It may feel that the options are endless when you are looking to buy a dehumidifier, but you might be surprised to learn that most units are made in the same factories.
We know this because several large dehumidifier recalls in 2021 involved a factory based in China called New Widetech. This factory produces dehumidifiers for many brands, such as Honeywell, Danby, De’Longhi, Ivation and Idylis.
Another big recall happened last year: Gree recalled 1.56 million dehumidifiers due to fire and burn hazards. Gree is the world’s largest air conditioner manufacturer and, in their factories, they produce dehumidifiers for a handful of brands, including Frigidaire, GE and Kenmore.
As these recalls show, many dehumidifiers can be prone to failure which could lead to serious accidents.
The market is full of small and mini-sized devices, but our testing found that these devices take way too long to lower humidity levels in even the smallest of spaces.
That is why we recommend consumers to:
- Stick to more refrigerant dehumidifiers that can remove up to 20 pints of moisture per day.
- Use the EnergyStar site to find a dehumidifier with an efficiency factor of 1.95 L/kWh.
- Avoid Peltier dehumidifiers like the Pro Breeze Mini as they are just too slow to be useful.
Be aware of any big publications recommending these types of devices. They are just doing it for the commission and, in most cases, they are not even testing the dehumidifiers before telling you to buy them. Instead, they organize Amazon listings by best-selling and pick from there what they think you are likely to buy.
Product testing is important to us here at HouseFresh, so before I take you through our shortlist of the best dehumidifiers we have reviewed, let me tell you a little bit about how we tested each device.
How we test dehumidifiers
First, we shortlisted the devices we wanted to test by looking for dehumidifiers with a high-efficiency rating, according to data from the Department of Energy. Next, we identified the best-selling dehumidifiers on Amazon. Our final shortlist included eleven dehumidifiers, ranging from compact mini-dehumidifiers everyone seems to be buying online to large 50-pint devices with excellent high-efficiency ratings.
With our list in hand, we bought all the dehumidifiers with our own money so we could test their performance following the same process in order to produce comparable firsthand data.
We tested their water removal performance in our highly humid 2000 sq. ft. basement with the help of our trusted SensorPush wireless hygrometer, which collects humidity data every one minute.
Next, we used a sound level monitor to record how much noise in decibels are generated by the dehumidifier.
Lastly, we measured how much electricity each dehumidifier consumes with the help of a plug-in energy monitor.
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 over several months.
This was 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.
At HoushFresh we benefit from having access to a highly humid 2000 sq. ft. basement where we can test dehumidifiers all year round. Experiencing two pump failures (and reading plenty of evidence online of this happening across different brands and models) led to us coming to the conclusion that you should stay away from dehumidifiers with an internal pump.
Other than that, we found that many of the dehumidifiers we tested had pretty much identical water removal performance, sound levels generated and electricity consumption. The biggest difference in general comes down to design, especially with Midea models.
- For smaller spaces that are not too humid, you can get away with a 20-pint device (500 sq. ft).
- 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 like an open plan area or a basement (1,200 sq. ft.), you are likely to require powerful dehumidifiers capable of removing 50 pints of moisture in 24 hours.
The best dehumidifier for most people is the Midea Cube
The drainage bucket in the Midea Cube is sturdy and minimizes the trips to the sink to get rid of the water removed from the air.
I fell in love with the unique design of the Midea Cube series as soon as I saw it. It has an efficiency rating of 1.95 L/kWh, and while it’s a little pricer than standard designs, you get a much larger bucket compared to most dehumidifiers available today.
The Midea Cube 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.
Okay, let’s talk about internal pumps.
We have tested two devices that use internal pumps, and both had their pumps fail after months of usage. After reading about this issue, I think this is a major cause of problems in dehumifiers, so I suggest you stick to a gravity hose or a design with a bucket. If you need a pump, many industrial-style designs offer the possibility of having a separate pump, which means the device suffers from the pump being a point of failure.
What we really like
What we think could be better
The Midea Cube ranges from 20 to 70 pints, so you can choose the model that matches your room size and humidity conditions.
The Midea Cube 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 smarter version, look to Frigidaire or Honeywell options after this.
Read my full review of the Midea Cube 50-pint model.
| HouseFresh Rating: | ★★★★★ |
| Water it can remove in a day: | 50 pints (28.41 litres) |
| Recommended room size: | 4500 sq. ft. (418 m2) |
| Water tank capacity: | 4.2 gallons (19 liters) |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 14.45D x 14.76W x 14.57H inches (36.7 x 37.5 x 37 cm) |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 42.4 pounds (19.25 kg) |
| Noise level (low – high): | 42.5 — 49dB |
| Max wattage | 425 watts |
| Other features: | Pump and gravity drain hose option |
| Warranty: | 1 year |
| Estimated energy consumption: | $446.76 |
The best non-cube style dehumidifier: Frigidaire or Honeywell
Two trusted brands that are known for more traditional designs for those who didn’t like the idea of the Midea Cube
If you prefer a more traditional design or just think that the Midea Cube is not for you, then you should look in the direction of Frigidaire and Honeywell. These brands are manufactured by the two largest dehumidifier factories in the world, both of which are based in China.
Both Frigidaire and Honeywell have been releasing popular dehumidifiers for decades. During our hands-on testing, it was clear they both utilize high-quality materials for the case and bucket compared to other brands.
What we really like
What we think could be better
In my testing, I used the Frigidaire FGAC5044W1, which can remove up to 50 pints of water per day and comes with smartphone app compatibility so you can turn the unit on or off remotely from your phone.
In terms of the Honeywell, I have tested both the Honeywell TP30WKN (with a 30-pint capacity) and the Honeywell TP70WKN, which is my favorite. The TP70WKN has a dehumidification capacity of 70 pints per day and can be used in massive spaces of up to 4,000 sq. ft.
But you should choose the specific model that suits the area you need to cover and the level of humidity you are dealing with. Just browse through the different models for Fridigare and Honeywell to see which one makes more sense for you.
Things to keep in mind when buying a dehumidifier
- 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:
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:
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.