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Crane Drop Review

A decent choice for small bedrooms, but there are better options in the same price range
crane drop humidifier review
Credit: Crane
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Price:  $55 List
Manufacturer:   Crane
By Max Mutter and Steven Tata  ⋅  Apr 21, 2022
57
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#9 of 13
  • Humidifying Performance - 35% 5.0
  • Ease of Cleaning - 35% 5.5
  • Operating Cost - 15% 8.0
  • User Friendliness - 15% 5.5

Our Verdict

The Crane Drop attempts to compete with several other budget-oriented models in our lineup of the best humidifiers but falls short in many regards. First off, it is slightly more expensive than other similarly-performing models. Secondly, it is noticeably harder to clean, and thirdly it is slightly harder to refill the water tank. The Crane Drop is by no means a bad humidifier; it works quite well as a small appliance designed for small rooms. However, other options perform better at a similar or lower price.
REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
REASONS TO AVOID
Not suitable for larger rooms
Editor's Note: We updated this review for the Crane Drop on April 21, 2022, with a hot take on value and a closer look at other humidifiers.

Compare to Similar Products

 
crane drop humidifier review
This Product
Crane Drop
Awards  Editors' Choice Award Top Pick Award Best Buy Award Best Buy Award 
Price $55 List
$39.98 at Amazon
$117 List
$68.99 at Amazon
$80 List
$79.99 at Amazon
$40 ListCheck Price at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Pros InexpensiveSimple interface, good all-around performance, easy to fill, easy to cleanUser-friendly interface, control through smartphone, easy to cleanInexpensive, easy to clean, easy to useExceptional output, low lifetime operating costs
Cons Not suitable for larger roomsNo humidistat, priceyExpensive, average performanceNot the most powerful, no advanced featuresConfusing user interface, prolonged cleaning process
Bottom Line A decent choice for small bedrooms, but there are better options in the same price rangeAn excellent choice for those looking for simplicity, great performance, and an accessible priceExtensive controls, smart home integration, and easy operation provide a trouble-free humidifier experienceThe perfect budget model for smaller rooms (less than 150 square feet)With excellent performance ratings and low operating costs, this is one of our favorite models
Rating Categories Crane Drop Honeywell HUL430 Levoit Classic 300S... Honeywell HUL520B Levoit Classic 200
Humidifying Performance (35%)
5.0
8.0
6.0
5.0
8.0
Ease of Cleaning (35%)
5.5
9.0
9.0
8.0
6.5
Operating Cost (15%)
8.0
7.0
8.0
10.0
8.0
User Friendliness (15%)
5.5
8.5
9.8
7.5
6.0
Specs Crane Drop Honeywell HUL430 Levoit Classic 300S... Honeywell HUL520B Levoit Classic 200
Weight 4.5 lbs 6.6 lbs 4.3 Ibs 3.0 lbs 3.5 lbs
Dimensions 8.6" x 13.4" x 8.6" 13.2" x 8.8" x 8.8" 9.6" × 7.5" × 13.4" 8.5" x 8.5" x 9.5" 13.8" x 7.8" x 5.8"
Tank Capacity 1.0 gallons 1.25 gallons 1.2 gallons 0.5 gallons 1.1 gallons
Humidification Technology Ultrasonic Ultrasonic Ultrasonic Ultrasonic Ultrasonic
Estimated Lifetime Cost $108 $122.37 $119 $56 $99
Estimated Annual Electricity Usage 87.6 kWh 65.7 kWh 65.7 kWh 43.8 kWh 87.6 kWh

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Crane Drop performs well as a humidifier for small rooms (100 square feet or less). But in that capacity, it is outclassed at almost every turn by other similarly-priced options.

Performance Comparison


crane drop humidifier review - the crane drop may be small, but it is mighty relative to the...
The Crane Drop may be small, but it is mighty relative to the humidity it can crank out if given enough time.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Humidifying Performance


The Crane Drop earned an average score in our humidifying testing, which is quite respectable for a humidifier of this size. It took 1 hour and 45 minutes for this model to bring our testing room to 45% humidity and topped out at a humidity of 51.2%. This makes it slightly more powerful than a few other budget-oriented models, but the differences are likely negligible and would be hard to differentiate without a fancy humidity meter. This appliance is suitable for small bedrooms, or even a larger bedroom if you don't mind turning the humidifier on a couple of hours before bedtime.

Ease of Cleaning


The Crane Drop is small enough that there isn't too much area to scrub, but it can sometimes be tricky to get all the nooks and crannies. In the end, it earned another average score in this metric. The water tank's opening is 2 inches wide, making access a bit difficult. You'll need a long-handled brush to reach every part of the tank. Apart from that, cleaning is fairly easy. The instruction manual calls for a half-hour soak in a white vinegar solution, and many of the harder-to-clean components are dishwasher safe. We spent 15 minutes getting this machine completely clean (not including soaking time), which was on par with most other models.

crane drop humidifier review - the crane drop isn't the easiest model to clean, but it's not too...
The Crane Drop isn't the easiest model to clean, but it's not too difficult either.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

User Friendliness


The Crane Drop was again an average performer in this metric. It has a simple, single-knob control panel that lets you turn the unit on and select a mist level. The tank opening is only 2 inches wide, and the tank is somewhat tall, so it may not fit in shorter sinks.

crane drop humidifier review - the cran drop has just a single knob control, which is all this...
The Cran Drop has just a single knob control, which is all this simple model really needs.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Operating Cost


The Crane Drop is quite economical and earned a higher score in our operating cost testing. It uses a decent amount of electricity for a humidifier (0.02kWh per hour), but its low list price led to a low estimated lifetime cost of $108.

Should You Buy the Crane Drop?


Considering its tiny stature, the Crane Drop is a fairly high-performing humidifier in this review. However, its average list price and average performance can't compare with other models with similar or lower prices that perform much better overall.

What Other Humidifiers Should You Consider?


The Crane Drop is a fairly good, low-cost humidifier, but if you're looking for a budget option, other models are superior. In particular, the Honeywell HUL520B has a similar small stature, costs less, and is a better value overall. If you want to step up to a full-sized humidifier to suit a larger space, you cannot go wrong with the top-performing Levoit LV600HH.

Max Mutter and Steven Tata
 
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