The best humidifiers of 2021 are the ones that feel comfortable in your hand, have a sleek design, and make it easy to clean. Humidifier technology is constantly evolving but these top picks stand out among their competitors with creative ideas for functions, ergonomic designs ,and superior performance.
The “best humidifier for sinus problems” is a product that is designed to help with the symptoms of dry air in the home or office. This includes colds, allergies and other respiratory conditions.
Humidifiers may seem like a no-brainer when winter arrives, bringing with it a lot of dry air, but they’re really beneficial all year since they aid with anything from sinus issues to allergies.
Humidifiers come in a variety of shapes and sizes: cold mist, diffuser, top fill… The list could go on and on. The devices are not the same as air purifiers that clean the air, and there are a few things to consider before purchasing one. Do you, for example, need a little humidifier to keep your skin hydrated? Perhaps you need a bigger unit to maintain correct moisture levels across an entire floor. How about a humidifier to aid a small one who is congested? There’s good news: a humidifier exists for practically every circumstance.
To identify the finest humidifier for your requirements, we looked into the greatest alternatives on the market, reading editorial and user reviews, comparing the current models, and putting up a list of the top nine choices. After that, we tested and retested them in real-world scenarios over many weeks, utilizing a wide variety of criteria (described below). To find the finest humidifiers, we steamed, cool-misted, filled tanks, checked for humidity levels, and cleaned the hell out of these devices, eventually landing on three standouts:
Overall, the best humidifier
The Cool Mist Humidifier by TaoTronics increased the humidity in a room in approximately an hour and maintained that level for the longest time – 24 hours, to be precise. We really liked how simple it was to operate and clean this humidifier.
For big spaces, the best humidifier is
The V5100NS Vicks humidifier is a powerhouse, with a tank that is bigger than many of the other humidifiers we examined. This humidifier is great for filling up large rooms since it runs silently and contains enough water to run all day and night.
The most effective humidifier for bedrooms
The MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier by Pure Enrichment is quiet and includes a night light that provides the attractive teardrop-shaped machine a soothing glow. The automated shutdown ensures that it will never be used inadvertently during the day.
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TaoTronics Cool Mist Humidifier
We put this humidifier through its paces, testing it in a variety of rooms of all sizes, and it obviously came out on top. It was easy to get up and running right out of the box, clean up was a breeze, and it performed better and more effectively than any other humidifier we tried.
It’s possible that the highlight is how dull it is. If a humidifier attracts your attention, it is simply not doing its function. Because it’s actually a set-it-and-forget-it gadget, the TaoTronics Cool Mist Humidifier came in first. The humidifier produced perfect humidity for nearly 24 hours in our tests, keeping exactly at 35% (which is in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended humidity levels — and we double-checked with our external reader, of course). It just took an hour to get those ideal humidity levels, and humidity levels never increased throughout the course of 24 hours of usage. Because certain humidifiers may cause sticky environments, we found that avoiding a moist area was critical to our testing process.
Multiple days in a row, this workhorse cranked humidity for over 24 hours without a hitch (including replenishing the tank), which was amazing given how little it is in comparison to bigger (and less beautiful) versions. Only one of the humidifiers we tested lasted longer on a single tank (the Magictec, which ultimately had a lower-quality experience all around). We looked at how long it took to reach 35 percent humidity and how long it lasted there since the EPA advises that humidity in houses stay between 30 and 50 percent, and our testing took place during a relatively dry week in the Northeast. This humidifier’s built-in reader matched our external gauge readings perfectly and effortlessly maintained a healthy level in the room without any fiddling.
The TaoTronics Cool Mist Humidifier was easy to use right away. It was packed in such a way that the unit was simple to remove and install, and it was quickly filled and misted. The tank (which lights up – more on that later) makes up the majority of this humidifier, so it takes up very little room, which is another reason it was our top pick.
It was also very easy to clean, which is crucial if you’ve ever battled with a filthy, moldy humidifier filter or tank. The reusable filter is permanent (i.e., you won’t have to purchase replacements or replace it on a regular basis). Depending on how hard your water is, it may need to be soaked in vinegar once a month to maintain it clean. You’re undoubtedly aware that hard water includes larger levels of dissolved calcium and magnesium. While this isn’t dangerous, it may cause buildup on home appliances, such as your humidifier. It’s simple to clean the filter by removing it from the cap to which it’s connected. This humidifier was the simplest to refill since it had handles on both the top and bottom, and it didn’t splash water on the floor (or on us).
