Adria Valdes Greenhauff was in college when she began writing about food. This led her to begin leading a food-focused career, but along the way she added her passion for travel as well. She's been busy writing on these lifestyle topics for almost 15 years, so it's no surprise you might see her work at brands like Better Homes and Gardens and Food & Wine.
An internship opportunity with D'Luxe, a Miami luxury magazine startup, gave Adria a chance to spend a summer covering restaurant openings and events. The internship led to her first job as an editor for Recommend, an industry publication for travel advisors.
Following a stint in advertising as a copywriter and social media manager, it wasn't long before Adria was writing about Miami's newest restaurants and cocktail bars for the luxury-focused website Just Luxe, where she had the opportunity to get an up-close glimpse into different cultures.
Since then, she has worked as a freelance writer for well-known lifestyle brands that focus on food and travel, including Allrecipes, Southern Living, the Foodable network, AOL Travel, and Miami New Times. She's also created branded content for Seasons 52 and Royal Caribbean and served as host for the Better Food Stories podcast.
Marcus Reeves is an experienced writer, publisher, and fact-checker. He began his writing career reporting for The Source magazine. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Playboy, The Washington Post, and Rolling Stone, among other publications. His book Somebody Scream: Rap Music's Rise to Prominence in the Aftershock of Black Power was nominated for a Zora Neale Hurston Award. He is an adjunct instructor at New York University, where he teaches writing and communications. Marcus received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
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There are plenty of things to love about the summer, but the high humidity levels can leave you feeling hot and sticky, not to mention add moisture to already damp spaces in your home, like basements and bathrooms. This can create an environment for mold and mildew to thrive.
Ideally, the relative humidity for any room in your home should always stay between 30% and 50%. Investing in a dehumidifier can help to keep moisture levels low in your home, no matter the weather outside. A dehumidifier draws in air from the room and passes it through a system of cooling coils. These coils then trap moisture through the process of condensation and collect the liquid in a bucket that can be manually emptied or drained.
"Dehumidifiers come in various sizes and it's crucial to find one that is large enough to handle your space, but not so large that it won't fit or be too heavy for the area where you plan to place it," says James Chapman, director of Bella Bathrooms.
After researching small dehumidifier features and consulting industry experts, we've compiled a list of the best small dehumidifiers to fit a variety of needs and room sizes, looking at drainage styles, noise levels, dimensions, and capacity.
Our top pick is the hOmeLabs Energy Star Dehumidifier because of its sleek design, large capacity, and ease of use.
Here are the best small dehumidifiers.
Why You Should Get It: This sleek and easy-to-use dehumidifier can effectively tackle spaces up to 4,500 square feet. Keep in Mind: Dehumidifiers emit heat when in use, so this product won't work in the same room as an evaporative cooler.
The hOmeLabs Energy Star Dehumidifier is a great all-around option for anyone looking to invest in a small dehumidifier. There are plenty of things to love about this appliance, including its automatic shut-off when you've reached the desired humidity level and its auto-restart functions in the event of a power failure. The easy-to-read digital panel lets you easily adjust to your ideal moisture level, see if the filter needs replacing, and alternate between settings. The dehumidifier even has a turbo mode, which increases the built-in fan speed to ensure maximum moisture removal.
Aesthetically, the hOmeLabs Energy Star Dehumidifier is no eyesore. Its sleek, modern design allows it to fit in with any room decor without standing out, while its built-in wheels and handles make it easy to move around the house. Plus, it works in rooms up to 4,500 square feet.
This small dehumidifier also made the list of Energy Star's Most Efficient dehumidifiers for 2022, meaning it requires significantly less energy to run this unit compared to non-Energy Star-certified dehumidifiers. Just keep in mind that this dehumidifier emits heat when in use, so don't use it at the same time as an evaporative cooler, as these two appliances will cancel each other out.
Why You Should Get It: It operates very quietly, so you can use it next to you as you work or sleep without being disrupted.
Keep in Mind: This dehumidifier won't work in very cold spaces because the condensation coils will freeze.
If you're looking for a solution for a musty closet or small office, the Eva-Dry EDV-1200 Ergonomic Dehumidifier provides powerful moisture-trapping abilities for enclosed spaces at a budget-friendly price.
Designed to operate quietly and efficiently, this mini electric dehumidifier can absorb up to 8 ounces of moisture from the air per day, catching condensation in a 30-ounce reservoir.
We also love the single push-button operation and automatic water level switch, which conveniently flashes a blue light to display when the tank is full. The EDV-1200 is also ultra-quiet, making it easy to use in small offices or bedrooms without disrupting your work or sleep.
Why You Should Get It: At under 6 pounds, this small dehumidifier is a breeze to move from room to room.
Keep in Mind: It isn't Energy Star-certified, so it may use more electricity than other portable dehumidifiers.
Bathrooms can experience much more humidity than other parts of the home, especially those without an exhaust fan. Add in steamy showers and frequently closed doors, and you may find yourself scrubbing mildew from your shower walls and sinks more often than you'd like. This is where the best small dehumidifiers like the Alfoia Dehumidifier can come in very handy.
