Cool Mist Humidifiers vs. Warm Mist Humidifiers

What Is The Difference Between Cool Mist Humidifiers And Warm Mist Humidifiers?

The main difference between cool mist vs. warm mist humidifiers is the way the water is turned into mist. There are 3 main ways this is done:

Evaporative cool mist humidifiers use a wicking filter to draw the water from the base up to the built-in fan. The fan blows moisture off the saturated filter which helps move the moisture into the air.
Ultrasonic cool mist humidifiers have a built-in nebulizer that vibrates the water at ultrasonic frequency which causes the water droplets to break into a fine, cool mist that you can see.
Warm mist humidifiers, including Vicks Vaporizers, boil the water for a warm, visible mist.

See the core features that differentiate cool and warm mist humidifiers:

Filters:
- Evaporative cool mist humidifiers need to have wicking filters replaced every 30-60 days.
- Ultrasonic cool mist humidifiers do not need a filter. In hard water areas, we recommend using demineralization cartridges to capture minerals in the water to help reduce white dust on surfaces.
- Warm mist humidifiers are filter-free.
VapoPads or VapoSteam?
- Many of our evaporative cool mist humidifiers accept Vicks VapoPads.
- Some ultrasonic cool mist humidifiers, like the Filter Free Cool Mist Humidifier, accept Vicks VapoPads.
- All our warm mist humidifiers accept VapoSteam.

Deciding between cool mist and warm mist humidifiers depends on your space and preference.

If you prefer to not use filters, you can use an ultrasonic or warm mist humidifier.
If you live in an area with hard water, evaporative humidifiers help remove minerals from the water before they are released into the air.
If you find a visible mist soothing, choose a warm mist or an ultrasonic humidifier.

Extra Tip:

To make sure you get the best humidifier for your room size, see the following humidifier recommendations:

To learn more about each type, see the following pages: