Having a dehumidifier is essential for many homeowners dealing with a significant amount of moisture. However, dehumidifiers tend to be quite cumbersome. This might be challenging to find a suitable location or even impossible to use in small spaces.
Luckily, there’s an easy fix to this problem. Small dehumidifiers can be highly effective in small rooms such as laundry rooms or nurseries.
If you’re on the hunt for a small dehumidifier, you’ve come to the right place. Everything you need to know about buying the right size and model for you can be found here. We’ve got the best of the best small dehumidifiers on the market.
Why Choose a Small Dehumidifier?
Small dehumidifiers are obvious choices for small rooms and areas, but that’s not all they’re good for. Regular dehumidifiers can be expensive, large, heavy, and noisy. This could make them tricky to use while you’re in the room.
We prefer small dehumidifiers in common living areas due to the comfortable noise-level. What makes them quieter is the technology used, which is called Peltier. This is used instead of the usual compressor which makes a significant amount of noise.
Peltier technology is also referred to as thermoelectric. It works by absorbing heat on one side and then evaporating it on the other side. So one side heats up while the other stays cool. This temperature difference promotes dehumidification (1).
This technology is commonly used in devices that are too small for a compressor. It’s also a very reliable technology since there are no moving parts that could break. Compressors will usually cause vibrations and noise.
Despite this, small dehumidifiers also have a few downsides. One is that they generally don’t function as well in colder temperatures (below 41 degrees Fahrenheit). Another flaw is limited capacity — usually, reservoirs can hold anything under 20 ounces, depending on the device.
Finding the Best Small Dehumidifier for You
Living in a humid area can cause your house to feel and smell musty and damp. It can cause mold and mildew to grow and create the perfect environment for common allergy triggers like mites. Luckily, having a small dehumidifier can make a significant difference.
Finding the best small dehumidifier for your needs can be tricky with such a wide variety available on the market. So we’ve created a helpful buyer’s guide to point you in the right direction.
Size
We already know that we want a small dehumidifier, but the size is still something to consider. If you need a dehumidifier for your large basement, size might not matter. However, if you need one for your bedroom, bathroom or closet, space will be compromised.
Small dehumidifiers come in different sizes. Some are designed to easily be placed on a bedside table, while others stand subtly in the corner of a room.
Before choosing a unit, consider where you’d like to use it. A compact, lightweight dehumidifier is an excellent choice for mobile homes or offices. A slightly larger unit, on the other hand, is great in bedrooms, laundry rooms and bathrooms.
Room Coverage
Room coverage is an essential factor to look for when searching through possible dehumidifiers. It’s important to understand that due to the small size of these units, they won’t be able to cover large or open rooms.
Small dehumidifiers will usually cover up to 150 square feet, with slightly larger models covering a little over 200 square feet. This is nothing compared to large units that can cover areas of up to 2,000 or even 4,000 square feet. It’s essential to keep this in mind so you don’t end up disappointed.
Reservoir Capacity
Another thing to consider is the reservoir capacity; this is where all water vapors will be collected. Again, due to the small size, the tanks are on the small side, which we explained above.
When choosing a unit, consider how humid your home environment is. A small reservoir will need to be emptied often when used in a high humidity area. In this case, going for a larger reservoir would be more practical.
Safety Feature
As you’re looking at small dehumidifiers, you might notice how simple they are. Large units will usually come with an LED display with lots of modes, settings and options. However, most small dehumidifiers generally only feature an on/off button.
Take Note
The Best Small Dehumidifier of 2020
As we searched for the best small dehumidifiers, our expert team put each unit under a microscope to ensure effectiveness. We selected each of these seven products based on customer feedback and product specification.
1. Honati Ultra-Quiet Small Dehumidifier
Having a dehumidifier in your bedroom to help create a more comfortable space is handy. However, some units tend to be way too noisy to use during quiet hours.
Luckily, the Honati dehumidifier was designed to be used in quiet areas. It’s a compact and lightweight unit that makes minimal noise.
You can use this unit in any small area of up to 160 square feet. It’s excellent for nurseries, bathrooms, offices and bedrooms.
Why We Love It
Quiet
Dehumidifiers can be quite noisy, making it difficult to use them in smaller rooms. However, the Honati dehumidifier is powered by an advanced technology that doesn’t use a compressor. This makes the operation ultra-quiet, so you can enjoy a comfortable environment in any room, even during the night.
Effective
Despite the small size, this dehumidifier will effectively remove up to 10 ounces of moisture per day. It’s recommended to be used in small rooms, sized 100 to 160 square feet, for optimal results. We love that it’s eco-friendly since it uses only a small amount of energy.
Compact
The compact size of this dehumidifier enables you to take it anywhere you need. It can easily be used in an office or even an RV. It’s lightweight, weighing only 2.2 pounds, so it’s a breeze to carry.
Auto-Shutoff Function
This feature is sought after in many dehumidifiers for convenience and safety. The function will prevent the reservoir from over flooding in case you forget to empty it in time. It will turn the unit off when the sensors indicate that the tank is beginning to fill up.
A red light on the display will light up to notify you that it’s time to empty the reservoir. Simply take it out, empty the tank and place it back into the unit.
Keep In Mind
Bright LED Light
At the top of the unit, there’s a bright green LED light whenever the dehumidifier is on. This can cause a few issues for anyone who uses it during the night since it can be bothersome. However, many customers said it doubled as a night light, so it comes down to personal preferences.
Additional Specs
| Dimensions | 5.75 by 5.75 by 8.94 inches |
| Weight | 2.2 pounds |
| Recommended Room Coverage | 100 to 160 square feet |
| Moisture Removed Per Day | 10 ounces |
| Warranty | One year |
2. Honati Portable Home Dehumidifier
If you liked the first on our list but wanted something a little larger, this is it. This dehumidifier is small and compact, but not to be underestimated. It has a large reservoir that can hold up to 67.6 ounces of water vapor.
Consumers love how quietly it operates and how effective it is. It’s super simple to use and doesn’t contain multiple buttons — only a single on/off.
Honati has covered the dehumidifier with a one-year warranty.
Why We Love It
Excellent for Medium-Sized Rooms
If you need a dehumidifier for medium-sized rooms, this is your guy. This is slightly bigger than the previous unit on our list and can remove up to 25 ounces of moisture per day. It’s excellent for living rooms or laundry rooms where dampens can cause trouble.
Quiet
This dehumidifier uses no noisy compressor that’ll leave you grasping those earplugs. It’s ultra-quiet with noise levels below 60 decibels. You can even use it in a bedroom during the night or children’s room without noise complaints.
Large Capacity
Despite being a small dehumidifier, this one can hold a significant amount of moisture. Its reservoir can hold up to 67.6 ounces of water vapor. This means you can go longer without having to empty it.
Energy-Saving
If you’d like to become more eco-friendly in your everyday life, this dehumidifier is an excellent option. It has very low energy consumption and doesn’t waste electricity.
Safety Feature
We have to admit that it can be easy to forget to empty the dehumidifier tank. We all get busy in our lives, taking care of our family, jobs and hobbies.
Luckily, this unit is equipped with an auto-shutoff function that prevents over flooding of the tank. Whenever the reservoir begins to fill up, the feature will turn the unit off and notify you at the same time. Once the tank is emptied, the unit will run as normal.
Keep In Mind
Power Cord
The power cord is black and doesn’t quite suit the unit’s design. This is a minor fault that some might not notice.
Additional Specs
| Dimensions | 8.98 by 5.9 by 14.65 inches |
| Weight | 5.64 pounds |
| Recommended Room Coverage | 100 to 269 square feet |
| Moisture Removed Per Day | 25 ounces |
| Warranty | One year |
3. Afloia Electric Portable Dehumidifier
Operating a dehumidifier doesn’t get much easier than this. The Afloia dehumidifier is super simple to turn on and off since it only has one button.
