The best humidifiers on the market can help to increase the humidity of a room, which can help to alleviate allergy and asthma symptoms. Dry air can cause a number of uncomfortable issues, including inflammation in the throat and nose, skin rash, and dry, flaky skin. Air with too much humidity can cause irritation in people with allergies and asthma.

The expert has something to say.

Humidifiers add humidity to indoor air and are often used in homes to relieve the symptoms of dry nose, throat, lips, and skin. The growth of biological organisms, including mold in the home, can be encouraged by excess humidity.

Humidifiers can help with dry air, and they can be used in homes. Keeping indoor relative humidity at or below 50% is important to avoid adding too much humidity to the air. If water condenses on windows, lower the humidity setting, or reduce the use of the humidifier, relocate it.

You can read our feature on whether a humidifier is the right choice for you.

Ultrasonic humidifiers vibrate and send water droplets into the air, increasing humidity, whereas evaporative humidifiers heat the water and release water vapor for the same result. Cool mist and warm mist are also known as humidifiers. The size of the water tank, the temperature of the room and the amount of noise produced can all affect which humidifier is best for you.

Ultrasonic humidifiers may cause more condensation in a cold room as the water droplets are more likely to condense on surfaces. This can encourage mold growth, which can lower indoor air quality further. You can read about the benefits and drawbacks of air purifiers, as well as whether it's worth buying one if you want to help with mold.

The best air purifiers do not clean the air, but release water droplets or vapor into the air to combat dry indoor air. Ultrasonic humidifiers can release small amounts of particulate matter into the air, which can lower indoor air quality. If you want to reduce the amount of minerals in the air, experts recommend that you use distilled water instead of tap water. More research is needed in order to determine how beneficial humidifiers can be. We rounded up the best humidifiers so you can make an informed choice.

She says that humidifiers are not air cleaners and that caution should be taken when using them. The greatest release of both organisms and minerals can be found in humidifiers. On the other hand, steam and evaporative humidifiers tend to distribute fewer organisms into the air.

Best humidifiers

Dyson AM10 humidifier review: image shows Dyson AM10 humidifier humidifier

(Image credit: Future)

The Dyson AM10 has a stylish loop design and a clear water tank.

What users say.

The Dyson AM10 has an average score of 4.2 out of 5, but 70% of them are five star reviews. Positive reviews said that the ultraviolet light was easy to use and worked well to killbacteria in the water. Negative reviews stated that the machine is difficult to set up and clean, and that the water tank is small, which means that you have to fill it up more often than other humidifiers.

It looks good in any office or living area space, and is both a humidifier and a fan. It allows you to set it for sleeping and an auto mode that gives you a choice of your preferred humidity level. It is one of the most expensive models on the market and its water tank is small.

One of the best things about this Dyson Humidifier is that it can purify the water before it gets rid ofbacteria and minerals. This is one of the best qualities for people who are worried about the air quality in their house. It is easy to refill the water and our tester found that it ran for 12 hours before it needed to be refilled. The model is better for smaller rooms.

The Dyson AM10 Humidifier doesn't have any mist settings. Rather than asking you to target a humidity level, it asks you to. The humidity will be regulated from there by the humidifier. The Humidity can be set to between 30 and 70 per cent. This humidifier will change the temperature in the room according to the temperature in the room. The noise on any level was never louder than the air conditioner.

The Dyson humidifier is a great investment because it can be used in the summer months and it will stay active.

  • Read our full Dyson AM10 humidifier review

Honeywell HEV685W review: image shows Honeywell HEV685W humidifier

(Image credit: Future)

The large water tank of this humidifier makes it great for big rooms.

What users say.

Most of the reviews on Amazon rate the model 4.5 out of 5, with the majority giving 4 or 5 star reviews. Happy customers commented on how quickly it humidifies a room. It is an evaporative humidifier, so there is no visible mist. People write about how expensive replacement filters are.

It's not ideal for an office or sleeping environment because it's loud and bulky. The design of this humidifier is fairly basic, with less features than its competitors.

This model is easy to set up and it comes with two flat paddles, which are easy to install. The model sucks in dry air from the room via a wet filter and then pumps out warmer air in order to change the humidity of the room. If you're looking for a high tech humidifier, you might want to look elsewhere, as this model only has two buttons to control its humidity and fan speed. The fan speed can be fast, medium or low. Being able to set the humidity level can be difficult with no screens.

The humidifier does a good job. On the highest level, it reached up to 63% humidity, while on the lowest level, it reached up to 53%. It can run continuously for 24 hours on its lowest setting before needing to be filled up again.

  • Read our full Honeywell Top Full Cool Moisture review

Image shows a front view of the humidifier.

