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I began researching humidifiers in New York City during the second-longest drought on record. In November my radiators clanked along, blasting my 100-plus-year-old Brooklyn apartment with heat. And according to the hygrometer on my indoor air quality monitors, my humidity was hovering at 32 percent. The inside of my nose was dry, as was my skin. My houseplants needed to be watered more than usual. Brooklyn’s Prospect Park had a wildfire that required more than 200 firefighters. This is all to say it was arid.
And parched interiors are not just about chapped lips or dry noses. According to the recommendation of Harvard’s School of Public Health, indoor humidity can slow the spread of Covid-19. Ideal indoor humidity should be between 30 percent and 50 percent. And studies suggest that a higher ambient humidity along with warmer temperatures also inhibit the spread of influenza. There’s a lot those little humidifiers can do.
And still, the number one abandoned appliance I see on my neighborhood’s stoops is the humble humidifier. Often, they are left with a Paddington Bear–style label with the words, “Still works!” I also see them discarded in the trash. And I, too, am guilty of throwing out more than one humidifier. I give up when I can’t seem to clean the gross brown film at the bottom of their tanks. I start out with good intentions, filling them with the recommended distilled water, but I’ll eventually switch to tap. I’ve gotten better and cleaned my last humidifier properly with water and citric acid, purchased at a spice store.
Still, the minerals in water are an issue. If you have hard water, your humidifier might produce a film of white-dust mineral buildup; that is why so many models recommend distilled water or come with filters. And I’ve gone through entire dry-air winters because I didn’t feel like dealing with a humidifier. For more on how to improve your indoor air quality, check out our guides to the Best Air Purifiers, Best Space Heaters, Best Dehumidifiers, Best Indoor Air Quality Monitors, and Best Fans.
Updated October 2025: We’ve added the Blueair DreamWell Humidifier, Blueair 2-in-1 Purify + Humidify, and Dreo Smart Humidifier 735S 11L, and ensured accurate links and prices throughout.
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Best Overall
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Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
Blueair
Invisible Mist Humidifier
The Blueair InvisibleMist Humidifier looks like the younger sibling of Blueair’s ComfortPure 3-in-1 air purifier, and has so many features that remove much of the friction that comes with humidifier ownership. First, there are two ways to fill up the 3.5-liter tank. You can fill it under that tap—yes, it’s tapwater safe—or use the pour-over option. I use my watering can to top off the humidifier; that alone would make the InvisibleMist best in class, but there’s more. Blueair’s tank is also dishwasher safe.
At just under 1.5 feet tall, the InvisibleMist has an antimicrobial wick filter to capture minerals and pollutants. Blueair suggests changing the filter every six months. It even offers a filter subscription service that you can purchase with the humidifier. The Blueair has both an easy-to-use control panel that also shows my humidity, along with a user-friendly dashboard on their app that lets me control the humidifier and keep track of filter life.
Next, Blueair has an invisible mist. There’s no humidifier plume. And that humidity shoots from the base up into the room, not to the side. This is important as it rises up to breathing height. I can also preset my desired humidity. I’ve been using the Invisible Mist in my 200-sq-ft bedroom, and it’s kept it at a steady 50 percent humidity. And I’ve noticed that I’m breathing easier than I was in my pre-humidification life.
Recommended water Tap Fillability Tank with handles or top pour-through Dishwasher-safe tank? Yes App, voice control? Yes Mist Invisible Air sensor? Yes Filters? Yes, with optional subscription Warranty 1 to 3 years WIRED
- Multiple fill options
- Antimicrobial wick filter to capture minerals and pollutants
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- None
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Best Value
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Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
Dreo
Smart Humidifier HM713S 6L
This Dreo is the smart version in an old standard humidifier silhouette. It has the familiar above-unit see-through tank, but it can do so much more than just blow out a steady stream of mist. Out of the box, I was annoyed the Dreo demineralizing filters to prevent buildup are sold separately. On the plus side, the Dreo Smart has a built-in sensor, an easy-to-use app, and a humidity level glow light, and it shoots its mist straight up into the air.
