As a result of a certain global event, many people are now working remotely, and this looks set to continue for some time. But while there are benefits to working from home, you can also encounter problems if your environment is particularly humid.
All that excess moisture and compromised air quality may not only lead to lower productivity but also health issues, such as an increase in allergy symptoms and coughing. You’ll soon know if your home or workspace is suffering from too much humidity because there’ll be visible signs of mold and mildew alongside their resultant musty odors.
A dehumidifier is a great solution to these issues but the majority of them can be on the noisy side. When you’re trying to concentrate, extraneous sounds like buzzing or humming can be a real nuisance.
This is where quiet dehumidifiers come into play. These units work in much the same way as other dehumidifiers and are designed to attract warm currents of air which then move through refrigerated coils. Cool, dry air is then released back into the room while condensation is maintained inside the unit.
Together with the noise levels, we considered such things as:
- Weight
- Tank size
- Budget
When choosing the right dehumidifier, you need to consider the size of the room it’s working in. Putting a huge unit in a small room will be a waste of energy, and asking a small unit to clear a large room is simply a waste of time. The Tosot 50 Pint Dehumidifier is great for rooms up to 4,500 square feet. But if you’d like to find something to use in a more compact space, the Pro Breeze Electric Dehumidifier is ideal and covers 150 square feet so not suitable for most rooms.
We analyzed the water removal rate for all dehumidifiers on the market and then handpicked the best for reviews to test in our own home.
If you are also worried about air quality without causing a disturbance, then be sure also to check our recent list of the best quiet air purifiers, as they could work great in combination with one of the recommended units on this list:
1. Pro Breeze Electric Dehumidifier
The Pro Breeze Electric Dehumidifier is a unit designed for small spaces. It is as simple as they come, since using it only requires you to press a single on/off button. This is also designed to be an ultra-quiet unit too for minimal disturbance. With its thermoelectric cooling, the dehumidifier produces whisper-quiet noise so you are free to run this unit all night without waking up the house.
Additionally, this type of cooling technology has a lower power consumption so you can even save on energy while using this dehumidifier. Further contributing to its simplistic design, the unit features a single LED indicator light on the front near the power button. This light is designed to alert you when the water tank has reached its maximum capacity. Once it does, the dehumidifier will promptly shut itself off to prevent overflow.
- Tank Size: 1.125 pints
- Room Size Suitability: 150 square feet
- Noise Level: 40 decibels
- Weight: 2.4 pounds
- Special Features: LED water tank indicator
You might enjoy our hands-on review of the Pro Breeze Dehumidifier.
What we love
- Compact size for good portability
- The water tank pulls straight out to help avoid spillage
- Noticeable change in humidity levels after running for a brief amount of time
- Quick and easy setup process
We don't like this as much
- Due to the size of the reservoir, it may require frequent emptying depending on humidity levels
- Can take some time to empty the tank through the small hole
2. TOSOT 50 Pint Dehumidifier
The TOSOT 50 Pint Dehumidifier can benefit larger spaces due to how quickly it can draw out moisture in the air. Using it is easy thanks to the light-touch intelligent control panel. The digital display is clear for simple reading too. There are a few controls to make the unit more efficient for your home as well. You can change up the fan speed as needed depending on how humid the room is, and you can set the timer so it only runs when you want it to.
This unit has a quiet operation even on higher fan speeds. Because of this, you can run it at a higher speed to remove excess moisture quickly without the sound being uncomfortable. If you have the dehumidifier set up for manual emptying of the water tank, the unit will keep running until it is full. If there’s ever a power outage, the unit will restart once power is restored, leaving your settings in place.
- Tank Size: 50 pints
- Room Size Suitability: 4,500 square feet
- Noise Level: 51 decibels
- Weight: 48 pounds
- Special Features: Real-time humidity monitoring | power outage restart
What we love
- The filter is easy to access for maintenance
- Straightforward manual so it's easy to understand and use
- The handle on the water tank makes it simple to remove
- Features an internal pump for continuous removal of the water
We don't like this as much
- Can noticeably warm up the room
- Heavyweight design can make it cumbersome to move room-to-room
3. FRIGIDAIRE Energy Star 50 Pint Dehumidifier
The FRIGIDAIRE Energy Star 50 Pint Dehumidifier is a sleek, portable unit that features caster wheels and integrated side handles so you can move it around with ease. Thanks to this design, it can easily be used in whichever room it is required. The unit has a low noise output too throughout the three fan speeds you can set it on, so it is even comfortable for use inside the bedroom or for general nighttime use.
