Humidifier which one to buy

But when the temperature drops, you may prefer having a warm mist running in your house instead of a cool one.

Warm mist models can cause your nasal passages to swell and make breathing more difficult, however, so they should not be used to relieve cold symptoms, according to the FDA. CR advises against using a warm mist humidifier around children because the humidifier tank contains hot water that can burn skin if the humidifier tips over or leaks.

Shop Warm Mist Humidifiers on Amazon. To determine the humidifier size you need, first measure the square footage of the room. For small and midsized rooms, tabletop humidifiers are the least expensive option, but their small tanks require frequent refills. For large spaces, console models are best because they generate lots of moist air.

They also have larger water tanks, so they need fewer refills. Think about where it will go. You may want to sidestep the legwork of figuring out the right humidifier for your room size and just get the biggest humidifier available. Not a good idea. Get only the humidifier with the moisture output for what you need. Ease of use matters, too. With evaporative humidifiers, make sure the wick is simple—and economical—to replace; how often you have to replace it varies by model and how much you run the humidifier.

Look for user-friendly controls and clearly visible displays of the humidity level and settings. A humidistat helps. Almost half of the humidifiers in our ratings have a humidistat that shuts off the unit when it reaches a set humidity level—most are humidifiers meant for large rooms.

We note which models have a humidistat in the full view of our ratings. Consider how much cleaning is required. Always clean your humidifier before its first use and at the start of the humidifier season as well, Kapoor says. We respect your privacy. All email addresses you provide will be used just for sending this story.

Sign In. Become a Member. Remember Me. Forgot username or password? Theresa Holland. Theresa Holland is a freelance writer specializing in home improvement, cleaning, and bedding. She shares her favorite life hacks on her blog The Taboo Textbook. Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process.

Erica Puisis. Erica Puisis writes about home products for The Spruce and specializes in interior design and plant care. Our Top Picks. Best Overall:. With a sleek, modern appearance and a built-in essential oil diffuser, this humidifier is versatile and stylish.

Best Budget:. With up to 24 hours of runtime and an adjustable nozzle, this affordable humidifier is a good fit for any room. Best Splurge:. Best for Nursery:. Equipped with a soft night light and a hour run time per refill , this cool mist humidifier is a great option for the nursery. Best for Small Spaces:. If you have a small space, this compact humidifier is for you. It has a degree nozzle and ultrasonic cool mist technology. Best-Whole Home:. This humidifier covers up to 4, square feet and will provide moist air throughout your entire home.

It also connects to your HVAC system. Best Portable:. This humidifier is battery-operated and has a cordless design, so it's travel-friendly and great for on the go.

Best Ultrasonic:. This humidifier provides both a warm and cool mist, so it's perfect for all seasons and works especially well in bedrooms. Best Evaporative:. This product has a 3-in-1 design and works as a humidifier, air purifier, or both.

It doesn't release a visible mist and has six presets. Best Design:. The sleek design and unique shape of this humidifier make it as stylish as it is effective. It will double as decor. In This Article Expand. Our Picks. What to Look for. Why Trust The Spruce. What We Don't Like Requires ongoing filter purchases. The 7 Best Air Purifiers of Our Ratings. What Testers Say "Its long runtime is very convenient, and it's the most significant selling point.

View On Best Buy. What We Don't Like Expensive. Best for Nursery: Frida Baby 3-in-1 Humidifier. What Testers Say "In the end, I was not only satisfied but also impressed with this product. The 8 Best Night Lights of The 7 Best Essential Oil Brands of What We Don't Like Complex installation.

The 8 Best Essential Oil Diffusers of View On Amazon. What We Don't Like Leaves surfaces wet. What We Don't Like Tricky to clean. Taotronics Humidifier for Any Environment.

The 8 Best Whole House Humidifiers of What We Don't Like Small coverage area. Final Verdict Our top pick is the Stadler Form O Oskar view at Amazon , an impressive evaporative humidifier boasting a large coverage area; near-silent operation; and a compact, modern appearance. What does a humidifier do? What are the benefits of a humidifier? How do you clean a humidifier? Article Sources. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles.

Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Continue to 5 of 10 below.

Continue to 9 of 10 below. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for TheSpruce. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. Skip the mismatched collection of humidifiers scattered around your home by purchasing a whole-house humidifier that can cover up to 2, square feet.

You can select both your ideal humidity level and fan speed, and the digital humidistat will automatically shut off the humidifier once the pre-chosen humidity level is reached. What You Need to Know: Some shoppers reported leaking and suggested placing the humidifier on a sheet or pan to be safe.

If you need complete peace and quiet as you sleep, this humidifier is the perfect solution. Not only is the machine whisper-quiet, but you can turn the LED screen off completely to ensure your room stays pitch black. Depending on the season, choose between either warm or cool mist to humidify spaces up to square feet. What You Need to Know : Negative reviewers complain the humidifier is super difficult to clean and is difficult to fill up. This ultrasonic humidifier with more than 7, reviews is a fantastic Amazon find that can quickly humidify spaces up to square feet for as long as 50 hours.

The ultrasonic technology used to create the mist stands out from other designs by skipping the need for expensive filters. It also works with regular tap water, instead of the distilled water many humidifiers require, making it easier to refill as needed.

Other standout features include an essential oil tray to add soothing aromas, a blue LED night light, and an automatic shut-off. Unlike cool mist humidifiers, you can actually see the warm, soothing mist this model creates.

Slightly louder than ultrasonic options, this Honeywell humidifier heats the air to create a steam-like vapor in medium-sized rooms for up to 24 hours. When the tank runs out, the machine will automatically shut off and a refill light will illuminate.

You can also optimize the tank to meet your needs in the wintertime by choosing your ideal moisture output and adding vapors through the medicine cup. Created by Amazon, it has a special tray for essential oils to upgrade your mist with a refreshing or relaxing scent.

The no-frills, simplistic design operates with a single dial that lets you pick between a low or high mist. You can also choose whether or not to use the built-in blue light for extra ambiance. With more than 2, five-star ratings on Amazon , this budget-friendly find proves you can still get all the smart features of a higher-priced humidifier without breaking the bank. Just like many pricier designs, this humidifier is whisper-quiet, has an auto shut-off safety feature, and includes an optional, built-in essential oil diffuser.

What You Need to Know: It must be plugged in to run and requires frequent refills for the downsized tank. To use, simply screw off the top, add water to the fill line, plug in, and press start. You can choose between a cool or warm mist, and the device will run continuously for up to eight hours—so you can enjoy the soothing benefits of a humidifier anywhere. This smart humidifier uses Bluetooth technology to connect to the corresponding app on your phone, so you can start adjusting the humidity of your home before you even open the front door.