The 9 Best Dehumidifiers of 2024 to Reduce Mold, Mildew, and More, Tested By Us

Best Overall

Honeywell 30-Pint Smart Dehumidifier

AMAZON

Setup5/5
Features5/5
Design5/5
Ease of Use5/5
Effectiveness5/5
It can be controlled and monitored via a smart device.

It can be controlled and monitored via a smart device.

The collection tank is small in comparison to other models.

The collection tank is small in comparison to other models.

Overall, the best dehumidifier we tested is Honeywell’s Smart WiFi Energy Star Dehumidifier. In addition to a nice design, we found that it did a great job at whisking moisture away and, after the very first use, the air became noticeably drier. Plus, it has a handle and four small wheels that make it easy to move around.

The unit came with helpful directions, and was simple to assemble, only taking around 20 minutes to get it up and running. Once we switched it on, it started working almost immediately.

We liked that this is a smart dehumidifier that comes with an app to download on your phone or tablet, so you can control and monitor the machine with ease. The app keeps tabs on moisture levels, and you can set it to turn on automatically once the room has reached a certain level of humidity. It even has voice control and is compatible with Amazon Alexa.

The unit has two fan settings (low and high) that you can also control via the app, and we appreciated that the noise level is low, with a light hum at only 51 decibels. There’s also an energy-saving timer, as well as sleep mode, auto-defrost, auto-restart, and automatic shut-off settings.

Audible beeps will alert you that the unit needs maintenance. If you’re not going to be using the drainage hose, it’s worth noting that the collection tank is rather small and will need regular emptying. However, this makes it easier to empty as it’s not so heavy, and you’ll also be notified when the tank is getting full—the machine will beep and turn on a red light, and you’ll also get a notification from the app.

How It Performed After Six Months

The dehumidifier still exceeds all of our expectations, even after months of regular use. While testing this dehumidifier over the summer, the device was so effective that we needed to empty the tank multiple times a day, so you may want to opt for the drainage hose. We appreciated the app, which allows us to change settings from our phone and alerts us when the tank is full or needs to be cleaned.

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / STEPHANIE LEWIS

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / STEPHANIE LEWIS

Key Terms to Know

Hygrometer: A device used to test the air's humidity levels. We used a separate hygrometer to evaluate each dehumidifier's performance, and some models include their own built-in hygrometer.
Humidistat: A feature included on some dehumidifiers that senses moisture in the air and automatically adjusts until the room reaches the desired humidity.
Capacity vs. Tank Size: When it comes to dehumidifiers, capacity refers to the amount of moisture the device can remove from the air in 24 hours. This isn't the same as the tank size, which is how much water the unit can hold. Typically, capacity is larger than tank size, so if you have an extra humid home, you'll want to choose an option with continuous drainage or be ready to empty the tank more frequently.

Best Budget

Amana 48 Pint Portable Dehumidifier

BEST BUY

This dehumidifier features a handy memory for saving your dehumidifying preferences, even after unplugging the device.

This dehumidifier features a handy memory for saving your dehumidifying preferences, even after unplugging the device.

The device can be pretty noisy, so it’s best for daytime use or rooms without much traffic.

The device can be pretty noisy, so it’s best for daytime use or rooms without much traffic.

Even in a spacious (600-square-foot) room full of windows, the Amana Portable Dehumidifier worked quickly to bring down humidity levels. We found that the air in the room felt almost crisp and noticeably cooler in only about 20 minutes after turning on the dehumidifier. It wasn’t just imagination — the dehumidifier led to a 14.33% average change in humidity. In a room where the windows are typically impacted by condensation, there weren’t any water droplets to be found while running this device.

We appreciated how easy it was to set up and use the Amana dehumidifier. To start, it just needs to plug into a wall. From there, you can simply turn it on as-is or use the clearly identified buttons to change the humidistat, fan speed, timer settings, and more. As a bonus, this dehumidifier also includes memory-saved settings, so once you find your ideal preferences, you can save them for future use.

If you want to reduce humidity levels in different rooms, this model is also easy to move from one room to another thanks to the caster wheels. We thought it glided easily, but the shorter power cord means it does need to sit fairly close to an outlet for use.

As far as cleaning goes, the water containment bucket was easy to pop out of the machine, dump out, and clean. The filter was also easy to clean, although it didn’t get too dirty during our testing period.

While we appreciated many of the features of this dehumidifier, there was one drawback: the noise level. We found this model to be pretty noisy to run when watching TV or talking on the phone, so it may be better suited to rooms that don’t get as much use, such as a basement. Or, consider running it in a living room area overnight, rather than in a bedroom.

