REASONS TO BUY
Simple interface
Good all-around performance
Easy to fill
Easy to clean
REASONS TO AVOID
No humidistat
Pricey
Honeywell HUL430 Review
An excellent choice for those looking for simplicity, great performance, and an accessible price
Credit: Honeywell
RELATED: The Best Humidifiers
Our Verdict
The Honeywell HUL430 was one of our top-performing humidifiers. Its overall effectiveness and easy-to-use features make this model stand out as a great option. The HUL430 outperformed all others in pure humidifying power and had just enough user-interface options to make it easy to control without overcomplicating things. When it came time to fill or clean the tank, an oversized ergonomic handle, large tank opening, and cylindrical design made carrying, filling, and cleaning easy. One drawback to those who want maximum control over their device is that the Honeywell lacks any smart features or a humidistat to set the humidity percentage. Still, if you're looking for a humidifier that does one thing, and does it well, look no further. To see how it stacks up versus the competition, check out our review of the best humidifiers.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Honeywell HUL430 | |||||
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| Awards |  |  | |  | |
| Price | $117 List $64.90 at Amazon | $80 List $79.99 at Amazon | $100 List $99.99 at Amazon | $50 List Check Price at Amazon | $54 List $36.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A great option for a straightforward humidifier that delivers high performance and is easy to use, without breaking the bank | A great choice for a humidifier with comprehensive controls, a smartphone app, and no-fuss filling and cleaning | Powerful, fully featured, and easy to use and clean, great for large rooms and those that want precise and consistent humidity levels | Between its highly effective functionality and low lifetime costs, just about everyone will be pleased with this humidifier | A great budget option if you don't need advanced features and want to humidify a smaller room |
| Rating Categories | Honeywell HUL430 | Levoit Classic 300S... | Levoit LV600HH | Levoit Classic 200 | Honeywell HUL520B |
| Humidifying Performance (35%) | |||||
| Ease of Cleaning (35%) | |||||
| Operating Cost (15%) | |||||
| User Friendliness (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Honeywell HUL430 | Levoit Classic 300S... | Levoit LV600HH | Levoit Classic 200 | Honeywell HUL520B |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs | 4.3 Ibs | 4.9 lbs | 3.5 lbs | 3.0 lbs |
| Dimensions | 13.2" x 8.8" x 8.8" | 9.6" × 7.5" × 13.4" | 11.3" x 7" x 10.5" | 13.8" x 7.8" x 5.8" | 8.5" x 8.5" x 9.5" |
| Tank Capacity | 1.25 gallons | 1.2 gallons | 1.6 gallons | 1.1 gallons | 0.5 gallons |
| Humidification Technology | Ultrasonic | Ultrasonic | Ultrasonic | Ultrasonic | Ultrasonic |
| Estimated Lifetime Cost | $122.37 | $119 | $159 | $99 | $56 |
| Estimated Annual Electricity Usage | 65.7 kWh | 65.7 kWh | 65.7 kWh | 87.6 kWh | 43.8 kWh |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Honeywell HUL430 is a straightforward device that does its job well: top-notch humidification without the extra features to clutter up the display or operation. While many small home appliances are incorporating the latest and greatest smart features, the HUL430 keeps a classic and app-free user experience thanks to a one-button interface and error-preventative features. If you are looking for the best humidifier for your home, keep reading to see what made the HUL430 stand out in each of our individual test metrics.
Performance Comparison
The Honeywell HUL430 is a powerhouse of a humidifier, with simple design features that are easy to understand and use.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Humidifying Performance
The Honeywell HUL430 earned high marks in our humidifying performance tests. Where it failed to stack up was its consistency — without a humidistat built into the unit, there was no way to set the desired humidity or tell what level it was at.
It had perfect performance in max output after raising the humidity level in our testing room by 118% during the three-hour test window. The Honeywell produced a final relative humidity of 70.9%, placing it near the top of our humidifier lineup. This device was such a workhorse that our testers noticed droplets of condensation forming in the test room after running it on medium-high.
