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The UK is becoming increasingly humid, with many homes feeling the weight of the wet weather, and stuffiness in hotter months. Old and poorly insulted homes are prone to damp issues, while other issues, like cracks or poorly fitting windows, can let moisture in. That’s where a dehumidifier can help.

Ebac Founder, John Elliott MBE DL says: "The average UK household generates up to two litres of excess moisture daily, simply through everyday activities such as running a bath or shower, drying laundry indoors, even breathing. Remove too little of this excess moisture and mould can thrive. Remove too much and you are simply wasting energy".

Some moisture build up can be fixed simply by opening a few windows, of course. However in the depths of winter, having every single window open isn’t exactly a viable option. Instead, choosing a suitable dehumidifier for the level of moisture in your home could be a more comfortable way to tackle these issues and even make your home warmer in the process..

In recent years, a trend of using dehumidifiers for drying laundry indoors more quickly has surfaced. However, this ‘trick’ has been around for a very long time and many dehumidifiers even have their own dedicated laundry setting for just this.

Keep scrolling to see all of the best dehumidifiers I’ve tested that are well suited to UK homes. From models best situated to laundry to larger, full home dehumidifiers

Three of our top performers that made the list - Ebac and Meaco x2

You can, of course, deal with some moisture issues simply by opening a window but that’s not always a viable option, especially in the winter months. Enlisting the help of a dehumidifier can help keep your home drier, warmer and generally more comfortable.

Many of the best dehumidifiers have carry handles for easy transportation to the bathroom or outside

We were big fans of the Ebac's water tank. It's much easier to carry than classic trays.

Dehumidifiers are also good for drying laundry indoors. The UK’s wet, cold weather means that we have to surrender our washing to the indoor clothes airer for a large chunk of the year, which actually releases litres of extra moisture into the air.

Below, I’ve tried and tested a range of dehumidifiers suitable for UK homes. Whether you just need something for a room or want to bring humidity levels down across your home.

Best dehumidifiers: Quick list 

• Most efficient all-rounder: Ebac 4000 series
• Best on a budget: VonHaus 12L
• Best for flats or single rooms: Meaco Arete One 6L
• Most stylish: Meaco Arete Two 12L
• Best for ultra-fast drying: DeLonghi dehumidifier 16L

How we test

We test all the home products we review for at least a week often longer. This ensures we can get the best all-round picture of a product from the build quality to the performance. With dehumidifiers, we set them all up and use them for several days, assessing how long they take to reduce the humidity by 5 per cent and then to a set humidity level.

Assessing the quality of everything - even the buttons

Bringing the relative humidity down in my home

I also use a power meter to check how much energy each humidifier is using while on and calculate the approximate cost per hour (based on current energy prices). I'll then look at things like ease of use, build quality and value for money compared to other models. If there are any notable features - such as a laundry mode - I'll also make note of these.

Best dehumidifiers for excess moisture and drying laundry 

1. Most efficient all-rounder: Ebac 4000 series

2. Best on a budget: VonHaus 12L

3. Best for flats or single rooms: Meaco Arete One 6L

4. Most stylish: Meaco Arete Two 12L

5. Best for ultra-fast drying: DeLonghi dehumidifier 16L

Verdict

For substance over style, my pick is Ebac. Not only does it automatically detect the humidity levels in your home, only turning on when it's needed but all its dehumidifiers are produced in the UK. This means a smaller carbon footprint and you're supporting a British business.

If a more compact, stylish model is top of your wishlist then go for the Aerete One. It's compact but can still tackle up to 12L of liquid a day and it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb. It's also quiet and easy to use.

Why trust us 

Danielle has been testing home and garden products for seven years. She's an experienced reviewer and has a wealth of knowledge about a variety of home products. She understands what makes a product special and what's important to you, our readers. All of her reviews are unbiased and offer a full picture of every product. 

FAQs

What size dehumidifier do I need?

Small homes, flats and room-only dehumidifiers can stay quite small, especially if you don’t have serious damp or condensation issues. We’d recommend one of the 12L models we’ve tested here, as it will strike a good balance between size and capacity.

For larger homes or ones that struggle with a lot of condensation, consider opting for a larger 20L dehumidifier. This will likely take up more space but will need less frequent emptying.

Read more about how to choose a model in our dehumidifier guide. 

What is laundry mode on a dehumidifier?

Many modern dehumidifiers have a dedicated laundry mode that essentially turbo-charges the dehumidifier to help remove lots of moisture quickly. To make the most of this, you should place the dehumidifier close to your clothes horse and set it to laundry mode for a few hours.

Damp laundry can create quite a bit of extra moisture in your home. Rachel Fraser, Product Specialist at home retailer Pillow Talk, explains that small missteps in winter laundry routines can quickly lead to musty bedding, rough towels and even damage to fabrics.

Laundry mode gives your dehumidifier a boost for fast drying clothes

“During colder months, people often wash and dry more frequently but with less ventilation,” Fraser says. “Overusing detergent or fabric softener when drying indoors can leave a residue that traps moisture, reduces absorbency, and makes fabrics feel coarse. And when drying isn’t managed properly, it can also lead to lingering damp smells or even mould.”

How much does a dehumidifier cost to run?

Much like heated clothes airers, most dehumidifiers cost just a few pence per hour to run. Most of the options we’ve reviewed here won’t set you back more than 8 pence an hour on the standard setting, though some laundry modes will use more energy and therefore, cost more.