This is our buying guide on the best humidifiers for 1000 square feet in 2023. Below is a quick summary of our top recommendations. Scroll further down to read our in depth, hands on reviews, for each humidifier.
AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House
- Really large coverage
- Digital humidistat
- Automatic shut-off
- Easy to clean
- Traps mineral deposits from hard water
- Simple to operate
- Four speed cycling fan to maintain acceptable noise levels
- Easy-to-understand controls
- Huge water tank capacity
- Can handle hard water
Honeywell Cool Moisture Console Humidifier
- Quieter than the competition
- Invisible mist
- Works for small- and medium-sized rooms too
- 2-speed settings to control speed and noise
- Wicking filter to remove minerals from hard water
- Keeps humidity levels steady at 40-60%
- Great for breathing comfort
- Improves quality of sleep, nasal congestion, and allergy symptoms
- Drastically reduces static electricity
- Break-resistant water tank
Stadler Form’s Oskar
- Mistless evaporator
- Blissfully quiet
- Easy placement – floor, desk, shelf
- Fragrance dispenser
- Emits up to 2.4 gallons per day
- Better than Ultrasonic
- Leaves no white dust
- Beautiful design
- Easier to fill than any other humidifier
- Super easy to use
In this article, we’re going to look at the best humidifier for 1000 square feet spaces.
There are many variables to consider when buying a humidifier for a large space. Do you opt for an evaporative unit, or do you go ultrasonic? Do you get a cool mist or warm mist humidifier, or do you get one that produces both? And what about the ease of cleaning? And noise levels?
To find a proper humidifier for 1000 square feet areas, we tested various products and found the Honeywell Cool Moisture Console Humidifier to be the best.
This Honeywell handles 1000 square feet or more with ease and runs for 24 hours between refills. Above all, it will keep the humidity constant at levels of between 40% and 60%, depending on your preference.
Keep reading for a comprehensive review of the Honeywell Cool Moisture Console Humidifier, and also to see how it stacks up against its closest competitors.
Honeywell Cool Moisture Console Humidifier
BEST OVERALL
If you need a humidifier for a large area, or even your whole house, this 3-gallon, easy-fill humidifier console with a humidistat & auto shut-off is the first unit you should be considering.
Most humidifiers use a nozzle that releases a visible mist. This Honeywell humidifier doesn’t – it uses a fan that circulates cool air, leading to between 40 and 60 percent more moisture in the atmosphere.
The first thing you notice about the Honeywell Cool Moisture Console Humidifier is how easy it is to set up.
We removed it from the box and placed it according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. After that, it was a simple task of using the recessed, easy-access handle to remove the water tank and filter from under the hard shell of the humidifier.
The manual provides detailed instructions for filling the water tank and soaking the filter. Once that was done and the filter and tank were refitted to the shell, we simply plugged it in, and it started doing its thing right away. No mess. No fuss!
The water tank has a capacity of one gallon, so the humidifying footprint is considerably higher than other units. It handles 1000 square feet with ease. We even used it in an area of around 1500 square feet, and although it took a tad longer to bring the humidity up to our preferred 48%, it did, and then maintained the levels effortlessly.
This Honeywell is definitely better suited for floor placement than on a bookshelf or table.
There was absolutely no guesswork in applying our preferred settings to this humidifier. The dial positions are clearly marked – low, medium, and high.
And, it is available in both black and white, so there is at least a measure of aesthetic choice.
We’ve come across 1000 sq. ft humidifiers that leave their water tanks exposed. This Honeywell is different. If you stand directly over it, you will see water droplets that have to be wiped, but otherwise, the water tank is hidden from sight by the unit’s shell.
So the appearance of the unit is neat and clean all the time.
Moving the humidifier is something to pay attention to. It doesn’t have snap-connects, so if you’re not careful, or if you do this for the first time, it’s relatively easy to end up spilling water. The simple solution is to empty the water tank before moving the humidifier.
This Honeywell also features technology for sanitizing tap water. The manufacturer claims it will kill up to 99.9% of bacteria. A wicking filter enables quick evaporation once the mist is released into the atmosphere.
Unlike so many of its competitors, there’s no gush of mist with the Cool Moisture Console Humidifier. Instead, it relies on its fan technology to circulate the moisture. This evens out the mist coverage.
