Photo: Vicks
A good humidifier should do more than just add extra moisture to the air in your room as it should also make it better for your overall wellbeing. With the best Vicks humidifier, that is just what you get.
What makes Vicks humidifiers special is that besides humidifying the air, they will also diffuse their medicated vapor products to ensure the air in the house is useful for relieving coughs, colds, and sinus issues.
The Vicks brand has been around the 1890s, and they are more famous for their salve (VapoRub) for cold and cough relief. However, in recent years they have also ventured into the manufacturer of humidifiers.
In this piece, we look at some top-rated Vicks humidifiers and show you how to choose the best ones for your home.
5 Best Vicks Humidifiers – Review
IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Vicks V4600 (Best Overall) |
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 | 2. Vicks VUL520P (Best Small) |
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 | 3. Vicks V3700 (Best for Baby) |
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 | 4. Vicks V3900 (Reliable Multi-Speed Humidifier) |
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 | 5. Vicks VEV320 (Self-Regulating) |
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PRODUCT |
|---|
1. Vicks V4600 (Best Overall)
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2. Vicks VUL520P (Best Small)
|
3. Vicks V3700 (Best for Baby)
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4. Vicks V3900 (Reliable Multi-Speed Humidifier)
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5. Vicks VEV320 (Self-Regulating)
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1. Vicks V4600 – Best Overall Vicks Humidifier
Photo: Vicks
- Types of Mist: Cool
- Recommended Room Size: Medium
- Water Tank Capacity: 1.2 gallons
- Runtime: Up to 30 hours
The larger 1.2-gallon tank capacity and the up to 30 hours run time are what make the Vicks V4600 our best overall product. With the larger tank capacity you will need less frequent refills while the longer runtime means you can leave the unit running nonstop for long periods.
Besides keeping the air humidified, this unit also works with Vicks menthol scented VapoPads to help provide congestion and cough relief.
Safety is also guaranteed when using this humidifier as it will shut down automatically when the water levels get low, which also prevents damage for the machine. And because the mist control is adjustable, you can easily fine-tune this humidifier to suit your specific preferences.
This Vicks humidifier seems relatively louder when compared to other Vicks models. But, the sound produced is white noise and is hence quite soothing when sleeping.
Pros:
- Larger capacity tank
- Longer runtime
- Can also diffuse menthol pads
- Shuts down automatically for user safety
- Mist control is adjustable
Cons:
- A little loud
2. Vicks VUL520P – Best Small Vicks Humidifier
Photo: Vicks
- Types of Mist: Cool
- Recommended Room Size: Small
- Water Tank Capacity: 0.5 gallon
- Runtime: Up to 20 hours
Vicks VUL520P is a smaller and more portable humidifier that is under 10 inches wide, which means that besides taking up less space in the room, it will also be easier to move around. Besides this being our best small Vicks humidifier, it is also the cheapest model on our list.
This humidifier includes variable humidity control that will make it easy to customize the humidity, and this model will work with the Vicks VapoPads, which means it will also be useful for diffusing medicinal inhalants.
There will be no filters required with this machine, which makes it more cost-effective to operate. And because it has an automatic shut off, you will not have to worry about it running out of water when you are sleeping.
While the 0.5-gallon tank is relatively on the smaller side, it is still enough for use in small rooms. Furthermore, you will still get more than 20 hours of runtime, which is quite good.
Pros:
- Smaller and more portable
- Easily customizable
- Relatively more affordable
- Does not require filters
- Shuts off automatically when empty
Cons:
- Shuts off automatically when empty
3. Vicks V3700 – Best Vicks Humidifier for Baby
Photo: Vicks
- Types of Mist: Cool
- Recommended Room Size: Medium to large
- Water Tank Capacity: 1.0 gallon
- Runtime: Up to 24 hours
There are many good humidifiers that you can use out there, but what makes the Vicks V3700 our best Vicks humidifier for babies is that it will not only moisturize the air but also help clean it. This unit uses an antimicrobial filter that ensures it will deliver the cleanest mist.
To make this an even better model for babies, it has a nice light-up star display that will help soothe the baby to sleep. This light can also be adjusted to different colors and used with or without the humidifier.
The variable humidity control allows you to customize the output to suit your situation. And because this unit has an automatic shut off, you will not need to worry about it running when empty.
If you are using these humidifiers for the first time, you might find the filter a little annoying to deal with, but as you use it more and more or do several filter changes, things become easier for you.
Pros:
- Diffuses bacteria-free mist
- Easy to fill and clean
- Soothing light display
- Shuts down automatically when empty
- Customizable humidity output
Cons:
- Filter can be annoying to deal with
4. Vicks V3900 – Reliable Multi-Speed Humidifier
Photo: Vicks
- Types of Mist: Cool
- Recommended Room Size: Small to medium
- Water Tank Capacity: 1.0 gallon
- Runtime: Up to 24 hours
The Vicks V3900 is designed to work for all kinds of users as it will include multiple speed settings that will allow you to choose from low, medium, and high output settings to go with your moods and preferences.
