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UK buying guide · Damp & mould

The 10 Best Dehumidifiers in the UK (2026)

Ten compressor and desiccant dehumidifiers you can buy in the UK now, for damp, condensation and drying washing indoors. Ranked on published UK tests and manufacturer specs, with what each costs to run per hour at the current Ofgem price cap.

By the Find Stuff teamLast updated: Prices checked: 22 October 2026
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Hero image: original abstract illustration

Quick picks

#DehumidifierBest forStreet price
1Meaco Arete Two 20L Dehumidifier & Air Purifier
Best overall
Best overallaround £299–£300
2Pro Breeze 20L Dehumidifier (PB-08)
Best large tank
Best large tankaround £190
3Meaco DD8L Pro Desiccant Dehumidifier
Best for cold rooms
Best for cold roomsaround £260
4MeacoDry ABC 12L Dehumidifier
Best budget quiet pick
Best budget quiet pickaround £149–£172
5EcoAir DD1 Classic MK6 Desiccant Dehumidifier
Lightweight desiccant
Lightweight desiccantaround £185–£230
6VonHaus 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier
Best cheap compact
Best cheap compactaround £110–£120
7Pure Mate 20L Dehumidifier (PM465)
Biggest tank for the money
Biggest tank for the moneyaround £170–£220
8Swan ActivAir 20L Dehumidifier (SH16810N)
Best for ease of use
Best for ease of usearound £150–£194
9Princess 368120 Smart Dehumidifier 20L
Best app control
Best app controlaround £200–£230
10De'Longhi Tasciugo AriaDry Multi (DEX216F)
Premium small-room pick
Premium small-room pickaround £200–£250

Compare all 10 – full spec table

tap to expand
#BrandTypeExtractionTankPowerRRPStreet
1MeacoCompressor20L/day4.8L tank207W£299.99around £299–£300
2Pro BreezeCompressor20L/day5.5L tank420W rated£189.99around £190
3MeacoDesiccantup to 7.97L/day2L tank231–623W£259.99around £260
4MeacoCompressor12L/day2.6L tank165W£149.99around £149–£172
5EcoAirDesiccant7.5L/dayNo wheels300–580W£229.98around £185–£230
6VonHausCompressor12L/day2L tank200W£119.99around £110–£120
7PureMateCompressor20L/day6.5L tank380W£169.99around £170–£220
8SwanCompressor20L/day4L tank310W£179.99around £150–£194
9PrincessCompressor20L/day3.7L tank325WRRP not publishedaround £200–£230
10De'LonghiCompressor16L/day2.1L tank290WRRP not publishedaround £200–£250

Specs are as stated by the manufacturer or reviewer. Prices are approximate and change often.

#1
Best overall

1. Meaco Arete Two 20L Dehumidifier & Air Purifier

Compressor · 20L/day · 4.8L tank · 207W
RRP£299.99meaco.com
Typical street pricearound £299–£300Meaco £299.99 (showing out of stock at check); John Lewis £299. Checked 22 October 2026.

Expert Reviews' overall winner. In its test it cut a living room from 76% to 61% humidity in two hours. Meaco rates it at 207W (at 20°C, 60% RH), among the lowest for a 20L model, and it has a DC fan motor, laundry mode, app control and a free HEPA filter.

Watch out for: The app's scheduling is hard to find, and at 15kg it's heavy. Stock was patchy at Meaco when we checked.

  • Low power for a 20L
  • Quiet (from 38dB)
  • 5-year warranty
  • Fiddly app
  • Heavy
Verdict: The best all-rounder for 3–5 bedroom homes if the budget stretches.
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#2
Best large tank

2. Pro Breeze 20L Dehumidifier (PB-08)

Compressor · 20L/day · 5.5L tank · 420W rated
RRP£189.99probreeze.com
Typical street pricearound £190probreeze.com £189.99; Expert Reviews price £190. Checked 22 October 2026.

Expert Reviews' large-capacity pick: humidity fell 15% in two hours on a cold day, and laundry mode worked well on spun washing. The 5.5L tank means fewer trips to empty it.

Watch out for: Rated at 420W, so dearer to run than the Meaco Arete Two (the tester measured peaks of 284W), and louder in general use.

  • Big 5.5L tank
  • Strong laundry mode
  • Good price for 20L
  • Higher running cost
  • Louder
Verdict: Plenty of drying power for large homes at a mid-range price.
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#3
Best for cold rooms

3. Meaco DD8L Pro Desiccant Dehumidifier

Desiccant · up to 7.97L/day · 2L tank · 231–623W
RRP£259.99meaco.com
Typical street pricearound £260meaco.com £259.99; Telegraph test price £259.99. Checked 22 October 2026.

The Telegraph's best desiccant model. Desiccant units keep working in unheated garages, conservatories and cold bedrooms (Meaco says down to 1°C). Its tester cut a bathroom from 70% to 50% humidity in an hour. Smart Energy Mode switches between 231W, 437W and 623W.

Watch out for: Desiccants use more power than compressors on high, and the opaque tank makes the water level hard to see.

