The Best Humidifiers for Large Rooms to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Whether you’re trying to combat dry winter air or live in a climate with low humidity levels year-round, humidifiers for large rooms can improve comfort and indoor air quality by adding consistent moisture throughout your home. Rather than managing multiple small humidifiers for home use, investing in a single high-capacity model that requires less refilling and maintenance is a smart way to cover a large space.

To help you find the best options, we spent over 2 months testing eight large-room humidifiers before selecting the Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier as our favorite. With its generous 6-gallon tank, it can effectively cover rooms—and whole homes—up to 3,000 square feet. It’s also quiet, easy to refill and clean, and surprisingly portable for its size.

Still, several more of these everyday essentials impressed us, and one might be a better fit for your needs. Read on for a breakdown of the best humidifiers for large rooms and important features when choosing the right one for your home.

1. BEST OVERALL: Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier
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2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Everlasting Comfort Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
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3. BEST SMART: Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier
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4. BEST AIR PURIFIER COMBO: Sharp KC850U Air Purifier and Humidifier
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5. BEST DESIGN: Aircare EP9800 Whole-House Pedestal-Style Humidifier 
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6. BEST PORTABLE: Dreo HM311S 4L Smart Humidifier
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7. BEST TABLETOP: Levoit Classic 300S Ultrasonic Smart Humidifier 
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8. BEST FOR SMALL HOMES: Vornado Evap40 Evaporative Humidifier
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Humidifiers for Large Rooms Comparison

Our Top Picks

Our top picks include evaporative, ultrasonic, and whole-house humidifiers, each designed to emit a soothing mist that improves air quality in large rooms.

Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Effectiveness 5/5; Portability 4.5/5; Maintenance 5/5; Value 4.5/5

The Levoit Superior 6000S is an evaporative humidifier for large rooms or spaces up to 3,000 square feet. Not only does it have multiple settings, but it also has an internal fan that helps disperse moisture upward, allowing it to spread more evenly throughout a room or across space in open floor plans. Plus, because it is one of the available humidifiers with filters, it can handle tap water refills rather than expensive distilled bottled water, which many humidifiers require.

In testing, we found that the Levoit Superior 6000S was well-designed and outperformed other models in a few ways. While it is large, its tall profile gives it a small overall footprint of just a little more than 1 square foot. Its wheeled tank and included faucet-connection hose make it easy to refill—no awkwardly lugging 6 gallons of water around. We also liked that its AC cord unplugs from the back, so when it’s time to refill, it’s easy to roll the unit to the sink without unplugging the cord from the wall. The Levoit Superior 6000S was surprisingly quiet for a large humidifier, and it maintained the desired humidity on all settings without making the air feel saturated.

What our tester says: “I was amazed at how quiet it was, and I’ve been using it for a week post-testing. I’ve got it set to auto to maintain about 50 percent humidity in my home, and it’s been on regularly. I still haven’t had to refill it! After years of refilling tiny humidifiers, I’ve found that this one is well worth the investment.”—Amber Guetebier, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Levoit Superior 6000S humidifier for large rooms at Amazon or Walmart.

Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Effectiveness 4/5; Portability 5/5; Maintenance 5/5; Value 5/5

The Everlasting Comfort ultrasonic cool-mist humidifier features a 1.6-gallon tank and a powerful fan for adding continuous moisture for up to 50 hours. It’s best used as a single-room humidifier to increase humidity in rooms up to 500 square feet. However, in our tests, it performed remarkably well in a 750-square-foot room. While on low, the Everlasting Comfort humidifier was able to raise the humidity in the room by 6 percent in just 1 hour and 11 percent in 8 hours. It’s adjustable via an analog dial that controls the amount of cool mist it distributes. 

This pick boasts up to 50 hours of runtime and is very easy to assemble, disassemble, and clean. It has a small drawer for adding essential oils, is virtually silent, and has a built-in LED night light. However, as a relatively basic model, it doesn’t have a built-in humidistat or any auto features beyond auto shutoff, which prevents the motor from burning out should the reservoir tank run out of water.

Get the Everlasting Comfort humidifier for large rooms at Amazon or Everlasting Comfort.

Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Effectiveness 4.5/5; Portability 5/5; Maintenance 4/5; Value 4/5

The Dreo HM713S smart humidifier is packed with features, including compatibility with smart home devices like Alexa, an app for monitoring room humidity from afar, a humidistat, and both warm and cool mist options. It features an aroma tray for essential oils and multiple dimmer lights for use in bedrooms at night, too, which makes it a great match for a nursery or a child’s room. The precision with which you can control humidity, combined with the option for a warm mist, also makes this an excellent humidifier for plants.

For a smaller humidifier, the Dreo HM713S packed a big punch in our testing. On the lowest setting, it was able to raise the humidity in the room by 4 percent in an hour and 10 percent in 8 hours. Then, when we placed it on the high setting, it raised the room’s humidity by more than 30 percent after 8 hours. The manufacturer claims this unit will run for 60 hours on low without requiring a refill, and our testing verified this. Overall, we appreciated that it was easy to set up, fill, and clean, and that it has a modern appearance that can jive with any decor. 

Get the Dreo HM713S humidifier for large rooms at Amazon or Dreo.

Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Effectiveness 5/5; Portability 3.5/5; Maintenance 4/5; Value 3.5/5

The KC850U air purifier and humidifier from Sharp uses proprietary technology to attract particles from the air and filter them through a three-stage process. A high-efficiency particulate air filter that removes 99.97 percent of particles down to just 0.3 microns pairs with a carbon filter that removes many common household odors. This means the unit can treat up to 1,230 square feet at a rate of one room air change per hour. Three fan speeds and an auto setting allow you to adjust the Sharp humidifier and purifier combo​ to suit your environment, while its Energy Star certification keeps electricity consumption to a minimum. 

Despite combining the features of an air purifier and a large-room humidifier, this model still achieved and maintained optimum humidity in the room we tested it in, although it was a bit noisier than many machines on this list. Still, for anyone shopping for a humidifier, this unit’s additional air purifying functionality is a wonderful benefit, and we think it’s definitely worth its price.

Get the Sharp humidifier for large rooms at Amazon or Sharp.

Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.5/5; Effectiveness 5/5; Portability 3/5; Maintenance 4/5; Value 4/5

At 27.3 inches tall by 18 inches wide, the Aircare EP9800 whole-house evaporative humidifier is one of the larger models on our list, covering up to a whopping 2,400 square feet. It has a powerful 9-speed fan that propels a cool mist and a built-in humidistat that allows users to maintain a preferred humidity setting. The unit’s unique design uses a rigid cover that slides over the tank and fan, allowing it to function as a side table.

After initially testing the Aircare EP9800 at both low and high levels, we set the humidity to 51 percent and left it for three days. It not only maintained the humidity level but required zero attention during that time. When it was time for a refill, all we had to do was pour a few pitchers of water through the hand side spout—no relocation or carrying of heavy water tanks required. In terms of downsides, it is rather loud on high and isn’t very portable, but since it is so powerful and can serve as an extra side table, we really had no reason to move it or turn it up beyond the lower settings. 

Get the Aircare humidifier for large rooms at Amazon, Lowe’s, or Aircare.

Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.5/5; Effectiveness 4/5; Portability 5/5; Maintenance 5/5; Value 4.5/5

Though it only has a recommended coverage area of up to 300 square feet, the compact Dreo HM311S 4L Smart Humidifier is an excellent option for bedrooms and home offices. As a portable humidifier that measures just 10.16 inches high by 11.02 inches wide by 5.51 inches deep and weighs only 3.1 pounds, the Dreo’s dual-intake design and wide mist outlet push out more moisture than most comparable units. In our tests, it created enough humidity in our 250-square-foot master suite with attached walk-in closet and bath to make a noticeable difference in our adjacent open-concept living/dining/kitchen space. 

As a smart unit, setup includes pairing the unit with the Dreo app, but the few extra minutes are worth it, as the app lets you monitor humidity levels, set schedules, and make adjustments from afar. If you’d rather not use the app, auto mode is convenient as well. The built-in humidistat holds target humidity levels within about 5 percent, and the unit’s indicator light lets you check conditions at a glance. The top-fill tank and modular components make it easy to fill and clean, and the demineralization cartridge prevents this ultrasonic model from leaving white mineral dust everywhere. While the 1-gallon tank won’t put out enough moisture for an entire house, overall performance is impressive for such a small machine. 

What our tester says: “Before I tested it, I really didn’t think this Dreo was a fit for a large-room humidifier. But it exceeded my expectations in the very first day and became an easy favorite for using in my home office during the day and my bedroom at night.”—Michelle Larson, Product Reviews tester and writer 

Get the Dreo HM311S humidifier for large rooms at Amazon or Dreo.

Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.5/5; Effectiveness 4.3/5; Portability 4/5; Maintenance 4/5; Value 5/5

Those after a set-it-and-forget humidifier for large rooms will want to consider the Classic 300S from Levoit. With a 1.58-gallon tank capacity, this tabletop unit can cover spaces up to 505 square feet, offers hands-off operation through the VeSync app, and has an impressive runtime of up to 60 hours. Once you put it in place and pair it with the app, you can set a schedule or use auto mode to adjust to the current conditions—then simply stop by now and again to add a pitcher of water through the top. 

Sized right for a side table or dresser, the Levoit Classic is a perfect humidifier for bedroom or nursery use. It has an adjustable night light that adds ambience, a sleep mode that turns off the display, and an aromatherapy pad that can disperse soothing essential oils into the air. It’s also quiet, running at just under 30 decibels on high. 

If you like seeing visible moisture in the air, the Levoit Classic delivers that as well—and it even has an adjustable nozzle that lets you position output exactly where you want it. However, because it is an ultrasonic unit without a demineralization cartridge, it may leave dusty white residue on surfaces unless filled with distilled water, and for that same reason, it may also require more frequent cleaning.

Get the Levoit Classic 300S humidifier for large rooms at Amazon or Levoit.

Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.5/5; Effectiveness 5/5; Portability 3.5/5; Maintenance 3.5/5; Value 4.7/5

Those seeking a home humidifier system that doesn’t require an HVAC technician or plumber will want to consider the Vornado Evap40, which delivers consistent humidification for small homes up to 1,000 square feet. Equipped with a powerful three-speed fan that moves air at up to 1,600 RPM, dual water tanks with a combined 4-gallon capacity, and two evaporative wicks, this model is as effective as it is budget-friendly.

While the Vornado is more of a no-frills option, its simple manual speed and humidity dials couldn’t be easier to use. One dial sets the fan speed (low, medium, or high), while the other adjusts the humidity between minimum and maximum levels. Vornado claims up to 4 gallons of output in 24 hours on high, but in our testing, it took closer to 36 hours to fully empty the tanks at maximum output. Since it doesn’t have an auto function, it ran continuously during that time, maintaining basement humidity levels at around 45 percent. 

The water tanks are easy to remove and carry for refilling, but their narrow spouts make anything more than swishing soapy water or vinegar through virtually impossible. It’s also not the most attractive unit, hard to move when full, and occasionally makes a noticeable glugging sound as water drains into the basin. But if wide coverage and a reasonable price are your priorities, you won’t be disappointed. 

What our tester says: “This is my pick for anyone who wants whole-home humidity without tying into their HVAC system or spending a fortune. It sets up in minutes, supplies consistent humidification to large spaces, and is incredibly easy to use.”—Michelle Larson, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Vornado humidifier for large rooms at Amazon, The Home Depot, Tractor Supply Co., Target, or Vornado.

Jump to Our Top Picks

How We Chose and Tested the Best Humidifiers for Large Rooms

To determine the best humidifiers for large rooms, we focused on finding room humidifiers designed to cover at least 300 square feet. We considered tank size, portability, and humidifier type (whole-house, ultrasonic, or evaporative), as well as extra features like auto settings, smart features, and aromatherapy diffusion.

During testing, we evaluated setup, ease of filling and refilling, and how well each humidifier maintained consistent humidity levels. We ran each tested humidifier for 1 hour and then 8 hours on the lowest setting, recording the room’s humidity before and after, then repeated the test with the humidifier on the highest setting. We measured humidity changes using an external humidistat for accuracy and placed each humidifier in the same location to ensure consistent, comparable results.

What to Consider When Choosing a Humidifier for Large Rooms

According to Dr. David Li, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Boston Derm Advocate, the right humidifier can offer relief for those who suffer from skin conditions. “[Humidifiers] can be helpful for patients with underlying sensitive skin, dry skin, and eczematous skin, as the skin barrier may be compromised, resulting in increased water loss,” he says. “Increasing the moisture content in the air can help combat this.”

To help you choose from among the good home humidifiers above, the section below takes a closer look at types of humidifiers, key features, and the health benefits of having a humidifier, as well as info on how to use humidifiers to achieve those benefits.

