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10 Best Budget Humidifiers under $50 – Reviews 2022

Last Updated on December 11, 2021

Humidifiers have come a long way in the past few years, as you can now find them at affordable prices and with many great features. When the weather turns cold, it’s a good idea to add extra humidity to the air to help prevent dry, irritated throats, itchy skin, and reduced allergy symptoms.

Though humidifiers offer many benefits, they can also be a breeding ground for harmful microorganisms if not properly maintained. Our list will provide you with options that are easy to use, clean, and maintain, so you can reap the benefits without any worries.

Our buyer’s guide will also help in familiarizing yourself with the features of a humidifier so you can make a confident decision when choosing one for your home.

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites

The 10 Best Budget Humidifiers Under $50

1. Pure Enrichment Humidifier — Best Overall

This ultrasonic cool mist humidifier will moisten the air for up to 16 hours, reducing throat dryness and allergy symptoms and providing comfort while you sleep. We like the sleek, updated look of the unit, with its 360-degree mist nozzle that allows you to direct the mist where you need it most.

It is easy to use, from its assembly to maintenance. It comes with everything you need to get started: a 1.5-liter water tank, base, mist nozzle, AC adapter, and disk cleaning brush. It covers an area of up to 250 square feet, which is adequate for a large bedroom or small living room.

Other nice features include an optional nightlight that emits a soft glow, and it has an automatic shut-off for when the water level is too low or if the water tank is removed when it is running. There are two speed settings: high and low.

Unfortunately, we found that there is no way to wipe down the inside of the tank, since it is not accessible. The company does offer a five-year warranty with great customer support seven days a week.

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2. FIGROL Portable Mini Humidifier — Best Value

The Figrol is a portable/travel humidifier that is great to take to your office or keep in the car if you frequently travel. There is a cotton swab that you moisten before placing into the wand; the unit is then placed in a bottle of water and plugged in. It has an adjustable length to fit into different-sized water bottles or cups.

We like how it has a USB port (with USB cord included) so you can use it in your car too. It is silent when running and has an automatic shut-off feature. We found that it will run for approximately eight hours in a 16-ounce mason jar (using ¾ of the water). On the negative side, it takes some time to soak the cotton swab, and once you put it back together and place it in the water, you have to wait approximately 10 minutes for the device to work. But it does produce a very fine mist that will cover a small area. The cotton swab can be used indefinitely if you use purified water. The Figrol is the best budget humidifier for under $50.

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3. Homech Cool Mist Humidifier

The Homech is an ultrasonic air diffuser that will provide humidified air to a room ranging in size from 215 to 430 square feet. It is capable of holding four liters of water, which will allow for 60 hours of continuous use (at 60ml per hour). It also has an auto shut-off feature in case the water becomes too low in the reservoir or if the base is separated.

We like how you can adjust the mist output up to 300ml/hr if you prefer a higher humidity level. It is quiet when operating and there is a 360-degree rotatable nozzle. Other nice features include a large opening to access the inside of the tank to clean and wipe it, a handle to help separate the water tank from the base, and a dustproof sponge in the base that will prevent dust from entering.

On the downside, there is a plastic smell when first using this humidifier, though it does dissipate with continued use, and it is difficult to refill if there is still water in the tank.

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4. TaoTronics Cool Mist Humidifiers

The TaoTronics offers a unique space-saving design that makes it easier to keep this unit on your desk or a nightstand. We like the simplicity of this humidifier, form the knob control that selects the mist output to the easy tank refills.

The tank will hold 60 ounces of water and effortlessly run through the night. If it happens to get low on water, it will automatically shut off. Other features include a 360-degree nozzle and LED indicator that keeps track of operation.

On the downside, it is difficult to separate the base from the reservoir while trying to get a decent grip on it, and it is not as quiet as one would expect from such a small unit. It is BPA free, however, and there is an 18-month warranty on this humidifier.

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5. Vicks Cool Mist Humidifier

This humidifier does well when you have cold or allergy symptoms, since you can add Vicks VapoPads that emit soothing vapors as the unit runs. We like that it is filter-free, and the wide tank opening allows you to easily clean the tank.

It does offer an auto shut-off feature and mist control with an adjustable nozzle on the top of the unit. The tank will hold 1.2 gallons of water, which equates to approximately 30 hours of runtime. It will humidify a room up to 400 square feet. It is also quiet and easy to use.

Unfortunately, the VapoPads are expensive if used every day, though you can certainly smell the vapors they release, which is helpful when you have a cold or cough. It does come with a three-year warranty.

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6. BAYKA Top Fill Humidifier

A unique feature offered with the Bayka is that you can refill the tank from the top of the unit. The tank will hold four liters, with an average runtime of 28 hours. Another great feature that we like is the aromatherapy box, where you can drop essential oils onto the sponge ring (not directly into the water reservoir).

This unit will humidify a room up to 322 square feet, which we found to be more than adequate, and there is an auto shut-off. We like how simple it is to clean the tank with the large opening on the top, and the side panel makes it easy to drain the tank.

The nozzle will rotate 360 degrees, and there are three levels of mist control. The lowest setting puts out a great deal of mist, which may be too much if you want something finer. The button control has to be held for three seconds to turn off the unit — the dial controls on other models are easier and faster.

