8 Best Dehumidifiers in 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Top 8 Dehumidifiers to Consider in 2025 for Optimal Air Quality

Dehumidifiers draw excess moisture from the air, helping to combat condensation, prevent mould growth and reduce damp on walls. Excess humidity in your home can become a breeding ground for mold and mildew, which can cause damage to your house and pose health risks to your family. A good dehumidifier can help remove excess moisture from the air and reduce the ability for mold and bacteria to grow, improving your home’s overall air quality. Dehumidifiers reduce the moisture levels in our homes which can help those with asthma and other respiratory conditions. As Wei-Ning Wang, an associate professor of indoor air quality and aerosol technology at Virginia Commonwealth University, told Live Science: “Dehumidifiers are essential tools to lower the relative humidity, which in turn could reduce mold growth and hence increase air quality.”

Top 8 Dehumidifiers for 2025

Below are the top eight dehumidifiers recommended for 2025, selected based on performance, reliability, and user-friendly features, all aimed at maintaining optimal air quality.

1. Frigidaire FFAP5034W1

The best dehumidifier we’ve tested is the Frigidaire FFAP5034W1. This 50-pint unit is great for dealing with humidity in both large areas and cooler, more humid environments, as it offers plenty of airflow variance across its three fan speed settings. Its high dehumidification capacity also makes it a perfect fit for bigger rooms, and thanks to its impressive energy efficiency, you can let it run for extended periods without major consequences for your energy bill. This Frigidaire dehumidifier features Wi-Fi capabilities that let you control and monitor all of the action from an app on your phone, allowing you to adjust everything from fan speed to desired humidity level. While you can check the 16.9-ounce capacity bucket level on your phone, there’s also a marker in front of the appliance to give you similar information at a glance. We also like that the water bucket is conveniently located at the front of the machine and that it includes a splash guard and handle.

  • Pros: High dehumidification capacity, Wi-Fi-enabled, energy-efficient, three fan speeds.
  • Cons: Smaller water tank requires frequent emptying, no built-in pump for continuous drainage.

Shop Frigidaire FFAP5034W1 on Amazon

2. Midea Cube MAD50S1QWT

Simply put, the Midea Cube (MAD50S1QWT) is by far the best dehumidifier we’ve tested as of the writing of this guide in early 2025. It is unequivocally the best dehumidifier on the market today. It removes moisture fast – We conduct two different tests to determine how well and how fast a dehumidifier can remove moisture in a real-world environment. The large bucket means you will only need to get rid of the water every few days, compared to most dehumidifiers where you will need to have more trips to the sink. The bucket can also act like a stand to allow the main device to use the gravity hose ¡ª something that is much harder with the standard bucket design. A large bucket also means a heavier bucket when full.

  • Pros: Fast moisture removal, large bucket capacity, innovative design, energy-efficient (1.95 L/kWh).
  • Cons: Smartphone app connectivity issues, heavier bucket when full.

Shop Midea Cube MAD50S1QWT on Amazon

3. Honeywell TP50WK

The Honeywell TP50WK takes the well-deserved top spot. This dehumidifier combines powerful performance with stylish looks, making it one of the best options for large rooms and offices. It offers excellent performance, low energy use and has a sleek, user-friendly design. One of the smart features this model offers is a digital control system which actively monitors your space, and changes mode according to the levels of moisture it detects. The tank itself does have splash guards to avoid leaks and splits. The Honeywell TP50WKA also has a washable dust filter to remove dust and filter your air for other impurities.

  • Pros: Stylish design, powerful performance, smart digital controls, washable filter.
  • Cons: Expensive, continuous drain relies on gravity, not pump-operated.

Shop Honeywell TP50WK on Amazon

4. MeacoDry Arete Two

The best dehumidifier we’ve tested, the MeacoDry Arete Two is quiet, easy to use, works superbly and is very energy-efficient compared to other compressor dehumidifiers. The Arete Two is an impressive step-up from its predecessor, now complete with a timer, Wi-Fi connectivity and Smart capabilities which the Arete One previously lacked. Plus, its Smart Laundry Mode is brilliant at drying wet washing. It’s also available in multiple sizes and offers built-in HEPA air purifiers.

