Best Humidifier Reviews 2020

When the dry winter winds and heat roll through your home, the air can become uncomfortable, especially through the night. A reliable humidifier helps with potentially sore throats and dry skin, especially when allergies and asthma are involved. Dry air can even cause damage to carpets, woodwork and furniture. That's why we've researched extensively and found five of the best humidifier brands around, with a model to feature from each. We also have a separate review for diffusers that can also act like humidifiers, if you want some more options to check out.

Overview

PROS

CONS

SPECS

Type

Size

Reservoir

Coverage

Technology

Our Top Choice

Essick Air Whole-House Evaporative Humidifier

Essick Air was founded in 1939, giving them decades of experience in manufacturing humidifiers and evaporative air coolers for commercial and residential use.

Auto shut off. Digital display. Wheels for portability. Filter and refill indicator light. Auto mode and 4 fan speeds. Customizable settings. ETL approved.

Some complaints that the wicks dry out easily if not used for a few days.

Whole-house, wheeled

20.5 x 21.5 x 14.5” / 14lbs

3.6-gallons

Up to 3,600 sq. ft.

Evaporative technology

Best Value

Everlasting Comfort Ultrasonic Humidifier

Everlasting Comfort focuses on just that, your comfort. They manufacture functional knee pillows, memory foam seat cushions, back cushions, oil diffusers and humidifiers.

Small, compact size. Large output 270ml per hour. Lasts 50 hours between refilling. Essential oil tray. Fully adjustable settings. No filters needed. Auto shut off.

The design makes it difficult to clean.

Single-room, stationary

14.4 x 12.4 x 7.8” / 4.25lbs

1.6-gallons

Up to 400 sq. ft.

Ultrasonic technology

Aprilaire 700 Automatic Home Humidifier

Since 1954, Aprilaire has been focused on manufacturing the highest quality humidifiers to make your living space more enjoyable, safer and cleaner.

Powerful whole-house humidifier. Automatic controls. More moisture than competition. Simple, infrequent maintenance.

Non-portable. Higher price than single room units, but a great price for its capacity.

Whole-house, stationary

16 x 11 x 18" / 15lbs

None, by design

Up to 4,200 sq. ft.

Evaporative technology

TaoTronics Cool Mist Humidifier

TaoTronics manufactures high-quality products that help improve and enhance lives. Their range includes Bluetooth headphones, speakers, lamps, oil diffusers and humidifiers.

Compact size. Quiet operation, just 38db. Microporous cartridge thoroughly filters water. 15 hours use between filling. Adjustable settings. Built-in timer. LED display.

Some parts are hard to reach when cleaning.

Single-room, stationary

8.07 x 5.31 x 11.31” / 3.53lbs

1.05-gallons

For rooms 431-538 sq. ft.

Ultrasonic technology

VicTsing 500ml Essential Oil Diffuser

VicTsing, founded in 2012, is a growing company who manufacture home products and consumer electronics, specifically audio products, mobile accessories and oil diffusers.

Compact. Modern wood grain design. Ultrasonic technology. Quiet operation. 7 color changing LED lights. BPA-free. 4 timer settings. 2 mist modes.

Isolated cases where the motor sound can be heard after a few months of use.

Single room, stationary

7.2 x 7.2 x 9.7” / 2lbs

500ml

For rooms 269-323 sq. ft.

Ultrasonic technology

(Updated May 11, 2018)

Skip ahead and go directly to the reviews.

How Do I Choose the Best Humidifier?

Humidifiers ultimately add moisture to the air in your home, so they’re perfect if you live in a dry area as increasing the moisture to 43% can reduce the spread of airborne flu virus and also help when you’re feeling under the weather. Oil diffusers are a kind of humidifier because they also add moisture to the air, in the form of essential oils. The URPOWER Essential Oil Diffuser/Cool Mist Humidifier is a great option with changing LED lights and a range of designs to choose from.

However, if you’re sure it’s a humidifier you want, you need to first need to make a few decisions. The first of which has to do with the “type” of moisture that you want added to your home. Many humidifiers emit either a warm or a cool mist. Either type can be very comforting, depending on climate and personal preference. Using these options can also help you save money on heating and air conditioning. One example of a warm mist humidifier is the Kaz Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier which releases up to 95% bacteria free warm mist that can help with congestion and coughs.

