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If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process. Dry air in the home and office can lead to dry skin and irritated sinuses. A humidifier can help with these issues by adding moisture to the air. Share on Pinterest A quick look at 7 of the best humidifiersFor easy mobility: Aircare PedestalFor an automatic humidifier: Aprilaire 600 Whole House HumidifierFor an auto shutoff feature: Homasy Cool Mist HumidifierFor a separate aroma compartment: Levoit LV600HH Hybrid Ultrasonic HumidifierFor a 3-in-1 product: Dyson Pure Humidify + Cool CryptomicFor a small humidifier: Crane Personal Ultrasonic Cool Mist HumidifierFor a night light setting: Tekjoy Ultrasonic Cool Mist HumidifierHumidifiers may relieve symptoms of eczema, allergies, and sinus issues. However, people should use these devices with care, as they can increase exposure to dust mites and mold spores. To help prevent mold, individuals should clean humidifiers twice per week and change the filter regularly — easy-to-clean humidifiers may help people run them effectively and efficiently. A person needs to find a humidifier with enough power for their intended space, whether for the whole home or a small room. Modern humidifiers are available in a wide range of sizes and price points. This list offers a range of possible options, but many more are available online. There is a wider range of humidifiers available to suit a single room than the whole home. Health experts state that humidity levels in the home should range from 40–50% — greater levels than this can encourage dust mites. In contrast, humidity levels below this can irritate the skin, eyes, and throat. Keep reading to learn about seven of the best humidifiers for the whole home, a single room, and the office. Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication. Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here. How to choose a humidifier A person may wish to consider the following when purchasing a humidifier:Brand: People should ensure they buy a humidifier from a reputable company. They may also wish to research customer reviews of these devices before committing to a purchase.Size: Some humidifiers take up more space than others — larger machines may be more suitable for humidifying an entire home. Run time: Humidifier running times can vary depending on their size and water capacity. Smaller humidifiers may not hold enough water to run overnight. Other features: Some humidifiers also feature a fan function, while people can use some for aromatherapy. People may also wish to speak with a doctor for advice before buying a humidifier, particularly if they have eczema or allergies. How we choose products Medical News Today chooses products that meet the following criteria:Price: Products are available for a range of budgets.Features: Products have a variety of features to suit individual needs, such as portability and automatic shutoff functions.Room size: Products that are suitable for most room sizes.Fill type: Products that are either bottom or top fill. Humidifiers for the entire home The below humidifiers are suitable for an entire home. Best for easy mobility Aircare PedestalCapacity: 15 liters (l)Run time: up to 60 hoursCoverage: up to 2,400 square foot (sq ft)Bottom or top fill: bottom fillPrice: around $213.99 This pedestal humidifier can cover up to 2,400 sq ft, making it suitable for most homes. It does not require installation and runs from a power cord. The unit also sits on castors, so it is easy to move around. A display indicates when to refill the humidifier with water and when to change the filter. It also shuts off automatically when it runs out of water to save electricity. Pros and cons With a height of 27 inches, the Aircare Pedestal humidifier is larger than many other machines on this list. Other positives include a 2-year warranty period, digital controls, and nine fan speeds. However, customers have to replace the filter every 60—90 days, costing around $30.99 for each filter.SHOP NOW Best for an automatic humidifier Aprilaire 600 Whole House HumidifierCapacity: not relevant for this modelRun time: not relevant for this modelCoverage: 4,000 sq ftBottom or top fill: not relevant for this modelPrice: around $229.99 on Amazon This humidifier connects to a home heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, but it requires professional installation. It can humidify a home of 4,000 sq ft. The machine’s controls are automatic — a person sets the controls to the desired humidity, and the unit will adjust its settings throughout the day to maintain these levels. The Aprilaire 600 humidifier can take up to a week to run normally because it needs time to adjust existing moisture levels in the home. Pros and cons This humidifier connects directly to the water system, which means people do not need to top up the unit with water. However, people may need to consider their water quality before purchasing this unit. Some reviewers report that hard water or water with a lot of metals can shorten the life of the filter.SHOP NOW Humidifiers for a single room The following humidifiers are suitable for single rooms. Best for an auto shutoff feature Homasy Cool Mist HumidifierCapacity: 2.2 lRun time: up to 30 hoursCoverage: up to 300 sq ftBottom or top fill: top fillPrice: around $39.99 This humidifier features a nozzle that rotates 360 degrees to distribute vapor evenly around the room. An adjustable dial allows precise control over the humidity level. The humidifier also has removable parts, making the unit easy to clean. It has an antislip handle for easier refilling and moving around the home. It also features an auto shutoff feature. It can humidity rooms of up to 300 sq ft. Pros and cons This humidifier is portable, has a mist controller, and is reportedly quiet. People can also benefit from a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 1-year warranty. However, some reviewers note that the humidifier may be too small for medium or larger rooms. SHOP NOW Best for a separate aroma compartment Levoit LV600HH Hybrid Ultrasonic HumidifierCapacity: 6 lRun time: up to 50 hoursCoverage: up to 753 sq ftBottom or top fill: top fillPrice: around $99.99 This humidifier has warm or cool mist options and features a 360-degree mist nozzle for efficiency. It has a separate aroma compartment for use with essential oils. With a 6 l capacity, this humidifier is suitable for larger rooms. Its sound output is quiet, so it is ideal for use in a bedroom and should not disturb sleep. It has a top fill design. Pros and cons The Levoit LV600HH also