I was so impressed by how fast this Honeywell dehumidifier dried my laundry — and it only costs 6p an hour to run

This time of the year stirs up some challenges indoors: a buildup of condensation on windows and walls, and how one goes about drying laundry.

With that, I was only too pleased to try out the Honeywell 30L Dehumidifier, RRP £229.95 from Aircon Centre. I was curious to see how it stacks up against some of the best dehumidifiers on the market and other models that I've tested. While this dehumidifier isn't "smart" like the others, it features the same (if not more) capabilities. It's also one of the smallest yet most affordable.

I tried it out for 10 days in our utility room to help dry 10kg of wet laundry at a time, and in my daughter's bedroom, where the bay window gets a buildup of condensation. To do this, I followed the Ideal Home dehumidifier testing process, taking note of how it can affect humidity levels and how easy it is to use day-to-day.

At a glance

The Honeywell 30L Dehumidifier is a simple yet effective dehumidifier. It doesn't come with any bells and whistles; sometimes that's not what we need. This is one of the appliances that doesn't need to be fancy: it has a job to do, and this calls for functionality.

It's one of three dehumidifiers in the Honeywell portfolio. Sitting alongside it are the Honeywell 20L/Day Dehumidifier and Honeywell 12L/Day Dehumidifier. Both of these have a smaller extraction rate than the one I have on test and, therefore, have cheaper running costs. As with the Honeywell 30L/Day Dehumidifier, the Honeywell 20L/Day Dehumidifier has a 3.4L water tank, but the Honeywell 12L/Day Dehumidifier has a smaller 2.5L water tank. What they all have in common are all four modes (Laundry, Comfort, Dehumidifying and Continuous), a 24-hour timer, an intelligent humidity sensor and a digital display.

I have been impressed by this dehumidifier's effectiveness at reducing the humidity level in my daughter's bedroom from 74% to 52% within an hour. It also dried bed sheets and smaller items of clothing (underwear and kids' clothing) within six hours, which is quicker and cheaper than using the tumble dryer.

Specifications

• RRP: £229.95
• Type: Compressor
• Extraction rate: 20L/day
• Water tank capacity: 3.4L
• Max room size recommended: up to 785 sq.ft
• Noise level: 40 - 44dB
• Power: 410W
• Dimensions: H50 x W31 x D22.9cm
• Weight: 13.3kg
• Portable?: Yes, with smooth castor wheels and sturdy carry handle
• Automatic humidity sensor: Yes
• Laundry mode: Yes
• WiFi connectivity: No
• Timer: 24 hours and auto-off
• Operating temperature:
• Additional features: removable water tank, continuous draining, digital display, washable filter, automatic shut off

Unboxing, set-up and design

I found unboxing the Honeywell 30L Dehumidifier easy and straightforward. It's a compact size, which meant that the delivery box could be easily lifted through from the porch to our utility room.

All packaging used was non-recyclable, consisting of plastic bags wrapped around the unit, power cable, drainage hose and polystyrene that held the unit in place. In fact, there was no bottom to the cardboard box - this was replaced by the polystyrene.

Inside the box you'll find the dehumidifier, a user manual, drainage hose and water tank snap-in cover. The water bucket was taped shut, and the power cable, drainage hose and other accessories were tucked inside the water tank.

Before I could start up this dehumidifier for the first time, I needed to install the water tank snap-in cover. This is a shaped shard of plastic which slots into a cut-out space on the water tank cover. I'm flummoxed why this is. It seems an unnecessary hurdle, but it is necessary because without it, you won't be able to use this Honeywell dehumidifier.

Measuring H50 x W31 x D22.9cm, it is one of the smallest dehumidifiers I have tested, so it should be small enough to fit in most rooms of a two to five-bedroom house. It must be positioned on a level floor and 45cm away from other objects.

The control panel is located at the top of the unit, with the integrated handle located at the opposite end.

