Humidifiers / Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) vs Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)
Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS)
$249.99
VSHoneywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)
$89.95
Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) vs Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)
Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS)
Six gallons of invisible, dust-free humidity for a whole floor, at a filter-fed price.
Wins overall by 1.3 points
Quick Verdict
The Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) is the stronger all-round pick, ahead by 1.3 points. Six gallons of invisible, dust-free humidity for a whole floor, at a filter-fed price.
The Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) and Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) are both closely matched humidifier models, and the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) is $160 cheaper than the Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) ($89.95 vs $249.99). On Humidity Control, the Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) leads (8.5 vs 3.0/10) — whether there is a genuine closed-loop humidistat holding a setpoint, or just fixed output steps and a timer with a humidity label on it. On Runtime & Refill Interval, the Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) leads (9.5 vs 5.5/10) — how long a full tank really lasts at a useful output setting, rather than at the lowest setting the runtime is quoted for, and how painful the refill is. On Cleaning & Access, the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) leads (8.5 vs 6.5/10) — whether the tank opening takes an adult hand, whether any part is dishwasher-safe or boilable, and how realistic the manufacturer's stated cleaning interval is to actually keep to. Overall, the Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) scores 8.1/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.8/10 for the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B). Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) | Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249.99 | $89.95 |
| Release Year | 2023 | 2009 |
| Humidification Technology | Evaporative — a fan pulls room air through four wick filters standing in the reservoir; moisture leaves as invisible vapour, minerals stay in the wick | Evaporative wick with a UV chamber in the water tray — a fan pulls air through the wet HAC-504AW filter |
| White Dust & Mineral Aerosol | None. Evaporative humidifiers leave dissolved minerals behind in the wick — that is exactly why the wick goes stiff and crusty. Tap water is fine and no distilled water is needed | None. The mineral load stays in the wick, which is why Honeywell's manual explains that brown or rust-coloured "mineral deposit" staining on the filter is normal and does not affect performance. Tap water is fine |
| Tank Capacity | 6 gal / 22.7 L reservoir, filled through a supplied hose and funnel | 1.1 gal / 4.2 L |
| Rated Output per Day | Not published by Levoit as a gallons-per-day figure. The only published throughput is 6 gallons over "up to 72 hours", which works out at roughly 2 gal/day at the setting that runtime is quoted for | "2 US gallons (7.6 liters) output per day" per Honeywell's own manual — which is nearly twice the tank. Meeting the rated output means filling the 1.1 gal tank roughly twice a day, not once |
| Quoted Runtime (and at which setting) | "Up to 72 hours" — Levoit does not state the fan speed, but 6 gal / 72 h is about 2 gal/day, i.e. a low-to-mid setting. On high it is materially shorter | "Up to 24 hours" — on the LOW of three settings. That is 1.1 gal in 24 h, which is barely half the rated 2 gal/day output; the two headline numbers describe two different settings |
| Rated Room Coverage | Up to 3,000 ft² claimed with 360° circulation — the largest claim in this set, and one no portable unit can meet in a house with closed doors | Sources conflict: Honeywell's own product page says only "medium room" with no square footage, while FiltersFast's listing for the same model states 500-800 ft² |
| Humidistat | Real closed-loop humidistat with a target-RH setpoint, plus app-side humidity history in VeSync | None. Three fixed output speeds on a mechanical dial, no humidity sensor, no auto mode and no auto shut-off when the tank runs dry — you are the humidistat |
| Noise | 28-48 dB across the speed range per Levoit's material. The low end is genuinely bedroom-quiet; the top end is a fan you will hear | Not published as a decibel figure by Honeywell; the product page says only "quiet operation". It is a 60W fan drawing air through a wet wick, so the top speed is clearly audible |
| Filters & Cartridges (Annual Cost) | Four wick filters, replaced together. Levoit's 4-pack is $39.99 and is listed as lasting up to 6 months, so about $40-80/yr depending on water hardness and hours. Dry Mode exists specifically to stretch that interval | Two separate consumables. The HAC-504 "Filter A" wick is $32.95 for a Honeywell 3-pack (a compatible FiltersFast 3-pack is $22.99) and Honeywell says replace it every 30-60 days. On top of that the Protec antimicrobial cartridge is a 30-day item. A full heating season is realistically $40-70 |