  • Pros: Energy-efficient (3p/hour), quiet, Smart Laundry Mode, HEPA air purifier.
  • Cons: Slightly less effective than some competitors in high-humidity settings.

Shop MeacoDry Arete Two on Amazon

5. Whirlpool WHAD50PCW

The Whirlpool WHAD50PCW is a full-size 50-pint dehumidifier that performs similarly to the Frigidaire FFAP5034W1 but features a smaller water tank. It also makes a little more noise and produces more heat. This model is reliable for large spaces and offers continuous drainage options.

  • Pros: High capacity, reliable performance, continuous drainage option.
  • Cons: Noisier, produces more heat, smaller water tank.

Shop Whirlpool WHAD50PCW on Amazon

6. Black + Decker BDT50WTB

The Black + Decker BDT50WTB Dehumidifier features a humidistat and simple controls on top of the unit. The continuous drain could save you from needing to empty the bucket three times each day in very humid environments. It’s a great choice for large, wet spaces with a capacity of 50 pints per day.

  • Pros: Large moisture removal capacity, continuous drain option, simple controls.
  • Cons: Small drain bucket, no pump included.

Shop Black + Decker BDT50WTB on Amazon

7. ProBreeze PB-03

The ProBreeze Mini Dehumidifier is exceptionally portable, cheap to run and easy to use, making it a great budget-friendly option for small spaces. This model has a pretty modest 8.5-pint capacity, meaning it’s best for small and medium-sized rooms. It also has a more compact design to match, so it’s easier to find a space for it in smaller rooms, and it generates very little heat or noise, so you can place it near your bed without disturbing your sleep.

  • Pros: Portable, quiet, budget-friendly, low energy use.
  • Cons: Limited to small spaces, no continuous drain option.

Shop ProBreeze PB-03 on Amazon

8. Vellgoo 4,500 Sq. Ft. (52 Pint)

We chose the Vellgoo 4,500 Sq. Ft. (52 Pint) Dehumidifier as one of our top picks based on the results, reviews, pint size and price point. Ideal even for larger rooms, the company currently touts it as one of Energy-Star’s Most Efficient of 2024, and it’s rated highly for efficiency and dehumidifier water removal. On Amazon, it currently has 4.5 stars and over 5,000+ ratings, with 74% giving it a 5-star rating.

  • Pros: High efficiency, large coverage area, strong user reviews.
  • Cons: Limited brand recognition, may require frequent maintenance.

Shop Vellgoo 52 Pint on Amazon

Comparison Table of Top Dehumidifiers

Model Capacity (Pints/Day) Room Size (Sq. Ft.) Energy Star Wi-Fi Noise Level (dB) Price Range
Frigidaire FFAP5034W1 50 4,500 Yes Yes 52.9 $250-$300
Midea Cube MAD50S1QWT 50 4,500 Yes Yes 50.7 $270-$320
Honeywell TP50WK 50 4,000 Yes Yes 51 $300-$350
MeacoDry Arete Two 20 2,000 Yes Yes Low (not specified) $200-$250
Whirlpool WHAD50PCW 50 4,500 Yes No Moderate $230-$280
Black + Decker BDT50WTB 50 4,500 Yes No Not listed $220-$270
ProBreeze PB-03 8.5 225 No No 50.9 $50-$100
Vellgoo 52 Pint 52 4,500 Yes No Not listed $200-$250

Test Scenarios and Performance

Real-World Testing Conditions

As part of our testing, our reviewer ran the hot shower/faucet for about five minutes in the bathroom, kitchen and basement to get the room up to 90% humidity. Once the dehumidifier was turned on, it was left to run for under 12 hours each day over a few weeks. We then timed how long it took for the dehumidifier to reduce humidity to the level set and total runtime for the day. For instance, the Honeywell 50 Pint dehumidifier (and our winner!) took less than an hour to reach 35% level – which was the fastest out of all the models. We also recorded the daily average and total runtime for over a week. For accurate readings, we matched the humidity of our space with Alexa’s air quality monitor.
We tested dehumidifiers in a temperature and humidity-controlled environmental chamber in our lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This 200-square-foot room has its own HVAC and humidifier system, allowing us to control the test conditions precisely. The room humidifier was set to create a disgustingly humid environment, saturating the room air with water vapor. We placed data loggers to record humidity and temperature around the room. Once we’d hit our peak humidity target of 80% relative humidity, we switched on the test dehumidifier.

