any direction. I also love how you can adjust the levels of how much steam.”
This ultrasonic humidifier is affordable, doubles as decor, and is conveniently sized—a great option for pretty much any home. With a one-gallon tank that lasts up to 40 hours on the lowest setting, it’s got an ideal capacity for medium-sized rooms. You also won’t have to deal with a filter. Plus, it’s made with BPA-free materials and is ultra-quiet, so it’s great to add to your child’s nursery. “Without a doubt, this is the best ultrasonic humidifier I have owned to date,” explains one reviewer, who appreciates its durability, beginner-friendly design, and ease of cleaning. “I highly recommend this product and also this company.”
This do-it-all cool mist humidifier holds six liters of water for rooms up to 500 square feet and lasts up to 50 hours, and even includes a tray for essential oils. First-time buyers will also appreciate its automatic shut-off feature, which keeps the unit from operating without any water. And with a two-year warranty, this humidifier is worth the investment. “This humidifier hands-down is the best one I’ve bought so far,” one Amazon reviewer raves. “It functions well without any hiccups, and the cherry on top is its massive volume, so I don’t have to fill it as frequently.”
Reviewers rave about how easy this ultrasonic humidifier is to clean, thanks to its filterless design: “The tank has round edges with a large filling hole, big enough to get my hand and sponge in,” says one, who goes on to praise its high output and quiet operation. To keep your home from getting too humid, you can also use its auto shut-off. Plus, its nozzle and output knob are beyond simple to adjust. The 1.2-gallon tank can give up to 30 hours of mist and we love the option to use VapoPads for soothing scents.
Sleep easier with this ultra-quiet, easy-to-clean humidifier, which pumps out moisture at a low, cool mist for up to 18 hours on its quietest setting. It’s big enough to keep your room comfortable, yet small enough to place on your nightstand or move around with ease. And if aesthetics are your priority, you won’t need to hide this one from guests: Its water tank is in the back, and the machine easily blends into the background. One reviewer raved, “It’s simple. There is a knob with off-low-high settings, and that’s it. And that’s all I want.”
If you need a humidifier for your entire home, this easy-to-clean device will get the job done; its moisture reaches a maximum of 3,600 square feet, more than enough for the average home. You can set the humidity level using a digital humidistat, and then it automatically powers down once it hits your desired percentage. Of course, it’s larger than the other models here (and can hold up to 2.5 gallons of water), but the attached wheels make it portable. One reviewer said, “Good design, easy to fill, effective, and excellent humidifier.”
This humidifier is certified asthma- and allergy-friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation. It uses ultraviolet light technology to kill 99.9% of bacteria before the cool mist is released into the room. It’s also quiet and has an automatic shut-off after 18 hours of continuous use. One reviewer raved, “This appliance is a breeze to use and it works wonders. It’s quiet and efficient.”
If you really don’t want to deal with filling your humidifier every day, consider this option, which is powerful enough for large rooms and boasts the ability to provide both warm and cool mist. Plus it has a tray for diffusing essential oils. On its lowest setting, the 2-gallon tank spits out a continuous mist for up to 120 hours—that’s five entire days! Reviewers love that it has a mold-resistant tank and a relatively quiet design, too. It’s “as good as you’re going to get,” one reviewer summarizes.
Compare mist options. Humidifiers either use warm mist (including steam vaporizing methods) or cool mist (including evaporative options) to add moisture to the air. Ultrasonic humidifiers can be either warm mist or cool mist, and some units include the option for both.
The type you choose is ultimately up to you, but in general, cool mist humidifiers are the safest option (especially if you have children or pets around), according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Warm mist humidifiers, meanwhile, run hot and have the potential to cause burns if you get too close. Also, evaporative humidifiers often spit out invisible mist, so don’t be alarmed if they don’t appear to be working.
Measure your space. The best size for your humidifier depends on the size of the room in which you plan to use it. Personal or travel-sized humidifiers typically only reach 25 to 100 square feet. Check the square footage your machine can reach (which is determined by its gallon size) on its packaging before you invest in one.
Pick an easy-to-clean option. It’s best to regularly change the filter or clean your humidifier, preferably daily, but at least every two to three days, so pick an option with cheap (or no) filters, plus parts that are easy to wash. Otherwise, mold could grow inside the device due to standing water and get blown through your home, making life pretty awful for those with mold allergies—or anyone, really. Better yet, use distilled water in your chosen machine if possible, since tap water contains minerals that can breed bacteria and irritate your sinuses.
Always read the instructions. After you install and run your humidifier, make sure you’re using it correctly, too. Avoid running your humidifier for long periods of time and make sure to set a humidity level, if your machine has that feature. When the air is too damp, mold and mildew can grow and cause breathing problems.
“Humidifiers can help moisten airways, making it easier to breathe especially during dry winter months and when sick with a virus,” says Purvi Parikh, M.D., an allergist with the Allergy & Asthma Network. According to the Mayo Clinic, using a humidifier can help soothe issues like dry sinuses, bloody noses, cracked lips, and other problems caused by dry air.
Increased humidity can also ease breathing for people who have asthma or allergies—however, Dr. Parikh doesn’t actually recommend humidifiers for long-term or chronic use in this case, as they are “prone to growing dust mites and mold, which are dangerous for allergy suffers.” The Mayo Clinic also advises people with asthma or allergies to talk to their doctor before using a humidifier, as high humidity—or mist from a dirty humidifier—can actually lead to increased growth of allergens, which can worsen symptoms.
According to Dr. Canfield, once the air hits about 40% humidity, most people begin to see improvements in their symptoms. The Mayo Clinic says that the humidity level in your home should ideally be between 30% and 50%. However, humidity should ideally not exceed 50%, per the Environmental Protection Agency, as higher humidity levels can promote the growth of harmful bacteria like mold and mildew.
But what’s the best spot to place a humidifier in your home to get the most benefit? Dr. Parikh recommends the bedroom (or, another room that you work or spend extended time at once). “When we sleep, our airways are prone to increased dryness,” she explains.
Our team consulted the expertise of Stephen Canfield, M.D., an allergist at ColumbiaDoctors Midtown in New York City, and Purvi Parikh, M.D., an allergist with the Allergy & Asthma Network. Additionally, we poured through countless online reviews from customers.
For more than 70 years, Prevention has been a leading provider of trustworthy health information, empowering readers with practical strategies to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our editors interview medical experts to help guide our health-focused product selections. Additionally, Prevention also examines hundreds of reviews—and often conducts personal testing done by our staff—to help you make informed decisions.
Jake Smith, an editorial fellow at Prevention, recently graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in magazine journalism and just started going to the gym. Let's be honest—he's probably scrolling through Twitter right now.
Shannen Zitz is an Assistant Editor at Prevention, where she covers all things lifestyle, wellness, beauty, and relationships. Previously the Editorial Assistant at Prevention, she graduated from the State University of New York at Cortland with a bachelor's degree in English. If she’s not reading or writing, you can probably find her frequenting the skincare and makeup forums on Reddit or hogging the squat rack at the gym.
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