The Best Dehumidifiers to Reduce Humidity and Mold
These dehumidifiers will keep your home dry over the long haul.
Tested by Nikolas GreenwaldManager, Data & Product Operations
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Dehumidifiers help keep damp spaces like basements, laundry rooms, and bathrooms drier and more comfortable while reducing the excess moisture that can lead to mold and mildew. To find the best dehumidifiers, experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab tested more than a dozen models from leading brands, evaluating moisture removal, ease of use, noise, and portability.
Our top picks:
- Best overall: TCL 50-Pint Smart Dehumidifier
- Best value: Black+Decker 30-Pint Dehumidifier
- Easiest storage: Midea Cube 50-Pint Dehumidifier
After hundreds of hours of testing over several months, our experts found the TCL 50-Pint Smart Dehumidifier the best pick for managing large, humid spaces.
Pros
- Effective and energy-efficient
- Can be controlled remotely with the app
- Auto-defrost makes it suitable for cold basements
Cons
- Smaller tank requires more frequent emptying
- Noisy when running on high
WHY WE LOVE IT: If you’re dealing with a large, damp space like an unfinished basement where moisture collects on surfaces, you’ll need a dehumidifier that can handle serious water removal. This 50-pint model from TCL fits the bill, with enough power to manage spaces up to 4,500 square feet.
PERFORMANCE: Built with a solid housing and a strong motor, the TCL pulled moisture from the air quickly and effectively during testing. Even with its high capacity, it still meets Energy Star standards for efficiency, so you won’t see a huge jump in your energy bill. It also includes a built-in pump for continuous drainage, which is helpful in a basement setup, though using it will slightly increase energy use.
This model is packed with features that make it easy to live with, including Wi-Fi connectivity and a companion app that lets you monitor and control settings from your phone. An auto-defrost function prevents the coils from freezing in cooler spaces, allowing the unit to run in temperatures as low as 41°F.
TESTING NOTES: Consumer testers noted that the TCL’s tank is on the smaller side, so if you don’t plan to use the continuous-drain feature, it will need to be emptied more often. Also, the fan was quite loud at its highest setting. For that reason, our experts suggest placing it in utility areas rather than main living spaces.
| Capacity | 50 pt. |
| Weight | 41.9 lbs |
| Dimensions | 24" x 15.4" x 10.6" |
| Drainage | Bucket or hose (gravity drain only) |
| Tank size | 4 qt |
| Fan speed | High and low |
Pros
- Portable design
- Fast, effective water removal
- Front water bucket has handles for easy emptying
Cons
- High fan setting may be noisy in a small room
- No pump for elevated draining
WHY WE LOVE IT: The 36-pint dehumidifier from Black+Decker is a smart pick for budget-conscious shoppers. It’s an update to a previously-tested model; based on its design and features, our experts expect it to perform similarly.
PERFORMANCE: Through hours of testing in the Lab, the dehumidifier removed moisture efficiently and ran quietly, though given its limited tank capacity, it is not intended for heavy-duty jobs, such as a large basement where moisture is constant or where condensation collects on the walls (that's even more so for the model line's smaller-capacity units). In that kind of environment, any dehumidifier with a tank smaller than 50 pints will struggle and likely burn out before long. But in more manageable settings, like a living room or upstairs bedroom, this model should perform well, although the high fan setting may be loud in a small room.
TESTING NOTES: The controls on the Black+Decker are simple to use, and the digital humidistat proved accurate. It also gives you the option for continuous drainage using the included hose. But our consumer testers pointed out that there's no built-in pump, so it can't move water uphill or across the room. The front water bucket has handles for easy emptying, though.
Features at a Glance
| Capacity | 36 pt |
| Weight | 33.7 Pounds |
| Dimensions | 10.24" x 15.2" x 19.69" |
| Drainage | Bucket or hose (without pump) |
| Tank size | 10.5 pints |
| Fan speeds | High and low |
Pros
- Excellent air drying power
- Collapsible design for easy storage
- Extremely large tank
Cons
- Some users might find it cumbersome
WHY WE LOVE IT: The Midea Cube is not like other dehumidifiers. Its two-part design consists of a storage bucket and a condenser unit that nestles inside the bucket during storage and sits on top when you're ready to put it to work.
PERFORMANCE: Based on testing, our experts say the Midea should do a superb job dehumidifying spaces up to 4,500 square feet with minimal noise from the motor or fan. Thanks to its clever tank design, the dehumidifier can hold about three times as much water as traditional dehumidifiers. But keep in mind that at full capacity the bucket weighs almost 42 pounds, plus lifting and twisting the 38-pound compressor into place takes some muscle.
TESTING NOTES: "If you're willing to put up with that extra work, you won't be disappointed by the Midea," said one consumer tester. Its auto-defrost function makes it safe for use in basements or other cold rooms, and the built-in pump can move water uphill and over long distances.
| Capacity | 50 pt |
| Weight | 42 lbs |
| Dimensions | 14" x 15" x 15" |
| Drainage | Built-in pump |
| Tank size | 16.8 qt |
| Fan speeds | High, medium, low |
Pros
- Excellent moisture removal and large tank
- On-board pump continually drains water
- Washable air filter
Cons
- No frost control sensor so it's not good for cold basements and other spaces
WHY WE LOVE IT: We find that moisture removal capacity between 40 and 50 pints per day tends to be the sweet spot for dehumidifiers intended for large living spaces since those models offer the best combination of value, performance, and efficiency.
PERFORMANCE: In extensive Lab tests, this 50-pint dehumidifier from Frigidaire did an excellent job of drawing moisture from the air, while consumer testers praised the long list of user-friendly features, including intuitive controls, an accessible water bucket, and a washable air filter. The on-board pump continuously drains water from the bucket to a location up to 15 feet away, including a utility sink or another elevated spot.
TESTING NOTES: One downside our consumer testers noted is that the dehumidifier is not suited for spaces that get below 40°F, since it lacks a frost control sensor, a feature found on other dehumidifiers that automatically shuts the unit off whenever ice crystals start to form on its coils. That's why we like this model for living spaces, such as a family room or a bedroom, rather than a chilly basement.
| Capacity | 50 pt |
| Weight | 44.53 lbs |
| Dimensions | 12.1875" x 24.25" x 24.25" |
| Drainage | Continuous drain via hose |
| Tank size | 21.6 pt |
| Fan speed | High, medium, low |
How we test dehumidifiers
Our product experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab survey the marketplace and manufacturers to identify the models that consumers nationwide are most likely to find in stores and online. From there, we select models for testing across a range of room sizes and price points.
Hands-on testing begins in our Lab under controlled humidity and temperature conditions. The key performance-based test measures how much water each dehumidifier collects in a 48-hour time period.
Usability is another important part of our evaluation; it takes place in the Lab and in the homes of consumer testers, allowing us to test the dehumidifiers under real-world conditions. We look at factors such as portability, how intuitive the display and controls are, and ease of cleaning, including how simple it is to wash the filter and empty the water reservoir. To evaluate noise, we use a decibel meter (pictured) to measure the volume produced by each dehumidifier at its highest fan speed.
Finally, we assess each brand's customer service by contacting help lines with a sample customer issue and evaluating response time and helpfulness.
What to look for when shopping for the best dehumidifier
Keep these points in mind to find the best dehumidifier for your needs:
✔️ Capacity: 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°F, or 30 to 40 pints at 80°F (about 400 to 600+ square feet).
- A medium humidifier removes 30 to 35 pints of moisture at 65°F, or 50 to 60 pints at 80°F (about 800 to 1,000+ square feet).
- A large humidifier removes 40 to 55 pints of moisture at 65°F, or 70 to 90 pints at 80°F (about 1,200 to 1,500+ square feet).
✔️ Tank size: This is how much water the dehumidifier's tank can hold. It's important to note that if you don't intend to use the continuous-drain feature, a smaller tank will need to be emptied more often. Tank sizes typically range from 4 to 10 quarts, though some tanks can hold 15 quarts or more.
✔️ Noise: You might not need to consider this if you plan on placing the unit in a basement or other room you're not in that often, but if you want to put it in your bedroom or dorm room, consider how loud the machine gets. Below 50 decibels is ideal; anything above 60 decibels could be a nuisance at night.
✔️ Features: Dehumidifiers have many features to consider, but these are the ones our pros recommend focusing on:
- Hose connection: If you'll be using a large dehumidifier for a particularly wet job, finding a dehumidifier with a hose connection can save you from having to empty the machine manually.
- Pump: Attached to the hose, a pump can send water up to a sink or window. Many can move water up to 15 feet.
- Auto-humidistat: This can sense the moisture in the air and turn off automatically once the desired level is reached.
- Low-temperature setting and/or auto-defrost: These features are helpful if the dehumidifier will be in a cool place, as they help ensure the unit operates properly in cooler temps.
✔️ Maintenance: Some dehumidifiers are easier to clean and maintain than others:
- Accessible water reservoir: Front-facing buckets with a comfortable handle are the easiest to remove.
- Filter indicator: This feature reminds you to clean your machine's air filter. That's also a good time to clean the grill at the back of the unit, following the manufacturer's instructions.
How does a dehumidifier work?
Dehumidifiers use two heat exchangers and a condenser to pull moisture from humid air. An interior fan draws air from the room into the first heat exchanger, where it trades heat with a refrigerant. This process causes the air to drop below its dew point, or the temperature at which condensation starts to form.
This condensation is then deposited into the dehumidifier's reservoir. The evaporated coolant flows into a condenser, where it's returned to its liquid form, and the heat it produced is absorbed back by the air.
This way, cold air isn't coming off the dehumidifier. The air that leaves a dehumidifier will always be slightly hotter than the air that enters.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Dan DiClerico has been testing and writing about dehumidifiers for 25 years. In that time, he has also spearheaded numerous investigative reports on indoor air quality, working closely with external experts from government, industry, and the home services space. As director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab, DiClerico oversees dehumidifier testing in our Labs and in-home consumer testing that evaluates these devices in real-world conditions.
GH Institute Data Engineer Nikolas Greenwald added to our latest round of dehumidifier testing. Before joining GH in 2022, Greenwald worked on projects ranging from chemical inventory and reporting to the development of bioassays in the labs of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. He holds a degree in chemical engineering from Northeastern University.
Nik (he/him) works across GH Institute Labs to develop testing protocols, analyze data, and build tools that support product evaluation. He also contributes editorial coverage on men’s beauty and audio, drawing on his background in chemical engineering and experience as a music producer and DJ. Before joining Good Housekeeping in 2022, Nik worked in the labs of MIT and Regeneron on projects ranging from chemical inventory and reporting to bioassay development.
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