The Best Portable Dehumidifiers
A portable dehumidifier is one you can actually carry where the damp is today. We scored units on weight, size and ease of moving, alongside the capacity and value that make them worth owning.
Disclosure: My Best Dehumidifier earns a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never costs you anything extra, and it does not change how we score.
The short version
For Best overall, the hOmeLabs 32 Pint, easy to move and covers most rooms.
For Best compact, the hOmeLabs 8 Pint.
For Best budget, the Trazico 21 Pint.
Our picks
The best dehumidifiers at a glance
The reviews
Best Portable Dehumidifiers, ranked
hOmeLabs 32 Pint
Moves easily, covers a home
The most popular dehumidifier hOmeLabs makes and the one I point first time buyers to. It covers a normal home floor at 4,500 sq ft, has the deepest review history here, and costs the least of the big hitters.
What we liked
- Best price of the high review hOmeLabs units
- Covers 4,500 sq ft, right for most homes
- The deepest review base on this page
- Easy to move room to room
Worth knowing
- Manual tank unless you add a hose
- Not enough for a wet 1,500 sq ft basement
Price and availability update on Amazon
hOmeLabs 8 Pint (1,800 sq ft)
Light and quiet
The small room hero. It is compact and quiet enough for a bathroom, closet or bedroom, yet still carries the hOmeLabs review pedigree with nearly 29,000 ratings. For everyday damp in a smaller space this is all most people need.
What we liked
- Compact and light, fits tight spaces
- Quiet enough for a bedroom
- Nearly 29,000 owner reviews
- Simple to empty and move
Worth knowing
- Small 8 pint tank fills faster in very damp rooms
- Not for basements or large areas
Price and availability update on Amazon
Trazico 21 Pint Quiet
Cheap and movable
The budget quiet pick. At under $140 it is the cheapest unit here, runs quietly, and includes a drain hose for hands off use in a bedroom or small basement. A lot of dehumidifier for the money.
What we liked
- Lowest price on this list
- Quiet running for bedrooms
- Drain hose included
- Covers up to 1,500 sq ft
Worth knowing
- Smaller brand with a modest review base
- Not for large or very wet spaces
Price and availability update on Amazon
Side by side
Full comparison
| Dehumidifier | Score | Capacity | Coverage | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
hOmeLabs 32 Pint Best Overall | 86 | 32 DOE (80 max) | 4,500 sq ft | 4.5 (28,675) | $245 | Amazon › |
hOmeLabs 8 Pint (1,800 sq ft) Best Compact | 73 | 8 DOE (24 max) | 1,800 sq ft | 4.5 (28,660) | $185 | Amazon › |
Trazico 21 Pint Quiet Best Budget | 61 | 21 (max) | 1,500 sq ft | 4.2 (651) | $140 | Amazon › |
About the pint numbers: capacity ratings on this page mix two standards. hOmeLabs lists DOE test pints, measured at cooler standard conditions, while AEOCKY, DECIUU and Trazico headline max condition pints measured at 95°F and 90 percent humidity. A max rating runs roughly two to two and a half times the DOE figure for the same machine, so the table marks each number to let you compare like with like.
Our method
How we score
Every dehumidifier runs through the same scorecard, so the numbers mean the same thing across brands. I weight what owners feel day to day, then roll it into one score out of 100. Capacity and coverage carry the most weight, because a unit too small for the space never wins however nice it looks. I set scores before checking prices. Capacity figures follow each manufacturer listing, and where a maker publishes only a peak number we show it as "up to", so weigh capacity alongside coverage rather than on its own.
Buying guide
How to choose the right one
Weight is the whole point
For a portable unit, pick the lightest one that still covers the rooms you use it in. A machine you can carry one handed gets used everywhere, a heavy one stays put.
Match it to the rooms you move it between
Think about the largest room you will use it in and size for that, so it works wherever you set it down.
Key numbers
Dehumidifier facts and stats worth citing
The numbers below put the picks in context. Each one names its source, so you can quote it, check it, or use it to size your own setup.
The indoor relative humidity range the EPA recommends. Above 60 percent, conditions start favoring mold and dust mites.
Source: US EPAHow quickly mold can begin growing on a surface that stays damp, which is why standing moisture needs attention fast.
Source: US EPA and FEMA guidanceThe temperature the DOE has tested capacity at since 2019, down from 80°F. That change is why a unit sold as 50 pints today matches what older listings called 70 pints.
Source: US Department of EnergyThe extreme lab conditions behind headline max pint ratings. The same hOmeLabs machine rated 50 DOE pints advertises 120 pints at these conditions.
Source: Manufacturer listingsHow much less energy an ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifier uses than a comparable conventional unit of the same size.
Source: ENERGY STARQuick questions
Dehumidifier FAQ
What makes a dehumidifier portable?
What size dehumidifier do I need?
Can I move a large dehumidifier around?
Keep reading
More dehumidifier guides
Dan Mercer
I run My Best Dehumidifier and score every unit on one consistent scorecard: capacity, coverage, drainage, owner rating and value. I do not sell dehumidifiers and no brand owns any part of this site. Scores are set before prices are checked, so a good deal never buys a better ranking. More about how this site works.