Dry winter air means cracked lips, a scratchy throat at 3 a.m. and a bedroom that feels like a desert. We narrowed it down to 4 humidifiers that independent testers rate well, from the most powerful dual-mist unit to the cheapest to run all winter. Pick the wrong one and you will either refill it every few hours or leave your room still dry.
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If you want warm and cool mist with strong output, get this one: TechGearLab named it its best overall humidifier, and it took the test room from 40% to 59% humidity in an hour. The catch: TechGearLab measured about 19.5 hours of run time, so expect to refill about daily at full speed.
Indoor air in winter can fall below the 30-50% humidity range the EPA recommends, and that is when dry skin, itchy eyes and a stuffy, dry throat show up. A humidifier fixes it, but only if it matches your room and you can keep it clean.
Black Friday is Nov 27, and humidifiers like these are often marked down around then. We re-check Amazon prices every day, so the price on each card is the current one when you read this.
Our top picks
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#1 · Best Overall
Levoit OasisMist 450S Smart Humidifier
★★★★★4.4(64,350)
Large or very dry rooms, and anyone who wants warm mist as well as cool
Dual-technology humidifier that combines ultrasonic cool mist and steam warm mist, with a 4.5-liter tank, a large display and an app for schedules and plant humidity settings.
Why buy it: If your room never feels humid enough, this is the one that actually changes the air: in TechGearLab's test it took a room from about 40% to nearly 60% humidity in an hour. You wake up without a dry throat and cracked lips even in a big or drafty room. The price of that power is a refill about every day when you run both modes.
Pros, cons & who should skip it
TechGearLab named it the best overall humidifier in its tests, mostly because of its output.
Pros
Most powerful humidification in testing
Warm, cool or both
Top-fill tank with a carry handle
Useful app, including plant settings
Cons
TechGearLab measured about 19.5 hours of run time, so expect a refill about daily at full speed
Measured 43.2 dB with a low whine and a constant drip sound (TechGearLab)
Nooks around the boiling plate need extra cleaning work
Highest running cost of the picks
Skip it if: you want a quiet bedroom unit or hate refilling every day
6-liter top-fill ultrasonic cool-mist humidifier with a humidity sensor, app and voice control, a night light and a sleep mode.
Why buy it: If you want to set it once and forget it, this lets you set a target humidity, runs about two days on one tank and stays quiet enough to sleep next to. Cool mist only, so it is the easier choice for a bedroom with kids or pets. You get fewer dry-throat mornings without turning bedtime into a chore.
Pros, cons & who should skip it
TechGearLab gave it its best-for-convenience award, thanks to the large tank and long run time.
Pros
Large tank and long run time
Quiet, around 38 dB in testing
Easy to clean and refill
Cool mist, so safer around kids and pets
Cons
Weaker humidification than the OasisMist
No warm mist for very cold, dry rooms
Skip it if: your room is large or very dry and you need maximum output
4-liter top-fill ultrasonic cool-mist humidifier with app and voice control, a night light and a quiet mode.
Why buy it: If you want working humidity and a smart schedule without spending much, this gives you a more comfortable winter for a fraction of the price of the Levoit models. Set the schedule on your phone and the room is comfortable when you walk in. Good for one bedroom or office, not for a big open space.
Pros, cons & who should skip it
TechGearLab recommends it as a cheaper option, and its sibling, the HM311, won a best-value award for occasional use.
Pros
Low price for a smart humidifier
Smart app and voice control
Easy refill from the top (its HM311 sibling scored well for cleaning)
Cons
Its HM311 sibling had lower output than the Levoit units in testing, so expect it to suit one smaller room
Fewer extras than the pricier models
Skip it if: your room is large or you need strong output on a very dry day
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#4 · Cheapest to Run
Blueair InvisibleMist H35i Humidifier
★★★★★4.4(91)
Anyone who runs a humidifier around the clock all winter
Evaporative humidifier with a humidity sensor and app control, a less common design that does not use ultrasonic vibration.
Why buy it: If you will run a humidifier all winter, this is the one that keeps your electric and water costs down: TechGearLab's yearly running-cost estimate was about $42, versus roughly $125 to $167 for the ultrasonic units it tested. It costs more up front and is louder, but over a long winter it can pay you back.
Pros, cons & who should skip it
TechGearLab gave it a Best Buy award for constant use because it is by far the cheapest to run.
Pros
Lowest running cost in the comparison
Humidity sensor and app
Long run time per tank
Cons
Higher price up front
Loudest of the compared models at about 50 dB
No essential-oil option
Skip it if: you want the quietest unit or the lowest price today
5 mistakes that make a humidifier hurt instead of help
Never cleaning it. MedlinePlus says to drain and clean a humidifier daily, because bacteria can grow in standing water. Do a deeper clean every few days.
Using tap water. Tap water has minerals that build up inside the unit. Distilled water, or demineralization tablets, keeps it cleaner for longer.
Running it nonstop with no humidity reading. Aim for 30-50% humidity. If windows or walls stay wet to the touch, turn it down, because damp rooms invite mold.
Putting it right next to the bed. MedlinePlus advises keeping it several feet away from the bed.
Buying warm mist for a kids' room. MedlinePlus recommends cool mist, especially for children, because warm mist can cause burns if someone gets too close.
FAQ
What is the best humidifier for most people?
The Levoit Classic 300S. It was rated best for convenience in TechGearLab's tests, with a large tank, a long run time and easy cleaning, and it is quieter than the OasisMist.
Which one is best for a large or very dry room?
The Levoit OasisMist 450S. It uses both ultrasonic and steam mist and was the most powerful unit in TechGearLab's tests, but it needs refilling about once a day.
Is warm or cool mist better?
Cool mist is the safer choice for kids and pets. Warm mist adds power and uses more electricity, and the OasisMist lets you choose.
Which humidifier costs the least to run?
The Blueair InvisibleMist H35i. TechGearLab estimates its yearly running cost at a fraction of the ultrasonic models.
How often do I need to clean it?
Empty and rinse it daily, and do a full clean every few days. A clean humidifier is the difference between fresher air and a moldy tank.
We started from hands-on lab tests by TechGearLab, which buys and measures humidifiers for output, noise, cleaning effort and running cost, and we checked safety and cleaning advice against MedlinePlus (NIH) and the EPA's humidity guidance. Each pick below is matched to a different home: a big room, a quiet bedroom, a tight budget, or a long winter of nonstop use. Assumptions: Prices change often, so check the current price on Amazon before you buy. Running costs are TechGearLab's estimate for about three months of constant use, and yours will vary with your electricity and water costs.
