Best Quiet Humidifier
Are you tired of waking up in the morning suffering from a stuffy nose or a severely dry throat? If your answer is yes, then a humidifier might be what you need. Humidifiers do wonders for your overall health, especially when you let them run overnight while you’re sleeping. They can help unclog your sinuses, reduce snoring, and prevent allergic reactions.
Not all humidifiers, though, are created for bedroom use. While some people find the white noise that humidifiers produce soothing, some light sleepers might find it too loud or just plain annoying. We’ve taken the time to scour the market for the best quiet humidifiers for your bedroom. You can rest easy knowing that these humidifiers have been proven to produce very little noise, making them perfect for use at night.
Top 5 Quiet Humidifiers for the Bedroom
- 3 Output Levels
- Auto Shut-off Facility
- Economy Mode
- 9-Hour Timer
- 3-Years Warranty
- 1-Gallon Tank
- Great for babies
- Easy to fill and clean
- Keeps Air 99 Percent Germ-Free
- 3-Years Limited Warranty
- 1-Gallon Tank
- Keeps Air 95 Percent Bacteria Free
- Includes a Medicine Cup for Liquid Inhalants
- Whisper Quiet Operation
- 3-Year Warranty
- 360-Degree Mist Nozzle
- 16 Hours of Continuous Running Time
- 1.5-Liter Capacity Tank
- Auto Shut-Off Facility
- 2-Year Warranty
- 1-Gallon Water Tank
- Anti-Microbial
- Auto Shut-Off Sensor
- Humidifies up to 500 sq.ft
- 1-Year Warranty
Boneco is known for producing humidifiers brimming with smart features, and the S450 is no exception. Of course, all these features and additional accessories come with a high price tag, which some may think too extravagant for a humidifier.
It’s important to note that the S450 is a warm mist humidifier and, as you may have heard, there has been some controversy regarding the safety of warm mist humidifiers. The S450 is safe to use for long periods because its parts don’t get too hot and the warm mist it produces is pleasant to the touch. It also has the highest daily humidity output of 3.5-gallons per day, so you can be sure it humidifies large areas with ease.
Despite being a powerhouse in the humidifier market, the S450 produces minimal noise: only 35 dB at the highest setting. Also, it has a useful 9-hour timer and a fragrance container for essential oils, further solidifying its place as a top-notch humidifier for bedroom use.
Pros
- Quiet
- 9-hour timer
- Fragrance container for essential oils
- 2-gallon water tank
- Compact design
Cons
- Difficult to clean
- High upfront purchase costs, as well as ongoing costs
- High maintenance
This Honeywell model has a 1-gallon water tank that will run for 24-hours continuously, so you won’t need to top it up as often, and because the water tank is easy to fill, and to clean, it’ll be a simple to maintain.
The Honeywell is whisper quiet on the lowest fan setting, making it ideal for the nursery or the bedroom.
It will keep the humidity levels in the comfortable zone of 40 to 60 percent, improving your sleep pattern, your skin, your breathing, and static electricity in the atmosphere.
This humidifier removes 99 percent of harmful bacteria from the air using UV technology, so it helps to keep cold and flu viruses at bay, which is excellent for the winter months.
There are downsides to owning this machine: The replacement filters can be costly, and depending on how often you use this humidifier, you could end up replacing the filters once a month to avoid any build-up of debris.
And while the tank may be easy to clean, the fan is not. The blades accumulate dust, and if they aren’t wiped down regularly, you will run the risk of negating all that bacteria control and moistened air, by throwing dust particles back into the air.
Pros
- Quiet on the lower settings
- Easy to clean water tank
- Removes 99 percent of bacteria from the air
- Easily portable
- 1-gallon holding tank
Cons
- Replacement filters are an issue
- The wick needs replacing
- Some build quality issues
Vicks is a name that is synonymous with easy breathing, so it’s no surprise that this humidifier has a medicine cup that allows medicinal inhalants to be added, easing breathing and any ailments that would benefit from decongestion.
This model sells in the thousands on Amazon, so it is popular. It’s compact and easily portable and would be great in the bedroom or nursery.
