The 5 Best Humidifiers of 2022

The Levoit Classic 300S Ultrasonic Smart Humidifier does everything right. It’s easy to clean, and it humidifies the air quickly and (almost) silently. Also, it won’t bother you at night with beeping or bright lights. The Classic 300S also does something no other ultrasonic humidifier can claim to do: Thanks to a built-in humidistat and functional smart features, this model can achieve a target humidity level and maintain it on an “auto” setting that actually works. Over-humidification of a room has been the flaw of nearly every ultrasonic humidifier we’ve tested in almost a decade of evaluation. This one finally fixes that issue. The Classic 300S has plenty of other thoughtful features that make it stand out from other humidifiers, too. Its 1½-gallon tank lasts all day, and its fill hole is wide enough that you won’t have to scrub around any awkward corners. This machine also has a built-in night-light, if you need a little extra illumination in a room (and if you don’t, it’s easy to turn off the display screen). We were surprised how impressed we were with the Classic 300S’s smart-home features, which brought some added convenience into our lives with cleaning reminders, scheduling options, and memorable voice commands via Alexa or Google Home. However, the Classic 300S does still have the other drawbacks of ultrasonics, including a tendency (if you have hard or well water) to leave a trail of fine mineral dust on the furniture or floor (don’t worry, this is harmless and easy to clean).

The Levoit LV600HH Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier is our pick for large spaces and exceptionally dry, demanding environments because it provides continuous humidification and has a built-in humidistat that’s reliable and accurate. However, the “auto” setting on this Levoit doesn’t regulate the output as precisely as that on the 300S, so there’s a higher risk this model will over-humidify a room. With a large, 6-liter, 1½-gallon tank, the LV600HH should last you more than 24 hours between refills. This model is exceptionally quiet, too, although it still emits a slight hum, which you might notice in a particularly quiet room. The LV600HH is also the only humidifier we recommend with a warm-mist setting, if that’s something you think you need. But this machine is not quite as easy to clean as the Classic 300S, and the tank cap can be a little difficult to get off sometimes. The LV600HH  also lacks smart-home capabilities, so there are none of the fine-tuned details or app control you get with the 300S. Like all ultrasonics, this model can also leave behind a puddle of misted water or a thin layer of white mineral dust, though it’s more a minor annoyance than anything else.

If you just need a basic humidifier that looks nice and does the job without costing too much, get the Levoit Classic 200 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (even though, like most ultrasonics, it has a tendency to over-humidify the room). Its 4-liter tank is big enough to last most of the day, with a large opening and simple rectangular shape that make it easy to clean. The Classic 200 isn’t quite as versatile as the Levoit LV600HH: The Classic 200 has just a single button that changes color each time you press it, to indicate the different power levels (on/low, medium, high, and then off again). This model also lacks a humidistat or any other option for self-regulation. Otherwise, the Levoit Classic 200 has all of the same perks and flaws as many ultrasonic humidifiers, including quiet yet buzzy operation and a slight chance of water puddling underneath.

The Vornado EVDC300 is the most energy-efficient humidifier we’ve ever tested, thanks to its unusual DC motor. It’s also the most consistent, with a powerful fan that keeps the humidified air circulating evenly around the room. The EVDC300 differs from our other picks in that it’s an evaporative model: That means it’s better at self-regulation than your typical ultrasonic humidifier, so it won’t over-humidify your room. But the downside is you have to deal with the added maintenance and regular replacement of this model’s wicking filter. The EVDC300 is also louder than our ultrasonic picks. But the white noise emitted from its fan is still quieter and more pleasant than that of most other evaporative models we’ve tested. The EVDC300’s 1-gallon tank is also slightly smaller than the Levoit Classic 300S’s tank, yet it’s easy to open, carry, and clean. If anything else goes wrong with this humidifier, it’s backed by Vornado’s impressive five-year warranty (and 10 years for the motor alone). This is the best protection for any humidifier we’ve seen. However, it won’t cover you if your toddler knocks a full tank off the counter, shattering it into a puddle of sharp plastic edges. We learned that one the hard way.

If you want an extremely effective evaporative humidifier that requires less-frequent cleaning and refilling than our other recommendations, consider the Venta LW25 Airwasher. At its current price, it’s very expensive. But its high up-front cost is somewhat mitigated by its extreme energy efficiency in the long run. And in our tests, the LW25 consistently ranked high in humidification performance. Like our other evaporative picks, this model is suited to spaces that are the size of a large bedroom. Competitors require weekly cleaning. But Venta recommends that you rinse this unit every two weeks and thoroughly clean it every six months. Despite its name, however,  it does not wash the air particularly well. If that’s a concern for you, consider getting an air purifier.