Danny as been writing about air purifiers for 10+ years. He is a major fan of home technology, which makes him the perfect person to test and evaluate products for HouseFresh
The cold, winter months mean that we often have to turn the heating up a notch. While this creates a toasty, warm home, it may lead to a drier atmosphere, which can affect everything from your skin to your sinuses.
The good news is that a humidifier will help to combat these problems by increasing moisture levels.
However, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all when it comes to humidifiers. What you’ll find is that there are two main types to choose from: ultrasonic and evaporative.
While both kinds increase humidity by adding water vapor to the air, the way they do this is slightly different.
Ultrasonic VS Evaporative
Evaporative humidifiers simply speed up the evaporation process by heating water and using a fan to distribute the vapor produced. They offer a budget-friendly, effective means of adding moisture to your space.
An ultrasonic humidifier, on the other hand, utilizes vibrating plates to create a fine mist without the need of heating, although this usually comes at an increased cost.
Another key difference is that evaporative humidifiers also come with a filter to help to trap impurities. This is a big bonus over ultrasonic units, as humidifiers are prone to emit airborne contaminants such as bacteria, mold and mildew which can make you unwell if inhaled.
With a wide variety of models out there, we’ve put together our top eight recommended evaporative humidifiers to help you find the right one for your space.
The Top 3 Best Evaporative Humidifiers
As each of our spaces are different, we’ve put together a range of humidifiers to suit different needs and varying budgets.
We paid close attention to the weight and tank size of each of the units on our list, as well as looking for special features that will make your life easier, such as:
- Optional remote control
- Energy smart technology
- Range of fan speeds
In order to find the ideal evaporative humidifier for you, be sure to check out our full list below.
1. Vornado EVDC300 Evaporative Humidifier
The Vornado EVDC300 Energy Smart Evaporative Humidifier will astound you with its low energy consumption.
This humidifier is 90% more efficient than comparable units. When used at the highest setting, the power used is a mere 8.5 watts, and in the Energy Smart™ mode, only 1 watt of electricity is used.
Perfect for large rooms and areas up to 750 square feet, this unit uses vortex technology that creates a diffusing, cool, dust-free mist that helps soothe dry throats, and irritated sinuses, plus many common flu and cold symptoms, giving you a perfect humidified space.
It has a three-gallon per 24-hour run time capacity with a one-gallon water tank that is equipped with a low water indicator and an automatic shutoff.
Incorporated into the unit is a humidistat, complete with a digital display and touch-sensitive controls that allow you to control the humidity levels either manually or fully automatically.
There is also an automatic brightness control, adjusting the display brightness to its surroundings, making it an ideal humidifier for a bedroom.
The speed of the fan can be set to one of three levels; turbo, high, or low and even on the low setting, it has the power to surpass other Vordano humidifier models.
Measuring only 7.79 x 13.18 x 12.19 inches, this compact unit has the technology needed to monitor the room and if required, supply additional humidity until the level reaches your desired setting.
If the water reservoir should reach empty, the unit will automatically switch off until the water is replenished. The water tank is easy to fill by removing the canister, adding water, replacing the cap, then putting the tank back in the unit.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Tank size: | 1 gallon |
| Recommended room size: | 750 sq. ft |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 6.9 lbs (3.12 kg) |
| Special features: | Energy smart technology, precise auto-humidity control |
What We Really Like:
👍 Very easy to set up and there’s no white dust
👍 Comes with a five-year manufacturer’s warranty
👍 Ideal size, and easy to move from room to room
👍 It’s easily cleaned, including the fan, by removing the grill
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 The unit resets to default settings if it’s been unplugged
👎 The wicks need to be replaced every four to eight weeks
2. AIRCARE Space-Saver Evaporative Humidifier
With its large water reservoir and a maximum runtime of 70 hours, this evaporative cool mist humidifier is capable of covering your whole house, up to 2,700 square feet.
