One of the best ways to improve the overall air quality in your home is to add a humidifier. These wonderful devices add moisture to the air, which can help alleviate any breathing and allergy problems you may have. Of course, not all humidifiers are created equal, and you’ll need to look carefully for the best humidifier for large rooms if you want to humidify a fairly large space. Otherwise, you may end up with a unit that can’t add enough moisture to match the size of your room.

We’ve considered a lot of different features when putting together our comprehensive list. We looked at the type of mist that humidifiers produce, as well as the capacity of the tank. We also looked at the coverage area and the noise level. Depending on the size of your room, you’ll need to consider each of these factors to ensure you get the best results from your new humidifier.

We’ve spent many hours researching hundreds of user reviews to compile our comprehensive list, which you can view below. If you already know what you’re looking for in terms of finding the best large room humidifier, you can dive straight into our detailed reviews. Otherwise, feel free to check out our buying guide, which will give you all the information you need to make an informed decision.

Vornado Evap3

Although it doesn’t have the same coverage area as the previous model, it may well be the best evaporative humidifier for a large room. It still has a coverage area of 700 square feet, which should be sufficient for most large rooms. It is one of the easiest models to clean, mainly because it comes with two filters that are installed at the same time. Although the filters tend to harden quite quickly if you don’t clean them, they will last a long time – just rinse them with white vinegar once a week. Just rinse them with white vinegar once a week. If you do this, you shouldn’t have to change them for ten weeks.

Although the filters do get dirty, this is one of the easiest models to clean. The parts can all be removed from the unit and cleaned thoroughly. Once they have been cleaned and dried, they can be easily put back in place. You will need to clean it regularly, as minerals can quickly build up, which can lead to mould or algae formation.

If you choose this humidifier, especially if you use it in a bedroom, don’t forget the light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the controls. They are very bright and can keep you awake at night. Unfortunately, it is not possible to turn them off.

evaporative

Everlasting Comfort Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier

As well as adding moisture to the air, there is no better way to help relieve breathing problems or allergies than by using essential oils. The biggest problem with these oils is that diffusers are usually quite expensive. Unless, of course, you combine the two and buy this humidifier. It has a built-in tray, which will allow you to use the unit as both a humidifier and an essential oil diffuser. This makes it a great humidifier for relieving asthma and sinus symptoms.

As you might expect with a humidifier of this size, this model has a smaller coverage area than the previous two models. Although this limits the rooms in which you can use it, the unit boasts a long service life. In fact, of all the models we reviewed, it has the longest overall run time of 50 hours.

Once the Everlasting Ultrasonic Humidifier runs out of water, it has an automatic shut-off feature to prevent the humidifier from being damaged by overheating. This also extends the life of the humidifier as it will not run unnecessarily if you forget to turn it off or refill it.

Although this is an easy-to-use filterless humidifier, it does have a few issues to keep in mind. It is a little difficult to fill. The tank is also a bit fragile, so you will need to be careful when filling it. Finally, because it is smaller, it is more difficult to clean.

Levoit LV600HH

One of the most interesting features of this steam humidifier, which sets it apart from its competitors, is that it can produce a cool and warm mist. This allows you to achieve the exact type of humidity you want. If you suffer from respiratory problems, it is best to use the warm mist settings. If you have dry skin, you can use the cool mist setting.

Another feature that sets this humidifier apart is the clear, easy-to-read display. Not only does it tell you how the humidifier is working, but it also lets you know the humidity level of the room in which you are using the device. Although the humidistat is not always as accurate as it could be, it will still give you a rough number to base your humidity usage on.

The tank on this model is a little difficult to put on and take off. You have to be very careful when filling it so that you do not spill water when you reinstall the tank. As you have to tilt the tank to put it back in place, it is best not to fill it to its maximum capacity. The tank is also made of thin plastic, so it should be treated with care. Fortunately, even if you don’t fill the tank to capacity, this humidifier can run for 36 hours without any problems.

The fact that this humidifier is programmable is another thing that helps to keep it running for a long time. It’s quick and easy to set the humidifier to run according to your personalized schedule to ensure that the humidity level is always where you want it.

TaoTronics TT-AH002

If you are looking for a cheaper humidifier, look no further than this model. It’s affordable, but still very effective. This humidifier would be particularly suitable for a small room, such as a baby or child’s room. It is a very quiet humidifier that will not keep anyone awake at night.

Perhaps the best feature of this humidifier is its adjustable nozzle. Although it doesn’t have the largest coverage area, this nozzle will allow you to get the moisture where you need it, which is a huge advantage when using it in a child’s room. This makes it a perfect baby humidifier because of its versatility, adjustability and safety features.

As a cheaper model, it’s not surprising that this unit has a smaller capacity and coverage area than the other humidifiers on our list. Fortunately, it has a low water indicator so you know when to refill it.

