BEST OVERALL

Levoit OasisMist 450S Smart Humidifier

Credit: Amazon

Why You Should Get It

• The compatible app includes smart plant care features alongside the standard controls.

Keep in Mind

• The filters should be replaced regularly, which will add to your long-term cost.

After testing 65 humidifiers, there’s just one we recommend to sit aside your plants: the Levoit OasisMist 450S. Not only is it incredibly effective at adding moisture to the air, it offers multiple plant-friendly features that set it apart from other humidifiers we’ve tested.

The most helpful feature when it comes to plant care is the free compatible smartphone app, VeSync. The app will notify you when the humidifier runs out of water, and it has an entire section devoted to plant care, including schedules for watering and fertilizing as well as care reminders.

Inside the app, you can monitor humidity levels, set your humidifier on a schedule, and switch the mist temperature between cool and warm. These basic settings can be adjusted on the unit itself as well, which we found easy to control.

There’s also a digital display with an internal hygrometer that reads the humidity level near the device, making it easy to monitor from across the room.

The humidifier’s mist can reach up to 3.9 feet, making it a good choice for tall houseplants. The mist can also be directed in two different directions with the dual 350-degree nozzles, allowing you to target multiple plants at once.

When we tested the humidifier’s performance in a 430-square-foot room, the Levoit raised humidity levels nearly 15% on its lowest setting and 28% on its highest setting when we measured 2 feet away from the unit after eight hours of runtime.

On the high setting, the Levoit used 7.5 cups of water over the course of eight hours, which is less than half of its 4.5-liter capacity.

With daily use, you’ll only need to refill the tank once a day or every two days if using the humidifier on lower settings. However, we don’t recommend letting water sit in the tank unused for more than a couple of days, as this can lead to bacteria and mineral buildup.

Speaking of buildup, one factor that makes this one of the best humidifiers we’ve tested is that the tank is simple to clean thanks to its plain rectangular shape that has minimal crevices for buildup to accrue.

It took us about six minutes to complete a regular wash of the tank. Descaling, which ideally should be completed weekly, took us about 30 to 40 minutes, though the majority of that time was spent allowing the tank to soak.

Most ultrasonic humidifiers operate filter-free, but the Levoit has two filters that are meant to slow mineral buildup, especially if you’re using tap water.

Levoit recommends replacing the water filter sponge and mineral absorption pads every two to four weeks depending on the hardness of your water. Replacement packs from the brand retail for less than $15 each.

Product Details: Type: Ultrasonic | Room Size: 430 square feet | Capacity: 4.5 liters | Dimensions: 10.8 x 6 x 11.97 inches | Run Time: 45 hours | Mist Temperature: Warm and cool 

• The Levoit OasisMist 450S is slim enough to fit on a nightstand.
• Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
• We swabbed the machine’s inner crevices before cleaning to test how much bacteria it held after use.
• Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
• The Levoit’s display panel is tech-focused but simple to use.
• Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
• The Levoit holds enough water to last multiple nights.
• Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
• The Levoit OasisMist has an easy-to-use control panel, and it can connect to a smartphone app.
• Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

midifiers We Tested 

Dreo 713S Humidifier

The Dreo 713S offers similar standout features as the Levoit OasisMist—warm mist, smart connectivity, and scheduling. It did a great job at humidifying the space around the device, and we recorded up to a 70% increase in humidity at 2 feet away. The effectiveness tapered off more than usual when we measured from 10 feet away, so it's a better fit for small rooms.

Lacidoll 4.2 Gal. Cool Mist Ultrasonic Whole House Humidifier

If your home is especially dry or you have an entire room of houseplants, a large whole-house humidifier could be a good option. The Lacidoll 4.2-Gallon humidifier performed well, increasing the room’s humidity between 21% and 45% in our tests. However, it lacks smart features and is larger than what most users need.

Levoit LV600S Smart Warm and Cool Mist Humidifier

A similar, but larger, option than our top pick, the Levoit LV6000S is another great choice for plants. It gives you the same access to the VeSync app and also has the ability to switch between warm and cool mist. Like the OasisMist, there are filters to help manage mineral buildup, but it's a bit difficult to clean.

The Levoit LV600S has a carrying handle on the tank, making refills easy.

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Our Testing Process 

We’ve been testing humidifiers since 2022 and have since tried 65 models.

We placed the humidifiers in conference rooms based on the square footage recommendation from the manufacturer. Using two hygrometers to measure the humidity levels at 2- and 10-foot distances, we ran the humidifiers on low and high settings for eight hours at a time.

During testing, we recorded the humidity levels after one, four, and eight hours to monitor how quickly the humidifier added moisture into the room and if it was able to maintain humidity levels over longer periods.

After those eight hours, we measured how much water the humidifier used in order to gauge how often the device will need to be refilled.

Besides humidity testing, we also evaluated each humidifier based on its features, such as adjustable nozzles, displays, built-in hygrometers, mist temperature settings, and more.

We used smart features and compared the app controls to the device controls to determine whether the app was actually helpful. We also noted whether any night-lights or noise emitted from the humidifier were distracting for nighttime use.

After running the device, we performed two cleaning tests. One included a standard daily clean, which involved emptying the tank and cleaning it in a sink with dish soap.

We noted how easy it was to reach into every corner of the tank and how many small crevices the device has for buildup to occur. We also descaled the tank with vinegar to evaluate how easy it is to deep clean.

The Levoit OasisMist Smart humidifier showed a difference in the humidity on our thermometer during testing.

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What to Know About Humidifiers Before Shopping

Type

There are two main types of humidifiers: ultrasonic and evaporative.