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ELENA GARCIA

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ELENA GARCIA

Best Splurge

Frigidaire 50-Pint Dehumidifier with Built-In Pump

AMAZON

Setup5/5
Features5/5
Design4.3/5
Ease of Use5/5
Effectiveness4.8/5
It’s very efficient and easy to move around thanks to a handle and wheels.

It’s very efficient and easy to move around thanks to a handle and wheels.

You’ll have to empty it often if you don’t use the continuous draining setting, and it doesn’t come with a hose.

You’ll have to empty it often if you don’t use the continuous draining setting, and it doesn’t come with a hose.

Although this Frigidaire unit is significantly more expensive than other options, you certainly get what you pay for. Overall, we liked the thoughtful design and durable construction. Plus, there’s a handle on the top and wheels for rolling it around, and it is easy to clean.

The dehumidifier features an easy-to-read control screen, three different emptying options, and control settings. The machine is also fairly quiet while running. As this is a very efficient machine, we found the tank getting quite full every 12 hours, but you can also choose to continuously drain the dehumidifier through a drainage hose or even pump the liquid up and out, say through a basement window.

It only took us 15 minutes to unbox, but note that you may need an extra set of hands as the 47-pound unit may be a bit heavy for some. It comes already assembled, minus connecting a drain hose (not included). The user manual was helpful, thorough, and easy to understand, with pictures and clear, simple instructions. Once switched on, it only took a couple of hours before we could feel an improvement in the air’s humidity level.

During testing, we felt that emptying the tank was easy enough. We would have liked a handle, but there are indents on either side of the tank to grip the edge and pull it out (it slides into the dehumidifier like a drawer into a dresser). Even though there is a clear lid on the top with a handle and gaps in the corners to allow for pouring, there was still some splashing when it was full, something you might want to consider if using it in a carpeted room.

To clean the unit, you have to pop out the handle, and then jiggle around the clear lid for it to come up so you can access the basin. It was a little tricky to wash the corners but still achievable. Putting it back together is foolproof as the unit won't work until the tank is securely in place.

The filter is clearly labeled and the guard snaps in and out easily. A red light flashes on the control panel when it’s time to dump the tank, and when it’s full, the unit shuts off. There’s also a clear vertical window running the height of the tank on the front with a red float that rises as the water does.

The built-in humidistat can be set to turn off at a certain level (although it will shut off if the tank is full regardless), and it was accurate and aligned with our external hygrometer’s readings. If you can use the continuous drain feature, this machine is practically effortless. It only takes 60 seconds to connect a suitable hose and you’ll never have to worry about emptying it or the machine turning off unless you’ve preset it.

How It Performed After Six Months

We've been using the dehumidifier continuously in our basement and garage for months, letting it drain out an attached drainage hole. The wheels have made it especially easy to roll out of our way when it's not in use. The filter hasn't required a change yet, and we haven't seen any mold or buildup arise.

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / MARY HONEYMAN-SPEICHINGER

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / MARY HONEYMAN-SPEICHINGER

Best for Basements

Keystone 35 Pint Energy Star Dehumidifier

THE HOME DEPOT

This easy-to-carry dehumidifier has an automated shut-off, so you don’t have to remember to unplug it at the end of the day.

This easy-to-carry dehumidifier has an automated shut-off, so you don’t have to remember to unplug it at the end of the day.

The water container can become heavy to carry and dump if you wait until the machine shuts down automatically. There is a drainage option, but the drainage hose isn’t included.

The water container can become heavy to carry and dump if you wait until the machine shuts down automatically. There is a drainage option, but the drainage hose isn’t included.

With the capacity to remove humidity for up to 3,000 square feet, the Keystone Energy Star Dehumidifier is a powerhouse that is energy-efficient enough to not run up the electric bill. In our tests, the dehumidifier had a 12.33% average humidity change, even when using it with doors open to remove humidity throughout the entire home.

A common concern with keeping a dehumidifier in a basement is forgetting to shut it off, but this model features an automated shut-off that will turn off the device once the water tank is full. The water tank also has an indicator to easily show when it is getting full.

Another handy feature is the drainage options. You can either remove and dump the collection tank yourself, or you can connect it to a drainage hose. We chose to carry the tank, which could be pretty heavy if you waited until it was at full capacity to dump it out.

For a dehumidifier of this size, it wasn’t too noisy. We were still able to watch TV at a slighter higher than usual volume or have a conversation without feeling disrupted when the dehumidifier was in the same room. Of course, keeping it in a basement could help further contain any noise.

When it’s time to clean the machine, the water bucket is easy to remove and clean. The filter pulls out from the top of the machine for easy cleaning or replacing as well. During the test period, we cleaned these parts a couple of times, although neither had become very dirty.

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON

Best for Bedrooms

Whirlpool 40-Pint Dehumidifier with Built-In Pump

AMAZON

Setup5/5
Features4.5/5
Design5/5
Ease of Use5/5
Effectiveness5/5
It’s a quiet machine with easy-to-use controls.