Types of Humidifiers

Three types of humidifiers are typically designed to serve larger spaces: Ultrasonic, evaporative, and whole-house. A whole-house humidifier will generally be larger and well-suited to supplying consistent humidity to the entire home, while ultrasonic and evaporative humidifiers are smaller room humidifiers that deliver mist to individual spaces. 

Ultrasonic Humidifiers

Ultrasonic humidifiers use a vibrating diaphragm to emit tiny water particles and a blower to distribute them, filling the air with moisture in the form of a fine mist. This type of humidifier distributes its mist upward, giving the particles enough time to vaporize before they come into contact with a hard surface.

Because ultrasonic humidifiers don’t rely on evaporation to create mist, they can typically send more moisture into the air than other humidifiers, making them ideal for large rooms and living areas. But if the water evaporated by an ultrasonic humidifier contains minerals, the mist may leave residual white dust deposits on hard surfaces.

Evaporative Humidifiers

Evaporative humidifiers have a wick inside the basin that absorbs water. A blower collects dry air from the room and blows it across the wick to collect moisture before circulating it back into the room. Many evaporative humidifiers include a built-in humidistat that shuts the unit off automatically whenever the room’s air reaches a specific humidity level. 

Generally speaking, evaporative humidifiers do not leave behind the white residue that ultrasonic humidifiers can create. However, they require regular cleaning to prevent bacterial growth inside the reservoir.

Whole-House Humidifiers

Whole-house humidifiers are typically connected to a house’s ductwork, distributing moisture throughout the entire home via the HVAC system. Many of these humidifiers also connect to a house’s plumbing system, providing a limitless water supply.

Other whole-house models use a wall-mounted fan for houses without a ducted HVAC system. Whether the humidifier for the whole house works with the HVAC system or as a wall-mounted fan, it will likely cost more than other humidifier types, as professional installation is strongly recommended to avoid damage.

Warm Mist vs. Cool Mist

A warm-mist humidifier adds moisture to the air by boiling the water poured into its reservoir. The unit heats that water, causing it to vaporize as steam. This is a good humidifier for a congested nose​ during the cold winter months when colds and flu are rampant. At these times, a warm-mist humidifier emits a soothing mist that makes breathing much easier.

By contrast, cool-mist humidifiers add water to the air by blowing dry air over a saturated wick. Since cool-mist humidifiers don’t use heat, they’re safer for children’s rooms.

The mist’s temperature is likely only noticeable if you’re close to the humidifier. Li notes that using a cool-mist humidifier in the winter or a warm-mist model in the summer is fine, as neither should make much of a difference in room temperature. “The particles are so tiny once aerosolized that they will very quickly adopt the temperature of the room,” he says.

Room Size and Tank Capacity

To serve a large room, a humidifier must be capable of producing a significant quantity of mist. Most large-room models can emit enough water vapor to fill a space of at least 500 square feet, with whole-home models capable of producing enough mist to treat more than 4,000 square feet of space. A smaller unit can be used in a larger space, but “if the room is too big, then you may need to place the humidifier closer to where you are staying most of the time,” Li says. 

Large humidifiers can hold several gallons of water to handle this coverage, which gives them enough capacity to run for a day or more before requiring a refill. Some whole-home units attach directly to the home’s water lines, eliminating the need for refills.

Ease of Cleaning 

Most humidifiers are easy to operate—simply fill the tank and turn on the unit—but they are a bit trickier to maintain. It’s typically recommended to clean humidifiers once a week. Li reminds users that “you want to ensure that it’s easy to clean; otherwise, there can be mold, mildew, and bacteria colonization, which can actually worsen someone’s underlying skin conditions or allergies.”

Besides technology and capacity, the difference between a cheap humidifier and a more expensive model is often how the water tank is designed. The tanks on more affordable models are sometimes impossible to access directly with a cleaning brush, which means it’s necessary to soak them regularly to prevent mold growth. Even models touted as self-cleaning humidifiers still require regular manual cleaning. 

Humidistat 

A humidistat is a device that measures the humidity in the room, much in the same way a thermostat measures temperature. Some humidifiers for large rooms have built-in humidistats. When a humidity level is selected, the device will run on auto to maintain that humidity. When the desired humidity in the room is reached, the device turns off and continues to monitor the humidity until it needs to turn back on. 