Its sleek, contemporary design will blend in with almost any décor, whether it is in your living room, family room, or bedroom, you will find this unit pleasant to the eye.
Measuring 22.5 x 12.5 x 17.5 inches and weighing 14lbs, it is compact enough to fit under a desk, or beside a nightstand.
The weight of the unit combined with six gallons of water could make it difficult for some people to move, but thanks to the four castors situated under the base, it becomes very maneuverable.
Not only does this humidifier help alleviate dry eyes, allergy symptoms, and dry scratchy throats, but it also reduces static electricity.
The water tank is easily filled by removing the top of the unit, filling to the level indicated, and when the top is replaced the unit will start up again running until your chosen humidity level is reached.
The digital display shows the humidity level and the fan speed. By pressing one of the control buttons you can increase the fan to one of three speeds, depending on your needs.
To ensure the optimum level of clean humidification this unit has an advanced wick filter that traps minerals and other unwanted particulates preventing the usual white dust seen in other humidifiers.
The intelligent control sensors will shut the unit down when the desired level of humidity is reached, plus it also shuts down when the water reservoir is empty, providing you with extra peace of mind.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Tank size: | 6 gallons |
| Recommended room size: | 2,700 sq. ft |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 14 lbs (6.35 kg) |
| Special features: | Super wick technology, extra-large tank, automatic moisture control |
What We Really Like:
👍 On the low-speed setting, the fan is extremely quiet
👍 It takes up very little space and is easily moved
👍 Easy to fill, just pop off the front panel and pour
👍 The filter is easy to install and lasts the winter season
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 We wish the control panel was a little clearer to understand
👎 High fan speed does produce noticeable noise
3. smartmi Evaporative Humidifier
If you have come to accept the annoying “ghostly” mist and the white dust that your current humidifier produces, then you probably won’t believe the performance of the Cool No-Mist Evaporative humidifier from smartmi.
This unit does not produce any water mist because, during the evaporation cycle, it doesn’t produce any water vapor, making it perfect for an elderly relative’s bedroom or a baby’s nursery.
If you decide to use this humidifier in a baby’s room, then you can rest assured that safety has been an important factor in the design of the unit.
The water tank is separate from any electrical parts, and if the water tank is removed from the unit, the sensors automatically shut the unit down stopping the fan and avoiding any injury or damage.
With its one-gallon water tank, it can evaporate 0.5-pints per hour and will run up to 24 hours on the low fan speed. The water tank is simplicity itself to use and fill. You can replenish the water by pouring water into the top of the unit, even while it is running.
It incorporates a water level sensor that detects the level of the water, and a series of five LEDs located on the top of the unit, show you how much water is in the tank so you always know when to top it up.
In addition to the water level indicator, there is a power/fan speed button, a Wi-Fi button, and Wi-Fi connection indicator.
The fan has three speeds, plus an auto mode, that adjusts the humidifier based on the humidity and temperature in the room.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Tank size: | 1 gallon |
| Recommended room size: | 215 sq. ft |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 9.48 lbs (4.30 kg) |
| Special features: | Electrical components and water kept apart for safety, Wi-Fi control via smart app |
What We Really Like:
👍 The machine beeps letting you know you’ve added enough water
👍 Using your phone, you can turn off the light at night
👍 Super easy to clean, and no need to buy filters
👍 It is quiet, very efficient, and extremely easy to use
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 You have to clean the evaporator basin often to prevent smells
👎 Small handles on the side of the unit would be a plus for portability
4. Pure Enrichment MistAire Eva Evaporative Humidifier
If your home suffers from dry air, then you can restore moisture to every room with this energy-saving four-speed evaporative humidifier from Pure Enrichment.
It uses whirlwind technology to draw in cool air and humidify the air in your living room, bedroom, or any other room in your home.
This space-saving unit, measuring 13.5-inches high and 9.5-inches in diameter, has a sleek, modern design that is sure to blend in with your décor.
