Best dehumidifier for drying clothes UK: 8 picks, with running costs per hour
Drying washing indoors all winter puts litres of water into the air, which ends up as condensation and mould. A dehumidifier with a laundry mode dries the load and the room at the same time. These are the models worth considering, and what each one costs to run per hour.
Quick picks
- Best overall for drying clothesMeacoDry Arete One 20L Dehumidifier & Air PurifierMeaco Amazon
- Best for flatsMeacoDry Arete One 12L Dehumidifier & Air PurifierMeaco Amazon
- Fastest drying and best for cold roomsMeaco DD8L Pro Desiccant DehumidifierMeaco
- Best smart pick for smaller homesMeacoDry Arete Two 10L Dehumidifier & Air PurifierMeaco Amazon
- Biggest tankMeaco 20L Low Energy Dehumidifier & Air PurifierMeaco Amazon
- Best budget MeacoMeacoDry ABC 12L DehumidifierMeaco Amazon
- Budget 20L (non-Meaco)Pro Breeze 20L/Day Compressor Dehumidifier with Laundry ModeCheck price
- Budget desiccant (non-Meaco)EcoAir DD1 Simple MK3 Desiccant DehumidifierCheck price
How we chose: We compared laundry modes, airflow, extraction at UK room temperatures (20°C), tank sizes, noise and warranties from Meaco's and other manufacturers' published specifications, read independent UK reviews (Expert Reviews, T3, Ideal Home, Woman & Home and TechRadar's report on Meaco's own drying test), and checked recurring themes in Amazon.co.uk owner reviews. Running costs are calculated from the makers' wattage figures, not measured by us. We have not personally tested these products; this is a research-based roundup. Our research process.
A full load of washing holds a surprising amount of water, and when it dries on a radiator or airer it all goes into the air. In a closed-up UK home in winter that moisture ends up on cold windows and walls, so drying clothes indoors is one of the most common causes of condensation and black mould. A dehumidifier fixes both problems at once: it pulls the moisture out of the air as the clothes release it, so the washing dries faster and the room doesn't get damp.
The two things that matter most for laundry are airflow (how much air the machine moves over the clothes) and how well it works at the temperature of the room you dry in. Compressor dehumidifiers are the cheapest to run in a heated room. Desiccant models dry faster and keep working in a cold utility room or garage, but use more electricity. We've picked mostly Meaco models because the UK specialist publishes unusually detailed figures (extraction and wattage at 10°C and 20°C, not just the flattering 30°C lab number), which lets us compare running costs properly. There are two cheaper non-Meaco options at the end of the list.
If you also use a heated clothes airer, put the dehumidifier next to it in a small room with the door shut. That combination is hard to beat for speed and cost. Damp patches and streaming windows elsewhere? See our main dehumidifier guide and our guide to stopping condensation on windows.
Who this guide is for: Anyone drying washing indoors without a tumble dryer, or trying to use theirs less: flats with no outside space, homes with condensation or mould, and anyone drying clothes in a cold utility room, spare room or garage.
Black Friday tip: Black Friday is Friday 27 November 2026. If you need this now for the cold or damp, don’t wait weeks for a possible discount. If you can wait, our Black Friday home buying guide explains how to check price history and spot a genuine deal.
