Written by Julia Forbes, Lead Product Tester
If you’ve ever woken up with itchy skin, irritated eyes, or a dry nose, it might be time to add a humidifier to your bedroom. Humidifiers add moisture to your sleeping environment, providing benefits for those experiencing symptoms associated with or worsened by dry air. For those dealing with a cold, asthma, allergies, or dry skin, investing in a humidifier might be helpful.
Considering the large variety of humidifiers available, it may seem overwhelming to decide on the one that is best for you, and that is why my fellow lead product tester, Loren, and I put a bunch of them to the test. When our results were in, we had six picks that we wanted to share with you. Let’s dive in and see if one of these humidifiers will soon find a home with you.
Best Humidifiers for the Bedroom
- Crane Droplet Humidifier – Editor’s Pick
- Honeywell Cool Moisture Humidifier – Best Cool Mist Humidifier for Bedrooms
- Levoit Dual 150 Humidifier – Best Nightstand Humidifier for Bedrooms
- Aqua Oasis Cool Mist Humidifier – Best Auto Shutoff Humidifier for Bedrooms
- Vick’s Warm Mist Humidifier – Best Warm Mist Humidifier for Bedrooms
- Vick’s Mini Cool Mist Humidifier – Best Small Humidifier for Bedrooms
Watch Our Video Review of the Best Humidifiers for Bedrooms
Editor’s Pick
Why the Crane Droplet Earned Editor’s Pick
The Crane Droplet provides 15 hours of continuous ultrasonic cool mist and doubles as a diffuser. This was a standout feature to me and one of the main reasons it earned the Editor’s Pick spot.
When the Crane Droplet’s half-gallon tank is empty, this humidifier turns itself off. This means you don’t have to worry about dry air being blown into your room or undue wear or tear on your fan if you forget to turn it off. I also appreciated how easy this humidifier was to clean and that you could control the direction of the mist by turning the nozzle.
My Take: With 15 hours of continuous cool mist and a bottom tray for essential oils or vapor pads, the Crane Droplet packs a lot into a small package.
What I Liked
- Automatic shutoff – I loved the peace of mind that this feature gave me. If I forget to turn it off, I don’t have to worry about the Crane Droplet continuing to fan dry air into my bedroom.
- Built-in diffuser – If you like to diffuse essential oils or vapor pads in your bedroom, you won’t have to purchase an extra device for this if you have the Crane Droplet. This humidifier comes with a bottom tray for oils and vapor pads.
- Quiet – This is an almost silent humidifier. Therefore, light sleepers needn’t worry about being kept awake when using the Crane Droplet.
Potential Drawbacks
- Lack of settings – This humidifier only has three settings: high, medium, and low. I didn’t like that you couldn’t set the exact mist level I wanted.
- Can’t place it on the floor – This humidifier’s vent is on the bottom, and because of this, you can’t put it on the floor. This may make it difficult to use in some bedrooms.
Best Cool Mist Humidifier for Bedrooms
Honeywell Cool Moisture Humidifier
Why the Honeywell Earned Best Cool Mist Humidifier for Bedrooms
If you have children or pets in your bedroom, you may want to invest in a cool mist humidifier as they can be safer than their warmer counterparts.
I was particularly drawn to the Honeywell Cool Moisture because of its many allergen-busting features — again, another perk for those with pets. Honeywell uses a proprietary filter to keep mold from settling in and dust from entering the mist stream. I also loved that I could pop the tank in the dishwasher for a high-temperature cleaning.
My Take: The Honeywell uses a combination of allergen-fighting features to help your bedroom stay free of bacteria, mold, dust mites, and other pathogens.
What I Liked
- Bigger water reserve – The Honeywell has a bigger tank, and I appreciate that it can run for 24 hours before refilling, which is very convenient.
- Dishwasher safe – This humidifier is also dishwasher safe, making it a breeze to thoroughly clean. If you’re looking for something easy to maintain, I think this could be a great option.
- Suitable for medium-sized bedrooms – The Honeywell’s size makes it a great fit for bedrooms with a bit more square footage.
Potential Drawbacks
- Noisy – I found this humidifier to be very noisy at its highest setting. While some people may like it as white noise, I thought it was a disruption.
- Not a diffuser – I understand this is an allergen-clearing humidifier, so you wouldn’t use essential oils with it. However, for the price, I wish it offered aromatherapy like many of its competitors do.
Best Nightstand Humidifier for Bedrooms
Why the Levoit Dual 150 Earned Best Nightstand Humidifier for Bedrooms
If you’re tight on space, you might think you can’t make room for a humidifier. However, for those living in smaller bedrooms, such as a dorm, the Levoit Dual 150’s compact design fits on a nightstand. That said, don’t let this product’s diminutive stature fool you; the Levoit Dual 150 will not only add moisture to your room, but you can also use essential oils with it.
It has an incredible 25-hour runtime and is equipped with an automatic shutoff function. I was also a big fan of its top-fill design as it made refilling it a mess-free endeavor.
My Take: For those in the market for a compact but effective humidifier for their nightstand, the Levoit Dual 150 has much to offer, including doubling as a diffuser.
What I Liked
- Top fill tank – It may seem like a minor feature, but I appreciated the convenience of the top fill tank of the Levoit Dual 150 as it made filling up the tank that much easier.
- 360-degree nozzle – I could streamline the mist in any direction I desired, which was a big plus to me.
- Refill indicator – The Levoit Dual 150 has a refill indicator light that goes on when the tank’s water levels are too low. This is a helpful reminder for those times when you might forget to refill it.
Potential Drawbacks
- Ineffective in large rooms – I don’t recommend this humidifier if your bedroom is over 300 square feet because I don’t think it will be particularly effective. Rather, its size is better suited to smaller spaces.
- Only provides cool mist – There are several benefits to using cool or warm mist in your humidifier, and some people like to switch between both. If you want a humidifier that offers warm and cool mist, you won’t find it in the Levoit Dual 150.
Best Auto Shutoff Humidifier for Bedroom
AquaOasis Cool Mist Humidifier
Why the Aqua Oasis Earned Best Auto Shutoff Humidifier for Bedroom
If you’re like me, you have a million items on your to-do list. If you don’t want to worry about remembering to turn off your humidifier on top of everything else, I recommend the Aqua Oasis. With this cool mist humidifier, you don’t have to worry about the product continuing to run after it runs out of water.
On top of that, I loved that it could moisten the air of large bedrooms and that its 360-degree nozzle provided a lot of flexibility.
My Take: If you’re a “set it and forget it” fan like me, you’ll love the Aqua Oasis. This humidifier’s tank allows it to run for 24 hours, but if you cannot turn it off; it will do that for you.
What I Liked
- Automatic shutoff function – If the Aqua Oasis runs out of water when you’re not around, it will turn itself off. This is very convenient if you think you might forget to do this when you use a humidifier.
- Lifetime warranty – It’s rare to find a humidifier with more than a two-year warranty, but the Aqua Oasis offers an incredible lifetime warranty. This should provide extra peace of mind to consumers.
- Two available sizes – The Aqua Oasis is available in large and extra-large sizes. Both of these sizes can accommodate rooms that are up to 400 square feet.
Potential Drawbacks
- Lack of filter – The Aqua Oasis is an ultrasonic humidifier, which means water doesn’t pass through a filter. This should be fine for most people if you use distilled water, but if you’re looking for a humidifier that provides profound allergy relief, you’ll likely want one with a filter.
- No diffuser feature – I love using a diffuser in my bedroom. However, unlike some of its competitors, this humidifier doesn’t have a diffuser built-in, so you will have to purchase a separate device for your essential oils.
Best Warm Mist Humidifier for Bedrooms
Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier
Why Vick’s Earned Best Warm Mist Humidifier for Bedrooms
Sick days and Vick’s were synonymous when I was growing up. Although I no longer have my mom bringing my chicken noodle soup, I can still get the comforting Vick’s benefits with their Warm Mist Humidifier.
