Having a stuffy or musty home is every homeowner's or renter's nightmare. Not only is it uncomfortable, but it could lead to mold, mildew, and odors. While we can't lessen our water usage from doing the laundry, cooking, showering, or using the dishwasher, we can control the humidity levels in our home through a dehumidifier. Using one avoids condensation build-up during winter and decreases the hot and sticky feeling in summer.
Now, it may seem like there's a lot of science (and math) involved in getting a dehumidifier, with the need to take humidity levels and room size into account. But we've gone and done most of the work for you! We've picked out the best dehumidifiers online and compiled a list as well as a buying guide to help you select the right dehumidifier for your home. Our favorite is Waykar's 2,000 Square-Foot Dehumidifier, which is super customizable and great for large spaces.
It is the task of a dehumidifier to maintain healthy and balanced humidity levels in a room by removing any excess moisture in the air. They work much like your typical air conditioner wherein moist air is drawn in by the dehumidifier's fan and condenses as it passes through its cooled coils.
The condensed moisture drips from the coils into a basin or it could be pumped out to a drain. Drier air is then released back into the room.
Here are the best dehumidifiers we found on the market, each selected to fit your lifestyle and situation.
$159.97
Moisture removal capacity | 34 pts. |
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Room size capacity | Up to 2,000 sq. ft. |
Water collection | Manual and continuous drain |
Washable filter | Yes |
Automatic settings | Yes |
Bucket full indication | Yes |
Energy Star rated | No |
HME020031N
$229.97
Moisture removal capacity | 50 pts. |
---|---|
Room size capacity | Up to 4,500 sq. ft. |
Water collection | Manual and continuous drain (hose not included) |
Washable filter | Yes |
Automatic settings | Yes |
Bucket full indication | Yes |
Energy Star rated | Yes |
$67.99
Moisture removal capacity | 1 pt. 8 oz. |
---|---|
Room size capacity | 100-269 sq. ft. |
Water collection | Manual |
Washable filter | Yes |
Automatic settings | Yes |
Bucket full indication | Yes |
Energy Star rated | No |
MAD20C1ZWS
$160.00
Moisture removal capacity | 20 pts. |
---|---|
Room size capacity | Up to 1,500 sq. ft. |
Water collection | Manual and continuous drain |
Washable filter | Yes |
Automatic settings | Yes |
Bucket full indication | Yes |
Energy Star rated | Yes |
E-333
$14.97
Moisture removal capacity | 6 oz. |
---|---|
Room size capacity | Up to 333 sq. ft. |
Water collection | Rechargeable silica gels |
Washable filter | No |
Automatic settings | - |
Bucket full indication | Yes |
Energy Star rated | No |
VRM010184N
$199.97
Moisture removal capacity | 50 pts. |
---|---|
Room size capacity | Up to 4,500 sq. ft. |
Water collection | Manual and continuous drain (hose not included) |
Washable filter | Yes |
Automatic settings | Yes |
Bucket full indication | Yes |
Energy Star rated | Yes |
PB-03-US
$69.99
Moisture removal capacity | 1 pt. 2 oz. |
---|---|
Room size capacity | Up to 250 sq. ft. |
Water collection | Manual |
Washable filter | No |
Automatic settings | Yes |
Bucket full indication | Yes |
Energy Star rated | No |
PD223A
$248.00
Moisture removal capacity | 70 pts. |
---|---|
Room size capacity | Up to 4,500 sq. ft. |
Water collection | Manual and continuous drain |
Washable filter | Yes |
Automatic settings | Yes |
Bucket full indication | Yes |
Energy Star rated | No |
DH-CS01
$44.98
Moisture removal capacity | 1 pt. |
---|---|
Room size capacity | Up to 260 sq. ft. |
Water collection | Manual |
Washable filter | No |
Automatic settings | Yes |
Bucket full indication | Yes |
Energy Star rated | No |
1850
$1,425.82
Moisture removal capacity | 95 pts. |
---|---|
Room size capacity | Up to 5,200 sq. ft. |
Water collection | Continuous drain |
Washable filter | No |