  • Works in cold spaces
  • Fast laundry drying
  • Light (8.7kg)
  • Up to 623W on high
  • Small 2L tank
Verdict: The one to buy for unheated or cold rooms.
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#4
Best budget quiet pick

4. MeacoDry ABC 12L Dehumidifier

Compressor · 12L/day · 2.6L tank · 165W
RRP£149.99meaco.com
Typical street pricearound £149–£172Meaco £149.99; idealo from £149; Which? six-month average £172. Checked 22 October 2026.

Meaco says it's its quietest dehumidifier at 36dB. Which? lists it among its October deals, and it suits flats and homes up to three bedrooms. Rated at 165W, with a 24-hour timer, child lock and auto-restart.

Watch out for: 12L/day is not enough for a large, very damp house, and there is no app.

  • Very quiet
  • Low running cost
  • Cheap
  • Smaller capacity
  • No smart features
Verdict: A quiet, low-cost choice for bedrooms and flats.
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#5
Lightweight desiccant

5. EcoAir DD1 Classic MK6 Desiccant Dehumidifier

Desiccant · 7.5L/day · No wheels · 300–580W
RRP£229.98ecoair.org
Typical street pricearound £185–£230Which? cheapest in last six months £185, average £213; EcoAir £219.96–£229.98. Checked 22 October 2026.

A light (about 6kg) desiccant model with Turbo mode, an eight-hour timer and a louvre. Like other desiccants it works in heated and unheated rooms, so it suits cold bedrooms and caravans.

Watch out for: No wheels, and power runs from 300W (low) to 580W (high), so it costs more per hour than a compressor model.

  • Light
  • Works when cold
  • Simple
  • No wheels
  • Higher running cost
Verdict: A simple, portable desiccant for colder rooms.
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#6
Best cheap compact

6. VonHaus 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier

Compressor · 12L/day · 2L tank · 200W
RRP£119.99vonhaus.com
Typical street pricearound £110–£120VonHaus £109.99 (was £119.99); Expert Reviews price £95–£120. Checked 22 October 2026.

Expert Reviews' best compact pick: small (44.5cm tall), quiet at 39dB and rated at 200W, so it's cheap to run in a bedroom or small flat.

Watch out for: The 2L tank needs emptying often in damp weather, and it is only for small spaces (up to about 20m²). Check you are buying the 200W Low Energy model; VonHaus also sells a 240W 12L.

  • Cheap to buy
  • Quiet
  • Compact
  • Small tank
  • Small rooms only
Verdict: A good first dehumidifier for one damp room.
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#7
Biggest tank for the money

7. Pure Mate 20L Dehumidifier (PM465)

Compressor · 20L/day · 6.5L tank · 380W
RRP£169.99puremate.co.uk
Typical street pricearound £170–£220PureMate and Debenhams £169.99; Robert Dyas £219.99; Which? six-month average £193. Checked 22 October 2026.

Which? highlights it as a deal pick. It has a 6.5L tank, continuous drainage, a humidity sensor and a 24-hour timer.

Watch out for: Rated at 380W, and at 14.3kg it is heavy.

  • Huge tank
  • Low price for 20L
  • Continuous drain
  • Heavy
  • Higher power draw
Verdict: Good value capacity if you have the space for it.
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#8
Best for ease of use

8. Swan ActivAir 20L Dehumidifier (SH16810N)

Compressor · 20L/day · 4L tank · 310W
RRP£179.99shop.swan-brand.co.uk
Typical street pricearound £150–£194Swan shop £179.99; Very £194; other UK retailers from about £150. Checked 22 October 2026.

Expert Reviews' pick for ease of use: simple controls, an LED display, auto shut-off and a 24-hour timer.

Watch out for: No app, and 49dB at its maximum setting.

  • Simple to use
  • 20L capacity
  • Widely stocked
  • No smart features
  • Not the quietest
Verdict: A straightforward 20L for people who want no fuss.
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#9
Best app control

9. Princess 368120 Smart Dehumidifier 20L

Compressor · 20L/day · 3.7L tank · 325W
RRPRRP not publishedprincesshome.eu shows no UK price
Typical street pricearound £200–£230Argos £230; Expert Reviews price £200. Checked 22 October 2026.

Expert Reviews' pick for remote control. It has Wi-Fi and app control, a 24-hour timer and a humidistat.

Watch out for: At 51dB maximum it's one of the louder models here.

  • Wi-Fi app
  • 20L
  • Timer
  • Louder
  • Pricier than similar 20Ls
Verdict: Choose it if app control matters most.
#10
Premium small-room pick

10. De'Longhi Tasciugo AriaDry Multi (DEX216F)

Compressor · 16L/day · 2.1L tank · 290W
RRPRRP not publishedDe'Longhi UK price not found
Typical street pricearound £200–£250idealo from £199.98; Appliances Direct £249.98; Expert Reviews price £340. Checked 22 October 2026.

Expert Reviews' choice for small to mid-sized rooms, with capable laundry drying and three-stage filtration.

