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May 21, 2024

The 7 Best Small Dehumidifiers for 2023

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us? Through our use and research, we found these tiny-but-mighty machines do an admirable

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?

Through our use and research, we found these tiny-but-mighty machines do an admirable job keeping air dry in smaller spaces.

While humidifiers do the job of adding moisture to dry winter air, dehumidifiers do the opposite. They pull excess humidity from the air indoors. Moisture buildup in your home can turn it into a breeding ground for mold and mildew, leave you feeling uncomfortably hot and sticky during the particularly muggy months, and even negatively impact the air quality.

Many full-size dehumidifiers are often too large, noisy, and cumbersome to keep in main living spaces, and they’re best suited to basements. To combat moisture in smaller spaces like bathrooms, bedrooms, and even RVs, a small dehumidifier is a better choice, allowing you to target specific rooms while you’re showering or during humid days or heavy rainfall. (For bathrooms, an exhaust fan is another reliable option.)

These appliances are much more compact than full-size models, yet most can still pull several ounces of water from the air each day, with some mid-size devices collecting several pints. We’ve rounded up the best small dehumidifiers for every room in your home, from bathrooms to attic crawl spaces.

For more ways to make your home more comfortable, check out our picks for the best air purifiers and air conditioners.

The dehumidifier’s extraction rate indicates how much moisture the machine can remove from the air per day. For small dehumidifiers, the average is between 10 and 20 ounces. If you’re targeting the bathroom during and after showers, you can probably get away with a lower extraction rate. For all-day control in high-humidity rooms, aim for higher extraction rates. Many mid-size dehumidifiers collect anything from 10 to 30 pints in a day.

As dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air, they store the water in an on-board tank. Models with small tanks require more frequent emptying, but large tanks may be heavier and harder to carry. Most dehumidifiers automatically turn off when the tank is full so the water doesn’t spill over.

A benefit of small dehumidifiers is that—even though you might have to empty them more often—they’re usually much easier to dump than larger models, given their tinier collection tanks. Most can operate for a day or two before filling up completely. If you don’t want the hassle of emptying out a tank, look for models that come with hoses or continuous drainage options.

Continuous drainage empties the collected moisture directly into a nearby drain through a hose. Many full-size dehumidifiers have this kind of system so you don’t have to schlep the tank to a sink, toilet, or outside. This allows you to leave the device on without needing to empty it out manually every few days. But with the compact variety, it’s much easier to simply remove the reservoir and dump it.

Dehumidifiers create a low humming noise when they’re running. Some find this comforting, with the dehumidifier acting like a white noise machine. But it can be annoying if it’s too loud.

For the quietest options, look for models that use methods other than compressors, the part of the dehumidifier that, along with the fans, pulls in air so it can cool over coils on which the moisture condenses. Our top pick from Pro Breeze is one such machine. Manufacturers typically don’t list decibels for dehumidifiers of this size, so we’ve scoured reviews to determine the quietest small dehumidifiers.

To find the best small dehumidifiers, we tested out multiple models for their real-world effectiveness in capturing moisture and user-friendliness. In our time using the Pro Breeze, Costway, and a model from GE (that didn’t make this list), we ran them on their normal settings for their size. We considered the amount of water each captured, their overall sound levels, how easy they were to use, and any extra features (sleep timer, humidity sensors, auto-shutoff, etc.).

We also researched a variety of expert sources alongside hundreds of verified customer reviews before choosing top-rated models that are well-suited for small spaces. We narrowed down our selections based on factors such as ease of use, extraction rate, maximum capacity, and noise level, ultimately settling on this range of models.

In this, Pro Breeze made the best pound-for-pound small dehumidifier. It’s an effective moisture-capturing machine while remaining incredibly compact. For its size, it has the most power and extracts the most moisture of any other dehumidifier.

When testing this model out, we were most impressed by how incredibly easy it was to operate. All we had to do was plug it in, flip it on, and it immediately began working. The dehumidifier has literally no options, added settings, or features besides the power switch and the auto shut-off when the tank is full.

This dehumidifier from Pro Breeze is also notable for its relatively quiet operation. We keep it on continuously in a bathroom without noticing it was running. At its absolute loudest, the sound is nothing more than a low hum.

This electric dehumidifier from Pohl Schmitt is an inexpensive option for removing moisture in small rooms. It has a simple on/off toggle switch, and it can pull up to 10 ounces of water from the air per day.

Its water tank holds up to 17 ounces total, which is one of the smallest tanks, but it isn’t surprising at this price. The unit will automatically shut off when it needs to be emptied.

This small dehumidifier is quiet during operation, so it won’t interrupt your daily activities. But online reviewers report it’s most effective in small rooms, despite the brand’s claims that it can support a space up to 225 square feet. Many said it didn’t significant reduce the humidity in large rooms.

Another mid-size option, this Gocheer dehumidifier’s calling card is that it comes with a drain hose. You don’t have to worry about keeping tabs on it and emptying it every couple of days. It can effectively pull moisture from the air in rooms up to 800 square feet, and it can remove 1 liter (or around 34 ounces) of water from the air per day.

This dehumidifier is another good choice for your bedroom—it has a special “Sleep” mode that brings the noise level down to just 15 decibels, as well as an optional color-changing nightlight.

Something to keep in mind if you do choose this dehumidifier but run it without the hose: The tank opens from the back. Thus, if you have it plugged in and placed in the corner of a room, you’ll have to either unplug the device or reach over the top to turn it around and pull the tank out.

This Seavon dehumidifier is extremely quiet, with a noise level of just 30-35 decibels. Read: It won’t disturb you while you’re sleeping. Its small and lightweight frame fits easily on a nightstand or dresser. And it can remove up to 12 ounces of moisture from the air per day.

Seavon claims this dehumidifier effectively removes moisture in spaces up to 215 square feet. But most reviewers agree that it works best in smaller rooms, especially if the humidity level is high. Online customers also liked the 1-year warranty and the 24-hour customer service line. More than one person said this led to prompt replacements when they had issues.

Bonus: The tank is also big enough to hold a few days’ worth of water, so you won’t have to empty it out as often as some other models.

Tenergy built this dehumidifier to pull double duty in your home, serving as an air purifier as well. It has a replaceable HEPA filter that captures dust and allergens from the air, and it can also remove roughly 25 ounces of moisture each day.

This unit is best suited for spaces around 200 square feet, and its 1-liter water tank has a removable lid that makes it easier to clean. However, the dehumidifier has a minimum operating temperature of 50 degrees, which is higher than many other models, save the Seavon. So if you require your device to capture moisture in uninsulated spaces during the winter months, consider a different one.

Sleek and simple in appearance, this Pure Enrichment mini dehumidifier is less of an eyesore than other models—ideal if you’re placing it prominently in your living space.

All you have to do is flip its power switch and it will get to work, removing 10 ounces of moisture from the air each day. This dehumidifier is best suited for small spaces, such as a bathroom, and it will automatically shut off when its 27-ounce water tank is full.

What’s more, Pure Enrichment backs this dehumidifier with a 5-year warranty, which is longer than you’ll get from many other brands.

While slightly larger than many other options on our list, this dehumidifier from Costway continues to shine, even as a portable model. It can collect up to 24 pints of moisture, which is markedly more than many other portable options, while the rotating wheels make it easy to roll it from room to room.

But what most notably sets this dehumidifier apart from the other models we tested was the color-coded indicator light on the front. This device automatically detects the room’s humidity and displays a corresponding color for each range. Blue represents anything less than 45 percent, green between 45 and 65 percent, and red above 65 percent. Once it gets the humidity to the level you set, it will automatically shut off—and then turn back on if the space gets too humid again.

Tom Price is an Associate Editor of Commerce for Popular Mechanics, and also contributes to Runner's World, and Bicycling. He has previously covered product reviews, startup news, and even professional wrestling. In his free time, he enjoys watching pretentious TV, low-brow movies, and exercising for beauty, not health. If you are interested in exploring more of his work, check out his website.

Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product reviewer specializing in home, kitchen, and pet products. In her four years as a product tester, she's tested hundreds of items firsthand, and her work appears in publications such as Forbes, USA Today, The Spruce, Food52, and more.

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