Best Air Humidifier Filters (Review) 2021 – Top Picks & Buying Guide

The air humidifier you brought last season has helped your family members a lot, right? You must have noticed how it has improved your overall health condition by now.

What if I tell you this device can turn into a breeding ground for germs and bacteria and make you suffer from severe respiratory issues? While this may come as a shock to you, that’s what happens when you forget to change its filters.

Unfortunately, the humidifier in your room isn’t going to perform at its best forever! To maintain a healthy atmosphere, it is highly recommended to change the filters as soon as you notice it getting brownish, which happens due to excessive dirt in the air or long-term use.

The best air humidifier filters prevent the device from putting your health at risk and make sure you have a healthy and happy environment inside your home.

Best Air Humidifier Filter Choices 2021

If this is the first time you are planning to change the filters, then you might become a little perplexed while deciding on which one to buy.

Relax! There’s always an easy way out and we aim to help you figure that out by yourself. Once you find a dirty, clogged filter in your humidifier, the first thing you should do is to throw it out.

Replacing it with a new one will not only help you maintain good air quality but also keep your humidifier in better condition by increasing its performance.

Top Air Humidifier Filter Comparison Chart

Our 11 Picks For The Best Air Humidifier Filters

1. Honeywell HC-888N | Best Filter For Honeywell Humidifier

If you are looking for a replacement for your Honeywell humidifier, then nothing could beat this 100% genuine HC-888N filter!

With the dimension of 6.8 x 2.9 x 9.5 inches, this filter is designed to fit well into your humidifier and helps remove harmful contaminants from water to provide you with cleaner and fresher air.

A warm and moist environment is the perfect growth opportunity for molds and algae. The humidifier you use is an excellent example of that. To prevent this from happening, the Honeywell filter is treated with Protect Antimicrobial Technology that fights and successfully destroys 99.99% of bacteria found on this device.

Although this product is built with Honeywell HCM-890 humidifier in mind, you can easily use it with a lot of models of Duracraft Humidifier including DCM-200, DH-890, DH-890C and DH-888. This filter is also compatible with Walgreens Humidifier, but you better check the model number to make sure it fits properly.

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Bottom Line
Try changing the direction of the filter and turning it upside-down, every time you refill the water tank. This will help balance the overall saturation condition of the product. With a few maintenances, you can expect this item to last up to 3 months.

2. AIRCARE 1043 Replacement Wick | Best Filter For AirCare Humidifier

If you own an AirCare Evaporative Humidifier aka a wick humidifier, then you know that the filter plays a significant role in your device, therefore, it is important to always keep it in good condition.

And what can be the best way to treat the filters in your device? Replacement, of course! AIRCARE brings you a long-lasting, high-performance filter to make your humidifier send out the maximum amount of moisture in the air. With only 1 pound of weight, the product is super-light and has the highest absorption rate.

AIRCARE features a unique technology, called TrapMax Filtration. As you can probably guess by the sound of it, it helps capture even the tiniest pollutants and mineral deposits from water and keeps the humidification process as natural and clean as possible.

If you are confused about whether or not this filter is a good fit for your device, then check out its compatibility chart from online which features a wide range of different AIRCARE and Essick Air models including EP9 700, EP9 500, EP9R 500 and 821 000.

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Bottom Line
It’s important to clean the humidifiers regularly to extend the lifespan of the filter. Use Essick Air Bacteriostat to improve your filtration system by preventing the growth of any molds or viruses.

3. FilterBuy Replacement Wick | Best Filter For Vornado Humidifier

Aftermarket products have been saving our pockets for many years. What if I tell you that sometimes an OEM can accept defeat in front of a high-quality replacement product?

Believe or not, FilterBuy brings you a highly efficient humidifier filter that outperforms the original filters of Vornado models! That too within a reasonable price! A package contains 4 packs of filters which are mostly compatible with different models of Vornado like, MD1-0001, MD1-0002 and MD1-1002.

With 9.5 x 7.5 x 6 inches in dimension and each filter having 1.5 to 1.63 inches of thickness, you can trust this filter to trap all the impurities from water and produce clean, breathable air for you. This product is specially designed to give you protection against allergen particles.

You can easily pull out and replace the filters whenever you need them. A new product usually lasts up to 3 to 6 months depending on the quality of water you use. There is an Aluminum layer in the middle of the filter to hold up its structure by giving it some extra strength.

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Bottom Line
Although these aren’t washable, their strong structure holds up for a long time. You can use purified water in the humidifier to get the optimum performance out of these filters.

