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
Ask any of your friends what tops their bucket list, the odds are they’ll say to travel the world or see a certain wonder in a faraway country. Yet for many of us, traveling can leave us longing for home – and not just for the comfort of our own bed.
Whether you’re a sunseeker heading to sandy beaches or hitting the slopes at your favorite ski resort, when traveling your body will face the challenges posed by a new climate. The cause of such discomfort is often down to humidity, with too much humidity leaving you hot and sticky while too little humidity can cause dehydration of our bodies, skin, and lips, increase our vulnerability to infection, as well as exacerbate asthma symptoms.
Although this is often chalked off as a necessary evil when traveling, there’s no need to suffer or let it ruin your vacation.
By packing a travel humidifier on your next trip, you can rest assured the gentle release of water vapor or steam to increase moisture levels in the air will dramatically reduce the effects of a dry climate or the dry environment found on airplanes, hotels, or shopping malls.
When putting together our top recommendations for travel-friendly humidifiers, we considered the size, water, and power supply as well as the features of each humidifier, ensuring there are a range of products to suit different needs.
By utilizing Consumer Reports and analyzing product reviews through Fakespot, we have only included tried and tested humidifiers that genuine users have found to elevate issues caused by humidity when traveling.
Last update on 2023-06-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1. BONECO Travel Ultrasonic Humidifier
The BONECO Travel Ultrasonic Humidifier is a wonderful travel companion that’s not just designed for easy packing and carrying, but also for simple placement. It’s compact enough that you can place it out of the way while still being close enough to feel its effects. As for handling it, the unit weighs less than 2lbs, so you may even forget you’re carrying it around in the first place.
The humidifier is designed for easy use in a hotel environment. It features an AC/DC adapter with an interchangeable power plug so that this will readily work with different outlets. Besides being able to work with a variety of outlets, the unit works with different bottles too. This comes with a bottle adapter so that you can use bottle types from 17oz to .5L. So, there is no worry about finding the right water bottle as this adapter lets you switch things up with ease.
With the use of its high-frequency ultrasonic technology, water converts to ultra-fine mist with silent operation. This way, the humidifier operates even while you sleep so that it doesn’t disturb you if you sleep best in a silent environment. Just be sure that the humidifier has enough clearance and is located in an open area so that the moisture properly expels into the air rather than down on any furniture.
Features:
- Tank Size: 1 pint
- Room Size Suitability: 70 sq. ft
- Weight: 1.3 pounds
- Special Features: High-frequency ultrasonic technology
What we love
- The humidifier holds a good deal of water even when the bottle is empty
- Features LED indicators to show when the water is empty
- Comes with a brush for easier cleaning
- Easily able to adjust humidity mist strength
We don't like this as much
- With a full water bottle, it may be top-heavy at times
- We wish the spout was a little higher so the mist is projected further
2. GENIANI Portable Small Cool Mist Humidifiers
The GENIANI Portable Small Cool Mist Humidifier is a robust unit made in a small package. It is slim and light enough that it fits inside a cup holder. At the same time, it is powerful enough to handle a hotel room as well as it can handle the inside of your vehicle. Its tank has a 0.06gal capacity. This way, you can completely fill it up and receive a pleasant mist throughout the night or day.
When you need to, you can refill this humidifier with little effort. Just simply unscrew it, fill the tank, and screw it back on. You don’t have to worry if you knock the humidifier over either, as it has a spill-proof design so you can feel more secure using this anywhere, especially around your electronics.
Available in multiple colors, the humidifier has a look that is just as pleasing as the way it functions. It isn’t an eyesore so that it won’t totally stand out. There is even a cool nightlight feature for those of you who need a little extra light to properly sleep. You can cycle through two different mist modes so that you get exactly what you want. When it runs out, the humidifier is able to automatically shut itself off so that you don’t just waste power running an empty unit.
Features:
- Tank Size: 0.5 pints
- Room Size Suitability: 65 sq. ft
- Weight: 0.55 pounds
- Special Features: Silent stealthy function
What we love
- Can produce a noticeable difference in air quality fast
- The unit seals well and isn't prone to leaking
- Has a comfortable 8-hour runtime
- Features easy-to-read instructions for quick setup
We don't like this as much
- May take some time to properly clean
- Must supply your own adapter to plug it into the wall
3. Pure Enrichment MistAire Studio Humidifier
The Pure Enrichment MistAire Studio Humidifier can help keep optimal humidity levels no matter where you’re staying. Its size allows it to be packed with ease for travel purposes so you can bring it just about anywhere you’ll have a desk, nightstand, or dresser to put it on. This humidifier has a one-button control too so that you can turn it on and off in a flash, making it easier for nighttime use when you want to get it going and get some rest.
This humidifier has two mist settings, high and low, so that you can adapt the unit to work exactly as you need it to at any given time. If a room is severely dry, you can crank it up high enough that it emits up to 80ml of mist per hour until you feel the air is comfortable enough to lower the mist output or turn it off altogether.
In all, the unit is able to hold about 0.7L of water. This means that when run on the low mist setting, it can potentially last you up to 10 hours. On high, it should stay on as long as 7 hours or so. If you sleep your way through it, or you simply leave wherever you’re staying, there’s no worrying about the unit continuing on as it will automatically shut off once empty.
Features:
- Tank Size: 1.4 pints
- Room Size Suitability: 175 sq ft
- Weight: 1.1 pounds
- Special Features: Whisper-quiet operation
What we love
- Offers gentle white-noise sounds
- Made with a button that responds well to soft touches
- The optional nightlight is gentle enough to not disturb anyone
- Quick and easy to set up
We don't like this as much
- There can be residual water left inside the base after filling it
- Have to take care when refilling it as the hole is rather small
4. Crane Travel Ultrasonic Humidifier
The Crane Travel Ultrasonic Humidifier lets you have the right amount of humidity in the air no matter where you are in your travels. Are you still riding in a car and simply need to clear out that dry air from outside? This unit comes with an 8oz travel cup designed to fit standard cupholders. With this, you can slide the humidifier inside and place the cup in the cupholder so that this delivers fresh air during your drive.
The included USB cord is fitting for powering it up while you drive. However, as a travel unit, the humidifier works just as well once you get to where you’re going. All you need is a cup of water to drop the unit into and get it working just as you would in the car. This has an AC adapter too so you can plug it into an outlet.
This unit is ideal for those of you that are light sleepers. It emits hardly any sound so that it can be run well at night without disrupting anyone’s sleep. This also makes it a helpful choice if you are traveling with children or babies and need to keep things quiet. With its automatic shut-off feature, you are able to run this without thinking about it, freeing you to leave it going overnight.
Features:
- Tank Size: 0.4 pints
- Room Size Suitability: 80 sq. ft
- Weight: 0.27 pounds
- Special Features: Included 8oz travel cup
What we love
- Offers a steady mist for several hours
- Good LED indicators to see when it's running and when it's off
- The included travel cup is stable and easy to carry around
- Easy to wipe down to keep clean
We don't like this as much
- We wish you could turn off the light feature
- The touch sensor is sensitive to accidental presses
5. SmartDevil Small Humidifier
The SmartDevil Small Humidifier, available in multiple colors, is a travel humidifier that fits well on a nightstand or desk. This sleek size allows you to bring it to hotels or any other place you are staying at on your travels as you can set it up out of the way in the room. This convenient unit can be plugged into a USB port too. So, if you don’t have an outlet nearby, you can use any device that can use a USB to get this to work such as a laptop.