Comparison table
| Pick | Type | Laundry mode | Extraction at 20°C/60% | Power (maker) | Cost per hour* | Warranty | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meaco Arete One 20LBest overall for drying clothes | Compressor | Yes (Smart Laundry) | 8.5L/day | 216W at 20°C/60% (250W listed) | 5.7p–6.6p | 5 years | Meaco Amazon |
| Meaco Arete One 12LBest for flats | Compressor | Yes | 5.23L/day | 151W at 20°C/60% (165W listed) | 4.0p–4.3p | 5 years | Meaco Amazon |
| Meaco DD8L ProFastest drying and best for cold rooms | Desiccant | Yes (Smart Laundry, auto louvre) | Up to 7.97L/day (fan speed 3) | 231W listed; 623W at fan speed 3 | 6.1p–16.4p | 3 years | Meaco |
| Meaco Arete Two 10LBest smart pick for smaller homes | Compressor | Yes (adjustable timer) | 4.19L/day | 136W at 20°C/60% (152W listed) | 3.6p–4.0p | 5 years | Meaco Amazon |
| Meaco 20L Low EnergyBiggest tank | Compressor | Yes | 8.48L/day | 219W at 20°C/60% | 5.8p | 2 years | Meaco Amazon |
| MeacoDry ABC 12LBest budget Meaco | Compressor | Yes (6 hours) | 5.18L/day | 149W at 20°C/60% (165W listed) | 3.9p–4.3p | 2 years | Meaco Amazon |
| Pro Breeze 20LBudget 20L (non-Meaco) | Compressor | Yes | Not published | Not clearly published | See note | 1 year (listing) | Check price |
| EcoAir DD1 Simple MK3Budget desiccant (non-Meaco) | Desiccant | Yes | Not published (up to 7.5L/day max) | 300W low / 580W high | 7.9p–15.3p | 2 years | Check price |
Specs are from manufacturer listings as of 21 October 2026; claimed figures (running costs, runtimes) are the maker’s, not ours. Check the retailer’s page for the current price and exact variant before you buy.
The picks in detail
MeacoDry Arete One 20L Dehumidifier & Air Purifier
Best for: Most households drying a full load indoors several times a week, in a heated home
- Type
- Compressor
- Laundry mode
- Yes (Smart Laundry)
- Extraction at 20°C/60%
- 8.5L/day
- Power (maker)
- 216W at 20°C/60% (250W listed)
- Cost per hour*
- 5.7p–6.6p
- Warranty
- 5 years
For drying washing in a normal heated home, the Arete One 20L is the one to beat. In Meaco's own drying test, reported by TechRadar, an Arete 20L on its own dried a load of 13 T-shirts in 4 hours 45 minutes, against 20 hours or more left to dry naturally. With a fan blowing across the airer as well, it took 2 hours. Smart Laundry is a single button, the fan moves up to 160m³ of air an hour, and the unit is Quiet Mark accredited (Meaco quotes from 38dB). It sits flush against a wall and rolls on hidden castors, so it's easy to wheel next to the airer and back again.
Meaco's spec table shows it removing 8.5 litres a day at 20°C and 60% humidity, which is more realistic for a UK home than the headline 20L (measured at 30°C and 80%). It draws 216W in those conditions. The 4.8L tank is smaller than the 20L Low Energy's 6L, so on heavy laundry days you may empty it once or twice, or fit a hose for continuous drainage. The free 5-year warranty is a big part of the higher price. Amazon UK stocks the same model, sold by Meaco (UK) when we checked.
What owners and reviewers like
- Fast laundry drying for a compressor model
- Quiet enough for living areas
- 5-year warranty
- Detailed published specs at UK temperatures
Watch-outs
- Pricier than basic 20L machines
- 15kg, so heavy to carry upstairs
- 4.8L tank fills quickly on big laundry days
Check price at Meaco Also on Amazon Affiliate links · open meaco.com (via Awin) or Amazon.co.uk
MeacoDry Arete One 12L Dehumidifier & Air Purifier
Best for: Flats and 1–3 bed homes drying smaller loads, often in a bedroom or hallway
- Type
- Compressor
- Laundry mode
- Yes
- Extraction at 20°C/60%
- 5.23L/day
- Power (maker)
- 151W at 20°C/60% (165W listed)
- Cost per hour*
- 4.0p–4.3p
- Warranty
- 5 years
The 12L Arete One has the same design, controls and 5-year warranty as the 20L in a smaller, 10.9kg body. Meaco says it suits homes up to 3 bedrooms and quotes it from 35dB. At 20°C and 60% humidity Meaco's figures show it removing 5.23 litres a day for 151W, so it's one of the cheapest machines here to run.
It moves less air than the 20L (up to 100m³/h), so expect slower drying for a full family load. Meaco's own co-founder told TechRadar that smaller compressor machines take much longer to dry clothes than 20L/25L ones. The 2.5L tank also needs emptying more often. If you mostly dry a few items at a time in a flat, it's a sensible, quiet choice. Amazon UK listed the same model through a third-party seller when we checked, so check who is selling it.
