While often going unnoticed to most people, the humidity level of any given room has the potential to affect your overall health. From affecting the quality of your skin if humidity is too low to even making it more comfortable to breathe thereby increasing the likelihood of suffering from allergies to even fostering the growth of fungal outbreaks in the form of mold to causing asthma attacks, humidity should always be something that is constantly monitored.
Even when it comes to preserving your precious cases of wine, valuable books, and dry-aged meats, humidity has the potential to either spoil or enhance.
To help you keep tabs on your surrounding’s overall humidity levels – be it at home or anywhere else – hygrometers will be your best friend. Used by meteorological scientists and the general public for centuries, they are able to accurately measure the humidity of any given room. So, to help you navigate your way through the market of hygrometers, check out our take on the best hygrometers you can get right now.
Best Hygrometer of 2020
ThermoPro TP50 Digital Hygrometer
Simplicity and affordability are two adjectives that best describe the ThermoPro TP50 Hygrometer. Don’t let that fool you though as it’ll do anything you might expect a hygrometer to do. Providing high accuracy readings that continually refresh throughout the day at a precision of +-1°F, measuring humidity levels anywhere will be a breeze from your garden to your living room.
You’ll also get temperature readings alongside this and if interpreting data confuses you, it’ll also indicate whether current humidity levels are wet, comfortable, or dry. Powering this up is simple too – all it requires is a single 1AAA battery that can last for months on end. And yes, a battery is included!
Goabroa Mini Hygrometer Thermometer Digital Indoor Humidity Gauge Monitor
If minimalism is something you’re looking for and you especially want a device that gets straight to the point, the Goabroa Mini Hygrometer has got you covered. Boasting a quick response that refreshes itself every ten seconds coupled with four hyper-sensitive vents that provide accurate readings up to +- 1% of accuracy, you’ll be able to measure any humidity level spanning from 10% RH to 95% RH without trouble.
Its digital LCD also is intuitive to read and with its small size, the Goabroa is ideal for unobtrusive use in things like an instrument case, wine fridge, and greenhouse. As if testifying to the quality of their product, Goabroa also offers a total refund if users are unsatisfied without asking any questions.
ThermoPro TP49 Digital Hygrometer
Coming in either black or white (so that you can match it to your personal aesthetic), this easy-to-read hygrometer is both cheap and effective. Featuring accurate readings that self-refresh every 10 seconds, you’ll be able to keep tabs with humidity levels in both indoor and outdoor environments.
Its compact LCD monitor is a breeze to understand too thanks to both its large and bold numbers and facial icon indicator that’ll tell you whether your environment is wet, dry, or comfortable. On its back you’ll find three mounting options which allow you to place this hygrometer either on a table, on a fridge with its magnetized back, or hung on any wall.
Habor Hygrometer Indoor Thermometer
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Another excellent hydrometer that blends affordability and accuracy is the Habor Hygrometer that features not just a refresh rate of 10 seconds but an entire set of 24 vents that’ll give you some of the most accurate readings from 32°F to 112°F with a humidity accuracy range of +-5%.
With a little smiley face on its lower left side that indicates whether a room is comfortable, it also features a very bright and clear LCD display that’ll let anyone read it even from a significant distance. Using it couldn’t be easier as well. It comes with only a single bottom on its front that serves multiple functions and with its multi-mountable capabilities, you’ll be able to set this hygrometer anywhere in your home or office.
Note that it comes with an included CR2 battery and on a full charge, it’ll be able to last for up to 6 months without issue.
AcuRite 00613 Digital Hygrometer & Indoor Thermometer Pre-Calibrated Humidity Gauge
This compact yet all-encompassing hygrometer is designed to give the best indoor readings possible. From measuring the %RH of any given room to the temperature in both Celsius and Fahrenheit along with a house icon that indicates whether humidity levels are too low, high, or at their ideal, this device would make an excellent complement to any household.
Weighing in at just 0.2 pounds, moving this around anywhere should be a non-issue especially when combined with its tiny footprint. You’ll also find a clip and mountable magnet that’ll let you use this device anywhere and at any time.
JEDEW 2-Pack Mini Hygrometer
Probably standing as one of the smallest, most compact hygrometers we’ve ever come across, the JEDEW (coming in a pair of two) packs a solid bang despite its small size. Able to measure temperatures with an accuracy of +- 2°F and humidity at an accuracy of +-5%, despite its size no one will be complaining about readings here.
Big things come in small packages after all. It also comes with a fast refresh rate of 10 seconds and amazingly, features 24 sensitive vents that’ll provide just an accurate a reading as their larger counterparts. Reading it is a simple task too due to its intuitive layout. On the top, you’ll find the temperature and below, humidity.
It doesn’t come with an icon to tell you whether conditions are ideal, but a quick search online should help you with this. On its durability, it may be composed of PVC plastic but it sure is durable and will easily withstand the occasional drop and the long months to come.