The 3.4L water tank is located at the front of the appliance. This has a handy water level indicator, so you just about make out how much water is being collected.

Around the back, you'll find a washable dust filter, direct drain outlet, direct drain cap, cable tie and power cord. And underneath the unit are four castors, so it can be easily moved around the floor and between rooms.

First impressions? What you see is what you get with this dehumidifier. Aside from securing the water snap-in cover, there is nothing else to set up, so the unit can be in action in under one minute.

Ease of use

The Honeywell 30L Dehumidifier is operated solely by the control panel.

It displays a filter indicator light, timer indicator light, water full indicator light, humidity/timer set controls, filter alert, timer control, display screen, power control and mode controls.

It has four modes. "Comfort" mode automatically adjusts dehumidification Relative Humidity (RH) percentage settings based on the ambient room temperature. For example, when ambient room temperature is 18°C/64°F or lower, the dehumidifier adjusts to 55% RH. "Dehumidifying" mode maintains a balanced low speed for whole-room dehumidification. The humidity level can be set between 30%RH and 90%RH. "Laundry" mode runs on high for a more powerful dehumidification intended for drying clothes. And "Continuous" mode runs continuously with a target of 30%RH or below, on low speed setting. This mode is intended for use in rooms with more severe dampness and needs continuous dehumidification.

I found the control panel easy to navigate and control. It was fairly responsive, too. After one minute of button inactivity, the display dims, and three minutes thereafter it'll turn off. The only downfall here is that it took the disclosed three minutes for the modes to kick in, regardless of whether the display was off or not.

And personally, I would have found it helpful to have a child lock as an option on the unit, too. I've found this setting particularly useful when testing other dehumidifiers when my little sidekick is around (he likes to push buttons).

Performance

I have used the Honeywell 30L Dehumidifier for 10 days in my home, to dry laundry in the utility room and manage the high humidity levels in my daughter's bedroom. I tested all four modes (Comfort, Dehumidifying, Laundry and Continuous), the timer and adjusted the humidity setting.

The first room I put this Honeywell dehumidifier to work in was the utility room. I have an indoor washing line which spans the width of the room, and I was too keen to use it to dry my 10kg of wet washing.

I selected "Laundry" Mode. This meant that the unit continuously operated on the higher fan speed. It'll keep running until it reaches the desired humidity level, the timer expires (you can set this), you switch it off, or the water tank gets full.

Operating on the higher fan speed meant that I could hear it working. I recorded a noise level reading of 55dB. This is equivalent to a quiet street. I found that if either the television or the radio was on, then the noise of the dehumidifier was easily drowned out.

My washing loads consisted of king-size and single-sized bedding, towels and kids' and grown-up clothing. Within six hours, found that the fitted sheets, pillowcases and kids' clothing were touch dry. And within 10 hours, duvet covers and grow-up clothing were dry too. Heavy-weight materials such as jeans and towels took a little longer.

Items dried quicker if they weren't bunched up on the washing line, and the heating in the room was on. The laundry was less creased, and there was no chance of shrinkage; often associated with the tumble dryer.

I then took the dehumidifier up the stairs to my daughter's bedroom. We have a single-skinned wall around the bay window, which gets a buildup of condensation. If the air isn't cleared of moisture, then this can lead to mould growth. Without a dehumidifier, I'd previously been wiping away mould from the walls and skirting, so time was of the essence to prevent this from occurring in the first place.

The humidity reading was 74%. I set the desired humidity to 55% in "Dehumidifying" mode, which is a good, achievable target for our home. It's a known fact that humidity levels above 60% can lead to mould growth, so I was keen to get below this figure and keep it that way.

Within an hour of running, the dehumidifier had dropped the humidity level in the room from 74% to 53% and automatically switched off.

I have also tested the 24-hour timer in my daughter's bedroom. I set the dehumidifier to operate for one hour on "Dehumidifying" mode. When this time was up, the Honeywell dehumidifier stopped. It only restarted again when I re-selected "Dehumidifying" mode.

