Best Humidifiers for the Bedroom in 2023

Having the right humidifier in your bedroom is crucial, especially during the winter season when heaters consume all the moisture in the air. Experts have linked dry air to various health complications, including asthma flareups, sinus infections, colds, eczema and multiple respiratory-related illnesses.

Physically, our bodies react poorly to dry air. For instance, we get itchy skin, cracked lips, bloody noses and irritated throats, especially when we sleep. Also affected are wood furniture and floors, which warp, peel and crack when exposed to dry air.

A humidifier restores the humidity of your house to a healthy level that will keep you comfortable and shield you from the aforementioned ailments.

3. Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (1.5L)

The MistAire humidifier can accommodate most bedrooms with its coverage area of up to 250 square feet. You have the option of running the ultrasonic humidifier on two speeds – low and high. When set to high speed, this humidifier puts out an impressive 150 milliliters of moisture per hour from its rotatable nozzle.

For this humidifier’s housing, Pure Enrichment chose the ever-popular teardrop shape. When empty, the cool-mist humidifier is ultra-lightweight at just 1.75 pounds. The white base measures 8 by 6 inches and the entire unit stands 9 inches tall, making the humidifier suitable for tabletop placement.

Despite the humidifier’s compact size, the transparent reservoir can hold 1.5 liters of water to deliver 16 hours of cool, moist air on low speed. The tank is easy to fill thanks to a screw-on cap and a wide water inlet. Pure Enrichment even throws in a disc brush to help you keep the humidifier clean.

You’ll also find the all-in-one control user-friendly. Repeated presses of this button take you through every setting one by one. You can run the humidifier on low or high speed with or without the blue nightlight. A final button push turns off the cool-mist humidifier.

2. Levoit Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier for Large Rooms (6L)

With a coverage area that ranges from 430 to 753 square feet, the Levoit Hybrid is ideal for big bedrooms. The dual-rotating adjustable nozzle lets you point the humidifier’s mist delivery in opposing directions to enjoy a high moisture output of 300 to 500 milliliters per hour, depending on whether the humidifier is in cool or warm-mist mode.

Although this Levoit ultrasonic humidifier is boxy, it’s still small enough at 11.3 by 10.5 inches to put on a dresser or vanity table. The 5-pound humidifier is also durable since its tank is made of BPA-free ABS plastic.

Due to its 6-liter reservoir, this cool/warm-mist humidifier can run nonstop for 20 to 36 hours. The translucent tank’s water inlet is wide enough for the average adult to fit their hand through, making maintenance easy. There’s even an aromatherapy tray, so you can enjoy mist scented by your favorite essential oil.

The humidistat-equipped ultrasonic humidifier comes with a touch-button remote that lets you choose from settings like automatic humidity adjustment and the 36-decibel sleep mode. Via the remote or onboard panel, you can also set a timer and select one of three humidification speeds. The display screen offers an on-demand view of the room’s RH and the humidifier’s enabled functions.

See also: Best Levoit Humidifiers

1. Everlasting Comfort Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (6L)

Everlasting Comfort caters to those who have large bedrooms with this humidifier. Big enough to humidify a 400-square-foot room, this cool-mist unit produces as much as 270 milliliters of moisture per hour. Both of its nozzles turn 360 degrees to provide complete coverage from one side of the room to the other.

Taking a departure from many humidifiers on the market, Everlasting Comfort chose a black finish for this ultrasonic humidifier’s housing. A sturdy, wide base keeps the 4-pound, 12.8 by 7.8-inch humidifier from wobbling if someone accidentally brushes up against the nightstand or dresser.

With its capacity of 6 liters, you can expect a per-tank runtime of up to 50 hours. The opaque tank has a slim, vertical window that lets you view the water level at a glance. If the reservoir becomes empty while you’re gone, the auto-shutoff mechanism prevents the humidifier from overheating. If you want to add fragrance to the air, a dedicated tray allows you to do just that.

On the front of the humidifier, a simple knob lets you gradually increase and decrease the humidifier’s mist output. Above the knob, there’s a push button that toggles the nightlight. When turned on, the LED bulb produces a gentle blue light.

Buying Guide

Warm Mist vs. Cool Mist Humidifier

Although they work in a similar fashion, warm and cool-mist humidifiers differ in terms of the type of air they produce. A warm-mist humidifier produces warm, moist air while a cool-mist humidifier generates cool, moist air.

Your bedroom and your health should dictate the humidifier you choose. For instance, warm mist is effective at clearing your nasal passages when you have a cold. For stuffy noses, you’ll need a warm-mist humidifier. Cold-mist humidifiers are the best to use in arid conditions as they have higher moisture output. Some models offer both warm and cool mist if you can’t decide between the two.

What Types of Humidifiers Are There?

Humidifiers are classified based on their methods of expelling mist. Impeller humidifiers turn water into mist via a diffusing disc, and those that have a filter use that filter to remove impurities from the water. Impeller models consume little electricity, and they’re safe to use around small children.

Evaporative humidifiers blow air over a wet wick to produce cool mist air into the room. The wick also acts as a filter, capturing particles that float in the water. Since they’re easy to clean and maintain, evaporative cool-mist humidifiers are a popular choice.

Ultrasonic humidifiers contain a ceramic vibrating plate. As the plate vibrates at a high frequency, the water in the humidifier transforms into droplets of cool mist. They boast a high mist output and low noise level.

Warm-mist humidifiers heat the water within them to a boiling point, creating a steam byproduct that’s released into the air. Therefore, they are soothing when you’re sick. Some even come with medicine cups that are used to vaporize medications.

Are Humidifiers Germicidal?

Luckily, many models have integrated germicidal technologies such as carbon filters and ion cubes. Some manufacturers put an ultraviolet light bulb in their humidifiers to neutralized germs. Ultrasonic and warm-mist units even kill germs as they produce mist through the powers of vibrations and heat, respectively.

What Safety Precautions Should I Take?

With humidifiers, stagnant water should be your main concern as it provides the right environment for mold and bacteria growth. To avoid inhaling these contaminants, make it a habit to empty the water and clean the humidifier regularly. All humidifiers are different, so check the owner’s manual and follow the manufacturer’s care instructions.

Are Humidifiers Quiet Enough to Run While Sleeping?

Humidifiers do produce an audible level of noise while they operate. The noise you hear may either sound like a hum or a gurgle when they process water. Neither sound is disturbing enough to wake you up in the middle of the night. However, if you are a light sleeper, you may need an ultrasonic humidifier, which is quieter than other styles.

Do Any Humidifiers Have a Timer?

Yes, some humidifiers do have a built-in timer. If you don’t want the humidifier to run all day because you forgot to turn it off before you headed out to work, a timer comes in handy. With a timer, you can set the humidifier to run for a specified length of time before it turns off on its own. Equally important is the auto-shutoff feature that powers down the humidifier when the tank is empty.

What Is the Ideal Relative Humidity for a Bedroom?

The recommended relative humidity for a bedroom falls from 30 to 50%. To help you achieve the optimal RH, most units have an adjustable humidity setting. Some also come equipped with a humidistat, which turns off the humidifier when it reaches a preset moisture level. Certain models even monitor the room temperature, adjusting the moisture output accordingly.

Is the Size of the Humidifier Important?

Absolutely! Humidifiers are sized differently to meet the demands of varying square-footage ranges. A compact humidifier works work well in a small bedroom while a large unit is designed for spacious master suites. If the humidifier is undersized, then you won’t be able to raise the RH throughout the entire room. If the unit is oversized, you risk creating damp conditions that can lead to mold growth.

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Last Update: 2023-06-08 | Affiliate links/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API