Best humidifier 2024: breathe healthier air & stop yourself drying out

For many, the best humidifier isn’t the most important air treatment product you could have in the home but for people with air conditioning or central heating, they can be a boon. Unlike the best dehumidifier, they do not help remove bacteria from the air – in fact they can even add to it unless the device sterilises the moisture being put out – so their health benefits are less clear cut than their general 'nicer atmosphere' ones.

The best humidifiers blow ultra-fine water vapour around a room, raising its humidity to more comfortable levels. You could feasibly raise the internal humidity levels yourself by leaving the door open when having a shower, letting your laundry dry naturally or leaving a few windows open. Even cooking on a hob increases humidity in a room. However a humidifier is a more consistent and, sometimes, visually pleasing way of doing it.

Here's our full list of the best humidifiers available in 2024.

Best humidifier ranking 2024

This multi-purpose marvel is also an air purifier and fan. Particularly in winter, when the heating is on, rooms can get uncomfortably dry, and the Dyson Pure Humidify+Cool does a very good job of dragging humidity back to a more ideal level – around 50% according to our Tado app.

During the rest of the year, it's also an air purifier and a surprisingly effective fan. The perfect three-in-one for those who fear dryness. Dyson doesn’t do budget-priced gear but the fact this performs so well across a triathlon of air-processing duties makes it seem like good value. The way that ultraviolet light is used to remove bacteria instead of a replacement-needing filter is another neat touch.

The mist this machine expels is invisible in average light, although if you shine a torch from behind it and you can easily see it streaming from the front vent, like circular vapour from a jet engine. It’s a brilliant optical effect that would look even more amazing with a row of blue LEDs hidden just inside the circular outlet.

In the pantheon of humidifiers, this one’s a king of the misters. It works exceptionally well, is easy to use and commendably quiet and while cleaning isn't exactly fun, it is easier than on Dyson's first humidifier.

Read our full Dyson Pure Humidify+Cool review for more information!

The Elechomes SH8820 is an excellent value ultrasonic humidifier that comes with a full gamut of features. At 26.5cm x 18cm x 30.5cm, this humidifier is a perfect size for both floor or desktop use. We especially like its simple Apple-esque styling, the clearly etched lettering on the touch sensitive control panel, the ingeniously simple uni-directional vapour spout with integral aroma diffuser, and the way you can fill its ample 5.5-litre water tank without having to lift it out. Small wonder it’s one of the most popular humidifiers in the USA.

Despite its diminutive size, the Elechomes is designed for large rooms up to 70 square metres. In our tests it spewed out a huge metre-long plume of clearly visible mist from its two adjustable ports which can be aimed in any direction. Also, its built-in humidistat displayed the same percentage of humidity as our nearby hygrometer so its accuracy is clearly spot on. This means that if your room has a humidity reading of about 35% and you set the Elechomes’ target value to 45%, you can safely bet it’ll continue emitting vapour until the room reaches that value. It also features three volume levels of vapour and three heat settings for winter use. The addition of a remote control can be considered a bonus..

If you’re on the hunt for an exceptionally efficient and easy to use humidifier that is not only keenly priced but a decent looker, then this is the model to plump for. Pound for pound, the Elechomes SH8820 is easily one the best humidifiers on the market right now and it seems Amazon’s multitude of happy users wholeheartedly agree.

This tabletop model won’t win any prizes for sophisticated looks but it’s just the thing for both localised humidification and cold and flu treatment. Rather conveniently, this writer contracted a nasty cold just as this arrived at the door. I’ve had it beavering away every night on the bedside table ever since and can vouch that it has definitely helped moisturise the sinuses and nostrils, and made the air a little easier to breath, especially when used in conjunction with a Vicks’ Vapopad. 

The Cool Mist comes with a pack of seven free menthol pads but this writer much prefers the subtle scent of the Rosemary and Lavender option (about £13.99 for seven). This model puffs out a fair plume of visible vapour and that’s a good thing because it tells you it’s actually doing something. To control the amount of vapour being emitted, simply turn the on/off dial to your preferred volume. It’s also quiet enough for bedside use. Yes, you can just hear it in the stillness of night but its fish tank-like sound is strangely soporific.

So, if you’re feeling a bit stuffy, have the winter sniffles or the baby’s having trouble sleeping, consider popping one of these by the bed. Chances are you’ll get a better night’s sleep. For more wellness options designed to release scent into your home, check out our best essential oil diffuser guide. 

This new Philips appliance provides the best of both worlds: humidification and air purification. From a humidifying point of view, it uses NanoCloud evaporation to provide up to 600 millilitres of vapour per hour. Granted, you can’t actually see the vapour (which isn’t quite as satisfying as the mist belching models also on this page) but we do know it works because we tested the room’s humidity after two hours of use and the index on our hygrometer increased by nearly 10%. According to Philips, its NanoCloud technology ‘spreads 99% less bacteria than leading ultrasonic humidifiers and prevents wet spots and white deposits on furnishings’.

