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#1 Frigidaire 50-Pint Portable dehumidifier with Built in Pump
Frigidaire, a leading manufacturer of dehumidifiers is known for its 50-pint model. It is also one of the most popular. Not only is the generous 50-pint capacity (that’s how much moisture it can extract from the air each day) near the high end of what consumer dehumidifiers can achieve, but it has a built-in pump. Not all dehumidifiers have pumps, and this one allows the unit to continuously drain to a hose that’s up to 16 feet long—a considerable distance to run to a window, sink or floor drain.
If you opt to manually empty the 2-gallon bucket, you’ll appreciate the visual indicator on the front to show the water level, the easy front-access to empty it and the splash guard to prevent accidents. It is easy to transport with casters and a pop up handle. Simple controls on the top let you choose the fan speed (there’s three settings) or target humidity.
#2 Best small: Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier
If you don’t feel the need to invest hundreds of dollars in a dehumidifier because you need to dry out a fairly confined space, then the Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier might fit the bill. It’s just as diminutive as its price tag, measuring a ridiculously small 6.6x9x12.7 inches and is designed for rooms no bigger than 250 square feet. Don’t get this model if you’re in a hurry to dry out a damp space—it removes a scant 18 ounces of water each day and has a 52-ounce water tank.
Operation is simple; it’s simply on or off, without any fan speeds or target humidity control. Of course, don’t expect a pump or continuous drainage outlet in this model, which is designed to sit on a counter or tabletop. Its electro-thermal cooling technology is extremely quiet and has an automatic shut off if the tank becomes full.
#3 TOSOT 50 Pint dehumidifier
Tosot’s 50-pint, 4,500 square foot dehumidifier has the advantage of not looking like a dehumidifier. The honeycomb styling on the top half of the case doesn’t have the industrial look of many similar devices. But Tosot’s signature feature is surely its silence. While dehumidifiers can be quite quiet at lower fan speeds, they can get louder when running at higher speeds and in turbo mode. The Tosot dehumidifier reaches a peak sound level of just 51 dB, and that’s on the higher fan speed. In comparison, a moderate rainfall is around 50 dBb—a dishwasher is 60 dB.
This dehumidifier has the ability to remove up to 50 pints per day of moisture in large spaces. There are two options for drainage: You can drain it manually via the 16-pint bucket (which is slightly larger than average), or you could use the gravity-fed drain pipe to drain water to a floor drain. If you opt for the version with a pump (that’s an upgrade—this model doesn’t include the pump) you can let the internal pump push the water. The connector accepts standard garden hoses. It’s all controlled from a simple control panel on top that displays humidity and lets you set the two-speed fan and 24-hour timer.
#4 AlorAir Sentinel HDi90
There’s no question that this is one of the most expensive dehumidifiers you’re likely to encounter, but this commercial-grade model can cover 2,600 square feet and remove 90 pints of moisture a day. The AlorAir Sentinel HDi90 is able to run continuously, unlike most dehumidifiers. There is no downtime for defrosting. This makes it a dehumidifier that can be set and forgotten, making it ideal for crawlspaces and other difficult-to-reach places. This means that you can place it anywhere you can run drainage lines (a 15-foot line comes with it). You don’t even need to have easy access to the Sentinel, because an optional remote control lets you control the dehumidifier from anywhere. You can attach a duct to the exhaust air outlet so that dry air can be routed to another room if necessary.
The Sentinel has a number of features designed to allow this unit to run for extended periods of time maintenance free—like epoxy powder coatings on the dehumidifier coils. This prolongs the life of the coils and prevents corrosion. It also maintains its ability to heat transfer heat.
#5 Aprilaire 1850Z Pro Dehumidifier
Most dehumidifiers are designed to tackle relatively small spaces—single rooms, the basement or a crawlspace. Some homes have more severe moisture problems that can be addressed holistically by a whole-house dehumidifier. The Aprilaire 1850Z Pro can filter up to 95 pints of moisture per day from the air and service homes up to 5,200 square foot. And while the price is considerably more than smaller portable models, it’s a bargain when you compare it to the cost of running multiple dehumidifiers throughout the home, and needing to deal separately with maintaining each one (including emptying waste water buckets).
There’s no waste water bucket in the 1850Z—this dehumidifier has a pump-driven exhaust that you can run to a drain. It is easy to set up and you can adjust the humidity level. Then, it will run itself.
#6 Best Bathroom Ivation 13-Pint Small Area Desiccant Dehumidifier
If you have a small space you’re trying to dehumidify—like a bathroom—the Ivation 13-Pint Small-Area Desiccant Dehumidifier is a good bet. Best for small spaces, it’s suited for rooms up to about 270 square feet and can empty, as the name implies, about 13 pints a day. This is where the Ivation model dehumidifier shines. Many compact dehumidifiers are too small to be suitable for bathrooms.
The Ivation is a well-designed dehumidifier with a blue accent panel. It can be placed in a bathroom or other location where it will be visible. There’s a user-friendly LCD display on top that you can use to control the fan speed, target humidity and scheduling. You can attach a hose to the reservoir for continuous drainage. The reservoir can hold a half-gallon worth of waste water.