And you can use it in small or medium-sized spaces too – even in the bathroom. It is impossible to over-humidify any space with this Honeywell. The technology it uses will add only as much moisture as the atmosphere can absorb.
So, once a living space of 1000 square feet or more has reached your preferred humidity the unit will switch itself on and off as required to regulate the moisture content of the atmosphere.
On our first test, the Honeywell Cool Moisture Console Humidifier ran for just over 24 hours without needing a refill. Although it is far quieter than its competitors, there is a low-level buzz that emanates from the built-in fan. This is something to bear in mind if you intend to use this unit while sleeping.
Cleaning the humidifier is a cinch. The outside of the casing simply wipes down. It comes apart from the base, so it can accommodate fairly large hands to get to the more difficult corners.
The water tank’s opening is fairly large too – again a blessing for those with big hands! Better yet, both the tray and the water tank are dishwasher-safe. Simply place them on the top rack, but heed the manufacturer’s warning about using detergent.
Maintenance and upkeep are limited to changing the filter. Like with any other humidifier, the longer you use the filter, the more the quality of the atmosphere deteriorates. That said, a filter costs no more than $10, and depending on use, can last as long as 12 months.
This Honeywell is on the large side, so storing it can be an issue if you don’t have closet space. It slips comfortably under a high bedside table or a small linen cupboard.
Just remember to clean and disinfect it before storing it for the season!
Pros
- Quieter than the competition
- Invisible mist
- Works for small- and medium-sized rooms too
- 2-speed settings to control speed and noise
- Wicking filter to remove minerals from hard water
- Keeps humidity levels steady at 40-60%
- Great for breathing comfort
- Improves quality of sleep, nasal congestion, and allergy symptoms
- Drastically reduces static electricity
- Break-resistant water tank
Cons
- Opaque water tank makes seeing water level difficult
AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console-Style Evaporative Humidifier
BEST BUDGET
In our search for the best humidifier for 1000 Square Feet, we specifically wanted to test the Console MA1201 Humidifier to find out if this unit’s generous capacity and clean design could conquer the cork-dry mountain air in our region.
This unit is designed to handle up to 3200 square feet. That rating turned out to be true, and then some!
This AIRCARE humidifier arrives with no assembly required. The filter is also pre-installed. So, it is ready to go to work – right out of the box. Fill the reservoir, plug it into the wall, and you’re up and running!
The reservoir is easy to fill. It is large, but it fits into any medium-sized sink without an issue. The reservoir has a tendency to spill when you refit it, so it makes sense to place it on an absorbent mat. But once it is back in the unit, it will drain into the console’s base.
We played around with the unit and discovered if we drain the water into the base, and then remove it and fill it again, we could actually get almost twice the capacity, and thus almost twice the running duration out of this humidifier. It makes it absolutely brilliant for humidifying 1000 square feet or more.
Operating the unit once the reservoir has been filled couldn’t be easier. The humidity levels are set with a simple, clearly marked button. Once that has been set, this humidifier will switch itself on and off to maintain the moisture levels in the atmosphere according to your settings.
For testing purposes, we set the unit to the highest setting available, effectively turning it into an always-on humidifier.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t feature the Honeywell technology which prevents it from over-humidifying the atmosphere.
The cycling fan has four speeds. During the test, we kept it on the lowest setting due to the high operating noise.This also allowed us to extend the runtime of the unit on a single tank of water.
On their website, Aircare claims to make humidifiers that “don’t have to be kept in a closet.” We’re not convinced. The humidifier isn’t ugly, but as far as industrial design is concerned, none of us would describe it as pretty.
It is functional in terms of design, and not much more than that.
Aesthetics may be quite important to some folks because humidifiers usually end up in living spaces or where house guests can see them. And, unfortunately, this unit looks like it belongs in a bathroom, and not in a living area.
The entire layout of this Aircare humidifier also feels too bulky, as if it could have been fitted into a sleeker package with a little more design effort. But remember, it was designed to humidify spaces of over 1000 square feet, and that takes a humidifier with serious muscle.
What it lacks in looks, the AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console-Style Evaporative Humidifier makes up for in performance – and here, it shines!
It simply doesn’t distinguish between smaller and larger spaces – even beyond 1000 square feet. It seems limited only by the sheer physics of airflow.
We couldn’t feel the difference in the guest bedroom, which is quite a way down the passage from the living room where we conducted the main tests on this unit.
