6 Best Humidifiers For Cough in 2023 – Purchased & Tested

Coughing is something you desperately want to cease, but it seems to persist no matter what you do. It can leave you feeling restless and can even completely disrupt your sleep.

In many cases, increasing humidity can help relieve a cough by thinning the mucus, and humidifiers are specialized gadgets for doing just that.

After testing the most popular humidifiers in the market, we have come up with a list of the best humidifiers for cough, hoping to meet most people’s needs.

So, let’s jump right into it!

Why you can trust this review: We purchased these humidifiers with our own money, took pictures, and spent two weeks testing them.

Our Top Picks

1. Levoit Dual 200S Smart Cool Mist Humidifier – Best Overall

This Levoit humidifier comes at an affordable price and has many great features, making it perfect for someone who wants to ease a cough as soon as possible.

We like its appearance. The semi-transparent water tank and white base are simple and sleek, and they can easily blend with your home’s decor.

There is a rounded display on the front of the base with two buttons on the side. The display will show the humidity level, and you can press the two buttons to turn the machine on/off and control the mist level.

That is to say, you can get the hang of it immediately. If you are considering purchasing a humidifier for your parents, this model is perfect.

The output on high mode is high, which can increase the humidity level from 42% to 49% in just an hour, according to our test. You can expect the dryness to be relieved soon.

Another advantage is that it is compatible with essential oil. You can directly add it to the base, which is uncommon in other models. As you know, some essential oils are beneficial for easing coughs and other sinus problems.

If you want to get the most out of this model, connect it to its VeSync app. This app is easy to set up and use. You can set the timer, humidity, and mist level and turn off the display through it.

Personally, I prefer using my phone to control the humidifier instead of having to walk up to it every time I need to make adjustments.

Even better, this Levoit humidifier features a top-fill design. This is a function many people desire because turning the tank upside down and taking it to the kitchen could be a chore.

The only downside I find is that it doesn’t have a nightlight. But it may not be an issue for you.

Coverage: 290 square feet 

Water capacity: 3L

Output: 147 ml (based on our result)

Weight: 3.08 pounds

Warranty: 2 year

2. Vicks warm steam vaporizer –  Best budget option for coughs

Although this vaporizer doesn’t have many advanced features, it is a classic product for relieving coughs in many American families.

Unlike other types of humidifiers, this model adds moisture by boiling the water. It is great because hot water can kill bacteria and mold in the water. However, it can lead to scalding if hot water splashes out accidentally. So, you should place it somewhere out of reach of naughty children.

I was worried about this problem before, but when I used it for a few days, I found that as long as I used it as instructed, it was generally safe. By the way, it is larger than I expected, and it could be a bit heavy when filled with water.

As I said, this is a simple device. It means that it doesn’t have a built-in humidistat, multiple mist levels, or an app for remote control. But it has a nightlight, a medicine cup, and two scent pad slots.

You can put Vicks vapopad or vaposteam or other appropriate medicine in the medicine cup or pad slots to help you relieve coughing more effectively.

It is worth mentioning that it will take about 5 to 10 minutes before the warm mist starts to generate steam. Initially, my humidifier didn’t produce any mist after 20 minutes, and I doubted if it was broken. But after I added some salt to the tank, it started to work immediately. (See also “Can you add salt to a humidifier?“)

If you encounter the same issue, it is because the water is too pure or soft. Just add some salt, and the problem will be resolved. It is also a good way to control the output level.

This humidifier has a low price tag. However, it will cost more on electricity because the water needs to be heated.

If you don’t care much about bells and whistles, this Vicks humidifier is one of the best humidifiers for coughing.

Output: 358 ml (based on our results)

Coverage: 500 square feet

Water capacity: 5.68L

Weight: 2.2 lbs

Warranty: 3 year

3. Vornado EVDC500 Energy Smart Evaporative Humidifier – Best for large rooms

Featuring a 2-gallon (7.57L) water capacity, we believe this Vornado humidifier is the best option for large rooms.

