How to Find the Right Humidifier for Any Room

To find the right humidifier, calculate your room’s square footage (by multiplying the width by the depth).

Then use our humidifier ratings, which are organized by room size, from models made for areas up to 25 square feet to consoles meant for spaces of 1,000 square feet or more.

Manufacturers typically claim that their humidifiers are intended for a specific room size, which is why we measure the moisture output and calculate how well each model humidifies the specified area.

Most of the models in our humidifier ratings are cool-mist units. A few are warm-mist units, aka steam vaporizers, or dual-mist units, capable of producing both warm and cool air. In our ratings, you’ll see humidifiers from dozens of brands, including Air Innovations, Boneco, Crane, Dyson, Honeywell, Lasko, Vicks, and Vornado.

Here’s a look at five high-scoring humidifiers from our ratings of over 100 models, each meant for a different room size. Most use ultrasonic technology—a small vibrating diaphragm—to create the cool mist. (The evaporative models, which tend to be noisier, use a fan to blow air through a wet wick.) For more help in choosing the right model for you, check out our free humidifier buying guide.