• Dehumidifiers help remove excess moisture from your home to prevent mold buildup and remove allergens from the air.
  • The top-rated Frigidaire FFAD7033R1 dehumidifier is our best overall pick because it removes an impressive amount of moisture from the air, allows you to control the exact level of humidity in any room, and leaves you with a comfortable and healthy living environment.

Excess moisture in the air can cause damage to your health, as well as to items in your home.

A good dehumidifier removes excess humidity from the air, which can help prevent mold and mildew buildup and eliminate allergens. Dehumidifiers are often placed in basements, but they’re also useful in other places, such as in closets where you store damp clothes or other smaller areas where too much moisture can cause a problem (bathrooms, RVs, boats).

Dehumidifiers fan-force air over coolant-filled coils to remove moisture. The remaining condensed moisture 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.

How to choose a dehumidifier

When 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.

The following picks are based on critical research for humidifiers intended for commercial use. 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 of course, price.

We're currently working on personally testing these picks, among other dehumidifier options, to see if they hold up to the online ratings.

Here are the best dehumidifiers:

The best overall

The Frigidaire FFAD7033R1 dehumidifier removes an impressive amount of moisture, is easy to set up, and includes a helpful digital display that's easy to control.

The highly-rated Frigidaire FFAD7033R1 dehumidifier protects your home from the mold and mildew caused by excess moisture, and it helps to eliminate bacteria in the air.

The 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 70 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.

Pros: Electronic control panel, portable design, Energy Star Certified, various digital controls, very precise humidity control

Cons: Common error message, questionable longevity, pricey

The best portable dehumidifier

Foto: Source: Eva-dry

Space is no longer a restriction with the super portable and affordable Eva-Dry E-333 Portable Dehumidifier.

Humidity is everywhere, which is why this Eva-Dry E-333 Portable Dehumidifier is a must-have for smaller areas. The handheld 5-by-5-inch device can be placed anywhere extra humidity clogs up the air, such as closets, under the kitchen sink, safes, boats, RVs, bathrooms, and more.

Each Eva-Dry E-333 Portable Dehumidifier helps to eliminate excessive humidity for up to 10 years using renewable silica gel technology that works without batteries or external power. Without the need for a power source, the portable dehumidifier is completely silent, but it's powerful enough to provide a humidity solution in any area up to 333 cubic feet.

The dehumidifier is renewable, meaning it will not require any expensive refills, and 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 charge.

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.

Pros: Extremely portable, low price, does not need a constant power source, completely quiet

Cons: Requires charging, won't work in larger spaces

The best for large spaces

Foto: Source: Amazon

The Ivation 70 Pint Energy Star Dehumidifier is powerful enough to eliminate humidity from larger areas.

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 energy-saving auto-shutoff mode, a timer, and a cleanable and thus reusable filter.

Other perks include an extra-long 6-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.

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 best for small spaces

Foto: Source: Evadry

The Eva-dry Edv-1100 Electric Petite Dehumidifier is powerful enough to remove humidity from areas as large as 1,100 square feet, but it's so small and quiet you'll barely notice it's there.

Perfect for smaller rooms such as bathrooms, the Eva-dry Edv-1100 Electric Petite Dehumidifier is compact enough to fit on a desk or workbench while effectively removing humidity. It uses Peltier Technology (which means there's no compressor) making it light and quiet to run as it extracts moisture from the air and stores it in a spill-proof reservoir.

The tiny dehumidifier has an auto-shutoff feature, which displays a "full" light indicator to alert you when the 16-ounce reservoir needs to be emptied. Even better, it doesn't require or consume much energy.

It's super quiet, so as not to be disturbing as it does its thing in closets, RVs, and other small places up to 1,100 cubic feet large.

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

Check out our other home climate control guides

Foto: Source: Frigidaire

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