Editor’s Note: Since our initial testing, several of the dehumidifiers we tested have been discontinued. We just completed a new round of testing and named the Frigidaire Gallery FGAC5045W1 as our pick for best dehumidifier. It replaces the Frigidaire FFAP5033W1. Our former pick for best living space dehumidifier, the LG PuriCare UD501KOJ5, has also been discontinued.
The best dehumidifier we tested
With the recent hurricanes and other harsh weather in the United States, many homeowners and renters are looking to dry out flooded floors and rid their home’s air of humidity. Others in as-yet-unaffected areas are busy stocking up on Amazon Prime Day emergency preparedness deals on things like first aid kits and flashlights, as well as portable home cleaning essentials like shop vacs or other vacuum cleaners.
Natural disasters aside, heat and humidity are always things homeowners and apartment dwellers in hot areas seek to remove during warm weather months — and this is where dehumidifiers can play a crucial role in helping you quickly dry out your humid living space.
As a resident of a New York City suburb, I know the process of dehumidifying a living space all too well. Not only have I spent years testing dehumidifiers (and humidifiers) for work, but I also use both in my home. To help you keep your home dry and comfortable no matter the season, I tested five dehumidifiers that promise to remove pints of humidity from the air.
Each model tested is a leading, well-reviewed, Energy Star-certified dehumidifier from brands like Danby, Frigidaire, HomeLabs, Honeywell and Ivation. Several offer a built-in pump, drain hose and Wi-Fi access control via their mobile app. EAch unit performed as advertised, quickly and efficiently bringing our test space in our humid suburban home basement to a comfortable humidity level. After that exhaustive testing, I found one great dehumidifier with better usability and ergonomics than the others.
The Frigidaire Gallery FGAC5045W1 is a 50-pint Wi-Fi-enabled dehumidifier with a built-in pump. It impressed during our second round of testing because it collected the most water, its mobile app is helpful and easy to use and it comes equipped with a comfortable, lift-up handle that makes it simple to maneuver.
Best dehumidifier: Frigidaire Gallery 50-Pint with Built-in Pump and Wi-Fi FGAC5045W1 Dehumidifier
The Frigidaire Gallery dehumidifier was the best performer in our most recent round of testing, removing the most moisture from the air in our humid basement. However, it also stood out because of its superior interface and usability. Its control panel is very well thought out, with comfortable buttons clearly labeled with easy-to-understand graphical icons and text.
This Frigidaire model offers three fan speeds (low, medium and high) and does an excellent job controlling the humidity. With plenty of drainage options, this unit is suitable for anywhere in the household you need to address a humidity issue. For use in any living space, an easy-to-read water level indicator lets you know when the bucket needs emptying, and the bucket itself is sturdy, easy to pull out when full and replace once emptied, and has a splash guard that kept us and our cement floor from getting damp. It has a passive drain hose to direct water to a floor drain and a built-in pump. (We did not test this pump, however.)
Sturdy handle and smooth wheels
We liked its sturdy, pull-up handle as not all dehumidifiers have even a basic handle. This one rests comfortably inside the unit until you pull it up and stays up until you push it down again. This makes it easy to control, even with one hand like in the video above. This dehumidifier also comes with smooth built-in casters that help it easily roll around on various flooring surfaces.
Audible and visual alerts
We also liked how the Frigidaire dehumidifier alerts you by using a rapid-fire, yellow glowing light on the front of the unit and by sending audible alerts if you open the enclosed bucket while the unit is still in operation. If the bucket is removed, the unit pauses operation to allow you time to put the bucket back into place.
Useful control via mobile app
The Frigidaire Gallery offers a Wi-Fi-connected app that you can download for the FGAC5 and FGAC7 series of dehumidifiers. It’s available for Apple or Android. We found it easy to download and set up. Using the app, we were able to control the dehumidifier in some ways. We could set the target humidity we wanted the dehumidifier to get our room’s air to (50% in this case), plus we could use the app to set the mode (Dry in this screenshot) as well as control the Fan speed. We could also set a timer to have the dehumidifier turn off at a later time. We liked how easy the app was to use, especially for turning on and off our dehumidifier from another room.
How we tested
View this interactive content on CNN.comSince dehumidifiers are meant to run more or less continuously, we narrowed our choices to highly rated, well-reviewed units that are Energy Star-rated for energy efficiency and rated for use in rooms up to 1,500 square feet. To suit the widest variety of spaces, we selected models with 50-pint tank capacity according to the Energy Star standards; smaller and larger versions of these units are typically available if you need to address dampness in small spaces or larger rooms.
To ensure the tested units were versatile enough for most household applications, we made sure each one came equipped with multiple drainage options, including a direct passive drain port and an internal pump, and shipped with a drainage hose.
We then tested the dehumidifiers in an approximately 1,500-square-foot finished basement featuring wall-to-wall cement floors. We didn’t have to raise humidity levels at the onset of testing because the area we tested in was already quite humid. This basement wasn’t used for roughly four summer months, during which its usual dehumidifier was not turned on. As a result, a considerable amount of mold was able to form on the chairs and tables stored there (which was a result of the high humidity that collected in the hot, damp room).
This proved to be the perfect testing environment for a dehumidifier. We ran our initial test and after the room was down to normal humidity levels, we donned some protective gloves and a mask and manually removed the white mold from the furniture with a cleaning solution designed to do so (see the before-and-after photo of the chair we cleaned above). Then we resumed testing in the now-healthier environment.
We raised humidity levels again after each test was done by using the AILINKE Whole House humidifier, then tracked temperature and relative humidity during our tests using the SensorPush HTP.xw wireless thermometer/hygrometer with its iOS app on an iPhone 11; the SensorPush device was calibrated using a Boveda One-Step calibration kit. To measure water weight, we used a Weight Watchers digital scale.
Humidity reduction
- We measured how efficient the units were by measuring their ability to reduce relative humidity (RH) from a sticky 80% at 70 degrees Fahrenheit to a comfortable 50%. All units performed similarly; reducing the humidity to a comfortable 50% without issue within the four-hour test period, set to their highest speed fan settings. Better performers were able to pull more moisture out of the air.
- On each of the five dehumidifiers in our second round of testing, we ran one humidity reduction test in which we measured the amount of moisture collected in a unit’s enclosed water bucket within four hours. Water output was measured in a graduated glass vase and weighted with a digital scale.
- Listed from most to least, the amount of pints collected in four hours were as follows during our second round of testing: Frigidaire Gallery (22.3 pints), Honeywell TP70PWKN (13.4 pints), Ivation IVADUWIFI50WP (10.7 pints), Danby DDR050BJPWDB-ME (9.7 pints) and hOmeLabs HME031004N (9.4 pints).
Noise level
- We measured the noise levels produced by each unit over a 1-hour period while running at high speed in our quiet basement using the NIOSH Sound Level Meter (SLM) app running on an iPhone 11. The app lets you save each noise measurement in the NIOSH app, in Apple Health or in both, and it also lets you save the measurement as a HTML or PDF file to email or send to yourself or others.
- While all of the models we tested made an audible hum in operation, in the end, each unit measured at an average level of around 50 decibels (dB) — no louder than the hum of a fan or running refrigerator and not loud enough to interfere with conversation or sleep, making any of the models we tested suitable for most anywhere around the house you’d want to use one.
- From quietest to loudest: Honeywell (49.1 dB), Danby (49.8 dB), LG PuriCare (50.1.dB), hOmeLabs (50.7 dB), GE (52.2 dB), Frigidaire (52.9 dB) and Ivation (55.3 dB). For reference, a Drybar Buttercup Blow-Dryer (our pick for best mid-range hair dryer) was used; first set on low it measured 74.6 dB and that same hair dryer set on high came in at 79.8 dB.
Unboxing
- We took each humidifier out of its box. Some came with warnings to let them sit upright out of their box for a set amount of time.
- We set them up vertically, took off all the protective wrappings and tape and let them rest out of the box for 36 hours before plugging them in. We noted how easy or difficult it was to locate all the hoses and accessories each dehumidifier was shipped with.
Tape removal
- We noted how easy each unit was to remove from its box as well as noted how carefully taped and packaged each unit’s parts were during shipment. Most of the movable external parts of each dehumidifier were carefully taped down during shipment to prevent breakage or loss.
Mobility
- We set up each dehumidifier on the same spot on our wall-to-wall cement floor, 3 feet from the nearest wall and at least 4 feet away from any other object.
- We noted each unit’s weight and bulk and how easy or difficult it was to glide the dehumidifier across our carpeted floor, with the bucket empty and then full (the latter not recommended by manufacturers but something that’s likely to happen in everyday use).
Water buckets, hoses and cords
- We took note of each unit’s water bucket capacity, the ease of use of the bucket itself, the ease of water hose installation, as well as the length of its water hose and its materials.
- We also measured the length of the unit’s power cord since each manufacturer recommends plugging the unit directly into a power outlet and never using an extension cord. From longest to shortest power cord: Ivation (73 inches); Frigidaire Gallery, HomeLabs and Danby (72 inches) and Honeywell (61 inches).
Control panel
- We also noted the readability and legibility of each control panel’s buttons, LED readout window and water level indicator see-through slot on each water bucket. While each dehumidifier offered its own distinct control panel, their easy of use varied.
Warranty
- We noted the comprehensiveness and length of each unit’s warranty. All offered similar and satisfactory warranties.
User manual
- We read each manual, assessing readability, usefulness and clarity in its instructions and images, as well as noting how often we had to consult the manual during setup and use.
Subjective assessment
- We also judged each dehumidifier on its unit’s attractiveness and whether or not we felt the unit was a safety hazard for toddlers and small children left unattended (based on our observations of each unit’s vents and other open slots on the top and sides).
Everything to know about dehumidifiers
How a dehumidifier works
In simple terms, a dehumidifier works by sucking in air from your desired room at one end of the unit, removing the moisture from that bunch of air by using a fan to draw warm, moist air over a cold coil (in much the same way that a refrigerator works) and then blowing the now cool, dry air back out into the room again, out the other end of the unit.
The moisture the dehumidifier collects usually drips into a removable collection bucket within the unit. Some units require you to manually remove and empty this bucket while others let you run a water hose from the dehumidifier into a floor drain. If you don’t have a floor drain, some dehumidifiers have built-in pumps that can direct the collected moisture out and up through a water hose leading to a shop sink, out a window or wherever might be convenient.
Dehumidifier pint ratings explained
If you’ve used a dehumidifier before, you may have noticed that today’s models don’t seem to be able to remove as much moisture from the air as they used to. While 70-pint dehumidifiers were once common, now it’s more typical to find 50-pint offerings. But dehumidifier technology hasn’t changed — the shift in ratings is due to how the devices are tested (and has to do with how much moisture the air can hold at different temperatures).
In 2019, the Energy Star program (the joint project of the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy that rates consumer products for energy efficiency) changed the way it tested and rated dehumidifiers to more realistically approximate real-world use across a wider range of temperatures. Formerly, dehumidifiers were tested at 80 degrees Fahrenheit, but since they’ve been tested at 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Since warm air holds considerably more water than cold air, this has changed the ratings — a dehumidifier that would draw 70 pints of water over 24 hours at 80 degrees Fahrenheit pulls about 50 pints over the same period at 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The actual performance of the fan and coils is the same.
Other dehumidifiers we tested
View this interactive content on CNN.comThe Frigidaire 50-Pint with Built-In Pump FFAP5033W1 Dehumidifier pulled in moisture from the air very well and has one of the best user interfaces we tested. This is a unit that's easy to use in any home. However, it is in limited stock since it has been replaced in the product line by our new overall best pick, the Frigidaire Gallery.
The Frigidaire dehumidifier was among the best performers in our first round of testing, tying for the top pick position with a now-discontinued model from LG at the time in removing moisture from the air in our test space. However, it also stood out because of its superior interface and usability. Its control panel is easy to read, with clearly labeled buttons and intuitive graphical icons.
This Frigidaire model offers three fan speeds (low, medium and high) and in our first round of testing, it did well with controlling humidity. With plenty of drainage options, this Frigidaire model can be used anywhere in a home with a humidity issue. Its bucket has a water level indicator that lets you know when the bucket needs emptying, and the bucket itself is sturdy, easy to pull out when full and replace once emptied. We also liked the bucket’s included plastic splash guard.
It was simple to attach the passive drain hose to direct water to a floor drain, and the onboard pump was powerful enough to drain via a hose run overhead, as you would if you were directing the flow to a basement window. It has a sturdy pull-up handle that hides inside the unit until you pull it up plus the unit’s rolling casters made it easy to move around.
Care is simple as well. The air filter was easy to access, take off, wipe clean and put back on. This Frigidaire model also came with a comprehensive and useful user manual (in English, Spanish and French).
The LG PuriCare UD501KOJ5 is our former runner-up pick and was named the best unit for a living space. But it has recently been discontinued and its stock is limited. Still, this dehumidifier features a tall, slim design, an easy-to-empty bucket and a closed design that makes it safe to use around children or pets.
Our former runner-up for best overall and pick for best living space dehumidifier, the LG PuriCare dehumidifier has recently been discontinued and/or is available in limited stock.
This dehumidifier is taller and narrower than the other units we tested, giving it a smaller footprint that’s easier to place in a living space. It also has a more attractive design, making it easier to integrate with furnishings than the other models we tested, which all shared a more industrial, office-supply look.
While the PuriCare has drainage options similar to the Frigidaire, its water bucket features an especially well-engineered design that makes it well-suited to use in a living space, where you are unlikely to run a hose to a floor drain. The bucket slides in and out of the side of the unit (it was the only model we tested with this arrangement, which gave the LG PuriCare a cleaner look), where water levels are easy to see at a glance because of its transparency.
The bucket has a cover that completely covers it while you are transporting it (much like the Frigidaire’s full clear plastic cover), though it’s even better in that half of the cover lifts away for easy pouring. It was a pleasure to use during testing.
Connectors for drain and pump hoses were very similar in operation to the Frigidaire, and cleaning and care were straightforward. Its air filter was easy to access, take off, wipe clean and put back on. We even liked the LG PuriCare’s happy jingle-song sounds that let you know when the unit’s been turned on and off.
The hOmeLabs 50-Pint with Pump and Wi-Fi HME031004N Dehumidifier didn't collect as much water in our testing as most others. But we liked that its Bluetooth-connected mobile app lets you control the unit via voice commands with Alexa and Google Assistant devices.
The hOmeLabs 50-Pint with Built-in Pump and Wi-Fi collected the least amount of water from our humid basement during testing, coming in at 9.4 pints over 4 hours, which is not a lot considering our Frigidaire Gallery top pick collected 22.3 pints in the same time. But we liked the unit’s control panel, which has clearly labeled buttons for on and off, pump, comfort level, filter, continuous mode and timer.
This unit is also Wi-Fi-enabled and we had no trouble downloading and setting up its mobile app. One unique feature of this unit’s app is that, once paired with a smartphone, you can use voice commands with Alexa or Google Assistant devices to update the dehumidifier’s settings.
The hOmeLabs 30-Pint HME020391N Dehumidifier did not collect as much water as other units but it did maintain humidity levels fairly well. If you need a smaller capacity dehumidifier and take extra precautions when pouring out the full bucket (as it could get messy), this could be a good choice.
The hOmeLabs 30-Pint HME020391N Dehumidifier features a useful red water line indicator like the Frigidaire models, and the air filter was easy to access, take off, wipe clean and put back on. Its bucket, however, takes some wrangling to remove and replace. It was also the most difficult bucket to empty, almost spilling water all over our testing floor as we tried to pour it into our glass vase to measure it.
We tested the Honeywell 50-Pint with Built-in Pump TP70PWKN Dehumidifier in both our first and second rounds of testing. It has a nicely laid out control panel and we liked that it was the only model that displays the humidity level on the side of the unit for easy viewing.
The Honeywell 50-Pint with Built-In Pump TP70PWKN Dehumidifier was the only model that displayed the current relative humidity of the room on the side of the unit in bright, clear numbers); it had middle-of-the-pack performance and energy efficiency, however. We liked its long, comfortable handle, which makes moving the unit around easy.
It has a removable splash guard on the top of its water collection bucket, which comes in handy when carrying the full bucket across the room and up the stairs to empty it of its water. The dehumidifier’s air filter was easy to access, take off, wipe clean and put back on.
We liked My Ivation, the Wi-Fi-connected app offered by the Ivation 50-Pint with Pump and Wi-Fi IVADUWIFI50WP Dehumidifier. The app is easy to use, has a countdown timer and several other handy features. The dehumidifier also collected a respectable amount of water during our second round of testing.
The Ivation 50-Pint with Pump and Wi-Fi IVADUWIFI50WP Dehumidifier collected a decent amount of water during our second round of testing, coming right in the middle of the bunch at 10.7 pints in 4 hours. The Ivation has a sturdy bucket which is easy to load in and out and we liked its clearly laid out control panel.
We also liked the My Ivation App, which is its Wi-Fi-connected app, as it was simple to download and install on our smartphone. The app lets you set the relative humidity target you desire, control the unit’s fan speed, offers a countdown timer and lets you turn the unit on and off.
We tested the Danby 50-Pint DDR050BJPWDB-ME Dehumidifier in both our first and second rounds of testing. It performed well in our tests but its control panel is hard to read as compared to others we tested.
The Danby dehumidifier performed well in our tests and was easy to maintain and use, but was let down by its control panel that was difficult to read, with small, unlabeled buttons and a tiny, hard-to-read display. The small square window on the bucket made water levels difficult to see until the unit was nearly full.