A dehumidifier removes excess moisture from your home by drawing in the air around it, extracting moisture and then releasing the drier air back into the room. If you're concerned about damp or condensation issues which could result in harmful mould then a small dehumidifier may be your answer, particularly if you're using an indoor clothes airer or electric heated airer to dry laundry during the cold and wet months.
Read on for our pick of the best small dehumidifiers on the market - these compact appliances are efficient enough to defeat damp, but won't take up too much space, perfect for compact homes and small spaces. All the items in our round-up were in stock at the time of publication, but be aware that dehumidifiers are currently in high demand, and availability can fluctuate rapidly. And for more ideas to improve air quality in your home, don't miss our pick of the best air purifiers for your home.
Best small dehumidifiers to keep damp at bay
Pro Breeze 10 Dehumidifier with 4-Hour Timer
Size: 28 x 15.1 x 15.1 cm
Price: £79.99
Looking for an efficient small dehumidifier that also wins points for style? If so, the Pro Breeze is definitely one to consider. In spite of its compact footprint, this miniature machine can effectively extract as much 450ml of moisture per day into its 10l-capacity tank, and works in spaces measuring up to 23 sq. m. (250 sq. ft.). Easy to move from place to place as needed, it also features a timer function to switch the machine off automatically after four hours, for extra energy-efficiency.
If aesthetic is important to you - understandable, given that a dehumidifier is often placed in full view when in operation - the stylish navy finish may also be a plus, setting the appliance apart from the white or black casing seen on almost every other model on the market.
Meaco DD8L Junior Desiccant Dehumidifier
Size: 50 x 35.1 x 18.8 cm
Price: £179.99
MEACO's Junior Desiccant 2l-capacity dehumidifier is one of the best-reviewed models on the market, rated 9.3/10 by customers on the Curry's website. Although it's a little taller than some of the other compact dehumidifiers in our round-up, at 6.4kg it's a lightweight model that can be moved from room to room with ease, and operates well in unheated areas such as garages.
The Junior Desiccant features energy-saving technology which samples the air around it periodically to ensure it only operates when needed. It also boasts easy-to-use controls including a timer to select your preferred run-time from one to 8 hours, further limiting unwanted energy use.
Silentnight Airmax 300 Dehumidifier
Size: 24 x 15.2 x 15.3 cm
Price: £49.99
We've picked out several of the best small dehumidifiers for our round-up, but if you're after something ultra-compact - small enough to set on a desk or bedside table, for instance - check out Silentnight's tiny but powerful mini dehumidifier. Measuring just 24 x 15.2 x 15.3 cm, it can nonetheless whisk away excess moisture in spaces up to 15 sq. m. (161 sq. ft.). Plus, the whisper-quiet operation make this ideal if you're planning on using it in a bedroom.
MONHOUSE 1L Premium Dehumidifier
Size: 23.5 x 17 x 13.5 cm
Price: £49.99
For a hi-tech look, you'd be hard-pressed to beat the MONHOUSE 1l-capacity dehumidifier, with its sleek casing and multicolour LED display, which features seven choices of mood lighting as well as intuitive touch controls.
With one of the smallest footprints around and weighing just 1.3kg when empty, the MONHOUSE dehumidifier is ideal for small spaces, while still powerful enough to work in spaces up to 25 sq. m. (270 sq. ft.). It can wick away up to 450ml of moisture over a 24-hour period - and if the tank fills before you get around to emptying it, the appliance will automatically shut off to prevent leaks.
Plus, the MONHOUSE operates at 25dB, making it one of the quietest models around - perfect if you're sensitive to background noise.
Princess 10L Dehumidifier
- Buy now from Argos (£150)
Size: 50.9 x 28.8 x 19.8cm
Price: £150
Although the white plastic exterior of the Princess dehumidifier may seem fairly unremarkable at first glance, look down and you'll see a handy feature we liked - castors, letting you wheel the machine from place to place and room to room.
The Princess dehumidifier's speed settings are controlled via a panel on the top which also features an adjustable timer, as well as a display showing the current humidity and temperature.
Recommended for spaces up to 15 sq. m. (161 sq. ft.), customers on Argos rated the appliance 4.4 out of 5, with several highlighting its effective operation and portability as especially worthy of praise.
What are the different types of dehumidifier?
There are two types of dehumidifiers: refrigerant dehumidifiers, also known as a compressor dehumidifiers, and desiccant dehumidifiers.
The refrigerant (compressor) works by drawing in the air which is then passed over cooled coils, the moisture in the air condenses on the coils and drips into the water tank.
One draw back of this type of dehumidifier is if the room is too cold the coils may freeze. There is a defrost mode for when this happens, but will waste energy clearing the coils of frost/ice instead of removing the moisture from the air.
The second type, the desiccant dehumidifier, instead of using coils it has an absorbent material which soaks up the moisture from the air. The material is then heated and releases the moisture in to the water tank. A desiccant dehumidifier uses more energy to run than a refrigerant dehumidifier, but is more reliable in cooler temperatures.
