Best Overall
Eva-Dry Electric Petite Dehumidifier
AMAZON
- This dehumidifier includes several bells and whistles, like auto shut-off and restart, LED power display, and full water tank indicator.
This dehumidifier includes several bells and whistles, like auto shut-off and restart, LED power display, and full water tank indicator.
- It took a few hours of running before it made any noticeable change in humidity levels.
It took a few hours of running before it made any noticeable change in humidity levels.
After tallying up all the different testing factors for each product, the Eva-Dry Edv-1100 Electric Petite Dehumidifier scored highest in our testing. For one, it was the most effective, leading to a 21.90% average humidity level change, over double the average of all the dehumidifiers we tested.
Smaller models often come in simpler designs, but the Eva-Dry packed a lot of features into its small size. The automated shut-off is particularly helpful so you can run the machine without worrying about the tank filling up. It will turn off when the tank is full, and there’s an indicator light to let you know it’s time to dump out the water.
We appreciated how easy this small dehumidifier was to use. It took us only about two minutes to set it up, and we just had to plug it in—no need for fussing with instructions. When it was time to dump out the water tank, we liked that this process was simple as well. We just pulled out the collection tank, dumped it in the sink, and replaced it. Because of the small size, it wasn’t heavy to carry to the sink.
The only real downside is that it takes awhile for this machine to make a difference in humidity level. We noted it took about 4 hours before the machine started reducing the humidity level. But once it started working, we noticed the room felt less sticky, and even our cat had a noticeable improvement in allergy symptoms.
After six months of use, we were still impressed with this device. The water tank only needed to be dumped about once per week in our experience. After dumping out the water each week, we also gave the water tank a quick clean. We didn’t notice any grime or buildup with regular cleanings.
Product Details: Tank Capacity: 16 ounces | Moisture Removal Capacity: 0.5 pints per day | Room Size: 122 square feet | Weight: 1 pound | Dimensions: 6.5 x 11 x 5.3 inches
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / CHRISSY TASSIN
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / CHRISSY TASSIN
Key Terms to Know
- Hygrometer: A hygrometer is a measurement tool that can determine what level of humidity is in the air. Some dehumidifiers include a built-in hygrometer, and we used an external device during our ttests.
- Humidistat: A humidistat is a tool that you can either manually control or it will automatically adjust to maintain an optimal humidity level.
- HEPA filter: A high efficiency particulate air filter is designed to remove small air particles, like pollen or pet dander, from your home’s indoor air.
Best for Bathrooms
Pure Enrichment PureDry Deluxe Dehumidifier
AMAZON
- It can serve a pretty large room size despite its small size, and it made a difference in multiple rooms on the same floor in our testing.
It can serve a pretty large room size despite its small size, and it made a difference in multiple rooms on the same floor in our testing.
- This dehumidifier has very simple controls, so you can only adjust the timer or fan speed.
This dehumidifier has very simple controls, so you can only adjust the timer or fan speed.
The Pure Enrichment Dry Deluxe Dehumidifier is a good size for stashing away on a bathroom counter or shelf, and in our tests, it made a noticeable difference in humidity level not only in the room it was in, but also the surrounding rooms.
This dehumidifier is straightforward to setup—just plug it in and it’s ready to go. We only used the low setting, since this offered a quiet hum ideal for overnight use, and still noticed an average 7.31% change in humidity levels. We appreciated that this dehumidifier included an automated shut-off for continuous use, and it also offers options for 4- or 8-hour settings. Otherwise, this model doesn’t offer much in terms of controls and customization; there’s no built-in humidistat or hygrometer to measure humidity levels, but you can control the fan speed with two settings, low or high.
The water tank was slow to fill up in our tests, but when it was time to empty it, we found it very easy to remove, dump out, and clean with a bit of soap and water.
We were particularly impressed with the long-term upkeep (or really, lack thereof) for this dehumidifier. Aside from emptying the tank as needed, which wasn’t very often, this device didn’t need much care, and even with minimal maintenance, it didn’t show signs of buildup. It continued performing well even months later, and it continuously showed humidity levels at a “Comfort” reading.
Product Details: Tank Capacity: 50.88 ounces | Moisture Removal Capacity: 1.06 pints per day | Room Size: 500 square feet | Weight: 5.1 pounds | Dimensions: 5.4 x 12 x 9.1 inches
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
Best Portable
Pro Breeze Mini Portable Dehumidifier
AMAZON
- The dehumidifier starts working immediately, but the water tank is slow to fill up, meaning less maintenance for users.
The dehumidifier starts working immediately, but the water tank is slow to fill up, meaning less maintenance for users.
- The dehumidifier includes an air filter, but it can’t be cleaned and reused. You’ll need to purchase replacement filters.
