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Best dehumidifiers in Singapore: How to choose one, deals to shop and more
Rooms feeling unbearably muggy? Walls are damp? A dehumidifier can help
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PHOTO: XIAOMI
Ken Wong
For many households in Singapore, having a dehumidifier to pull excess moisture out of the air can make a noticeable difference to their quality of life.
Singapore’s climate is famous for its heat and humidity. The air often feels heavy and sticky, making indoor spaces uncomfortable. Discomfort aside, persistent moisture encourages rapid mold and mildew growth, which can damage walls, furniture and clothing.
If you’ve been thinking about buying the home appliance and want more information, you’re in the right place. Here is a guide on what a dehumidifier does, what to look out for when choosing one and a list of best dehumidifier deals in Singapore you can buy.
In this article
What is a dehumidifier?
Are dehumidifiers worth it in Singapore?
How to choose the best dehumidifier for your home
Best dehumidifier deals in Singapore to shop now
Can I replace my aircon with a dehumidifier?
Which is better: An air purifier or a dehumidifier?
What is a dehumidifier?
A dehumidifier is a home appliance which reduces and maintains indoor humidity levels. Think of it as a giant vacuum that constantly sucks water from the surrounding air.
By pulling excess water out of the air, moisture levels are kept down and homes can feel more comfortable. Air quality is also improved as a less humid home is less conducive to mold growth and allergens.
Are dehumidifiers worth it in Singapore?
A dehumidifier can be worth it in Singapore. It can protect your health and home - but only if you use it right.
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
For example, those who dry their clothes indoors may find it difficult to do laundry during the monsoon season. Having a dehumidifier would make the air drier and warmer, speeding up the rate of your clothes drying.
Additionally, you want to place dehumidifiers in rooms with a moisture source. Think bedrooms with an ensuite toilet attached and kitchens.
If you intend to have your dehumidifier running 24/7, know that it is likely to be working over time and can consume large amounts of electricity.
How to choose the best dehumidifier for your home?
When choosing the best dehumidifier for your home, you want to consider two main factors: Extraction capacity and tank capacity.
1. Extraction capacity
Extraction capacity is how much water the dehumidifier can extract from the air over a 24-hour period. In general, the larger the capacity, the greater the area the home appliance can dehumidify.
If you are only using the dehumidifier in one room, a small dehumidifier with up to a 12-litre extraction capacity will do. For living rooms, choose one that has an extraction capacity of 15-20 litres.
2. Tank capacity
You can choose between models with a tank or dehumidifiers with a hose attached. If you select one with a tank, consider the number of times you are willing to empty the tank.
Let’s say you get a dehumidifier with a 20-litre capacity with a 4-litre tank unit - that means you’ll be emptying it about 5 times a day.
For a dehumidifier with a hose, continuous drainage occurs and you will need to ensure the water discharges directly into a floor trap.
Best dehumidifier deals in Singapore to shop now
Cornell Tabletop Dehumidifier, $47.51
Original price: $55.90 (15 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: CORNELL
Tank capacity: 600ml
Floor area of extraction capacity: Between 10-25 sq m
Looking to clear the air in a bedroom, living room, or small office spaces? Then, this Cornell CDHS600WH Tabletop Dehumidifier is ideal for creating a fresh, dry atmosphere that you can breathe easily in. It also operates at just 35 dB, so you’ll hardly notice it at all.
Philips Air Dehumidifier with Aroma Dispenser Series 3000, $474.05
Original price: $599 (21 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: PHILIPS
Tank capacity: 4 litres
Floor area of extraction capacity: Up to 63 sq m
Want to clear a room quickly? The Philips Air Dehumidifier with Aroma Dispenser Series 3000 is said to be able to lower the humidity in a room from 90 to 60 per cent in approximately 20 minutes.
Plus, according to independent studies, it can clear up to 30 litres of water a day.
Sharp (DW-D12A-W) 4L Dehumidifier, $281.27
Original price: $429 (34 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: SHARP
Tank capacity: 4 litres
Floor area of attraction capacity: Between 13-25 sq m
There are several features to like about the Sharp (DW-D12A-W) 4L Dehumidifier. First is that although it has a water tank, but it also has a hose to enable continuous water drainage.
Second, it also has a Clothes Drying Mode that uses maximum air flow to dry laundry quickly.
LG MD19GQGA1 30L PuriCare Dehumidifier, $526.24
Original price: $699 (25 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: LG
Tank capacity: 30 litres
Floor area of attraction capacity: Up to 76 sq m
Using a Dual Inverter Compressor, the LG MD19GQGA1 30L PuriCare Dehumidifier is compatible with LG’s ThinQ smart home platform.
To help you sleep well at night, even while it’s in use, it operates at only 33dB. And despite the unwieldy model name, it is the same LG Dual Inverter Dehumidifier that we reviewed previously and have rated it highly with a 9 out of 10 seal of approval.
