With advice from experts, we've tried and tested the best dehumidifiers to speed up your laundry and prevent condensation
If you’ve ever had reason to ask yourself ‘what is the best dehumidifier?’ it was probably with a sense of desperation over mould in your bathroom that just won’t shift, window condensation forever puddling on the sills or clothes that never dry in winter. Humidity can be a real problem. A dehumidifier is your best defence. Drying Wood For Carving
Excess humidity in the home can come from cooking or showering, from the way your house is constructed and even just from breathing. Carpets can trap this moisture, making it an ideal breeding ground for mould which can leave you open to respiratory infections, while those with allergies can be more susceptible to asthma attacks in damp homes.
Dehumidifiers are the best way to reduce humidity in your home and many are cost effective and energy efficient. They range from bathroom dehumidifiers to compact ones for your car and even ones you can control from your mobile phone. Small dehumidifiers are ideal for flats or smaller spaces, while the bigger models can dehumidify a five-bedroom property or a small business space.
Below, we’ve listed the best dehumidifiers as tested by us and recommended by experts, noting how much each costs to run, followed by a guide to how they work and how best to use them. If you’re in a rush, here’s a quick look at our top five:
With advice from air conditioning experts Ryan Kandola and Chris Wood and with help from others in The Telegraph Recommended team, we have tried and tested the best dehumidifiers on the market for energy efficiency, drying power, value for money and, where possible, quiet running. “Remember, size isn’t everything,” Ryan says. “Look at the area you’re dealing with and choose the right size of unit. You’ll be surprised at just how powerful some of the small dehumidifiers are.”
Dehumidifiers are proving exceptionally popular this year and our top-rated airers may temporarily sell out. These are currently the best places to look for alternatives:
We like: big performance from an industrial giant
We don’t like: it’s the noisiest on this list (although only just)
Solid, compact and not bad looking, the Honeywell 24L Portable Dehumidifier is designed for medium to large-sized homes with three to five bedrooms. Weighing 14.8kg and a little over half a metre in height, with omni-directional castor wheels, it’s not hard to manoeuvre around your property.
“The Honeywell features a smart digital humidistat,” Aircon Centre’s Ryan Kandola says. “It automatically senses the moisture levels of your room to maintain your pre-programmed humidity level. There’s also a washable dust filter to purify the air that has already been dehumidified. It’s a good all-rounder.”
If kept in the same room as drying clothes, it can also cut the time it takes to dry by a quarter, while costing one fifteenth as much as a tumble dryer to run. (Similar savings can be had from a heated clothes airer, which explains their current popularity.)
We like: it’s powerful enough, with energy-saving smarts
We don’t like: there’s no air filtration system
The beauty of a desiccant dehumidifier is not only that they are typically quieter than compressor models, but they are ideal for smaller, unheated areas such as conservatories, campervans, garages, boats and cellars. They’re also fantastically efficient.
“If you are worried about high running costs, choose the Meaco,” says Chris Wood, another expert from Aircon Centre. “It has a control system that can reduce your energy consumption by up to 80 percent compared to other dehumidifiers.”
With its intelligent control logic system, the Meaco DD8LJ will turn itself off when the target humidity is reached before turning the fan on 30 minutes later and sampling the air again. If the humidity has increased, it will turn itself on once more but if it’s maintained the target, it will go back to sleep again for another half an hour.
This one does not have an air filtration function, so families with allergies will be better off with one of the other dehumidifiers.
Best dehumidifier for drying clothes
We like: the glossy blue exterior
We don’t like: it’s expensive, and a little less energy efficient than some
In winter, the opportunities to dry your washing outdoors are limited, but if you invest in the right dehumidifier you can do it quickly indoors without recourse to a tumble dryer. This DeLonghi is the best dehumidifier for drying clothes, thanks to its designated laundry drying function, accessible by pressing the button on the far left hand side.
It’s the setting with the highest ventilation speed and dehumidifying capacity. In my testing, I found it to really work. I don’t struggle too badly with mould in winter but I do find it difficult to dry clothes (I’m a little too stoic about not switching on the heating). With this DeLonghi dehumidifier sat next to my standard, non-heated clothes airer, my washing dried within a few hours, including a pair of jeans and a hoodie.
The transparent water tank means I can keep tabs on when to empty it although it rarely needs emptying more than once a day. The dehumidifier also automatically switches off when the water tank reaches its maximum capacity of 2.1l.
In reality, it’s probably a little too powerful for my needs, instead I’d recommend it to anyone with large, open-plan rooms in their houses or a big house with open doors, where it can sit in a hallway. While the power of 290 Watts means it only costs around 8p per hour, there are still lower energy options on this list that anyone with a smaller house or flat should consider.