In the living room, though, the large wick and fan combined as a mean team to crank out moisture to levels that caused condensation on the windows on a cold night!
Generally, humidifier manufacturers recommend running their units with distilled water to avoid scale build-up, especially in areas where hard water (lots of minerals) is present.
We found, however, that over the three weeks of testing with plain old tap water, the AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console-Style Evaporative Humidifier was no worse for wear.The evaporative technology this unit employs when humidifying the atmosphere is probably to thank for this.
To clean the unit, we simply had to wipe it down and rinse everything else when we changed the wick. The wick in this unit is a paper filter, used both for air and water.
The wick, according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, should be replaced every thirty to sixty days. That is, after around 720 hours of operation in areas of 1000 square feet or above.
The display on the unit will flash a CF alert after 20 days of continuous use, although this is not based on filter performance. Rather, this is purely measured by the time the unit has been in continuous operation.
Oh, yes, and the wick costs around $20. That is the only recurring operational cost.
The conclusion? The AIRCARE MA1201 is absolutely in the running for best humidifier for 1000 Square Feet.
Pros
- Really large coverage
- Digital humidistat
- Automatic shut-off
- Easy to clean
- Traps mineral deposits from hard water
- Simple to operate
- Four speed cycling fan to maintain acceptable noise levels
- Easy-to-understand controls
- Huge water tank capacity
- Can handle hard water
Cons
- Aesthetic design is sorely lacking
Stadler Form’s Oskar
BEST PREMIUM
Many humidifiers make a distinctive ‘lug’ sound every now and again. This can become terribly annoying.
The Oskar from Stadler Form is probably the least noisy humidifier we’ve tested to date. That’s unless you have the kind of hearing that enables you to hear a pin drop.
Adler Form’s Oskar is an evaporation humidifier. Run-of-the-mill units create mist – the Oskar doesn’t. So, it won’t turn your living space into the equivalent of a terrarium and it won’t fog up your windows either!
It works outstandingly well in areas measuring 1000 square feet or above!
This humidifier from Adler Form extracts dry air from the room. The unit siphons the air through the water tank, across two filters, before sending it out the top again as clean, breathable air.
It is simple to clean and it looks like a million bucks! It really doesn’t resemble any other humidifier on the market. The unit stands less than 12 inches tall, comes in black or white, and doesn’t have a handle, because you don’t have to drag it to the tap to refill it with water.
Instead, it has a side panel through which you refill the water tank.
To keep the clean exterior look, even the control panel is hidden from sight.
The Oskar from Adler Form is energy-efficient too, and comes with an automatic shutdown feature for when the water runs low. It will go into standby mode until the tank has been refilled.
Although it has a built-in hydrostat, we really recommend you get a separate humidity monitor just to make sure – and this probably goes for any humidifier on the market, not only the Oskar. The measurements on most humidifiers are notoriously inaccurate.
All lights on this unit can be dimmed or turned off completely. It does, however, have a small bulb inside the housing that enables you to check the water level without disturbing anyone else if you use the humidifier while sleeping, for example.
A great feature of the Oskar is the fragrance dispenser. Simply add a few drops of your favorite essential oil, and it will be dispersed throughout the entire living space. While that’s not the Oskar’s primary function, it does the job admirably. You can use your own fragrances, or those Stadler Form has designed.
Cleaning is easy-peasy. And, because of the ergonomic design, you get a more thorough clean than with tank-based humidifiers.
You can certainly go for an entire dry season without having to change filters – which makes running costs on the Stadler Form low and affordable.
And being environmentally conscious, Stadler Form makes the filters from plant and textile fibers, so they’re one hundred percent compostable!
While we didn’t notice any such issues, other users have complained that the fan began to experience problems. But this was only after three seasons of continuous, hard work.
This humidifier is quiet – blissfully, wonderfully quiet … and, for a humidifier designed to work in areas of over 1000 square feet, the silence is a godsend!.
We loved having this unit around for our tests. It flew high as a premium choice in our quest to find the best humidifier for 1000 Square Feet.
Pros
- Mistless evaporator
- Blissfully quiet
- Easy placement – floor, desk, shelf
- Fragrance dispenser
- Emits up to 2.4 gallons per day
- Better than Ultrasonic
- Leaves no white dust
- Beautiful design
- Easier to fill than any other humidifier
- Super easy to use
Cons
- Filters are on the expensive side
