Honeywell HUL520 Review

Pros: Price, easy to clean
Cons: Small capacity, limited features, louder
Manufacturer: Honeywell
The Skinny
Compare to Similar Products
![]() This Product
Honeywell HUL520 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||
Price | $40.00 List $38.59 at Amazon - 4% off | $160.00 List $135.86 at Amazon - 15% off | $50.00 List $29.99 at Amazon - 40% off | $120.00 List $92.99 at Amazon - 23% off | $86.00 List $80.14 at Amazon - 7% off |
Overall Score ![]() |
|||||
Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Price, easy to clean | Very effective, high quality, limited parts, fill from the top | Cute, easy to clean base, filterless, large tank | Easier to clean and use | Easy to fill tank, effective |
Cons | Small capacity, limited features, louder | Expensive, louder, some parts are hard to clean | Mist output varies, larger footprint | More noise and less effective, expensive | Wet mist can accumulate on surfaces |
Bottom Line | Easy to clean parts and a budget-friendly price make this compact choice a real people pleaser | Effective unit you fill from the top but it is louder and costs more | Budget-friendly and effective make this cute humidifier a no-brainer | Less effective and expensive for a louder than average unit | Easy fill tank but it is louder and less effective than the competition |
Rating Categories | Honeywell HUL520 | Boneco U300 | Crane Adorable | Levoit LV600HH | Sunpentown SU-4010 |
Ease Of Cleaning (45%) | |||||
Effectiveness (25%) | |||||
Noise (20%) | |||||
Ease Of Use (10%) | |||||
Specs | Honeywell HUL520 | Boneco U300 | Crane Adorable | Levoit LV600HH | Sunpentown SU-4010 |
Mist Type | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool Warm |
Cool Warm (104F) |
Technology | Ultrasonic | Ultrasonic | Ultrasonic | Ultrasonic | Ultrasonic |
Tank Capacity | 0.5 gal | 1.3 gal | 1 gal | 1.5 gal | 1 gal |
Visible Water Reservoir | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Room Humidification Area (Sq Ft) | Small Rooms | 540 sf | 250 sf | 285 sf | 500 sf |
Max Run Time | Up To 20 hrs | Not Specified | Up To 24 hrs | Up To 20 hrs | Up To 10 hrs |
Humidity Output Control | Variable Mist Control | Variable Mist Control | Variable Mist Control | Variable Mist Control Humidistat |
Variable Mist Control |
Demineralization Cartridge/Filter | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Night Light | No | No | No | No | No |
Empty Tank Auto-Shut Off | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Dimensions (BGL) | 8.1"W x 9"H x 8.1"L | 12.3"W x 12.7"H x 6.6"L | 9.5"W x 12"H x 9.5"L | 7.6"W x 11.2"H x 12"L | 12"W x 13.6"H x 5.8"L |
Empty Weight (BGL) | 2.6 lbs | 6.5 lbs | 4 lbs | 5 lbs | 6 lbs |
Max Operation Noise Level in dB (BGL) | #REF! | #REF! | #REF! | #REF! | #REF! |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Honeywell is part of the Helen of Troy group. They are known for personal comfort products like heating pads, fans, heaters, air purifiers, and humidifiers. What you may not know is Honeywell also has connections in aerospace, oil, and gas industries. Honeywell is a Fortune 500 company.
Performance Comparison
Ease of Cleaning
The HUL520 is one of the most accessible options to clean.
This unit has a tank with a wide opening that most hands will fit in. The container is small enough to reach all sides to wipe clean without the need for a special tool. You will need a bottle brush or thinner washcloth to clean the mist tube, but the length is short, so any brush should be able to do the job. The base is also easy to keep clean, with only one spot that requires extra attention.
Effectiveness
This smaller Honeywell is not the most effective option in the competition for mist creations. This lower mist creation may or may not be a concern depending on your goals and the size of the space you want to humidify.
This Honeywell stars out strong with a similar output to the competition, but over time the other products increase the ambient humidity more than the HUL. At the one hour mark, about half of the competitors had produced more moisture than the HUL520.
Noise
This Honeywell is the second loudest ultrasonic unit in the review. The evaporative humidifier is the loudest with a decibel reading of 60.
With a decibel reading of 46 dB, only it isn't loud, and it is unlikely to keep anyone awake.
Ease of Use
This Honeywell has a continuous mist dial to control output levels. However, it is not programmable and lacks features that could potentially make life with a humidifier easier, which impacted its ease of use score.
This unit has continuous settings and a simple "plug and play" design. The tank has a handle for carrying, and it can sit in the sink without help for filling.
The tank opening is large, which makes it easy to fill even in a bathroom sink. The tank is easy to open and fits on the base without a problem. The base is small, making this a good option if space is limited. While the tank is small, it will hold enough water to create mist all night even on the highest setting.
Manufacturer Video
— Juliet Spurrier, MD and Bob Wofford