(Image credit: Future)

There are three mist settings and a dual nozzle on the Levoit LV600HH humidifier.

What users say.

Customers on Amazon gave the Levoit LV600HH humidifier an average score of 4.5 out of 5 and mentioned its humidity levels and remote control the most. Positive reviews cite its high output of mist and how easy it is to clean, while negative reviews state that the warm mist can get quite hot and that the auto setting isn't accurate.

It can run for up to 36 hours because it is capable of holding a large amount of water.

It's great for larger rooms that measure between 430 to 753 square feet. You always know how much water you have left in your tank because the built-in water tank is see-through. It is difficult to fill up if you are able to sit on your worktop or tuck under a table. As soon as you get the box, you can use it, but there's nothing to set up aside for filling the water.

There is a small display on the front that shows the mist level, humidity and how long the humidifier will run for. The mist and humidity buttons allow you to change the percentage of humidity in the air. We found that even on the highest mist level, the humidifier didn't need a refill until the next day. You can control the humidifier from up to 16 feet away with the nifty remote control.

It is easy to operate and very quiet.

  • Read our full Levoit LV600HH humidifier review

Elechomes HTJ-2119 cool mist humidifier review: image shows Elechomes HTJ-2119 cool mist humidifier close up on timer

(Image credit: Future)

This is a small and attractive model that has touch screen buttons and a large display that shows the temperature and humidity levels.

What users say.

The Elechomes HTJ-2119 Ultrasonic Humidifier has a 4.5 out of 5 rating on Amazon. The low noise and sleek design of the humidifier made a lot of people like it. Other positive reviews liked how easy it was to set a specific humidity level. Negative reviews focused on how small the handle of the model was, and others said that the lights on the model distracted them at night.

The built in humidity sensor allows you to set your humidity level. Other functions include a child lock, sleep mode and the option to add essential oils.

If you want to tuck this into a corner or under furniture, you'll need around a foot of height. The tank performs best in a medium sized room or house of 322 to 528 square feet. The buttons on the display are easy to use and very self explanatory, while the remote control can also control the humidifier as well.

The highest mist setting can raise the humidity levels in a medium sized room up to 69% in just under an hour, while the humidity target can be adjusted so you never feel uncomfortable with the humidity levels in the room. Our reviewer had a pool of water escape when it was tested, so be careful that the water doesn't leak on the highest setting. Adding essential oils to the aroma pad will give you an extra scent to the air.

  • Read our full Elechomes HTJ-2119 Ultrasonic Humidifier review

Levoit Classic 300s Dehumidifier review: image shows Levoit Classic 300s Dehumidifier at home

(Image credit: Future)

The Levoit Classic 300S humidifier is the only smart one on our list, it connects to the Vesync app, which allows you to control the mist levels and notifies you when it needs cleaning.

What users say.

The Levoit Classic 300S humidifier scored an impressive 4.5 out of 5 stars in the Amazon reviews, with many happy customers commenting on how quiet it is and how easy it is to clean, because of its wide opening at the top of the humidifier. The auto mode didn't work as well as other models and the humidifier was too sensitive.

The clear water tank sits on the top of the sleek model, giving you a clear indication of how much water is left.

The humidifier is perfect for small or medium sized rooms. The buttons for mist levels, night mode and humidity levels sit around the large display, which clearly indicates the humidity level. The app will allow you to switch between sleep, auto and manual modes. You can change the humidity levels with the app.

On the high mist setting, the humidity levels perform well and can be reached within two hours. It will last for 19 hours on a high setting, but only 60 on a lower setting. The built-in humidity sensor is sensitive and the model needs to be cleaned regularly to avoidbacteria getting into the water.

We like the option to use the oil on the humidifier. We added six drops of tea tree oil to the aroma pad and felt the scent in our room an hour later. Six drops is more than the recommended drops.

  • Read our full Levoit Classic 300S humidifier review

How to maintain your humidifier for optimum performance

The best humidifiers are great at keeping the air quality in your home good, but there are some best practise guidelines you should follow to make sure they are running at their best. The Environmental Protection Agency representative explained to Live Science the best ways to keep your humidifier running smoothly.

You should empty the tank of the humidifier, wipe all of the surfaces dry, and refill the water in portable humidifiers daily. The growth of organisms will be reduced.

Try to use water with a low mineral content in order to prevent the build-up of unwanted minerals in the tank. The dispersal of minerals into the air will be reduced by this.

You should aim to clean portable humidifiers every third day.

It's a good idea to clean and dry the humidifier when it's not being used often.

Don't humidify to indoor relative humidity levels over 50 percent.

Don't allow the area around the humidifier to become wet or damp.

Follow any manufacturing instructions regarding use, cleaning, and maintenance.