The 10 Best Dehumidifiers for a Fresh, Dry and Mildew-Free Home
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Humidity can not only wreck a good hair day, but having a high moisture content in the air can also cause some serious damage to your home. Whether you have a damp basement or are dealing with a leaky roof, a dehumidifier can work wonders to remedy your moisture issues. The trusty devices remove excess water in the air that can lead to the growth of mold and mildew on walls, floors and other surfaces, which can then cause allergic reactions and asthma attacks, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Plus, they can diminish that clammy, sticky feeling that humid air brings, along with any musty odors.
A quality dehumidifier isn’t too loud in operation, can handle a decently sized space and can remove between 30 and 70 pints of water from the air per day (per Rankin Group), depending on its tank capacity. Just be careful that the dehumidifier you choose isn’t removing too much moisture, otherwise your air will be left too dry (in that case you’ll need a humidifier!).
How I Chose the Best Dehumidifiers
To pick the best humidifiers, I researched dozens of top options on the market. Because dehumidifiers do such a powerhouse job, they are notorious for not being the most long-lasting household devices. However, I paid close attention to user reviews on durability when selecting the best of the best, in order to make sure you'll be getting the most reliable bang for your buck. I also considered the size and reported noise-levels of each dehumidifier, as well as the amount of water it's able to suck out of the air before needing to empty its tank. The top ten picks below should perform effectively in a variety of rooms and spaces.
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1. GE Energy Star Dehumidifier
For a dehumidifier that’s packed with both features and power, this option from GE is the way to go. The brand claims it can remove 50 pints of moisture per day in an up to 4,500-square-foot area, making it a good option if you’re trying to nix the humidity from a large basement (or pretty much an entire floor of your house). It’s a bit heavy at 44 pounds, but you can still easily move it about thanks to the included wheels and handles.
While it captures water in a container, you can also use the built-in pump with 16-foot drain hose to drain water outside a window or nearby sink. If you choose to use the reservoir, the machine will alert you when it’s full. Not only that, it also boasts an adjustable humidistat, which allows you to set your desired humidity level, three fan speeds and a 2- or 4- hour off timer. As a bonus, it has an auto defrost feature to prevent the coils from freezing if your space gets too cold.
2. Eva-Dry EDV-1100 Dehumidifier
If you only have a small space you’d like to remove moisture from or are fine with using a dehumidifier over multiple days, this tabletop option from Eva-Dry is a great affordable pick. As opposed to larger (and more expensive) models, this guy only removes 8 ounces of water from the air per day, while the included reservoir can only hold 16 ounces of water at a time. Still, that might work for your situation if you just have one stuffy room you want to keep fresh, like this Walmart shopper who raves, "Two of our bathrooms have no vents at all and we put one in each...these do the job beautifully!" An auto shut-off feature and red light indicator let you know when it’s time to empty out the receptacle, which won’t be too heavy to remove. It's also simple to use, with just an on-and-off switch.
You can run this in a bedroom overnight without too much disruption as it only runs at 50.9 decibels, which is "whisper quiet," per another happy reviewer. Plus, it’s small enough to keep on a shelf and not take up space on the floor.
3. Frigidaire Wi-Fi Connected Dehumidifier
Oftentimes a dehumidifier will be in a basement or out-of-the-way area in the house, which can be a bit of a pain if you want to turn it off or see how much water is collected in the reservoir. This option from Frigidaire allows you to connect it to your Wi-Fi so you can control and monitor it from just about anywhere using the compatible app. You can even sync it up with an Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant if you want to turn it into a true smart-home device.
Performance wise, this model can remove up to 50 pints of water in a given day and claims to work in spaces as large as 4,500 square feet. In addition to the washable filter, which helps to capture dust particles, the machine also has a built-in ionizer to promote even cleaner air in your home. It’s a bit more expensive than others on this list, but its various perks, including the ability to easily check on it from your phone, make it worthwhile.
4. Midea Cube Dehumidifier
Humidity doesn't stand a chance within the sprawling 4,500-square-foot radius of this Midea Cube model. This 50-pint dehumidifier can collect a grand total of 4.25 gallons of water in its bucket, which is larger than most other options. That means you’ll have to empty the bucket less frequently, though you’ll need the strength to lift it when it is full and needs to be poured out. Then again, if you have a sink or drain nearby, you can also set it up to continuously drain through the included hose. Easy peasy.
The block-like device has a unique collapsible design that lets you nest it down when the space becomes dry, which buyers say you can count on with its help. "It’s very effective," confirms one reviewer. "Got a dank mildewy basement apartment well under control in just a few days and kept it that way." There’s also a compatible MSmartHome app that reviewers say is "fantastic" for controlling and monitoring the device from afar.
