4 Best Humidifiers of 2025
These high-performing models from Babymoov, Blueair, Dreo, and Lasko can help you maintain healthy moisture levels in rooms of every size
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Want to make your home a more comfortable place? Regulate the humidity in your living spaces. The air inside your home gets drier, especially in the winter. An effective humidifier can help restore a healthy moisture level.
Our testers have found that some humidifiers are significantly more effective than others at producing the volume of moisture their manufacturers claim they will. And some are quieter, more energy-efficient, and more convenient to use and clean.
It’s important to match the unit to the room size. “Make sure that the humidifier you choose can handle the space,” says Samantha Ostrander, who leads Consumer Reports’ humidifier testing. An open-plan space may require a larger unit, for example. “Living spaces often have open doorways that effectively increase the square footage.”
On the other hand, buying a humidifier that’s too big for a small bedroom or office is a bad idea. Overhumidifying a space, which is possible with a humidifier that lacks an accurate humidistat to turn the unit off when the room reaches a specified humidity level, can lead to the growth of mold and dust mites.
You’ll find more than 100 models in our humidifier ratings. Most are cool-mist humidifiers, the more widely used type. A handful are warm-mist humidifiers, aka steam vaporizers. (It’s best to avoid using those around children because the tank contains hot water that can pose a burn risk.) And contrary to what your grandmother may have advised, steer clear of warm-mist humidifiers if you have a cold. The warm moisture can cause your nasal passages to swell, which actually makes breathing more difficult.
Here’s a look at four top-rated humidifiers, ideal for rooms of various sizes, ranging from personal-sized models suitable for spaces up to 25 square feet to large models suitable for rooms up to 999 square feet. While we have a couple of console models for very large rooms in our ratings, they’re not included in this roundup because they fell far short of earning a CR recommendation.
We’re currently testing 20 new models, including the Dyson Humidify+Cool PH2 De-NOx and the Blueair 2-in-1 Purify + Humidify, two humidifiers that also double as air purifiers. We’ll update this article once we have our new test results. For more shopping advice, see our humidifier buying guide or the section below on what a humidifier can do for you.
The Lasko UH150 may be the very definition of a steal. This inexpensive and compact ultrasonic humidifier, designed for areas up to 25 square feet, is the only travel/personal humidifier to ace all of our lab tests, making it the ideal companion for a trip. It’s quiet, convenient to use, and effective at increasing moisture in the air. It might be short on features, but it shuts off automatically when the tank is empty, and it’s equipped with a multicolor night-light. The humidifier features a top-fill design, making it easier to refill. It comes with a USB cable, allowing you to plug it directly into your laptop and keep it nearby while you work.
The ultrasonic Babymoov Hygro (+), designed for small rooms of up to about 215 square feet, is top-rated for a reason: It shines in every one of CR’s tests. It’s easy to use, according to our evaluators, and emits enough moisture to sufficiently humidify a small room. Features include a night-light that cycles through a rainbow of colors, automatic shutoff when the tank is empty, and a timer, as well as the option to diffuse aromas. One drawback: The 58-inch cord is on the short side.
The Dreo HM524S, designed for rooms 300 to 599 square feet, earns top marks in all of our tests, including moisture output, convenience, noise, energy efficiency, humidistat accuracy, and performance using hard water. The humidifier is programmable via an app, and features include an aroma diffuser, a night-light, and a top-fill design. You can set its timer for up to 12 hours. When it’s switched to sleep mode, its ambient lights will turn off so your sleep isn’t disturbed.
The Blueair InvisibleMist is pricier than other models designed to humidify rooms of 500 square feet or more, but its performance justifies the cost. It earns a very good rating for its moisture output and a stellar score for convenience, thanks in part to a top-fill design that makes for quick refills and a tank that’s dishwasher-safe. You can use the Blueair app to monitor and customize your humidifier’s humidity levels, set up auto and night modes, and track your device’s filter usage. If you’re looking for a less expensive option to humidify a large room, consider the ultrasonic Levoit Classic 300S. It also garnered a strong rating in our moisture output test and offers a variety of features, including automatic shutoff, the option to diffuse aromas, and app control.
What a Humidifier Can Do for You
A well-made humidifier can help keep you—and the contents of your home—in good condition when humidity levels drop.
To start, a humidifier can help prevent or relieve dry skin. If you have a cold, a model that emits cool mist can help shrink swelling in your nasal passages and make it easier to breathe, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
Higher humidity also helps reduce static electricity, so you can avoid those annoying shocks you feel when crossing a carpet. Humidifiers can also prevent cracks in wood floorboards, leather chairs, and wooden instruments that result from excessively dry conditions.
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