A humidifier isn’t very expensive and has a simple function: adding moisture to the air. So, if you’ve found yourself with chapped lips, dry skin, sinus congestion or are suffering from allergies, this small purchase can make a world of difference during the winter months.
Plus, as found by a recent CNET survey, 78% of US adults are worried about rising utility bills. While a humidifier won’t lower your bill on its own, using one efficiently — with expert tips and proper placement — can help you stay comfortable without unnecessary energy use. And to be clear, I’m talking about portable humidifiers that you can move from room to room, not whole-home units.
Referring to our humidifier buying guide and our advice on how to figure out which size humidifier is best for your space will also help in making this decision. And if you want to figure out which rooms in your home have the driest air and could use a humidifier, don’t forget to buy a cheap hygrometer, a small device that measures humidity in the air.
Read more: Best Humidifiers of 2025
Never put a humidifier in these 6 spots
Before we get into where you should be putting your humidifier, here are six places that should be avoided. While there are some caveats here depending on if you’ve purchased a cool mist humidifier or a warm mist one, the advice generally holds true.
1. On the floor or carpet
There are a few reasons to avoid placing your humidifier directly on flooring or your rug or carpet. For one, cool mist humidifiers need to be at least a couple feet off the ground so that the mist can more easily mix with the air. If it doesn’t get the chance to properly disperse into the air, it will fall and land on the floor, leaving it wet. And if it’s on a carpet, that can lead to mold. However, you also don’t want to place the humidifier so high up that the mist goes directly up into the ceiling either.
If you do have to place your humidifier closer to the floor, consider putting down a plastic tray or a towel to catch any moisture that falls.
2. Close to decor or wooden furniture
If you’re putting your humidifier on, say, a nightstand or dresser, make sure that there isn’t a piece of art or photos hanging on the wall right behind it, as the mist could reach and damage it. Also, if there’s wooden furniture nearby, keep the humidifier away from it so the wood doesn’t warp, or put down a protective tray, mat or towel.
3. Near electrical sockets or wires
This one shouldn’t be a surprise: Water and electricity can create a dangerous situation.
4. Close to your tech products
Similar to getting too close to anything electrical, you don’t want your humidifier to be putting out mist that falls directly on your phone, computer, tablet or TV that would be harmed by water damage.
5. Directly above a heating vent or radiator
Depending on your humidifier model, putting it right next to a source of heat can potentially make it overcompensate, creating more mist than the room actually needs.
6. Within reach of small children or pets
This will likely already be obvious to parents of children or pets, but you don’t want your humidifier to be located anywhere that small hands can grab or paws can knock off — particularly if it’s a warm mist one with hot water inside. Cool mist humidifiers are the safer choice, especially for children’s rooms.
Read more: Humidifier vs. Purifier: How to Pick the Right Option for Yourself
The best places to put your humidifier
Now that you know all the places to avoid, here are the spots you should put your humidifier, whether it’s in a bedroom or your living room.
Best place to put a humidifier in your bedroom: A few feet from your bed
To keep the air from getting too dry at night and help aid with congestion, dry skin, allergies and more, keep your humidifier a few feet from your bed. (If it’s a warm mist humidifier, you definitely want to be careful of it being too close where you could potentially knock over the hot water.) That way, it has room to disperse the mist into the air while still being close enough for you to benefit from it. The humidifier should be placed on a flat, dry area, like a nightstand, dresser, desk or table.
Best place to put a humidifier in your living room: In a central spot
Since people are typically awake when they spend time in their living room (couch naps not included), the placement of a humidifier for safety purposes is less of a concern. The same rules as above generally still stand: The humidifier should go on a table or other flat, dry surface at least a couple feet off the floor. You’ll want to place it somewhere that pets or children can’t knock it over.
Wherever you put your humidifier, make sure to clean it out regularly to keep it running properly (here’s how to clean your humidifier). You can also check out how much money a space heater can save you and the best energy-saving smart gadgets that will help you cut down your bills.
If a humidifier is helping alleviate symptoms like dry skin and sinus congestion, using it every day should be okay. However, do exercise caution and monitor the humidity level in your living space. A comfortable and safe humidity range for inside your home, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, is typically between 30 and 50 percent.
Avoid using tap water in your humidifier because it can contain impurities that can cause health issues, damage the appliance itself — keeping it clean is important — or leave residue on surrounding furniture.
Once you’ve brought a humidifier into your home, avoid placing it directly on the floor or carpet. Give it a little height, perhaps with a stool that’s about 2 feet tall. This will allow the mist to disperse into the air rather than settle on the floor or go all the way up into your ceiling, forming a damp spot.
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