The 5 Best Humidifiers

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A humidifier can help with sinus pain, respiratory problems, asthma, allergies, nose irritation, and even the common cough and flu. It can also help improve your breathing and your sleep quality. If your skin, face, or lips are dry, a humidifier can add moisture and humidity to the room, so you won’t have to deal with cold weather symptoms any longer. It can even help promote plant health, reduce static electricity, and protect wood furniture, which is subject to shrinking, cracking, and warping from moisture loss.

If you are experiencing dry indoor air, then a humidifier can replenish the moisture. Maintaining the right humidity level can make the body and room feel warmer, which means you can cut your heating costs in the winter.

What Is a Humidifier?

A humidifier is a small device that can add moisture and humidity to a single room or the entire building. Humidifiers are available in cool mist, warm mist, and ultrasonic varieties to best suit your personal preferences. Allergy Buyers Club recommends a cool mist humidifier to combat allergies and a warm mist humidifier to combat asthma or respiratory infections. It is important to keep your humidifier clean and dry when not in use to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi.

Top 5 Humidifiers

Honeywell Germ-Free Cool Mist Humidifier

The Honeywell Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier, HCM-350, is unique because it features UV technology that kills up to 99% of bacteria, mold, fungus, and viruses found in the water. This means it will only produce clean and germ-free mist. The energy efficient, evaporative tabletop humidifier produces cool mist and can humidify up to 500 square feet of space. The self-regulating evaporative system will naturally adjust the output to the right amount of moisture. The durable tank has a handle for easy carrying, sits flat in the sink for easy filling, and has dishwasher-safe parts and a wide tank opening for easy cleaning. It is easy to use, is virtually leak-proof, and offers excellent output. It has a 1.5-gallon tank capacity and can offer reliable operation for up to 24 hours per filling. It is up to 25% quieter than other evaporative humidifiers. It is easy to clean and leaves no white dust residue. It is available in both black and white and is backed by a three-year limited warranty.

This humidifier was selected by Consumer Search as the best cool mist humidifier, is a Consumer Reports’ recommendation, is recommended by iallergy, is the top recommendation by TheSweetHome.com, and came out on top for multiple independent review sites. It is also backed by outstanding online reviews, including nearly 1,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. Honeywell is one of the most respected and highly rated brands of humidifiers available, so if this unit isn’t right for you, there is likely another Honeywell that will fit your needs.

Currently $51.07 on Amazon

Crane Adorable Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier

The Crane Adorable Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier offers a cute, compact, owl design, perfect for a nursery or kids’ room. While it is equipped with a small one-gallon tank, it offers good moisture output of 2.1-gallons per day. The energy efficient model is easy to use, whisper quiet, and can humidify up to 250 square feet of space. The manual control knob will allow you to adjust the mist output intensity. Once the tank is low on water, the humidifier will automatically shut off. The ultrasonic cool mist operation does not require a filter and can offer reliable operation for up to 24 hours. The removable water tank is easy to clean. It features a one-year warranty and is built to last.

This is Consumer Reports’ top humidifier pick for small rooms, Consumer Search selected it as the best humidifier for a child’s room, and Health Magazine selected it as the best option for dry skin and stuffy sinuses. If owls aren’t your thing, there are 10 different Crane Humidifiers designed to look like all different types of animals, such as a frog, dragon, monkey, and elephant. You might also consider something like the bestselling Crane Drop Shape Cool Mist Humidifier because Crane offers some of the best humidifiers on the market.

Currently $30.00 on Amazon

Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier With Auto Shut-Off

The Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier With Auto Shut-Off is unique because it can moisturize the air while making the room feel warmer during the winter. It has two vapor settings, an automatic safety shutoff, and a soft glowing nightlight. It produces up to 95% bacteria-free visible moisture and can humidify up to 400 square feet of space. It offers two settings for ideal comfort and an auto shut-off feature. The one-gallon tank offers up to 12 hours of quiet, reliable operation. It is easy to use, easy to clean with dishwasher-safe parts, and does not require a filter. It also has a three-year limited warranty.

The humidifier can be used with water or with Vicks Vaposteam or Kaz Inhalant for added relief. Consumer Reports’ selected this as one of the best humidifiers for medium-sized rooms and Consumer Search selected it as the best warm mist humidifier. It is also recommended by iallergy and backed by outstanding online reviews, including 1,100 five-star reviews on Amazon.

Currently $26.86 on Amazon

Ultrasonic Dual-Mist Warm/Cool Humidifier

The SPT Ultrasonic Dual-Mist Warm/Cool Humidifier with Ion Exchange Filter is unique because it produces either cool or warm mist. With variable humidity levels, it can produce plenty of fine mist to fit your needs. The ION exchange filter treats water to remove calcium and magnesium from hard water, which will prolong the useful life of the humidifier and prevent white dust particles from depositing into the air. The energy efficient model offers whisper quiet, reliable performance.

The tabletop humidifier can humidify up to 500 square feet of space and offers a daily output of 2.31 gallons and a maximum of 12 hours usage. The large tank has a carrying handle for easy use and filling. Once the tank is empty, the unit will automatically shut off. It has a sleek, compact design with easy-to-use controls and impressive features, like overheat protection and a rotating nozzle to direct mist in two directions simultaneously. It is easy to use, refill, and clean with an included cleaning brush.

This is Consumer Reports’ top humidifier pick for large rooms, Consumer Search’s pick for the best ultrasonic humidifier, the Editors' Choice selection at BabyGearLab.com, and the top rated ultrasonic humidifier at TheSweetHome.com. It is also backed by a one-year limited warranty.

Currently $65.17 on Amazon

Air-O-Swiss Travel Ultrasonic Humidifier

Air-O-Swiss humidifiers can be very expensive, but are worth the cost. Fortunately, they now offer an affordable travel ultrasonic humidifier, so you can try the humidifiers everyone is talking about without going broke. If you suffer from dry air symptoms after traveling, then the Air-O-Swiss Travel Ultrasonic Humidifier can provide the relief you need. It is whisper quiet and couldn’t be easier to use; all you do is attach your own standard water bottle, plug the unit in, and enjoy the clean moisture.

The lightweight, compact device makes it easy to carry anywhere, like in your travel bag or purse. This will allow you to use it anywhere you like, including on your desk, in a hotel, or in a small dorm room. It uses efficient ultrasonic technology and high-frequency vibrations to produce a micro-fine cool mist. It has a 1.2-gallon output and can be used for 24 hours. There is a mist output control so you can control the humidification. It is easy to clean and features an auto shut-off feature when the tank is empty. It includes accessories like a travel bag, power adapter, and exchangeable power plug.

Entrepreneur Magazine found that a travel humidifier can provide relief from uncomfortable symptoms caused by dry air and can create a soothing environment, no matter where you are. This humidifier came out on top for several independent review sites and is also backed by outstanding online reviews, including more than 500 five-star reviews on Amazon. It is also recommended by Amazon Baby for your new nursery and by the Allergy Buyers Club for people suffering from allergies. Air-O-Swiss is one of the most respected and highly rated brands of humidifiers available, so if this unit isn’t right for you, there is likely another Air-O-Swiss that will fit your needs. If you need something more permanent or for a large room, consider the renowned Air-O-Swiss Ultrasonic Humidifier - Warm and Cool Mist.

Currently $49.99 on Amazon

And those are our recommendations for the best humidifiers. As always, be sure to check Wise Bread's Buying Calendar to learn when and how to buy just about anything!

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