The 6 Best Humidifiers For Sinus Problems + Our Top Picks For Vaporizers, Per Expert Advice

If you’re stuffed up, this personal vaporizer from Vicks is a quick and easy way to direct warm steam right to the source. To use this vaporizer, fill the bottom chamber with 2.5 tablespoons of tap water and place your face in the mask. Once you’ve gotten comfortable in an upright position, you can adjust the steam output to fit your comfort level and enjoy a 5- to 15-minute steam session. The brand also sells small pads that you can slide into the chamber to add soothing scents such as menthol or eucalyptus to the steam. The brand advises you not to add your own essential oils directly to the water chamber.  

With over 13,000 ratings and 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon, this device gets great reviews for being easy-to-use and effective. One person writes, “I love this little steamer. It helps with my constant sinus issues and headaches. It does take a bit to start steaming, but once it starts it’s awesome.” Some folks mention the mask can be kind of rigid and awkward, and others say that this inhaler does need to sit on a table or be held upright to avoid leaks, and is not designed to be used while reclined.

This small-but-mighty humidifier is a great option for stowing away in your suitcase or for use in smaller spaces. In fact, we included this pick in our roundup of the best personal desktop humidifiers. The multipurpose device is a humidifier, essential oil diffuser, and mood light all in one compact machine. 

Despite having a few bells and whistles, it’s fairly straightforward. There are two buttons that let you toggle through colors and choose between two mist speeds (low and high). The brand says this machine can run for 20 hours on high and 50 hours on low, although reviews are mixed on how often it needs to be refilled with water. 

Reviewers generally love this humidifier, with over 4,000 ratings and 4.3 out of five stars to show it. People appreciate its straightforward design, although some say they wish the settings were more customizable and that it is a bit tricky to clean. Still, most reviewers comment on the ease of traveling with this little humidifier and many mention the positive impact it has on their sinuses. One says, “Easy way to keep sinuses happy! This is perfect for me to take on my travels to keep the hotel room comfortable and fresh.”

When you’re on the go, a cord-free device can be a big help—especially if you’re traveling internationally. While this battery-operated vaporizer is a more expensive option, it has a few standout features: a hands-free strap, a HEPA filter to trap allergens, a temperature control button, and the brand’s own sterile water pods. 

The water-pod design means there’s no water chamber to continuously clean out, and you won’t have to worry about pollutants finding their way into your vapor. On the con side, you can’t use this device without the pods, so you’ll be re-purchasing them for as long as you plan to use the device. 

The brand has been producing sinus-relieving staples for vocalists for years. It gets generally great reviews on sites like Amazon and Target, especially from folks with sinus issues. One person writes, “Great unit and you can travel with it easily. A must for people with sinus and nasal congestion—I recommend this highly.” Some negative reviews mention leaks or issues with the mechanics of their device, but most say the brand’s customer service was able to help with replacements and repairs.

Additional features include a “Sleep Mode,” which dims the display lights and turns the mist level to low, an aromatherapy chamber for adding essential oils, and a top-fill design that makes filling this humidifier a breeze. While cleaning the tank is simple and straightforward, there are a few smaller crevices that can be a bit more difficult to clean.

With just under 20,000 ratings and 4.5 out of 5 stars, Amazon shoppers love this humidifier. One writes, “Got this since my daughter suffers from the dry winter heated air with a very sticky and stuffy nose. Replaced 3 top-rated bedroom humidifiers - all with just this one! I love that you can set it up on a timer so that her room is already humid before she gets to her bedroom & that if the temps change overnight, we can hold humidity at the right percentage.” Some note that they find the app unnecessary—if the app feature isn’t enticing for you, you might be satisfied with the more analog version of this humidifier, which will save you $10 and does not have app-pairing capabilities.

Another pick from Pure Enrichment, this easy-to-use humidifier comes in three sizes. The large MistAire is the mid-sized option, which the brand says is suitable for up to 250 square feet. It doesn’t have many bells and whistles, with only two mist settings (high or low), but it gets great ratings for pumping out a lot of mist for up to 25 hours. For a slightly higher investment, you can upgrade to the MistAire XL, which is meant to cover 500 square feet and has a knob to further customize your mist output. 

With over 100,000 ratings on Amazon and 4.4 out of five stars, people mostly love this humidifier. It gets high praise for being super quiet and easy to use, though there’s mixed feedback about how easy (or not) it is to clean. Be sure to read the instructions carefully for more detail on the cleaning process. Not sure how often to clean your humidifier? We've got you covered.

There’s no such thing as a zero-maintenance humidifier, but this sleek, modular device makes keeping it a lot easier. The machine comes apart in seconds, so you can hand wash every surface that touches water,without having to finagle your way into tiny crevices. After you’ve cleaned each part, it snaps easily back together using magnets. 

This humidifier also has a top-fill design that allows you to continuously fill the one-gallon water compartment while the device is still in use. The bottom has a touch panel to control the light color, mist speed, and timer. 

Most users comment on how quiet this humidifier is and how easy it is to clean. One writes, “All surfaces are smooth and accessible, with no hiding places for the pink and black molds that always infest our other gadgets despite frequent (fussy) cleaning. Disassembly and reassembly to clean it takes a few minutes.” Some negative feedback mentions the power light being bright, and some folks complain that the Bluetooth connectivity chip requires an additional purchase.