Its built-in handle makes filling the surprisingly large 6-liter tank a little less awkward. Like the Homedics Ultrasonic, the Dreo also has an aromatherapy tray. And it has both cool and a 133-degree-Fahrenheit warm mist. It has three mist settings: auto, manual, and sleep. And it has a built-in air sensor and large digital display that tells me my indoor humidity, along with three ambient light indicators: orange for dry, green for comfort, and blue for wet. At this price, it’s a smart option for any medium room size.
Recommended water Tap Fillability Tank with handle Dishwasher-safe tank? No App, voice control? Yes Mist Visible Air sensor? Yes Filter? Yes, but sold separately Warranty 1 year WIRED
- Built-in sensor and an easy-to-use app
- Humidity level glow light and it shoots mist straight up into the air
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- Dreo demineralizing filters are sold separately
- Large tank can be awakward
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Best Humidifier for Sleep
Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
Blueair
DreamWell Humidifier
Blueair’s DreamWell Humidifier has several features to make this one of the easier humidifiers to use and maintain. Blueair makes the DreamWell in both 1- and 2-gallon tank sizes. WIRED tested the 1-gallon model. The DreamWell has mood lighting (warm, normal, and bright), along with a scent pod that can be filled with a few drops of essential oil that turns this humidifier into a sleep aid. Its understated design blends into most interiors. Similar to Blueair’s Signature air purifier, I found the DreamWell’s control panel difficult to see in bright light. What the control panel lacks, Blueair’s advanced app makes up for. Blueair has a “welcome home” function that uses geolocation to turn the humidifier on 15 minutes before the user walks in the front door. In using the feature, the user needs to plug in their mode of transportation: walking, biking, public transport, or car. There’s also an option for drying the wick, the humidifier’s machine-washable filter, which starts automatically when the tank is empty.
The DreamWell comes in Coastal Beige or Stone Gray and is the ideal size for a small bedroom. For larger rooms, go for the 2-gallon DreamWell. And while the tank is only 1 gallon, the fill-top option makes for easy refilling.
Recommended water Tap Fillability Tank with handles or top pour through Dishwasher-safe tank? Yes App, voice control? Yes Mist Invisible Air sensor? Yes Filter? 1 year Warranty 1 year WIRED
- Top-fill option
- Machine-washable filter wick
- Calming mood light and diffuser option
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- Control panel difficult to read in bright light
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Best Humidifier That’s Also an Air Purifier
Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
Blueair
2-in-1 Purify + Humidify
This is an ideal air purifier and humidifier for a small room no bigger than 300 square feet. The 2-in-1 uses HEPA and carbon filters to pull both PM 2.5 and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from the air. There’s an air sensor that corresponds with the purifier’s indicator light. Blueair has custom light codes that I find confusing: blue for excellent, green for very good, yellow for good (yellow usually means moderate in US AQI color codes), orange for polluted, and red for very polluted. And while the indicator light might take some getting used to, the Blueair app is excellent. The 2-in-1 also has the “welcome home” geolocation feature that automatically turns on the appliance 15 minutes before you walk in your front door. It also has both the air quality and humidity readings.
For an appliance that is 3 feet tall, the humidifier’s tank is surprisingly small at 0.79 gallons. The option of using the top-pour design at least makes the task of refilling the tank relatively easy. If you are short on space and want to combine your air purifier and humidifier, then Blueair’s 2-in-1 is an excellent choice.
Recommended water Tap Fillability Tank or top pour-through Dishwasher-safe tank? Yes App, voice control? Yes Mist Invisible Air sensor? Both air sensor and humidistat Filter? 1 year with optional subscription Warranty 1 year WIRED
- An air purifier and humidifier all in one sleek appliance
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- The water tank only holds three liters of water
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Best Budget Humidifier
Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
Dreo knows how to make smart home appliances and has one of the most user-friendly apps I’ve tested. This humidifier pairs easily, and I’m able to preset everything from humidity levels to the color of the lights. The Dreo has become my default nightlight as it illuminates my dining room with the soft glow of its ambient light coordinated to various settings: blue for “wet,” aqua green for “comfort,” and orange for “dry.” The more I review air quality appliances, the more I appreciate the quick intel that color codes provide.
