The best dehumidifiers we have tested

We have tested eleven dehumidifiers across different sizes and brands. These are the best-performing options.
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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:

  • Several dehumidifier recalls in 2021 involved a factory based in China called New Widetech — a factory that produces dehumidifiers for many brands, including Honeywell, Danby, De’Longhi, Ivation and Idylis.

  • In 2023, Gree recalled 1.56 million dehumidifiers due to fire and burn hazards. Gree is the world’s largest air conditioner manufacturer, producing dehumidifiers for several brands, including Frigidaire, GE and Kenmore. 

All this to say, there aren’t as many choices as retailers and Google search want you to think there are, and finding a good device is easier than you’d think.

However, it’s important to do your research because, as these recalls show, dehumidifiers can be prone to failure, which could lead to serious accidents.

  1. Stick to more refrigerant dehumidifiers that can remove up to 20 pints of moisture daily. 
  2. Use the EnergyStar site to find a dehumidifier with an efficiency factor of 1.95 L/kWh. 
  3. Avoid small and mini-sized devices (Peltier dehumidifiers) like the Pro Breeze Mini, as they are just too slow to be useful.
  4. Be aware of recommendations from big publications. In most cases, they do not even test the dehumidifiers before telling you to buy them.

Product testing is important to us here at HouseFresh, so before I take you through our shortlist of the best dehumidifiers I 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 and 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 minute.

Next, we used a sound level monitor to record how much noise in decibels is generated by the dehumidifier.

Honeywell TP70WKN Sound Test

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. 

Moiswell 145 Pint Dehumidifier Side

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.

Tips about dehumidifier size
  • 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.

Midea Cube Dehumidifier Basement

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

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 bucket can also act like a stand to allow the main device to use the gravity hose — something that is much harder with the standard bucket design.

What we think could be better

A large bucket also means a heavier bucket when full. You can adjust the level of the bucket, which can reduce weight but will mean more regular emptying.
I couldn’t get the smartphone app to work. The good news is that I just left the Cube working and didn’t have any need for additional smart features from the app.

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 wattage425 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

Frigidaire Honeywell dehumidifiers HouseFresh

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

Both brands offer a high level of water removal efficiency that can be compared with what you can get with the Midea Cube.
Dehumidifiers from both brands have been made with the highest quality of materials compared to less-known brands.
In both cases, we saw Smart functions and app support perform better than with the Midea Cube.

What we think could be better

The bucket design for both Fridigare and Honeywell units leads to heavy loads that are prone to spillage.
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 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.

Frigidaire FGAC5044W1 Living room

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.

Honeywell TP70WKN Room

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:

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:

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.

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About the author

Danny Ashton

Danny is the founder of HouseFresh and has been writing about air purifiers since 2010. He is our lead tester and reviewer, and is also the human in front of the camera in our YouTube channel.

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