| Cleaning Burden & Dishwasher-Safe Parts | Low by console standards but not trivial: the reservoir is wide open and the parts nest for storage, but four wet wicks sit in standing water and Dry Mode has to be run to keep them from souring. Nothing is dishwasher-safe | Among the best here. The tank and tray go on the dishwasher's top rack, the tank opening takes a hand, and the manual's disinfection routine is one teaspoon of bleach per gallon. Honeywell says only that it "requires regular cleaning" without naming an interval; the EPA says every third day |
| UV / Antimicrobial Claim | No UV lamp and no antimicrobial claim on the water path. Levoit's hygiene answer is Dry Mode plus wick replacement, not a kill stage | Two claims, both qualified. The UV chamber is rated "Up to 99.9% Germ Free*", where the asterisk in Honeywell's own manual ties it to independent testing of microbial reduction after two hours of UV exposure — a water-tray claim, not an air claim. The wick itself is separately treated as a Protec antimicrobial filter |
| Mist Temperature & Burn Risk | Cool, invisible vapour at room temperature — no burn risk. The evaporative process itself does not carry minerals or tank water into the air | Cool, invisible vapour at room temperature — no burn risk at all, which is why this is the standard nursery recommendation |
| Warranty | 24 months | 36 months |
| Colors | White | White, Black |
Category Scores
Freedom From White Dust
The Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) and Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) are level here, at 9.5/10 each. the thing marketing never mentions. Ultrasonic humidifiers aerosolise whatever is dissolved in the water and deposit it as white dust on furniture — the EPA notes they are 'very efficient at dispersing minerals in tap water into the air', along with microorganisms from the tank. Evaporative and boiled-steam units do not do this at all. A high score means the technology cannot produce dust; a low score means you are buying distilled water for the life of the machine. is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Output
The Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.5 — a 1.5-point margin on actual moisture put into the room per day in gallons or mL/hr, judged against the coverage the manufacturer claims — not the square-footage number on the box. If that is what you are buying for, the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Runtime & Refill Interval
The Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 5.5 — a 4.0-point margin on how long a full tank really lasts at a useful output setting, rather than at the lowest setting the runtime is quoted for, and how painful the refill is. If that is what you are buying for, the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Cleaning & Access
The Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 6.5 — a 2.0-point margin on whether the tank opening takes an adult hand, whether any part is dishwasher-safe or boilable, and how realistic the manufacturer's stated cleaning interval is to actually keep to. If that is what you are buying for, the Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Running Cost
The Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) leads clearly here, 6.0 against 5.0 — a 1.0-point margin on wicks, demineralisation cartridges, antimicrobial additives, distilled water and electricity — everything you keep paying after the purchase. If that is what you are buying for, the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Quietness
The Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) leads clearly here, 7.0 against 6.0 — a 1.0-point margin on noise at the setting people actually run it overnight, weighted toward independently measured figures over manufacturer claims. If that is what you are buying for, the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Humidity Control
The Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 3.0 — a 5.5-point margin on whether there is a genuine closed-loop humidistat holding a setpoint, or just fixed output steps and a timer with a humidity label on it. If that is what you are buying for, the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Safety Around Children
The Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 9.0 — a 0.5-point margin on burn and scald risk from boiled or heated water, tipping hazard, and whether the hygiene story holds up in a nursery. If that is what you are buying for, the Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) if…
- • Humidity Control matters most to you — the Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) scores 8.5/10 here (whether there is a genuine closed-loop humidistat holding a setpoint, or just fixed output steps and a timer with a humidity label on it).
- • Runtime & Refill Interval matters most to you — the Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) scores 9.5/10 here (how long a full tank really lasts at a useful output setting, rather than at the lowest setting the runtime is quoted for, and how painful the refill is).
- • Output matters most to you — the Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) scores 9.0/10 here (actual moisture put into the room per day in gallons or mL/hr, judged against the coverage the manufacturer claims — not the square-footage number on the box).