4. AIRCARE HDC12 Replacement Wick | Lightweight Air Humidifier Filter

If you have managed to see a beehive in your life without getting a sting, then you must be familiar with its hexagonal design! The six sides of a hexagon are closely knitted together to make a magnificent sight.

This honeycomb structure has a big advantage in a humidifier filter. It provides the filter with maximum strength while holding a large amount of dirt in it. AIRCARE HDC12 uses this technique in their filtration process and maximizes the moisture level in the air.

The HDC12 model is compatible with a huge range of humidifiers from Emerson MoistAir and Sears Kenmore brands. Built with cellulose material, the filters are 2.4×6.2×8 inches in size.

These filters are capable of removing minerals with the help of their TrapMax technology. The Anti-Microbial protection helps trap small particulates and destroys them efficiently.

Association Of Home Appliance Manufacturers has conducted some tests and certified this product for its high-performance, as it outlasts all of its other competitors by up to 169% within 3 months of use! To get the best results, it is advisable to change the wick once in every season.

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Bottom Line
The filter isn’t washable. It is made of super-absorbent paper material, which loses its cohesive property if you try to rinse with water. You shouldn’t try to flip the filter either. They perform well for 3-4 months without any kind of maintenance.

5. BestAir D88 Replacement Wick | Cheap Air Humidifier Filter

If you know exactly what you want and where to look for, you can manage a good deal out of any situation!

And BestAir D88 proves this theory by offering you a good-quality filter within an affordable price! The honeycomb pads of this product are designed in a unique way to fill the air with the best rate of moisture output.

There is a big difference that makes this wick even better than the expensive OEM ones. The filter has a round Aluminium mesh cage around its outer layer. This metallic layer is given to add extra strength to the fabric. So, when you are trying to install the filter or adjust the placement, there is less chance of it being damaged.

Although chlorine is used to disinfect water, did you know too much of this chemical can cause skin irritation? BestAir uses a special Chlora-Clear Plus C Technology in its filter to balance out the effect of chlorine in water and sends out clean, purified moisture to the air.

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Bottom Line
If the filter doesn’t fit in with your device, you can cut some inches off from the top and then try installing it. The product may develop a brownish-yellow pattern over time, but don’t worry! It doesn’t mean it’s getting dirty, rather it’s the effect of the Chlora-Clear layer on its surface.

6. Fette Filter – Humidifier Wicking Filters | Best Water-Absorbent Filter

A premium quality product is always a good choice when you are planning to replace your humidifier’s filter. Now, what are the first criteria you should look for while purchasing a new one?

If you are going to buy a generic filter for your device, then your no. 1 priority should be to check whether or not it fits your humidifier. Fette Filter resolves this issue by listing several compatible filters for a wide range of Duracraft and Honeywell models. Although this is not an OEM product, it works just as well and comes at a reasonable price.

The filter weighs about 8 ounces and is pure white. Being lightweight doesn’t make this product perform any less! With a tall height and round surface, the product can absorb water quickly. The minerals and water-borne contaminants stand no chance, as this filter captures all of them effectively.

With 8.5×6.9×4.1 inches of dimension, you can easily fit this product into DH-890, DH-890C, DCM-200, DCM-891B and DCM-891S models. The Honeywell HC-888N, HC-888 and Filter C models are also well-adjusted with this filter.

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Bottom Line
You may need a replacement if you start to see the product getting rigid or developing odor over time. The affordable price makes it easy on your pocket to change this filter after every 1 to 2 months depending on the water quality you use in the device.

7. BestAir H64-PDQ-4 | Best Filter For Sunbeam Humidifier

A filter that fits them all! BestAir brings you a specially designed filter that can be used with a whole lot of well-known brands of humidifiers like, Sunbeam, White-Westinghouse, Holmes, Graco, Touch Point, Bionaire, Hamilton-Beach etc.

In case your pre-installed filter is unavailable right now or you can’t seem to find the right model from your manufacturer, give this filter a try and see how well it meets your expectations!

BestAir has designed this product with long-term use in mind. The metal mesh around the round surface proves their determination to building a durable product. With Micro-free Antimicrobial treatment, this filter fights against viruses and bacteria with its 100% effort.

If you are wondering about how much water this filter can soak, then its honeycomb pad has got you covered! With its high-quality paper material, it absorbs water as fast as possible and provides the air inside your home with a great rate of moisture output.

The product is treated with Chlora-Clear Technology plus Vitamin C to remove the harmful effect of chlorine from your humidifier’s water. So, the air you breathe in is clean and free from any toxic chemicals.

