The best dehumidifiers for ridding your home of excess moisture

side by side of two dehumidifiers — Dehumidifiers are useful if you live in a hot or humid environment, or to help dry out your home if you live somewhere prone to flooding or large storms. Amazon; Business Insider

Updated 2024-09-27T20:14:39.746Z

A great dehumidifier works quickly and quietly to remove excess moisture from the air, keeping your room dry and comfortable, and helping to ease allergy and asthma symptoms. A dehumidifier is an important consideration if you live in humid or hot environments, especially if you need to run the AC frequently, which can introduce a lot of moisture into the air. Larger dehumidifiers, especially those with pumps, can also help dry out your home if you live somewhere prone to flooding or large storms.

Our picks for the best dehumidifier are based on interviews with three doctors and experts, and then we scrutinized consumer reviews and feedback.

To directly measure humidity levels in your house, use a hygrometer. "We recommend keeping the relative humidity in your home between 30 to 50%. High humidity can increase ground-ozone levels, dust mites, and mold — all of which can be allergy or asthma trigger[s]," said Kenneth Mendez, president and CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).

Here are the best dehumidifiers of 2024

Best overall: Frigidaire High-Efficiency 50-Pint Dehumidifier with Built-In Pump — See at Amazon
Best with WiFi: HomeLabs WiFi-Enabled Dehumidifier — See at Amazon
Best budget: Eva-Dry Wireless Mini Dehumidifier — See at Amazon

Best overall

Frigidaire High-Efficiency 50-Pint Dehumidifier with Built-In Pump

$229 $279 Save 18%

The Frigidaire is the best dehumidifier for large spaces because it covers spaces up to 4,500 square feet. Yet, it's easy to move around, thanks to the built-in wheels and handle. It also has a splash guard to simplify emptying the water tank. You can set custom humidity levels and fan speeds. Plus, it’s optimized for temperatures as low as 41 degrees Fahrenheit.

View at Amazon View at Wayfair

What we like

A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Has built-in wheels and handle

A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Continuous drain option so you won't have to empty it

A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Super easy to set up

What we don't like

Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Can be loud

Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Only one-year warranty

Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Some users report issues with an error code

Best with WiFI

HomeLabs WiFi-Enabled Dehumidifier

$169.99 $199.99 Save 15%

The quiet, fast, and easy-to-use dehumidifier from HomeLabs is made for spaces up to 1,500 square feet and runs continuously until its tank is full. Though there’s a drain hose outlet, the hose is not included. It’s recommended to use thread tape to avoid leaks if you do choose to attach a hose.

View at Amazon

What we like

A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. WiFi connectivity lets you control the unit from anywhere

A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Features a continuous drain option

A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Auto shutoff when tank is full

What we don't like

Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Not Energy Star certified

Best budget

Eva-Dry Wireless Mini Dehumidifier

$14.97 $24.95 Save 40%

This Eva-Dry dehumidifier measures 9 x 8.25 x 2.88 inches and works well for spaces up to 48 square feet. It uses silica beads to absorb moisture and has an absorbing capacity of six ounces. It’s also convenient because you only need to recharge it every four weeks. (It plugs into a wall outlet.)

View at Amazon

What we like

A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Small enough to fit in a gym bag

A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Cordless operation

A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Unit lasts up to 30 days between charges

What we don't like

Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Limited capacity

Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Not ideal for larger areas

What to look for in a dehumidifier

Dampness level: Dehumidifiers come in different sizes depending on how much moisture they can remove in 24 hours. Here's what size to buy based on how humid your room is:

Dampness level	Characteristics	Dehumidifier size	Room size
Moderately damp	Musty aroma in the area during humid weather	25-39 pint capacity	Small (closets, small bathrooms)
Extremely damp	Always damp in the area regardless of season	40-59 pint capacity	Medium (bedrooms, small basements, large closets)
Wet	Visible condensation on ceilings and walls	60+ pint capacity	Large (large basements)

How the unit removes moisture: It will either have a built-in pump or a direct drain. A built-in pump lets you run the drain hose to a window or sink, while a direct drain funnels the water directly into a sink or drain.

Energy performance: To get maximum efficiency out of a unit, look for those that are Energy Star-certified.

Automatic or useful features: Look for a unit with an adjustable humidistat, which will automatically turn your unit on and off to maintain the preset humidity level. Other useful features, according to The Home Depot, include:

Automatic shutoff: Turns your unit off once the tank is full
Digital display: Shows the relative humidity level and other settings
Filter sensor/indicator: Tells you when it's time to replace the filter
Programmable timer: Lets you run the unit only at certain times of the day
Auto-defrost: Keeps your unit from freezing in cold temperatures

It's also worth pointing out that many AC units have built-in dehumidifiers. If your AC unit is in your desired room, check first to see if it has a dehumidifier and whether it works well. We tested the best air conditioners.

Why we're the experts

In our first major rewrite of this guide, we consulted allergy, skincare, and HVAC experts to learn more about how a dehumidifier can help your health and what features to look for. We spoke to Kenneth Mendez, president and CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA); John McKeon, CEO and founder of Allergy Standards Limited (ASL); and Jeanine Downie, MD, FAAD, director of Image Dermatology PC.

Using their insights, along with our own research and knowledge of the space, we selected our dehumidifier options.

Dehumidifier FAQs

Why do you need a dehumidifier?

A dehumidifier helps maintain the optimal level of humidity in your room so it's not too humid. It reduces the growth and incidence of mold, mildew, and dust mites.

Dehumidifier vs. humidifier: what's the difference, and which do you need?

A dehumidifier removes moisture from the air, while a humidifier adds moisture to the air.

If your room feels stuffy and you see condensation or mold, you need a dehumidifier. It's commonly used in bathrooms, basements, closets, boats, and RVs, but you can use it anywhere else in the house, too.

If your room feels dry and your skin is irritated, you need a humidifier. We tested the best humidifiers.

How does a dehumidifier work?

A dehumidifier works by blowing moist air over coolant-filled coils, causing the moisture to condense into water droplets. The condensation then drips from the coils into a receptacle.

The collected water is directly drained out or pumped into another area like a sink, depending on the unit you have.

Is a dehumidifier good for your skin?

"Dehumidifiers decrease the incidence of dry skin," said Jeanine Downie, MD, FAAD, Director of Image Dermatology PC. They also reduce irritation due to allergens like dust mites and mold.

If your dehumidifier removes too much humidity from the air, however, it may dry out your skin.

"It's important to note that if the humidity starts to drop below 30%, it can have a negative impact on health, including drying out of the eyes and mucous membranes," said McKeon. "Very dry air can also result in dry skin, worsening of eczema, and irritation of the airways." You should continue to monitor humidity levels and how your skin feels as you use your dehumidifier.

How do you clean a dehumidifier?

There are two parts to focus your attention on: the air filter and the tank. Clean the air filter under your faucet often (once a week).

Wipe down and dry out the tank after every use to reduce mold and mildew growth within your dehumidifier.

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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@jkmperu.com.

The best dehumidifiers for ridding your home of excess moisture

Here are the best dehumidifiers of 2024

Best overall

Best with WiFI

Best budget

What to look for in a dehumidifier

Why we're the experts

Dehumidifier FAQs

Why do you need a dehumidifier?

Dehumidifier vs. humidifier: what's the difference, and which do you need?

How does a dehumidifier work?

Is a dehumidifier good for your skin?

How do you clean a dehumidifier?

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