What owners and reviewers like
- Low running cost
- Quiet; good for bedrooms and flats
- 5-year warranty
- Wall bracket option (sold separately)
Watch-outs
- Slower on big loads than the 20L models
- Small 2.5L tank
- No timer
Check price at Meaco Also on Amazon Affiliate links · open meaco.com (via Awin) or Amazon.co.uk
Meaco DD8L Pro Desiccant Dehumidifier
Best for: Cold utility rooms, garages and unheated spare rooms, and anyone who wants the fastest drying
- Type
- Desiccant
- Laundry mode
- Yes (Smart Laundry, auto louvre)
- Extraction at 20°C/60%
- Up to 7.97L/day (fan speed 3)
- Power (maker)
- 231W listed; 623W at fan speed 3
- Cost per hour*
- 6.1p–16.4p
- Warranty
- 3 years
Desiccant dehumidifiers blow out slightly warm, very dry air, which is why they dry clothes faster than compressor models and why they keep working in cold rooms. Meaco rates the DD8L Pro from 1°C to 35°C. In Meaco's drying test (reported by TechRadar) the DD8L Pro dried the T-shirt load in 3 hours 30 minutes on its own and 1 hour 40 minutes with a fan, the quickest results in the test. The automatic louvre aims the airflow at the airer. Expert Reviews called it a fantastic laundry dryer, and T3 found it effective in small to medium rooms and surprisingly good at drying laundry, while noting it uses more electricity than a compressor model.
That electricity use is the trade-off. Meaco lists 231W as its power consumption, but its own performance table shows 623W at the top fan speed, which is what laundry drying uses. So a laundry session costs noticeably more per hour than a compressor machine, even though it finishes sooner. Reviewers also found it fairly loud at full speed, and the 2L tank is small. Amazon UK had no buy box for this model when we checked, so we link to Meaco only.
What owners and reviewers like
- Fastest drying in Meaco's own test
- Works in cold rooms (from 1°C, Meaco says)
- Automatic louvre aims at the washing
- App control and timer
Watch-outs
- Much higher power draw on laundry/high settings
- Louder than the Arete models at full speed
- Small 2L tank
Check price at Meaco Affiliate link · opens meaco.com (via Awin)
MeacoDry Arete Two 10L Dehumidifier & Air Purifier
Best for: Flats and smaller homes where you want app control, a laundry timer and an adjustable louvre
- Type
- Compressor
- Laundry mode
- Yes (adjustable timer)
- Extraction at 20°C/60%
- 4.19L/day
- Power (maker)
- 136W at 20°C/60% (152W listed)
- Cost per hour*
- 3.6p–4.0p
- Warranty
- 5 years
The Arete Two is the newer, smarter version of the Arete One. It adds an app, Alexa and Google voice control, an extra fan speed with airflow up to 140m³/h (the 10L Arete One manages 100m³/h), a DC fan motor and a louvre you can point at the washing. Meaco says this model dries laundry faster and cheaper than any of its other dehumidifiers. That's Meaco's claim, but the higher airflow at a similar wattage backs it up on paper.
Extraction is modest (4.19 litres a day at 20°C/60%), so it suits flats and 1–2 bed homes rather than a damp family house. You also get ON/OFF and adjustable laundry timers, which the Arete One lacks. Expert Reviews rated the larger Arete Two 20L its best all-round dehumidifier. That model was out of stock on meaco.com when we checked, so it isn't listed here. Amazon UK sells the 10L (listed in Charcoal) through Meaco (UK).
What owners and reviewers like
- Higher airflow than the Arete One 10L/12L
- App, voice control and timers
- Low running cost
- 5-year warranty
Watch-outs
- Modest extraction for a damp house
- Small 2.5L tank
- Smart features add cost
Check price at Meaco Also on Amazon Affiliate links · open meaco.com (via Awin) or Amazon.co.uk
Meaco 20L Low Energy Dehumidifier & Air Purifier
Best for: Busy laundry households who'd rather empty a big tank less often
- Type
- Compressor
- Laundry mode
- Yes
- Extraction at 20°C/60%
- 8.48L/day
- Power (maker)
- 219W at 20°C/60%
- Cost per hour*
- 5.8p
- Warranty
- 2 years
Meaco's long-running 20L Low Energy matches the Arete One 20L on extraction at UK room temperature (8.48 litres a day at 20°C/60% for 219W) and has the biggest tank here at 6 litres. Its motorised louvre sweeps air across a wide angle, which helps when the airer is next to it. It has a large pool of owner reviews on Amazon, which mostly praise how much water it collects.
The downsides are noise and design. Meaco quotes it from 46dB, against 38dB for the Arete One 20L, and it's a bulkier box that's less pleasant to keep in a living room. The standard warranty is 2 years, with an option to extend. Buy this one if a big tank matters more to you than looks or quiet running.
What owners and reviewers like
- 6L tank, the largest here
- Strong extraction at 20°C for its power
- Motorised louvre
- Big pool of owner reviews
Watch-outs
- Louder than the Arete range
- Bulky
- 2-year standard warranty
Check price at Meaco Also on Amazon Affiliate links · open meaco.com (via Awin) or Amazon.co.uk
MeacoDry ABC 12L Dehumidifier
Best for: Smaller homes on a tighter budget who still want Meaco's low running costs
- Type
- Compressor
- Laundry mode
- Yes (6 hours)
- Extraction at 20°C/60%
- 5.18L/day
- Power (maker)
- 149W at 20°C/60% (165W listed)
- Cost per hour*
- 3.9p–4.3p
- Warranty
- 2 years
The ABC range is Meaco's simpler, cheaper line. The 12L has almost identical extraction and wattage to the Arete One 12L (5.18 litres a day at 20°C/60% for 149W), Quiet Mark accreditation (from 36dB, Meaco says) and a laundry mode that runs at full speed for six hours and then switches off. It also has an off-timer, which the Arete One doesn't. It has thousands of Amazon owner reviews, and they're very positive overall.
What you give up is the HEPA filter, the castors, the flush-to-the-wall design and the 5-year warranty (it's 2 years as standard). Airflow is up to 105m³/h, so it's better for small loads than a weekly family wash. The Amazon listing has size and colour options, so make sure 12L is selected.
What owners and reviewers like
- Low running cost for the price
- Quiet
- Laundry mode with auto switch-off
- Off-timer
Watch-outs
- No castors or HEPA filter
- 2-year standard warranty
- Slower on big loads
Check price at Meaco Also on Amazon Affiliate links · open meaco.com (via Awin) or Amazon.co.uk
Pro Breeze 20L/Day Compressor Dehumidifier with Laundry Mode
Best for: Buyers who want a big compressor machine for less than a Meaco
- Type
- Compressor
- Laundry mode
- Yes
- Extraction at 20°C/60%
- Not published
- Power (maker)
- Not clearly published
- Cost per hour*
- See note
- Warranty
- 1 year (listing)
Pro Breeze's 20L model is a popular budget alternative. Its Amazon listing cites a 2025 Which? Best Buy award, a 5.5L tank with a drain hose, a laundry mode and an auto-swing louvre. Owners mostly say it pulls a lot of water out of the air and helps dry washing. The recurring complaints are noise and a minority of units that fail, so register the warranty.
Pro Breeze doesn't publish extraction or wattage at UK room temperatures the way Meaco does, and the power figures on its own pages don't clearly match this listing's model number, so we haven't calculated a cost per hour. Check the manual on the listing before you buy if running cost matters to you.
What owners and reviewers like
- Cheaper than equivalent Meaco models
- Big 5.5L tank plus drain hose
- Laundry mode and swing louvre
- Large pool of owner reviews
Watch-outs
- Louder than the Arete range
- Some failure reports
- Less detailed published specs
Check current price on Amazon Affiliate link · opens Amazon.co.uk
EcoAir DD1 Simple MK3 Desiccant Dehumidifier
Best for: A light, simple desiccant for drying washing in a cold room on a budget
- Type
- Desiccant
- Laundry mode
- Yes
- Extraction at 20°C/60%
- Not published (up to 7.5L/day max)
- Power (maker)
- 300W low / 580W high
- Cost per hour*
- 7.9p–15.3p
- Warranty
- 2 years
The EcoAir DD1 Simple is one of the UK's most popular desiccant dehumidifiers. It's a 6kg box with one rotary dial, a laundry setting and a 2-litre tank, and EcoAir says it works from 1°C to 40°C. Owners describe it as quiet and economical, and one says it dries a full clothes horse in under four hours. Some report units failing within a year, so register the warranty. It's sold and shipped by Amazon.
EcoAir lists 300W on low and 580W on high, which is typical for a desiccant model. It's cheaper to buy than the DD8L Pro but has no humidity display, timer, app or automatic louvre.
What owners and reviewers like
- Cheap way into desiccant drying
- Light and portable
- Simple controls
- Sold by Amazon
Watch-outs
- No humidity readout or timer
- High power on the high setting
- Some early-failure reports
Check current price on Amazon Affiliate link · opens Amazon.co.uk
Compressor or desiccant for drying clothes?
Compressor (refrigerant) dehumidifiers are the cheapest to run in a heated home, roughly 150–250W for the Meaco models here. They work less well as the room gets colder: Meaco's figures for the Arete One 20L show extraction falling from 8.5 litres a day at 20°C to 3.4 litres at 10°C (both at 60% humidity).
Desiccant dehumidifiers use a heated absorbent wheel. Their output barely changes with temperature, they blow out slightly warm air that speeds up drying, and they work in cold rooms, but they draw much more power on high or laundry settings. Meaco's co-founder told TechRadar that, as a rule, choose desiccant if drying speed matters most and compressor if running cost matters most. He added that this holds for 20L/25L compressor machines, and that a desiccant may beat a small compressor model on both speed and cost.
In short: heated home and a full family load, get a 20L compressor model. Cold utility room, garage or unheated spare room, get a desiccant. A flat with small loads can go either way, so pick on noise and running cost.
What does it cost to run? (our working)
We've used the makers' wattage figures and the Ofgem price cap average unit rate for October to December 2026, 26.32p per kWh. Your own tariff may differ, so swap in your rate. The sum is: watts ÷ 1,000 × unit rate = pence per hour. Where Meaco publishes a figure measured at 20°C and 60% humidity, we show that alongside the listed maximum, because it's closer to a UK home in winter.
| Model | Maker's wattage | Working (at 26.32p/kWh) | Per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meaco Arete One 20L | 216W (20°C/60%); 250W listed | 0.216 × 26.32 = 5.69; 0.250 × 26.32 = 6.58 | 5.7p–6.6p |
| Meaco Arete One 12L | 151W (20°C/60%); 165W listed | 0.151 × 26.32 = 3.97; 0.165 × 26.32 = 4.34 | 4.0p–4.3p |
| Meaco DD8L Pro | 231W listed; 623W at fan speed 3 (20°C/60%) | 0.231 × 26.32 = 6.08; 0.623 × 26.32 = 16.40 | 6.1p–16.4p |
| Meaco Arete Two 10L | 136W (20°C/60%); 152W listed | 0.136 × 26.32 = 3.58; 0.152 × 26.32 = 4.00 | 3.6p–4.0p |
| Meaco 20L Low Energy | 219W (20°C/60% and listed) | 0.219 × 26.32 = 5.76 | 5.8p |
| MeacoDry ABC 12L | 149W (20°C/60%); 165W listed | 0.149 × 26.32 = 3.92; 0.165 × 26.32 = 4.34 | 3.9p–4.3p |
| EcoAir DD1 Simple MK3 | 300W low; 580W high | 0.300 × 26.32 = 7.90; 0.580 × 26.32 = 15.27 | 7.9p–15.3p |
*These are costs while the machine is running at that power. Compressor models with a humidistat cycle off once the room reaches the target, so real costs over a day are usually lower. Laundry modes often run at full power for a set time (six hours on the Arete One and ABC, Meaco says). For example, six hours on the Arete One 20L at 216W is 1.3kWh, or about 34p at 26.32p/kWh. Ofgem's cap changes every quarter; we'll update these figures when it changes on 1 January.
How to dry clothes faster with a dehumidifier
- Use a small room and shut the door. The dehumidifier only has to dry that air, not the whole house.
- Space the washing out. Single layers with gaps between them dry much faster than bunched-up items. A tiered or heated airer helps.
- Aim the airflow at the clothes. Put the dehumidifier a short distance from the airer and point the louvre (if it has one) at the washing.