5. Honeywell Energy Star Dehumidifier
Carrying an Energy Star Most Efficient 2023 rating, this option from Honeywell can help remove humidity from your home without completely jacking up your electricity bill. That’s pretty impressive considering its size and power, which enables it to remove up to 50 pints of water from the atmosphere in a single day. There’s also a digital humidistat that ensures that it won’t remove too much water to maintain steady humidity levels. Best of all, there’s an onboard pump to continuously drain water up to 15 feet away.
Here's why one Walmart buyer swears the pump feature is worth it: "I will be blunt, I didn't really get why we needed the pump but when my husband (an engineer) saw the product...he told me to order it immediately since he thought it would fix all of our problems. Boy was he right...Not having to constantly worry about emptying the bucket twice a day has been a major relief, the pump just drains through a line into our first floor bathroom sink."
6. Frigidaire Dehumidifier
If you’re low on space but high on moisture content, this small-but-mighty dehumidifier is a great bet. It can remove up to 22 pints of water from a 1,500-square-foot space, making it ideal for bedrooms and laundry rooms. The 1.7-gallon bucket holds a decent amount, but you can also use a continuous drain by hooking a hose up to a window or sink for easier water removal.
Aside from not being overwhelming in smaller spaces, it comes with comfortable pocket handles to more easily move it about your home, a nice bonus if you happen to have moisture issues in multiple rooms. That said, it does weigh in at just over 36 pounds, so may not want to carry it that often (though it's still nice to have the option!).
7. Pro Breeze Dehumidifier for Home
If you are looking for a particularly portable dehumidifier that you can take from room to room with ease, turn to this pint-sized option. Small though it is, the device is purportedly capable of capturing 9 ounces of water per day from a 215-square-foot area, and storing it in a 16-ounce tank. That means you can have it running continuously without worrying about the tank overflowing for a few days. Plus, when it is full, the dehumidifier will automatically shut off and a LED light will turn on to indicate that it’s time to empty it.
Because of its size, it’s best for smaller areas like bathrooms and bedrooms for occasional use, but you’ll easily be able to tuck it out of the way when it's not in use. Just note that it will not work below 41 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the manufacturer.
8. hOmeLabs Energy Star Dehumidifier
A wet, moist basement tends to be a feeding ground for mold and that gross, musty smell. To fight back, I suggest you check out this super sleek pick from hOmeLabs. Thanks to its large capacity and effective moisture removal rate, it's a must for basements and other spaces that tend to get damp often. It can remove up to 50 pints from the air per day, depending on humidity conditions and the size of your room, though it does claim to work in spaces as large as 4,500 square feet.
It’s the largest model that the brand makes, so you probably won’t want to be moving it around too much. Thankfully, it automatically shuts off when it's full so you won’t have to constantly check in on it—just set it up in the cellar/attic/crawlspace and go. You can also opt to attach a drain hose for continuous draining (which is sold separately).
9. Honeywell Energy Star Smart Dehumidifier
A damp apartment can put a total damper on your rental situation. Whether you’re dealing with flooding from excessive rainfall or live on a basement level, the energy-efficient Honeywell *Smart* Dehumidifier can seriously save your furniture, clothes and sinuses from the dreaded mildew smell, plus prevent mold from seeping in. Its quiet operation means it won’t disrupt you when working from home, and there’s the option to use the continuous drainage system with a hose if you don’t want to put the effort into emptying the 3.3-liter tank. With the touted ability to dry out the air across 3,000 square feet, this baby should cover your entire apartment and then some.
But that's not even the best of it. This smart model (which differs from the aforementioned Honeywell model with the built-in pump) is Wi-Fi enabled and has a compatible app that makes it a breeze to control when you're away from home. Or you can just ask Alexa to handle things remotely while you’re lounging on the couch, since it works with her, too. I'll be honest, the fact that it's also not an eyesore earns it extra points from me.
10. Whirlpool Portable Dehumidifier
That moist, sticky feeling is especially uncomfortable in your bedroom, which is where this wheelable dehumidifier comes in—literally. I love that it comes with pre-programmed humidity levels for the bedroom, living room and more, which is so helpful for those of us unaware of what the ideal moisture levels in a room should be.
As far as how it functions, there is a continuous drainage option with a hose, but you should be fine emptying the 14.8-pint reservoir every so often, especially with it automatically turning off when full. Reviewers say it's not too noisy and isn’t the ugliest thing to have in the middle of the bedroom, but you can either lift it with the included handles, or wheel it off, to hide it away after it’s completed its task.
What to Consider When Shopping for a Dehumidifier
A dehumidifier can be a big investment, so here are a few things to consider before buying one:
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