- • Running Cost matters most to you — the Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) scores 6.0/10 here (wicks, demineralisation cartridges, antimicrobial additives, distilled water and electricity — everything you keep paying after the purchase).
- • Your main use case is whole-house.
Choose the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) if…
- • Cleaning & Access matters most to you — the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) scores 8.5/10 here (whether the tank opening takes an adult hand, whether any part is dishwasher-safe or boilable, and how realistic the manufacturer's stated cleaning interval is to actually keep to).
- • You want to spend less — it's $160 cheaper.
Pros & Cons
Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS)
Pros
- +Evaporative design means no white dust and no distilled-water habit — you fill it from the tap with a hose
- +Six gallons and up to 72 hours is the longest unattended run here without stepping up to a plumbed whole-house unit
- +Dry Mode is a real answer to the wet-wick problem most evaporative units ignore
- +36W and 28dB at the low end make it far quieter and cheaper to run than an AC-motor console of similar output
- +Collapses with wheels and a storage bag, which matters for something this big six months of the year
Cons
- −$249.99 plus roughly $40-80 a year in wicks — the highest first-year cost of any evaporative unit here except the Venta
- −The 3,000 ft² claim is a still-air marketing number; a single portable unit will not humidify a 3,000 ft² house with interior doors shut
- −Levoit publishes no gallons-per-day output at all, so you have to back it out of the 6 gal / 72 h runtime
- −Four wicks standing in six gallons of water is a lot of wet surface — skip Dry Mode and skip the wick changes and it will smell
- −Physically large even collapsed, and there is nowhere on the unit to see humidity without the phone
Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)
Pros
- +Evaporative plus UV: no white dust, no distilled water, and a genuine (if narrowly worded) kill stage on the water
- +Tank and tray are top-rack dishwasher safe, which almost nothing else in this category can say
- +2 gal/day rated output is real humidification, not a desktop trickle
- +Three-year warranty and a filter supply chain that has existed for fifteen years — parts are trivially available
Cons
- −No humidistat, no auto mode and no auto shut-off — it runs until you stop it, and the FiltersFast listing states the omission outright
- −The 2 gal/day output and the 24-hour runtime cannot both be true at once: the 1.1 gal tank means hitting rated output requires two fills a day
- −Two stacked consumables — a $23-33 three-pack of wicks every 30-60 days plus a 30-day Protec cartridge
- −Honeywell publishes no square footage and no decibel rating; retailers fill the gap with a 500-800 ft² figure Honeywell does not make
- −Honeywell's own store now marks the HCM350 discontinued and points buyers at the HEV320W, even though the model is still stocked and supported elsewhere
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) or Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Humidity Control, the Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) or the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)?+
The Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) scores higher on Humidity Control (8.5/10 vs 3.0/10) — whether there is a genuine closed-loop humidistat holding a setpoint, or just fixed output steps and a timer with a humidity label on it.
Which is better for Runtime & Refill Interval, the Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) or the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)?+
The Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) scores higher on Runtime & Refill Interval (9.5/10 vs 5.5/10) — how long a full tank really lasts at a useful output setting, rather than at the lowest setting the runtime is quoted for, and how painful the refill is.
Which is better for Cleaning & Access, the Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) or the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)?+
The Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) scores higher on Cleaning & Access (8.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — whether the tank opening takes an adult hand, whether any part is dishwasher-safe or boilable, and how realistic the manufacturer's stated cleaning interval is to actually keep to.
Which is better for Output, the Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) or the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)?+
The Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) scores higher on Output (9.0/10 vs 7.5/10) — actual moisture put into the room per day in gallons or mL/hr, judged against the coverage the manufacturer claims — not the square-footage number on the box.
Is the Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) worth the price difference over the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)?+
The Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) is the cheaper option at $89.95 versus $249.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Humidity Control.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) is the better fit if you mainly care about whole-house. The Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) is the better fit for no-white-dust or nursery.
What's the warranty on the Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) vs the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)?+
The Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) ships with a 24-month warranty; the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) ships with a 36-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Levoit Classic 300S (Classic300S) — $79.99
Premium Option
Venta LW25 Original Airwasher — $299.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.