To use, simply insert the NanoCloud rotary humidification wick, fill the water tank and set your room’s target humidity (from 40%, to 60%). The appliance will slowly boost moisture levels in the room, switching itself off automatically once the target humidity has been reached.

The Philips 3000i also happens to be one of the most efficient air purifiers on the market (see our air purifier guide) so having a humidifying function on board at the same time can be considered a major bonus. It is quite a big beast, mind, so you will need a decent sized room to accommodate it or it may look a little too incongruous.

Unlike the Dyson and Philips models above, you’ll have no problem seeing the mist coming out of the Eva because it creates more vapour than Strokkur Geysir. In fact, at full bore it produces a plume nearly a metre high that spreads to a width of around 40cm at its highest point, so there’s no question of you wondering whether it’s working properly.

Designed in Switzerland and available in black or white, the Eva uses ultrasonic technology and an ionic silver cube for reduced bacteria and easier maintenance. It also comes with a remote hygrometer sensor-cum-controller that measures the humidity in the air. Simply position it a few metres away from Eva and, when the main unit is in auto mode, it’ll start humidifying automatically as and when required. You also have a choice of both cool and warm mist.

This model also has a fragrance dispenser for essential oils though this writer found it difficult to detect the scent beyond the actual vapour trail; even with my face in it, the scent was extremely subtle. In other words, don’t expect your room to be infused with a scent of jasmine unless, perhaps, your home is already clinically clean and completely free of odours – and that means no pets!

The Eva is arguably the most stylish model here though the understated Dyson isn’t far behind. It’s a surefire choice for large rooms, is easy to use and relatively easy to clean. That said, some users’ have reported that their Evas started playing up after a year. In the Eva’s defence, this writer hasn’t had any major issues after 18 months of use though I have performed fairly regular maintenance like rinsing the water reservoir and gently cleaning the various components. We’ll let you know if anything changes.

This excellent personal humidifier is ostensibly designed for babies though it will work just as happily in a small room with adults in. It comes equipped with an adjustable 360˚ spout, a built-in hygrometer that displays current humidity levels around it, an easy-to-use backlit touchscreen and seven different coloured LEDs for night time use. Its 2,500ml water tank will produce enough fine mist to last around 22 hours and the whole thing will automatically switch off when the water runs out.

The Babymoov punches out a fair dollop of vapour and it will also subtly diffuse essential oils by simply adding a few drops to the thimble-sized container near the vapour outlet. As it happens, this one’s scent is a bit more detectable than both the Stadler Form Eva and Vicks Mini Cool Mist. If you have a newborn babe, an older kid with the sniffles or someone with a dust mite allergy, consider this keenly priced and effective little mist wafter.

Why do you need a humidifier?

Humidifiers are of most use in arid countries and well-sealed modern homes with air conditioning, which is very drying. It’s also worth noting that a humidifier won’t be as practical if your home has poor insulation, old-fashioned floorboards with no carpeting or you leave your windows open all year long. This is because outdoor air already has a relatively high level of natural humidity. and what’s outside comes inside.

A humidifier requires regular cleaning to keep bacteria and mildew at bay, especially if the unit is in storage with water still in the tank. Some ultrasonic models, like the Dyson, delay the need for cleaning by using ultraviolet light to kill bacteria. But even these humidifiers need cleaning on occasion, while all evaporative models require a regular deep clean of the paper filter and possibly a replacement if it looks too soiled.

In most of the West, low humidity isn’t much of an issue during the summer, but when winter sets in, outdoor humidity levels drop and the air becomes dryer. It’s even worse indoors when your heating is in full swing; it doesn’t take long for the natural moisture in the room to dry up, leading to possible health and wellbeing issues. It’s a well documented fact that a decent level of internal humidity helps people with dry sinuses, asthma, dry skin and cracked lips. It also apparently helps reduce symptoms of colds and flu.

Similarly, it doesn’t take a knowledge of rocket science to deduce that dust in the home will be reduced with the aid of a humidifier – those microscopic water droplets cling on to dust and smoke particles and bring them to ground, and that means fewer issues for those who suffer from dust allergies. 

Finally, humidifiers are also great for keeping expensive floorboards and delicate wooden instruments like acoustic guitars and violins in tip top shape.

Different types of humidifiers

There are two main types of humidifier: ultrasonic and evaporator. Ultrasonic models use a vibrating diaphragm that agitates water droplets which are then blown out of the unit by a fan. These machines tend to produce a fog-like mist that is clearly visible. However, they also tend to leave a very fine layer of white calcium dust on furnishings, unless, of course, you use expensive distilled water.

By contrast, evaporators use a paper-type filter that half sits in a pool of water. They call it a filter but it’s essentially a large wick that absorbs the water. A fan then blows across it releasing an invisible plume of microscopic droplets. The problem with this type of humidifier is that the filter needs regular cleaning – especially if you smoke and have pets – and you can’t really see any evidence of it working because the mist is so fine. It's also a good idea to completely empty the water container if the product isn't being used for a few weeks or mould will start to grow on the filter. However, putting a simple ionic silver cube in the water tank will often help control this issue.