Getting the right-size humidifier for rooms and spaces was also important in our research, with some bigger humidifiers overpowering smaller rooms with moisture and other smaller units lacking the strength to really make a place pleasant. This one works in a range of sizes of rooms (working effortlessly and efficiently in spaces from 400 to 500 square feet).
And the TaoTronics won’t wake you up at night since the light display features a night mode that dims the display to just a little green light. Alternatively, if you prefer a night light, the tank may be lighted, giving a subtle glow in the room that may be relaxing to little children. It’s also very silent (it notched a perfect score in our testing for this aspect).
The sole drawback is that, although not unattractive, the machine is only available in white, which may be a problem for certain décor schemes. The TaoTronics Cool Mist, for around $50, is the obvious winner based on our tests if you’re looking for a plug-and-play humidifier you can essentially set and forget, except it requires refilling and the odd filter cleaning.
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Vicks V5100NS
The Vicks V5100NS is the humidifier you want in bigger rooms, coming in a few points below the TaoTronics but with a robust, appealing structure and higher tank size capacity. This is a busy machine that swiftly raises air moisture and readily fills open areas — we tried it in a 500-square-foot room — in little over an hour (one hour and 10 minutes, to be exact). According to the off-board humidity reader we used to measure accuracy, the Vicks V5100NS got the humidity rating up to 35% in that time.
This humidifier required no assembly and, once full, was ready to crank out over 20 hours of 35 percent humidity in one go on a very dry day in a 200-year-old home. With a tank that holds 1.5 gallons of water — most of the others we tested held a gallon or far less — it required no assembly and, once full, was ready to crank out over 20 hours of 35 percent humidity in one go on a very dry day in a 200-year-old home (not exactly a lab, but probably very much like your life).
You may aim the Vicks spray in whatever direction you like, such as away from sensitive furniture and décor or toward plants, thanks to the adjustable misting feature. While in use, it’s also quite quiet – we noticed a slight, barely detectable hum throughout our testing. It also maintained a constant humidity of 35 percent, never making the environment seem sticky or sweaty.
The modest difficulty in cleaning the tank, which is suggested on a weekly basis, kept this filter-free humidifier from being our top selection. You can only reach it at an uncomfortable angle, making it difficult to scrape fully. Also, when the humidity is high, the spray might be a lot! If you have hardwood flooring or anything else that might be easily harmed, place the Vicks V5100NS on a higher level to reduce condensation, which is a typical problem and a useful advice. Because of the strong misting, believe us when we say that this is designed for bigger places. When we tried it in smaller locations, humidity levels began to rise.
This Vicks humidifier is suitable for wide, open areas because to its huge tanks and powerful performance.
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Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
The Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier is a beauty right out of the box, with a sleek, dare we say “water forward” droplet-style design. It’s also simple to set up; just rinse, fill, plug in, and turn on. And, as we noted before (because we can’t stress this enough), it’s eerily silent, releasing just a faint hum.
Despite having a smaller tank than our other top recommendations, this humidifier readily operates overnight for the stated 16 hours, which is a shorter period than some of the larger versions. But what’s the benefit of having a smaller tank? It’s simple to fill the bathroom sink (without having to go to the kitchen) without getting water all over the place.
The Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier lost points for taking over an hour to reach the ideal moisture levels in even the smallest rooms we tested. It made up for those lost points, though, by maintaining a constant moisture level. We award points for not boiling up the room once again. We couldn’t award this humidifier the title of best overall since it seems to work best in a small room or bedroom (approximately 400 square feet) vs bigger rooms, but it is a fantastic addition to a desk or nightstand.
While this humidifier was simple to clean, several reviewers said that they only used distilled water — either filtered at home or purchased in a bottle — to keep it even cleaner. We didn’t observe any accumulation from tap water after more than a month of testing, but it might be a problem over time.
