It may seem that the options are endless when buying a dehumidifier, but in reality, most units are made in the same factories.

We know this because of the recalls:

  • In 2021, a manufacturer called New Widetech recalled two million dehumidifiers due to fire and burn hazards, including units from popular brands such as Honeywell, Danby, De’Longhi, Ivation and Idylis.

  • In 2023, the world’s largest air conditioner manufacturer, Gree, recalled 1.56 million dehumidifiers sold under different brands, including Frigidaire, GE and Kenmore. 

The moral of the story is that most dehumidifiers on the market are produced in just a handful of the same factories.

So while you may think that you’re choosing between dozens of different brands and models, you’re often just choosing between different logos slapped onto the same machines.

With that in mind, let me tell you which dehumidifier brands and models are worth it – and which ones to avoid.

Dos and don’ts of buying a dehumidifier

DO

Get the largest dehumidifier you can live with. Otherwise, you will spend most of your day emptying the tank.
Choose a dehumidifier with a gravity hose if you want a ‘set and forget’ option.
Be wary of recommendations from big publications. In most cases, they do not even test the dehumidifiers before telling you to buy them.

DON’T

Don’t go for small and mini-sized dehumidifiers like the Pro Breeze Mini, as they are just too underpowered to be useful.
Don’t get a dehumidifier with internal pumps. In my experience, dehumidifiers with pumps break more often.

Product testing is important to us here at HouseFresh, so before I take you through our shortlist of the best dehumidifiers, let me tell you a little bit about how we tested each device.

How we test dehumidifiers

To put this list together, I purchased 13 of the most popular dehumidifier models across all sizes, ranging from large 145-pint devices to tiny machines designed to be used in a cupboard.

We used our Levoit Classic 300S humidifier to raise humidity levels to 94% inside our Shorty Gorilla Grow Tent.

We left the tent for five minutes for the numbers to stabilize before we set the dehumidifier to top speed for 30 minutes, gathering humidity data with our SensorPush wireless hygrometer.

housefresh dehumidifier test

We repeated the performance test a minimum of three times for each device, and we also tested the natural decay inside our tent without any dehumidifier running.

To compare the performance across the different dehumidifiers, we exported the data and visualized it using Flourish.

Next, we measured how much electricity each dehumidifier pulls at different speeds.

To do this, we used our MECHEER power meter for UK devices and our Poniie PN2500 energy meter for U.S. devices.

dehumidifier energy test


Lastly, we used our BAFX Sound Level Meter to measure how much noise in decibels each dehumidifier generates.

We conducted this test from three feet away, the same way we measure noise levels of the air purifiers we test.

dehumidifiers sound test

In addition to these tests, we used each of the dehumidifiers in our own home to assess how well they perform at removing moisture from the air in different rooms over several months. 

This is generally the most eye-opening stage in our testing as we experienced the same issue twice across different dehumidifiers: the internal pump of both the hOmeLabs 4000 sq. ft. and the Moiswell 145 pint (Defender XP70) broke within a couple of months of daily usage.

housefresh dehumidifier real life tests

  • For smaller spaces that are not too humid, don’t go smaller than the Ivation 13-Pint.
  • For areas larger than 500 sq. ft., you can look for larger dehumidifiers with capacity increasing in increments of 10 pints. 
  • For very large spaces of around 1,200 sq. ft. you require powerful dehumidifiers capable of removing 50 pints of moisture in 24 hours.

The best dehumidifier for most people is the Midea Cube

It stands out from the standard white rectangular design, and it makes sense considering that Midea designs and manufactures its own devices.

Midea Cube Dehumidifier Basement

This is the perfect dehumidifier for those of you who are planning on using the device in a location where you can’t simply use a gravity hose. The design of the Cube will allow you to place the bucket higher than the floor, which will in turn it possible to use a gravity hose.

Midea Cube Dehumidifier Open

The Midea Cube is a simple cube that you can stack up. The bucket sits at the bottom of the device and the fan sits at the top.

As you will place the bucket higher than the floor, you can use it with a gravity hose.

Midea Cube Dehumidifier Filter

You also get a filter at each side to capture dust and large particles.

It’s important to vacuum and clean the filter regularly, as you would with the pre-filter of an air purifier.

Midea Cube Dehumidifier Control

On top, you get buttons for adjusting the humidity level and fan speeds, switching between modes, setting the max level for the bucket and setting timers. You also get a screen that shows you the level of humidity in the air.

CONS

The water bucket gets REALLY heavy when completely full. But you can set it so it only fills up to half or a quarter of his capacity to make carrying it easier.
I couldn’t get the iPhone app to work. The good news is that I don’t need any app features to have my Cube running 24/7.

PROS

The bucket of the Midea Cube can store up to 4.35 gallons of water, a lot more than the standard buckets of two gallons.
The large bucket means you will only need to get rid of the water every few days, compared to most dehumidifiers where you will need to have more trips to the sink.
The height of the bucket makes it possible to use a gravity hose — something that is much harder with the standard bucket design.
It generates 54.1 decibels of noise, which is much lower than the 60-70 dBA you can expect from units of this size from brands like Honeywell, Frigidaire and GE.

