Looking for the best humidifier for the bedroom? We’ve got you covered.
Do you suffer from dry skin, allergies, chapped lips, nosebleeds, sinus headaches, or eye irritations come wintertime?
These are just a few of the many common health issues that can be caused by dry air in the atmosphere.
If this sounds like you, fortunately there is something that can be can be done to alleviate these complaints — installing a humidifier in your home.
We’ve got the full-run down on the best humidifiers on the market, as well as everything you need to know before you buy.
Let’s get straight into it…
Contents
What is a Humidifier?
Humidifiers come in a wide range of forms, but they are all designed to perform one single important function — put moisture back into the air .
Evaporative humidifiers achieve this by using an internal fan to pull air into the unit and pass it across a water-saturated wick filter to absorb moisture.
Once the air has been humidified, it is pushed out again by the fan to circulate around the environment as a fine mist.
Ultrasonic humidifiers achieve the same effect by using an ultrasonic vibrating diaphragm to create super fine water droplets which are then forced into the atmosphere.
Humidifiers are available in both cool mist and warm mist versions.
Some humidifiers are capable of generating both cool and warm mist.
As an added bonus, installing a humidifier benefits not just you but your home too, preventing damage to walls and furniture caused by long periods of exposure to dry air.
How will a Humidifier Help Me Sleep?
Another good reason for investing in a humidifier is that is can improve your quality of sleep.
Not only does a moist environment feel warmer and more comfortable, but it is also better if you or your partner snores or suffers from sleep apnea.
If your snoring is caused by allergies or upper respiratory illness, a humidifier can usually help by enlarging the air passageways when you sleep and ensuring that air enters your lungs easily, thus eliminating snoring.
Similar to snoring, sleep apnea is caused by narrowing of the air passageways during sleep which prevents enough air getting to the lungs, and in severe cases stops airflow completely.
Keeping the air in your home clean and moist by using a humidifier also helps keep your nasal passageways clean and moist too, reducing sleep apnea symptoms or even preventing it entirely.
Features of the Best Humidifiers for the Bedroom
When you’re trying to get to sleep, the last thing you need is a noisy humidifier whirring away in the background.
One of the main features of the best humidifiers is that they run quietly so as not to disturb your sleep.
A humidifier should be straightforward and easy to use, as well as simple to set up and easy to clean.
It may seem obvious, but a top notch humidifier will have a decent moisture output, and preferably adjustable humidity settings.
Humidifiers generally undergo heavy use, and the best humidifiers are deigned to be durable and energy efficient in order to cut down on running costs.
What Size Humidifier do I Need?
There are a whole host of humidifiers in a wide range of shapes and sizes — from table top machines to whole house humidifiers — so the size of humidifier you need is dependent on how you want to use it.
If you just want to humidify a single room, a small tabletop humidifier will do the job.
In addition, choosing a humidifier with a larger water capacity means that you won’t have to refill the tank as often as a smaller one, although larger units can be heavier and more awkward to fill up.
In general you should choose a humidifier the right size and capacity in square feet for the space you want it to humidify.
Where Should a Humidifier Be Placed?
Where you position your humidifier is actually surprisingly important. Firstly it should be placed in the room where it is going to be used the most — unless it is has an easily portable design.
When using a warm mist humidifier in a bedroom it shouldn’t be placed too next to the bed or close to pillows and sheets as they may get damp.
Wherever possible, warm mist humidifiers should be elevated and placed on an item of furniture at least 2 feet off the ground to prevent any mold or mildew forming beneath or behind them.
Cool mist humidifiers, on the other hand, can be placed near the bed — preferably on a bedside table of chest of drawers — but it’s critical to leave a space of at least six inches between the device and wall to allow proper air circulation.
The Best Humidifiers for the Bedroom
Not only does the Everlasting Comfort Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier boast a large capacity of 1.6 gallons and an powerful mist output of 270ml per hour, it also features a special compartment for adding essential oils to diffuse a fine fragrance around your home.
It is suitable for use in rooms up to 400 square feet and lasts 50 hours between refills.
It also features filterless technology, runs almost silently, and has an automatic shut off safety feature when it runs out of water.
The sleek, compact design also packs an unobtrusive and practical blue LED nightlight.
Pros
- No need to replace filters
- Large tank capacity for size
- Good mist output
- Easy to use controls
- Can be used with essential oils
- Attractive design
Cons
- A little on the heavy side making it a little less portable
- Essential oils tray can sometimes be fiddly to use
This versatile ultrasonic humidifier from LEVOIT can generate both warm and cold mists.
