- Cyber Week dehumidifier deals
- Quick list
- 1. Best overall
- 2. Best affordable
- 3. Best desiccant
- 4. Best for drying clothes
- 5. Highest capacity
- 6. Best under £100
- 7. Laundry-drying alternative
- 8. Desiccant alternative
- 9. Voice control
- 10. Small alternative
- 11. Large alternative
- How we test
- In-stock dehumidifiers
- How to choose
- FAQs
Recent updates
This article was updated on 5/12/2024 to include any last-chance deals we've found. It has also been fact-checked and any out-of-date information removed. At the time of writing, our #1 pick, the MeacoDry Arete Two has seen massive demand and is currently out of stock at many retailers. Where relevant, we've signposted where to find it in stock and the best alternatives.
If your home often suffers from the build-up of damp, mould, and condensation, investing in one of the best dehumidifiers is a simple and reliable solution for combatting these issues.
Dehumidifiers work by extracting excess moisture from the air to maintain your home's ideal indoor humidity levels, with some of the most effective models also offering the ability to speed up indoor laundry drying times. This factor alone makes them the perfect household companion during the wetter months of the year, which are now in full-swing.
However, similar to investing in one of the best air purifiers, trying to make sense of the technical jargon to decode extraction rates, tank capacity, and the running costs of each dehumidifier can feel a little daunting, especially if you don't know where to start. That's why Ideal Home's experts are here to help.
Our team of expert reviewers have tried and tested the best dehumidifiers on the market, putting multiple options from leading brand names through their paces. We've assessed and compared how many litres of water each can extract from the air per day, how often you'll be emptying the dehumidifier's water tank, its ease of use, noise levels, energy use, and, of course, price, to help you make the right decision for your home and its needs.
Cyber Week dehumidifier deals
Although Black Friday and Cyber Monday are over, there are still last-chance discounts available to snap up on our top-rated models. Here are the lowest prices we've found on models our team of experts have tried and tested – including where to find the sellout Meaco Arete Two in stock.
The quick list
Short on time? This quick list is an overview of the very best dehumidifiers we've tested. You'll find more information on each dehumidifier and why our testers recommend it if you keep on scrolling.
Best dehumidifier overall
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.
Best affordable dehumidifier
Whilst it can't quite beat the MeacoDry Arete Two on energy efficiency, and lacks the HEPA air filter, the ElectriQ 12L Dehumidifier is a great budget buy. It's quiet, portable, has a built-in carbon filter to remove odours as well as moisture, and its colour-changing indicator light is a brilliant feature for viewing your home's humidity levels at a glance. And, despite its lack of dedicated Laundry Drying mode, our tests still found it made short work of drying wet washing.
Best desiccant dehumidifier
A desiccant dehumidifier differs from a compressor or Peltier dehumidifier in that it's more efficient at lower temperatures. The EcoAir DD1 Simple MK3 can be operated in any space that's above 1°C, making it a great option for a garage, basement, or unheated rooms during the winter months. In our tests, it also performed brilliantly in normal conditions, making quick work of drying wet washing. The only downside is its price and higher running costs.
Best dehumidifier for drying clothes
Super sleek, with a built-in carry handle, this Italian-designed dehumidifier is big on style. It delivers on performance too, with a powerful extraction rate and dedicated Laundry mode that can dry wet washing fast. It's also relatively quiet and very easy to use. Overall, there's a lot to love, except, perhaps, the Tascuigo's price tag.
High capacity dehumidifier
This dehumidifier can extract up to 30L of moisture from the air per day, giving it one of the highest extraction rates on the market. That makes it a good choice if you have high moisture levels to deal with, plus its decent-sized 4L water tank means you won't be emptying it continually. Wi-Fi connectivity and voice-activated control are a great addition.
Best dehumidifier under £100
Small, affordable, super quiet, and with low running costs of just 1p per hour, this is a budget-friendly option for minor moisture problems. Its Peltier condenser has a much lower extraction rate than most compressor dehumidifiers, so don't expect powerful performance, but its compact build means it can be tucked easily away on a shelf, bedside table, or window sill to help reduce condensation.