When the unit is in StandyBy you can also set a time when you would like the unit to automatically start running. The unit will then continue to run until the water tank is full or until it is switched off manually. You'll then need to set the timer again after each use.

There is no nighttime mode, but after one minute of button inactivity, the display dims, and three minutes thereafter it'll turn off. If you're a deep sleeper and/or aren't too disturbed by background noise, then the omitted noise level of 47dB on "Dehumidifying" shouldn't be too distracting. However, this was too loud for my daughter because it interfered with the bedtime lullabies.

In my daughter's bedroom, I also tried out "Comfort" mode. This mode automatically adjusts the dehumidification Relative Humidity (RH) percentage settings based on the ambient room temperature. In my case, the 60RH was selected.

I could not set the timer or humidity in this mode. When 60RH was achieved, the dehumidifier switched off. It was then up to me to select the mode again later or the next day.

"Continuous" mode is for really damp rooms. When this mode is selected, the dehumidifier will keep running and won't switch off. It'll detect the RH and run on the lower fan speed. You can not set the humidity levels or the timer. If you're to use this dehumidifier in damp rooms, then I'd recommend setting up the drainage hose for continuous drainage so that you can set and forget.

Either when the unit has been unplugged, or the RH has been achieved, or the timer has run its course, it can take three minutes for a mode you select to kick in. At first, I thought I had a problem with this dehumidifier, but I don't; it's just a quirk.

Energy use

If you're curious about how much a dehumidifier costs to run, it largely depends on its wattage. The higher the wattage is, the more energy it uses.

The Honeywell 30L Dehumidifier has a wattage of between 220V (low fan speed) and 240V (high fan speed).

With the current energy price cap for January 2026 at 27.6p per kWh, I've calculated that it costs around 7p / hour to operate the Honeywell 30L/Day Dehumidifier on the higher fan speed, and 6p / hour on the lower fan speed. This is more than half the cost per hour of our tumble dryer, which I've calculated costs 22p per hour.

Noise levels

The Honeywell 30L Dehumidifier is advertised with a noise level of 40dB - 44dB, which, on paper, would make it one of the quietest dehumidifiers I would have tested.

The reality is that on the low fan speed, it has a noise level of 47dB, and on the higher fan speed, it's 53dB. I can also hear that it's running when I'm sitting in our dining room underneath the bedroom upstairs or down the hallway from the utility room.

It's not a bad thing, just not as quiet as I was expecting. This noise level is equivalent to a quiet street, so it's not too distracting — just switch on the radio or television, and you won't notice it.

Portability

The Honeywell 30L Dehumidifier sits on four castors so it can be easily manoeuvred around the room. It also boasts an integrated handle, which makes it easier to carry up the stairs.

Its compact size and 10.5kg weight mean that it's not too bulky to transition between rooms and/or lift either. I would just say to empty the water tank before attempting any moving to make it a little lighter in weight, and avoid any spills.

Maintenance

Cleaning and maintaining the Honeywell 30L Dehumidifier is easy, but there are a few things you'll need to consider.

The water tank will need emptying when full, unless you have the continuous drainage hose installed. The dehumidifier will cease working, and the indicator light will be illuminated red. Equally, it'll need emptying if you see a lot of water in the tank when looking at the viewing window and want to move it.

Take care when removing it from the front of the unit; there is no handle to help with this, and no handle to assist with pouring water away either.

The surface of the dehumidifier will benefit from a dusting with a soft cloth from time to time (it is a dust magnet). And every two weeks, it's advised that the water tank is removed and cleaned with a wet cloth or sponge to wipe away any dust, dirt and/or mould that may have formed in the tank.

It's also recommended that the dust filter (located at the back) be cleaned every two weeks. To do this, the dehumidifier will need to be switched off and unplugged, and the dust filter carefully removed. The filter can then be rinsed with running water or vacuumed to lift any dust. After cleaning, you'll then just need to ensure that the filter is dry before being reinstalled into the unit.

