Home & Garden Home The 8 Best Mist Humidifiers of 2023 The Vornado EVDC300 uses 90% less energy than comparable models. By Heidi Wachter Heidi Wachter Syracuse University San Francisco State University Heidi Wachter was a senior editor at Experience Life magazine for 10 years. She has written for publications like Experience Life, Shondaland, and betterpet. Learn about our editorial process Updated August 22, 2022 Share Twitter Pinterest Email Home & Garden Pest Control Natural Cleaning DIY Family Green Living Thrift & Minimalism Sustainable Eating We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Treehugger Excessively dry air in our homes can lead to a number of problems. It’s bad for the structure of your home as well as for furniture and carpets, and can make our homes feel less comfortable. Mist humidifiers are helpful for raising home humidity levels, but that moisture comes at a cost. Operating humidifiers increases your electric bill and your overall carbon footprint, due to the emissions associated any new electronic. There are a few approaches to increasing the humidity in your home without a machine, like adding houseplants and using shallow dishes of water. However, if you tried to naturally humidify your home yet still need more moisture, you can invest in an energy-smart machine. Although Energy Star doesn’t rate humidifiers, it does certify air purifiers so you can find some dual-purpose devices with the Energy Star seal on the market. You can also contact the manufacturer directly to find out about the energy-efficiency specs of the product. We've made it even easier by identifying some of the best eco-friendly and energy efficient humidifiers, among other high-quality options to consider. The Rundown Best Energy Smart Humidifier: Vornado Evaporative Humidifier at Amazon Jump to Review Best Allergy-Friendly: Dyson AM10 at Amazon Jump to Review Best Travel Humidifier: Hunter Ultrasonic Personal Air Humidifier at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Kids: Crane Adorables Ultrasonic Humidifier at Walmart Jump to Review Best for Essential Oils: Boneco Air Washer Humidifier & Purifier at Amazon Jump to Review Best Air Purifier and Humidifier: Sharp Plasmacluster Air Purifier and Humidifier at Walmart Jump to Review Best Warm and Cool Mist Humidifier: TaoTronics 6L Warm and Cool Mist Humidifier at Walmart Jump to Review Easiest to Clean: Honeywell Cool Moisture Humidifier at Amazon Jump to Review Best Energy Smart Humidifier Vornado EVDC300 Energy Smart Evaporative Humidifier 4.8 Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon Driven by an Energy Smart DC motor, the Vornado EVDC300 uses 90% less energy than comparable models. It’s one-gallon tank provides up to three gallons of cool mist output every 24 hours. Its multi-speed fan settings are paired with auto-humidity control, guaranteeing 40% to 60% air saturation, or you can opt for continuous output. Selecting Energy Smart Mode will automatically cycle the motor to deliver precise humidification while using as little as one watt of electricity. A low-water indicator light shows when it’s time to refill, but a handy auto shutoff feature ensures that you don’t burn excess energy. Price at time of publish: $80 Best Allergy-Friendly Dyson AM10 Humidifier View On Amazon Looking for quiet, hygienic humidification? Dyson brings all three with their AM10 model. Thanks to its “ultraviolet cleanse” technology that kills 99.9% of bacteria before hydrating your home, it’s certified asthma and allergy-friendly by the Asthma Allergy Foundation of America. It was awarded the Quiet Mark accreditation by the Noise Abatement Society, so running it won’t keep you up at night. Equipped with “Intelligent Climate Control,” this humidifier measures air temperature and moisture level to create and maintain the your desired humidity setting. Its high-velocity fans can even help cool you down on arid, summer days. It comes with a remote controller. The main drawback of this multifunctional humidifier is that it's considerably more expensive than most humidifiers. Price at time of publish: $764 Best Travel Humidifier Hunter QLS03-RD Ultrasonic Personal Air Humidifier View On Amazon View On Home Depot This portable cool-mist model is handy for travelers who want to ensure that their Airbnb or hotel room doesn't dry them out while they’re away from home. It’s small and low on features—with a water bottle serving as its tank and a simple auto shutoff when the water runs out. This personal-sized product also gets high marks for its output—third party tests show it can humidify a room of up to 25 square feet. Whether you’re working in an office cubicle or from home, the Hunter QLS-03 can help you stay comfortable and focused on that to-do list. Price at time of publish: $40 Best for Kids Crane Adorables Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier 4.2 Walmart View On Walmart View On Amazon View On Wayfair Frogs, monkeys, hippos, oh my! These Crane critter-shaped humidifiers are the perfect humidity-creating companions for a child’s room. They’re small in size, so they’re space-saving and easy to fill under most bathroom sink faucets. These energy-efficient, filter-free models are also low waste. It's not dishwasher safe, but the manufacturer recommends a weekly soak in water and vinegar. Optional demineralization filters (HS-1932) are available for cleaning the unit and are great for those with hard water. They’re also made with anti-microbial materials that reduce mold and bacteria growth up to 99.6%. The 360-degree adjustable lid makes it easy to direct the mist where you want it in rooms up to 500 square feet. They’re so cool that your