Best dehumidifiers – tried and tested
Why you can trust Ideal Home Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Best dehumidifier overall
Having put multiple models through their paces to compile this guide, the new MeacoDry Arete Two Dehumidifier has now officially been crowned our top recommendation for best dehumidifier overall – taking the spot that its predecessor, the MeacoDry Arete One, previously held.
The Arete Two is almost identical to the Arete One in build quality, with the biggest aesthetic differences being that the Arete Two now has a premium LCD 'chase' display, offering you more control than ever, and a louvre which allows you to direct the necessary flow of air to the area in need of treatment. It's is easy to use, whisper quiet, works superbly, and is very energy-efficient compared to pretty much every other compressor dehumidifier on the market. Plus, as well as first-rate moisture extraction, it's equipped with a built-in HEPA air filter that rivals many dedicated air purifiers to improve indoor air quality in more ways than one.
The automatic Smart Humidity mode makes for hassle-free operation, turning the dehumidifier on when moisture levels rise and automatically shutting the appliance off when the target humidity level is reached. In our tests, the Arete Two reduced moisture levels in damp-prone rooms in a very short period of time and collected a shocking amount of water over just a 1-2 day span. The dedicated Smart Laundry drying mode also works brilliantly – wet washing was dry in hours rather than the days it can usually take in the terraced home it was tested in.
One of the gripes we had about the MeacoDry Arete One was the fact that it lacked a timer and Smart capabilities. However, the Arete Two has quickly solved those issues as it can now be controlled through the new Meaco smartphone app as well as hooked up to any voice control assistants you have set up in your home, such as Alexa or Google. Plus, the timer can be set between 1-24 hours.
Although the one we tested was the 20L capacity, there are four different sized dehumidifiers in the Arete Two range, offering moisture extraction rates of 10, 12, 20 or 25 litres per day. That means it's easy to find the right option for your home size, and the level of moisture control you need. All come with generous water tank capacity that means you aren't constantly emptying them, and their energy-efficiency is best-in-class with power usage of just 136W for the smallest 10L model and a mere 250W for the biggest 25L model which means running costs stay low.
Overall, this is a best-in-class dehumidifier that does a fantastic job of extracting moisture from the home and remains hard to beat by any of its competition – and the new quality of life updates the Arete got in its 2nd generation have easily made it all the better.
Read our MeacoDry Arete Two Dehumidifier review for more detail.
Disclaimer
At the time of writing, the MeacoDry Arete Two has seen massive demand across many retailers, resulting in limited supply. If the deals above are out of stock, the MeacoDry Arete One is still available at multiple retailers. The only notable difference between the Arete One and Two is the lack of Smart features and a timer function. However, it still ranks brilliantly performance wise for dealing with damp and drying laundry fast. You can check out the deals below, or read more about the MeacoDry Arete One in our full review.
Best affordable dehumidifier
The ElectriQ 12L Dehumidifier is one of the best budget dehumidifiers we've tested. Decent dehumidifiers don't come cheap, and it's rare to find a compressor dehumidifier – which is the type you want if you have significant damp issues – that offers this level of performance for under £150.
It can't quite compete with our top recommendation, the MeacoDry Arete Two Dehumidifier, which is more energy-efficient, offers a built-in HEPA air filter as standard, and is slightly quieter to run. But it comes close, and offers a lighter build and more budget-friendly price tag. Our reviewer thought it was a great choice for anyone who wants a small, compact dehumidifier that's good value for money.
It can extract 12L of moisture from the air per day, and in our tests it worked hard to do so, filling its 2.5L water tank with condensed water in just a few hours. It features an automatic humidity sensor so you can set your target humidity levels and allow it to do its thing, and also offers an easy-to-read humidity indicator light that glows green when humidity is in the target range and amber or red when humidity is high – a great way to see your home's damp levels at a glance.
Whilst it doesn't have a dedicated Laundry Drying mode like the MeacoDry Arete Two, De'Longhi Tascuigo AriaDry Multi Dehumidifier or Pro Breeze 20L Premium Dehumidifier with Special Laundry Mode, our tester found she didn't need it. She simply set the target humidity to 35% and the ElectriQ 12L made short work of speeding up indoor drying times in her laundry room. It also features a built-in carbon filter that our reviewer found reduced odours from cooking fumes and pets.