Because this is a filtered unit, it will also help to clean up your air, and it makes use of UV technology to kill bacteria, fungus, and mold in the water.
There is a scent pad slot that will allow this humidifier to work with VapoPads and with the top handle design, this will be a super easy to carry unit.
This humidifier seems to require more frequent filter changes but the good news is that they are inexpensive and widely available. And even without the auto shut off, this unit is still safe to use, and you only need to keep track of the water level more keenly.
Pros:
- Provides several speed options
- Filters out air contaminants
- Works with Vicks VapoPads
- Easy the carry around
Cons:
- Frequent filter change required
- No auto shut off
5. Vicks VEV320 – Self-Regulating Vicks Humidifier
Photo: Vicks
- Types of Mist: Cool
- Recommended Room Size: Medium
- Water Tank Capacity: 0.8 gallon
- Runtime: Up to 24 hours
The self-regulating design of the Vicks VEV320 is one of the main things that make this one of the best Vicks vaporizers. With this function, this unit will adjust the output automatically to maximum comfort.
Also, a wicking filter will help remove impurities and minerals from the water to ensure you get a cleaner mist.
The break-resistant tank will ensure you get many years of great service, and it also has a wider opening for easy refilling. Overall, this model also provides a quieter operation to make it ideal for use in bedrooms when sleeping.
The vapor pad heater still generates heat even when not diffusing anything, but this does not affect the performance of the unit. Also, there are only two fan settings but for most users, they are still enough.
Pros:
- Adjusts output automatically
- Removes impurities from water
- Relatively quieter operation
- Easy refill tank
- Highly durable tank
Cons:
- Vapor pad heater cannot be turned off
- Only two fan settings
How to Buy the Best Vicks Humidifier
Photo: Vicks
1. Types of Mist
The type of mist that your Vicks humidifier will dispense matters a lot, and so as you pick one you will first need to decide the type of mist you want. Here there are two main options, which are cool and warm mist.
Cool Mist
Cools mist humidifiers will have a wick that soaks up the moisture and then a fan blows over it to circulate the moist air in the room.
These types do not have any heating element, and will hence be safer for use around kids, but they will not be useful for diffusing essential oils or medicated vapor.
Warm Mist
The warm mist is what you will need if you want a humidifier that diffuse your essential oils and medicinal vapor.
These units will boil the water inside and release it into the air as steam. Vicks warm mist humidifiers will work with their liquid inhalants for added comfort and cough relief.
2. Coverage Area
It is important to make sure the Vicks humidifier you choose will provide enough coverage area for your room. Here is the right type for you will depend on the specific room size that you will use the unit from.
The good news is that Vicks has small, medium, and large coverage models that will cater to the needs of all potential users. Their small model like the Vicks VUL520P will cover up to 250 square feet, while the medium ones like Vicks V4600 can cover up to 400 square feet.
3. Water Tank Capacity
Big tank capacity is always more preferable as it will eliminate the need to keep refilling the humidifiers, which ensures convenient use. Most Vicks humidifiers will typically have a 0.5 to 3 gallons tank, and so there is something for everyone.
It is important to keep in mind that the larger the tank capacity then pricier the unit and the larger and bulkier it will be. Hence, you need to strike a balance between the capacity, cost, and size of the unit.
4. Runtime
Runtime is more dependent on the tank capacity of the humidifier because the larger the tank the longer the runtime that you get.
That said, different models will still use the water differently. Hence, models with the same tank capacity can still have different run times.
All in all, the best Vicks humidifier for you is one that will provide at least a 12 hours continuous run time as it means it will run the entire night without requiring a refill. But, something with an even longer run time like the Vicks V3900 that will run up to 30 hours will be more convenient.
5. Noise Level
Because you will often leave your humidifier running as you sleep, you need to make sure that it will not be very loud as this can distract you or prevent you from sleeping.
Hence, the lower the noise level the better the humidifier will be as you can still sleep well even when it is running. Something with a noise rating of under 50 dBA should be quiet enough for most users.
Read More: The Best Quiet Humidifiers
6. Portable
Portability will hardly ever be an issue with Vicks humidifier as most are designed to be more compact and easy to carry around.
However, besides being small and portable, a good model should also include a nice carry handle like the Vicks V3900. A handle provides a comfortable and safe place to hold the appliance and hence making it even easier to move.
7. Maintenance
Maintaining your humidifier is vital to ensure it remains in good working condition. And so the model that you choose should make cleaning and maintenance easier.
To make sure that the humidifier will give you an easy time when it comes to the maintenance, look for something with a wide tank opening and an easy to wipe surface. Also, something with dishwasher-safe parts will be easy to clean and maintain.
Conclusion
Vicks’ humidifiers go beyond just adding moisture to your air as they will also diffuse medicinal inhalants to make the room more comfortable and provide much-needed cold and cough relief.
Finding the best Vicks humidifier should also now take less effort as we do most of the work for you. And from our reviews, Vicks V4600 is our best overall model as it will provide a longer runtime and also has a larger water tank.
But if you want something for use in your baby’s room, the Vicks V3700 will be perfect as it will also include a pleasant light display.