The highest mist setting can raise the humidity levels in a medium sized room up to 69% in just under an hour, while the humidity target can be adjusted so you never feel uncomfortable with the humidity levels in the room. However, be careful that the water doesn’t leak on the highest setting - our reviewer had a pool of water escape when it was tested. The aroma pad is also a nice extra, enabling you to add essential oils to the pad that the humidifier then emits with the mist, giving an extra scent to the air. The Elechomes HTJ-2119 Ultrasonic Humidifier is an excellent option if you want a humidifier with extra features but don’t have the budget or space for larger, more expensive models. We like that this humidifier has a big water tank for its size, even though it's smaller than other models. Running continuously on the highest setting, the water tank didn’t run out of water for 12 hours. Here’s the full list of humidifiers we tested, feel free to jump straight to them or keep scrolling:

I started out by measuring the power draw of the humidifier. In Cool mode, the SH8820 used between 17W and 25W, depending on the humidifier option chosen. That’s little more than a regular fan, making this humidifier efficient to run. The Elechomes HTJ-2119 Ultrasonic Humidifier can easily fit onto a counter, dresser, or even a wide windowsill. Taller than it is deep, you’ll need about a foot of height wherever you put this humidifier. Because the Elechomes HTJ-2119 Ultrasonic Humidifier has a filter, the user guide doesn’t recommend using purified or distilled water, as other humidifiers do.There are lots of factors you'll want to consider when buying a humidifier, most importantly: how often will you be using it and for what purpose? Whether you're looking for a machine to humidify a large room or a smaller version for your desk at work, the capacity, runtime and square footage will tell you everything you need to know. Most humidifiers on this list hold around a gallon of water in their water tank and runtimes range from 6 to 70 hours. If you're looking for a machine that you can leave on all day every day with minimal refills, then you'll want the one with a higher runtime and capacity most likely. But if you're just looking for a humidifier to get you through the night, a smaller capacity and runtime may be okay, especially if it means a lower price point. The square footage a certain model is able to cover will also tell you if it will work in the space you have in mind because, like air purifiers, humidifiers work best in small, enclosed spaces. Having worked for many years in the NHS, initially as a GP, and then as Lead Clinician for an integrated Community Sexual Health Service, Dr Deborah Lee now works as a health and medical writer, with an emphasis on women’s health. She is a menopause specialist. How we test How do we test humidifiers on Live Science?

As a smaller model, it’s ultra-quiet but is capable of holding a large amount of water, which means that it can run for up to 36 hours.Second, you can turn on the Heat mode, choosing from three levels. Heating the water brings two benefits: it kills bacteria and it pushes warm water into the air, making it more comfortable during the winter months. However, it’s a loud and bulky model, so it’s not ideal for an office or sleeping environment. This humidifier features a fairly basic design, with fewer features than its competitors at this price range. The TruSens Humidifer has a water softening filter for tap water that works to reduce both build-up and white dust. Each filter lasts for an average of four months. The humidifier also has a UV-C light, which is designed to kill any bacteria in the mist. The large water tank, which holds 2.1 gallons of water, allows the humidifier to work for up to 80 hours before it needs to be refilled. The tank’s LED will glow a bright red color when the tank is out of water or when the water softening filter needs to be replaced. As a tester, I was happy to discover that the humidifier’s lid is removable for ease of cleaning and refilling the device, and the portable humidifier has a carry handle as well. The timer can be set for 2, 4, 8, or 12 hours, and it can be used as a cool mist humidifier or the user can take advantage of the warm mist options. The device works quietly the remote control SensorPod can be used to gauge the room’s humidity level, and then adjust the humidifier’s settings and control the power.

Every humidifier in this guide has been tested to the exact same standards, using the same processes.The humidifier does feel a little bit flimsy (which surprised us for the price), and leaked a bit when we tried to transport it into another room with water still in the tank. However, it's an efficient machine that does a good job of improving indoor humidity, and it has the added benefit of looking good too. You should empty the tank of the humidifier, wipe all of the surfaces dry and refill the water in portable humidifiers daily. This will help to reduce the growth of microorganisms.