In order that you don’t have to constantly check if the bucket is full, the unit is designed with an automatic shut-off system and alerts you when the tank is full. Otherwise, you can use the drain hose for continuous operation. For quick access to the bucket, it is located in the front of the dehumidifier. It even features an integrated carrying handle so you can lift out with less strain.
- Tank Size: 50 pints
- Room Size Suitability: 4,500 square feet
- Noise Level: 51 decibels
- Weight: 44 pounds
- Special Features: 3 fan speeds | full tank alert | auto shut-off
What we love
- The bucket fills up quickly on high fan speeds
- Features a large reservoir so it can hold more water before needing to be emptied
- Easy-to-use controls
- Convenient and reliable drain hose connection
We don't like this as much
- Some dust can settle on the exhaust vent since the air blows directly upwards
- When the bucket is full, it can be a little challenging to remove it without spillage
4. Vacplus VA-D1903
The Vacplus VA-D1903 is an intelligent dehumidifier that features automatic adjustments thanks to its humidity sensor technology. This therefore makes it a set-it-and-forget-it type of unit since you don’t have to constantly turn it on and off. The double drainage makes it easier too as you can manually empty the tank or set it to continuously drain. Also, more convenience is found in the timer function. With its 24-hour timer, you can set it to run for as long as you’d like, saving you more energy in the long run.
Another way this unit is more convenient for your home is the drying clothes mode. When placed near wet clothes, you can turn on the drying feature so your clothes can dry without building up humidity in a room. This shouldn’t disturb anyone in the home either seeing as you can adjust the fan speed and humidity, which can then make it emit lower noise.
- Tank Size: 30 pints
- Room Size Suitability: 1,500 square feet
- Noise Level: 36 decibels
- Weight: 20.9 pounds
- Special Features: 2 drainage modes | high precision humidity sensor | auto shut-off
Similar products: Best 30 Pint Dehumidifiers
What we love
- Built-in wheels so it's simple to move along the floor
- The bright digital display is easy to read
- The humidity sensor is very accurate
- Pulls in a good deal of moisture quickly
We don't like this as much
- We’d like to see the addition of mobile notifications when the tank is full
- The drain hose could benefit from being longer
5. hysure Dehumidifier
The hysure Dehumidifier is an ultra-quiet dehumidifier that uses Peltier technology. Alongside that, it also runs without a compressor which means it makes minimum noise. This low-noise operation allows for easy use at nighttime. The design also makes it light in weight so it takes no effort to pick up and move around your home to handle different rooms.
This mini dehumidifier features straightforward operation with its single-button control. Also, the button has LED lighting. When it’s green, you know it’s simply running. However, if that light changes to yellow, it is an indicator that the water tank is full. It is also energy-efficient so you can comfortably run it for hours on end without worrying about its power consumption.
- Tank Size: 1 pint
- Room Size Suitability: 215 square feet
- Noise Level: 33 decibels
- Weight: 2.2 pounds
- Special Features: Single-button control | auto shut-off
What we love
- Draws out a comfortable amount of moisture in small spaces
- The air it emits doesn't make the room warmer
- Compact design so it can fit on a desk to save space
- The water tank is easy to empty
We don't like this as much
- The unit is able to turn back on even when the bucket is removed
- It would help if part of the design was transparent so you can see if the reservoir is full
6. hOmeLabs 50 Pint Dehumidifier
The hOmeLabs Dehumidifier is made with comfort and ease of use in mind thanks to the built-in transportation wheels and integrated side handles for portability. You can set your desired humidity level, turn the machine on, and leave it to work on its own. Also, with the 24-hour timer, it can run for as little or as long as need be for your particular environment.
There is a turbo fan speed mode for maximum moisture removal at a quicker rate. Otherwise, you can use the comfort mode so that it automatically sets the recommended humidity levels and works from there. If you don’t want to manually empty the bucket, connect a hose and set it for continuous drainage for truly hands-free use.