If the appliance isn't going to be used for an extended period of time, then the water tank and filter will need to be cleaned; a cover is fitted over it, and the power cord is coiled. It's then advised that the dehumidifier is stored upright and off the floor, away from direct sunlight.

Comparisons with other dehumidifiers

The Honeywell 30L Dehumidifier is one of three dehumidifiers in the Honeywell portfolio. It has the greatest extraction rate of 30L/Day, whereas the Honeywell 20L/Day Dehumidifier has an extraction rate of 20L/day, and the Honeywell 12L/Day Dehumidifier has an extraction rate of 12L/day. They are, however, cheaper to run.

And as with the Honeywell 30L/Day Dehumidifier, the Honeywell 20L/Day Dehumidifier has a 3.4L water tank, but the Honeywell 12L/Day Dehumidifier has a smaller 2.5L water tank. What they all have in common are all four modes (Laundry, Comfort, Dehumidifying and Continuous), a 24-hour timer, an intelligent humidity sensor and a digital display.

Outside of the Honeywell portfolio are other dehumidifiers that offer further differences in specifications.

The Devola DV12L Compressor Dehumidifier, for example, is even smaller than the Honeywell 30L/Day Dehumidifier, with measurements for it coming in as H47 x 25.5W x 22Dcm. The Devola dehumidifier is also 1p / hour cheaper to run; it only has a 2-litre water tank.

I've also tested the Ebac 4850e dehumidifier, and I liked it for its ability to reduce humidity levels. However, it doesn't have any casters, which makes it difficult to move around. And no nighttime mode. It is cheaper to run than the Honeywell dehumidifier (5p / hour), but it has a slightly larger 3.5L water tank.

Similarly, the DREO Smart Dehumidifier 512S was effective at reducing humidity levels, but it was dearer to run, noisier and had a smaller water tank. However, I did really like that I could see the humidity levels on the app. I also found the child lock helpful.

And while I haven't personally tested the Dryzone dehumidifier and air purifier (a colleague has), it's quieter than the Devola and doubles as an air purifier, too. The Pro Breeze 30L High Capacity Smart Dehumidifier has a huge water tank, which may suit homes that know for certain that they don't want to set up continuous drainage in the short or long-term.

How does the Devola DV12L Compressor Dehumidifier rate online?

The Honeywell 30L/Day Dehumidifier is available to buy from onbuy.com, B&Q and Amazon. However, I can only see ratings and reviews on Amazon. With this in mind, there are 661 global ratings on the listing. And it has been awarded 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Overall, customers have found that the dehumidifier is effective at removing moisture, with one noting it works well in average-sized rooms. The unit also efficiently reduces humidity levels and is particularly useful for drying clothes inside on rainy days. Customers seem to appreciate its compact size, wheels that make it easy to move around, and pleasant whirring noise. They find it simple to use, with one mentioning it's easy to empty and program, and consider it well worth the price, noting it's cheap to run.

However, one customer notes that they don't think it is suitable for large rooms and that it is "noisy at the high fan speed used in this [laundry] mode." Another has shared that "the dehumidifier is a bit bulky, which might be an issue for those with limited space."

Verdict

If you're looking for a fuss-free, effective and cheap to run dehumidifier, then you have just found it. While the Honeywell 30L Dehumidifier is not "smart" like the other dehumidifiers I have tested, if all you want a dehumidifier to do is to reduce humidity levels and dry laundry, then it doesn't need to be.

For £229.95 (when it's not on sale), the Honeywell 30L/Day Dehumidifier is a reliable steed that'll earn its keep throughout the seasons. I particularly like how simple it is to use and how easy it is to move around. The water tank is just a little tricky to empty without a handle, but I am being picky. Want to save money? Buy it on sale, and use it instead of the tumble dryer.