Featuring a 2-liter removable water tank, this little appliance can tackle spaces up to 215 square feet, removing up to 26 ounces of moisture from a room per day. It has a built-in automatic shut-off to prevent overflow and reduce energy consumption, and the power button on the top will turn yellow when the tank is full and needs emptying.
Its convenient handle makes it easy to move the dehumidifier from one room to the next. When running, it emits just 30 decibels of noise—about as loud as a whisper—so it won't be disruptive no matter where you choose to use it. And while the Afloia dehumidifier isn't Energy Star certified, it uses less than one kilowatt of electricity in a 24 hour cycle, making it better for the environment and your electric bill.
Related: The 10 Best Humidifiers, According to Lab Testing
Why You Should Get It: The 11-pint water tank allows the machine to dehumidify your home all day without the need to empty the tank frequently.
Keep in Mind: Instead of having a separate indicator to notify you that the tank is full, this unit will display an error message.
If you're looking for the best small dehumidifiers to tackle a particularly humid basement, cellar, or laundry room, the Colzer Dehumidifier is a great option. This electric unit can extract up to 100 pints of water per day in a very damp environment of up to 95°F and 80% relative humidity.
It features three modes to maintain desired humidity, including a dry mode that uses a higher fan speed for quicker dehumidifying, a "continuous mode" designed to run without stopping, and a smart "dehumidifying mode" that keeps the room at your chosen humidity level.
The user-friendly control panel lets you easily set your room's target humidity and manually set the fan speed, while a child lock feature prevents children or pets from accidentally altering your chosen settings. The dehumidifier also has wheels on the bottom of the unit and handles on the sides to easily move it between rooms.
What we might like most about this Colzer dehumidifier is the two-drain function, which allows you to choose between using the water reservoir (which holds up to 11 pints and must be manually emptied) or using the convenient 6.56-foot hose, which will continuously drain the condensation water into any nearby low-level drain.
Just keep in mind that if you choose to use the water reservoir, this unit's display will flash an error message when the tank is full because it doesn't have an indicator button.
Why You Should Get It: The carrying handle, lightweight design, and 16-ounce water tank make this dehumidifier easy to pack for travel.
Keep in Mind: It's designed for rooms up to 205 square feet, so it won't be effective when used in larger spaces.
Touted for performance and portability, Pro Breeze Electronic Dehumidifier is a great option for anyone looking to dehumidify a small space like a closet, garage, or RV. At less than 2.5 pounds, it's extremely easy to pack on a trip or carry from room to room, yet it's powerful enough to work in spaces up to 205 square feet.
The compact device removes moisture from the air, then collects it in a 16-ounce water tank for easy disposal. Once the tank is full, the small dehumidifier shuts itself off, eliminating the chance of water leakage. To empty it, simply remove the tank, lift the plug to unseal the top, and pour out the water into a sink or drain.
Since this dehumidifier is capable of collecting about 9 ounces of moisture from a room per day, you'll need to empty it out approximately every two days, which is reasonable given the price and portability of the machine. And since it only uses one kilowatt of power in a 24-hour period, it won't drastically increase your energy bill.
Keep in mind that the optimal room size is 150 to 205 square feet, which means you won't want to use this in larger rooms or spaces where the temperature goes above 86°F.
Also available at The Home Depot and Lowe's
Why You Should Get It: This small dehumidifier is quiet when running, yet still removes up to 50 pints of moisture from the air in 24 hours.
Keep in Mind: It features an alarm function that will sound when it's time to empty the water reservoir, which can be disruptive if it goes off while you're asleep.
If you're in search of a small dehumidifier for your bedroom, you'll want a model like the GE Portable Dehumidifier, which features a quiet operation that won't disturb you as you sleep. This dehumidifier can remove up to 50 pints of moisture from the air in a 24-hour period, making it ideal for even the dampest bedroom.
It also features a built-in pump that can be drained up to 16 feet away, eliminating the need to constantly check the water levels in the reservoir. If you don't have a nearby drain, you can also use the device's 1.8-gallon water tank to store the collected moisture.
Once the unit reaches its capacity, a brief alarm will sound to let you know it's time to empty it, which can be a bit disruptive if it goes off in the middle of the night. However, if you empty the water tank before bed, this eliminates the possibility of it sounding while you're asleep.
As an Energy Star-certified dehumidifier, this unit uses 15% less electricity than non-certified models, meaning you'll see less of a spike on your monthly energy bill. Other features to love include three fan speeds, auto restart, auto defrost capabilities, and a two- or four-hour timer, all accessible from an easy-to-read digital control panel. It also includes easy-roll wheels for effortless mobility throughout your home.
Related: The 8 Best Air Purifiers for Removing Pet Hair, Odors, and Dander from Your Home
Why You Should Get It: It simultaneously eliminates moisture and airborne allergens commonly found inside the home.
Keep in Mind: You'll have to regularly change the filter to keep using the air purifier.
The Tenergy Sorbi Air Dehumidifier offers the best solution to high-humidity and high-allergen rooms in one convenient appliance. This portable model can remove up to 1 liter of moisture per day in spaces with up to 80% humidity and 86º F, keeping your space dry and cozy.
Weighing just 7 pounds, this small dehumidifier features an LED indicator, auto shut off settings, and a water level sensor to let you know when the tank needs to be emptied. Since this dehumidifier has a HEPA filter, it can also trap and remove airborne contaminants from the room, including dust, pollen, and pet dander.
The Sorbi is ideal for spaces up to 200 square feet, such as small offices, basements, bathrooms, or closets, so this unit won't work well in larger basements or living spaces. You'll also want to make sure you change the filter regularly (sold separately) for optimal use.
Also available at The Home Depot
Why You Should Get It: This dehumidifier can be controlled through an app, so you can change the settings or turn the device on or off from anywhere.
Keep in Mind: This unit is a bit noisy when running, so it may not be best for using in your bedroom if you're a light sleeper.
Honeywell is known for its high-quality and energy-efficient home appliances, so we weren't surprised to find that the brand offers one of the best small dehumidifiers on the market, too. The Honeywell Smart WiFi Energy Star Dehumidifier removes up to 70 pints of moisture from the air in a 24-hour period to protect walls, curtains, furniture, and appliances from excess household humidity.
We love that this model is WiFi-enabled and compatible with Amazon Alexa, so you can turn off, change settings, and control your smart dehumidifier using voice command or from almost anywhere through the app.
The detachable water tank with convenient handles and anti-spill guards make it super easy to empty, but you can always connect it to the included drain hose for continuous draining.
This Energy Star-certified dehumidifier's reusable air filter helps reduce dust and other airborne contaminants by trapping them in the filter and keeping them from circulating in your home. When the filter gets clogged, simply wash it out and put it back in the appliance—no need to purchase a replacement filter.
Related: The 13 Best Space Heaters for Every Room in Your Home
We chose the hOmeLabs Energy Star Dehumidifier as our top pick among the best small dehumidifiers because of its compact design, superior performance, and convenient range of settings. We also love that it comes with an auto shut-off function to prevent reservoir overflow as well as built-in wheels, making it easy to transport around your space.
Depending on how you want to use your small dehumidifier, it may be vital to have drainage capabilities. "If so, look for one with a hose attachment or another method for draining water from the machine," Chapman says. This continuous operation mode is a practical option for less-frequented areas of your home, like the basement, so that you can keep the appliance constantly running without having to worry about manually emptying the moisture collection bucket.
Depending on the size and model, some dehumidifiers can be quite noisy. Chapman suggests considering what noise level is acceptable for your needs before purchasing one. Most product descriptions list the noise level for each dehumidifier, and the best small dehumidifiers will be around 30 decibels, which allow them to run without disturbing you.
When shopping for the best small dehumidifiers, you'll probably notice two measurements indicating the unit's tank size and capacity. While the tank size tells you how much water the dehumidifier can collect at a time before needing to be emptied, its capacity is determined by how much moisture it can remove from the air in 24 hours.
The capacity of most small dehumidifiers ranges from 30 pints to 70 pints, but other factors, such as humidity, windows, and nearby appliances, can influence the humidity of the room and how much moisture it can remove in a day. Consider the following when sizing a dehumidifier:
The best small dehumidifiers can work in spaces up to 5,000 square feet, although more portable options like the Pro Breeze Electronic Dehumidifier are often designed for smaller rooms.
You can usually find the recommended room size for the dehumidifier you're considering by checking the product description. According to The Home Depot, 30-pint dehumidifiers will be most effective in rooms ranging from 500 to 1,500 square feet, 50-pint dehumidifiers will work best in rooms between 1,000 to 2,500 square feet, and dehumidifiers with a capacity larger than 60 pints will work in extremely wet rooms up to 2,500 square feet.
Keeping your dehumidifier clean can help eliminate mold buildup in the tank and ensure the unit keeps working properly. Most small dehumidifier tanks can be cleaned in your kitchen sink with liquid dish soap and warm water and may even be safe to put in the dishwasher.
It's also super important to keep the filter in your dehumidifier clean. Depending on the model, you may be able to simply throw out the used filter and replace it every 30 to 90 days. If it's a reusable filter, fill your sink with warm soapy water. Let the filter sit for 30 to 60 minutes, then gently brush away dust and debris. Make sure the filter has time to completely dry before you put it back into the dehumidifier.
The best small dehumidifiers are considerably quieter than large systems. Smaller units typically produce between 30 and 40 decibels of sound, which is about as loud as a whispered conversation, and some also have a sleep mode for quieter operation.
Depending on the layout of your basement, you may be able to get away with just one dehumidifier, but multiple dehumidifiers may be necessary to adequately reduce moisture. If you have a large, open basement, you'll likely need one large unit for the space. However, small dehumidifiers offer the benefit of portability, allowing you to move them from room to room and giving you the ability to change settings quite easily.
This article was written by Adria Greenhauff, who has been writing about food and lifestyle topics for over a decade. For this story, she researched important features in the best small dehumidifiers, like capacity, tank size, room size recommendations, and operating modes. She also interviewed James Chapman, director for Bella Bathrooms.
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