- Tank Size: 50 pints
- Room Size Suitability: 4,500 square feet
- Noise Level: 50-54 decibels
- Weight: 40 pounds
- Special Features: Multiple modes of operation | 24-hour timer
What we love
- Easy to attach a drainage hose
- The water tank slides out smoothly
- Simple control panel for easy reading
- Sleek and modern design
We don't like this as much
- Doesn't include a drainage hose for the port connection
- The humidity sensor could be slightly more accurate
7. Midea 35 Pint Dehumidifier
The Midea Dehumidifier is designed to handle large rooms such as basements and even crawl spaces with ease. It is Energy Star rated too so it doesn’t require much power to operate. Also, it has a 51 decibel limit for low-volume operation, creating a comfortable and quiet environment. This works even if you run it on its turbo fan speed mode so you can clear the air fast with minimal noise.
Operating this unit is simple thanks to the LED display control panel. There is also an auto-comfort mode that quickly absorbs moisture until the room reaches optimal humidity levels. If you want to use the drain hose, simply set up the continuous mode so it runs all the time. Otherwise, use the 24-hour timer so it runs for a set amount of time before it shuts off.
- Tank Size: 35 pints
- Room Size Suitability: 3,000 square feet
- Noise Level: 49-51 decibels
- Weight: 33.51 pounds
- Special Features: Auto-comfort | timer mode | filter check
More like this: Best 35 Pint Dehumidifier
What we love
- Easy to pop the filter off to clean it
- The tank can hold a large amount of water before needing to be emptied
- Can help remove odors quickly
- Reliable wheels so it moves well on carpeted and hard floors
We don't like this as much
- The reservoir has a tight fit so it can be a little awkward to remove and put back in
- Does not shut down when desired humidity levels are reached
8. Waykar Home Dehumidifier
The Waykar Home Dehumidifier is a smart device with plenty of modern features to make it easier than ever to control your home’s humidity levels. It has an auto-detect humidity sensor that will adjust to your ideal humidity levels. There is a 24-hour timer to use as well. If you don’t want the control panel lights to disturb you at night, you can simply turn them off with a press of a button.
This unit features multiple fan speeds to handle different levels of humidity, and thanks to the four air outlets, it is more efficient at removing moisture at a quickened pace. When the unit runs, it releases minimal noise that’s typically no louder than a standard fan. For more silent operation, consider running it at the lowest fan speed.
- Tank Size: 70 pints
- Room Size Suitability: 4,500 square feet
- Noise Level: 41.5-45 decibels
- Weight: 30 pounds
- Special Features: Touchscreen control | automatic humidity sensor
What we love
- Simple to empty and clean out the water tank
- Filter vacuums are straightforward to clean
- Child lock feature for safer use
- Designed with a responsive touchpad for easy control
We don't like this as much
- Water continually drips when the bucket is removed
- The drain plug doesn't allow for the connection of a garden hose
FAQs About Quiet Dehumidifiers
Buying Guide For A Quiet Dehumidifier
What makes a dehumidifier good? Is it its ability to diffuse excess moisture in an environment or its ability to maintain a decent level of quietness? Well, a good dehumidifier is a combination of both. It can balance its efficient operation with its noise level.
A lot of dehumidifiers are loud and this can be pretty uncomfortable. Buying an excellent quiet dehumidifier is, in fact, an investment for your health and comfort, especially if you plan to use it in a room that you reside in, like a bedroom.
How Do Dehumidifiers Work?
A dehumidifier is designed to remove excess moisture from the atmosphere in a home. There is always water vapor in the air and a measure of this water vapor is known as humidity. Dehumidifiers regulate this measurement, ensuring the air vapor does not exceed the required amount.
A dehumidifier has a fan that it uses to draw in warm air in a room into its coil. As the air goes through the coil of the machine, the air contracts, and condensation happens in the dehumidifier. There is a storage tank attached to the dehumidifier, and this is where droplets of water formed during the condensation process collect. In the storage tank, the air becomes cooler and drier and is released back into the room’s atmosphere, safer.