Size is the next important decision you will need to make. Humidifiers can be purchased for a range of spaces – usually spanning either a single room to an entire home. Many whole-house humidifiers can be built-in to your home's air system, depending on your pre-existing setup. In comparison, single and multi-room humidifiers are often portable and easy to set up, though they have smaller tanks that require more frequent refilling. Our shortlist will include both single room and whole-house models. If you want an example you can check out the Pure Enrichment MistAire XL Ultrasonic Humidifier which has a 1-liter water tank and can provide moisture for spaces up to 500 square feet.

The final decision is related to how each humidifier creates the moisture and mist. We will be focusing mainly on units that evaporate water into soothing vapor, but there are also ultrasonic and impeller humidifiers. Ultrasonic humidifiers use vibration and impeller models use a rotating disk to emit mist. Ultrasonic are generally the quietest models, which make them ideal for bedroom usage.

By the way, if you are looking for the best dehumidifier for the humid summer months, of for damp places, we have a great review for that too. Not let’s take a look at some other important things to consider when choosing a humidifier for your home.

Price

The price for a good-quality portable humidifier can range from $30 to $170, with smaller units generally on the lower end and whole-house units on the upper end. Humidifiers that are built into a home may cost up to $400, and they offer greater consistency and power. Plenty of cheap humidifiers are available, however our research has shown that many of those models are prone to leaking or weakened air flow. If you're looking for a good deal and you don't want to sacrifice performance, look for deals on Amazon and pay close attention to user ratings and reviews.

Higher price often means better construction and more advanced technology for more reliable or cleaner moisture. Many whole-house models require a professional installation which can drive up the price, but a proper installation and high-quality unit can provide perfect humidity for many years.

Features

When it comes to adding moisture to your home, you want the option that makes it easy to simply set and forget your home's humidity level. Most of us would prefer to spend as little time as possible cleaning and adjusting and maintaining a humidifier just to be comfortable. High-quality units have features to reduce these tasks for total ease-of-use.

Keep an eye out for these features when you're looking for a new humidifier.

Speed.Some humidifiers work faster than others: look for units with powerful or adjustable fan speeds if you want to more quickly and easily humidify your home.
Temperature Control.As we noted earlier, your home can benefit from warm or cool mists along with the natural benefits of humidity.
Digital Display.Look for an easy-to-read digital display. Some are larger and provide advanced customization on more advanced models.
Maintenance Accessories.Some humidifiers come with accessories to help maintain a clean water reservoir by reducing limestone buildup and other potential hazards.
Noise.Noise can be an issue, especially for bedroom humidifiers. User reviews can help you determine how loud a specific model is.
Timers.Automatic shut off and sleep mode timers can be a great way to save electricity without having to manually shut off your humidifier.
Tank Size.Smaller tanks need to be refilled more often, so a large tank can save a lot of hassle. Some units automatically collect water, making them even more convenient.
Power & Range.More powerful units can produce more moisture in a larger area, making them ideal for big spaces. Consider the range of a unit and compare it to the space you want to humidify.

Keep these features in mind while we take a closer look at what makes a good humidifier.

Construction and Design

There are three main humidifier designs: tabletop, console and in-duct. Tabletops are smaller, portable humidifiers that usually humidify a single room. Console humidifiers are larger and may humidify an entire home, while in-duct humidifiers are built into a home's ducts for consistent humidity. Consider the size of the space you want to humidify and whether or not you want to spend money on an in-duct installation.

Tabletop and console humidifiers become a part of your furniture, so you may want to consider the look of each unit. Some are built to blend seamlessly with your décor while others are built to look sleek and take up less space.

More advanced units are sometimes built with sensors to detect the level of humidity in the air, automatically adjusting as the environment changes. This type of technology can really make it easy to set and forget your humidifier for long-lasting comfort in your home. Other models may have a "humidistat", which automatically shuts off the unit when humidity levels reach a certain point.

Performance and Ease of Use

Take a look at the displays on different models – Some are easy to read and navigate with a few simple buttons. Others are a complicated mess. Some users prefer dial humidity control, but most people like the simplicity of a digital display with a number representing the humidity level. Timers can also make it easy to set your humidifier for certain lengths of time, allowing you to save water and electricity.