It has, for any allergy sufferers in your family, an antimicrobial filter that is designed to capture particles like smoke, pollen, dust, and lint so they won’t be recirculated back into the room, making it ideal for clean, cool, comfortable air all year.
In addition to the four-speed fan that can be set from a low, level 1 to a turbo speed, allowing you to achieve your personal comfort level of humidity, this humidifier can be programmed to switch off after two, four, or eight hours.
If you position the unit in a bedroom, then you can take advantage of the night light and sleep mode functions.
The night light function has “Color Choice Technology”, a feature that will rotate seven colors, and allow you to select your favorite, giving the room a soft, glowing night light.
The sleep mode will allow you to turn the control panel, and night lights off completely while retaining the fan speed and any timer settings.
One useful feature of this humidifier is that it will automatically start to dry out the filter if the unit runs out of water. Drying the filter also helps to prevent any mold from growing and will make cleaning it much easier.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Tank size: | 0.74 gallons |
| Recommended room size: | 500 sq. ft |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 5.61 lbs (2.54 kg) |
| Special features: | Evaporative whirlflow, auto dry filter, color choice technology™ |
What We Really Like:
👍 The fan noise is so low you hardly notice it
👍 This humidifier is very easy to set up and operate
👍 Very powerful considering the size of the unit
👍 It still humidifies while it is drying out the filter
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 You can’t fill it from the top while it’s running
👎 The water tank size could be a little bit bigger
5. AIRCARE 9-Gallon Digital Pedestal Humidifier
This Pedestal humidifier from AirCare has an 18-inch footprint, is just over 27 inches tall, and weighs in at 27 pounds.
The unit case is wood with a stylish cabinet design, with a decorative top insert that you can change for any 12 x 12-inch tile to match your home’s color scheme, giving it the look of a piece of furniture instead of a humidifier.
To make it easy to move the humidifier from room to room, it comes supplied with four castors, which are neatly hidden by the base molding. Some assembly of this unit is required, but the instruction manual is comprehensive and easy to follow.
With its large water reservoir, this humidifier can produce a maximum of nine gallons of moisture per day and can run for 60 hours before needing to refill the tank. Filling the tank could not be easier. The AirCare logo on the front of the unit hides the front, direct-pour filling point.
The front control panel has a digital display plus three buttons. A fan speed button, a humidity control button, and a power button.
When first turned on, the default fan speed is high, but by pressing the fan speed button, you can lower the speed to suit. Setting the desired level of humidity is performed in a similar way.
If you allow the unit to run out of water, it will automatically switch to “Auto Dry Out” mode and will continue to operate at a low speed, until the filter/wick is completely dry.
A useful option with this humidifier is a remote control that can be used to operate all the unit’s functions from a distance.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Tank size: | 3.5 gallons |
| Recommended room size: | 2,400 sq. ft |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 27 lbs (12.24 kg) |
| Special features: | Nine fan speeds, Optional remote control |
What We Really Like:
👍 It’s easy to clean. Just rinse the filter with clean water
👍 It is almost silent when the fan is on low
👍 Not only does it humidify, it gets rid of static electricity
👍 It takes about ten minutes to set up and run
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 The filler funnel that’s included could be a better fit
👎 We’d like to see other colors available for user choice
6. Vornado EV100 Evaporative Humidifier
No more guessing if you need to fill the water reservoir in your humidifier, the EV100 evaporative whole room humidifier from Vornado is full of handy features including a clear water tank that is visible at all times, so you can see at a glance when it’s time to fill up.
Their SIMPLETANK™ system is easily carried, filled, installed, cleaned, and has the capacity to provide up to one gallon of humidity every 24 hours.
The overall dimensions of this unit are 12.3 x 13 x 8 inches. It uses natural evaporation eliminating the mist and white dust that is common with other humidifiers and introduces humidity into the room by a fast, yet gentle, stream of air creating a natural, consistent comfortable environment.
