Best Filterless Humidifier Reviews- Our 5 Best Reviewed

Have you been looking for the best filterless humidifier?  Many of us suffer from dry skin, dry throat or airway passages, allergies, irritated eyes, coughing, snoring, and so on. A humidifier can relieve these conditions, help you to feel more comfortable, and benefit your home furnishings as well. Filterless humidifiers make it easier and cheaper to use a humidifier, and I’ve found a few good options.

In this article I provide a few tips and reviews to help you find the best filterless humidifier for your needs. If you’re in a rush, my top pick would be the Levoit Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier. I’ll be reviewing that, and each of the following in detail this post. To know the exact price of each humidifier, click the “Check Price” button below each individual review.

How to Choose the Best Filterless Humidifier

Any time you have an item that uses water, bacteria, mold spores, germs, viruses and possibly mineral dust will start to form. If you use a humidifier that has a warm mist setting, that humidifier actually makes the water boiling hot before it sends it out into the air. This hot water setting helps to kill the bacteria, mold spores, germs, viruses, and mineral dust. The warm feature will help you keep the humidifier cleaner.

Warm mist adds moisture to the air faster than cool mist. So, if speed of humidifying the air is important to you, you’ll want a humidifier that has a warm mist setting.

If you mainly need a humidifier to alleviate congestion or coughing, hydrate your skin and sinuses, or to get rid of static electricity, a cool mist humidifier would be sufficient. Of course, you may want a humidifier that offers you an option to have warm or cool mist. Humidifiers that let you select either warm or cool mist allow you to solve a wide range of problems.

If you are concerned that the automatic shut-off feature of a humidifier might not work while you are sleeping, you might want to get a humidifier that has at least a medium-sized tank so it will run throughout the night. Some humidifiers have a timer in addition to an auto shut-off feature. A sufficiently sized tank, an auto shut-off feature, and a timer would all assure that the humidifier won’t run out of water and overheat while you sleep.

If you don’t want to fill the tank every day, you will want to get a humidifier that has a high-capacity tank. But keep in mind, high-capacity tanks can be cumbersome to haul to and from the humidifier. If dealing with a large tank would be a problem for you, you may want something with a mid-range capacity tank.

Attributes that Differentiate Humidifiers from Each Other

I touched on some of the attributes above, but the things that set humidifiers apart include:

  • Warm mist and cool mist, cool mist only, or just a mist
  • Tank capacity
  • Auto shut-off
  • Timer
  • Speeds
  • Adjustable mist output
  • Adjustable nozzle direction
  • Built-in essential oil box
  • Noise Level
  • Scent pads
  • Filters required or not
  • Ease of use
  • Ease of cleaning
  • Night light feature
  • Warranty

This in depth video from Consumer Reports will help to orientate you to the world of humidifiers and help you to decide which features are most important to you:

What’s the Best Way to Use Humidifiers?

The best way to use humidifiers is to have the right unit for your particular needs. I mentioned that the warm and the cool mist features fulfill certain needs. Old-fashioned room-temperature humidifiers also have their uses. Here is a recap:

  • Warm mist humidifies a room faster
  • Warm mist kills bacteria and germs, mold spores, viruses, and mineral dust
  • Cool mist hydrates the skin and sinuses
  • Cool mist alleviates congestion or coughing
  • Cool mist reduces static electricity
  • Room-temperature mist may reduce allergy and asthma symptoms, prevent influenza, and make coughing more productive

Precautions and Suggestions for Using Humidifiers

A humidifier is a useful thing, but you need to take some precautions to protect you, your loved ones, your furniture and floor, and the humidifier.

The warm mist setting actually causes hot water to be diffused and allows warm mist to circulate in the air. You will need to be sure that small children and pets don’t burn themselves on the hot water that is in the humidifier.

Tap water will cause white dust to be deposited on your furniture. While not harmful, this can add extra maintenance for cleaning the surrounding area. You can always use distilled water instead to prevent the white dust formation.

