JUMP TO Section Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.- Best dehumidifiers overall
- Best dehumidifier for small spaces
- Best dehumidifier for large spaces
- Best portable dehumidifiers
- Our dehumidifier research methodology
- Dehumidifier FAQs
- What to consider when buying a dehumidifier
- The best deals on dehumidifiers from this guide
- Check out our other home-climate-control guides
When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
Dehumidifiers remove excess humidity from the air, keeping your room dry and helping prevent mold and mildew growth.
You might need a dehumidifier if your room feels stuffy and humid or smells musty, you see mold and mildew, there are wet spots or condensation on the windows and walls, or you experience upper respiratory problems like sneezing and coughing.
You can use a hygrometer to directly measure humidity levels in your house. "We recommend keeping the relative humidity in your home between 30 to 50%. High humidity can increase ground-ozone levels, dust mites, and mold — all of which can be allergy or asthma trigger[s]," said Kenneth Mendez, president and CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).
We found the best dehumidifiers for rooms of various sizes and different needs. See the FAQs section for information on how to shop for a dehumidifier, how to clean your unit, and more.
Our top picks for dehumidifiers
Best dehumidifiers overall
Our best dehumidifiers are quiet, efficient, Energy-Star certified, and look sleek rather than clunky.
Frigidaire High-Efficiency 50-Pint Dehumidifier with Built-In PumpWe love the Frigidaire dehumidifier because it’s large but easy to move around to different areas of your house thanks to the built-in wheels and handle. It also has a splash guard, so you don’t make a mess while emptying the water tank. You can set custom humidity levels and choose from three different fan speeds; plus, it’s optimized for low temperatures (down to 41°F).
Check price at Amazon Check price at Wayfair
HomeLabs DehumidifierThe quiet, fast, and easy-to-use dehumidifier from HomeLabs is made for spaces up to 1,500 square feet and runs continuously until its tank is full. Though there’s a drain hose outlet, the hose is not included. It’s recommended to use thread tape to avoid leaks if you do choose to attach a hose.
Check price at Amazon
Honeywell TP50WK Dehumidifier (30-pint)The Honeywell is a versatile, mid-sized dehumidifier that works efficiently and reliably. It’s suitable for spaces up to 3,000 square feet, with a display that tells you room temperature, humidity level, and timer settings.
Check price at AmazonBest dehumidifier for small spaces
Whether you have a closet or small bathroom that smells musty, small dehumidifiers can efficiently remove moisture from the air without taking up too much space.
Vremi Compact DehumidifierVremi’s 1-pint capacity dehumidifier tackles humidity in spaces up to 150 square feet and weighs a mere 4 pounds. Despite its small size, it still has a humidity display and adjustable controls, as well as an automatic shutoff.
Check price at WalmartBest dehumidifier for large spaces
Large basements and living rooms will benefit from the following dehumidifiers. Large dehumidifiers also often have the perk of more advanced features like custom settings or auto-shutoff.
Ivation 4,500-Square-Foot Dehumidifier with Pump Check price at Target Best portable dehumidifiers
Portable dehumidifiers are great for small closets, cabinets, traveling, and gym bags.
Eva-Dry Wireless Mini DehumidifierThis Eva-Dry dehumidifier measures 9 x 8.25 x 2.88 inches and works well for spaces up to 48 square feet. It uses silica beads to absorb moisture and has an absorbing capacity of six ounces. It’s also convenient because you only need to recharge it every four weeks. (It plugs into a wall outlet.)
Check price at Amazon
Afloia Mini DehumidifierThe Afloia has a sleek, cylindrical design and comes with a charging base. The shape is supposed to increase the efficiency of moisture absorption. It also uses silica beads and is suitable for spaces up to 54 square feet.
Check price at Amazon Check price at AfloiaOur dehumidifier research methodology
In our first major rewrite of this guide, we consulted allergy, skincare, and HVAC experts to learn more about how a dehumidifier can help your health and what features to look for. We spoke to Kenneth Mendez, president and CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA); John McKeon, CEO and founder of Allergy Standards Limited (ASL); and Jeanine Downie, MD, FAAD, director of Image Dermatology PC.
Using their insights, along with our own research and knowledge of the space, we picked dehumidifier options. Down the line, we plan to personally test these dehumidifiers to choose one best pick per category.
Dehumidifier FAQs
Why do you need a dehumidifier?
A dehumidifier helps maintain the optimal level of humidity in your room so it's not too humid. It reduces the growth and incidence of mold, mildew, and dust mites.
Dehumidifier vs. humidifier: what's the difference, and which do you need?
A dehumidifier removes moisture from the air, while a humidifier adds moisture to the air.
If your room feels stuffy and you see condensation or mold, you need a dehumidifier. It's commonly used in bathrooms, basements, closets, boats, and RVs, but you can use it anywhere else in the house, too.
If your room feels dry and your skin is irritated, you need a humidifier. We tested the best humidifiers here.
How does a dehumidifier work?
A dehumidifier works by blowing moist air over coolant-filled coils, causing the moisture to condense into water droplets. The condensation then drips from the coils into a receptacle.