The built-in humidistat and easy-to-read LED display let me see my room’s humidity percentage. And as much as I love the Dreo Smart Humidifier, it’s annoying that it doesn’t come with a filter and that it needs to be ordered separately. Dreo is not the only model that does this, but it’s an unnecessary additional step. On the positive side, you can monitor the filter life in the Dreo app along with the cartridge life indicator light on the built-in display. And having a filter is especially important if you’re like me and only use tap water. The Dreo also has an aroma pad tray for essential oils. Lastly, the Dreo has a generously sized water tank that is filled from the top along with three directions for mist, including straight up in the air. I appreciate this last feature, as it means the Dreo caan be placed directly on the floor.
Recommended water Purified or distilled Fillability Top fill tank Dishwasher-safe tank? No App, voice control? Yes Mist Adjustable Air sensor? Built-in humidistat Tank capacity 6 liters Filter? Yes, but sold separately Warranty 1 year WIRED
- User-friendly app
- Color correlated settings
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- Filter needs to be bought separately
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Best Whole-House Humidifier
Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
Dreo
Smart Humidifier 735S 11L
The Dreo has one of the longest run times—nearly 100 hours—of any humidifier WIRED has tested. That large tank solves one of the main complaints I hear from humidifier users: the need for frequent refills. Keeping a humidifier stocked with water is much like watering a thirsty plant: Humidifiers often require daily attention. The Dreo’s nearly 3-gallon tank eliminates that. Still, that large water tank comes with some downsides. The Dreo Smart without water weighs a light 6 pounds, but when the water tank is at capacity, it weighs a difficult-to-carry 28 pounds. Standing at 2.5 feet tall, the humidifier’s long, rectangular tank also limits the kind of faucet/spigot that can be used to fill it. There is a pour-over option, but it requires three 1-gallon pitchers of water to fill the tank. The other issue with a long and tall humidifier—and perhaps this is only an issue for cat owners—is the possibility of tipping over. It didn’t tip during testing in a two-cat household, but I did worry about the possibility.
The Dreo Smart is a well-priced whole-house humidifier, up to 700 square feet, with a mist over 6 feet high. Its seamless, intuitive app gives users complete control over maintaining humidity at the preferred setting. There is also an aroma pad tray for those who want to use a few drops of essential oil in their mist, turning the humidifier into a giant air diffuser. The Dreo Smart’s humidity indicator light glows yellow when humidity is lower than 30 percent, green for 31 to 60 percent, and blue for 61 percent and above. According to the EPA, ideal indoor humidity is between 30 and 50 percent.
Recommended water Tap Fillability Tank or top pour through Dishwasher-safe tank? No App, voice control? Yes Mist Visible Air sensor? Humidistat Filter? Demineralization cartridges Warranty 1 year WIRED
- Nearly 3-gallon tank means fewer refills
- 100 hours of constant humidifying
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- The tall tower tank might be difficult to fill from certain faucets
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Best Humidifier for Travel
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Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
HoMedics
Ultrasonic Humidifier CMTF14
I tested this old-school, energy-efficient portable humidifier in my home, but realized its true potential when I woke up with a dry and almost bloody nose while staying in a California hotel. I had been living in ideal humidity back in New York City. As I sprayed saline up my nose, I had a single thought in my mind: I should have brought a humidifier. Around the size of a rectangular box of tissues or toiletry case, the Homedics Ultrasonic is not too large and deserves space in my luggage. But unlike so many petite humidifiers, its nearly 2-liter tank can effectively add humidity to a 258-square-foot room, making it perfect for bedrooms and hotel rooms.
The Ultrasonic looks like the humidifiers I bought for my kids’ rooms when they were babies, but it has added features like the small plastic capsule that is Homedics’ “demineralization cartridge.” And, being a Homedics product, it also has an essential oil tray and pads. I’ve used the Homedics essential oil tray before with the brand’s air purifier. Essential oils in the Homedics tray didn’t negatively impact my indoor air quality, according to my air quality monitors, but pet owners might want to skip this feature, as essential oils are not considered pet-safe. Lastly, the Ultrasonic has a built-in seven-color glowing nightlight. This option is especially useful in a child’s room or unfamiliar hotel room.