- Add a fan. In Meaco's test, adding a fan cut the Arete 20L's drying time from 4 hours 45 minutes to 2 hours. Any fan that moves air across the airer will help.
- Spin well first. A higher spin speed on the washing machine leaves less water to remove.
- Empty the tank or fit a hose. Most machines stop when the tank is full, so on a heavy day check it or set up continuous drainage.
Is it cheaper than a tumble dryer?
Usually, yes, though it's slower. A compressor dehumidifier draws a fraction of the power of a typical heated tumble dryer, so even a six-hour laundry session costs tens of pence rather than pounds. In Meaco's own test (its figures, reported by TechRadar), drying the T-shirt load cost an estimated 28p with the Arete 20L alone, 14p with the Arete 20L plus a fan, and 54p with the DD8L Pro desiccant alone. A heat pump tumble dryer narrows the gap, but if you don't have room for one, a dehumidifier and airer is the cheapest way to dry indoors without adding to condensation.
What size do you need?
For laundry, airflow matters more than the headline litres. A 20L compressor model with high airflow, such as the Arete One 20L or 20L Low Energy, dries a full load noticeably faster than a 10–12L model, even though both will keep a flat's humidity down. If you dry a family load several times a week, get a 20L compressor model, or a desiccant if the room is cold. For one or two people drying smaller loads, a 10–12L model is quieter and cheaper to run.
Remember the headline figure (for example, '20L') is measured at 30°C and 80% humidity. At a typical UK indoor 20°C, Meaco's figures show its 20L models removing around 8.5 litres a day, which is normal and not a fault.
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FAQs
Does a dehumidifier really dry clothes?
Yes. It removes moisture from the air as the clothes release it, which keeps the air dry enough for the washing to keep drying. Meaco's own test found a 20L compressor model cut drying time for a load of T-shirts from 20+ hours to under 5, and to 2 hours with a fan. It works best in a small, closed room with the washing spaced out.
Which is better for drying clothes, compressor or desiccant?
Desiccant models generally dry faster and work in cold rooms, but cost more per hour to run. Compressor models are cheaper to run in a heated room. If you dry in a cold utility room, garage or conservatory, choose desiccant. Our desiccant dehumidifier guide has more options.
How much does it cost to dry clothes with a dehumidifier?
Using the makers' wattage and the Ofgem October–December 2026 cap unit rate of 26.32p per kWh, the Meaco compressor models here cost roughly 4p to 7p an hour, and desiccant models on high cost up to about 15p to 16p an hour. A six-hour laundry session on the Arete One 20L (216W) works out at about 34p. See the cost table above for each model.
Can I use a dehumidifier and a heated airer together?
Yes, and it's one of the fastest low-cost ways to dry indoors. The airer warms the fabric and the dehumidifier removes the moisture that comes off it, so the room doesn't get damp. See our heated clothes airer picks.
Should I leave the dehumidifier on overnight with washing?
Modern units with a humidistat, tank-full shut-off and a timed laundry mode are designed to run unattended. Follow the manual, keep the vents clear, and put it somewhere you won't trip over the cable. For bedrooms, choose a quiet model or use night mode.
Is it OK to dry clothes indoors without a dehumidifier?
It's common, but in winter the moisture from a load of washing often ends up as condensation and mould, especially in bedrooms and on cold walls. If you can't avoid it, dry in one room with the window slightly open or the extractor fan on, and keep the door shut. Our condensation guide covers the free fixes.
Sources we consulted
- Meaco: MeacoDry Arete One 20L specifications
- Meaco: MeacoDry Arete One 12L specifications
- Meaco: DD8L Pro specifications
- Meaco: MeacoDry Arete Two 10L specifications
- Meaco: 20L Low Energy specifications
- Meaco: MeacoDry ABC 12L specifications
- EcoAir: DD1 Simple MK3 specifications
- TechRadar: Meaco's compressor vs desiccant laundry drying test
- Expert Reviews: Meaco DD8L Pro review
- T3: Meaco DD8L Pro review
- Expert Reviews: Meaco Arete Two 20L review
- Ofgem: energy price cap
Prices change constantly, so we don’t list them here. Always check the current price, seller and delivery details on the retailer’s site before buying. If anything on this page looks wrong or out of date, tell us.