It has a very sleek and modern look that suits any room and it’s available with a green or blue tank.
The compact size and ultra-quiet operation make it the perfect option for small rooms such as an office or nursery.
Why We Love It
Effective
This dehumidifier is equipped with a 23.6-ounce water tank and can remove up to 10 ounces of moisture a day. It works very quietly due to not having a compressor. You can easily use it in a bedroom, nursery, office or other living areas without feeling bothered.
Lightweight
You can easily take this dehumidifier with you wherever it’s needed. It’s very lightweight, weighing only 2.6 pounds, so it’s a breeze to move between rooms.
Easy to Empty
A common problem with dehumidifiers is a tricky-to-remove reservoir. However, this tank is located at the back of the unit and is easily pulled out when emptying is needed. Once it’s empty, put it back in the same way without trouble.
Auto-Shutoff
If you’re a forgetful person, or worry about the tank over flooding, you’ll like this feature. The auto-shutoff will automatically turn the unit off when the tank reaches its full capacity. You’ll notice that the on/off button is turned off, indicating that you need to empty the tank.
Excellent Support
Afloia takes good care of its customers by offering two-year free replacements and lifetime support when needed. If anything were to malfunction or break, you could easily replace your unit.
Keep In Mind
Slow
If you have a significant amount of moisture or dampness in a room, you shouldn’t expect results straight away. One thing customers noticed was that it requires a little while if there’s a lot of moisture in the air.
Additional Specs
| Dimensions | Not specified |
| Weight | 2.6 pounds |
| Recommended Room Coverage | 215 square feet |
| Moisture Removed Per Day | 10 ounces |
| Warranty | Two-year free replacements |
4. Pohl+Schmitt Compact Dehumidifier
If you need a small dehumidifier for a compact space, this is it. This little device from Pohl+Schmitt is favored by many homeowners due to its size and efficiency.
It works very quietly and is hardly noticeable, making it an excellent choice for bedrooms or nurseries.
The light design also makes it easy to move around to where it’s most needed.
Why We Love It
Fits on a Small Table
Thanks to the compact design, this dehumidifier is easily located anywhere needed. It fits perfectly on any small bedside or coffee table without trouble. It’s also lightweight and is a breeze to carry around, so you can enjoy less humidity in every room.
Effective
Despite the small size, this dehumidifier is highly effective. It’s equipped with a 17-ounce tank and will remove up to 10 ounces of moisture a day. It will effectively keep mold, mildew and dust mites at bay by creating an environment that doesn’t support these allergy-triggers.
Quiet
You can easily use this compact device in your bedroom during the night without compromising a good night’s rest. It doesn’t have a compressor, which makes the operation ultra-quiet for an even more comfortable atmosphere.
Safe
This dehumidifier is an excellent choice for a family with small children. The Pohl+Schmitt team carefully manufactured the unit without any harmful chemical substances.
Keep In Mind
Slow
If there’s a lot of moisture or dampness in a room, this tiny unit will need some time to fix it. It works efficiently but is best in smaller rooms.
Additional Specs
| Dimensions | Not specified |
| Weight | 2.7 pounds |
| Recommended Room Coverage | Small rooms |
| Moisture Removed Per Day | Not specified |
| Warranty | Not specified |
5. Pro Breeze Mini Electric Dehumidifier
One brand that’s often mentioned when it comes to small dehumidifiers is Pro Breeze, and it isn’t difficult to see why.
This compact unit was designed to be convenient and easy to take wherever needed. It can handle rooms of up to 150 square feet. Plus, it will remove a significant amount of moisture during each cycle.
The Pro Breeze is also equipped with an auto-shutoff to prevent water from overflowing when the reservoir is full. It will quickly turn the unit off when the tank becomes full.
