What to look for

  • Laundry mode. It runs the fan on high and ignores the humidistat, so it keeps drying instead of switching off once the room feels dry enough.
  • Extraction of 12 litres a day or more. A full load of washing holds a lot of water, and a bigger unit pulls it out of the air before it reaches the walls.
  • A tank of 3 litres or more, or a hose outlet, so it doesn't fill up and stop halfway through a load.
  • A wide air outlet you can point at the airer. Moving air does as much to dry clothes as dry air.
Dehumidifier size calculator Choose 'Yes, most weeks' for washing and it sizes the dehumidifier for laundry as well as damp.

Our picks

These are chosen by their specs against the list above. We haven't tested them ourselves; the reasons say which spec puts each one here.

For most homes

Pro Breeze OmniDry 12L

Type
Compressor
Extraction
12 litres a day
Power
200W
Noise
36dB
Tank
2 litres
Cost per hour
5.3p
  • Laundry mode

Has a laundry mode and one of the lower noise ratings in its size, at 5.3p an hour. Its 2 litre tank is under the 3 litres we suggest, so with a big load you may need to empty it partway through. It is the size most homes need for a weekly wash.

View on Amazon Manufacturer specs

For a family's worth of washing

Pro Breeze 20L Premium Dehumidifier

Type
Compressor
Extraction
20 litres a day
Power
440W
Noise
42dB
Tank
5.5 litres
Cost per hour
12p
  • Laundry mode

20 litres a day and a 5.5 litre tank suit several loads a week, with less emptying than a 2 litre model. It costs more to run, at 12p an hour.

View on Amazon Manufacturer specs

For a cold utility room or garage

Meaco DD8L

Type
Desiccant
Extraction
7.5 litres a day
Power
650W
Noise
39dB
Tank
2 litres
Cost per hour
17p
  • Laundry mode

A desiccant model keeps drying when the room is below 15°C, where compressor models slow right down, and it warms the room slightly as it goes. It uses more power, at 17p an hour.

View on Amazon Manufacturer specs

Is it cheaper than a tumble dryer?

Usually, yes, though it takes longer. A 12 litre compressor model running for five hours costs about 26p. Compare that with the kWh per cycle on your tumble dryer's energy label. A dehumidifier also keeps the rest of the room dry, which a heated airer on its own doesn't.

Costs use 26.32p per kWh, the Ofgem price cap, Direct Debit average for England, Scotland and Wales for 1 October to 31 December 2026. Your own tariff may differ. How we calculate.

Getting the most out of it

  1. Spin the washing on the fastest spin the fabric allows. Less water in, less to remove.
  2. Use the smallest room you can, with the door and window shut.
  3. Space the clothes out on the airer so air can get between them.
  4. Put the dehumidifier a metre or so from the airer, pointing its outlet at the clothes.
  5. Turn laundry mode on and leave it until the clothes are dry, then empty the tank.

More on drying clothes indoors without causing damp.