Because it is an evaporative humidifier, it can improve moisture levels more evenly. Even if you sit or sleep a bit away from the humidifier, you can still benefit from it.

Besides dry air, over-moisturized air can also be bad for coughing. Since this Vornado humidifier has a built-in humidistat, it can ensure your room has a suitable humidity level.

Moreover, it features energy-smart technology, which can adjust the fan speed automatically, with 9 fan speeds available. It can save a lot of energy.

If you want to moisturize the air quickly, you can turn on the turbo mode, even though it can be a bit noisy. However, the operation is quiet when in low-speed mode.

Note that evaporative models tend to take more time to work than ultrasonic humidifiers. You may have to wait for two to three days to see real results.

My favorite part is that it is easy to clean. Every part of this machine can be taken apart easily, and there won’t be any hygiene blind spots. But it is a filtered humidifier, and you may need to replace the wick every month.

However, similar to the Vicks vaporizer I just mentioned, its nightlight can’t be turned off at night, which could be problematic for light sleepers.

Output: 250ml (based on our result)

Coverage: 1000 square feet

Water capacity: 7.57L

Weight: 8.9 lbs.

Warranty: 5 years

4. Pure Enrichment Mistaire Studio Humidifier – Best travel model for coughs

Sometimes, life is hard and you still need to travel when you suffer from persistent coughs. A portable humidifier may come in handy in this situation.

We have tested a lot of portable travel humidifiers and found that this Pure Enrichment one could be a great option for relieving coughing.

See also our recommendation for the best portable travel humidifiers

Featuring a compact size, it will not take up much space in your luggage. Most portable humidifiers work better with tap water and need to change the cotton stick every so often, but this one doesn’t. 

It can work perfectly with distilled water, so you don’t need to worry about white dust, which may trigger more respiratory infections. 

While the output is only 77ml, it is much higher than other portable models. You should place it closer to you so as to reap the benefit of moist air.

Nightlight is included, and it can be turned off independently. Although it is a small and cheap humidifier, it comes with two mist levels. 

However, it has a few minor drawbacks. First, the unique shape and the small lid of the water tank make it difficult to clean. Secondly, it may produce some gurgling sound when operating.

Output: 77ml (based on our result)

Coverage: 175 square feet

Water capacity: 0.7L

Weight: 1.1 lbs.

Warranty: 5 year

5. HoMedics TotalComfort Deluxe Ultrasonic Air Humidifier – Best multifunctional model for coughs

Cough is a common ailment and every family member can suffer from it at some point. Some may prefer a warm mist, whereas some may like a cool mist.

This deluxe model from HoMedics could meet the different needs of the whole family. It can not only produce cool list but also warm mist. But the warm mist will not be as warm as the one produced by the Vicks vaporizer. It is about 110 degrees, according to our test. 

Meanwhile, it also has a built-in humidistat which can turn off automatically when it reaches the set humidity. The nightlight and display are included. You can turn them off if you are sensitive to the light.

Furthermore, it has five mist output levels and a timer. I am impressed that it is quiet, even on high. If you want to enjoy the added benefit of essential oil, it has an essential oil tray in the base.

While it is not a smart humidifier, it has the most advanced features a humidifier can have. Add to that the output and water capacity is high, and you can expect it to effectively alleviate your cough. Accordingly, it will cost more than other models.

One thing I don’t like is its mist spout tube design. It is almost impossible to access it. If the mold or bacteria grows inside, it could be very hard to remove.

Output: 258ml

Coverage: 533 square feet

Water capacity: 7.57L

Weight: 8 lbs.

Warranty: 1 year

6. Taotronics Cool Mist BPA-free Humidifier – Best for baby

Few children can refuse such a cute humidifier. Its whale-shaped appearance, soft tail, and beautiful white and blue color make it a lovely gadget in the bedroom. 