This humidifier provides you with a handy 500ml tank capacity. This way, you can fill it up and plan to have it going all night long or all day. In fact, it should be able to run for a solid 18 hours if you opt to use it on the intermittent spray mode, and it can last 12 hours if you decide to set it on its continuous spray mode. Safety is key here too thanks to the auto shut-off design that will ensure the unit will not run if the tank is detected as empty.
For those of you who appreciate some lighting when you sleep, you can play around with the two nightlight modes. One is a constant light mode while the other is a breathing light mode.
Features:
- Tank Size: 1 pint
- Room Size Suitability: 100 sq. ft
- Weight: 0.5 pounds
- Special Features: Night light function
What we love
- Quick and easy to change mist setting
- Doesn't tend to moisten the surface around it
- Provides warm, gentle lighting
- Clear instructions on how to clean it
We don't like this as much
- We wish you could adjust the color of the lighting
- We’d like to see this humidifier also come in an AC/DC adaptor version
6. URPOWER Essential Oil Diffuser
The URPOWER Essential Oil Diffuser is worthwhile for people who need something that can eliminate odors while also providing some much-needed moisture to the air. Not only that, but various essential oils can completely change the ambiance of a room. Certain ones can help you feel calmer or even help you sleep. With the added bonus of it putting out more moisture to the air, you can feel more at peace while traveling.
This unit is available in four cool colors so that you can get one that best suits your style and won’t look totally out of place. Otherwise, you can opt for the one design that has a color-changing build. This one has seven different color-changing options too as well as a way to program the cycle on and off. There is even a nightlight option.
The diffuser can put out moist air either in an intermittent pattern or on a continuous basis. You can adjust the mist settings as needed. If you want to add a few drops of your favorite essential oils to ensure the air feels and smells good, then be sure that you use 100% pure oils. This way, they won’t corrode the diffuser, helping it last longer.
Features:
- Tank Size: 10ml/bottle of essential oils
- Room Size Suitability: 80 sq. ft
- Weight: 0.6 pounds
- Special Features: 7 color-changing lamps
What we love
- Can run for up to 6 hours
- Easy to turn off the nightlight as needed
- Simple to turn the unit to control where the mist falls
- Doesn't appear to cause any leaks
We don't like this as much
- We wish you could turn off the indicator light
- The top portion can get a bit slippery from the mist
7. Crane Personal Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
The Crane Personal Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier features a 360-degree nozzle that is worthwhile for people who need better control as to where the mist is aimed at. This helps if there are multiple people in a room like in a hotel room on either bed that could benefit from the humidification process at different times.
It operates whisper-quiet too so that it is useful for those of you who sleep lightly or for babies. As for the travel part of it, the humidifier has an ultra-compact design while being remarkably light in weight. This lets you pick it up and carry it as needed as well as pack it away in your luggage for the journey. It still has a rather large tank that can support 0.2gal. By doing so, the unit is easily able to last you for several hours before you need to refill it.
Thankfully, the shape of the humidifier allows you to easily slide it under the faucet in the sink for quick filling. There is no filter required with this unit either. This is because there is clean control antimicrobial material built into the base.
Features:
- Tank Size: 1.9 pints
- Room Size Suitability: 160 sq. ft
- Weight: 1.2 pounds
- Special Features: Whisper-quiet
What we love
- Straightforward setup and operation
- Quiet design for noiseless sleeping
- Easily packed into a suitcase or backpack
- The nightlight doesn't brighten up the room too much
We don't like this as much
- Must dry out well or else water can stick to sections inside
- The circular design can make it a bit cumbersome to set on a nightstand at times
8. YINGJEE Mini Humidifier
The YINGJEE Mini Humidifier is a fun, compact humidifier that instantly stands out thanks to its cactus-shaped design. Not only does it look appealing, but it functions well for long-term use. This humidifier features USB charging, and with it charged, it can run for around 8-12 hours. Although this runs without interruption, it does feature good protection for the unit thanks to the automatic timing protection that prevents it from drying out.
