The 4 best dehumidifiers of 2021
- Dehumidifiers help remove excess moisture from the air to prevent mold and remove allergens.
- Frigidaire is our top pick because it impressively removes moisture and has customizable controls.
A good dehumidifier removes excess humidity from the air and, in turn, helps eliminate allergens and prevent mold and mildew buildup. Dehumidifiers are often placed in basements, but they're also useful in other places, such as closets and even bathrooms, RVs, and boats.
Dehumidifiers fan-force air over coolant-filled coils to remove moisture by creating condensation. The collected condensation then drips from the coils into a bucket or basin, or it may be pumped out of the unit depending on the model. As a result, drier air is expelled back into the room.
A dehumidifier helps maintain an ideal relative humidity level (RH level) in your home. Relative humidity refers to the ratio of the current absolute humidity to the highest possible absolute humidity.
According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy, it's recommended you keep relative humidity between 30% to 50% in the summer and 30% to 40% in the winter.
We've included picks for different sized areas ranging from spaces as small as a gym bag to an entire apartment. Beyond square unit cooling capabilities, we also took into consideration moisture removal options, energy requirements, specialized features such as high-tech control panels, and price.
Here are the best dehumidifiers of 2021
- Best dehumidifier overall: Frigidaire High-Efficiency 50-Pint Dehumidifier with Built-In Pump
- Best portable dehumidifier: Eva-Dry Wireless Mini Dehumidifier
- Best dehumidifier for large spaces: Ivation 70-Pint Energy Star Dehumidifier
- Best dehumidifier for small spaces: Eva-Dry EDV-1100 Electric Petite Dehumidifier
Frigidaire
The Frigidaire High-Efficiency 50-Pint Dehumidifier with Built-In Pump removes an impressive amount of moisture, is easy to assemble, and includes helpful, easy-to-use electronic controls.
Pros: Energy Star-certified, built-in pump, easy-to-use electronic controls, pull-out pint tank, limited lifetime warranty
Cons: None
The Frigidaire High-Efficiency 50-Pint Dehumidifier is capable of continuous operation when the unit is located near a suitable drain and has Ready-Select electronic controls, including a digital humidity readout, a 24-hour on/off timer, and a control lock.
It can capture up to 50 pints of moisture every 24 hours and allows you to control the exact percentage of humidity in any room. Its portable design includes a top handle, integrated side handles, and caster wheels, all of which make it easy to move from room to room. The Energy Star-certified product has a low-temperature operation that helps you save both energy and money. And, our top pick is backed with a limited lifetime warranty.
The best portable dehumidifierEva-dry
Space is no longer a restriction with the super portable and affordable Eva-Dry Wireless Mini Dehumidifier.
Pros: Portable, affordable, doesn't require a constant power source, completely quiet, five-year warranty
Cons: Requires charging, won't work in larger spaces, not Energy Star-certified
Humidity is everywhere, which is why the Eva-Dry Wireless Mini Dehumidifier is a must-have for smaller areas. The handheld 5-by-5-inch device can be placed anywhere, helping to eliminate excessive humidity for up to 10 years using renewable silica gel technology. Without the need for a power source or batteries, the portable dehumidifier is completely silent, but it's powerful enough to provide a humidity solution in any area up to 333 cubic feet.
It's also renewable, meaning it won't require any expensive refills, and it comes backed by a five-year warranty. The product works on a cycling system in which you place it in a damp area to soak up moisture and then plug it in to recharge.
As the unit absorbs humidity, an indicator window, containing crystals will change from orange to green over the course of two to four weeks, or as the device collects between eight and 10 ounces of moisture. When the crystals have changed to green, this indicates the dehumidifier is ready to be renewed or plugged in for eight to 10 hours in a well-ventilated area, and then placed back in the area you wish to remove humidity from.
Though it's not Energy Star-certified, requires charging, and only works in small spaces, it's a wonderful portable option that gets the job done.
The best dehumidifiers for large spacesAmazon
The Ivation 70-Pint Energy Star Dehumidifier is powerful enough to eliminate humidity from larger areas.
Pros: Easy to use LCD screen, eco-friendly features, two fan speeds, optional hose connection, auto-defrost sensor
Cons: Noisy, setup can be confusing
The Ivation 70-Pint Energy Star Dehumidifier keeps spaces up to 4,500 square feet cool and comfortable by removing up to 70 pints of moisture a day. It uses an advanced filtration and evaporation system that helps to prevent mold, mildew, and structural cracking. The dehumidifier also safeguards against allergens, mites, and other asthma triggers.
It has an easy-to-use LCD interface that lets you check the humidistat, set ideal levels, adjust fan speed, program the 24-hour timer, and receive important filter and reservoir alerts. It also has multiple green features, including an energy-saving auto-shutoff mode, a timer, and a cleanable, reusable filter.
Other perks include an extra-long six-foot three-prong power cord that eliminates the need for extension cords, two fan speeds of regular and turbo, an optional hose connection to make draining easy, and an auto-defrost sensor that prevents wasted energy and protects evaporator coils all within a relatively small, compact 40-pound design. Despite being prone to noise and the unit being a bit difficult to assemble, its working capacity in large areas is unmatched.
The best dehumidifier for small spacesEvadry
The Eva-Dry EDV-1100 Electric Petite Dehumidifier is powerful enough to remove humidity from areas as large as 1,100 square feet, yet small and quiet enough to collect humidity in a hassle-free way.
Pros: Compact size, lower power consumption, auto-shutoff feature, no compressor means it's quieter than other options
Cons: Not super powerful, best for small rooms and spaces only, not Energy Star-certified
Perfect for smaller rooms such as bathrooms, the Eva-Dry EDV-1100 Electric Petite Dehumidifier can fit on a desk or workbench and effectively removes humidity from spaces up to 1,100 square feet. It uses Peltier Technology (which means there's no compressor) making it lightweight and quiet as it extracts moisture from the air and stores it in a spill-proof, 16-ounce reservoir.
The tiny dehumidifier has an auto-shutoff feature, which displays a "full" light indicator to alert you when the reservoir needs to be emptied. Even better, it doesn't require or consume much energy, even though it's not Energy Star-certified.
How to choose a dehumidifierWhen selecting a dehumidifier, it's important to consider the size of the area you wish to dehumidify, along with the condensation moisture removal method, and the amount of power you expect the machine to consume.
At their most basic level, dehumidifiers vary according to pint removal capacity every 24 hours. Moderately damp areas will require between 25 and 40-pint capacity, while extremely damp areas will need between 40 and 70-pint capacity, all dependent upon the size of the area you wish to dry.
Unless you plan on removing and clearing the water basin constantly, you'll want to go with a direct drain feature, which allows for continuous operation without emptying the unit's bucket. Direct drains are convenient but typically require a floor-level water drain. If that's not an option based on your layout, opt for a unit with a pump, which can push water into a specific space, such as a basement sink.
Dehumidifier energy performance is rated by the amount of water extracted every hour versus the amount of energy consumed to do so. Low-level units usually consume less power, but they may not be effective enough for your humidity needs. To get maximum efficiency out of any unit, look for those that are Energy Star-certified. Also, consider the following:
- The filter indicator setting alerts you when the air filter needs to be cleaned.
- The auto-humidistat senses the moisture level in the area around the unit and automatically shuts the unit off to save energy once the desired humidity level is reached.
- A low-temperature setting allows the unit to operate in temperatures as low as 41 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Auto-defrost keeps units from freezing in colder environments (usually below 65 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Auto-reset restarts the unit to its previous setting after a power loss.
Frigidaire