Consider the cleaning process before you buy a new humidifier – you'll need to clean out the water tank regularly to keep the mist clean and soothing. Some tanks are much easier to clean than others. It may not be possible to actually see the tank before you buy, but Amazon consumer reviews can be a big help. Check to see if users have trouble with cleaning their tank. Some units feature accessories and special methods to prevent buildup of dirt and bacteria – watch for those as well.

What is the Best Humidifier?

With these considerations in mind, we've scoured the internet for 5 of the best brands who are known for making quality humidifiers, highlighting one from each of them to give you a sampling of the different types available. We've only looked at chart-topping models with an eye towards reliable construction, performance and ease of use. Let’s see how they stack up.

Our Top Choice

The Essick Air Whole-House Evaporative Humidifier is a great portable humidifier for a home up to 3600 square feet. If you're looking for a smaller unit, check out the Essick Air EP9 800 Pedestal-Style Evaporative Humidifier, which features a sleek design and the ability to humidify several rooms.

Essick Air AIRCARE Whole-House Console-Style Evaporative Humidifier

Essick Air Humidifier MA1201

Features

Essick Air is a long-respected name in the humidifier business, founded in 1939. They make a wide range of humidifiers, whole house ducted coolers, evaporative air coolers, humidifier parts and accessories from single room capacity to commercial size units.

The Essick Air Whole-House Evaporative Humidifier is a standalone, console-style humidifier that can add moisture the air of your home up to 3600 square feet. It’s an evaporative humidifier that extracts dry air from the room and runs it through a saturated wick filter. By raising the humidity level of a room to 43% or above, you reduce the risk of airborne flu viruses spreading and also the affect of allergens like pet dander.

Here’s some more awesome features to get excited about:

Runs for up to 36 hours at a time
3.6-gallon tank capacity
Easy to use digital display and controls
Auto mode and 4 fan speeds
Auto shutoff and customizable settings
Indicators for checking filter and refilling
On wheels for easy portability
ETL approved

Essick Air has a ton of humidifiers to choose from. Check out different styles and capacities before deciding.

Best Value

The Everlasting Comfort Ultrasonic Humidifier is a great lightweight and portable humidifier for rooms up to 400 square feet. There’s also an essential oil tray. If you want a dedicated oil diffuser too, you should consider the Everlasting Comfort 400ml Essential Oil Diffuser which has an attractive dark wood design.

Everlasting Comfort 6-Liter Ultrasonic Humidifier with Built-In Oil Diffuser, High Mist Output, Available in 2 Colors

Everlasting Comfort Humidifier 6L - White

Features

Everlasting Comfort is a brand focused on exactly what you think, your comfort. Their products include memory foam back cushions, knee pillows, seat cushions, oil diffusers, neck pillows, sleep mask travel kits and humidifiers. All their products are manufactured with your comfort in mind, evident by their unique and innovative designs and construction.

The Everlasting Comfort Ultrasonic Humidifier is a compact humidifier big enough for rooms up to 400 square feet. This is an impressive output considering the unit measures just 14.4 x 12.4 x 7.8-inches! It’s small enough to fit pretty much anywhere in your home and at just 4.25-pounds, you can easily move it from room to room depending on where you need it most.

Here’s some more features of this compact humidifier:

1.6-gallon tank capacity
Works for 50 hours between refills
Output of 270ml per hour
Ultrasonic technology means it’s super quiet
Essential oil tray if you want to add your favorite oil
Fully adjustable steam and mist output
Auto shut off feature
No need for expensive filters

If you like the look of this compact humidifier, you can choose between the white and black model.

If you need a portable humidifier for rooms up to 400 sq. ft., get the Everlasting Comfort Ultrasonic Humidifier today!

The Aprilaire Model 700 Humidifier is powerful and dependable, automatically adjusting humidity to the set level in homes of 4,200 sq. ft. and smaller. Looking for something on a lower budget? Check out the Aprilaire Model 400 Humidifier, featuring drainless technology to minimize water waste.

Aprilaire Large Capacity Humidifier – Automatic & Manual Control, 4,200 sq. ft, 0.75 Gallons/Hour

Aprilaire Model 700 Humidifier

Features

As is the number one manufacturer of humidifiers in the United States, Aprilaire has specialized in whole-home humidifiers since 1954. Since then, the company has developed some of the most advanced technologies for producing an exact humidity level in a wide variety of spaces. The model 700 that we are looking at is a power humidifier, but Aprilaire also builds high quality steam, bypass and non-ducted humidifiers, depending on your home air-flow system. We chose the power humidifier because it can be easily installed in most homes and is extremely reliable.