Despite its small size, the unit can hold a decent amount of water, 340ml in fact. This should provide you with enough to get through some time spent in a hotel room or in your car during a road trip. The unit operates just about silently too. With a quiet runtime, you can always use it while sleeping as well or among sleeping children.
Another interesting thing about this cactus humidifier is that the arms serve a purpose too. This can serve as a stress toy if you’d like as the arms are flexible and squeezable. Otherwise, you can set it on the nightstand and even use the nightlight function.
Features:
- Tank Size: 0.7 pints
- Room Size Suitability: 100 sq. ft
- Weight: 0.4 pounds
- Special Features: Auto timing protection, aromatherapy functionality
What we love
- Once charged, it can easily operate wirelessly
- Built-in aromatherapy option
- Compact and low-profile design for easy portability
- Easy to set up out of the box
We don't like this as much
- The power button could react a little quicker, instead of needing to be held down
- Once the water is halfway down, the mist may not be as consistent
FAQs About Travel Humidifiers
What do I need to consider when buying a travel humidifier?
A good thing to consider when getting a travel humidifier is the size. As the name implies, a travel humidifier needs to go with you, so it’s best if it’s compact for easier portability. This also depends on how you travel and where you’re going. For a road trip, there are small humidifiers that can easily fit inside of a cupholder. If you can pack it up for a stay at a hotel, then you may be comfortable going a bit bigger.
Think about the power source too. If you’re constantly on the move, then a humidifier that runs off batteries is beneficial. The trade-off is that their life might not be as long-lasting as a plug-in. If you do want a longer runtime, you can find ones that are USB-compatible for use in a car and with a computer.
Why is having a travel humidifier good for hotels?
In many cases, the air in a hotel room can be dry. This can make your trip uncomfortable, especially if you are traveling sick or during the cold season. A humidifier can make the air easier to breathe. For hotel stays, this can be especially useful at night if congestion is a concern.
This lends to a humidifier being helpful for allergy sufferers. When you’re traveling, a change of environment can quickly cause some allergy issues. With a travel humidifier, you can ward off the worst of that so that your trip isn’t negatively impacted.
Additionally, a travel humidifier can ensure that the air in your hotel room is moist enough that you won’t wake up with dry skin.
Would traveling with a humidifier help me sleep better?
Many people find sleeping with a humidifier beneficial because it simply makes the air feel better. When the air feels better, you can breathe better. This can help those with sinus or respiratory problems as well as curb some snoring issues. From there, you should be able to fall asleep better and stay asleep.
Some humidifiers even have the option of adding essential oils to the mix, and aromatherapy is useful when it comes to allowing people to feel more content. The noise factor can come into play with this too. Humidifiers aren’t generally loud, but some can emit sounds similar to white noise, and this can help people sleep as well.
Which Travel Humidifier is Best for You?
When you’re on the go and staying in hotels or even relatives and friends, a travel humidifier can ensure that the air around you is as comfortable as you’d like. It comes in handy for daily use, but it’s also a useful tool if the weather is too dry or you’re feeling a bit congested and under the weather. Travel humidifiers are easy to bring around too thanks to their compact build and design that either supports battery usage or USB usage that you can easily adapt to use while on the road.
Not all travel humidifiers are made the same though. Some are small enough to fit inside the pocket in a bag, while others need a bit more room to function. There are humidifiers designed with aromatherapy while others just focus on creating a cool mist. Their water source varies too with some having a tank and others relying on constant water flow such as from a water bottle to work. That’s why it’s best to weigh your options before deciding, and we hope that our list helps you find the best one for your individual travel needs.
You can always check out our favorite picks for the top budget-friendly option, the top mid-range humidifier, and the top high-end travel humidifier:
- Best Budget/Smaller Rooms – URPOWER Ultrasonic Aroma Essential Oil Diffuser
- Best Mid-Range – Crane Personal Travel Humidifier
- Best High-End – BONECO Travel Ultrasonic Humidifier