It’s a quiet machine with easy-to-use controls.

We thought the power cord was on the shorter side, and a hose for continuous draining is not included.

We thought the power cord was on the shorter side, and a hose for continuous draining is not included.

With a nice design, and wheels to help users move it around easily, the Whirlpool Portable Dehumidifier is a great choice for any room of the house, particularly bedrooms. Suitable for a maximum room size of 3,000 square feet, this unit was easy to set up thanks to a clear instruction manual.

During testing, this Energy Star-rated unit dried out a humid bathroom extremely quickly and was quiet while running, too—we were able to carry on a conversation without raising our voices. It has a built-in humidistat and hygrometer which didn’t precisely match our external hygrometer’s readings but was still fairly accurate.

The dehumidifier’s controls are super easy to understand. The dehumidifier is programmable to your needs and features automatic restart, defrost, and shut off, as well as a time. It can also be set to continuously drain, but no hose is provided.

You can see when the tank needs emptying by looking in the tank window but there’s also an indicator light that comes on when it’s very full. After 12 hours, we manually emptied the tank. The unit weighs just under 42 pounds, but we didn’t find it too heavy to lift and empty into a nearby sink.

The machine didn’t get dirty quickly, and the air filter was easy to access. The only downsides we noted were that the power cord is a little short and that the water bucket doesn’t go in and out as smoothly as some other models. However, we found that this didn’t impact the unit’s functionality.

How It Performed After Six Months

Overall, our opinions haven't wavered since our initial testing. The auto shut-off feature has worked properly, which was especially helpful during an extra humid period when we needed to empty the tank twice a day. With the monthly upkeep of cleaning the bucket and filter with soap and water, we haven't experienced any mildew or buildup.

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / CARA MILHAVEN

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / CARA MILHAVEN

Best with Pump

Whynter Energy Star Portable Dehumidifier with Pump

THE HOME DEPOT

The dehumidifier includes a 16-foot hose.

The dehumidifier includes a 16-foot hose.

The tank design is somewhat challenging to clean, so a bottle brush is a helpful tool to keep on hand.

The tank design is somewhat challenging to clean, so a bottle brush is a helpful tool to keep on hand.

The Whynter Energy Star Portable Dehumidifier with Pump has the major advantage of including a pump and drainage hose, meaning you can run it and allow it to drain out at the same time. The included hose stretches 16 feet, so it can dump water into a nearby floor drain or sink drain, removing the need to dump the water bucket.

Of course, for those who do want to use the bucket, it has an 18-pint capacity to hold water without becoming too heavy to carry. We also liked that it was easy to see the water level of the collection tank.

In terms of operating the machine, we appreciated the easy-to-use buttons, including a humidistat, two fan speed settings, and a timer. The dehumidifier also displayed temperature and humidity readings.

The machine worked effectively, leading to an average 6% humidity change, even in a basement. To really put this machine to the test, we poured a gallon of water on our concrete basement floors, and the water was gone within 12 hours when the machine was running.

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON

Best Small

Eva-Dry Electric Petite Dehumidifier

AMAZON

Setup5/5
Features5/5
Design5/5
Ease of Use5/5
Effectiveness5/5
It required minimal maintenance and the compact unit only weighs a pound, so it’s great for small spaces.

It required minimal maintenance and the compact unit only weighs a pound, so it’s great for small spaces.

There’s no built-in hygrometer.

There’s no built-in hygrometer.

The compact Eva-Dry Edv-1100 Electric Petite Dehumidifier is only 8.5 inches tall and weighs 1 pound, so it’s the best dehumidifier for small spaces. We also appreciated that it was easy to set up, as all you have to do is unbox it and plug it in.

We liked that the unit was quiet and we would easily talk and watch television while it was on. It’s also quite easy to operate as there is only one button (on/off).

We ran this dehumidifier in a bedroom after it had rained and noticed that the room felt more comfortable. On drier days, we didn’t notice a major difference. However, it did feel less sticky in the room and seemed to alleviate some allergies. It took about nine hours of operation to notice an improvement.

With this unit, you do sacrifice a few features that other models have. For example, it does not have a built-in hygrometer, or audible alerts when the tank is full. However, you can see when it’s filling as the tank is clear.

The unit took a few full days to fill up. The tank was easy to empty as you just slide it out, dump the water, and re-insert. Other than cleaning the tray after emptying the water, no other cleaning is required. There’s no filter, and the device stayed pretty clean in general.

How It Performed After Six Months

While using this small dehumidifier in our bedroom, we've noticed our allergies improve. The water tank lasts about a week before it needs to be emptied, and we haven't seen any significant buildup. While it's not a deal breaker, note that our plug has come loose from the outlet at times.

