Best dehumidifiers to tackle damp and mould in your home, expert-tested

Best dehumidifiers at a glance

Best overall – MeacoDry Arete One 20L Dehumidifier: £249.99, Meaco.com

Best budget buy – Lakeland 2.3L dehumidifier: £69.99, Lakeland.co.uk

Best for small spaces – Sealy 10L dehumidifier: £195.25, Bigdug.co.uk

Best for style – Duux Bora 20L: £279.99, Duux.co.uk

Best low energy – Swan 20L Low Energy Dehumidifier: £149.99, Shop.swan.co.uk

Rachael Penn/The Standard

★★★★★

Best: Overall dehumidifier

What we love: Built-in air purifier, quiet operation, simple controls and excellent laundry-drying performance.

Take note: It’s a hefty unit, and the water tank fills quickly.

The MeacoDry Arete One is undoubtedly one of the best dehumidifiers I’ve tried, and I’ve tested plenty. If excess humidity is a problem in your home, this is an excellent all-rounder. I used it in several rooms and noticed it bringing humidity down quickly.

It extracts up to 20 litres of moisture a day, although the 4.8L tank meant I sometimes had to empty it twice daily. Thankfully, the carry handle makes this straightforward, even when the tank is full.

The controls are clearly labelled, and there’s no need to download an app to use it. I was particularly impressed by the laundry mode, which dried a full clothes horse in less than a day. Normally, my washing can take several days to dry indoors, so this made a real difference.

Another bonus is the built-in HEPA air purifier. I genuinely felt the air was fresher after using it. The main drawback is its size: at 15kg, it’s not something you’ll want to carry upstairs regularly. However, the castors and extendable handle make moving it between rooms easier.

Rachael Penn/The Standard

★★★☆☆

Best: Budget dehumidifier for light condensation

What we love: Affordable, compact, quiet and finished with ambient LED lighting.

Take note: It collects moisture slowly and isn't suitable for serious damp problems.

If your main concern is a little condensation on the windows in the morning rather than a major damp problem, this compact Lakeland model could be enough.

I tried it in my kitchen and bedroom, but I didn't notice a dramatic difference. After 24 hours, it had collected very little moisture, which was disappointing. Despite its 2.3L tank, its stated extraction rate is just 420ml a day, so it's important not to confuse tank capacity with how much water it removes from the air.

The lack of a laundry mode also means it isn't particularly useful for speeding up indoor drying. I tried running it near my clothes horse but didn't notice much improvement.

On the plus side, it's very quiet and small enough to sit unobtrusively in a room. The ambient LED lighting gives it a more decorative look than most appliances, too. If you're dealing with a slightly musty room or occasional condensation and don't want to spend much, it's worth considering. However, anyone experiencing persistent damp or high humidity should invest in a more powerful model.

Rachael Penn/The Standard

★★★★★

Best: Dehumidifier for small spaces

What we love: Compact design, simple controls, wheels, a carry handle and an adjustable timer.

Take note: It can be noisy when the fan runs at full speed.

This Sealy dehumidifier is ideal for smaller spaces because it’s compact without compromising on performance. I used it in my home office, where it fitted neatly into a corner and kept humidity at a comfortable level.

It extracts up to 10l of moisture a day, and I was pleasantly surprised by how well it worked in several rooms, including my kitchen and bedroom. Once the desired humidity level is reached, it stops running, helping to avoid unnecessary energy use.

There’s no dedicated laundry mode, but placing it near my clothes horse still helped speed up drying compared with leaving the washing to dry unaided. The adjustable one-to-24-hour timer was another useful feature, while the wheels and handle made it easy to move around the house.

My main complaint is the noise when the fan is working at full speed. It’s noticeable, although I found I eventually stopped paying attention to it. Overall, this is a practical option for smaller homes, offices and individual rooms.

Rachael Penn/The Standard

★★★★

Best: Smart dehumidifier

What we love: App controls, a generous 6.5L tank, a clear humidity display and powerful moisture extraction.

Take note: Wi-Fi setup can be frustrating, and the fan is loud at full speed.

This Black + Decker dehumidifier does an excellent job of removing excess moisture, but its smart features were less impressive than its dehumidifying performance.

It only connects to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network, and I struggled to get it connected initially. The range also seemed limited, so setting it up near the router helped. Once connected, however, the app was handy for scheduling the machine and switching it on without leaving the sofa.

The manual controls are straightforward, and I particularly liked the LED display, which shows the current humidity level. With an extraction rate of up to 20l a day, it worked quickly in my bedroom and dining room. The 6.5L tank is generous, although I still needed to empty it at least once a day during testing.

The laundry mode was another highlight, drying a full clothes horse in less than a day with the door closed. The downside is the noise. Even on the lowest fan setting, I could hear it from another room, so it’s not ideal if you want peace. Still, the improvement in how fresh the air felt made the noise easier to forgive.

Rachael Penn/The Standard

★★★★☆

Best: Dehumidifier for cold spaces

What we love: Frost protection, quiet operation, automatic shut-off and a built-in CleanAir filter.

Take note: There’s no humidity display, and the features are fairly basic for the price.

If you need a dehumidifier for a chilly room or garage, the De’Longhi DEX212SF is worth considering. Its FrostProtect function is designed to help it operate in colder conditions, making it more versatile than models that struggle when temperatures drop.

The controls are simple, with a straightforward panel rather than a digital display. Although it lacks some of the bells and whistles found on more expensive models, it extracts up to 12l of moisture a day and worked particularly well in my kitchen and home office, both of which are prone to damp.

The laundry mode speeds up drying, although it wasn't as quick as some of the other models I tested. I also noticed that the air felt fresher after use, thanks to the built-in CleanAir filter.

One of its biggest advantages is how quiet it is. I could barely tell it was running, which made it pleasant to use in rooms where I spend a lot of time. It automatically stops when the tank is full, and a built-in humidistat helps regulate humidity even though the current reading isn't displayed. At 10.3kg, it's fairly heavy, but the carry handle helps when moving it between rooms.

Rachael Penn/The Standard

★★★★★

Best: Stylish dehumidifier

What we love: Attractive design, quiet operation, app controls and an effective four-hour laundry cycle.

Take note: It won't operate below 15°C, so it's unsuitable for very cold garages.

Dehumidifiers aren't usually the most attractive appliances, but the Duux Bora is a welcome exception. Its flat, square design sits neatly in a room without dominating the space, and the hidden handle and castors make it easy to move around.

You can control it using the panel on top or the Duux app. I found the app particularly easy to set up, and it lets you check humidity levels, schedule operation and adjust settings remotely. The built-in display also shows the current humidity level.

The laundry mode was a standout feature. I ran it in a closed room with a full clothes horse, and it dried the washing in two four-hour cycles. In my house, that's an absolute miracle. The 20l daily extraction capacity and 4l tank also meant I didn't need to empty it more than once every 24 hours.

I noticed a real improvement in how fresh the air smelled, too. With two dogs at home, that's a welcome bonus, and the built-in carbon filter can also help tackle cooking odours. Best of all, it's impressively quiet, making it suitable for living areas and bedrooms.

The only real limitation is its minimum operating temperature of 15°C, which rules it out for colder spaces. Otherwise, this is a stylish, effective dehumidifier that combines good performance with genuinely useful features.

Rachael Penn/The Standard

★★★★★

Best: Low-energy dehumidifier

What we love: Adjustable humidity targets, automatic shut-off, sleep mode and a 24-hour timer.

Take note: It's noisy, bulky and the tank can be awkward to remove when full.

This Swan dehumidifier impressed me with how quickly it reduced humidity around the house. Its built-in sensor lets you set a target between 40 and 80 per cent, and the machine switches off once that level is reached. This means you don't have to leave it running constantly.

Although there's no dedicated laundry mode, I set it to 40 per cent humidity and left it in a closed room with my clothes horse. It noticeably sped up drying. The 4l tank was generous enough that I didn't need to empty it too frequently during testing.