It operates almost inaudibly and the sizable 1.5 gallon tank has a n extra wide opening which makes it very convenient when refilling.
The handy LED display lets you know precisely the level of humidity present in the room and allows you to easily adjust it to suit your preference, and if don’t want to set it yourself, there’s a feature to automatically adjust the humidity to optimum levels.
The aroma box allows you to add essential oils to create a pleasant fragrance in your living space.
Pros
- Very quiet operation
- Easy to refill
- Comes with useful remote control
- Intuitive to operate
- Mist can be directed towards where you want it
- Versatile thanks to both warm and cool mist operation
- Performs exceptionally well
Cons
- Could be easier to clean
- LED display is very bright, which may be inconvenient when used in a bedroom
The ideal size for bedrooms and smaller rooms, the Honeywell HCM350W Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier has a small 1 litre water tank allowing it to operate for up to 24 hours before needing a refill.
It uses evaporative technology and ultraviolet light technology to humidify the atmosphere and wipe out bacteria, mold, and viruses, and features a convenient carrying handle.
This humidifier uses filters to ensure maximum efficiency.
Pros
- Very quiet operation
- Very effective despite comparative small size
- Quality construction promises durability
- User friendly
- Effective at killing germs
- Water tank can be easily cleaned in the dishwasher
- Comes with a 3 year warranty
Cons
- No low water indicator
Effective in spaces of up to 600 square foot, the stylish Air Innovations Cool Mist Digital Humidifier uses near silent ultrasonic technology to dissipate cool mist into the air.
With a large 1.7 gallon tank it is capable of operating for up to 96 hours at a time, and 5 different settings mean that you can adjust the level of humidity to suit you — either manually or by using the convenient remote control.
The ceramic filter never needs to be changed, and two nozzles allow you to direct the cool mist to exactly where you want it.
The aromatherapy tray uses special pads to infuse the air with fragrance if you so desire.
Pros
- Useful remote control
- Easy to use LED display / control panel
- Adjustable settings
- Easy to maintain
- Sophisticated design
- Makes almost no noise
- Long run time
- Convenient timer feature
- Great for larger bedrooms
Cons
- Expensive
- Can be fiddly to refill before you get the hang of it
Whisper quiet, the Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier delivers 150ml of mist per hour thanks to its large 1.5 gallon water reservoir, and can keep working for up to 16 hours.
The directional mist nozzle can be rotated a whole 360 degrees, and the humidifier will automatically turn itself off as soon as the water in the tank is depleted.
An optional night light is a handy feature for when the humidifier is used in bedrooms.
It’s certified safe and comes with a 2 year warranty.
Pros
- Small and lightweight so super portable
- Easy to check water level
- Good safety features
- Useful for larger rooms
- Quiet
- Stylish design
- Handy night light is not too bright
Cons
- Humidity levels can’t be adjusted
- Refills required every 16 hours
With a modest water capacity of 1.1 gallons, this humidifier by Levoit is a good size for most medium-sized bedrooms, and it can stay operational for up to 36 hours at a time.
This vaporizer contains no filters, the water tank is designed to be easy to refill, and the practical carrying handle adds good portability to the device.
Choosing between the 3 different mist levels is simple with the one touch control, and the 360 degree nozzle means that mist can be directed in any direction.
Essential oils can be added to the aroma box, which then uses fans to disperse fragrance into the mist.
Pros
- Automatic shut off feature
- Lets you know when it’s time to refill the tank
- Can be used with essential oils
- Simple to use
- Choice of 3 different mist settings
- Very quiet operation
Cons
- Not particularly sturdy
The clever design of the KOIOS Top Fill Ultrasonic Humidifier allows water to be poured in the top directly making the 1.1 gallon tank hassle free to fill, and thanks to new technology it’s super quiet too, at less than 35 decibels.
With one full tank it will work for between 15 and 20 hours before needing a refill, and the built in adjustable humidity sensor automatically turns off the humidifier when optimum levels of humidity are reached.
There are 3 different levels of mist, and there’s also a useful timer and a smart sleep mode which takes care of humidity levels while you sleep.
Pros
- Very easy to fill
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Clever sensors
- Timer is handy for night time
- Adjustable settings
- Doesn’t require filters so easy to maintain
Cons
- No aromatherapy feature
- Comparatively expensive
We hope you’ve found our Best Humidifiers post helpful. Looking for alternatives? Be sure to visit our climate control section for other great options.