The dehumidifier includes an air filter, but it can’t be cleaned and reused. You’ll need to purchase replacement filters.
At just under 2.5 pounds and with the smallest dimensions of any dehumidifier we tested, it’s no wonder the Pro Breeze Mini Portable Dehumidifier is the winner of the most portable dehumidifier. We tested it in a small bedroom and noticed an average humidity level change of 11.30%.
This dehumidifier is easy to use—it only needs plugged in and turned on with a single button to start working. Once it’s on, it starts working right away. We noticed a change in the humidity and temperature and saw water dripping into the collection tank just minutes after turning on the machine.
Despite the water beginning to collect in the tank quickly after turning on, it took a few days of consistent use before the tank was full of water. Dumping out the water and cleaning the tank was just as easy as setting up the machine.
We found this device particularly portable; in fact, it was small enough to pack in a travel bag or carry-on luggage for taking it on-the-go.
After 6 months, the product was still performing as well as it did on day one. Cleaning is especially easy; cleaning the outside of the machine was as easy as wiping it down occasionally with a disinfectant wipe. The tank was easy to clean out with soap and water every few weeks to keep buildup at bay.
Product Details: Tank Capacity: 16 ounces | Moisture Removal Capacity: 0.57 pints per day | Room Size: 215 square feet | Weight: 2.4 pounds | Dimensions: 6 x 8.5 x 6 inches
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / CHANTIA MURPHY
Best Design
Pure Enrichment PureDry Elite Dehumidifier
CRATE and BARREL
- It has the largest tank capacity of the small dehumidifiers we tested, meaning you can run it for longer before it needs to be dumped.
It has the largest tank capacity of the small dehumidifiers we tested, meaning you can run it for longer before it needs to be dumped.
- Based on our tests, this dehumidifier works best for living rooms or bedrooms rather than highly humid bathrooms.
Based on our tests, this dehumidifier works best for living rooms or bedrooms rather than highly humid bathrooms.
If you want a dehumidifier that you can leave out on display, consider the stylish Pure Enrichment PureDry Elite Dehumidifier. It has a minimalist and modern design that you won’t have to hide away.
This model has an impressive 67.6-ounce water tank capacity, which we always emptied well before it was full. If it did fill up, the machine includes an automated shut-off feature. It also includes three handy timer settings, 4 hours, 8 hours, or 12 hours.
When the machine is on, it’s quiet enough that it won’t disrupt conversation or compete with noise from a TV or stereo.
While we did notice a slight change in how the air felt in the bathroom after running the machine, it did have a lower impact on humidity, with a 2.33% average humidity level change. Because bathrooms can be particularly humid, this model may be best for a small living room or bedroom, or it may work better in a half bathroom or solo spaces.
This machine includes a filter, which we found easy to access, remove, and clean. The entire setup and cleaning processes were straightforward.
Product Details: Tank Capacity: 67.6 ounces | Moisture Removal Capacity: 1.25 pints per day | Room Size: 300 square feet | Weight: 5.5 pounds | Dimensions: 5.5 x 13.2 x 9.9 inches
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
Best with Air Purifier
Tenergy Sorbi Air Dehumidifier
AMAZON
- This device has a sleek design and is impressively quiet, and we liked how well it worked in a bedroom setting.
This device has a sleek design and is impressively quiet, and we liked how well it worked in a bedroom setting.
- You’ll need to purchase additional, brand-specific air filters for this model, and the filter needs changed about every six months.
You’ll need to purchase additional, brand-specific air filters for this model, and the filter needs changed about every six months.
The Tenergy Sorbi 1000ml Air Dehumidifier is a great value, offering two functions for the price of one product. In addition to removing excess moisture from the air, the Tenergy Sorbi dehumidifier also doubles as an air purifier.
Setup was fairly simple, but aside from plugging it in, it’s important to remember to remove the plastic covering on the air filter. It also proved to be pretty effective, with an average humidity level change of 15.33%, although we found it worked best in bedrooms or other areas with moderate humidity over very humid spaces, like bathrooms.
Removing the water tank to dump it out into a sink was easy, and although there’s no clear panel to reveal the water level, the dehumidifier does automatically turn off once the water tank is full.
The HEPA filter feature can be helpful in maintaining healthy indoor air, but that does mean you’ll need to purchase replacement filters for this particular dehumidifier. It requires brand-specific replacements, so make sure to buy the appropriate filters to keep the machine running as intended. The filter is easy to access and remove.
This was one of the heaviest small dehumidifiers we tested at 7 pounds. While still portable, we wished this had some type of handle to make it easier to carry.
Product Details: Tank Capacity: 33.8 ounces | Moisture Removal Capacity: 1.6 pints per day | Room Size: 200 square feet | Weight: 7 pounds | Dimensions: 8 x 12 x 8 inches
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON