Independent: Best dehumidifiers (summary)

The Independent’s 2025 round-up sets out expert, hands-on recommendations for tackling damp, condensation and musty odours at home. Published on 31 October 2025, the guide names Duux’s Bora Smart 30L as the best overall choice for larger rooms and open-plan spaces, highlighting its quiet running, app control and built-in carbon filter. Budget shoppers are pointed to Daewoo’s compact 700ml unit for cupboards and small rooms, while the Daewoo 16L earns praise for speeding up indoor laundry drying. For year-round, whole-home use with filtration, Meaco’s Arete One 20L combines strong extraction with an H13 HEPA option and a five-year warranty.

Testing covered 20 models and focused on real-home performance. The reviewer used a humidity meter to verify moisture removal, an air particle meter to check air-quality gains, and a decibel meter to measure noise. Energy consumption was timed and costed per hour. Smart features were app-tested, and laundry modes were benchmarked against typical drying times.

The line-up also includes space-saving and specialist picks. EcoAir’s wall-mountable DDWH10 is a slim desiccant model that can double as a heater (modes run separately), suiting bathrooms and tight spaces. For garages and cellars, the Princess Smart 20L offers strong extraction with app and voice control. Value hunters get an alternative in the Wessex 12L, which adds a drain hose option and child lock, while Daewoo’s lightweight 2L unit prioritises portability and very low running costs. Overall, the guide shows dehumidifiers can be a quieter, cheaper adjunct to tumble drying and an effective defence against winter mould.