Key Performance Metrics

  • Water Extraction: We put each dehumidifier on its maximum setting and run it twice over for an hour at normal room temperature (21¡ãC), using a special climate-controlled test room. From these two test runs, we work out the average amount of water pulled from the air. We then cool down the test room (10¡ãC) and run our duo of water extraction tests again, so we can tell you how well the dehumidifier works in the cold.
  • Energy Efficiency: We measure the energy consumption of each dehumidifier at normal room temperature while we’re carrying out our water extraction tests. Our cost-per-litre figure in the table above also comes from this data.
  • Noise Levels: Our expert lab testers subjectively rate how noisy each dehumidifier is on the highest and lowest settings. For example, the Frigidaire Gallery FGAC5045W1 measured at 52.9 dB, while the MeacoDry Arete Two is notably quieter.

Buying Guide for Dehumidifiers

Factors to Consider

  • Size: Generally speaking, the bigger the unit, the more moisture it can remove from the air. The calculation gets tricky when you have a small area with serious humidity. In that scenario, go for a model designed for medium-sized rooms so it has the power to pull all that moisture from the air without taking up a huge amount of floor space. A small humidifier removes 20 to 25 pints of moisture at 65¡ãF, or 30 to 40 pints at 80¡ãF (about 400 to 600-plus square feet). A medium humidifier removes 30 to 35 pints of moisture at 65¡ãF, or 50 to 60 pints at 80¡ãF (about 800 to 1,000-plus square feet). A large humidifier removes 40 to 55 pints of moisture at 65¡ãF, or 70 to 90 pints at 80¡ãF (about 1,200 to 1,500-plus square feet).
  • Drainage Options: Depending on your preference and setup, you can either manually remove the tank when it reaches capacity, attach a hose to the tank for continuous, hands-off drainage or purchase a dehumidifier with a built-in pump to automatically dump water into a drain or sink. We like emptying the reservoir into a watering can to water plants.
  • Noise: Noise can be a concern in living spaces. The decibel measurements in our dehumidifier tests, which are taken from 3 feet away, range from the low 50s to upper 60s. By comparison, normal conversation is around 60 decibels, while a clothes washer is about 70 decibels midcycle.
  • Energy Efficiency: To gauge a dehumidifier’s energy efficiency, our engineers calculate the amount of energy it takes to remove a pint of water from the air. The best dehumidifiers use less energy, keeping electric costs to a minimum.

Types of Dehumidifiers

  • Refrigerant (Compressor): These dehumidifiers work by creating a cold surface; when warm, damp air comes into contact with it, water condenses and drips into the water tank. They typically struggle in colder spaces, such as cellars.
  • Desiccant: This type has a desiccant wheel that absorbs moisture from the air. An internal heater and fan drive moisture off the wheel so the process can be repeated. They are effective in both warm and cold spaces.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I know if I need a dehumidifier?

If you notice condensation on windows, musty smells, or mold growth, a dehumidifier can help. Ideal indoor humidity levels are between 40-60%. Use a hygrometer to measure your home’s relative humidity.

What size dehumidifier do I need?

Choose based on room size and humidity level. For moderately damp spaces (500 sq. ft.), a 20-30 pint model works. For very damp or larger areas (1,200+ sq. ft.), opt for 50+ pints.

Are dehumidifiers noisy?

Most produce 50-60 dB, similar to a refrigerator or conversation. Quieter models like the MeacoDry Arete Two or ProBreeze PB-03 are ideal for bedrooms.

How often should I empty the tank?

This depends on humidity and tank size. In high-humidity areas, tanks may need emptying daily unless you use continuous drainage.

Can a dehumidifier help with allergies?

Yes, by reducing humidity, dehumidifiers limit mold, dust mites, and allergens, improving air quality for allergy sufferers.

Conclusion

Choosing the right dehumidifier in 2025 involves balancing capacity, features, and efficiency. The Frigidaire FFAP5034W1 and Midea Cube MAD50S1QWT stand out for large spaces, while the ProBreeze PB-03 is perfect for smaller rooms. Consider your room size, drainage preferences, and noise tolerance to find the best fit. For more insights on maintaining air quality, check out EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Guide.

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