That said, if you need a powerful dehumidifier that’s intuitive to use and looks smart, this is it. It’s also very portable, thanks to the built-in handle.
Best dehumidifier to tackle mould
We like: the big handle and compact dimensions make it easy to carry from room to room
We don’t like: it’s still quite heavy for the size
This Midea Portable is on the smaller side, perfect for tucking into corners if a dehumidifier doesn’t fit in with your interior aesthetic (but keep it six inches from the wall for maximum efficiency). The plug cord wraps around a clip at the bottom of the appliance, making it easy to transport from room to room.
Just be aware that, although it’s small in stature, it’s still quite heavy at 11.5kg. I wouldn’t recommend this to anybody with a bad back or mobility issues.
Performance-wise it draws 350 Watts, making it one of the most powerful on this list at a competitive price. I tested it in my shower room, where I usually keep a window open to prevent mould. As the mornings get chillier this dehumidifier is the perfect replacement, keeping any mould at bay and the heating in. The auto-defrosting function also means it can carry on working when the temperature drops.
Based on the size and power, I’d recommend this to anyone struggling with mould living in a small flat - and I can think of a few of those. But to be honest, it’s so powerful that it’ll also work in a larger house, as long as you don’t mind emptying the water tank once or twice a day.
Best dehumidifier for energy saving
We like: it’s cost-effective, but not at the expense of performance
We don’t like: stock levels are always so low
Using only 219 Watts of electricity per hour (at an estimated cost of 6p per hour, based on the current average rate of 27p per kWh), the Meaco 20L offers the lowest energy consumption of any dehumidifier in its class. This model is designed for larger homes or small business premises.
“We all want to save energy at the moment – and that’s where the Meaco 20L Low Energy comes into its own,” adds Aircon Direct expert Kandola. It uses a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter which will remove 99 percent of dust mites, pollen or other allergens, making a cleaner and healthier atmosphere in your home.
Additional features include ‘Laundry Mode’ for drying indoors, a safety cut-out and a child lock. The maximum 20l per day extraction rate is for hot and humid conditions. In a cooler room, expect more like 8l per day.
Best dehumidifier for cold weather
We like: the laundry boost function that works (but uses more energy)
We don’t like: it’s heavy even when empty
Like the DeLonghi higher up, the British-made Ebac 4850 has a dedicated laundry boost function that helps reduce the drying time of your damp laundry when it’s inside.
“That will be especially useful over the winter months as it means you won’t have to keep your heating on as long to dry your clothes, reducing your energy bills in the process,” says Chris Wood from Aircon Direct.
The 4850e also has an Intelligent Defrost feature, which means you will be able to use it at temperatures as low as 3°C, useful for keeping unused rooms mould-free in the winter. Some of the best electric heaters we’ve reviewed have a similar low-energy, frost-protection function.
Last year we were recommending the Ebac 3850. This newer version is the same price, but slimmer and now has ‘Smart Control’ to continously monitor moisture levels and adjust the compressor accordingly. It can also now be controlled remotely via an app.
Best dehumidifier for houses with children
We like: the ease of the touch panel
We don’t like: the water tank is a little awkward to open and close
Amazon’s bestselling dehumidifier is this AirEase, the chief attraction being the price, but after trying it out I can vouch for its portability and ease of use. It rolls around so easily on its casters that you can whizz it to wherever you need it. The touchscreen panel on top has a child lock, which is a nice touch – although it’s hard to see any harm coming from this calm and dutiful mould-killer.
The other controls let you choose between quiet Sleep mode, powerful High mode for laundry and economic Low mode for daytime use. You can fine-tune these by setting the fan speed and desired humidity level (you’ll want it under 50 percent, see below). But that’s it. Very much a fire-and-forget machine. I like the way it looks, too. Although it’s an American company, there’s something reassuringly Swiss about it. Maybe that’s just me.
The 2.5l water tank only needs emptying once a day – or never at all, if you use the optional drainage hose that can be fed into a drain (although the hose is fairly short). If you’re going to be away for a weekend, you can set a timer to switch off at any point between one and 24 hours. Simple, quiet and relatively small, the AirEase would suit families with young children and anyone averse to over-complicated technology.
We like: the wheels make it easy to move around the room
We don’t like: it’s heavy, meaning it’s awkward to lift up stairs
At 15kg, the Midea is a bit of a challenge to get upstairs. That’s a real shame, because this powerful unit is perfect for bedrooms. It has a built-in ioniser which helps to purify the air and a smart setting which senses and automatically controls the humidity of a room, keeping it between 45 and 55 per cent to reduce any bacteria growth which can lead to mould.
