Best Humidifiers of 2023
In CR's tests, the top modelsāfor every room sizeācome from Babymoov, Honeywell, Lasko, and Stadler Form
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Winterās chill means drier air, indoors and out. Cold air tends to hold less water vapor than warm air, and that can make the air drier, even indoors. An effective humidifier can restore moisture and stave off a host of problems.
For one, a humidifier can prevent or relieve dry skin. If you have a cold, a humidifier that emits cold air can help shrink swelling in your nasal passages and make it easier for you to breathe, according to the Food and Drug Administration. And higher humidity helps reduce static electricity, so you can avoid those annoying shocks you feel when crossing a carpet.
Humidifiers also can help keep the things you own in good condition. Without enough moisture in indoor air, leather goods can crack, wood floorboards can shrink and creak, and guitars and other musical instruments can quickly go out of tune.
Our tests have found that some humidifiers are much better than others at pumping out the amount of moisture the manufacturers claim they produce. And some humidifiers are quieter, more convenient to use and clean, or use less energy.
Another factor in how well a humidifier works: matching the unit to your room size. āEnsure that the humidifier you choose can handle the area of your space,ā says Misha Kollontai, the engineer who leads Consumer Reportsā humidifier testing. Keep in mind, for instance, that open-plan rooms may require larger units. āLiving spaces often have open doorways that effectively increase the square footage,ā Kollontai says.
Youāll see dozens of models in our humidifier ratings. Most are cool-mist, the more widely used type. A handful are warm-mist, also known as steam vaporizers, which shouldnāt be used around children. (The humidifier tank contains hot water that can burn a child if they get too close or if the hot water spills.) And avoid warm-mist humidifiers if you have a cold. The warm moisture can cause your nasal passages to swell, making breathing more difficult.
Hereās a look at five top-rated humidifiers, one for each size we test.
For more shopping advice, see our humidifier buying guide. For test results and more options, CR members can check our complete humidifier ratings, which include units that range from personal size all the way up to consoles that can humidify 1,000 square feet or more.
CRās take.Ā The stylishĀ Stadler Form Emma E031Ā cool-mist ultrasonic humidifier, designed for areas up to 25Ā square feet, is the most expensive travel/personal unit in our ratings, but itās well worth the money. This unit is a stellar performer in several of our evaluations, including convenience. In part thatās because the wide-mouthed water tank that comes with this humidifier is easy to reach into for cleaning. The generatorās machineryĀ can be disassembled to fit into the water tank, which in turn fits into a fabric travel pouch. To power up, use a wall plug, USB cable attached to a computer, or battery pack (not included).
CRās take: The ultrasonic Babymoov Hygro (+), designed for rooms of around 215Ā square feet, is top-rated for a reason: It shines in every one of CRās tests. Itās one of the only small humidifiers to earn an above-average score for the accuracy of its humidistat reading. Features include a night-light that revolves through a rainbow of colors, an automatic shutoff when the tank is empty, a timer, and the option to diffuse aromas. One drawback, though, is that its cord length, 58 inches, is on the short side.
CRās take: The sleek, ultrasonic Honeywell HUL430B hits only high notes in our ratings, earning top scores in five out of six of our tests. (We couldnāt do our sixth test, for humidistat accuracy, because this model doesnāt have a humidistat.) This model, which is designed for rooms of about 400Ā square feet, includes several attractive features: an empty-tank indicator, an automatic shutoff when the water runs out, a fairly long cord (74Ā inches), a 2-year warranty, and the ability to diffuse scented essential oils into the air. Because this unit has no humidistat, we recommend buying a hygrometer, a gauge that costs around $10 and measures relative humidity. It will help you keep your room at the humidity level you want.
CRās take: The low-priced, ultrasonic Lasko UH300 can humidify a large room of up to 600Ā square feet, earning a very good rating in our output test and acing several other evaluations. Unlike most of the models in our ratings, this Lasko is a dual-mist humidifier. That means it can pump out cool mist or warm, using more energy in the latter mode. When the tank is empty, the Lasko shuts off automatically. This modelās humidistat wasnāt very effective, though, so consider purchasing an inexpensive hygrometer to monitor your roomās humidity level.
CRās take: The Essick MA1201 is the top-rated console humidifier in CRās tests, but like all console humidifiers, it comes with some notable drawbacks. This type of humidifier is designed to tackle large spaces, and the manufacturer says the Essick can humidify up to 2,500 feet. But to do so it needs to crank up a fan, making it quite loud. Despite this, itās still a solid product, excellent for efficiency and very good for output and convenience. It has a built-in humidistat, which is fairly accurate, and an indicator for when the wick needs replacing.
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