The Honeywell HUL430 packed a punch in raw humidification power, but lacked a built-in humidistat.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Cleaning
The Honeywell HUL430 again scored at the top of the pack in our ease of cleaning tests. The unique cylindrical design of the water tank means that there are no crevices or corners, enabling an easy swirl of water or a swipe of the hand to clean out the interior of the tank. The opening was large enough that all but the largest hands could fit inside. Although not needed, as with most models we tested, a bottle brush would make the cleaning process even easier.
During our testing, there was no mold accumulation in the tank. The smooth interior of the tank means there is little space for mold to take hold or hide. The large opening means it is easy to fit a hand, and a sponge inside, to wipe it down if required. The instruction manual recommends a bleach and water mixture be allowed to soak for 20 minutes in the tank before swirling and rinsing it out. Overall, our testers thought that the HUL430 was one of the friendliest cleaning processes they encountered during testing.
User Friendliness
It should come as no surprise that the Honeywell HUL430 was a top scorer again during our ease of use tests, as it proved its worth as a quality model. It matched other top-scoring models for its user interface and ease of operation but fell short on smart-home or remote operation features, of which it has none.
The control panel of the Honeywell has a single control dial and four lights that indicate operation status and intensity level. Since there's no power button, to begin operation, you must turn the wheel to increase the mist intensity and down to decrease and turn off the device. The indicator lights correspond to the mist intensity level, with two lights for medium and four lights for high power.
The control dial of the Honeywell was blissfully simple, and lights above the wheel indicated the current mist intensity level.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Knowing when you need to fill the tank of the HUL430 is a breeze, and so is actually filling it. A full-height viewing panel lets you gauge water level at a glance, in addition to the tank light's three brightness settings. We didn't notice much difference in these settings in our brightly lit test space but didn't feel that detracted from the experience either. Removing the water tank from the unit was simple, thanks to a single large and ergonomic handle and a design that lets you lift the tank straight up and out from the unit. When replacing the tank lid, simply drop it in and turn it to the clearly labeled "locked" position to enable operation. The lid will not sit properly unless locked, which mitigates the risk of leaks.
The Honeywell HUL430 has a 1.25-gallon tank that is large enough to humidify most rooms without being too unwieldy to carry or fill. The large tank link was easy to remove and fill through. Most importantly, the HUL430's tank fits in most sinks and did not leak when we carried it around.
Like other models, the Honeywell lets you add essential oils to the humidifier via the essential oil tray, and it can do double duty as a diffuser. As a nice final feature, the unit shuts off automatically both when the water level is empty and when the tank is removed from the base.
The Honeywell HUL430 has an essential oil tray, enabling it to perform as a diffuser and humidifier.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Operating Cost
Like many top-tier products, the Honeywell HUL439 is at the higher end of most models in our review when it comes to its operating cost.
Its power consumption is economical and on par with others, using 0.03 kWh per hour — the average for our annual electricity usage test.
Its above-average list price is the primary cause of its estimated lifetime cost of $122. This seems rather steep, though in the case of the Honeywell, you are getting what you pay for in performance.
The Honeywell boasts a simple control wheel, indicator lights, and full-length viewing panel into the water tank.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Should You Buy the Honeywell HUL430?
Providing peak humidifying performance and a hassle-free user experience, the Honeywell HUL430 is a top choice for anyone who wants a high-end, low-maintenance humidifier. If you're looking for a model that cranks out moist air without needing an internet connection or user-account setup, this is the option for you.
The Honeywell HUL430 is a winning combination of simple and effective.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
What Other Humidifiers Should You Consider?
If you're looking for an appliance that you can integrate with other smart home appliances in your house, or you don't want to break the bank, you may want to consider some of the other models we tested. For a humidifier that is just as intuitive but packs the smart-home punch, the Levoit Classic 300S Ultrasonic Smart has extensive controls and home integration options that are easy to set up and use. If price is a primary factor, the Levoit Classic 200 is a full-sized model that will meet your needs and budget. For those looking for a smaller unit or lighter humidification needs, the Honeywell HUL520B is a good choice that offers great performance with less impact on your floor space and your wallet. Or, if you're looking for the best of the best, the Levoit LV600HH is a humidifying beast and high-end humidifier.
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Genaveve Bradshaw and Hale Milano
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