Unfortunately, as with many ultrasonic humidifiers, this model is difficult to clean and fill. The tank tends to leak when you remove it, even if it appears to be completely empty. During refills, it’s a good idea to place a towel under the tank to catch any drips that may leak out.

dual 360 degree rotating misting nozzles; low water level indicator with red LED warning

Why do you need to increase the humidity in the room?

There are several different reasons why you might want to increase the humidity in your home, especially in your bedroom.

Firstly, increasing the humidity in your bedroom will help you sleep better. The added humidity will reduce the likelihood of suffering from respiratory problems, such as coughing or congestion.

Secondly, the increased humidity will help remove allergens from the air, which will also help you breathe better. Finally, the increased humidity also limits the effects of dry air on the skin of the hands, lips and feet.

Features to consider when choosing a humidifier

In this section, we will discuss the main features you need to pay attention to in order to find the perfect humidifier for your needs.

Type

There are several types of humidifiers you can choose from when looking for a device to use in a large room. Here are some of them:

Ultrasonic – Ultrasonic humidifiers produce a cool mist that is safe for children to use. This type of humidifier uses a vibrating nebulizer to emit water into the air.

Evaporator – Evaporator models use a fan to blow air over a wick or wet filter to create a cool mist. This type of unit is a little more expensive as you will need to replace these filters regularly.

Humidifiers can also produce different types of mist. Warm mist humidifiers heat water to boiling and then emit steam to humidify the air in the room. They are often equipped with filters that need to be replaced from time to time. Paediatricians recommend avoiding this type of humidifier in the presence of children, as they can cause burns. In cool mist humidifiers, the water is not preheated, but simply emitted into the air, creating a pleasant, fresh and hydrated atmosphere.

Water tank capacity

The capacity of the water tank will determine two different things for you. Firstly, the larger the tank capacity, the more mist you will release into the air. With a larger tank, you should be able to humidify a larger area for a longer period of time.

Secondly, a larger water tank will limit the number of times you need to change and add water. A larger tank will help increase the efficiency of the humidifier as you will not have to refill it as often as with a smaller tank.

Fog time

The fogging time describes how long a humidifier can be used before it needs to be recharged. As these are portable models, their water supply is limited. Fogging time is also determined by the type of humidifier you decide to buy.

Coverage area

Before you decide on a humidifier, you should ensure that you carefully measure the size of your room to determine the area you need to cover with your humidifier. You might think that the bigger the better in terms of coverage area, but this is not really the case. You need to make sure that the humidifier you choose has the same size coverage area as you need, or only slightly larger.

Obviously, if the coverage area of the humidifier is too small for your space, you won’t get the right amount of humidity in your room. On the other hand, if you buy too much, you will have the opposite problem. If you need to humidify your whole house, consider getting a whole-house humidifier. There are also boiler humidifiers that connect to your HVAC system to bring moisture to every corner of your home, no matter how big or small.

Noise level

Since you will most likely be using this humidifier in a room where you will be around a lot, you need to know how loud it will be before you buy it. Sound is measured in decibels or dB for short. The lower the dB level, the quieter the device.

You should make sure you read the packaging carefully. As most humidifiers can operate at different speeds, you should make sure you understand the sound level of each speed. Otherwise, you may find that the noise level is not to your liking when you increase the fan speed. If you’re looking for the quietest humidifier, take a look at the Vornado Evap3, which is designed to be ‘quiet’ at any speed.

Guarantee

As you can imagine, a humidifier has a lot of moving parts. Since most of these parts are also exposed to water on a regular basis, they are susceptible to failure, even if you follow a proper maintenance routine.

This is why you should look for a humidifier with a good warranty. The longer the warranty, the better. But be careful. Some of the long warranties offered have a limited scope. You should read all the fine print carefully, so you know what the warranty covers and for how long.

Additional features

Diffusers can help with a range of health problems, but they can be expensive. There are, however, humidifiers that act as essential oil diffusers. The best humidifier for a large room with essential oils would be the Everlasting Comfort Ultrasonic Cool Mist humidifier. This product could be a good option for anyone suffering from headaches or allergies, as the essential oils combined with the humidifier are a powerful force in alleviating these problems.

Another great feature to look for is a clear display that lets you know the humidity level in the room. This will make it easier for you to achieve the right humidity level for your particular needs.

Our verdict

The Vornado Evap40 is by far the best large room humidifier on the market today. It is simple to install, easy to use and has a huge coverage area. The filters it uses ensure that no bacteria or mould can form, as long as you take the time to clean them regularly. If you have a large space that you want to humidify, we highly recommend this humidifier.

Of course, if you don’t have such a large space, you can opt for the Vornado Evap3. This humidifier is suitable for medium to large rooms and, like the Evap40, is very easy to use, fill and clean.

The Everlasting Comfort Ultrasonic Cool Mist humidifier is a great option if you also want to use essential oils while humidifying your air. This powerful combination will greatly improve the air quality in your home.