It’s also important to never over humidifying your space, as this can cause mold spores to form. Air that is too dry also presents health hazards. You want the moisture level to be within a middle range. You may want to invest in a humidistat so that you can monitor and maintain the relative humidity. A hygrometer placed on the opposite side of the room from the humidifier will give you a good humidity reading for that space.

I’d also recommend that you do not put essential oils inro the water, as this can start to eat away at and erode the humidifier. Make sure you get a unit that is made to diffuse essential oils if you want your humidifier to diffuse essential oil.

You need to clean your humidifier at least once per week. Regular cleaning will prevent buildup of sludge or bacteria and will extend the life of your humidifier.

You may want to put the humidifier on an elevated surface, such as your nightstand, table or desktop. However, don’t place it directly onto wood as this could damage the surgace.

Best Filterless Humidifier Product Reviews

1. Levoit Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier

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best filterless humidifier - Levoit

This powerful 6-liter unit measures 11.3 x 7 x 10.5 inches and weighs 4.92 pounds. This one delivers both warm and cool mist. It can diffuse essential oils, and it can be controlled with a remote controller. Its manufacturer proudly covers it with a two-year warranty.

Pros
  • Puts out both warm and cool mist
  • Warm mist humidifies faster
  • Warm mist kills bacteria and germs, mold spores, viruses, and mineral dust
  • Cool mist hydrates the skin and sinuses
  • Cool mist alleviates congestion or coughing
  • Cool mist reduces static electricity
  • Ultrasonic
  • Customizable or automatically adjusted humidity
  • Remote controllable
  • 1 – 12 hour timer
  • Auto shut-off when water level gets low
  • Easy to use
  • Large capacity (6L, or 1.5 gal), giving up to 36 hours of use between refills
  • Maximum warm mist output 500 mL per hour
  • Maximum cool mist output 300 mL per hour
  • Runs 20 – 36 hours between refills
  • Humidifies up to 753 square feet
  • Quiet
  • LED screen that can be turned off
  • Aroma box for adding essential oils to mist
  • Comes with 3 aroma pads, including the one installed, 3 absorption pads, remote control, 1 cleaning brush, and a user manual
Cons
  • Some essential oils are toxic to animals
  • The warm mist function makes the unit hot
  • Has strong plastic odor when brand new

2. Vicks Filter-Free 1.2 Gallon Cool Mist Humidifier

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best filterless humidifier - Vicks

This little white and blue humidifier is only four pounds, but it delivers a lot of visible mist into the air. The output is adjustable, and you can diffuse Vicks medication or essential oils into the air with this unit.

Pros
  • No filters are needed
  • Delivers visible, plentiful mist
  • Adjustable mist output
  • Can humidify the air up to 30 hours because of its 1.2-gallon tank
  • Has auto shut-off when water gets low
  • Has a simple dial that lets you adjust output level
  • Quiet because of its ultrasonic technology
  • Eases airways of people living in dry climates
  • Allows good sleep for those living in dry climates
  • Gives relief during allergy season
  • Relieves coughing and congestion so sick people can sleep better
  • Easy to clean because of its wide tank opening
  • Easy to refill
  • Dual scent pads allow soothing Vicks vapors
  • Can put essential oil onto pads to achieve your favorite scent
Cons
  • Directions for cleaning in the manual are confusing for some people
  • Develops moisture on the outside which “leaks” onto the surfaces it sits on
  • Mold may form in hard-to-reach places, including the nozzle where the mist comes out
  • Some customers complained of receiving units that work only for a short while

3. Ucareair Cool Mist Humidifier

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best filterless humidifier - Ucareair

This lightweight (2.35 pounds), small (8 x 6 x 9.1 inches) humidifier is small enough to enable easy refills, yet it holds enough water to run up to 10 hours between refills. You can direct the nozzle in any direction you like. This unit has an auto shut-off feature for low water level, and an LED light will warn you when the water is low. You can use or turn off the night light feature.