It removes 95 percent of harmful bacteria from the atmosphere, so it’s not as effective as the Honeywell, but it does have an auto shut-off facility when the water runs out. And you won’t need to fork out for replacement filters either, which should save you a packet over the lifespan of the humidifier.
The reservoir holds 1-gallon of water, which means it will run continuously for up to 12-hours between fill-ups.
It has two output settings to regulate the humidity you want and to maintain optimum moisture levels at all times.
Pros
- Quiet on the lower settings
- Auto shut-off facility
- Removes 95 percent of bacteria from the air
- No need for filters
- 1-gallon holding tank
Cons
- Difficult to clean
- Not as effective as others in its class at removing bacteria
- Some build quality issues
This Pure Enrichment model has a 1.5-liter water tank, so as substantial as other in its class, but the purchase price is reasonable when you compare it to the Boneco. The 360-degree mist nozzle means that moisture can be better targeted to the areas that need it, and it delivers an output of 150 milliliters per hour. On the lowest setting, this thing will run for 16 hours uninterrupted.
It has an optional night light, an auto shut-off facility when the water runs low, and the transparent body makes it easy to tell when the reservoir is dry.
This unit is perfect for the bedroom because it’s an ultrasonic humidifier and runs at less than 30 dB. The industry calls this “Whisper quiet.”
This Pure Enrichment is an Amazon bestseller with over 10,000 units sold, so if you decide to buy one, you’ll be in good company. Let’s face it; 10,000 people can’t be wrong.
Pros
- Quiet
- 16-hour runtime
- 1.5-liter water tank
- Stylish design
- 360-degree mist nozzle
Cons
- Difficult to clean water reservoir
- Build quality issues
- Not great in hard water areas
This Crane humidifier removes 99.96 percent of bacteria from the atmosphere, and because it has a 360-degree mist nozzle, you can target the moisture in the right places.
It may be small, but it will humidify an area up to 500 square feet, and because it’s ultrasonic, it will run at less than 30 dB or whisper quiet.
It has an automatic shut-off feature when the water runs dry, but the 1-gallon tank will run continuously for up to 24 hours. But remember; it will only run for 24 hours if the reservoir is filled up entirely and set at the lowest level. The tank will only last around 8 hours on any other setting.
This humidifier runs without a filter so it will save you money in the long run, but Crane does recommend that in hard water areas, you should purchase a demineralization filter to ensure the unit functions to capacity without furring up. This could add additional costs to your humidifier. Crane also recommend using distilled water if you can’t get hold of a filter. Again, this will be an added cost to factor into your decision.
Pros
- Quiet
- 24-hour run time on lowest setting
- 1-gallon water tank
- Stylish design
- 360-degree mist nozzle
Cons
- Difficult to clean water reservoir
- Build quality issues
- Not great in hard water areas
Comparison Chart
| FEATURES | Honeywell HCM350W Humidifier | Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier | Boneco Air-O-Swiss S450 Steam Humidifier | Pure Enrichment MistAire Humidifier | Crane USA Ultrasonic Humidifier |
| Type | Compact | Compact | Compact | Compact | Compact |
| Type of Mist | Cool | Warm | Warm | Cool | Cool |
| Type of Humidification | Evaporative | Mist | Steam | Ultrasonic | Ultrasonic |
| Room Coverage | 500 sq.ft | 500 sq. ft. | 860 sq. ft. | 500 sq. ft. | 500 sq. ft. |
| Tank Capacity | 1-gallon | 1-gallon | 1.5-gallons | 1.5-liters | 1-gallon |
| Humidification Performance | 2-gallons per day | N/A | 3.5 gallons per day | 1-gallon per day | N/A |
| Humidistat | None | None | No | None | None |
| Controls | Manual | Manual | Electronic | Manual | Manual |
| Low Water Indicator | None | None | Yes | None | None |
| Automatic Shut Off | none | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Max. Noise Level | Whisper Quiet | Whisper Quiet | 35 dB | Under 30 dB | Under 30 dB |
| Weight | 9.55 lbs | 4.25 lbs | 10 lbs | 2.27 lbs | 5.4 lbs |
| Dimensions | 13 x 18.6 x 10.4 | 12 x 7.9 x 14.2 | 14 x 9.5 x 13.2 | 10.9 x 9.2 x 6.9 | 8.6 x 13.4 x 8.6 |
| Warranty | 3-year limited | 3 years | 3 years | 2 years | 1-year |
Quiet Humidifier Buyer’s Guide
Why does a humidifier aid sleep?