The ElectriQ doesn't offer Wi-Fi connectivity like the Duux Bora Smart 20L Dehumidifier or Pro Breeze 30L Premium Dehumidifier, and the water tank was a little fiddly to empty. But, overall, as long as you only need a 12L extraction rate, this is a great dehumidifier for the price.
Read our full ElectriQ 12L Dehumidifier review for more detail.
Best desiccant dehumidifier
Unlike a compressor dehumidifier that passes air over a cold coil to condense the water from it, a desiccant dehumidifier uses a 'desiccant chemical' to absorb the moisture from the air. As a result, desiccant dehumidifiers are the best option for rooms that are likely to fall below 5°c, as at lower temperatures compressor and Peltier models can struggle to work efficiently.
The EcoAir DD1 Simple MK3 Dehumidifier can extract up to 7.5 litres of moisture per day in cold temperatures as low as 1ºc, so it's a very useful option for conservatories, basements or garages that don't have dedicated heating, as well as unheated rooms in the home during winter months.
That said, in our tests it also worked brilliantly during normal use, quickly reducing humidity and making fast work of drying wet washing. This is helped by the warm air the Simple MK3 kicks out whilst running. EcoAir says that in general 'desiccant dehumidifiers emit warmer air (approx. 3-5 degrees Celsius warmer than the ambient air) than compressor models' which can make a desiccant dehumidifier a particularly good choice for drying wet laundry indoors.
As its name would suggest, the Simple MK3 is also very simple to set up and operate with easy-to-use manual controls. For its price, we just found it lacked the design quality of models like the De'Longhi Tascuigo AriaDry Multi Dehumidifier and couldn't compete with the better energy efficiency and extra functionality of the MeacoDry Arete Two Dehumidifier – the Arete Two's Smart Humidity mode is particularly useful for controlling humidity without any user input and saves on energy use and running costs.
In fact, along with the higher price ticket, running costs are one of the biggest cons with this product. The 7.5L DD1 Simple MK3 uses 300-580W of electricity compared to the 10L MeacoDry Arete Two's 136W, which means the EcoAir model costs between 9p and 17p per hour to run at current energy prices, compared to the Meaco Arete's average of 3p per hour. However, if you're looking for a dehumidifier for use in a cold climate, the EcoAir DD1 Simple MK3 Dehumidifier's 1ºc operating temperature is hard to beat. Alternatively, if you want a desiccant option with a more affordable initial upfront cost, it might also be worth checking out the VonHaus Desiccant Dehumidifier as it shares many similar functionalities.
Read our full EcoAir DD1 Simple MK3 Dehumidifier review for more detail.
Best dehumidifier for drying clothes
Overall, the De’Longhi Tasciugo AriaDry is a great dehumidifier. It’s sleek, stylish and, most importantly, it works really well.
As well as rapidly extracting moisture from damp-prone rooms, it does an amazing job of drying laundry; on par with the MeacoDry Arete Two Dehumidifier. The simple interface also means it's easy to use, without any complicated settings to get your head around, and, although it doesn't have wheels, its ergonomic carry handle makes it easy to move around the home.
Beyond that, it's relatively quiet when running, has a built-in air filter for air purification on top of its damp-defying powers, and, its energy usage is relatively low.
Really, the Tasciugo only has a few downsides. Although the AriaDry has an automatic humidity sensor so it will switch itself off once your desired setting is reached, it doesn't have a humidity display, so you can't tell what a room's current humidity levels are – something we missed considering its price point. The water tank could also be a lot larger. Its powerful performance meant we were emptying the 2.1L tank very frequently during testing, although there is a continuous drainage option and hose supplied.
It's also not quite the most energy-efficient model on the market. That accolade goes to the our top recommendation, the MeacoDry Arete Two Dehumidifier. The comparable 12L Meaco Arete Two costs just 3p an hour to run compared to the 12L De’Longhi Tasciugo AriaDry's average 8p per hour, matches the Tascuigo on specfications, and offers a humidity display.
