Its not only just the pollution and pollen of the outside thats aggravating your allergies, asthma, and dry skin. Dry air inside your home could also be contributing to these irritating health issues. That doesnt mean you have to just sit there and suffer. Thankfully, there is a solution. If you’re so over all that coughing, sneezing, flaking, and general unpleasantness, you can buy a humidifier for your home.
A humidifier can help increase moisture indoors, especially when it’s cold outside and there’s more dry air swirling around. Humidifiers have other benefits, such as increasing overall comfort at home, reducing congestion, and minimising bacteria.
With so many options, it can be hard to find the right humidifier for your health needs. Especially if youre a first-time humidifier user. Its hard to know what makes one humidifier better than another. So, before you buy, there are a few things to consider.
A humidifier has a water tank that it draws from, turning the water into mist or vapour and emitting it into the room. Ultimately, it increases the local humidity. Different humidifiers may use different tech, but thats the general idea.
Some humidifiers allow you to set a timed cycle (for example, four or eight hours), so you won’t have to constantly monitor their activity. Custom mist settings are helpful if you’re prone to allergies, asthma, or dry skin, so you can control how much moisture the humidifier emits to make a room more comfortable.
Size is important when you’re looking for a humidifier. The amount of moisture in the living room might differ from the nursery, so keep size in mind when you’re browsing different models. For big rooms, opt for humidifiers that add moisture up to 1,000 square feet. Small rooms might require humidifiers with a moisture output of up to 80 millilitres per hour. A lot of it comes down to the size of the tank.
Keep reading and youll see the humidifiers on this list that range between 500 ml and 4 litres. The bigger the tank, the more space the humidifier is likely to cover.
Safety is important when looking for any appliance or device. Most humidifiers have an automatic shut-off, meaning they will operate consistently for a few hours until they run out of water. Spill-proof tanks are also great for safety, because you can add moisture without causing leaks or puddles.
Appliances, including humidifiers, don’t always come cheap. But weve included a range of prices in this roundup. But before you drop big bucks, consider the type of humidifier — not to mention the price — that suits you best.
Thats ultimately up to you. It depends on your home, lifestyle, and, well, moisture levels. But if you’re ready to tackle that dry air, we’re here to help you find the best humidifier for you and your humidifying needs.
These are the best humidifiers in 2025.
This understated Levoit humidifier is a popular model on Amazon and for good reason. Its affordable and gets the job done with a generous (though not huge) water capacity and a runtime of up to 25 hours. Its simple to use — just fill it with water from the top and use a dial to set the rate of mist.
As a bonus, theres an automatic shut off feature that switches the humidifier off if the water level is low or if the water tank is removed. Its perfect for the bedroom too, with a quiet operation of just 23 Db. Its not the most advanced but if youve never used a humidifier before, its a great starting point.
The Dyson Humidify+Cool is an ultra-sleek game-changer (and very big at 92cm tall) that increases moisture while purifying the air. It does this by filtering unwanted nasties out of the water — by using ultraviolet cleansing tech to kill 99.9% of bacteria — then circulates purified, humidified air.
As always with Dyson, it’s not cheap, but the features are worth the cost. It has multiple modes — such as night and breeze mode — and voice and app control. An algorithm diagnoses pollutants at molecular level and reacts by purifying and providing real-time reports. A HEPA filter also helps to trap 99.95% of particles as small as 0.1 microns.
The H2O Humidifier makes the cut for its convenient size, its price, and for punching above its weight. And trust us, this one is lightweight.
It has two mist settings — either spraying continuously for six hours or intermittently for twelve hours. And when the water runs out, the humidifier will automatically shut-off until the tank is refilled. You dont worry about it overheating or releasing mould into the air as you sleep.
It also has a soft night light, so it works on the bedside table. Best of all, its very small. You can pop it in your bag and take it wherever you go. If youre a frequent traveller and suffer in dry hotel rooms, this is the one for you.
Love essential oils, but hate dry air? Then its time to upgrade your bedroom into a spa-like relaxation centre with the Beurer LB 45 humidifier.
This device is a humidifier and diffuser in one, so you can add both moisture and the aroma of essential oils to your home. Just add a few drops of oil to the aroma pads (which are included). The tank holds a generous four litres, which will cover an impressive 30m², and it automatically shuts off when the tanks empty. It also has two adjustable nozzles for direction the mist at any angle.
Reviewers have noted that it emits a hum (the manufacturer claims it runs quiet), but that doesnt seem to be a deal breaker.
If you want a machine that can cover a seriously large floorspace, look no further than the Levoit LV600S. With a six litre tank and the capacity to cover a massive 70m² over 50 hours, its the biggest humidifier on our round-up. But more even more than that, it throws in a bunch of handy smart functions.
First off, the Levoit LV600S offers full app and voice control via Alexa and other voice assistants, allowing you to set schedules and adjust the mist levels.
It also has the option for cool and warm mist (warm mist helps combat flu and colds). Other useful features include a timer and essential oil diffusion.
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Joseph Green is the Global Shopping Editor for Mashable. He covers VPNs, headphones, fitness gear, dating sites, streaming, and shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day.
Joseph is also Executive Editor of Mashables sister site, AskMen.
Matt Ford is a freelance contributor to Mashable.