Imagine sleeping in a dry atmosphere, especially during the winter when the air quality decreases significantly, leaving you with a dry throat. Your eyes can suffer too. All of these things hinder sleep.
Now imagine that you have a cough that’s aggravated by the atmosphere, and you can see why increasing the moisture in the room will improve the quality of your sleep. People report that after moisturizing the air in their bedroom, they wake in the morning feeling refreshed, with no dry, or sticky throat, and their skin feeling better.
Is a cool or warm mist humidifier better?
Cool mist humidifiers are often cheaper, and they are better at humidifying larger areas. They don’t utilize a heating element, so are more economical to run, and they are often simpler to operate.
They do take longer to raise the humidity levels in the room because warm mist humidifiers throw warm moisture into the atmosphere which evaporates quicker, thus humidifying faster.
Warm mist humidifiers are often called ultrasonic humidifiers and are quieter to run, usually operating at less than 30 dB.
Other things to know
There are five types of humidifier: Ultrasonic warm mist, ultrasonic cool mist, evaporative cool mist, air washers, and steam vaporizer warm mist. All of these humidifiers essentially do the same job, but they differ in the way they deliver that moisture into the air. Which one you choose depends on opinion and taste.
If you have a larger capacity room that needs humidifying, then you might want to consider a cool mist humidifier as they generally operate better in larger spaces. Bedrooms and nurseries often have ultrasonic humidifiers as they are whisper quiet, and perfect for small areas.
The pros and cons of humidifiers
- Sleep well – The bedroom can be a place where dust and a dry atmosphere can create the wrong environment for sleep. Sleep can be interrupted by coughing, a dry throat, stinging eyes, and congestion. Humidifiers treat the air by adding moisture to the room, increasing the humidity to around 50 percent, and increasing your chances of better sleep.
- Great for health – Many people report that they feel better in the mornings, and without those sore eyes and a dry throat, they breathe more comfortably too.
- Cleans the air – Humidifiers remove harmful bacteria from the atmosphere, reducing the risk of breathing them in by up to 99 percent in some cases.
What are the disadvantages?
- White dust – Almost all humidifiers, when they emit steam or vapor, have the tendency to leave a coating of white dust on your furniture. It happens when the moisture in the air dries out. Look for the humidifiers that promise no white dust.
- The maintenance – Humidifiers need regular cleaning, especially the water reservoir. If you don’t maintain a high level of cleanliness, you could be emitting more harmful bacteria into the bedroom instead of cleaning the air.
- Mold – Manufacturers recommend that air should be moistened to around 50 percent. If you over humidify, you could create an environment where mold grows.
| Pros | Cons | |
| Bedroom Humidifiers |
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This is a guide about the topic of the article (not the category in general). Things to think about are:
Did you know?
According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology “Roughly 13 percent of people 18 and over in the U.S. have sinusitis” and that “Worldwide, allergic rhinitis affects between 10 and 30 percent of the population.”
FAQ
Do you need to use distilled water?
Not always. Some manufacturers do advise it, but on the whole, tap water will do. Some people use filtered water, and that seems to be a great alternative.
Will these humidifiers wet my floor?
Because they emit vapor into the room, there is a high probability that you will have a residue on the floor. Try placing the humidifier on a towel.
How do you reduce the amount of white dust?
You could use distilled water or filtered water. Secondly, you can purchase a demineralization filter that sits in the water tank and filters out most of the impurities.
Can you add oils or fragrances?
It depends on the humidifier. The Vicks humidifier is perfect for adding nasal and medicinal oils. Check with the maker first before committing.
Final Thoughts
If you are the person who wakes each morning feeling the effects of restless sleep, suffering from stinging eyes, a sore throat, or dry skin, then a humidifier is definitely going to improve your sleep.