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Bottom Line
To prevent the molds from spreading, use BestAir 1T, Humiditreat, which helps keep your water clean and free from any extra-build up.

8. N’iceshop Filter Stick | Best Filter For USB-Powered Humidifier

If you are someone who loves to take long tours during vacation, then you must know the importance of packing portable things in your bag. Not only it saves money in the airlines but also takes less time to unpack. Keeping this in mind, a lot of products are also found in travel-sized shapes along with their regular ones.

A mini-humidifier charged by USB is a perfect travel-buddy for a long trip. But hey! Don’t forget to change its filter once in a while to keep the air cleaner around your surroundings.

N’iceshops offers some of their high-quality cotton sticks to replace that old and dirty filters of your portable humidifier. With 0.28 inches of diameter and 5.31 inches of length, these sticks can easily be used in a bottle caps humidifier in varying sizes. They are also compatible with Fanme, Multifun and Rioway mini humidifier.

To get the best performance out of these sticks, soak them in water before installing into a portable humidifier. Depending on how much you use your device, these sticks can last up to 3 to 4 months at a stretch.

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Bottom Line
You can cut these cotton sticks in half or according to your required size and use them in your device. If the stick is shorter than your currently installed filter, then use one and a half stick to fix the measurement.

9. Equate Replacement Filter PCWF813 | Best Filter For Pro Care Cool Mist Humidifier

I might as well give you a fair warning beforehand. You will get addicted to this filter after your first use!
Sure, this one is pricey. But you can’t get a better quality product for the money than this one! Introducing you to Equate Replacement Filter, which outshines all others in terms of performance.

With the help of its honeycomb filtration process, the product lets your device to humidify your home without forming any kind of white dust on the surface. Bacteria and funguses that reside in the water are dealt with an antimicrobial treatment so that they don’t get released into the air.

If you don’t like to go through the hassle of trimming the filter as needed, then this product might be a good option for you. The filter is known to fit in perfectly with Equate AC813, along with some other models like Pro Care Cool Mist PCCM-832N and PCCM-832N, Duracraft DH-830, Relion RCM-832 and Relion RCM-832N etc.

However, to make sure whether or not it fits your device, it’s always a good idea to look up its compatibility chart online. With the help of its antimicrobial agent, you can expect this filter to last up to 2 months.

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Bottom Line
The dirt in the air makes the product turn into brown color. If you want to prolong the lifespan of this filter, don’t use hard water in your humidifier. It’s best to change it before a new season begins.

10. Sears Kenmore 32-14911 | Best Filter For Kenmore Humidifier

An evaporative humidifier uses a fan and a wick for its operation. The wick collects water from its humidifier and when the fan blows air onto that, water evaporates and adds moisture to the environment. If this wick isn’t changed regularly to maintain a smooth performance, then the air quality, as well as the humidifier’s efficiency, will decline.

Sears Kenmore offers a variety of well-designed home appliances including some cool-mist evaporative humidifiers. To go with these devices, they have built a genuine Kenmore 32-14911 wick, which is compatible with different models including Kenmore 15420, 15414, 14415, 14417, 14452-14454 versions.

With 10 x 8 x 7 inches of dimension, the filter comes with a pleated design that has the strength to absorb water quickly. It also helps keep the humidifier clean and the air free from pollutants by separating harmful particles.

You can say good-bye to the white dust of your home, which is usually formed by humidification, with the help of this filter. As this filter is an original product, it is meant to fit the model of your humidifier without needing any trim or alternation.

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Bottom Line
It is advisable to replace the filter after every 2-3 months of use. This action will keep the item in shape and keep your device free from any contaminants.

11. BestAir E2R Filter | Best Filter For Essick Air Humidifier

Essick Air is a well-known and reputed brand in the world of humidifiers. If you already own a humidifier from this company, then you may have noticed how your home environment has improved a lot!

However, to keep the humidifier running smoothly, you have to maintain certain things. Changing the filter as needed is one of the crucial tasks that need to be performed properly. If you don’t buy a good-quality filter, it might end up ruining the air quality inside your home instead!

To make it easier to find suitable wicks for your Essick Air humidifier, BestAir brings you a high-performance filter that can provide you with a clean and fresh environment.

The product has a dimension of 5.5×6.7×11.8 inches. You can easily use it with other models of humidifiers if it fits the measurement. The filter is also known to be compatible with Kenmore models.

With 0.333 pounds of weight and a large surface, the product acts as a barrier between the minerals in the water and the moisture it sends out. The Anti-bacterial property makes sure that the bacteria and molds don’t stand a chance against it. With a strong structure, the filter can maintain its shape for a long time.

