18 Best Hand Sanitizers

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After careful consideration, we chose our top picks for hand sanitizers, each representing a different category.

To help you find a hand sanitizer that not only kills germs, but also works for you, we read product reviews, talked with experts, and considered user comments for a variety of products.

When it comes to preventing the spread of germs, nothing beats soap and water. But if handwashing isn’t an option, the next best thing is to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says a hand sanitizer should contain at least 60 percent alcohol to help you avoid getting sick and spreading germs.

Hand sanitizer is a portable and convenient product. When used correctly, it can help prevent the spread of infections.

We considered the following criteria when selecting the best hand sanitizers:

Online and brick-and-mortar retailers carry several hand sanitizers, but some brands have more benefits than others.

Best overall

• Price: $
• Pros: It’s a top pick for hospitals and doctor’s offices, and it contains more ethyl alcohol than other leading brands.
• Cons: The original formula has a strong alcohol smell.

A top pick for hospitals, doctor’s offices, and homes is Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer. Why? Because it’s formulated with 70 percent ethyl alcohol, which is higher than the minimum recommended by the CDC.

If you’re looking for a hand sanitizer with a light fragrance and soothing qualities, Purell offers a formula with aloe vera.

Best natural

• Price: $ to $$$, depending on size
• Pros: The soothing formula keeps hands soft, and it contains 92 percent natural ingredients.
• Cons: It’s more expensive than other brands and not widely available. You may be able to purchase it from the company website and Sally Beauty Supply.

It effectively kills germs, yet is gentle enough for sensitive skin. CHI Natural Gardens Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer is an excellent option for anyone looking for a natural hand sanitizer.

CHI includes organically grown aloe vera and glycerin to help soothe and seal in moisture.

Best for travel

• Price: $
• Pros: The aloe vera formula contains vitamin E and aloe, which can help soothe and moisturize dry skin. It contains 63 percent ethyl alcohol.
• Cons: The original formula might be drying for some skin.

When you’re traveling, you’ll want a conveniently sized bottle that’s also easy to open. That’s why Germ-X Moisturizing Original Hand Sanitizer is a great choice for on-the-go.

Available in a variety of travel sizes including 2, 3, and 8 ounces, it also comes with a flip-top cap that prevents spills.

Small enough to fit in your pocket yet strong enough to kill 99.99 percent of many common harmful germs and bacteria, Germ-X is a trusted brand that has been around for years.

Best organic spray

• Price: $$
• Pros: It smells good, comes in a small size for convenience, and is certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
• Cons: It’s much more expensive than other travel-size hand sanitizers.

If you’re looking for an organic and portable hand sanitizer spray, then check out Dr. Bronner’s Organic Hand Sanitizer.

This travel-size formula is certified organic, packaged in a recyclable bottle, and contains 62 percent organic fair-trade ethyl alcohol. Plus, it comes in two different fragrances: lavender or peppermint.

Best wipes

• Price: $
• Pros: Wipes are moist and dispense easily.
• Cons: There’s no moisturizer, and it’s very strong. It could dry out your skin.

Hand sanitizing wipes come in handy when you’re on the go and need to kill germs while also wiping away dirt and messes.

Pharma-C Isopropyl Alcohol Wipes are a great choice for sanitizing wipes, says Mike Golpa, DDS, a dentist, and CEO of G4 by Golpa. “It’s a safe solution with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol, and it comes in a convenient canister,” he says.

Best for sensitive skin

• Price: $$
• Pros: The vegan formula is gentle on skin, and it’s free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and other harmful ingredients.
• Cons: It’s more expensive than other brands.

Megababe contains 62 percent ethyl alcohol as well as sweet almond oil, marula oil, geranium oil, and more. The essential oils give the formula a pleasant, sweet smell and provide extra hydration for your skin.

Best for babies and young kids

• Price: $
• Pros: It’s a foam instead of a gel.
• Cons: It may not be as effective as an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Most kid-approved hand sanitizers are alcohol-free, so finding a formula with ingredients safe for your little one’s hands is priority number one for many parents.

That’s why Babyganics Alcohol-Free Foaming Hand Sanitizer is such a popular option for families on the go.

Made from plant-derived products, this Babyganics hand sanitizer is also free of harsh ingredients like artificial fragrances, dyes, parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.

Best moisturizing

• Price: $$
• Pros: Hydrating formula contains squalane to moisturize hands.
• Cons: The bottle is not suitable for travel.

