Best Humidifiers of 2025
These 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. In winter especially, the air inside gets drier. An effective humidifier can help restore a healthy moisture level.
But our testers have found that some humidifiers are much better than others at pumping out the volume of moisture that 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, too. “Make sure that the humidifier you choose can handle the space,” says Misha Kollontai, an engineer 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 also 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 dozens of models in our humidifier ratings. Most are cool mist, the more widely used type. A handful are warm mist, also known as 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 areas of varying sizes, from personal-sized ones 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 didn’t make this roundup because they fell far short of earning a CR recommendation. 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 but stylish ultrasonic humidifier, designed for very small 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 has a top-fill design, which makes it easier to refill. It comes with a USB cable so you can plug it straight into your laptop and have it next to you while you work.
The ultrasonic Babymoov Hygro (+), designed for small rooms of around 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 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 between 250 and 500 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 from an app and has features such as 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 on to sleep mode, its ambient lights will turn off so your sleep isn’t disturbed.
The Blueair InvisibleMist is pricier than the 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 has 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.
For starters, it can 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. And without enough moisture in indoor air, wood floorboards can shrink and creak, and everything from a leather chair to a nice acoustic guitar can develop cracks.
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