The unit has two fan speeds plus an auto mode. In auto mode, the unit will sense how much humidity is present in the room and adjust the fan accordingly to maintain your individual comfort level.
If the unit is unplugged, the next time it is switched on the settings revert to the defaults of high fan speed and humidity at 50%.
The straightforward controls are located on the top of the unit and consist of a power on/off button (also used to select the fan speed), a humidity control button with six settings from 40% to 60% in 5% increments, plus a continuous setting.
LED lights will show the current settings for the fan speed and the humidity level you have chosen.
When you want to move the humidifier, convenient recesses on the base act as carrying handles and should be the only way you lift and carry it.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Tank size: | 1 gallon |
| Recommended room size: | 300 sq. ft |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 5.28 lbs (2.39 kg) |
| Special features: | Clear water tank, Vortex Action airflow |
What We Really Like:
👍 It’s amazing how easy it is to clean this humidifier
👍 The automatic setting works, turning on and off as needed
👍 There’s no sign of any mineral dust with this humidifier
👍 It appears to be solidly constructed and is simple to use
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 At night, the light coming from the LEDs are very bright
👎 The wick/filter needs to be replaced every 4 to 8 weeks
7. Honeywell Cool Moisture Humidifier
The Honeywell Cool Moisture Humidifier has been designed for small to medium-sized rooms and will produce an invisible cool mist that goes a long way to making you and your family more comfortable.
Measuring 13.2 x 8.5 x 10.2 inches, it is ideal for a bedroom nightstand and its modern design should blend in with the room’s décor.
The water tank holds just less than a gallon and the unit will run for up to 18 hours when the fan is set to low speed. The tank itself is reputed to be unbreakable according to the manufacturer and is extremely easy to fill.
It has one control knob that operates the power and sets the fan to one of two speeds. When set on high, the unit will provide quicker humidity output, pushing more moisture through the included wicking filter and expelling clean, moist air into the room.
The included wicking filter designed to provide maximum moisture output also impedes up to 99.99% of mold growth on the filter while capturing any minerals present in the water and helps prevent the notorious “white dust” normally associated with humidifiers.
If you keep the humidity levels in your home between 40-60% then this humidifier may help to relieve congestion, coughs, dry throats, and help you to breathe better and sleep more soundly. It can also help prevent any wooden or leather furniture from drying out and cracking.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Tank size: | 0.8 gallons |
| Recommended room size: | Medium-sized rooms |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 6 lbs (2.72 kg) |
| Special features: | Invisible cool moisture, evaporative humidification technology |
What We Really Like:
👍 The simple control knob, with Off-Low-High settings
👍 Even on the high fan speed, it is relatively quiet#
👍 This humidifier is extremely easy to use, clean, and refill
👍 No annoying super bright lights like some other humidifiers have
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 We wish there was also a digital display of the current humidity level
👎 There’s no auto shut-off function when the water runs out
8. Sunpentown SU-9210 Digital Evaporative Humidifier
During the dry season, the Sunpentown SU-9210 cool-air evaporative humidifier will keep any room up to 400 square feet comfortable with effective yet low-maintenance technology. It is capable of having up to 2.3-gallons of clean, cool mist flowing into your room each and every day.
Dry air is drawn in through the intake grill around the bottom of the unit and passed through the included moisture-laden wick filter, where minerals and deposits contained in the water are retained. The result is clean, moist air pushed and circulated back into the room via the air outlet located at the top of the unit.
The wick filter is constructed using an advanced form of anti-bacterial wood slurry material that has a honeycomb structure to allow quick water absorption thus allowing the water to easily evaporate into the air.
One concern potential users of humidifiers have is the build-up of white dust. The anti-bacterial filter takes care of that quickly and easily.
The humidifier’s small size, 13.8 x 8.8 x 11 inches, disguises the power of the unit. Combined with its digital humidistat, touch controls, and an LCD panel display, operating this model could not be easier.