Automatic settings | Yes |
Bucket full indication | N/A |
Energy Star rated | No |
Image | 1 ![]() Waykar | 2 ![]() hOmeLabs | 3 ![]() Honati | 4 ![]() Midea | 5 ![]() Eva Dry | 6 ![]() Vremi | 7 ![]() Pro Breeze | 8 ![]() Colzer | 9 ![]() ALROCKET | 10 ![]() Aprilaire |
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Name | 2,000 Square-Foot Dehumidifier | 4,500 Square-Foot Dehumidifier | Home Dehumidifier | 1,500 Square-Foot Dehumidifier | Wireless Mini Dehumidifier | 4,500 Square-Foot Dehumidifier | Electric Mini Dehumidifier | 4,500 Square-Foot Home Dehumidifier | Small Dehumidifier | Pro Whole House Dehumidifier |
Features | Adjust Your Humidity Level as You Like | A Sleek Multi-Purpose Dehumidifier for Large Spaces | Removes Moisture from Small Spaces | Full of Automatic Features for Ease of Use | A Mess-Free, Cordless Dehumidifier | Dehumidify and Purify the Air in Your Home | Quiet Enough to Use Anywhere | A Dehumidifier That Doubles as a Laundry Dryer | Light up Your Room With Colorful LEDs | The Whole-Home Dehumidifier That Only Needs One-Time Setting |
Price | $159.97 | $229.97 | $67.99 | $160.00 | $14.97 | $199.97 | $69.99 | $248.00 | $44.98 | $1,425.82 |
Moisture removal capacity | 34 pts. | 50 pts. | 1 pt. 8 oz. | 20 pts. | 6 oz. | 50 pts. | 1 pt. 2 oz. | 70 pts. | 1 pt. | 95 pts. |
Room size capacity | Up to 2,000 sq. ft. | Up to 4,500 sq. ft. | 100-269 sq. ft. | Up to 1,500 sq. ft. | Up to 333 sq. ft. | Up to 4,500 sq. ft. | Up to 250 sq. ft. | Up to 4,500 sq. ft. | Up to 260 sq. ft. | Up to 5,200 sq. ft. |
Water collection | Manual and continuous drain | Manual and continuous drain (hose not included) | Manual | Manual and continuous drain | Rechargeable silica gels | Manual and continuous drain (hose not included) | Manual | Manual and continuous drain | Manual | Continuous drain |
Washable filter | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
Automatic settings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Bucket full indication | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A |
Energy Star rated | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
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It's important to choose a dehumidifier that fits your needs and expectations, such as which room you want to lower humidity levels in and your ability to drain the collected water. There are also automatic settings, filter maintenance, and temperature limit to consider.
The ideal humidity range for comfort is around 30 to 40 percent in the winter and 40 to 50 percent in the summer. Before buying a dehumidifier, check to see how humid your room is to help determine how much dehumidifying power you need. You can use a humidity meter or look for certain clues.
A slightly damp room between 50 and 60 percent isn't super noticeable, but the air may feel heavy, especially in humid weather. Rooms that are mildly damp will require minimal levels of dehumidifying.
Moderately damp rooms with 60 to 70 percent humidity may have an occasional musty odor. In addition, the air might feel damp and clammy depending on the weather. These rooms will need a slightly more powerful machine.
Spaces that are between 70 and 100 percent humidity will have condensation on the walls, floor, or ceiling. They may also have water seepage, standing water, and mold issues. These areas, often basements and laundry rooms, will need heavy-duty dehumidifiers.
Once you know how humid your room is, you'll want to measure your room to determine its size. Dehumidifiers are rated by the amount of moisture in pints they remove in 24 hours, so you should find a balance between the humidity level and size of your room.
Small rooms or areas such as a closet or kitchen cupboard do not require heavy-duty dehumidifiers. For periodic and localized humidity issues, portable or mini dehumidifiers are a popular choice among homeowners. These typically have a capacity of 10 pints or less.