An ultrasonic humidifier uses rapid vibrations to produce a fine mist of water that is released into the air. The vibrations in this humidifier create a frequency beyond human hearing, which is how the term “ultrasonic” found its way into the name. 

Ultrasonic humidifiers tend to be quieter and more energy efficient than evaporative models, but they also require regular cleaning to prevent the buildup of mineral deposits. Most ultrasonic models operate filter-free, but our top pick includes a water filter sponge and mineral absorption pads to minimize buildup in the tank.

One downside of ultrasonic models is you may notice fine white dust on surfaces near the device. This is caused by the minerals in your tap water being released in the mist. Using distilled water, which is recommended, will decrease this.

On the other hand, evaporative humidifiers operate mist-free and use a wicking filter and a fan to evaporate water and release moisture into the air. This works when a porous filter absorbs water from the tank and a fan blows the moisture into the room. 

This type of humidifier can lead to some additional noise from the fan, and the filter should be replaced often to avoid bacteria and mildew buildup. And in our tests, it took longer to increase a room’s humidity with an evaporative model.

The Dreo 713S includes a digital display and a night light, both of which can be dimmed.

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Mist Temperature

Most ultrasonic humidifiers operate with cool mist, which is perfectly suitable and effective for humidifying plants, according to Satch. But there are also dual-mist models available (like the Levoit) that allow you to switch between cool and warm mist, which can help increase the temperature surrounding the device.

“If using a hot humidifier, just ensure that the plants won’t get burned by the heat,” Satch says. “If you are short on space and need to cram the humidifier by the plants, a cool mist humidifier might be better.” Choosing a humidifier with a rotating nozzle can help direct warm mist away from leaves.

Features

In our tests, most humidifiers did their basic job of humidifying the space well. But the features offered by each model is what sets them apart. You can expect to find at least two (but often more) power settings on most humidifiers. Many include a timer and auto-shutoff when the tank is empty. Night lights and essential oil pads are also fairly common.

For everyday humidifiers for bedrooms, smart features weren’t a standout, but for plants, we recommend them. The ability to set schedules is a great feature for houseplants, and we loved that the VeSync app offered additional notifications specifically for plant care. App connectivity is also helpful for cleaning reminders and the ability to monitor humidity levels from afar.

Care

After years of testing humidifiers, we’re confident that there isn’t a model that’s truly hands-free—you’ll always need to keep up with regular cleaning and maintenance to avoid bacteria buildup. We recommend emptying the tank between uses, and ideally you should be cleaning the tank daily.

Humidifier manufacturers and allergists also recommend using distilled water over tap, as “the high mineral content of tap water can actually promote bacterial growth,” says allergist Omar Waqar, M.D. 

However, we know a daily cleaning regimen and buying gallons of distilled water isn’t realistic for most users—in our long-term testing, we often went weeks between cleanings and almost always used tap water. That’s why choosing a humidifier with a tank that’s easy to clean is so important.

We preferred tanks that were small enough to fit under a faucet (preferably a bathroom faucet, so you can fill and clean without using stairs in a two-story home) and with minimal crevices that make buildup hard to reach.

“It's also important to remember that these humidifiers often have filters that need to be regularly cleaned or replaced,” Waqar says. The Levoit’s filters are relatively inexpensive, but they will add significant costs over time, especially if you regularly use the humidifier year-round.

The Lacidoll humidifier includes a large digital display that shows the humidity level.

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Your Questions, Answered

How big of a humidifier do I need for my plants?

It’s true that larger spaces will need bigger, more powerful humidifiers, but unless you have an at-home greenhouse or a home without a whole-house humidifier, bigger isn’t always better.

Extra-large tanks are more difficult to clean, and you’re more likely to leave large amounts of water sitting between uses, which leads to bacteria growth. But tanks that are too small will need to be refilled more than once a day, which is more of an inconvenience than it’s worth.

When shopping for a humidifier, you’ll find a recommended square footage listed in the product description. This can help guide your purchase, but in our tests, we found that humidity levels were always significantly higher the closer we were to the unit.

We recommend choosing a humidifier that can sit within a few feet of your plants for the best results. That being said, if you plan to use warm mist, you’ll want to avoid placing the device too close to leaves, to avoid burning.

Do all indoor plants need humidifiers?

Most houseplants will grow and survive within the same humidity levels that are recommended for our homes, which is between 30% and 60%.

“For terrestrial plants, humidity is a bonus that makes them grow slightly faster but has otherwise no effect on the plant’s health,” Satch says. “As long as a houseplant is well-watered, the humidity can be low, and they will do fine.”

However, a humidifier can help these plants thrive and may even help extend time between waterings. In our tests, we found that placing humidifiers near plants made them appear happier and more vibrant.

“For epiphytes, orchids, and ferns, humidity is critical,” Satch says. According to Satch, ferns have primitive vascular systems and do not retain water well.

Orchids and epiphytes are tropical and subtropical plants that grow on trees instead of in the ground. They do not have access to the soil, so they have no reservoir of water to draw from. Therefore, they need humidity to keep them from drying out between waterings.  

Who We Are

Jessica Comstock is an associate editor focusing on shopping content at Better Homes & Gardens. She has been our in-house humidifier expert since 2023 and has long-term tested humidifiers in her own home. To write this article, she relied on insights from our research and testing team. We’ve been testing humidifiers since 2022. 

This article also includes reporting from Sydney Vrban, a writer and content strategist with five years of experience. She consulted with Christopher Satch, professor of Plant Biology and Pathology at The New York Botanical Garden and the CEO and founder of NYC Plant Help. This article also includes insights from allergist Dr. Omar Waqar.