And, lastly, there's the De’Longhi Tasciugo AriaDry dehumidifier's price. The stylish Italian design comes at a cost, with this one of the most expensive dehumidifiers on the market.
Read our full De’Longhi Tasciugo AriaDry Multi Dehumidifier review for more detail.
High capacity dehumidifier
The Pro Breeze High Capacity Smart Dehumidifier is a high-capacity dehumidifier that can extract up to 30L of moisture from the air per day, giving it one of the highest extraction rates on the market.
It also offers Smart App controls, which means you can connect it to Wi-Fi and operate it remotely via the Pro Breeze App or connect to Alexa or similar voice-activated devices. It has a decent-sized water tank capacity of 4L, and an automatic humidity sensor which means you can set your desired humidity level, switch it on, and just let it do its thing.
During our testing process, we found it really easy to use and operate, and our reviewer loved the Smart App connectivity as it gave her a lot more control over how she could use the machine, saying the in-app experience is fantastic, the menus are really clear, and changing the settings is simple'. Alongside the Duux Bora Smart 20L Dehumidifier, this is one of only a handful of dehumidifiers on the market that currently offer remote and voice-activated control.
Whilst this dehumidifier doesn't offer a specific laundry drying function, we still found it helpful at drying wet washing, although it took longer to do so than dehumidifiers with a dedicated Laundry mode, like the De'Longhi Tascuigo AriaDry Multi Dehumidifier and Pro Breeze 20L Premium Dehumidifier with Special Laundry Mode.
However, the 30L Premium Dehumidifier isn't without faults. Its 600W power usage is considerable compared to the only slightly lower extraction rate of the 25L MeacoDry Arete Two Dehumidifier which only uses 250W of energy. The Pro Breeze 30L Premium Dehumidifier operates at 46dB, and unfortunately, it's loud whether the fans are in high or low mode. This isn't a dehumidifier for the bedroom or one you're going to want running for long periods in a living area that's in use.
That said, the Pro Breeze 30L Premium Dehumidifier's high 30L per day extraction rate makes it a great choice if you have high moisture levels to deal with, and its decent-sized 4L water tank means you won't be emptying it continually. Its Wi-Fi connectivity will also be a real bonus for many users.
Read our full Pro Breeze 30L High Capacity Smart Dehumidifier review for more detail.
Best dehumidifier under £100
It's important to note that this small Peltier dehumidifier has a very low extraction rate compared to every other dehumidifier in this round-up. The Pro Breeze 1500ml Mini Dehumidifier can extract just 0.5L of moisture from the air per day, far below most compressor dehumidifiers which tend to have extraction rates that start at 10L or 12L per day.
Peltier operation also means this dehumidifier can only be used in rooms with an ambient temperature of 15-35°C, unlike most compressor dehumidifiers which operate above 5°C, or the desiccant EcoAir DD1 Simple MK3 Dehumidifier which can operate at temperatures as low as 1°C.
As such, this dehumidifier is designed for managing fairly low moisture levels in small rooms up to 15m². It isn't going to able to control humidity within an entire house like larger capacity dehumidifiers, and it won't make a lot of difference to high moisture levels – we found it made little difference when drying wet washing for example. That said, as long as you don't expect too much of it, this mini dehumidifier still impressed us during testing, and its budget-friendly price tag is a definite bonus.
It lacks functionality, so this dehumidifier is either on or off. But, that does make it extremely easy to use, and our reviewer found it did a decent job of eliminating condensation on windows in a small bedroom when left running overnight.
Its compact design means it easily fits on a bedside table, shelf or window sill, and our tester also found it extremely quiet compared to most compressor dehumidifiers, so it's great for a bedroom. Plus, the Peltier design makes for low energy use, with the 40W dehumidifier costing just 1p per hour to run at current energy prices.
Those low running costs combined with a very affordable price tag, mean we think this is one of the best dehumidifiers under £100 – an ideal low-cost dehumidifier for any small room where you want to combat low levels of excess moisture without breaking the bank.
Read our full ProBreeze 1500ml Mini Dehumidifier review for more detail.
A laundry-drying alternative