The Midea Cube ranges from 20 to 50 pints, so you can choose the model that matches your room size and humidity conditions. 

This is my top choice for most people due to its high level of efficiency and the smart bucket design. If you can, go for the version without an onboard pump or Wifi features, as they are not worth the extra money. But if you want a smart device, look to other options after this.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW ➜

The best traditional dehumidifier is the Honeywell 50-Pint

A trusted brand known for more traditional designs for those who don’t like the idea of the Midea Cube.

Honeywell TP70WKN Room

PRICE on amazon PRICE on Sylvane

I’ve tested dehumidifiers from Frigidaire, Moiswell, De’Longhi, hOmeLabs, Pro Breeze, GE, ToLife, Pure Enrichment, NineSky and, in my experience, units from Honeywell stand out for their build quality and they all perform well at reducing humidity levels.

And it makes sense because the Honeywell brand has been in the dehumidifier industry for decades.

In terms of raw performance, the Honeywell 50-Pint model was the quickest dehumidifier at removing humidity in our grow tent across all the models we tested.

However, this performance doesn’t come without its downsides.

When we tested the sound levels generated by this Honeywell model, we found that it reaches 68.6 decibels — this is much louder than the more liveable 54.1 decibels you get with the Midea Cube.

In terms of controls, you get buttons to set the desired humidity level, adjust the fan speed, set a timer and switch to night mode. You also get a screen that displays humidity readings in real-time.

Honeywell TP70WKN Controls

I particularly like the solid handle at the top, which is much needed when you need to move the dehumidifier around.

Honeywell TP70WKN Handle

CONS

The bucket design leads to heavy loads that are prone to spillage and you can’t set a maximum water level to avoid this.
It is LOUD, reaching 68.6 decibels at top speed. This is comparable to a vacuum cleaner or a dishwasher.

PROS

ENERGYSTAR certified the Honeywell 50-Pint model as being able to remove 1.9 litres of water per kWh, which matches what you’ll get with the Midea Cube.
Both my Honeywell dehumidifiers were made with the highest quality of materials compared to lesser known brands.

I have both the Honeywell TPFIT32AWK (with a 30-pint capacity) and the Honeywell TPFIT50APWK (with a 50-pint capacity) and I have to say, both units look pretty much identical with the only difference being the size.

By the way, I saw that Honeywell’s latest model (the TP FIT) has managed to improve efficiency to 2.01 L/KWh which puts it at the top of the ENERGYSTAR database of more than 800 dehumidifier models.

The best small dehumidifier is the Ivation 13-Pint

My top picks can be bulky and might not fit your space so let me tell you about the only small dehumidifier that is worth your money.

Ivation 13 pint small dehumidifier

PRICE on amazon

Up to now, I’ve been recommending large refrigerant dehumidifiers, which use a condensation process to remove moisture from the air. But this Ivation device is a desiccant dehumidifier, so it absorbs moisture without using refrigerants. This makes it possible for the Ivation to be much smaller, while still performing quite well.

It is half the size of the Honeywell 50-Pint but still managed to reduce the humidity in our grow tent nearly as fast:

The Ivation 13-Pint vastly outperformed all other small and mini dehumidifiers we tested.

And it did this while generating just 53.8 decibels of noise, which is a lot quieter than what you can expect from those larger devices.

In terms of controls, you get three modes (low, high and sleep) or you can just set the desired humidity level, you get a button to dim the lights and a timer button.

Ivation 13 pint controls

You also get a button to adjust the direction of the warm air at the back of the device.

Ivation 13 pint rotation

CONS

As it is a desiccant dehumidifier, it will be less efficient in warmer environments.
It won’t be suitable for large spaces, unless you are happy to make multiple trips each day to empty the water tank.

PROS

It is better at removing humidity from the air in colder climates compared to refrigerant dehumidifiers like the Midea and Honeywell units.
It is half the size of the Midea Cube but it managed to reduce the humidity in our grow tent faster than the Cube.
You get a choice of using a bucket or a gravity hose, depending on where you will place it and how you want to use it.

If you go smaller than this, you are likely to waste your money.

The best option for those in Europe is the Xiaomi Smart Dehumidifier Lite

Yeahp… A dehumidifier that looks like an air purifier.

Xiaomi Smart Lite dehumidifier

PRICE on amazon PRICE ON XIAOMI STORE

My top picks so far are good options for those in the U.S. but I have a different recommendation for my viewers in Europe and Asia who don’t want to spend more than 250 EUR: the small yet powerful Xiaomi Smart Dehumidifier Lite.

In terms of performance, this Xiaomi device completed our grow tent test nearly as fast as dehumidifiers double its size and price:

The control panel sits at the top of the device.

You get a button to set different modes, including a smart mode that keeps humidity level stable at a point you set, a sleep mode that runs quieter and a clothes drying mode that runs continuously at top speed.

Xiaomi Smart Lite controls

You also get a button to set the desired humidity level, a timer button and a display that features humidity levels in real time.