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Bottom Line
To avoid the possibility of buying a misfit filter for your device, it’s always a good idea to check whether the product is compatible with your humidifier. You can do it by looking for information online or having a conversation with the company’s representative.

How To Choose The Best Air Filters For Humidifier

Brand VS Non-Brand

So, you have decided it’s time to replace that dirty, old filter for good! But which one should you buy now?
There are two possible ways you can go when you are trying to choosing a filter for your humidifier.

1. Brand-Name Filter

This probably is the safest way to go while you are on the hunt of finding the perfect filter for your device. You can buy filters from the same manufacturers in your humidifier. The company makes them according to the size and shape of your device, so you don’t need to worry whether it might fit or not.
However, these filters tend to be more expensive.

2. Generic Filter

In today’s generation, a lot of non-brand companies are trying to make generic versions of every product. You can find the same thing for your humidifier.

One thing that you must confirm is that, whether these filters fit into your device properly. Most of these can be adjusted here and there to fit into your humidifier. A big advantage of these products is that they are cheap and available everywhere!

Type

Do you know what type of humidifier you are using right now? It’s a good idea to check it with the following types before you look for its filter replacement.

1. Warm-Mist Humidifier

A lot of warm mist humidifiers use filters to keep the air free from any contaminants. The hot water of this device is used to destroy all the germs and bacteria present in the water.

If you have a warm mist humidifier in your home, make sure to check if a filter is necessary, as some of them don’t require one.

2. Evaporative Humidifier

A filter is the most important part of an evaporative humidifier. The device uses the filter as a wick and a fan blows over the wick to create vapor. If you own one of these, then it’s necessary to replace the filters when needed to maintain the smooth performance of the device.

3. Cool-Mist Humidifier

A cool-mist humidifier works by sending little droplets of water into the air. A rotating disk is used in this device to do the job properly.

Filters need to be changed often in these types of devices as they are more prone to the growth of bacteria and fungus.

4. Ultrasonic Humidifier

Ultrasonic humidifiers add moisture to the environment with the help of its high-pitched noise and vibration. Only this type of humidifier doesn’t require any filter for its operation.

Durability

A good filter is built with heavy-duty material and is designed to last for a long time. Typically, a filter lasts up to 90 days at a stretch. As you are probably going to use it every day, find the ones that can be washed or vacuumed easily.

Material

You can find several types of filters on the market, made with different types of materials. Among them, paper filters are popular for their availability and reasonable price. To make the filter last for a long time, search for the one that has an Aluminum mesh around it. These usually give the filters more strength than the plastic ones.

A cotton filter is also used with different models of humidifiers. One advantage of cotton sticks is that you can cut it according to your preferred size to make it fit into your device.

Anti-Bacterial Technology

Some filters come with extra features to help destroy bacteria and germs efficiently. A good quality filter should be equipped with advanced technologies to fight mold growth, neutralize the effect of chlorine, and remove microbes, mineral deposits etc. from the water in your humidifier.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does My Humidifier Need A Replacement Filter?
Answer: Check your device to see if it has a filter installed in it. If you own a cool-mist or an evaporative humidifier, then a filter is necessary. Depending on your usage, you need to change it after a few months.

2. How To Clean A Humidifier Filter?
Answer: You have to be careful in terms of the cleaning process. Not all filters are washable or can be vacuumed, in that case, you might end up ruining the product. Typically, a washable filter only needs to be rinsed with water once in a while for maintenance.

3. How Can I Make The Filters To Last Longer?
Answer: If you use regular tap water in your humidifier, then the filters work extra hard to remove it from water. Try using distilled water to extend the lifespan of a filter.

4. How Often Should The Filters Be Changed?
Answer: It depends on how often you use your device and what type of water you use in it. Typically, a filter needs to be changed within 3-4 months. However, if you live in a dry area, then the filter may need to be changed once a month.

5. What Is A Humidifier Wick?
Answer: An evaporative humidifier uses a wick to maintain its operation. The wick automatically stops humidifying the area when the moisture level increases in a room.

6. When Should I Replace The Filter?
Answer: Check your filters often to see its color and shape. If the product seems damaged and unable to hold its structure properly, then you should change it as soon as possible.

Final Words
A humidifier is a safe tool to use as long as it has clean filters. The best air humidifier filters will give you relief from dry weather and not mention, the common cold or respiratory issues.

You can also make a habit of changing the filters before the winter sets in, as that’s when we use this device the most. Hope this article has helped you to choose the perfect filter replacement for your device.