Small Dehumidifier Reviews

Thus far we’ve only tested five different small low capacity dehumidifiers (compared to 27 units tested in the high capacity category). We’ve limited our testing in this size class for a reason:

We generally don’t recommend low capacity compressor based dehumidifiers.

As we discuss in our general buyer’s guide, many consumers look into buying a smaller capacity dehumidifier for the wrong reasons.

For example, some consumers think that small (20, 22 pint) dehumidifiers are more energy efficient than their larger (35 pint and 50 pint) counterparts. This simply isn’t the case. Small dehumidifiers are in fact much less energy efficient (as we discuss here) as their larger capacity counterparts.

The only reason why you should be considering a small dehumidifier is if one, the space you’re going to be dehumidifying is very small or if two, the environment that you plan on dehumidifying isn’t severely and/or perpetually humid.

As a final blunt warning do not buy a small low capacity dehumidifier if you’re trying to save money. Not only are they less energy efficient (costing you more in energy costs over time), but they also do not cost much less on average than medium capacity dehumidifiers.

The average cost for the medium capacity dehumidifiers we’ve tested is $212 while the average cost for the low capacity pint dehumidifiers we’ve tested is $198. High capacity (50 pint) dehumidifiers are substantially more expensive, on average ($254), although the top rated yet budget-friendly 50 pint hOmeLabs HME020031N can be bought from reputable merchants online for close to the price of the average low capacity (20, 22 pint) unit.

The top rated 22 pint Frigidaire FFAD2233W1 retails for close to the same price as the full size hOmelabs.

For a list of our top rated 50 pint dehumidifiers click here and for our list of top rated 35 pint dehumidifiers click here.

Best Rated Small Dehumidifiers – 2023 Overall Rankings

Based on testing alone we recommend:

#1 Frigidaire FFAD2233W1

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Based on our testing of their larger counterparts and our evaluation of their specifications, we recommend the following units as the best currently available (on the market) alternatives to the FFAD2233W1:

#2 hOmeLabs HME020030N

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#3 Black+Decker BDT20WTB

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The Frigidaire FFAD2233W1 is by far the best small dehumidifier currently on the market, if only because it has little to no competition in the size class, at least among units we have tested. Three of the four other small dehumidifiers we tested all had major issues and flaws that keep us from recommending any one of them.

The hOmeLabs HME020030N and Black+Decker BDT20WTB are two alternatives we can recommend based on our testing of their larger counterparts and an evaluation of their specifications.

The Rest of the Tested Rankings (Dehumidifiers We Do Not Recommend)

Below you’ll find the three other small dehumidifiers we’ve tested, listed in order of their overall composite score (shown in parentheses). This score is obtained from adding up each unit’s score (out of 5) in each respective review category.

Hisense DH-35K1SJE5 (47)

GE ADEL30LR (45)

Haier DM32M-L (34.5)

Again, we do not recommend any one of these dehumidifiers for purchase.