The amount of moisture a dehumidifier can remove from a room depends on several factors. However, on average, a humidifier should be able to reduce the relative humidity in a room by 30 – 50%, according to energy laws.
Why Are Dehumidifiers Loud?
Due to the ongoing processes in dehumidifiers, they are usually known to be loud. This is one of the major challenges most people have with buying these appliances. Some of the sources of noise in a dehumidifier are;
- The noise of the compressor
- The exhaust: The fan, usually located either by the side or at the top of the dehumidifier, gives off a certain sound as the air exhausts.
- Grille noise: There is a Grille that is found at the back of the dehumidifier. The intake of air happens through this Grille. As the air enters in through a filter, it makes some sounds.
All of these sounds contribute to forming the noise that is frequently associated with a dehumidifier.
Luckily, there are many brands of quiet dehumidifiers nowadays. You can thus look at review sites like ours to identify the level of sound that will be required for different levels of dehumidification.
Sound generally is measured in decibels. There are different levels of noise, ranging from Faint- 20 dB to Painful and Dangerous- 140 dB. It is important to pay attention to the dB range of the systems you use, as it can affect your health.
The humming sound of a standard dehumidifier can produce up to 65 dB noise level, which is not exactly quiet. For a more quiet dehumidifier, aim for below 55 dB. The range of a quiet dehumidifier is between the range of 40 dB and 54 dB.
How to Choose a Quiet Dehumidifier?
The two parts of the dehumidifier responsible for the loud sound are the compressor and the fan & airflow. A good dehumidifier should have a silent compressor. It should also have a low-noise fan and optimal airflow.
Here is a brief guide;
- Loud dehumidifier: Above 65 dB.
- Noisy dehumidifier: Between 60 and 65 dB.
- Neutral dehumidifier: Between 57 and 60 dB.
- Quiet dehumidifier: Between 54 and 57 dB.
- Super quiet dehumidifier: Between 40 and 54 dB. [many of these dehumidifiers are useless at removing sufficient water from the air for any space bigger than a cupboard]
The quieter a dehumidifier is, the more you can enjoy its operation in your home and be less likely to switch out, which will cause issues with humidity.
Why would you want a silent dehumidifier?
If your home feels humid, a dehumidifier is a necessary tool to reduce moisture in the air. By doing so, you can eliminate common problems resulting from excessive moisture, including allergens, mold, and mildew build-up.
However, dehumidifiers can often be loud. Many smart machines can even be programmed to run on set schedules or turn themselves on if they detect the humidifity getting worse. The last thing you need is for a loud unit to cut on in the middle of the night and wake everyone in the house, especially if you have children or babies.
That’s where a silent dehumidifier can benefit your home. With a quieter unit, you can relax in your home without a constant sound of a buzzing or humming filling up the air. You can even run it at night without risking disturbing anyone.
What are some useful ways to look after my dehumidifier?
With proper maintenance, you can extend the life of your dehumidifier while also ensuring it remains useful.
Firstly, you can perform regular cleanings of the tank. It should be emptied immediately once it’s full so there’s no moisture damage. Also, you need to replace or clean the air filter as well. This should be done at least once a month.
How you run the dehumidifier also plays a role in its maintenance. If you live in a high-humidity environment with a 24-hour dehumidifier, you may be running it all day long. In this case, it’s essential to give it a full day’s rest to not overwork the machine. Consider not running the unit when you’re showering to help save on power.
Which Dehumidifier is Best for You?
We all understand just how beneficial dehumidifiers are. They make our homes feel more comfortable by taking away the excessive moisture that otherwise makes it tough to breathe at times or traps allergens and mold in the air or on furniture.
A constant sound in your home can be disturbing for numerous reasons. It can be louder than your TV, get in the way of some quiet reading time, or disturb you and others in the home while you sleep. So, when you still need to lower the humidity levels in your home, your best bet is to find a quiet dehumidifier.
For quicker recommendations, check out our top picks for the best budget-friendly, the best mid-range, and the best high-end quiet dehumidifiers.
Best Budget Option – Pro Breeze Electric Dehumidifier
Best Mid-Range Option – Vacplus VA-D1903
Best High-End Option – TOSOT 50 Pint Dehumidifier