Recommended water Tap Fillability Tank Dishwasher-safe tank? No App, voice control? No Mist Visible Air sensor? No Filter? Demineralization cartridge Warranty 2 years Note: this product is temporarily out of stock.
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- Petite and portable
- Built-in seven-color glowing nightlight
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- None
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Best Stainless Steel Tank Option
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Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
The Carepod One is suited for a room around 500 square feet. It has a stainless steel tank and a flat bottom that gives off a rice cooker vibe. It also has fewer features than its larger Carepod siblings—no sensor, auto mode, heat, or sterilization, but there is a timer for four, six, and eight hours, along with three levels of mist.
The Carepod One is inexpensive and solid, with out-from-the-side mist, and was effective at giving my den ideal moisture. On the down side, I’m not sure if it would work in a typical bedroom; for example, mine is around 200 square feet. It also needs to be at least 2 feet off the floor. Unfortunately, neither of the Carepod stand accessories fit the Carepod One. Still, the Carepod One might be just the right size to sit on a stool.
Recommended water Distilled or filtered Fillability Remove tank to fill Dishwasher-safe tank? Yes App, voice control? No Mist Visible Air sensor? No Filter? No Warranty 1 year WIRED
- Inexpensive
- Has a timer for four, six, and eight hours, along with three levels of mist
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- No sensor, auto mode, heat, or sterilization
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A Humidifier That’s Also a Planter
Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
HoMedics
Natura Small Plant Humidifier
The Natura by Homedics has several novel elements new to the humidifier market. First, it’s made with recycled materials and FSC-certified bamboo, meaning that the bamboo was harvested from responsibly managed forests. And second, the Natura has a pot for a plant (for aesthetics). Beyond that, the Natura has several features that also make it a versatile humidifier for large rooms, like a living room. And while the Natura isn’t app compatible, it has a built-in humidistat, an easy-to-see digital display, auto mode, five mist levels, warm or cool mist, a timer, and a light.
The Natura also has two options for filling the water tank. You can use a pitcher to fill the Natura from the top or pull out the water tank from the side and fill it directly from the faucet. The tank method is actually the quickest. There is a caveat—I like a top-filled tank, but after I potted my plant, I could see how soil from the plant could fall into the water tank through the top-fill water drain. Still, I liked the different look of the Natura; it’s a pleasant shade of beige. Though unlike some of the humidifiers I’ve tested, there is a very clear front and back to the Natura. And while the mist spout can be rotated for custom spray directions, I moved my Natura around to avoid misting my couch; that left me looking at its backside. And like all the Homedics appliances I’ve tested, it also includes the essential oil aroma tray. If you don’t want a plant growing out of your humidifier, you can put the bamboo cover over the planter and have a side table for your cup of coffee.
Recommended water Tap or distilled Fillability Top filler or pull-out tank Dishwasher-safe tank? No App, voice control? Yes Mist Adjustable Air sensor? Built-in humidistat Tank capacity 1.3 gallons (4.9 liters) Filter? Demineralization cartridge included Warranty 2 years WIRED
- Bamboo material and pot for plants
- Built-in humidistat and an easy-to-see digital display
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- Isn’t app compatible
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Best Aromatherapy Humidifier
Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
Levoit
Dual 150 Ultrasonic Cool Mist
The Levoit Dual 150 is both small and easy to maintain and use. And while it’s not app-compatible, its 3-liter tank and easy-to-use dial deliver a solid mist that can keep a small bedroom at perfect humidity through the night. For under $50, the Levoit might be the ideal humidifier for the dorm room or nursery.
Levoit is also a top-fill humidifier, which makes filling the tank especially easy. The company also pitches its humidifier as an essential oil diffuser. It recommends adding 10 to 20 drops of essential oils directly into the base chamber. Diffuser lovers may be buying the Levoit for exactly this purpose, but because there are no pads on which to apply the oil, users may find it difficult to fully remove scents. The Levoit made me appreciate the impermanence of the essential aroma pad trays found in other models, as the Levoit’s method seemed permanent. If I no longer want geranium filling my bedroom, I had no way to remove all of the essential oil and its residue from the base chamber. And while Levoit recommends cleaning the humidifier every three weeks, it does not recommend using detergent, so it’s water only. The Levoit comes with a filter, but mine yellowed after two weeks and will most likely need to be changed even more often when using essential oils. That said, you can buy a 10-pack of Levoit filters for under $15. And with the Ultrasonic’s two-year warranty, you have one of the best cost-to-use ratios you can find in a humidifier.
