We took note of each unit’s water bucket capacity, the ease of use of the bucket itself, the ease of water hose installation, as well as the length of its water hose and its materials, and length of the unit’s power cord.

Control panel: We also noted the readability and legibility of each control panel’s buttons, LED readout window and water level indicator see-through slot on each water bucket.

Warranty: We noted the comprehensiveness and length of each unit’s warranty. All offered similar and satisfactory warranties.

User manual: We read each manual, assessing readability, usefulness and clarity in its instructions and images, as well as noting how often we had to consult the manual during setup and use.

Subjective assessment: We also judged each dehumidifier on its unit’s attractiveness and whether or not we felt the unit was a safety hazard for toddlers and small children left unattended (based on our observations of each unit’s vents and other open slots on the top and sides).

Other dehumidifiers we tested

Danby DDR050BJPWDB-ME

$306 $280 at Amazon

The Danby dehumidifier performed well in our tests and was easy to maintain and use, but was let down by its control panel that was difficult to read, with small, unlabeled buttons and a tiny, hard-to-read display. The small square window on the bucket made water levels difficult to see until the unit was nearly full.

GE APHR50LB

$335 $281 at Amazon

The GE dehumidifier we tested, like the other dehumidifiers, performed well. It was a bit more difficult to care for (we had to consult the user manual to find the air filter, which is hidden away behind the water bucket and figure out how to remove it). The bucket is easy to take out and empty, though we had some issues with spillage. And the gray color looks a bit commercial or industrial and might not blend in well with residential decor.

hOmeLabs HME020391N

$204 $180 at Amazon

This dehumidifier by hOmeLabs did not collect as much water as the other units did during our four-hour tests by far, though it did maintain humidity levels. It featured a useful red water line indicator like the Frigidaire, and the air filter was easy to access, take off, wipe clean and put back on. Its bucket, however, takes a little bit of wrangling to remove and replace. It was also the most difficult bucket to empty, almost spilling water all over our testing floor as we tried to pour it into our glass vase to measure it.

Honeywell TP70PWKN

$350 $319 at Amazon

The Honeywell dehumidifier was considered for the top spot given its nice bucket design and clear, visible display and control panel (it was the only model that displayed the current relative humidity of the room on the side of the unit in bright, clear numbers); it had middle-of-the-pack performance and energy efficiency, however. We liked its long, comfortable handle, which makes moving the unit around easy. It has a removable splash guard on the top of its water collection bucket, which comes in handy when carrying the full bucket across the room and up the stairs to empty it of its water. The dehumidifier’s air filter was easy to access, take off, wipe clean and put back on.

Ivation IVADH50PWP2

$340 at Amazon

The Ivation dehumidifier collected the most water in four hours, filling our measurement vessel. However, it did not perform as well as the other units during our internal pump test; over the course of an hour, it was unable to pump water to our overhead drainage setup. Like the GE, the Ivation’s air filter is hidden behind the internal bucket; we took a look at the manual to figure out how to access it, though it was easy to clean once we did. We liked the power cord, which features a space-saving plug design that should fit even the most crowded outlets. It also has a comfortable handle.

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The best dehumidifiers of 2024, tested by editors