What’s an ideal humidity level for musical instruments?

The ideal humidity level for musical instruments is 40% to 50%. For electronics, like guitar amps or home studio recording equipment, you have a broader acceptable range of 30% to 70%. Keeping humidity levels nominal protects your instruments from all sorts of damage, including cracking, swelling, parting wood, glue separation, and more.

It doesn’t matter if your musical instrument is from a top-flight brand or if it’s something more budget-friendly. Humidity that’s too high or too low can cause serious and even irreversible damage to wooden instruments. Guitars, basses, drums, pianos … they’re all susceptible to risk in low-humidity or high-humidity environments. And your instruments require some additional care to keep them safe.

Maintaining the ideal humidity level for musical instruments can at times be difficult, not to mention expensive. You’ll first need to invest in a tool that measures humidity levels called a hygrometer. Like this hygrometer from Stewmac or this ThermoPro option from Amazon.

From there, you’ll want to find a humidifier and a dehumidifier, or an all-in-one humidifier/ dehumidifier combo that can do both. You’ll find devices like this on Amazon and in hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowes. Keep these machines operational in your home recording studio, music room, or wherever it is you keep your music gear.

There are special guitar humidifiers on the market too, which you set up inside your guitar case. Some are even equipped with Bluetooth features and can notify you through your smartphone if your guitar needs any humidity-related attention. Though we recommend controlling the humidity levels in your whole room. It can protect your furniture and other belongings, too!

We hope this guide helps, and please check out our other always-free guides too, like our guide on recording studio microphones!