One button controls the power and the mode of operation, two buttons to increase or decrease the humidity level, which can be set to between 35% and 85%, and a useful timer button.
The digital LCD screen will show the current level of humidity, the fan speed, the timer indicator, and a filter change indicator.
When the unit has reached 2,160 hours of runtime, it beeps, and the power indicator will flash to indicate that it’s time to change the filter.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Tank size: | 1 gallon |
| Recommended room size: | 400 sq. ft |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg) |
| Special features: | Digital touch controls, digital humidistat |
What We Really Like:
👍 It’s super quiet, very easy to set up and use
👍 The simple controls mean there is no complicated programming needed
👍 Even with hard water, there’s no white dust being emitted
👍 Cleaning is a breeze, and the water reservoir is easy to fill
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 We wish there was a way to dim the LCD display for nighttime use
👎 The fan speed button makes a loud beep when pushed
Frequently Asked Questions About Evaporative Humidifiers
🤔 Do evaporative humidifiers cost more than other humidifiers?
Like any home appliance, humidifiers come in different sizes, technology, and costs. In the past, an evaporative humidifier cost considerably less than an ultrasonic humidifier, but today the price difference is dwindling.
If you compare like for like, then generally speaking evaporative humidifiers cost less than an ultrasonic humidifier but what you might save in initial outlay could be eaten up in maintenance items like the wicks/filters that need to be replaced every so often.
Depending on the model, some filters require replacing every two to three months, and the cost of these wicks/filters can also vary from model to model.
🤔 What are the differences between ‘ultrasonic’ and ‘evaporative’ humidifiers?
The principal differences between Ultrasonic & Evaporative Humidifiers are the method they use to generate steam, or moisture, their noise levels, and their maintenance requirements.
Ultrasonic humidifiers use high-frequency sound vibrations to introduce moisture into a room. This method is generally very quiet, but not totally silent. You may feel the vibrations, but the human ear cannot hear the sound at such a high frequency.
Evaporative humidifiers use a fan to blow air over a wet filter into a room. This has the effect of increasing the surface area of the water for evaporation, increasing the amount of moisture in the room.
🤔 Do evaporative humidifiers leave white dust?
The short answer to this question is NO.
The white dust that everyone is concerned about when using a humidifier is really a byproduct of certain minerals found in water that enters the humidifier when it is pumping out humidity.
While it may not be a health hazard, over time it can accumulate on furniture and become annoying.
Since evaporative humidifiers incorporate a wet filter or wick, allowing the water to pass through it before converting it into moisture, the filter traps those impurities and does not emit any “white dust”.
Only ultrasonic and cool mist impellers cause the dust.
🤔 So… Which humidifier is best for you?
When considering purchasing a humidifier, think about the reasons behind your decision.
Many homeowners use a humidifier to combat problems encountered from dry air, such as dry skin, or dry sinuses, and dry air is usually a problem in the winter months when you heat your home.
Selecting the best humidifier will depend on various criteria, including the room size.
And don’t forget to consider other factors such as your health, if you have children, or if you have pets. A humidifier can help with congestion, reduce snoring, fight bacteria and viruses, clear nasal passages, and ease asthma, coughs, and allergies.
Of the two main types of humidifiers, evaporative and ultrasonic, it is worth bearing in mind that ultrasonic models do not filter any of the water or air used in humidification, whereas an evaporative humidifier traps impurities in a filter or wick.
The size of the humidifier is also important. Do you need a whole-house model or one for a child’s bedroom? If you also want to keep the air clean you should check out what we think is the best humidifier and air purifier combo.
In the long run, choose a humidifier that will best alleviate the problems you are encountering and one that is within your budget.
SOURCES
Monthly energy consumption costs have been calculated using our air purifier electricity usage calculator, which allows us to calculate daily and yearly costs associated with running an air purifier for 24hs a day.
You can customize the result by air purifier wattage and by state. In the case of the calculations we shared on this page, we used California as our base state for energy prices.
Last update on 2023-06-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API