Let's take a look at what makes the Aprilaire 700 stand out.

This unit humidifies well-sealed spaces of up to 4,200 square feet, and can also be effective in smaller homes.
Automatic mode makes it easy to set and forget your desired humidity, but manual mode is also available for advanced customization. Display indicators let you track temperature and humidity.
You don't need to refill this whole-house humidifier, since it automatically collects water through your home's plumbing.
The easy-to-read digital controls work alongside your thermostat and are simple to program.
This unit is able to produce 50% more humidity than competitors in its price range.

The digital display can be mounted alongside your thermostat for a simplified way to control the air and comfort of your home. The Aprilaire 700 features automatic humidity control to make your job easy. It automatically pulls heated air directly from your furnace. It also features simple indicators for service problems, temperature and humidity. Installation should be performed by an HVAC professional to ensure safety and optimal performance.

If you need a different size or design, check out more options from Aprilaire today before deciding.

The TaoTronics Cool Mist Humidifier is a fantastic compact humidifier for rooms up to around 450 square feet. If you need a larger humidifier, you could opt for the TaoTronics Warm and Cool Mist Humidifier 6L.

TaoTronics 4L Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier with LED Display, Available in 2 Colors

TaoTronics Humidifier TT-AH001 - White

Features

TaoTronics pride themselves on manufacturing products to help improve and enhance the lives of their consumers. Their product range includes Bluetooth headphones, speakers, transmitters and receivers as well as desk lamps, oil diffusers and humidifiers.

The TaoTronics Cool Mist Humidifier uses ultrasonic technology which makes it very quiet to use, just 38db. It’s a compact humidifier, measuring 8.07 x 5.31 x 11.31-inches, but it has the power to work in a space up to 431 – 538 square feet.

Let’s take a look at some other features that make this humidifier a great option:

Features a microporous cartridge that thoroughly filters water
Works for up to 15 hours between filling
1.05-gallon water tank capacity
Adjustable vapor settings
Built-in timer and sleep mode for convenience
Intuitive LED display
360-degree nozzle to reach all areas

If you like this humidifier, you can purchase it in white and black.

If you need a humidifier with some different features, TaoTronics has a wide range to choose from. Check them out.

The VicTsing 500ml Essential Oil Diffuser can be used for spaces up to 323 square feet and the large water tank capacity means you can get between 7 and 14 hours use out of it between each refilling. If you would prefer a general humidifier rather than an oil diffuser, you should check out the VicTsing Single House Humidifier with Smart Humidity Monitor.

VicTsing 500ml Essential Oil Diffuser, Quiet Design, 7-14 Hours Ultrasonic Aroma Diffuser

VicTsing Humidifier 1234

Features

VicTsing was founded in 2012. They’re a supplier of home products and consumer electronics, specializing in mobile accessories, audio products, humidifiers and essential oil diffusers. VicTsing is continually evolving and innovating and their annual sales have now reached $75 million.

The VicTsing 500ml Essential Oil Diffuser has a large 500ml water tank which means it can run for up to 14 hours in between refilling. Just put your favorite essential oil in and wait to feel the lasting benefits of a more humid atmosphere. You can use specific oils to combat certain health problems too, like eucalyptus, lavender and peppermint.

Let’s look at some more features of this diffuser:

Coverage area of 269-323 square feet
Ultrasonic technology makes it quiet
4 timer settings; 1-hour, 3-hours, 6-hours or ON
2 mist modes; high or low
Color changing LED night light
BPA-free and safe
Modern wood grain design would fit in any modern home

If you want to check out some more humidifiers or oil diffusers, VicTsing has a lot more to choose from. Check them out!

Get the Best Humidifier of 2020!

Choosing a humidifier depends largely on the size of the space you want to humidify and the budget you're working with. Smaller models are generally suited for smaller spaces, so keep that in mind as you make your selection.

Our Top Choice

Essick Air Whole-House Evaporative Humidifier

Best Value

Everlasting Comfort Ultrasonic Humidifier

Aprilaire 700 Automatic Home Humidifier

TaoTronics Cool Mist Humidifier

VicTsing 500ml Essential Oil Diffuser