Pros
  • High or low speed settings
  • Has nozzle that can be pointed in any direction
  • No expensive filters needed
  • Easy to fill – just carry water container to sink
  • Perfect size for a night stand
  • Quiet, 32dB
  • 2-liter tank lets it humidify up to 10 hours on low setting
  • Auto shut-off feature
  • Displays red LED light when water level is low or tank is removed
  • Has a night light that can be turned off
  • Can use with either 110v or 220v
  • BPA-free
  • Covered by 365-day replacement warranty
  • Covered by 60-day money-back guarantee
  • 24-hour customer service
Cons
  • Can be loud when operating
  • Can leak water out, especially when tilted
  • Night light too soft for some people’s tastes

4. Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrsonic Cool Mist Humidifier

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best filterless humidifier - pure enrichment

Here is a lightweight cool mist humidifier (1.75 pounds) that will work up to 16 hours between refills. It does not require a filter, but there is a place provided to put one. It has a high and a low setting. You get great customer service from Pure Enrichment.

Pros
  • No filters are needed
  • Has a place you can add a filter if one is desired
  • Easy to assemble
  • Easy to clean
  • Puts out mist up to 16 hours
  • High and low settings
  • Has night light that can be adjusted to various levels of illumination or turned off
  • 360-degree adjustable output direction
  • 5-liter water tank
  • Optional night light settings
  • Auto shut-off feature for low water level or removed tank
  • Quiet
  • Easy to refill
  • Humidifier comes with everything you will need – an AC power adapter, a disc cleaning brush, and a user manual
  • 2-year warranty
  • Customer service 7 days per week
  • Recognized brand with a high demand
Cons
  • May leak at the seams
  • May grow mold inside the seal or other places that cannot be easily cleaned
  • May get a faulty unit that stops working soon after purchase

5. Everlasting Comfort Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (6L)

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best filterless humidifier - everlasting comfort

This large, 6-liter cool mist unit delivers the benefits that only a large humidifier can provide. It measures 14.4 x 12.4 x 7.7 inches and weighs 4.15 pounds. It delivers 9 ounces of water per hour, keeping rooms over a 43% relative humidity.  This machine can cover about 500 square feet.

Pros
  • Ultrasonic humidifier

 

  • No expensive filters needed
  • Essential oil tray and fan to diffuse oil into the mist
  • Large-capacity, with 6L (1.6gal) tank
  • High mist output, up to 9oz (270ml) per hour
  • Moistens up to 500 square feet of space
  • Can work up to 50 straight hours between refills, giving you six days between refills
  • Keeps relative humidity over 43%
  • Has a blue LED night light
  • 360-degree rotating nozzle
  • Adjustable mist output knob
  • Auto shut-off feature for when water level gets low
  • Quiet
  • Relieves allergies
  • Fights asthma
  • Prevents colds
  • Clears sinuses
  • Relieves coughing
  • Soothes dry skin
  • Improves sleep
  • Antibacterial
  • Antimicrobial
  • Hypoallergenic ionizer and vaporizer
Cons
  • The tank may be cumbersome to fill because of its large size
  • Hard to carry tank to water source and back
  • Any leaks from a large tank could become large leaks

The Air Control Guy Winner: Levoit Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier

I believe that the Levoit Humidifier is one of the best filterless humidifier on the market. Of the two large-capacity humidifiers in my line-up, this one is the only one that puts out both warm and cool mist. It is the only one that lets you choose to either customize the humidity or let the unit do it automatically. This humidifier is also the only one that can is remote controllable. This one is designed to let you diffuse oils in it. Like all of them, it has an automatic shut-off feature. Customer service behind this item is superior to the others in that they will replace the humidifier without requiring you to send the faulty one back. For this reasons, this machine has made it to the top of my list.

For more like this, check out our latest posts on Humidity Control (Humidifiers & Dehumidifiers) and Air Purifying.

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