They are often plug-and-play and quite light on the wallet. They use up less electricity and can fit easily into small spaces.
Medium-sized rooms within the range of 300 to 500 square feet require more capable dehumidifiers, If your room has a 50 to 70 percent humidity level, a dehumidifier with a 20 to 30-pint capacity is recommended. If humidity levels reach 80 to 100 percent, it's best to increase pint capacity to 40.
Rooms ranging from 500 to 1,500 square feet that are moderately damp can usually get away with a 30 to 40-pint capacity. If your room is wet, however, look for a dehumidifier with a capacity of 50 to 60 pints.
Dehumidifiers with a high capacity of 70 or more pints are ideal for large spaces between 1,500 and 2,500 square feet. They work well for very damp and wet areas as well as multiple adjacent rooms with humidity problems.
If you experience high humidity all year round and in more than one room, you may want to opt for a centralized whole-house dehumidifier instead of having multiple dehumidifiers lying around. This machine uses your home's heating-and-cooling system to maintain proper humidity levels across all rooms of the house.
As mentioned earlier, there's more to choosing dehumidifiers than room size and pint capacity. Other factors like climate and number of occupants affect your selection process.
Automatically add 10 pints to the capacity you need if you live in a place with a more humid climate. These climates are characterized by hot and humid summers and cold to mild winters.
More people living in a particular space means more humidity creation through the various activities we engage in such as showering, cooking, or doing the laundry. Another five pints is advised.
Add five more pints if you have multiple windows, doors, or other surfaces hit by opposing outdoor weather, which leads to condensation and extra moisture buildup in the air.
Washers and dryers are examples of household appliances that produce extra moisture. It's recommended to add five pints if a dehumidifier is going to be placed near these types of machines.
Cleanup and maintenance are other factors to consider when picking a dehumidifier because manually removing the basin with collected water and draining it at the sink can be quite a hassle.
If you're placing the dehumidifier in a slightly damp room that experiences extra humidity periodically, getting one with an internal bucket might not be such a bad idea since it might take a few days before it's filled. Go for dehumidifiers with larger tubs so that you need to take fewer water collection trips.
It might be unsightly, but a dehumidifier with an internal pump that directs the water collected up a hose and into a sink saves you the obligation of having to empty the basin regularly, especially if you're dealing with higher humidity.
A dehumidifier with a drainage hole can be placed over a floor-level drain so that all the water being collected can be disposed of without effort. In most cases, a hose can also be connected to direct the water to a drain.
Energy performance is another thing to consider when choosing a dehumidifier. Your humidity problem might get fixed but at a high expense because of its energy consumption.
It's important to note that getting a dehumidifier with a capacity bigger than your requirements is a better option than an undersized model, which will work overtime to maintain the right humidity levels, thus consuming more energy in the process.
The Energy Star rating is the best way to gauge a machine's energy efficiency. It is an international designation that indicates that the product has passed a standard of effectively doing its job without consuming too much energy.
Hats off to technology for allowing so many advancements in our machines that we don't need to exert extra effort maintaining them! Dehumidifiers can have perks like sensors and automatic settings which make them even more convenient to use.
Most dehumidifiers today have indicators that inform you when the water basin needs draining or the filter requires washing or replacing. As we go about our busy lives, we rely on reminders like blinking light indicators to avoid any accidents or damage to the equipment.
More high-end dehumidifiers also have useful automatic settings like shutting off when the right humidity level is reached and turning back on when needed, or automatically defrosting a unit if it reaches low temperatures to avoid damaging its coils.
Such features save you big bucks on the electricity bill and having to replace parts during the winter season. There are also some models with an auto-reset feature, which restores the dehumidifier to its previous settings in case of a power interruption.
It's difficult to stop when we're in the mood for home improvement shopping. Your place might have a moisture problem in summer but the air could be too dry in winter or it might be unbearable because it's uncomfortably cold. Our suggestions below can help.
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