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7. Everlasting Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier

This is another humidifier that has the capability to use essential oils — there is a special tray where you add them to the diffuser. It has a large six-liter tank that can produce up to 270/ml per hour and last up to 50 hours. If you don’t want to have to refill the tank often, then the Everlasting may be a good fit.

It is an ultrasonic humidifier that can help reduce airborne viruses and bacteria. It features an LED nightlight and auto shut-off and is ETL certified. It also comes with a two-year warranty.

On the downside, the diffuser did not work well at distributing the essential oil vapor into the air, and the tank has a small opening, making it difficult to clean.

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8. Holmes Comfort Humidifier

The Holmes humidifier has three speeds, with a convenient 16-hour programmable timer and an LCD display. It has a 1.5-gallon tank and produces plenty of mist to humidify larger rooms. It does have an antimicrobial filter that is not cleanable and has to be replaced every four to six weeks. The filters are somewhat expensive to purchase, but it does come with one at purchase.

Unfortunately, the tank opening is not wide enough to allow you to clean it by hand, though you can use a vinegar solution. A nice feature is the filter check monitor, which indicates when it is time to purchase a new filter.

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9. iTvanila C3 Cool Mist Humidifiers

This cool-mist humidifier will hold five liters of water, with a runtime up to 40 hours. It will humidify a 400-square-foot room and has automatic shut-off protection, a 360-degree rotatable nozzle, and precision mist control. It does also have an essential oil tray with an aroma pad, but we found that you need to apply the essential oils frequently to smell the vapors.

We like how quiet it is when running and that there is a carrying handle on the tank. However, the handle is not strong nor made to last, especially with a heavy tank full of water. It also drips water when flipped upside down, and the tank opening is not large enough to fit a hand in to clean it effectively.

It is BPA free and comes with a 12-month warranty.

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10. LEVOIT Classic 200 Humidifiers

The Levoit humidifier uses a patented silencer and DC hydraulic fan that makes it run silently. Keep in mind that it does make a trickling sound of water when running. It has a large capacity tank that will run for 40 hours at the lowest speed. Other features include being BPA free and having shut-off protection, a 360-degree rotatable nozzle, and three mist settings.

It would be nice if we could have more control over the mist settings, allowing for a finer mist if needed. The opening on the water tank is large enough to allow for easy cleaning, though. There is an essential oil tray but the vapors are not noticeable.

On the downside, others have reported the unit has quit working after one to two weeks of use or develops leaking issues around that time. It does come with a two-year warranty.

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Buyer’s Guide

Let’s go over the features that are typically available on the more affordable humidifiers, which will help your search to find the right one for your space.

Features

Mist control: Some will offer two or three setting levels, while others have the ability to control the mist with a dial, which allows more precise control of the mist.

Oil diffusing: Models with the option to add essential oils are popular because many people like to add a relaxing aroma to the air. There are special compartments to place the oils, since you never want to add the oil directly to the water tank.

Tank size: Larger tank sizes will naturally have a longer runtime, but the unit will also be bigger. Consider how often you want to refill the tank, especially if you are using the unit constantly.

Nozzle: Most will offer a rotating nozzle from 180 degrees to 360 degrees, as this allows you to direct the flow of mist to a specific area.

Auto shut-off: This is a great feature if you have children — if the unit gets tipped over, it will turn off. Also, you can have greater peace of mind at night that it will shut off if the water level becomes too low.

Filter: Filters can be a nice option, offering extra protection from bacteria and viruses. But they can also be expensive to replace, especially if that has to be often.

BPA free: This may be a feature that is important to you, especially if the unit will be used in a baby’s room. Not all humidifiers are BPA free.

Design: Consider where you will be using your humidifier. If it is in the living room, you may want to have a sleeker design that blends well with your décor. Or if you are using it in the bedroom, you may want it to fit on a nightstand.

Considerations

Type of Water

All humidifiers will work best if run with distilled or purified water; this will make it so you won’t have to clean them as often. Keep in mind that if you have hard water, they will need to be cleaned more frequently, since the minerals build up fast. If you use softened water, it may disperse a cloud of white dust.

Room Size and Coverage

Take into consideration the size of the room you want to humidify — the units on this list are for smaller rooms, typically less than 400 square feet. Units that can cover a larger room will cost more.

Ease of Use

Some humidifiers are easier to clean than others. Though you can use a vinegar solution in every tank, it is nice to be able to get your hand into the tank to wipe it clean. Some brands recommend daily cleaning, while others can go longer. Follow the instructions for your particular unit.

Consider how easy it is to adjust the settings, remove the tank, fill and empty the tank, and transport it from room to room.

Conclusion

Humidifiers are a great addition to add moisture to your air, especially when you live in a dry climate. Our list contains the top 10 humidifiers under $50. You don’t need to spend much to get a good unit with great features.

Number one on our review list is the Pure Enrichment humidifier, offering many features and a five-year warranty. It will do nicely in any bedroom to humidify the air. If you want a compact humidifier that can be taken anywhere, the Figrol is the model that will provide great results at work or when traveling.

When you are ready to purchase a humidifier, we hope that our reviews list will help you select the one that is perfect for you, your family, and your home.