Cigar Oasis Caliber IV Digital Hygromter by Western Humido
Specifically designed with the cigar industry in mind, this product is the first and original hygrometer used by the entire tobacco industry. Famed for its slim yet slick design along with accurate readings, you’ll find that not only does it work for cigar humidors, but also as an indoor monitor.
With an included battery that’ll make readings based on three-day averages with an accuracy of +-1%, the Cigar Oasis is a premium hygrometer that is worth every cent.
BOEESPAT 2-Pack Mini Indoor Thermometer Hygrometer
Coming with an aesthetic that quite frankly screams classic, the BOEESPAT hydrometer is ideal for anyone sick of digital LCDs. With an analog display that’ll provide just an accurate a reading as digital displays, you’ll be able to measure humidity levels from as low as 1% all the way to 99%.
Made out of high-grade copper alongside 100% ABS, this product will function for the years to come and will not rust an inch no matter where you place it. Better yet, as it is totally mechanical, you don’t ever need to use a battery. On its back, you’ll find three sensing holes that ensure the device is able to track even the subtlest changes in the environment.
LittleGood 5″ Indoor Outdoor Hygrometer/Thermometer
Another brilliant analog option is LittleGood’s Hygrometer that first and foremost features an all-stainless steel composition. This means that not only is it eco-friendly and rustproof, it’ll look great aesthetically and will match the interior decor of any household.
With a temperature range that’ll capture even the coldest to the hottest of climates to measuring humidity levels all the way from 1 to 99% RH with accuracy within a margin of error of +-5%, this product should work well for any environment. Plus, much like the BOEESPAT, you will never need to go out of your way and buy packs of batteries for this. It’s entirely mechanical in operation!
Wall Clock Modern European Wooden with Temperature Hygrometer
The final hygrometer on our list is unique in being able to not just measure humidity and temperature but actually tell the time as well. The Wall Clock may be the most expensive product on our list but if quality if what you’re after, you won’t be disappointed.
Crafted carefully out of solid wood skin and metal, this device will be totally silent when time presses on due to its quiet clockwork. Measuring out at 14 inches, while it certainly isn’t the most compact product on our list, this is a clock after all. Hang it on your wall and it’ll blend with your interior decor seamlessly. It is powered by an AA5 battery that isn’t included so don’t forget to stock up to avoid disappointment.
A Buyer’s Guide to Hygrometers
Accuracy
Much like a ruler, there’s no point in measuring anything if what you use produces incorrect results. Every option we’ve reviewed is extremely reliable and will suit the average user, but you should always ask yourself how much precision matters to you. If you’re looking for something for your household, garden, or office, anything that has a margin of error of roughly +-1% RH should be okay but if you’re a budding scientist looking for cutting-edge precision, we suggest you look elsewhere.
Battery
Powering your hygrometer and ensuring it’s constantly working is essential when it comes to getting the most accurate result possible. If you’re opting for a digital device, ensure you have a set of batteries constantly ready for when the juice runs low. If you’re using a mechanical hygrometer though, you can virtually ignore this point.
Size
The best hygrometers for home use is one that is totally unnoticeable and unobtrusive. You don’t want to have some unwieldy and ugly device clogging up your rooms after all! While balancing compactness and accuracy is an entirely separate debate, the average user will not have to worry about comprising one or the other in the vast majority of cases.
Just don’t forget to check the size of your intended device and use it before purchasing – the last thing you want is for your hygrometer to be entirely inappropriate (e.g. using it in a tiny music case or meat box).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How does a hygrometer work?
It’s essentially a measuring device that keeps track of the humidity level of any given environment. It does this by measuring the amount of moisture in an area and calculates it as relative humidity, which is basically the quantity of water in relation to the highest temperature at present expressed as a percentage.
Another less common measurement some hygrometers calculate is specific humidity which is instead the amount of water vapor in any given kilogram of air.
You won’t find this in any of the products we’ve reviewed though if that matters. So naturally, if you were walking through the Sahara, your hygrometer will present extremely low readings. Conversely, sailing through the ocean or walking through rain will do the exact opposite.
What is the danger of having too much humidity?
Too much humidity is often a problem that arises when summer comes. You’ll find excessive condensation building up on windows and more damp spots around your house which will lead to mold and fungi buildups if left unchecked. This in turn can aggravate respiratory problems like asthma and even allergies.
What is the danger of having too low humidity?
Unfortunately, the flip side of too much humidity also presents a serious problem. You’ll find your wood-based furniture warping and shrinking, your painted walls starting to peel, and even the air feeling uncomfortable to breathe. You’ll also notice cracking skin on your lips, itchy throats, and even more serious health problems such as bleeding nostrils and colds.
Deadly microbes like viruses absolutely love low humidity environments and will affect you not addressed.
