You hear about it all the time, but what exactly is humidity? Simple: humidity is the amount of moisture in the air. While too much humidity makes for a swampy, muggy feeling, too little humidity results in dryness that's not ideal, either. Since neither are comfortable nor optimal for skin and sinus health, it's important to have the right level of humidity in your house. But how do you know what the level of humidity is in your house? You use a handy little electronic tool called a humidity meter, also known as a hygrometer. The meter measures humidity by analyzing what percentage of the air contains moisture. Most meters also tell you the temperature. These meters are also handy for3 special places where having the right humidity level is crucial, such as humidors or wine cellars. Read on for our reviews of the best humidity meters available today. ThermoPro TP49 Digital Hygrometer Keep it Simple, SillyAffordable, compact, and easy to use, this one is both convenient and reliable.Best OverallFind on Amazon Touting an excellent balance between accuracy and convenience, the TP49 from ThermoPro is one of the best options for most folks in the market for a humidity meter. With a thermometer that’s accurate within 1 degree Fahrenheit and a hygrometer accurate enough for most folks’ purposes, this compact unit is small enough to be placed virtually anywhere. And, although it’s small, its readings are displayed in large, bold numbers so anyone can read it. Oh, and top of all that, this one’s operated by one AAA battery, unlike many other models that utilize those specialty coin-cell batteries. Rather than having to go searching for an obscure coin-cell battery replacement on the internet, when it dies, just pop a new AAA battery in and you’re good to go. Pros Excellent value for the price Can be wall-mounted, placed on a tabletop, or used magnetically Cons Temperature readings may be a bit less accurate than the humidity readings AcuRite 00613 Digital Hygrometer Indoors or OutUse this meter inside or clip it on your backpack and take it on the go.Most VersatileFind on Amazon For another excellent humidity meter, check out this one from AcuRite. It’s very versatile for indoor and outdoor use. You can fold out the stand on the back and put it on a table. The stand also works as a clip that you can use to secure the meter onto a backpack for checking the temperature and humidity while you’re outdoors. It’s about the size of a deck of cards, so you can stick it in your pocket, as well. The thermometer inside is pre-calibrated for accurate measurements of humidity and temperature. The humidity gauge shows you whether the humidity is too high, too low, or just right. And, it gives you 24-hour records, so you can adjust your heating, cooling, and humidifier systems accordingly. Pros Table stand doubles as a backpack clip Size of a deck of cards 24-hour records Cons Magnet is on the back of the clip, so the meter sticks out a bit when mounted on the fridge Govee Smart Temperature Humidity Monitor (2-Pack) There's an App for ThatLooking to integrate tech into your humidity and temperature readings? Here you go.Best AppFind on Amazon Smart tech is everywhere and you don’t need us to tell you that. What you might not know, though, is that with this 2-pack of humidity monitors from Govee, you can utilize tech in the way you monitor your home’s humidity. By connecting to the company’s proprietary app, you can do a few very nifty things. For starters, you can set your humidity and temperature preferences and choose whether to link those preferences to Smart Alerts. These alerts will notify you if the temperature or humidity strays outside of your preferred ranges. On top of that, you can save historical data for up to 2 years, allowing you to monitor statistical data as the seasons change. Pros Battery can last up to 6 months Easy to toggle between Fahrenheit and Celsius just with the press of a button Includes two units so you can monitor different rooms in your home Cons sadfasdf ThermoPro TP55 Digital Hygrometer It's All in the DetailsThis meter measures the humidity with professional accuracy.Most DetailedFind on Amazon Looking for something that goes above and beyond? Turn to the TP55 from ThermoPro. It uses professional-level sensors to measure both the humidity and the temperature in the room every 10 seconds with amazing accuracy. The humidity measurement should always be within three percent, and the temperature is within one degree, so you can count on this meter to give you the correct information. In addition to the current humidity and temperature, this meter displays highs and lows for the previous 24 hours, as well as all-time records. Icons indicate whether your house has the appropriate humidity or not, too. All of this information is displayed on a large four-inch LCD screen. The touchscreen makes this meter easy to operate, and the blue backlight makes it easy to read in the dark. This meter gives you different options for where to put it; it has a stand to prop it upright on a flat surface, it has a wall mount to hang it on the wall, and it has a magnetic back to stick it on the refrigerator. Pros Professional level sensors Accurate readings Large LCD touchscreen 3 mounting options Cons Backlight is not automatic — you need to press a button to turn it on ThermoPro TP63B Waterproof Put it Here, Put it There, You Can Put it AnywhereBuilt to endure the elements, this one can be placed wherever you want it, outdoors or otherwise.Best Indoor/OutdoorFind on Amazon Looking for a unit that can be used either indoors or outdoors? Here’s your pick. Designed to withstand extreme cold (up to -31F), you can place the transmitter of this unit anywhere you want, as long as it’s within 500 feet of the base station. It’s an especially useful gadget for those who live in humid climates. Set the transmitter up outside your house and the base station somewhere in your bedroom, and when you wake up, you’ll know just how humid it is so you can plan your outfit for the day accordingly. Pros Batteries are included, so you can set it up right out of the box Considering its versatility, it’s an impressive cost value You can use it outdoors during the hotter months and indoors for the rest of the year if you’d like Cons Manual’s text is small and therefore quite hard to read Frequently Asked Questions Can I put the humidity meter anywhere in the room? You can put it anywhere in the room, but you don’t want to put it somewhere that might not accurately represent the humidity of the rest of the room. For example, if you put it next to the kitchen sink, the meter will have a higher humidity reading than the room because of the extra humidity caused by the running water from the sink. What is the ideal humidity in my home? Generally speaking, the ideal indoor relative humidity is 40 to 50 percent. This typically provides the most comfortable and healthiest environment. How do I change the humidity in my home? If your humidity level is not in the ideal range, you may want to change it. For humidity that’s too low, you can buy a humidifier that will add moisture to the air. If the humidity is too high, you can buy a dehumidifier that will pull moisture out of the air. Related posts: The 5 Best Weather Predictors The Best Poop Bag Dispensers The Best Bark Control Device 2024