Best Humidifiers Under $50
These budget-friendly humidifiers don't skimp on quality
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Cool- and warm-mist humidifiers can be instrumental when a permanent chill settles in the air and we turn to our home’s heating system for comfort. Why? That constant stream of dry, hot air can result in a loss of moisture, which can contribute to a host of physical discomforts, from itchy skin to cold- and flulike symptoms.
Finding the perfect humidifier for you and your space depends on the size of the room it will live in. Our picks below can accommodate areas as large as 500 square feet and as intimate as 25 square feet. We’ve even included personal-sized options that can be great for travel or an office desktop.
In the meantime, take a look at the top-rated humidifiers from Consumer Reports’ tests that you can snag for $50 or less.
For more options, see the best humidifiers of the year.
For Smaller Spaces up to 299 Square Feet
The Comfort Zone CZHD20 humidifier is geared toward smaller areas, specifically up to 100 square feet, and can be used for travel as well. It earns an Excellent rating in overall performance in our tests and top marks for convenience, as well as its output of gallons of water emitted daily.
The Crane Drop humidifier is intended for rooms up to 250 square feet and earns an Excellent rating for overall performance. This model comes with an empty-tank indicator and has an automatic shutoff feature. Easy to use and energy-efficient, this model also scores top marks for its low noise levels.
It’s not all about looks with this whimsical Crane Owl humidifier. On just about every measure, including moisture output and noise, it earns an Excellent rating. It’s convenient to use, though not being able to get a hand into the tank for cleaning is a drawback. The 250-square-foot claimed coverage area is on the high end for a small-room model.
The CVS Health GUL540V1 cool-mist humidifier is intended for rooms up to 150 square feet, and it earns an Excellent rating in our noise tests, making it a good choice for a small bedroom. A CR Smart Buy, the model combines impressive performance with an appealing price. Like many small humidifiers, it’s light on features but is equipped with an automatic shutoff and a nightlight. This model is sold exclusively at CVS and cvs.com.
The Honeywell HUL520 humidifier is another CR Smart Buy, but the budget pick lacks many features, save for an automatic shutoff when the tank is empty. That said, its overall performance is first-rate, and it does a top-notch job adding moisture to the air without a lot of noise. For convenience, it earns an Excellent rating; being able to fill the tank in a bathroom sink and get a hand inside for cleaning are major pluses.
For Midsized Spaces up to 499 Square Feet
The Air Innovations humidifier impresses in our tests, with top marks in efficiency and output, and for its low noise levels. It earns an Excellent rating in overall performance and comes with an automatic shutoff feature, as well as an empty-tank indicator. Prime to tackle areas up to 400 square feet, this model is not one to miss.
The Lasko UH200 is highly rated CR Smart Buy among humidifiers rated for rooms smaller than 500 square feet. It’s intended for spaces up to 320 square feet and nets Excellent ratings in every performance test we could throw at it, missing out only on humidistat accuracy because it doesn’t have one. It has an indicator (and auto-shutoff) for when the tank runs dry, a nightlight, and the option to diffuse aromas through the room.
When it comes to adding moisture to a room quietly and efficiently, this Comfort Zone humidifier earns an Excellent rating. The only blemish is a so-so convenience rating; the tank can’t be filled in a bathroom sink, and a hand won’t fit inside it for cleaning. This model is loaded with features, such as an empty-tank indicator and auto-shutoff, though CR found that using the controls isn’t clear or intuitive.
The Vicks cool-mist humidifier, designed for a midsized room, excels across the board, garnering an Excellent rating for moisture output for the space, noise levels, and more. Because the tank can’t be filled in a typical bathroom sink, it’s not as convenient as some other models. At 84 inches, the cord is especially long. As for features, there’s automatic shutoff, but that’s it.
For Travel or Personal Use for up to 25 Square Feet
Suitable for a very small room or for travel, the portable Boneco 7146 humidifier is a strong performer. The moisture output earns an Excellent rating for the intended space, and noise levels and energy efficiency are top-notch. This compact model uses a water bottle for a tank (convenient for traveling), and features an empty-tank indicator and automatic shutoff when it’s empty. One caution: If you’re refilling a water bottle with hard water, the humidifier’s performance will suffer.
If you need to humidify only a small area, the Hunter 20014-MB is the way to go. While it might only have an output of 0.3 gallons, it aces our tests for output and convenience. It also receives an Excellent score for noise, which is super-important if you’re planning to travel with it and set it up in a hotel room. It has a short power cable, at only 35 inches, but will shut itself off automatically when the water bottle runs dry.
The SPT SU-1053 portable humidifier is designed to use in a very small room or—because a water bottle serves as the water tank—for travel. It excels at adding moisture to the air, earning an Excellent rating for output as well as for noise and energy efficiency. It sports an empty-tank indicator and automatic shutoff when the water is used up. If you’re refilling a water bottle with hard water, however, performance will suffer.
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