Wired updates guide to best humidifiers for 2025
WIRED has refreshed its recommendations for humidifiers, highlighting models that ease maintenance and improve indoor air quality amid dry winters. The guide emphasizes devices suitable for homes, travel, and sleep, based on testing in a New York City apartment. Ideal indoor humidity is noted as 30 to 50 percent to reduce illness spread and discomfort.
In a detailed review published on December 16, 2024, and updated in October 2025, WIRED tester Lisa Wood Shapiro evaluated humidifiers during a drought in New York City's Brooklyn, where indoor humidity dipped to 32 percent. The article addresses common issues like mineral buildup from tap water and frequent cleaning, recommending distilled water or filters to prevent white dust.
Top picks include the Blueair Invisible Mist Humidifier as best overall, featuring a 3.5-liter dishwasher-safe tank, tap-water compatibility, antimicrobial wick filter changed every six months, and an app for humidity control. It maintains 50 percent humidity in a 200-square-foot bedroom with invisible mist rising to breathing height, priced at $150 (often discounted to $100).
For value, the Dreo Smart Humidifier HM713S 6L offers a built-in sensor, app control, cool and 133-degree Fahrenheit warm mist, and aromatherapy tray, though demineralizing filters are sold separately. It suits medium rooms with color-coded lights: orange for dry, green for comfort, blue for wet.
The Blueair DreamWell Humidifier is ideal for sleep, with 1- or 2-gallon tanks, mood lighting, scent pod for essential oils, and a geolocation 'welcome home' feature activating 15 minutes before arrival. Its machine-washable wick dries automatically when empty.
Other recommendations cover combined air purifier-humidifiers like Blueair's 2-in-1 for rooms up to 300 square feet, using HEPA filters for PM 2.5 and VOCs; budget options like Dreo Humidifier 524 with top-fill and aroma tray; whole-house models like Dreo Smart Humidifier 735S 11L running nearly 100 hours; travel-friendly HoMedics Ultrasonic CMTF14 with 2-liter tank and nightlight; stainless steel Carepod One; plant-integrated HoMedics Natura; and aromatherapy-focused Levoit Dual 150.
The guide warns against over 60 percent humidity to avoid mold and stresses regular cleaning without chemical disinfectants, citing studies on humidity's role in inhibiting Covid-19 and influenza spread per Harvard's School of Public Health.