Honestly, as an adult, I also love it quite a lot. It could be a good companion for your baby who has cold symptoms, including coughing.

It is made of BPA-free plastic, and the operation is very quiet. Not like the Homedics humidifier, it doesn’t have any fancy features. There is a knob for adjusting the mist output and a button to activate the nightlight. That’s it.

Because it is a cool-mist humidifier, it would not hurt your babies. While the output is not very high (118ml), it is enough to cover a small children’s room.

Life can be hectic these days, leaving us with little to no time to take care of appliances at home. The opening of the water tank is very large, allowing you to refill or clean the humidifier with no effort.

Output: 118ml (based on our test)

Coverage: 269 square feet

Water capacity: 2.5L

Weight: 1.59 lbs.

Warranty: 18 months

Do you need a humidifier for coughs?

Our body will produce more mucus when the air is dry. The excess mucus drips into the throat, causing a cough. The congestion from the upper respiratory infection will also trigger a cough. 

Using a humidifier in these cases can increase the water particle in the air, which can moisturize the lung, throat, and nasal passages and thin the mucus. It is a natural remedy for the cough, but you should keep the humidifier clean.

However, using a humidifier may not be a good idea if you have a chronic cough caused by asthma, COPD, or other long-term lung diseases. You should consult your doctor to decide if you need a humidifier. It is a natural remedy, but it can’t replace medicine.

What to consider when purchasing a humidifier for coughs?

Even though the six humidifiers we mentioned in this post are great options for relieving coughs, you may still want to know how to pick the right product. There are six factors we think are crucial.

Output 

The higher the output, the quicker the moisture level can be improved. Rather than looking at the coverage the manufacturer claims, we think the actual output seems to be a more reliable metric. 

If you have a large room, choosing a humidifier with an output that is higher than 200ml is a better idea. Otherwise, it can’t make much difference in humidity, even running it for the whole night.

Humidistat

Moist air can promote the growth of mold and bacteria, which may worsen your cough. As a result, you should make sure the humidity level will not exceed 50% when using a humidifier.

While you can use a hygrometer to monitor it, it is not easy to do that while you fall asleep.

To combat this problem, you can choose a humidifier with a built-in humidistat so that the humidifier can stop producing mist or steam automatically.

Budget

Generally speaking, purchasing a humidifier will not break the bank. However, if you are tight on budget, you may need to decide which feature is a must-have for you. Again, the output is an important factor to consider.

Noise level

The coughing symptom can worsen at night. If you or your family member coughs through the night, finding a humidifier that is quiet is essential because even a slight noise might drive you crazy.

To know the real noise level of a humidifier, you can read reviews or watch videos online. We have paid attention to it while reviewing each humidifier, and you can find related information in the review articles on this site.

Cool or warm mist?

According to our research, there is not enough evidence to indicate that there is any visible difference between cool and warm mist when it comes to easing cough. 

Some people prefer to use warm mist humidifiers in winter, which can make the room warmer. In fact, a cool mist humidifier will not make the room cold, either. 

Can you add essential oil or medicine to it?

Essential oils, like eucalyptus, rosemary, and peppermint, may alleviate coughs. Some medicine can also have similar effects. If you want to use these products to grab added benefits, you should choose a humidifier that can also be used as a diffuser. 

Sum up

By increasing the humidity level, a humidifier can help with relieving coughs and colds. Levoit Dual 200S Smart Cool Mist Humidifiers is a perfect choice if you have a small or middle-sized room. Vornado EVDC500 Energy Smart Evaporative Humidifier could be a good option for a large room.

When choosing a humidifier to ease coughs, consider factors such as output, humidistat, budget, noise level, ease of use and cleaning, water capacity, essential oil compatibility, and coverage area.

By taking these factors into account, you can find the best humidifier for coughs and start enjoying the benefits of moist air.

Last update on 2023-06-05 at 06:24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API