Hand sanitizer is notorious for drying out your hands. This formula contains squalane, a popular skin care ingredient known for its moisturizing properties.

It contains 70 percent alcohol to kill germs, but you’ll still have soft hands in the process.

Best vegan

• Price: $
• Pros: The 75 percent alcohol content kills bacteria, and probiotics condition the skin.
• Cons: It’s infused with essential oils, which could be irritating to some with sensitive skin.

Those looking for a vegan-friendly hand sanitizer should check out Desert Essence. It’s made with plant-based ingredients and is cruelty-free.

It also contains kefir, a source of probiotics to soothe and condition the skin.

Best spray

• Price: $
• Pros: A spray bottle is portable and travel-friendly, and an unscented version is available.
• Cons: Each bottle only contains 2 ounces.

Gel hand sanitizers can leave a sticky residue. Hand sanitizer sprays are an alternative that feels more lightweight on the skin, and they’re easy to use.

Honest makes a hand sanitizer spray that comes in four different scents, including an unscented version for those who prefer fragrance-free cosmetics.

Best aloe

• Price: $$
• Pros: Contains moisturizing aloe vera, antioxidant-rich vitamin E, and antibacterial tea tree oil.
• Cons: Essential oils may be irritating, and it has a strong fragrance.

If you use hand sanitizer frequently throughout the day, you’re likely familiar with the drying effect this good hygiene habit can have. Hand sanitizers formulated with aloe are a bit more soothing.

This option contains aloe vera to moisturize dry hands. It also contains coconut, glycerin, and vitamin E for extra nourishment.

Best fragrance-free

• Price: $
• Pros: Fragrance-free formula is gentle on sensitive skin and doesn’t leave a sticky residue.
• Cons: Product label comes off easily, according to some user reviews.

For babies, children, and people with sensitive skin, opt for a fragrance-free hand sanitizer. This formula is hypoallergenic, non-sticky, and nondrying.

It comes in a variety of sizes, including portable travel-friendly sizes and jumbo sizes to refill smaller bottles.

Best clean ingredients

• Price: $
• Pros: It dries quickly and is made with plant-based ingredients.
• Cons: The bottle only contains 1.7 ounces.

This hand sanitizer spray is made with 62 percent ethyl alcohol and other plant-based, clean ingredients. It dries down quickly and feels moisturizing on the hands due to the presence of glycerin and aloe vera.

The ingredients are simple and mostly organic.

Best high-potency

• Price: $$$
• Pros: Formula is stronger than others.
• Cons: This could cause your hands to feel dry and isn’t travel-friendly.

An effective hand sanitizer should contain at least 60 percent ethyl alcohol to kill germs and bacteria. This one has a whopping 80 percent.

It also contains aloe vera to help offset any dryness that results from the high alcohol content.

Best alcohol-free

• Price: $
• Pros: Active ingredient is just as effective at killing germs as ethyl alcohol.
• Cons: It has a strong chemical smell, according to some user reviews.

Repeated use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer can lead to dry hands. Alcohol-free hand sanitizers are made with benzalkonium chloride, an antiseptic that kills germs but doesn’t dry out your skin.

The formula also comes in travel-friendly bottles and wipes.

Best plastic-free

• Price: $$
• Pros: It comes in aluminum bottles to reduce single-use plastic waste.
• Cons: More expensive than other brands for less product.

Hand sanitizers in plastic bottles create a lot of waste if not properly recycled. These hand sanitizer bottles are made with aluminum to cut down on plastic waste. They also come in multiple scents, including an unscented version.

Each bottle contains 2.4 ounces of product with 65 percent alcohol.

Best mist

• Price: $
• Pros: The vegan formula is moisturizing and effective at killing germs.
• Cons: Bottle only contains 1 ounce of product. Very expensive per ounce.

A hand sanitizer mist has a smooth stream compared to sprays, which aren’t always the most accurate.

Touchland hand sanitizer mists come in visually appealing packaging, a variety of fun scents, and in a micro-mist form. Each bottle has enough product for 500 sprays.

Best foaming

• Price: $$
• Pros: Alcohol-free formula doesn’t dry out hands and is made with gentle, moisturizing ingredients.
• Cons: May have a sticky texture, according to some user reviews.

If you’re a fan of foaming hand soaps, you’ll appreciate a foaming hand sanitizer. They’re not as common as gels, liquids, and sprays, however.

This foaming hand sanitizer comes at a great value and ships in leak-prevention packaging. It uses alcohol-free benzalkonium chloride to kill germs and aloe to restore moisture.