When it’s in this automatic mode, the noise varies between 37dB (fine) and 46dB (pretty loud) so I set the timer to switch it off at 10:30pm every night, so it didn’t bother me as I drifted off. The other options, operated by buttons on top of the machine, include adjusting the fan speed, increasing or decreasing the target humidity and switching between laundry drying, continuous or SMD (smart dehumidification).
Although heavy, the Midea is set on castors, making it a doddle to transfer between different rooms once it’s on the right floor. If you’re after a heavy duty, do-it-all dehumidifier this might just be it.
We like: compact, quiet and very economic (but low powered)
We don’t like: it’s not powerful enough for colder, damper months
If you have a small space that’s prone to damp air, like a kitchen or a bathroom, you need a dehumidifier that’s compact and quiet. Standing 22cm high and weighing little more than a bag of sugar, unlike some dehumidifiers The ProBreeze is easy to move around and won’t stand out like a sore thumb once it’s in place.
“The Pro Breeze is great if you’ve got a smaller space and you want something that doesn’t cost a lot to run,” says expert Kandola. “It’s probably about a penny an hour.”
Rather than being a compressor or a desiccant, the ProBreeze instead uses peltier technology, similar to that used in some mini fridges, to cool water vapour into water. It’s much quieter than the other methods.
It’s worth noting, though, that its maximum extraction of 250ml is one hundred times less than the Honeywell 24l and it works best above 15C (so no good for very cold rooms in winter). But for small, specific jobs this could be the best choice.
We like: clever collapsible form allows much greater capacity
We don’t like: you pay for the smart features
Perhaps the best-looking dehumidifier on our list, the Midea Cube is only a foot tall when collapsed for storage but extends upwards in use to hold 11 litres of water. That’s about three times more than traditional dehumidifiers and means you need to empty it less often. Another option is to just use the top half and run its hose into a sink or drain so that you never have to empty it at all.
What further sets the Midea Cube apart is that it is smartphone compatible, meaning you can not only control it from your mobile (or smart devices like Alexa or Google) but can also enjoy real-time monitoring of the humidity status and alerts when the water tank is full. “This is so versatile, it’s amazing,” says Ryan Kandola. “We like the lift and twist design too. It’s very clever.”
Dehumidifiers remove water vapour from the air to create a cleaner, healthier environment; they’ll even help you dry your laundry more quickly too, especially in the winter.
“A compressor dehumidifier is almost like a mini-fridge that cools the air and converts it into water that you can pour away,” says Ryan Kandola, a dehumidifier expert from Aircon Centre, “whereas desiccants take the air and run it over a rotating flywheel which absorbs the moisture, before heating it so the wheel doesn’t get saturated.”
The recommended humidity for your home is 40-60 per cent in the summer months and between 30-50 per cent in the winter. You can measure it with a hygrometer (a humidity gauge - they’re not expensive). If it goes over 70 per cent, you run the risk of condensation, damp, mould, fungi and bacteria. That’s when you need a dehumidifier.
Compressors are generally efficient at room temperature, but they can’t handle the winter cold so well. If the temperature drops below three or four centigrade, they will tend to stop working. That’s not the case with desiccants, although they can be more expensive to run.
It’s simply a matter of setting the desired humidity level and the unit will do the rest. What you will need to do is empty the water tank from time to time.
For a bathroom, you should position the dehumidifier just outside the bathroom door and ensure the door is left open so the unit can draw the moist air towards it. If you’re drying clothes, just place the dehumidifier in the room, making sure the door and windows are all closed.
“If there’s a problem room, the dehumidifier should be kept in there, preferably with doors and windows closed,” says Chris Wood, also from Aircon Centre. “If it is to be used to control the moisture for the whole house, however, then it should be located centrally, on a landing or in the hallway, and the air from the rooms should be able to flow towards the units. So keep the interior doors open and the exterior windows shut.”
Look for one which draws less than 360 Watts and you will never spend more than 10p per hour. It’s often much less on lower power settings. Dehumidifiers are generally cheap to run.
Domestic dehumidifiers can extract up to 25 litres of water per day. We have largely focused on 20l models since these are the most popular for domestic use. For larger spaces, damper environments or colder temperatures, choose something more powerful. (Or vice versa for smaller spaces.)
* The cost of one kiloWatt-hour of electricity is capped at 27p under the Energy Price Guarantee as of October 2023. Although prices do vary by region and contract (economy 7 tariffs are more expensive by day and cheaper by night, for example), we use the capped price to estimate running costs.
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