This humidifier will provide you with 12 hours of continuous use. I found it pretty easy to clean, but I recommend using distilled water because tap water can leave mineral sediments that can decrease the product’s lifespan. Regarding daily maintenance, I would suggest dumping out any remaining water and rinsing the tank with warm to hot water before refilling it.
My Take: The ability to use a Vick’s inhalant in this warm mist humidifier when you’re under the weather is a bonus that I was on board with.
What We Liked
- Affordability – The Vick’s Warm Mist Humidifier is durable and easy to use while coming in at a hard-to-beat price. As such, it’s a great budget humidifier as well.
- No filter to change – Although filters can be vital if you experience severe allergies, they can be a pain to buy and change. With this Vick’s humidifier, you don’t have to worry about changing the filter because it doesn’t require one.
- Vick’s inhalant – If you’re using your humidifier to ease cold or flu symptoms, you can use the brand’s inhalants for extra relief.
Potential Drawbacks
- Lack of settings – With only low and high settings, this product doesn’t offer much variety when it comes to mist speed.
- Not ideal for hot sleepers – Considering that this humidifier blows warm air, I don’t recommend it for those who sleep hot. Instead, these folks would likely prefer something with a cool setting.
Explore more Humidifiers for Allergies and Asthma here.
Best Small Humidifier for Bedrooms
Vick’s Mini Cool Mist Humidifier
The Vick’s Mini Cool Mist Humidifier is a small model that provides a cool mist. You can choose the direction and how much vapor is released, which makes it that much more convenient.
Sleep Advisor Score
4.50 / 5
Why the Vick’s Mini Cool Mist Humidifier Earned Best Small Humidifier for Bedrooms
The Vick’s Mini Cool Mist Humidifier is great for a small bedroom like a nursery. It can easily fit on nightstands or dressers, and you can even tuck it away behind decorations.
As a hot sleeper and a nightly humidifier user, I am a fan of the cool mist. I also appreciate that I have a lot of control over the direction and how much vapor is released from it. Although I wish it doubled as a diffuser, I like that I can add a Vick’s Vapopad when I’m not feeling my best.
My Take: This smaller half-gallon humidifier is easily portable, but what stands out to me is how much control I have over the nozzle direction and the strength of the mist stream with Vick’s Mini Cool Mist Humidifier.
What We Liked
- Small size – Smaller bedrooms need smaller humidifiers so they’re overwhelmed with moisture. The Vick’s Mini Cool Mist Humidifier not only fits nicely into smaller rooms, but it also does an excellent job of keeping them at a good moisture level.
- You can use Vick’s Vapopads – Although you can’t use essential oils with this humidifier, you can pop a Vick’s Vapopad for additional relief when you’re feeling under the weather.
- Filter-free – The Vick’s Mini Cool Mist Humidifier is a filter-free device. Therefore, you don’t have to remember to get new ones and change them out.
Potential Drawbacks
- Frequent cleaning – Although the lack of a filter has its benefits, it also means that you will have to stay on top of cleaning this product.
- Price – Although it isn’t costly, it is more than the Vick’s Warm Mist Humidifier. If you’re on a tight budget, this might be a downside.
What Are the Benefits of Using a Humidifier?
Humidifiers are devices that add moisture to the air in your bedroom, and people often use them in the bedroom during winter or in drier climates when there isn’t as much moisture in the air. By moisturizing the air, humidifiers may help1 people relieve congestion, snoring, allergy and asthma symptoms, and dry skin.
What to Look for in a Humidifier for the Bedroom
Size & Capacity
Humidifiers for bedrooms come in two basic sizes: tabletop/portable and console. There are also “whole-house” humidifiers that attach to your home’s plumbing ductwork, but in this review, we are only covering the types that go in your bedroom. The type you choose should primarily be based on the size of your bedroom.
Tabletop humidifiers are smaller and less expensive than consoles and can be placed on a nightstand, dresser, or vanity. This type has a smaller reservoir and will need to be refilled more often. They will cover less square footage than most consoles.
Consoles have a bigger footprint and weigh more than portable models. These should be placed on the floor and are best for bedrooms that are 1,000 square feet or larger. They have larger tanks that will require less refilling.
Features
If you plan to use a humidifier, I recommend looking into any special features it’s equipped with as this could boost its appeal and performance. The following are some common features worth knowing.
- Water tank capacity – How much water your humidifier can hold in its tank, combined with the time you plan to run your machine, will help you determine how often you will refill the water reserve. Many manufacturers provide an estimated run time. This factor can help you decide if it is the right humidifier for you.
- Automatic shutoff – Many humidifiers can automatically shut off when the water tank runs dry. If your humidifier doesn’t have this feature, it will continue to blow dry air into the room. While this is not considered harmful, your humidifier’s lifespan could be extended by having one that turns itself off when it is out of water.
- UV filtration – Added moisture in the air can invite bacteria and mold into your bedroom.1 Some humidifiers have a UV light filtration system that can kill harmful pathogens that may grow in your humidifier’s tank. This helps eliminate bacteria and mold from being released into the air.
- Humidistat – To be aware of your bedroom’s humidity level, you can purchase a model with a humidistat. Humidifiers with humidistats typically shut off when the moisture gets to a certain amount. This feature helps keep your bedroom’s windows from becoming foggy and can also prevent unpleasant odors.
Recommended Use
Humidifiers should be used to obtain optimal humidity in your bedroom. The humidity level can vary depending on the season, type of weather, and geographic location of your home. Keeping your home’s humidity between 30 and 40 percent2 in winter and between 50 and 60 percent in summer is considered ideal.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC4) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA5) recommend using distilled or demineralized water to reduce the buildup of dust that can lead to health issues. Distilled water can also make your humidifier easier to clean because it reduces the chance of mineral buildup.
Materials
The exact type of materials used in humidifiers will vary by manufacturer, but plastic is typically a significant component of the tank and fan. The wick is made from a porous and absorbent material. For the longevity of your device, make sure it is made with durable materials and parts.
Budget
How much money you spend on a humidifier for your bedroom is a point of consideration for most shoppers. Fortunately, many humidifiers, particularly portable or tabletop ones, are affordable. Consumers should be able to find a humidifier for their bedroom at various price points.
Warranty
Humidifiers for the bedroom are generally considered small appliances, so they don’t tend to have extensive warranties. However, many do come with a one-year warranty, and they typically only cover manufacturing defects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it good to sleep with a humidifier in your bedroom?
Sleeping with a humidifier in your bedroom can help reduce issues that arise when the air is too dry, such as itchy skin and congestion.
However, if humidifiers are overused or used when there is already plenty of humidity, they can cause mold and bacteria to grow. Additionally, dirty, poorly maintained humidifiers can also lead to bacteria growth.1
How far should a humidifier be from the bed?
Although it may vary from room to room due to space and setup, set your humidifier at least 3 feet from your bed to experience the optimal effects. This distance allows moisture to be distributed to the room rather than concentrated near your body. Placing it 3 feet away from your bed can also keep you from knocking it over during the night, and that distance may also muffle the fan noise that could disturb lighter sleepers.
Can I use tap water in a humidifier?
You technically can use tap water in a humidifier, but both the CPSC and the EPA recommend using distilled or demineralized water.3,4 These types of water are more likely to prevent mold and bacteria growth in your humidifier. Distilled and demineralized water also reduces the chance of mineral buildup in the tank, making cleaning easier.
Julia Forbes
Lead Product Tester
About Author
Julia is the Lead Reviewer at Sleep Advisor, specializing in testing out mattresses and sleep accessories – she’s in the right line of work, because she loves to sleep.
Stomach Sleeper
- 1. “Humidifiers: Ease skin, breathing symptoms”. Mayo Clinic. Last modified June 21, 2024. –
- 2. “What’s my home’s humidity level – and why does it matter?” Save On Energy. Webpage accessed December 19, 2024. –
- 3. “Dirty Humidifiers May Cause Health Problems”. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Webpage accessed December 6, 2024. –
- 4. “Use and Care of Home Humidifiers”. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Last modified June 27, 2024. –