favorite little one is going to want two! Price at time of publish: $55 Best for Essential Oils Boneco Air Washer W200 Humidifier & Purifier Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On Home Depot Using an evaporator mat, the Boneco W200 washes and humidifies the air, and is designed for rooms up to 540 square feet. The water naturally filters odors, dust, and dander from the air before its filtered and humidified into the air. Air washers are filter-free and low waste options. Most of the parts are safe to put in the dishwasher or washing machine, which makes for easy cleaning. You can also add in two or three drops of your favorite pure essential oil to the fragrance container and the Boneco W200 will help you get your chill on. It has four fan speeds that adjust depending on the room’s air quality. It runs for up to ten hours and has an auto-shutoff feature, helping ensure low energy consumption. Price at time of publish: $250 Best Air Purifier and Humidifier Sharp Triple Action Plasmacluster Air Purifier and Humidifier Courtesy of Amazon View On Walmart View On Amazon This Sharp product uses positive and negative ion technology to eliminate microscopic pollutants in a room up to 254 square feet. Enhanced with a triple-filtration system including a washable pre-filter, an activated carbon deodorizing filter, and a TRUE HEPA filter that rids the air of mold, pollen, pet dander, and other irritants. Its Ion Air Purifier is California Air Resources Board certified. It also produces five times less ozone than the standards set by the Federal Drug Administration and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Want some moisture in that super clean air? Simply turn on the humidify option. Price at time of publish: $595 Best Warm and Cool Mist Humidifier TaoTronics 6L Warm and Cool Mist Humidifier For Home 4.2 Courtesy of Amazon View On Walmart The TaoTronics 046 is the perfect fit for those who want both a warm or cool mist option. The 6 liter/1.58 gallon water tank makes this machine compatible with large rooms and prevents constant refilling. Thanks to its low-noise operation, you can keep your sinuses and skin hydrated while you sleep. Drop in some essential oils and infuse the room with your favorite calming fragrance. You can customize the humidity settings of this top-fill ultrasonic humidifier with the touch of a remote button, so you don't have to get out of bed to turn it on or make adjustments. Price at time of publish: $70 Easiest to Clean Honeywell Cool Moisture Humidifier 4.8 Amazon View On Amazon View On Honeywellpluggedin.com This Honeywell model has many dishwasher safe parts, and as well as a smooth-sided tank that's easy to wipe down. It's easy to set up out of the box, and has a filter that needs to be replaced every two to three months. It utilizes UV technology to kill up to 99% of bacteria, mold, and viruses. The humidifier comes with an antimicrobial filter and a wicking filter that helps evaporate air more quickly. It has a one gallon tank capacity, which lasts for 24 hours per filling on the lowest setting. The unit is also advertised as 25% quieter than most other humidifiers, so it won’t disturb your sleep cycle or interrupt your favorite television program. Price at time of publish: $80 Final Verdict Our top pick for an energy efficient humidifier is the Vornado EVDC300 Energy Smart Evaporative Humidifier. For a dual-purpose humidifier and air purifier that’s also Energy Star rated, consider the Sharp Triple Action Plasmacluster Air Purifier. What to Consider When Shopping for a Mist Humidifier Cool vs. Warm Mist There are both cool and warm mist (aka steam vaporizers) humidifier options. Warm mist models use a heating element to boil water and make steam, so keep these out of reach of children or pets. This variety is better for reducing bacteria and germs, but avoid them if you have a cold because they can swell nasal passages, making it harder for you to breathe. Cool mist humidifiers are more widely used. They come with a fan that evaporates water into the air. This can add a chill to the air, so they may be a great option if you live in a warmer, drier environment. Filters and Cleaning No matter which humidifier you buy, cleaning it regularly is a chore. However a few humidifiers, like the BONECO W200, can be placed in the dishwasher for sanitizing. It's always a good idea to look at how often the manufacturer recommends cleaning the tank and base, and how often you need to replace the filter. Some units even have two filters that need to be swapped out, which can add expense to operating the device. We also don't like that most filters can't be recycled, which is another disadvantage of mist humidifiers generally. Size Follow Goldilocks' “just right” rule and match the model you buy with the room size, to make it easier to maintain the humidity level that you want. You can also consider portability, which will allow you to take one machine with you into different rooms rather than having multiple machines running simultaneously. Smaller units may even be possible to travel with, if dry air tends to bother you in hotel rooms. Additional Features Look for models that include air purifying filters, automatic shutoffs, and mold resistance to bacteria that may build up inside the machine. Why Trust Treehugger? Heidi Wachter lives in a northern climate. Her mist humidifier, along with her vintage wool blanket and socks, are her best friends during the long, cold winter. A humidifier helps her keep dry eyes, eczema, and nasal issues at bay until summer humidity arrives. View Article Sources “ENERGY STAR Market & Industry Scoping Report: Residential Humidifier.” ENERGY STAR.