6 Best Dehumidifiers to Fight Mold and Muggy Summers (2026) | WIRED
Overview
I Tested the Best Dehumidifiers for Muggy Heat and a Mold-Free Life
Mold is no joke. Neither is a mid-Atlantic summer. Whether you live in humid-heat New York or humid-winter Oregon, the best dehumidifiers can bring your humidity to livable levels and help mitigate the most obvious ill effects of damp climates.
Details
What ill effects? In hot weather, humid climates can make it difficult for your body (or your air conditioner) to cool down appropriately and attain homeostasis, potentially worsening cardiac issues. Closer to normal room temperature, oh dear lord, there's the mold—the ancient foe of asthmatics, hypochondriacs, record collectors, and clotheshorses.
WIRED reviewer Lisa Wood Shapiro discovered the salutary effects of dehumidifiers after life in a damp Maine cabin where her air quality monitors often registered 80 percent humidity, not to mention a stint on dehumidifier Tik Tok. Reviewer Matthew Korfhage lives in Portland, Oregon, where black mold is a genre of small talk.
After testing, these are the best models out of the many we tested, from our top-pick Midea 20-Pint Cube (
For more ways to improve your indoor air quality, check out our guides to the Best Air Purifiers, Best Air Quality Monitors, Best Space Heaters, Best Fans, and Best Window Air Conditioners.
Updated August 2026: I tested and added the Aeocky Rhea-001 as an honorable mention. I also tested the newest model of Midea's 50-pint cube, which WIRED no longer recommends. I ensured accuracy of links and prices, and added new information on Honeywell Air Management, which has gone out of business.
Best Dehumidifier Overall Courtesy of Midea Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Midea 20 Pint Cube Dehumidifier
The Midea Cube 20 is a powerful dehumidifier that combines a great number of desirable attributes held in balance. It has a large 3-gallon tank without being overly large, and its bucket can nest for easy storage when you're not using it. It pairs an intuitive control panel with an easy-to-pair smart app in our experience, though some online have had issues. And it's quiet, noted WIRED tester Lisa Wood Shapiro, humming along at a near-imperceptible 20 decibels on its lowest fan setting and at around 40 decibels at its highest. This is as quiet as the quietest space heaters.
This 20-pint model is rated for a 1,500-square-foot space that's sufficient for most residential environments. Its blessed compactness makes it suitable even for small apartments, just a 13-inch cube when it's not in use. If you'd rather wheel it around (it weighs 33 pounds without water), you can also mount an optional wheel set. All in all, an admirable set of qualities, at a price lower than other dehumidifiers with comparable performance. Note, however, it lacks a dedicated laundry mode for drying clothes.
Note that there is a larger, 50-pint Cube ($299) rated for bigger spaces. Don't buy it. The sensor on the model I tested quickly revealed itself as defective, showing humidity readings that were far too low, meaning the device is unlikely to kick in. Online reviews showed this as a maddeningly common issue for the 50-pint model, though it does not seem to crop up for the 20-pint version.
Best Dehumidifier for Bathrooms Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Breezome 60 Oz. Dehumidifier
Most bathrooms are small. Intimate, even—too small to comfortably house a bulky dehumidifier. And yet they produce a lot of humidity daily, making them mold magnets. This Breezome is a good and weirdly personable solution.
It's tiny, 13 inches tall, with a footprint of just 5 by 8 inches. It's also cute. Tester Lisa Wood Shapiro came to love its seven changing mood lights and clear window revealing its water tank. It's not a powerhouse, and it won't dehumidify large rooms. But for a dorm, a bathroom, or a closet, it's an excellent and unobtrusive solution that uses very little energy compared to larger devices.
Timer settings (12, 24, 36, and 48 hours) are also useful, as is the sleep mode and overfloor protection.
Best Dehumidifer for Basements Photograph: Matthew Korfhage. Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Dreo Smart Dehumidifer 711S
This Dreo is a beast. While maintaining energy efficiency higher than Energy Star standards, it'll draw 210 cubic feet per minute through its system—able to pull as much as 110 pints of water a day out of the air if you live in, like, Florida. Its easy-to-use smart app will let you monitor humidity remotely and turn the device on or off, making it perfect for basements if you hook its exterior hose up to a drain.
Dreo specializes in smart devices across its repertoire, so it's no surprise the app is easy to use and intuitive. Just note that this puppy's pretty loud, above 60 decibels and lightly audible in the next room—which means the ability to operate it remotely is a boon. The 711S also tends to register the humidity as much as 5 percentage points higher than nearby hygrometers, so I'd likely be conservative with my humidity settings when putting it on auto. Still: Total beast. It brought my small bathroom from 85 percent to 50 percent humidity in less than 10 minutes.
Best Dehumidifier for Travel Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Eva-Dry Renewable Mini Dehumidifier E-333
The Eva-Dry is a different kind of dehumidifier. It’s filled with desiccant beads using the same moisture-absorbing principles as those ubiquitous silica packages that are tucked into electronic boxes and food to keep the contents dry. The Eva-Dry works without electricity … at first. You simply place your Eva-Dry in your luggage, your car, your boat, RV, display cabinet, or any small space. Over time, depending on the level of moisture, the beads will change from orange to green. When the Eva-Dry beads turn green, it’s time to plug it in, and in about 12 hours the the beads turn back to orange.
I know I’ve seen the Eva-Dry before I ordered one to demo; I can’t remember if it was in an antique shop or a doctor’s office, but it was familiar to me. Invented over 20 years ago in humid Florida, the Eva-Dry has a full line of desiccant humidifiers designed for portability, and they might offer the right amount of drying power for your needs. —Lisa Wood Shapiro
Best Dehumidifier Without Refrigerants Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Eva-Dry 4000 Rotary Desiccant Dehumidifier
This 13-pound dehumidifier is without a refrigerant. Instead, it works with zeolite desiccant material. Like Eva-Dry’s Renewable Mini Dehumidifier above, the EVD-4000 works with the same dehumidification principle but at a much larger scale. It has a rotating desiccant ceramic disk to pull in moisture and is able to dry out a 440-square-foot room. It's lighter and quieter than the other dehumidifiers I’ve tested, but that comes with the higher price. And because the EVD-4000 doesn’t require refrigerant, it’s able to work in a variety of temperatures. It has a blue-light ionizer and air filter to capture some particulate matter. And the air blowing from the unit is warm. It is barely audible at its lowest setting and is a quiet-ish 60 decibels at its highest setting.
When I first plugged in the EVD-4000 it gave off an off-putting smell, like heated plastic, but true to the manual’s word, it soon dissipated. I also worried that the EVD-4000 would somehow impact the indoor air quality of my son's 250-square-foot room. It did not. I set the ideal humidity at its highest setting of 35 percent and checked my various indoor air quality monitors. They were reading a high 62 percent humidity. I wondered how long it would take EVD-400 to deliver its 35 percent target. It took four hours to get to 46 percent humidity, but after seven hours, the tank was filled and EVD-4000 turned off. The EVD-4000 includes a drain hose for continuous drainage, and that would be ideal to use, as its water reservoir is too small for continuous dehumidifying. It also has three swinging louvers, a clothes drying mode, and a pull-out tank to collect water. —Lisa Wood Shapiro
Best Dehumidifier for Drying Laundry (Yes, Laundry)Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Govee Life Smart Dehumidifier$300 Amazon Believe it or not, a dehumidifer can be one of the more energy efficient ways to dry clothing and towels—especially for small loads. Some Scandinavian countries have drying rooms, to line-dry clothes with the help of a dehumidifer. It works more slowly. But it also works more efficiently. The laundry mode on this Govee Life dehumidifier able to dry two bath towels, a cotton T-shirt, a tennis skirt, and several hand towels in four hours on a day with nearly 80 percent humidity, according to tester Lisa Wood Shapiro. This brought the 2-gallon tank nearly to capacity. Otherwise the Govee Life is a pretty standard modern dehumidifier with an app to monitor humidity remotely, an option on a continuous drain hose. The max rating is 109 pints a day, in hot and humid climates. While heavy at 40 pounds, it has wheels. Its design is benign, and the loudness is in the middle of the pack. Specs Smart app? Yes Tank capacity 2 gallons Laundry mode Yes Noise on high 53 d BWheels/handles Wheels/side handles Warranty 1 year WIRED/TIREDAccordion Item Container Button Large Chevron WIREDLaundry dryer Continuous drain hose and a 2-gallon water tank Connected app TIREDHeavy
Best Dehumidifier for Drying Laundry (Yes, Laundry)
Believe it or not, a dehumidifer can be one of the more energy efficient ways to dry clothing and towels—especially for small loads. Some Scandinavian countries have drying rooms, to line-dry clothes with the help of a dehumidifer. It works more slowly. But it also works more efficiently. The laundry mode on this Govee Life dehumidifier able to dry two bath towels, a cotton T-shirt, a tennis skirt, and several hand towels in four hours on a day with nearly 80 percent humidity, according to tester Lisa Wood Shapiro. This brought the 2-gallon tank nearly to capacity.
Otherwise the Govee Life is a pretty standard modern dehumidifier with an app to monitor humidity remotely, an option on a continuous drain hose. The max rating is 109 pints a day, in hot and humid climates. While heavy at 40 pounds, it has wheels. Its design is benign, and the loudness is in the middle of the pack.
Great, user-friendly design; can be used with laundry; large capacity
Great app with remote operation and monitoring, fast dehumidification, drain hose, energy-efficient
Lightweight and quiet; can work in a variety of temperatures
Laundry dryer; continuous drain hose; connected app
Seven changing mood lights; clear window revealing its water tank
Doesn't work effectively in larger rooms; doesn't have the power to dry laundry
Aeocky Rhea-001 for $300: This Aeocky dehumidifier has a lot going for it. It's relatively compact, unobtrusively designed, conveniently designed for portability with wheels and hidden handles, and energy-efficient. But at its price, it feels a little underpowered. It's also a little loud, at 64 decibels. This said, there have been unusually good online reports on reliability and durability—often a sticking point for dehumidifiers, even the best ones. I've tested this one for a month in the summer, and will continue to test through a humid Pacific Northwest winter to see if it warrants higher recommendation.
The first thing to think about is how you’re going to drain the water from the dehumidifier. In the basement, the best thing you can do is to use the dehumidifier’s continuous water drain tube to either the sump pump or a drain. If those options are not available, you might be emptying the tank multiple times a day. The first time I put a dehumidifier in the basement, the tank was filled in three hours’ time. It’s all about the drainage. Also, knowing how to read a label. If you have a 50-pint humidifier, that means the appliance can remove 50 pints of moisture from the air in a 24-hour period; it's not the internal tank capacity. Also, look for the maximum area coverage. For example, the Honeywell Smart 50 pint can remove 50 pints of water from 4,000 sq ft—the size of a whole house—in 24 hours.
If you, like me, also need a dehumidifier in your city apartment, then consider buying one that’s easy to move around with wheels and a handle. Some of these machines are heavy. Also, a small dehumidifier in the bathroom is a good idea to keep the dampness at bay, especially if you have mold growing on your grout.
Lastly, do not drink the water collected in your dehumidifier tank. That water is not potable. Pour it down the drain. A dehumidifier is not creating distilled water; that’s a different process and appliance.
Dehumidifying your home is one of the nine foundations for a healthy home, according to Harvard’s TH Chan School for Public Health’s Healthy Buildings for Health initiative. Moisture can cause mold to grow. And most air quality monitors, like the Awair Element and QP Pro, have a moisture or humidity reading. For those with a mold allergy like WIRED reviewer Lisa Wood Shapiro, a dehumidifier is a necessity. And while dry air can be a culprit for itchy eyes and respiratory issues, according to several studies, there are many benefits for lower humidity in the home. The EPA recommends keeping humidity below 60 percent and ideally between 30 and 50 percent.
Harvard’s TH Chan School for Public Health’s Healthy Buildings for Health initiative
It’s worth noting that there are many studies about how low humidity—or low RH (relative humidity), the amount of water vapor in the air—affects the viability of certain viruses. One example was the SARS coronavirus (not Covid-19), which had stability in low-temperature and low-humidity environments that facilitated transmission, while high-temperature and high-humidity such as tropical locales did not. In more temperate climes, the deleterious effects of mold growth are often a higher concern, and this includes the mold you can't see. While it has the worst rep, black mold isn't necessarily worse or better than the other kinds. Mold in general is just kinda awful for you.
deleterious effects of mold growth are often a higher concern
black mold isn't necessarily worse or better than the other kinds. Mold in general is just kinda awful for you
Mold prospers in damp environments. And for this reason the Environmental Protection Agency recommends keeping relative humidity below 60 percent in indoor environments, and ideally between 30 and 50 percent. In the winter, your heating system or space heater will likely do some of the work. During a humid summer, a dehumidifier may be a first line of defense in preventing a damp environment that allows mold to prosper—whether in a dank basement, a humid climate, or just an ill-ventilated bathroom after a shower.
It's important to note that while a dehumidifier can prevent some mold by removing the moisture from the air that mold needs to grow and thrive, it cannot kill or remove existing mold, especially if it's due to an ongoing issue such as a water leak. (Mold can grow in as little as 24 to 48 hours after water exposure, according to FEMA.) If your home has a significant mold problem, a dehumidifier is not the answer—you'll need to investigate the source, and possibly look into a professional assessment and remediation.
According to the EPA, the ideal indoor humidity is between 30 and 50 percent. The best way to tell if you're within this range is by using a hygrometer—many smart thermostats have them, but you can also buy one on Amazon for under $10. Other than physically seeing mold, other signs of excess moisture or humidity in your home could include condensation on windows, a musty mildew smell, or an increase in allergy or asthma symptoms.
Midea 50-Pint Cube for $300: While we had great results with the 20-pint Midea cube, our top pick dehumidifier, the most recent iteration of the 50-pint version seems to have a quite frequent sensor problem. After brief testing, mine began to show readings considerably below the actual humidity, as measured by multiple hygrometers—which means the device won't kick on when needed. Based on online reports, I'm not alone. Sensor issues seem to be a very common source of complaint for the 50-pint Midea.
Tabyik 35-Ounce Dehumidifier for $47: At just over 2 pounds and 10 inches tall, the Tabyik Peltier Dehumidifier had the potential to be the right fit. While it’s slightly cheaper than the Breezome's 60-ounce dehumidifier, that lower cost comes with half the Breezome’s tank size. If you’re looking for a small dehumidifier for your windowless bathroom or mud room, then this tiny, toy-sized version of a dehumidifier might be for you. One issue was the Tabyik’s 4-foot electrical cord, which made placing it on the floor from a high-up electrical outlet, like those in a bathroom, somewhat restricting. And small doesn’t mean quieter. The Tabyik churns along at close to 30 decibels—louder than the full-size Midea Cube 20-pint at low or medium fan speeds.
Note that while the Honeywell Energy Star 50-Pint Dehumidifier was a previous top pick for basements, Honeywell licensee Honeywell Air Comfort has gone out of business and is no longer servicing its products. While you may still find the device, I can no longer recommend a product whose company isn't there to stand behind it.
has gone out of business and is no longer servicing its products.
AT&T Top Deals: Wireless, Internet, Bundles and More!
Key Takeaways
-
I Tested the Best Dehumidifiers for Muggy Heat and a Mold-Free Life
-
WIRED reviewer Lisa Wood Shapiro discovered the salutary effects of dehumidifiers after life in a damp Maine cabin where her air quality monitors often registered 80 percent humidity, not to mention a stint on dehumidifier Tik Tok
-
After testing, these are the best models out of the many we tested, from our top-pick Midea 20-Pint Cube (
25)