The collected water is directly drained out or pumped into another area like a sink, depending on the unit you have.
Is a dehumidifier good for your skin?
"Dehumidifiers decrease the incidence of dry skin," said Jeanine Downie, MD, FAAD, Director of Image Dermatology PC. They also reduce irritation due to allergens like dust mites and mold.
If your dehumidifier removes too much humidity from the air, however, it may dry out your skin.
"It's important to note that if the humidity starts to drop below 30%, it can have a negative impact on health, including drying out of the eyes and mucous membranes," said McKeon. "Very dry air can also result in dry skin, worsening of eczema, and irritation of the airways." You should continue to monitor humidity levels and how your skin feels as you use your dehumidifier.
How do you clean a dehumidifier?
There are two parts to focus your attention on: the air filter and the tank. Clean the air filter under your faucet often (once a week).
Wipe down and dry out the tank after every use to reduce mold and mildew growth within your dehumidifier.
What to consider when buying a dehumidifier
Dampness level: Dehumidifiers come in different sizes depending on how much moisture they can remove in 24 hours. Here's what size to buy based on how humid your room is:
| Dampness level | Characteristics | Dehumidifier size | Room size |
| Moderately damp | Musty aroma in the area during humid weather | 25-39 pint capacity | Small (closets, small bathrooms) |
| Extremely damp | Always damp in the area regardless of season | 40-59 pint capacity | Medium (bedrooms, small basements, large closets) |
| Wet | Visible condensation on ceilings and walls | 60+ pint capacity | Large (large basements) |
How the unit removes moisture: It will either have a built-in pump or a direct drain. A built-in pump lets you run the drain hose to a window or sink, while a direct drain funnels the water directly into a sink or drain.
Energy performance: To get maximum efficiency out of a unit, look for those that are Energy Star-certified.
Automatic or useful features: Look for a unit with an adjustable humidistat, which will automatically turn your unit on and off to maintain the preset humidity level. Other useful features, according to The Home Depot, include:
- Automatic shutoff: Turns your unit off once the tank is full
- Digital display: Shows the relative humidity level and other settings
- Filter sensor/indicator: Tells you when it's time to replace the filter
- Programmable timer: Lets you run the unit only at certain times of the day
- Auto-defrost: Keeps your unit from freezing in cold temperatures
It's also worth pointing out that many AC units have built-in dehumidifiers. If your AC unit is in your desired room, check first to see if it has a dehumidifier and whether it works well. We tested the best air conditioners here.
The best deals on dehumidifiers from this guide
Dehumidifiers can get pricey, but chances are, you can find one for less than the retail price. Outside of the Frigidaire high-Efficiency Dehumidifier, most of our picks are typically available with a $10 discount, which really makes a dent on the cheaper options. If you want to wait until Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Amazon Prime Day, we expect to find slightly better discounts (though not by much).
Whether you need it for preventing mold or eliminating allergens, we've rounded up the best dehumidifier deals available now, below.
HomeLabs Dehumidifier Check price at Amazon Eva-Dry Wireless Mini Dehumidifier Check price at Amazon Read more about how the Insider Reviews team evaluates deals and why you should trust us.
Check out our other home-climate-control guides
- The best humidifiers
- The best air conditioners
- The best portable air conditioners
- The best air purifiers
- The best space heaters
Connie Chen Connie Chen is a former senior reporter on the Insider Reviews team, where she led coverage of home textiles, home entertaining, and food and drink. While at Insider, she specialized in all the things that enhance life at home, from the most comfortable bed sheets and fluffy pillows to cool online wine clubs and bartender-approved cocktail shakers. She combined rigorous testing methods, conversations with professionals, and active knowledge of the home and kitchen space to help readers get the most out of their money. When she's not changing duvet covers or washing towels twice a day for articles, she loves talking about and trying the newest snacks, drinks, and food gifts. You can see more of her testing process and other behind-the-scenes of being a product journalist on her Instagram @connayreviews. Connie joined Insider Reviews as an early member in 2017 and has also reported on products and services in the style, tech, fitness, travel, and e-learning spaces, with a particular interest and expertise in emerging startups. She has represented the team at CES and moderated panels on media business and the future of retail. Connie graduated from UC Berkeley with degrees in media studies and business administration, which help inform her perspective on and coverage of industry trends, as well as the competitive e-commerce landscape at large. Read some of her work: The 4 best cocktail shakers in 2021 The 7 best women's bathrobes in 2021 The 5 best wine openers and corkscrews we tested in 2021 The 5 best bed sheets we tested in 2021 The 5 best cordless vacuums we tested in 2021 12 direct-to-consumer kitchen startups that are changing the way we shop for cookware and knives 8 tableware startups changing the way we shop for dishes Even chefs experience cooking burnout — here's how they get re-inspired in the kitchen How businesses create successful virtual experiences 50 cookbooks from famous restaurants across the US that will help you recreate their best dishes at home Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here. Learn more about how we test kitchen products. Read more Read lessYou can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.
Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyowcidnKxnmKS6pnvBnqqtZZSatba5yJ2gn6GVpw%3D%3D