However, many humidifiers, especially inexpensive humidifiers with relatively simple displays, don’t have their own humidistats. In those cases, it can be advantageous to use an external humidistat purchased separately. These relatively inexpensive devices can monitor the humidity in the room and let users know when to turn the humidifier on or off. 

Additional Features

Some humidifiers have additional features that enhance functionality. These features include controls that allow the user to adjust the humidifier’s fan speed or change the direction of the mist output. 

Most humidifiers for large rooms include integrated timers that enable the user to set a shut-off time. They also feature an automatic shutoff that stops the unit from running when the reservoir is dry, which helps prevent motor burnout. Some humidifiers even include oil diffusers that can be used to release essential oils into the air.

Tips for Using a Humidifier for Large Rooms

Anyone looking to combat dry air with a humidifier will need to take time to learn the settings of their selected unit. The most important setting to learn is the humidity setting, if the unit includes a humidistat. It is recommended that this setting be kept under 50 percent to prevent mold and mildew growth.

Using purified or distilled water instead of tap water prevents unsavory particles from filtering through the humidifier, circulating in the air, and leaving dust on furniture. Also, cleaning the humidifier at least once a week can keep it functioning properly.

 A few more tips to consider:

• Before refilling the humidifier’s tank, be sure the tank is completely dry and empty to avoid standing water and mold.
• If the humidifier requires a filter, monitor when it needs to be replaced.
• The door to the room where the humidifier will be used should be left open to avoid over-humidifying the space.
• Warm-mist humidifiers that boil water can become hot to the touch. Those who live in a home with pets or animals will want to exercise caution and be certain the unit is shut off before leaving the home.

FAQs 

This guide aims to address everything you need to know ahead of buying a humidifier, particularly the best ones for large rooms. But if you still have a few questions, here are answers that can help. 

Q. What size humidifier do you need for a large room?

Humidifiers with a 500- to 6,000-square-foot coverage range emit enough mist to cover a large room. These devices typically vary in size, but many are compact.

Q. What is the recommended indoor humidity level?

The ideal indoor humidity level for health and comfort is between 40 and 50 percent—high enough to ease cold and allergy symptoms and make breathing easier. This level won’t make the air so humid that it promotes mold growth, which is key to maintaining good air quality and avoiding the need for a dehumidifier. 

Q. Where should a humidifier be placed in a room?

In bedrooms, the best place to position a humidifier is a few feet from the bed. This position allows the moist air to circulate enough to ease cold and allergy symptoms while not being so close that the user can breathe into it and spread germs around the room. 

Q. Can I run my humidifier all night? 

Yes. It’s safe to leave a humidifier on all night if the unit has an automatic shutoff feature that turns it off when the reservoir is dry. Models with humidistats that cycle off when the room reaches a certain humidity level are also safe to leave on. 

Q. Can I use tap water in the humidifier? 

Yes, it’s often fine to use tap water in a humidifier, though distilled water may sometimes be a better option. Unless you have an evaporative humidifier that uses a wick to trap the minerals often present in tap water, those minerals may form hard-to-clean scale deposits inside the humidifier or get released with the water vapor, leaving white dust on furniture around the room. 

Q. Is a warm- or cool-mist humidifier better for sinuses?

If you have sensitive sinuses or are suffering from a cold or flu, using either a cold- or warm-mist humidifier can help to ease sinus congestion since the mist will likely be the same temperature as the room by the time it reaches your sinuses. That said, a warm-mist humidifier can feel quite soothing if it’s close enough to you for the gentle heat to be noticeable.

Q. Can you put essential oils in a humidifier?

No, you should not put essential oils into the water reservoir or tank of a humidifier, as it can cause corrosion and damage. However, many humidifiers have a designated area, such as a small drawer, where essential oil drops can be added for diffusion. 

Meet the Testers

Amber Guetebier is a self-proclaimed plant nerd and garden writer. While she currently lives in an area with humid summers, the dry winter months wreak havoc on the plants’ leaves as well as her own skin, so life without a humidifier is not an option. After testing numerous large-capacity humidifier models, she realized how much time she’s wasted refilling small 

Michelle Larson has been a writer and editor for more than 10 years in the fields of health, business, and the home. After living and playing for most of her life in the mountains of Utah and Colorado, she understands the importance of humidifiers firsthand and believes in testing to find quality models that are built to last.

Additional research provided by Tony Carrick.

 

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