CONS

Sadly Xiaomi is not available in North America but if you are in a country where you can get hold of the Smart Dehumidifer Lite, then know that it’s a good investment.
It is too underpowered for large spaces, so I don’t recommend it for rooms larger than a small bedroom or laundry room.

PROS

At top speed, we measured just 43 dB from 3 feet away, which is whisper quiet compared to every other dehumidifier on this list.
It is small and easy to live with compared to the beasts that are the Honeywell and the Midea Cube devices.
It comes with smartphone connectivity through the MiHome app so if you already have XIaomi devices, then this could be a good addition to your smart home setup.

Special mention: Ebac dehumidifiers

If you live back home in the UK, I have a special recommendation: dehumidifiers made in the UK and designed for the UK climate.

Ebac 3850e dehumidifier Dining room

PRICE on amazon PRICE on EBAC

As a resident of the north of England, I know that our kind of damp is different, and our electricity bills are a lot higher. The good news is that I found a UK brand that designs dehumidifiers for the UK environment with an onboard smart mode that can keep humidity down without adding continuously to your energy bill.

When it comes to performance, the Ebac 3850e matched what you will get with the Xiaomi Smart Lite:

Something I appreciate about my 3850e is that Ebac has redesigned the water bucket and turned it into a sort of watering can, so it is much easier to empty it when full compared to your standard bucket design:

Ebac 3850e watering can

We measured the noise generated by our Ebac and it reached 54.3 decibels at top speed, so it’s louder than the Xiaomi Smart Lite.

That said, we have ours in our dining room and the noise doesn’t get in the way of conversations or our day-to-day.

Ebac is a British company that has been manufacturing dehumidifiers in County Durham since 1972, so if you live in the UK and want to support a local business, then Ebac is the way to go.

Things to keep in mind when buying a dehumidifier

Our top tips for ensuring you won’t buy a device you will regret later.

Don’t fuss over the latest models. It seems like new dehumidifier models come out weekly, but you should know that they are usually very similar to previous ones, so you don’t need to worry about trying to keep up with the latest dehumidifier as you would with an iPhone.

Pay attention to the features. I recommend choosing simple dehumidifiers without fancy smart models or internal pumps as they will cost you a lot of money and won’t add a lot of value.

Be aware of strange brand names on Amazon that are offered at lower prices. Many dehumidifier manufacturers care more about making money than building a long-lasting brand. While it might be a little pricier to go with a trusted brand, you will find that buying a unit from an unknown company offers less value in the long term — especially when you can’t find anyone to contact if you need help with warranties and repairs.

Sadly, many dehumidifiers have a habit of failing. That means you might be more likely to need customer support than other consumer products. Another reason to go with a trusted brand like Midea, Frigidaire or Honeywell.

Choose dehumidifiers that have been Energy Star certified. Many devices are not sent to Energy Star for testing and could be less efficient than promised. Always look for the unit on the Energy Star website to ensure they have been tested.

Oversizing your dehumidifier has no benefit. Buying a larger dehumidifier than you need will just increase your electricity bills. It’s better to get the right size for the room you want to keep dry.

Why you should ignore Peltier dehumidifiers

They might be cheap and cute, but they will also be a waste of your money

We have tested several Peltier-effect dehumidifiers, and in all cases, they were too weak to reduce the humidity in our basement.

The charts below show the comparison between the test of the Honeywell TP70WKN and the NineSky H2 dehumidifier:

Honeywell VS NineSky

As you can see, the Peltier dehumidifier (NineSky H2) struggled to bring the humidity down to 63% and even when it did, it could only keep it there for a very short period of time.

That is a stark difference from the Honeywell TP70WKN, which managed to bring the humidity down to 49% and kept it within the 50% range for as long as the dehumidifier ran. 

Most people choose Peltier dehumidifiers because they are small and cost around  $50-80. In many cases, they look cute too as you can see in the images below:

Pro Breeze Dehumidifier
ToLife TZ C2 Living room
NineSky H2 Front

Truth be told, most people don’t want to hear that they must spend $200 on a dehumidifier for it to achieve meaningful results. The problem with not wanting to invest in a serious dehumidifier is that you are wasting $80 on a piece of plastic that will do nothing to lower humidity levels in your home. 

At HouseFresh, we want to raise awareness about these useless devices so that fewer consumers are duped out of their money.

We support Wirecutter’s initiative not to recommend dehumidifiers for the bathroom. 

If you are struggling with humidity in your bathroom, the first and foremost step is to improve ventilation. Keep the bathroom door and window open to let air in, or install exhaust fans if that’s possible.

Bringing an electric device into your bathroom poses a risk that is not worth taking.

Wrapping up

Searching for the best dehumidifier can seem overwhelming, but I hope my guide shows you that most devices are made in just three factories. 

Make sure you choose an efficient device by focusing on those that have achieved the Energy Star Certified status. 

Finally, know that there is no major difference between the models across brands; they are all pretty much the same thing manufactured in the same place. The exception to this rule is the Midea Cube design, which is why it’s our top recommendation.