Watch out for: Expensive for 16L/day, with a small 2.1L tank.

  • Good laundry drying
  • Filtration
  • Well made
  • Expensive
  • Small tank
Verdict: A polished pick for smaller homes, best bought on offer.
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Running costs: what each dehumidifier costs to run

We used the Ofgem energy price cap electricity unit rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026: 26.32p per kWh (Direct Debit, average for England, Scotland and Wales; VAT has been removed from electricity for this period). Your own rate depends on your tariff, region and payment method, so check your bill.

ModelRated powerPer hourPer 8 hours
Meaco Arete Two 20L Dehumidifier & Air Purifier207W5.4p43.6p
Pro Breeze 20L Dehumidifier (PB-08)420W11.1p88.4p
Meaco DD8L Pro Desiccant Dehumidifier623W16.4p131.2p
MeacoDry ABC 12L Dehumidifier165W4.3p34.7p
EcoAir DD1 Classic MK6 Desiccant Dehumidifier580W15.3p122.1p
VonHaus 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier200W5.3p42.1p
Pure Mate 20L Dehumidifier (PM465)380W10.0p80.0p
Swan ActivAir 20L Dehumidifier (SH16810N)310W8.2p65.3p
Princess 368120 Smart Dehumidifier 20L325W8.6p68.4p
De'Longhi Tasciugo AriaDry Multi (DEX216F)290W7.6p61.1p

Cost = power (kW) × hours × unit rate. These are calculated maximums, not measurements. Uses the rated power in the spec line (for the DD8L Pro and EcoAir, the high setting; their low settings cost much less). Compressor models cycle off once the target humidity is reached, so real costs are usually lower.

Dehumidifier buying guide

Compressor or desiccant?

Compressor (refrigerant) dehumidifiers are cheapest to run in heated homes (about 15–25°C) and pull out the most water. Desiccant models use a moisture-absorbing wheel and a heater, so they keep working in cold rooms, garages and conservatories, are lighter and quieter, but draw more power.

What size do you need?

The extraction rate (litres per day) is measured at warm, humid lab conditions, so real-world figures are lower. As a rough guide, 10–12L suits a flat or one damp room, and 20L a 3–4 bedroom house or regular laundry drying.

Features worth paying for

  • A humidistat so it stops at your target (about 50–60%)
  • Laundry mode
  • Continuous drainage hose option
  • Auto-restart after a power cut
  • Low noise for bedrooms (look for a dB figure)

Is a dehumidifier cheaper than a tumble dryer?

Usually per hour, yes: a 200–400W compressor dehumidifier costs 5–11p an hour at the cap, against roughly 2–2.5kW for a vented or condenser tumble dryer. It takes longer, though, and helps only if the room is closed.

Dehumidifier FAQ

How much does a dehumidifier cost to run per hour in the UK?

Multiply its power in kW by your unit rate. At the Ofgem cap of 26.32p per kWh (1 October to 31 December 2026), a 200W compressor model costs about 5.3p an hour and a 600W desiccant on high about 15.8p.

What size dehumidifier do I need?

A 10–12L model suits a flat or a single damp room; a 20L model suits a 3–4 bedroom house or regular laundry drying. Choose bigger rather than smaller if you have visible mould.

Compressor or desiccant: which is better?

Compressor models are cheaper to run in heated rooms. Desiccant models work better below about 15°C, so they suit garages, conservatories and unheated bedrooms.

Will a dehumidifier get rid of mould?

It lowers humidity so mould is less likely to grow back, but it will not remove existing mould. Clean affected areas and fix the source of damp (leaks, poor ventilation) too.

Can I dry clothes with a dehumidifier?

Yes. Put it in a small closed room with the washing, use laundry mode if it has one, and leave space between items. It is usually cheaper per hour than a tumble dryer, but slower.

What humidity should I aim for?

Around 40–60% relative humidity is a sensible indoor target. Above about 70% for long periods raises the risk of condensation and mould.

How we chose

We didn't test these dehumidifiers ourselves. This list brings together hands-on UK reviews (mainly Expert Reviews, The Telegraph and Which?) and manufacturer specifications. We cross-checked them against current listings from UK manufacturers and retailers on 22 October 2026.

We ranked on how well each does its job for its size, running cost, noise or comfort, ease of use, and value at current street prices. Pros and cons come from what reviewers reported or from manufacturer specs. We left out models we couldn't find on sale in the UK.

Prices: RRP is the manufacturer's price from its own UK site, or its 'was' price where one is shown. Where none is published, we say so. Street price is what we found at named UK retailers. Prices change daily, so treat them as a guide.

Use of automation: We used AI-assisted research tools to help gather and organise information for this guide. Prices, specifications and claims were checked against the sources listed below.

Running costs are calculated from each model's rated power and the Ofgem price-cap unit rate, not measured.

Image credits

  • Hero image: original abstract illustration made for this page.
  • Product card images: original SVG illustrations made for this page. They show a generic dehumidifier, not the actual products.

Sources

Prices are approximate and were checked on 22 October 2026. Product images are illustrations; no product photos are used.