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To remove muggy air from your home without disturbing the peace, the quietest dehumidifiers produce sound levels below 57 decibels, which is no louder than a normal conversation, and help keep humidity at the recommended level of 30 to 50 percent. Beyond that, there are a few specs to consider when shopping for the best dehumidifier.
First, dehumidifier capacity is regulated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and measured in pints of moisture removed per day. Under the current regulations, most portable dehumidifier capacities range from 20 to 55 pints. Capacity also provides an idea of how much space can be dehumidified in square feet. For example, in moderately damp conditions, a 20-pint dehumidifier covers up to 300 square feet while a 50-pint model covers up to 1,200 square feet.
When it comes to drainage, most dehumidifiers are emptied manually or by attaching a hose, which uses gravity to dispense water into a drain. If you want to move water vertically (and don’t mind a little more noise), you can choose a dehumidifier with a built-in pump. Alternatively, if you only want to dehumidify a small room or closet, you can opt for a totally silent dehumidifier with moisture-absorbing beads that you never have to empty.
In a hurry? These are the quietest dehumidifiers:
1. The Best Overall: Midea MAD35C1ZWS 35-Pint Dehumidifier
2. The Best Dehumidifier With A Built-In Pump: GE APER50LZ 50-Pint Dehumidifier With Pump
3. The Best For Small Spaces: Honeywell TP30WKN 20-Pint Dehumidifier
4. The Best Mini Dehumidifier: Hysure 700ml Dehumidifier
5. The Cult Favorite & Most Compact: Eva-Dry Wireless Mini Dehumidifier
Whether you want a basic model or a few extras, these are the quietest dehumidifiers that’ll keep your home comfortable and hushed.
1
The Best Overall
- Capacity: 20 pints, 35 pints (featured), 50 pints
- Sound level: 51 dB
- Coverage area: Up to 800 square feet
- Dimensions: 15.94 inches x 11.54 inches x 24.29 inches
- Energy Star-certified
This 35-pint dehumidifier produces 51 decibels of sound and earned an “excellent” noise rating from Consumer Reports, which puts it on par with a humming fridge. The 1.6-gallon tank can be emptied manually or you can attach a hose for continuous drainage. Settings include auto-dehumidify, continuous, and turbo modes, and you can set a timer for up to 24 hours. The dehumidifier also features auto-shutoff, defrost, and restart functions. Plus, it has a reusable filter, wheels, and built-in handles. You can also choose from 20-pint and 50-pint sizes, including one with a built-in pump.
According to a reviewer: “This thing pulls some serious moisture out of a humid room. I let this run in our basement for a full 24 hours. It accumulated a tad over 5 gallons in that time. It’s quiet and easy to use. Great price for the performance.”
2
The Best Dehumidifier With A Built-In Pump
- Capacity: 50 pints
- Sound level: 56.2 dB
- Coverage area: Up to 1,200 square feet
- Dimensions: 11.38 inches x 14.76 inches x 24.02 inches
- Energy Star-certified
Featuring a built-in pump with an included hose, this 50-pint dehumidifier can drain into areas up to 16 feet away, and according to Wirecutter, it produces 56.2 decibels on high. The dehumidifier also features three fan speeds, an adjustable humidistat, a timer, and auto-shutoff, restart, and defrost functions. What’s more, there are alerts to let you know when the 1.8-gallon bucket is full and when the filter needs to be cleaned. Plus, the dehumidifier has built-in handles and wheels for easy maneuvering.
According to a reviewer: “Its nice and quiet, you can dial in the desired humidity level, and it works great. It also can drain out of a hose screwed into the side, or pump itself out and up, which gives a ton of versatility to where you can put it.”
3
The Best For Small Spaces
- Capacity: 20 pints (featured), 30 pints, 50 pints
- Sound level: 49.5 dB
- Coverage area: Up to 300 square feet
- Dimensions: 10.5 inches x 13.2 inches x 20.1 inches
- Energy Star-certified
This 20-pint Honeywell dehumidifier produces 49.5 decibels, according to the manufacturer, and earned a “very good” noise rating from Consumer Reports. Helpful features include digital humidistat control, auto-shutoff, restart, and defrost functions, a 24-hour timer, and sleep mode. You’ll get an alert when the 7-pint tank is full and when the filter needs cleaning. Plus, there are wheels and a sturdy top handle for mobility. Also great: A drain hose is included.
According to a reviewer: This 20-pint model boasts a 4.5-star rating after over 200 Amazon shoppers weighed in, but doesn’t have any customer reviews. Describing the 30-pint model, one reviewer wrote: “This dehumidifier works very well: it's quick, quiet, and easy to set up and service. We especially appreciate the display of humidity on the front of the unit so it's visible from far away.”
4
The Best Mini Dehumidifier
- Capacity: Up to 0.63 pints
- Sound level: 33 dB
- Coverage area: Up to 215 square feet
- Dimensions: 6.42 inches x 4.21 inches x 10.51 inches
With a 700-milliliter water tank, this mini dehumidifier can collect up to 300 milliliters (about 0.63 pints) of moisture from small areas, like bedrooms and bathrooms. It’s also small enough to sit on a side table or tuck away in the corner. As for sound, it produces 33 decibels, which is quieter than your average library, and an auto-shutoff keeps it from overflowing. Plus, it’s available in two colors: white and black.
However, there’s no outlet for a drain hose and the small capacity means you’ll have to empty it fairly often. And there's no turbo mode or humidistat, but at such a low price, it hardly matters.
According to a reviewer: "I was surprised with how quiet the product is and I am very happy with the amount of moisture it does collect in the time that it is on. It was very easy to plug-in and to empty the water is very easy as well."
5
The Cult-Favorite & Most Compact
- Capacity: Up to 6 ounces
- Sound level: Silent
- Coverage area: Up to 111 square feet
- Dimensions: 9 inches x 8.25 inches x 2.88 inches
This compact dehumidifier uses non-toxic, renewable silica gel to remove moisture (no outlets or batteries required to operate), and when the gel becomes saturated with water every few weeks, you can plug it in to renew the drying materials. Once it's "charged," throw the dehumidifier back in your damp locale. It’s ideal for small spaces — like closets, cars, bathrooms, and galley kitchens — and the quietest on the list because it makes literally no sound. Plus, it's reusable for up to 10 years, making this the dehumidifying bargain of the decade.
According to a reviewer: "This is my second Eva-Dry unit. I live in west central Florida, less than a half-mile from the gulf coast. The EVA-Dry system is the only way to go. [...] It's brilliant simplicity! No fears of having anything running all of the time, yet very very effective."
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