Why We Love It
Effective
Despite the small size, this dehumidifier packs a big punch. It will effectively remove up to 9 ounces of moisture per day.
Pro Breeze recommends that it’s used in a room of up to 150 square feet with a temperature between 59 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. The reservoir has a capacity of 16 ounces, which isn’t the biggest but impressive for such a small unit.
Nearly Silent
This dehumidifier was designed using a built-in thermoelectric cooling technology, also known as Peltier. This enables the unit to effectively draw moisture from the air without a compressor.
Because there’s no compressor, the unit is ultra-quiet and can easily be used in a bedroom or nursery without causing trouble.
Easy to Empty
One thing we dislike about dehumidifiers is how tricky it can be to remove and replace the reservoir.
However, Pro Breeze has made it a literal breeze to empty by placing the reservoir at the front of the unit. You can easily slide it out when it becomes full and slide it right back into place when empty.
Compact and Portable
The Pro Breeze can easily be placed on a small table or countertop. It can even be used in an RV, boat or your office. Not only is the design compact, but it’s also lightweight, clocking in at only 2.4 pounds.
Keep In Mind
Fills Up Fast
Unfortunately, due to the small reservoir, it tends to fill up rather quickly. This does, however, depend on how humid the area is.
Additional Specs
| Dimensions | 7 by 6 by 11 inches |
| Weight | 2.4 pounds |
| Recommended Room Coverage | 150 square feet |
| Moisture Removed Per Day | 9 ounces |
| Warranty | 12 months |
6. Gurin Thermoelectric Mini Dehumidifier
If you’re on a budget, this dehumidifier will suit you just fine. It’s light and compact and fits in any small room or area.
The Gurin is super simple to operate since there’s only one on/off button. The tank is easily removed by sliding it out.
When the tank is getting full, a light on the display will notify you that it’s time to dump the contents.
Why We Love It
Compact and Quiet
The size of this dehumidifier is what makes it so special. It’s compact and lightweight, yet durable and efficient. You can easily move it from room to room where it might be needed, and it fits in any tight spaces.
Another benefit of this unit is how quiet it is. It doesn’t have a compressor and is, therefore, super quiet. You can use it during the night in your bedroom or even at the office without worrying about noise.
Energy-Saving
Thanks to Peltier technology, this dehumidifier is also energy efficient. It uses minimum energy as it operates, so you won’t have to worry about it showing up on your bills.
Excellent for Small Spaces
This dehumidifier is best used in small rooms of up to 105 square feet. It’s equipped with a 16-ounce reservoir and will collect up to 8 ounces of water a day.
Translucent Reservoir
Knowing when to empty the tank can be tricky. Luckily, the Gurin dehumidifier is equipped with a colored, translucent tank that helps you to see when it’s full. In case you don’t notice it, the device will automatically turn off when full thanks to the auto-shutoff function.
Keep In Mind
Must Be Used in Closed Areas
This dehumidifier is most effective when in a closed, small room. So if your home is designed with open rooms and areas, it might not work as efficiently.
Additional Specs
| Dimensions | 6 by 8.5 by 5 inches |
| Weight | 2.6 pounds |
| Recommended Room Coverage | 105 square feet |
| Moisture Removed Per Day | 8 ounces |
| Warranty | Not specified |
7. Eva-Dry Renewable Mini Dehumidifier
If you’re looking for a dehumidifier that can be used in small rooms and requires no power outlet to work, this is it. The Eva-Dry Renewable Mini Dehumidifier requires no batteries or electricity to work. You simply place it in an area and it will work.
It’s filled with silica gel — what we usually find in product packages to keep moisture at bay. The beads won’t spill or leak, so it poses no risk for danger in a family home. We love that it can be renewed, so you don’t have to purchase refills.
This mini dehumidifier will only work in areas of up to 48 square feet. You shouldn’t expect it to work in larger rooms. We highly recommend it be used in small bedrooms, closets, cars or RVs.
Why We Love It
Requires No Batteries or Power
This mini dehumidifier is a bit different from regular dehumidifiers; it uses no batteries or power whatsoever. It works using silica gel that effectively absorbs moisture when in a humid area. Depending on the conditions, the silica gel will work for up to two to four weeks.
Color-Changing
Because this dehumidifier doesn’t use batteries or any power, there’s no light indicator of when the silica gel needs renewal. However, the crystals will change color from orange to green. So you’ll have to check the beads through the transparent part of the device.
Renewable
Unlike other similar mini dehumidifiers, this one is renewable. That means you won’t have to purchase expensive refills. All you have to do is keep an eye on the color of the beads; once they change to green, it’s time for renewal.
You do this by plugging it into an outlet in a well-ventilated room. It will take between eight and 10 hours for it to renew. Once the beads have changed back to orange, it’s ready to be used again.
Long-Lasting
You might think that this process can’t go on for long before the beads won’t be able to renew. But think again, the Eva-Dry silica gel can repeat its renewal process for up to 10 years. This does depend on environmental conditions and if the device is used correctly, but you can trust that it will last you for years to come.
Safe
If you have small children or pets, using a device with silica gel might seem worrisome. However, the Eva-Dry won’t leak or spill, even when at full capacity. Every drop of water vapor the gel catches will be trapped within the beads, unable to escape until it’s renewed.
Keep In Mind
Only for Small Spaces
Although this dehumidifier works efficiently, it will only do so in small areas. These include spaces such as a closet, bedroom or even car. You shouldn’t expect it to make much of a difference in large or open areas.
Additional Specs
| Dimensions | 9 by 8.25 by 2.88 inches |
| Weight | 1 pound |
| Recommended Room Coverage | 48 square feet |
| Moisture Removed Per Day | Not specified |
| Warranty | Five-year warranty |
Detailed Comparison Chart
| Product | Best | Dimensions | Weight | Recommended Room Coverage | Moisture Removed/ Day | Warranty |
| Honati Ultra-Quiet Dehumidifier | Quiet | 5.75 x 5.75 x 8.94″ | 2.2 lbs | 100 – 160 sq ft | 10 oz | One year |
| Honati Portable Home Dehumidifier | Reservoir Capacity | 8.98 x 5.9 x 14.65″ | 5.64 lbs | 100 – 269 sq ft | 25 oz | One year |
| Afloia Electric Portable Dehumidifier | Portable | N/A | 2.6 lbs | 215 sq ft | 10 oz | Two-year |
| Pohl+Schmitt Compact Dehumidifier | Allergies | N/A | 2.7 lbs | Small rooms | N/A | N/A |
| Pro Breeze Electric Dehumidifier | Convenient | 7 x 6 x 11″ | 2.4 lbs | 150 sq ft | 9 oz | 12 mos |
| Gurin Thermoelectric Dehumidifier | Budget Pick | 6 x 8.5 x 5″ | 2.6 lbs | 105 sq ft | 8 oz | N/A |
| Eva-Dry Renewable Dehumidifier | Non-Powered | 9 x 8.25 x 2.88″ | 1 lb | 48 sq ft | N/A | Five-year |
Small but Mighty
Dehumidifiers are generally quite cumbersome, difficult to move around, noisy and not to mention expensive.
Luckily, there’s a solution for anyone seeking a dehumidifier that’s affordable, quiet, easily portable, and effective. The best small dehumidifiers will work efficiently at keeping moisture and dampness at bay, creating a comfortable environment.
When searching for the best small dehumidifer for you, you must consider your needs. If you’re often bothered by high humidity levels, a unit with slightly bigger capacity will be beneficial. However, if you need a dehumidifier for the car, RV or small room, a smaller capacity will be adequate.