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / CHRISSY TASSIN

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / CHRISSY TASSIN

Best Large

Midea 50-Pint Cube Dehumidifier

AMAZON

Setup5/5
Features5/5
Design4.5/5
Ease of Use5/5
Effectiveness5/5
It has a 50-pint per day capacity, and its large tank can hold 34 pints before needing emptying.

It has a 50-pint per day capacity, and its large tank can hold 34 pints before needing emptying.

The hose provided for continuous draining is a bit short.

The hose provided for continuous draining is a bit short.

During testing, this Midea model was effective in a large room, pulling a lot of moisture from the air and ensuring that the space remained under the humidity limit set on the machine.

We appreciated that the unit was easy to control, with many options that we worked out by referring to the user manual. It alerts you when the tank is full but it never got to that point during testing as the tank is large. There’s also a small window to see the water level, which was a nice added touch.

The assembly took us about five minutes as the instructions were clear, and there were even handy labels for any settings that weren’t intuitive (such as holding two buttons down together for continuous mode).

Although the bucket is large, emptying it was very easy—all we had to do was lift the top portion out of the bucket, then tilt it to empty. It did emit some noise, but we think it can still be considered a quiet dehumidifier. During testing, we were able to hold conversations and watch television (albeit on a little higher volume than usual) comfortably.

Accessing the filter is very easy as it slides into a designated slot on the side, however we noticed that it never got dirty during our testing. The bucket did accumulate a little mold but this was easy for us to clean with a damp cloth.

There was a slight disparity between the unit’s built-in hygrometer and our external device, with the internal one reading a few percent higher, but nothing too drastic. The machine also has Wi-Fi capability and sends alerts to your smart device when the bucket is full. You can also keep tabs on the moisture levels, and operate the machine remotely via the corresponding app.

Switching to continuous draining is simple—we attached a short garden hose since the piece of tubing provided was too short for our purposes. The connection point can accommodate both a threaded screw-on hose or a non-threaded tube. When the hose is connected, the bucket needs to be removed, and you also lose the ability to use the wheels, which is not ideal as it’s quite a heavy unit at 42 pounds.

How It Performed After Six Months

We continuously ran and drained the dehumidifier in our basement for six months and have been impressed with the results as it's kept our basement's humidity levels steady. While other dehumidifiers in our home have accumulated mildew, this pick has stayed fairly clean. Although we haven't been able to regularly use the smart features thanks to the weak Wi-Fi signal in our basement, we think the dehumidifier is worth the cost even without it.

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ROBERT TUTTON

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ROBERT TUTTON

Best for Bathrooms

Pure Enrichment PureDry Deluxe Dehumidifier

AMAZON

Setup5/5
Features5/5
Design5/5
Ease of Use5/5
Effectiveness4.8/5
It’s effective for smaller rooms, super easy to use, and lightweight.

It’s effective for smaller rooms, super easy to use, and lightweight.

It’s only suitable for small rooms of up to 160 square feet, so it depends on where you want to use it.

It’s only suitable for small rooms of up to 160 square feet, so it depends on where you want to use it.

The Pure Enrichment Dry Deluxe Dehumidifier is less expensive than other options, so it’s one of the best options if you want to spread a few small units throughout your home. Overall, we appreciated the design of the unit and found that it’s quite effective for removing moisture from the air in smaller rooms.

Unlike some other styles, this unit doesn’t require any assembly. All you have to do is take it out of the box and remove the protective plastic packaging. During testing, the instructions were very easy to follow, and we just had to decide what level to run it on (high or low), and for how long (four or eight hours). You can also opt to run it indefinitely until it’s manually turned off, or set it automatically shut down when the tank is full.

The unit makes subtle noise that we likened to a white noise machine. It also emits light but it’s not overwhelming and can function as a soothing night light.

There are only three to operate-power, timer, and level- and we found them quite intuitive. As long as you use it for the suggested room size (160 square feet), the unit does a nice job of removing moisture from the air. Overall, we felt much more comfortable with the air quality when this machine was running.

We rarely needed to empty the unit, and when it was time to do so, the tank slid out from the back of the unit effortlessly, and the top popped off for mess-free water disposal. From the back of the dehumidifier, you can keep an eye on how much water accumulates via the transparent blue tank.

Cleaning the tank was simple and can be done with a washcloth and dish soap. Plus, there’s no filter to clean, which was a bonus. To clean the back air intake, you have to screw off the back for access, but this was also straightforward.

How It Performed After Six Months

The dehumidifier kept our home at a steady level of humidity throughout months of testing; the display rarely read anything beyond "Comfort." The timer still performs well and we haven't noticed any change in noise level.

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON