These 7 Tester-Approved Dehumidifiers Will Keep the Damp Away from Your Basem*nt (2024)

• Our Picks

• How We Tested

• What to Look For

• FAQ

• Why Trust The Spruce

For both finished and unfinished basem*nts, we think the Frigidaire 35 Pint Dehumidifier is an ideal model with a larger water tank as well as a continuous drain system, so it works well in very humid spaces with or without a drain. We tested this model in a 700-square-foot wet basem*nt that has both a washing machine and a sump pump—so it was up against pretty volatile temperature and moisture conditions. We found that it quickly reduced the humidity level, and we noticed puddles of moisture on our floors drying up right away.

The water bucket is easy to get to and empty. It has a carrying handle and a splash guard to prevent spilling water on the floor while you are bringing it to a sink. We also love that it has a filter to capture dust, another common air contaminant in basem*nts. Not only does this help with air quality, but it also ensures that the dehumidifier runs as efficiently as possible. According to the manual, you should clean the filter once every two weeks. We found this to be a simple process: just remove it, wash it, and reinstall it.

After emptying the tank every two to three days by hand, we switched over to using the continuous drain system to direct the water into our floor drain. We felt like it made a bigger difference in this mode. Since it ran continuously (instead of shutting off when full), it was more effective at keeping an ideal humidity level. However, it doesn’t come with a hose, so you will need to purchase it separately. But we liked being able to select the right size hose that we needed for our space—pending how far the drain is. You can also set the built-in humidistat (humidity reader) to your ideal humidity percentage if you want to keep your basem*nt below excessive levels.

If you have a finished basem*nt that doubles as a living space, you may want to stick to the lowest level (it’s about 45 decibels at the lowest of the three fan settings, about the sound of a refrigerator hum) when you are watching TV. We found that the highest level is a little loud, so you might want to use it only when you are in another room.

_{Room Size Coverage: Not listed | Moisture Removal: 35 pints per day | Bucket Capacity: 16.88 pints | Drainage: Continuous | Energy Star Certified: Yes | Dimensions: 24.25 x 15.97 x 12.19 inches | Weight: 40 pounds | Noise Level: 45 dB}

If you're struggling to keep a small room in your basem*nt like crawl spaces dry, the Eva-Dry Petite Dehumidifier is a great option, impressing us during testing for its small but effective design. We love that it's under $60 (the lowest price on our list), which is helpful if you are limited on space and want to keep one around for occasional use. It’s also a great portable option at under 4 pounds.

This model proved very effective at quickly dehumidifying our small 10 x 10 foot bedroom in Des Moines, Iowa. While it doesn’t come with a drain system or pump, we love that it’s very simple to operate with a single on/off switch and a full tank indicator light. You can also easily monitor the water level in the tank thanks to its translucent design. Because of its size and weight, it’s one of the easiest models to empty and clean (it also doesn’t have a filter). We also found this dehumidifier to be extremely quiet, so if you are using it in a small guest bedroom or living space in your basem*nt, it’s not disruptive.

We don't recommend this unit if you have a very damp or overly humidified area in your home, as it may not be able to efficiently handle the moisture. This model only removes about half a pint of moisture each day, while our best overall option removes up to 35 pints. But it’s a great option for very small spaces or occasional use.

_{Room Size Coverage: 122 square feet | Moisture Removal: 0.5 pints per day | Bucket Capacity: 1 pint | Drainage: Bucket | Energy Star Certified: No | Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.5 x 5.3 inches | Weight: 3.5 pounds | Noise Level: Not listed}

Selected as our top humidifier for any humid area of your home, we're big fans of the Honeywell Smart Dehumidifier—it’s an effective, versatile, and compact unit. We think it’s especially great for smaller basem*nts or other areas in your home that are less frequented. While testing, we loved being able to receive alerts via an easy-to-install app when the water tank needed to be emptied instead of having to manually check it ourselves. On the app, you can also check live humidity readings and monitor if the room is set to your desired percentage.

We first noticed when using this dehumidifier in a small hallway between two bathrooms that it was almost too effective and made the air dry, so we adjusted the fan level and set our location in the app. The app can then automatically adjust the humidity level on the dehumidifier based on the weather in your surrounding area. We found it especially helpful to take the guesswork out of running this dehumidifier accurately. It also remembers your previous settings.

We found the continuous hose system to be essential during the humid summer months in Birmingham, Alabama, where we were emptying a tank two to three times a day (hose included!). However, if you do rely on the tank, we found it not too cumbersome to empty manually. It has a handle and splash guard to make the trip to a drain less stressful.

Aside from our best budget pick (that’s designed to be portable) and our best smart pick (that has a unique cube design), it’s the lightest and most compact option on our list. We like that it can be tucked into a corner and not take up too much space if you're dealing with a crowded, small basem*nt.

_{Room Size Coverage: 1,500 square feet | Moisture Removal: 30 pints per day | Bucket Capacity: 20 pints | Drainage: Continuous | Energy Star Certified: Yes | Dimensions: 20.1 x 13.2 x 10.5 inches | Weight: 34.1 pounds | Noise Level: 49.5 dBA}

The hOmeLabs 50-Pint Dehumidifier works in spaces up to 4,500 square feet, which is enough for larger basem*nts that are very damp and humid. We tested this dehumidifier in our basem*nt in Des Moines, Iowa, which had a lot of open rooms and a carpeted floor, and loved how quickly it adjusted the humidity levels throughout. It made the spaces feel more comfortable and helped remove the damp smell in less than one hour on turbo mode.

This model doesn’t have any smart features, so you can’t operate it remotely or set up alerts on your phone. Like other options we tested, during really humid months, we set up the continuous drain feature to avoid monitoring and dumping the large tank several times a day. We aren't surprised by this since it removes an impressive amount of moisture compared to its relatively smaller tank. You will have to purchase the hose separately or use a garden hose, but we found it well worth the extra cost. Also, it doesn’t have a built-in pump, so you will need a floor drain and a hose that is long enough to reach it.

One of our favorite settings on this model is the comfort mode, which uses the surrounding temperature to determine the best level of humidity needed in the room. Similarly, the turbo mode puts the fan on the highest setting and can quickly remove humidity from an area.

We will note that this dehumidifier is pretty heavy, and we needed assistance when initially setting it up. The water tank is also pretty heavy when full, so we recommend being thoughtful in where you place this unit in relation to a nearby drain or sink. Also, we did notice some grime building up inside the tank, but it was easy to wipe clean.

_{Room Size Coverage: 4,500 square feet | Moisture Removal: 50 pints per day | Bucket Capacity: 12.8 pints | Drainage: Continuous | Energy Star Certified: Yes | Dimensions: 24.3 x 15.4 x 11 inches | Weight: 40 pounds | Noise Level: Not listed}

If you don’t have a drain in your basem*nt but don’t want to fuss with constantly dumping a tank full of water, a unit with an installed pump that can move the water up into a sink is a must-have. The GE 50-Pint Dehumidifier is similar in room size coverage and moisture removal per day as our best for large basem*nts pick, but it has a slightly larger tank capacity and the addition of the built-in pump with the hose included. This unit can pump water into a drain or sink up to 16 feet away from the unit, which allows you to position it in the ideal place for air circulation while also using it in continuous mode.

We liked using this model's timer modes for 2- and 4-hour increments when we knew we'd be leaving the house and could not properly monitor it. The three fan levels also allowed us to quickly circulate air through the unit when necessary, especially on muggy days. The water tank is also very easy to remove, but it is heavy. Caster wheels and pocket handles also make this model slightly easier to move in between rooms, if you happen to have a finished basem*nt or use it in a different part of your house.

This model has an audible full tank alert, which we thought was very convenient, especially if you opt to not use continuous drainage. We could easily hear the noise coming from the basem*nt on the first floor of our home.

Lastly, we will note that this model is relatively loud on its higher fan settings, and we had to talk loudly over it. If you are using it in a finished basem*nt, you may want to place it in an area where it won’t be as disruptive.

_{Room Size Coverage: 4,500 square feet | Moisture Removal: 50 pints per day | Bucket Capacity: 15 pints | Drainage: Continuous with pump | Energy Star Certified: Yes | Dimensions: 24.02 x 14.5 x 11.5 inches | Weight: 43.7 pounds | Noise Level: Not listed}

We think this model from Frigidaire could be especially useful if you have a finished basem*nt that no longer has a floor drain. Rather than manually emptying, you can simply direct the water to a drain. We found it so effective at removing moisture during humid summer days that it would shut off every few hours due to a full tank. Similar to our best with drain hose pick, this model from Frigidaire has a continuous drainage option with a built-in pump.

The real game changer is this dehumidifier's continuous drainage and pump. Once we set up the continuous drainage (as simple as threading a garden hose to a hole near the bottom of the dehumidifier), it became a completely hands-off unit, and we noticed a physical difference in the air in our basem*nt within a few hours. We would notice this when using just the tank as well, but it would never run longer than 12 hours at a time (at the most) without shutting off when full. Although we didn’t test the built-in pump (we had an unfinished basem*nt with a drain), we like that it includes the tubing (so you don’t have to buy a garden hose).

After using it daily for six months, we found it simple to maintain. We would dust or wipe off the outside of the unit occasionally and never noticed any debris building up in the tank. The air filter is also easy to clean: just pop it out, rinse it off, and pop it back in.

If you do choose to manually empty the tank, we found it to be a relatively straightforward process. The tank pulls out like a drawer and has hand grips on the sides. Once you pull it out, it does have a carrying handle, which makes it easier to lift. While there’s no splash guard, we found that using the corner of the water tank as a spout was the easiest way to empty it and reduce splashing. Plus, this model has a built-in collapsible handle similar to a suitcase, so we could easily wheel it to a drain to avoid carrying it far. Just note that this unit doesn’t have an audible full tank alert, so you will need to check it often during humid months if using the tank only.

As we've found with the other large dehumidifiers we tested, this model was also very heavy, and we had to get help unboxing it and placing it in our desired spot. We liked the detailed instruction manual, which helped us to understand all of this dehumidifier's features and cleaning best practices.

_{Room Size Coverage: 1,500 square feet | Moisture Removal: 50 pints per day | Bucket Capacity: 16.8 pints | Drainage: Continuous with pump | Energy Star Certified: Yes | Dimensions: 24.75 x 16 x 12.25 inches | Weight: 41 pounds | Noise Level: 51 dBA}

If you love being able to remotely monitor your home appliances, the Midea Cube 50-Pint Dehumidifier is a great option with a unique design. Aside from being compatible with smart home hubs like Amazon Alexa and Google Home, this dehumidifier's smartphone app delivers notifications when the water tank is full, and allows you to check real-time humidity reports and adjust. Just make sure your basem*nt has good wifi so you can use this feature.

The water tank on this dehumidifier is the largest on this list. However, it’s easy to empty since you can take the unit off and roll the bucket itself. We also liked having the option to use the continuous drainage feature. It doesn’t have a built-in pump, so you will need a floor drain. The hose is included, but if you need a longer hose, we like that you have the option of using either a garden hose or a piece of tubing since no threading into the connection is required.

Due to the design, you need to remove and store the tank to continuously drain, so it does take up some storage space. You can’t roll the dehumidifier in this mode, so it does require more effort to move. However, when not in use, the whole unit fits inside the tank, for a unique, space-saving feature.

We also noticed mildew forming inside the tank after a few days of use. We recommend washing the water tank every time you empty it, just to be safe.

_{Room Size Coverage: 4,500 square feet | Moisture Removal: 50 pints per day | Bucket Capacity: 34 pints | Drainage: Continuous | Energy Star Certified: Yes | Dimensions: 14.57 x 14.76 x 14.45 inches | Weight: 41.67 pounds | Noise Level: 54.5 dB}

Final Verdict

Our best overall pick, the Frigidaire 35-Pint Dehumidifier, is a great dehumidifier that's strong enough for most moderate-sized basem*nts. We appreciated how easy it was to operate and that it could be used with a water tank or set up to continuously drain. If you want to remotely monitor the humidity levels in your large basem*nt, we love the Midea 50-Pint Cube Dehumidifier, our best smart pick. It has a unique design, a very large tank, continuous drainage, and smart capabilities.

FAQ

• When should you use a dehumidifier?

  The ideal moisture level is around 50 percent (or roughly between 40 and 60 percent). If your basem*nt is a lot more humid, which you can measure using a humidistat, running a dehumidifier can make it more comfortable. Moisture levels often increase after wet weather. Seasonal changes, especially during the spring and summer, can also increase humidity.

• Do dehumidifiers help with mold?

  Dehumidifiers are great for reducing the chances of mold growth by creating an environment that is less hospitable to mold. Mold likes damp, humid air. If you already have mold, a dehumidifier can keep it from spreading a lot but you will likely need to remove and remediate the mold separately.

  “Reducing the amount of moisture in a space will help reduce the likelihood of mold growth, but a dehumidifier will not reverse mold growth,” said Ragsdale. “If you have mold in your home or business have a SERVPRO professional inspect the structure and determine the best course of action to address mold removal.”

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