I particularly liked the swing function, which circulates the drier air around the room. The difference was noticeable, with the space feeling drier and more comfortable. Sleep mode and the 24-hour timer are useful extras, too.

However, this is one noisy machine. Even on the lowest fan setting, I could hear it from another room. The tank can also be awkward to remove when full, causing water to splash, so I'd recommend emptying it before it reaches capacity.

Despite these niggles, it's a good-value option for medium-sized rooms, especially if you want adjustable humidity settings without spending a fortune.

Rachael Penn/The Standard

★★★★☆

Best: Value dehumidifier

What we love: Slim design, useful laundry modes, simple controls and easy manoeuvrability.

Take note: The 2.5L tank fills quickly when the machine is working hard.

The Zanussi 18L is proof that you don't need an oversized machine to get good results. Its slim design takes up little floor space, yet it can extract up to 18l of moisture a day.

I particularly liked the dry mode, which helped a full clothes horse of laundry dry within a day. That's a huge improvement on leaving washing to dry naturally indoors. However, the 2.5L tank fills quickly when it's dealing with both damp air and wet clothes, so expect to empty it regularly.

The controls are conveniently positioned on top, with two fan speeds, a delayed-start timer and four operating modes: dehumidify, turbo, dry and continuous. You can also adjust the target humidity in increments of 10 per cent between 40 and 70 per cent.

The built-in handle and wheels make it easy to move between rooms, and it's lighter than several other models I tested. While the small tank is a drawback, this is a straightforward, reliable workhorse that offers excellent performance for the price.

Rachael Penn/The Standard

★★★★☆

Best: Dehumidifier for large spaces

What we love: High extraction capacity, app controls, laundry mode and a self-drying function.

Take note: Running costs can be higher than those of smaller models, and it's heavy to move.

If you have a large home or particularly high humidity levels, the ProBreeze 30L is a powerful option. It can extract up to 30 litres of moisture a day, and the 4L tank meant I only needed to empty it once during 24 hours in my larger test room.

The controls are easy to use, but I recommend downloading the app if you want to get the most out of it. You can schedule operation, adjust humidity settings and check air-quality information remotely.

Despite its extraction capacity, the machine doesn't take up as much floor space as I expected. However, at 16.5kg, it's a substantial unit. It has wheels and a carry handle, but I didn't find the handle particularly reassuring when moving the machine, so I'd keep it on one floor wherever possible.

The manufacturer quotes running costs of around 20p per hour, so it's worth factoring in electricity use before buying. Thankfully, its powerful extraction means you may not need to run it continuously. The self-drying function is another useful addition, helping to keep the unit itself dry between uses.

For larger spaces or more serious humidity problems, this is a capable machine with plenty of power. It's less suited to anyone looking for the cheapest appliance to run.

Rachael Penn/The Standard

★★★★★

Best: Compact dehumidifier

What we love: Space-saving design, laundry mode, washable dust filter, humidity indicator and easy manoeuvrability.

Take note: The 1.7L tank may need frequent emptying in particularly damp homes.

If you're short on space but still need help tackling condensation and damp, this Devola model is an excellent choice. It's so small that I initially wondered whether it would be powerful enough, but it genuinely impressed me.

Despite its compact size, it can extract up to 8l of moisture a day. The 1.7l tank is relatively small, although I only needed to empty it every other day during my testing. If your home is particularly damp, you may need to empty it more frequently.

I was pleasantly surprised by the laundry mode, which helped speed up drying and prevented clothes from developing musty smells. It wasn't as fast as some of the larger models, but it still made a noticeable difference.

The washable dust filter is another bonus, and I felt the air was fresher after using it. A small LED indicator changes colour from blue to green to red to show the humidity range, while the automatic mode stops the fans once the desired humidity level is reached.

The controls are clearly labelled, and the castors and built-in handle make it easy to move between rooms. It's particularly handy if you want a dehumidifier that can be carried between floors without much effort.

For such a compact machine, it delivers impressive performance. It's best suited to smaller rooms, but it's a great option if you want effective moisture removal without sacrificing floor space.