Recommended water Purified or distilled Fillability Top filler Dishwasher-safe tank? No App, voice control? No Mist Adjustable Air sensor? No Tank capacity 3 liters Filter? Yes Warranty 2 years WIRED
- Good cost-to-use ratio
- Easy to maintain and use
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- No app
- Not suitable for bigger rooms
Compare Our Picks
Recommended With Reservations
Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
Carepod Mini for $150: When turned on, the Carepod Mini looks like a Brita Filter that’s also an electric tea kettle. And you’ll think this too because of the Carepod’s unique oscillator that moves the water around inside the clear plastic tank. And unlike the larger stainless steel parts of the larger Carepod models, the Carepod Mini is not dishwasher safe. However, like all Carepod models, the Mini doesn’t have a filter because Carepod recommends using filtered water, putting the water-purifying duties on the user. I would prefer a model with a filter option. Still, the Mini is easy to clean with mild soap and water, unlike some humidifiers that require special descaling solutions. I like what Carepod is trying to do in the humidifier market space, but I almost tipped the whole thing over when I instinctively picked it up by the handle that only lifts up the top part. Still, I found the percolating water effect to be soothing and it does a good job of providing a steady flow of mist. I elevated my Carepod Mini because of its slightly sideways mist flow. I put it on a ceramic plant stand because Carepod warns against placing the Mini directly on wood or furniture because of possible water damage. And while I still do not understand the benefits of Carepod’s oscillator, it looks cool.
Not Recommended
Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
Pure Enrichment Hume XL Humidifier for $80: There are certain design issues that can make a humidifier less user-friendly, and Pure Enrichment’s Hume XL has them all. To begin with, the Hume XL has the old-style tank that needs to be removed and flipped over to fill from the bottom, with a cap that needs to be unscrewed. And while The Hume has a surprisingly large-capacity 5-gallon tank, the filling process is cumbersome, and I always spilled water while doing it. And while the Hume XL has an automatic shutoff when the tank is empty, the opaque black plastic tank is nearly impossible to see through, making it difficult to gauge if I need to fill the tank. There’s also no indicator light to let me know the tank is running low. And while the Hume XL has a solid five-year warranty, night light, and two settings for low or high mist, it’s neither app compatible nor does it have a built-in humidistat. Other lower-cost models have these features. Lastly, the decalcification cartridge filter is sold separately.
FAQs
I’ve been writing about air quality for WIRED since 2019. All the humidifiers in this review were tested in my 100-plus-year-old apartment with the heat on. I was looking for user-friendly humidifiers that could fill a medium-size room with the ideal moisture. I didn’t want to lug jugs of distilled water up my stairs; I also wanted one that was easy to maintain. I was looking for a more committed and sustainable relationship with my humidifier. Maybe you want that too.
At What Percent Humidity Should I Use a Humidifier?
According to the EPA, ideal humidity in a home should be between 30 and 50 percent. Having an indoor humidity at over 60 percent produces a risk of mold growth. A recent study noted that relative humidity serves as a viable predictor of mold growth, and while temperature plays a significant role, keeping humidity levels in the safe range provides benefits without contributing to the unwanted issue of mold. Another study noted that decreased humidity contributed to increased static electricity, skin dryness, and eye irritations along with increased influenza virus survival. For all of those reasons, a humidifier might be what your heat-on/winter season requires.
How Often Should I Clean My Humidifier?
WIRED has seen instructions ranging from “after every use” for dishwasher-safe tanks to “once a week,” to “once a month” in various user manuals. A recent study found that while study participants often did not know how to clear their humidifiers, many used a solution of vinegar and water. If you save anything from the box your humidifier came in, save the manual. I used a solution of water and citric acid to clean my Dyson humidifier. It’s worth noting that a South Korean study found that certain humidifier chemical disinfectants for household humidifiers caused lung injury. Follow your user manual and do not add chemical disinfectants—this is one reason that dishwasher-safe water tanks are an appealing option.
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