features a display screen to check settings, which the user can switch off at night. It comes with a remote control for easy adjustment. People can also benefit from a 2-yer warranty. However, some reviewers note that the unit is very loud at the maximum mist level.SHOP NOW Best for a 3-in-1 product Dyson Pure Humidify Cool FormaldehydeCapacity: 3.78 lRun time: Up to 36 hoursCoverage: no information availableBottom or top fill: bottom fillPrice: around $919.99 This product works as an air purifier, fan, a humidifier, and sanitizes water using UV light. It also detects and destroys formaldehyde and removes odors. Pros and cons It traps pollutants in its filter and has a total seal to provide hygenic humidification. It also has a mobile app and supports voice control via Amazon Alexa and Google. The company offers free shipping, 30-day returns, and a 2-year warranty. However, the company does not state the product’s sq ft coverage. Dyson instead notes that it is suitable for a single room.SHOP NOW Humidifiers for the office The following humidifiers are suitable for office use. Best for a small humidifier Crane Personal Ultrasonic Cool Mist HumidifierCapacity: 0.9 lRun time: up to 8 hoursCoverage: up to 160 sq ftBottom or top fill: bottom fillPrice: around $39.99 on Amazon This humidifier is small enough to sit on an office desk. Its size makes it easy to transport and use when away from home. The mist nozzle is adjustable and rotates 360 degrees. Additionally, the humidifier is easy to take apart and clean — there is also no filter to replace, cutting down on long-term costs. Pros and cons This product has an automatic shutoff feature and a 1-year warranty. However, this humidifier is only suitable for rooms of up to 160 sq ft, which is smaller than the other products in this list.SHOP NOW Best for a night light setting Tekjoy Ultrasonic Cool Mist HumidifierCapacity: 2.5 lRun time: Up to 24 hoursCoverage: no information availableBottom or top fill: bottom fillPrice: around $49.95 This model is larger than the Crane humidifier but still small enough for desks. There is no filter to replace, and the humidifier comes with a brush for cleaning. Pros and cons As well as an automatic shutoff if the humidifier is empty, it has a timer setting. The touch panel means it is quiet to operate, and it also features a night light for use in bedrooms. This product also has a 5-year warranty. However, the company does not disclose this product’s area coverage.SHOP NOW Comparison chart The following table compares the humidifiersin this article.Capacity (l)Run timeSq ft coverageBottom or top fillPriceAircare15 up to 60 hoursup to 2,400bottom fillaround $213.99Aprilairenot relevantnot relevantup to 4,000not relevantaround $229.99Homasy2.2 up to 30 hoursup to 300top fillaround $39.99Levoit6 up to 50 hoursup to 735top fillaround $99.99Dyson3.78 up to 36 hoursno information availablebottom fillaround $919.99Crane0.9 up to 8 hoursup to 160bottom fillaround $39.99Tekjoy2.5 up to 24 hoursno information availablebottom fillaround $49.95 When to contact a doctor Dealing with dry air does not usually require visiting a doctor. Instead, people can purchase a humidifier to increase moisture in the air and reduce the effects of dry air, such as eczema and dry skin. However, these conditions may also worsen over time, and using a humidifier may not be enough. In this case, individuals should speak to a dermatologist to identify a course of treatment. Some people also suffer from allergies. A doctor can present different solutions that may be more effective in combination with a good humidifier. Frequently asked questions Below are some of the most common questions and answers about humidifiers. What is the difference between a humidifier and a vaporizer Humidifiers release cool mist into the air, while vaporizers heat water and release steam into the air. Both devices may benefit different health conditions. Learn more about humidifiers and vaporizers. Can I fill a humidifier with tap water Generally, manufacturers recommend using purified or distilled water. This is because unfiltered tap water may contain higher levels of minerals or other particles. Minerals from hard tap water, in particular, can build up in the humidifier and may cause it to wear down faster. How much humidity is too much The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that indoor humidity levels above 60% are too high. Is a warm or cool mist humidifier better Warm mist humidifiers tend to be quieter than cool mist products. However, warm mist may be more drying than cool mist. What type of humidifier is best for sleep A humidifier that keeps a comfortable humidity level in the room may be more ideal for sleep. Additionally, some people may prefer to invest in a humidifier that also helps remove bacteria. Summary Before buying a humidifier, people may wish to research models from trusted brands and read reviews. They also need to consider the size of the intended area that the humidifier will work in and the running time of the machine. Smaller models may not store enough water to run overnight. Humidifiers can help prevent eczema symptoms as moist air can stop the skin from drying out. They can also help ease the symptoms of allergies and sinus issues. However, breathing in air that is too dry may irritate the eyes and nasal passages. Without regular cleaning, humidifiers can also spread mold spores in the home. To help prevent mold, people should clean humidifiers twice per week and change the filter regularly. Last medically reviewed on August 22, 2022DermatologyRespiratoryComplementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine 4 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Eczema (atopic dermatitis) treatment. (2022).https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/eczema-treatmentHumidifiers. (n.d.).https://www.asthmaandallergyfriendly.com/USA/products_categories/humidifiers/Humidifiers and indoor allergies. (2020).https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/allergy-library/humidifiers-and-indoor-allergiesMold course chapter 2. (2022).https://www.epa.gov/mold/mold-course-chapter-2FEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Lauren Castiello, MS, AGNP-C — By Claire Sissons and Stefano Iavarone — Updated on August 22, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageBenefits of using a humidifierMedically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH Dry indoor air is a common problem that can exacerbate respiratory symptoms, cause dry skin and hair, and even make snoring worse. 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