The best humidifiers
Central heating dries a room out fast. Five cool-mist humidifiers compared on tank size, run time, noise and how easy they are to fill and keep clean.
All five are ultrasonic cool-mist humidifiers: high-frequency vibration turns the water into a fine, cold mist, with no heating element or hot water inside. The tank decides how long one runs between fills, and on their lowest settings they’re quiet enough to leave on overnight.
Filling and cleaning make the biggest difference day to day. Three have a top-fill tank, poured into from above; the Vicks and raydrop tanks come off and fill upside down through a cap. Levoit and Dreo both suggest distilled or purified water, especially where it’s hard, to keep white mineral dust off the furniture and scale out of the base.
What matters
- Tank and run time: a bigger tank lasts the night on a low setting.
- Top fill, or a tank that comes off and turns over to refill.
- Noise on the lowest or sleep setting, for bedrooms.
- A humidity sensor holds a set level; the rest are adjusted by hand.
#1 of 5
Best overall
Dreo 306 Cool Mist Humidifier with Humidity Sensor (3L)
£39.99 RRP
The only one here that keeps an eye on the room for itself: set a humidity level between 30 and 90% and the built-in sensor adjusts the mist to hold it. The 3L tank fills from the top and lasts up to 30 hours in sleep mode.
What owners say: Owners like the quiet running and the simple controls, and some keep one going in the greenhouse through the dry winter months.
A closer look: Turn the nozzle to send the mist out into the room rather than onto the bed or a wooden surface, and switch the light off for sleeping. Essential oil goes on the pad in the aroma tray, not in the tank.
- 3L top-fill tank
- Humidity sensor, set 30–90%
- Up to 30 hours in sleep mode
- 26dB in sleep mode
- Aroma tray and night light
Best for: Holding a set humidity
- Tank
- 3L
- Longest run time
- Up to 30 hours (sleep mode)
- Noise (maker’s figure)
- 26dB in sleep mode
- Humidity sensor
- Set 30–90%
- Top fill
- Yes
- Aroma pad
- Aroma tray
#2 of 5
Biggest tank
Homvana H101 Cool Mist Humidifier (3.6L)
£30–£50 Price range
The biggest tank here, at 3.6 litres, for a larger bedroom or a living room: Homvana’s manual gives it 24 to 35m². A colour-changing mood light and an aroma tray come with it, and sleep mode turns the display off.
What owners say: Owners like how quietly it puts a big tank of water into the air, and enjoy the lights, which can stay on one colour or cycle through them.
A closer look: Lift the top off and the wide opening lets it refill from a jug where it stands, with room for the cleaning brush from the box to reach right inside. Two to six drops of essential oil go on the built-in pad rather than in the water, and the scent spreads slowly with the mist.
- 3.6L top-fill tank
- Up to 34 hours
- 23dB
- Colour-changing mood light
- Aroma tray and low-water shut-off
Best for: Bigger rooms
- Tank
- 3.6L
- Longest run time
- Up to 34 hours
- Noise (maker’s figure)
- 23dB
- Humidity sensor
- No
- Top fill
- Yes
- Aroma pad
- Aroma tray
#3 of 5
Easiest to clean
Levoit Classic 160 Top-Fill Humidifier (2.5L)
£39.99 RRP
Levoit keeps it simple: one knob for the mist, no lights at all, and a wide opening at the top of the tank, so it fills from a jug and scrubs out easily. The 2.5L tank lasts up to 25 hours on low.
What owners say: Owners say it keeps working night after night for months, runs almost silently and is simple to fill.
A closer look: Cleaning is quick: the base comes apart with no hidden corners, and the brush in the box takes care of the inside of the tank. Levoit fits a filter sponge before it leaves the factory and says it isn’t made for essential oils, so keep scented oils for a diffuser.
- 2.5L top-fill tank
- Up to 25 hours on low
- 26dB at its quietest
- One-knob mist control
- No lights, for dark bedrooms
Best for: A simple, dark bedroom
- Tank
- 2.5L
- Longest run time
- Up to 25 hours (low)
- Noise (maker’s figure)
- 26dB at its quietest
- Humidity sensor
- No
- Top fill
- Yes
- Aroma pad
- No
#4 of 5
Best budget
raydrop Slim Cool Mist Humidifier (1.7L)
£20–£30 Price range
A slim oval that fits a narrow bedside table or the corner of a desk, with a dial for the mist and an indicator that turns red when the water runs out. raydrop backs it with a 5-year warranty.
What owners say: Owners are struck by how much mist comes out of such a slim little unit.
Heads up: Fill it before bed: a full 1.7L tank runs for up to 9 hours, about one night.
A closer look: To fill it, lift the tank off, turn it over, unscrew the cap and pour in cool water. Keep essential oils out of it, as raydrop warns they can crack the tank, and give it a weekly clean with a white vinegar soak to shift any scale.
- 1.7L tank
- Up to 9 hours
- 32dB or less
- Dial mist control
- 5-year warranty
Best for: A narrow bedside table
- Tank
- 1.7L
- Longest run time
- Up to 9 hours
- Noise (maker’s figure)
- 32dB or less
- Humidity sensor
- No
- Top fill
- No
- Aroma pad
- No
#5 of 5
Best for small rooms
Vicks Mini Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier (VUL525)
£30–£50 Price range
Made for rooms up to about 15m², with two slots for Vicks VapoPads, scented pads that sit in the unit rather than the water. Vicks began with Lunsford Richardson, a North Carolina pharmacist whose brother-in-law was Dr Joshua Vick.
What owners say: Owners find it very easy to get going and to live with day to day.
Heads up: Scent goes on VapoPads only: Vicks says never to add oils or medicines to the water.
A closer look: Refilling means lifting the tank off and filling it upside down through a screw cap, and it switches itself off when the water runs low or the tank comes away. A light and a sound say when it’s time to clean, and the nozzle turns through 180° to aim the mist.
- Rooms up to 15m²
- Up to 24 hours
- 2 VapoPad slots, 2 menthol pads included
- 180° mist nozzle
- Light and sound cleaning reminder
Best for: Small rooms and VapoPads
- Tank
- 1.8L
- Longest run time
- Up to 24 hours
- Noise (maker’s figure)
- –
- Humidity sensor
- No
- Top fill
- No
- Aroma pad
- VapoPads (2 slots)
How they compare
| Feature | #1Dreo 306 | #2Homvana H101 | #3Levoit Classic 160 | #4raydrop 1.7L | #5Vicks Mini (VUL525) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Biggest tank | Easiest to clean | Best budget | Best for small rooms | |
| Picked Rating | 8.7 | 8.6 | 8.5 | 8.2 | 8.1 |
| Price | £39.99 RRP | £30–£50 Price range | £39.99 RRP | £20–£30 Price range | £30–£50 Price range |
| Tank | 3L | 3.6L | 2.5L | 1.7L | 1.8L |
| Longest run time | Up to 30 hours (sleep mode) | Up to 34 hours | Up to 25 hours (low) | Up to 9 hours | Up to 24 hours |
| Noise (maker’s figure) | 26dB in sleep mode | 23dB | 26dB at its quietest | 32dB or less | – |
| Humidity sensor | Set 30–90% | No | No | No | No |
| Top fill | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Aroma pad | Aroma tray | Aroma tray | No | No | VapoPads (2 slots) |
| Best for | Holding a set humidity | Bigger rooms | A simple, dark bedroom | A narrow bedside table | Small rooms and VapoPads |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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