The night light capability, which makes the whole machine and tank glow a calm blue tone, is what we love about it for bedrooms and kids’ rooms. While some of the other units feature dimming lights, this one was the softest, emitting a faint glow that “makes the product incredibly pleasant,” according to reviews. This seemed like a unique function that went beyond a simple on/off switch.
With a five-year guarantee, the Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier has the best warranty of our top three. When you consider its silence and nighttime characteristics, this is an excellent choice for any bedroom.
The humidifiers were put through a rigorous testing procedure that lasted more than a month. We wanted to go right to the heart of what matters most to someone searching for a humidifier, focusing on usefulness, durability, and, of course, value. Over the course of a month, we evaluated each machine at least twice in various locations for convenience of setup and usage, humidity levels (and the time it took to reach there), and ease of refilling and cleaning. We kept track of how long it took to get the humidifiers out of their boxes and set up, which ones were hardest to clean and maintain, how long it took to boost humidity levels, and how filthy the entire process was. We paid close attention to whether equipment had distracting lights and how the warranties were written.
Overall performance
- Humidity level: We kept track of this using an external humidity reader, which informed us what humidity levels each machine could reach and how quickly. We conducted each test in a partly covered kitchen, attempting to control for external humidity as much as possible, but the weather has a mind of its own!
- We also utilized the reader to determine whether humidity levels were consistent, with a particular emphasis on overhumidifying a space, since a warm, steamy atmosphere and mold are not desirable results.
- Cleaning ease: Could we simply reach inside the components to clean them? Was there a lot of disassembly involved? Was it clumsy or heavy? Is there water all over the place? These are some of the things we thought about for cleaning convenience.
- Noise levels: Because many of us use a humidifier in our bedrooms, quiet — or at the very least a low hum — is often unavoidable.
- Setup: We examined to see whether the instructions were unclear or if the whole procedure was simple, since humidifiers should be simple to use and set up.
- Longevity: Have you ever wanted to wake up in the middle of the night to replenish a humidifier? No, I don’t believe so. We did this by looking at how long the tanks of different machines lasted.
Build
- Overall quality: We looked at how the pieces fit together, whether they felt and looked fragile, and if they readily fit back together when the tank was filled for each machine we unboxed.
- Tank size: During this procedure, we discovered that a large tank isn’t always the best option, since some large tanks were difficult to fill while smaller tanks lasted longer.
- Lights and design components: Many people believe that bright lights or other design features such as LED displays are harmful to getting a good night’s sleep, much as noise levels. So we checked to see whether they were included, and if they were, if they could be altered or turned off entirely.
Warranty
- What sort of warranty: We assessed warranties based on how long they last, so you know you’re receiving a quality product.
Using the processes outlined above, we assigned a score to each humidifier in each subcategory, then added the numbers together for a maximum score in each category, and then added the numbers together for a final overall score. The following is a breakdown of the scores:
- Overall, 60 points were awarded for the following functions: speed to a humidity point (10 points), constant humidity (10 points), humidity reading accuracy (10 points), ease of cleaning (10 points), noise levels (10 points), ease of setup (5 points), and tank life (5 points).
- The overall construction (15 points), tank size (10 points), and lights/distracting design all had a maximum of 35 points (10 points).
- The warranty was graded on a scale of one to five years: zero to two years (0 points), three to five years (2 points), and five or more years (5 points) (5 points).
- Other considerations: In addition to our point system, we looked at pricing and the device’s capabilities in comparison to other models.
Honeywell Cool Moisture Humidifier, Top Fill ($200; amazon.com)
Amazon
Honeywell Cool Moisture Humidifier, Top Fill
This Honeywell humidifier scored better than the other two we tested, and it’s a solid candidate for runner-up honors. In the greatest conceivable sense, this machine was a beast, and it would be a terrific option for producing wetness in a wider region. During our testing, it remained steady over night and kept multiple rooms pleasant.
With two ungainly top-fill tanks, this machine seemed somewhat larger than it really needed to be, but it was quite durable. We first filled the tanks by dragging them to the sink, but then we learned (a revelation!) that it was much faster to fill them by carrying a pitcher of water to them. There will be no more embarrassing struggles with a wet tank. It’s a fantastic purchase since it comes with a three-year limited guarantee. We also loved that it came in black and white, since having alternatives is always a plus.
Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier by Crane Adorables ($39.99; amazon.com)
Amazon
Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier by Crane Adorables
This machine is not only the prettiest of the devices we tested — we tried the fox, but there are also chicken, frog, Hello Kitty, and other character variations — but it is also an easy-to-use humidifier. We liked the appearance for children (and children at heart), as well as the absence of noises and bright lighting to keep them awake.
The humidifier has a simple dial that allows for easy humidity control, and it runs quietly and is simple to set up. Because it doesn’t need a filter, the machine should be cleaned with a water-vinegar solution on a regular basis, depending on use. We enjoyed how easy it was to use this attractive humidifier, but it takes a long time to achieve the ideal humidity level of 35 percent in a bedroom. However, it never made the room too humid, which we praised.
Amazon.com: Humidifier with Urpower Essential Oil Diffuser ($45.99).
Amazon
Urpower Essential Oil Diffuser Humidifier
This is the tiniest humidifier we examined, with a tiny tank that emits low humidity for eight hours. It couldn’t maintain a constant humidity level in a room bigger than a bathroom and couldn’t deliver a high humidity level in a room larger than a bathroom, both of which cost it points.
We’d call this an essential oil diffuser rather than a humidifier, and we loved it since it was quiet, had a beautiful, clean appearance, and a soothing light that changed colors. Essential oils may also be used to provide a peaceful spa experience in your bedroom or bathroom. For the record, we appreciated this little machine for the aforementioned reason, but it’s not the best choice for someone trying to relieve respiratory problems and add significant moisture to their house.
The LV600HH Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier by Levoit ($89.99; levoit.com) is a hybrid ultrasonic humidifier.
Amazon
Levoit LV600HH Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier
The perplexing directions, which we considered unnecessarily wordy and difficult when compared to the instructions for the other units, made this humidifier not the greatest build straight out of the box. However, according to our external reader and the humidifier’s internal reader, the humidity jumped immediately to 37 percent in the rooms we tested and remained there. It operated silently for over two days on low, generating very little noise.
Due of the difficulties of cleaning this equipment, it received a poor rating. The water was difficult to remove from the base, and a lot of it got up on our clothing and the floor. It was also difficult to fill without creating a mess, and we spent quite a deal of time cleaning up after this humidifier (at least it’s just water!). It did not seem to be properly constructed for the price.
Humidifier Magictec Cool Mist ($23.98; amazon.com; originally $29.99)
Amazon
Magictec Cool Mist Humidifier
We enjoyed how quickly this machine boosted the humidity levels in the rooms we tested it in, and how easy it was to alter those levels using the front-facing dial. Set on the lowest setting, it ran for about 40 hours!
The humidifier is black in color, has a basic, attractive design, and is ready to use right away. In comparison to the other humidifiers we examined, the construction seemed quite weak. The water tank rested quite loosely on the foundation, and it shook a bit as people went by. That said, it was really simple to clean and did the job, and we think it’s a good value for the money.
Germ Free Cool Mist Honeywell HCM350W ($69.40; walmart.com; originally $149.95)
Walmart
Honeywell HCM350W Germ Free Cool Mist
While several of the machines we examined swiftly increased the ambient humidity, this one went from zero to 35 percent in less than an hour. However, it seemed as though it didn’t stop spewing steam, making the room very humid. It was the least visually pleasing humidifier we tried, despite the fact that it didn’t contain any distracting lights. It operated for a full 24 hours, but it was extremely powerful, and adjusting the humidity levels was tough.
The most significant point detractor, though, was the humidifier’s construction, which was extremely bad. The bottom of the machine would come off and clang on the floor whenever we lifted it up. The bottom was meant to be detachable for easier cleaning, however it was quite difficult to remove.
The “best humidifier for large room” is a product that can help to reduce the dryness of your home. The best humidifiers are not only helpful when it comes to reducing the dryness, but they also make your home more comfortable and pleasant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best humidifier in 2021?
Is a humidifier good for Covid?
A: I am not sure, but if it is good for your respiratory system then yes.
What kind of humidifier is best for winter?
A: Humidifiers are best for people who suffer from dry air in the winter. It can improve health and mood, but many of them do produce some noise. This is something you will have to weigh against the amount of humidified air that it produces so you can find out which one would be most suitable for your needs!
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