Novita ND838i Dehumidifier, $549
Original price: $799 (31 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: NOVITA
Tank capacity: 6 litres
Floor area of extraction capacity: Up to 60 sq m
Able to cope with Singapore’s humid climate, the Novita ND838i dehumidifier helps reduce dampness, mould and musty odours when used to help dry clothes.
It features intuitive controls, quiet operation and efficient moisture removal, making it suitable for bedrooms, living spaces and daily home comfort throughout the year.
Philips Series 5000 2-in-1 Air Purifier and Dehumidifier, $597.63
Original price: $879 (32 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: PHILIPS
Tank capacity: 4 litres
Floor area of extraction capacity: Up to 104 sq m
The Philips Series 5000 2-in-1 air purifier and dehumidifier combines efficient moisture removal with advanced air purification.
Designed for humid homes, it helps reduce allergens, pollutants and dampness while maintaining comfortable humidity levels for cleaner, healthier indoor air.
Mistral ÉlanPure 5-in-1 Smart Dehumidifier, $349
Original price: $499 (30 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: MISTRAL
Tank capacity: 3 litres
Floor area of extraction capacity: Up to 32 sq m
The Mistral ÉlanPure 5-in-1 Smart Dehumidifier combines dehumidifying, air purification, drying, ionising and smart control in one unit.
Designed to sense humidity levels in a room, it helps reduce dampness, odours and airborne particles while offering app-based convenience and quiet daily operation.
Novita 2-In-1 ND26+ Dehumidifier + Air Purifier, $548
Original price: $898 (39 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: NOVITA
Tank capacity: 5 litres
Floor area of extraction capacity: Up to 60 sq m
The Novita ND26+ 2‑in‑1 reduces humidity and cleans the air. With up to 26 L of daily extraction, a brushless DC motor, HEPA or carbon filters, and an ioniser, it lets you breathe easily.
It helps reduce dampness, mould and airborne impurities while operating quietly, making it suitable for bedrooms and everyday living spaces.
Xiaomi Smart Dehumidifier, $359
Original price: $529 (32 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: XIAOMI
Tank capacity: 4.5 litres
Floor area of extraction capacity: Up to 60 sq m
The Xiaomi Smart Dehumidifier offers automatic humidity control, app connectivity and efficient moisture removal for medium-sized rooms.
With smart sensors, quiet operation and simplified design, it creates a more comfortable indoor environment while integrating with Xiaomi’s smart home ecosystem. During operation, its noise levels start from as low as 35.8dB.
HomePro DP1600 Dehumidifier and Purifier 2-in-1, $99.90
Original price: $169.90 (41 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: LAZADA
Tank capacity: 1.6 litres
Floor area of extraction capacity: Between 9-28 sq m
This is suitable for use in bedrooms due to the low noise level, thanks to the use of semiconductor refrigeration technology, with the added benefit of negative ion purification.
It’s set to stop automatically once the water tank is full, and you can also set your desired humidity level.
HomePro DHU2000 Dehumidifier, $45.90
Original price: $89 (48 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: HOMEPRO
Tank capacity: 2 litres
Floor area of extraction capacity: Between 20-30 sq m
With its compact and quiet functions, this is perfect for desktop use, allowing 500-60ml of daily moisture removal.
Energy-efficient and easy to control, it even comes with customisable lighting to add a touch of colour to your space.
KKPL +LED IP67 Dehumidifier Rod, $82
Original price: $250 (67 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: ROBINSONS
Rounding off the list is a solution that is designed specifically for closets. This rod, which is available in various lengths from 300- 900mm, offers a maintenance-free moisture removal solution for those dark, damp spaces, eliminating mould and mildew.
There’s also a safety mesh protection cover and auto-temperature sensor that cuts off at 70 deg C to prevent overheating, so just plug it in without any worries.
All prices and deals are correct at time of publication
Can I replace my aircon with a dehumidifier?
The short answer is no, you cannot replace your aircon with a dehumidifier. For optimal results, both dehumidifiers and air conditioners require you to keep your doors and windows closed.
Unlike air conditioners, dehumidifiers expels room temperature or warm air. While the dry air that comes out of your dehumidifier is more pleasant than humid air, the warm air is circulated in the closed room for hours.
The results is an uncomfortable sleeping environment, especially if you’re used to sleeping with air-conditioning. Furthermore, a dehumidifier tends to be noisier than an air conditioner, so you would have to put up with the noise, even if you can endure the heat.
That said, if you feel the air in your bedroom is musty, or your skin feels sticky and clammy even with the air conditioner at full blast, having a dehumidifier running simultaneously may help.
Which is better: An air purifier or a dehumidifier?
While both air purifiers and dehumidifiers do improve air quality, they go about it in different ways. You can use them simultaneously to improve the air quality in your home.
For example, if there is a musty smell in your home, it is likely due to mold or mildew. In this case, a dehumidifier would be more helpful as it controls moisture levels and deters mold and mildew growth.
Once the root cause of mold growth is addressed, an air purifier can come in handy to remove any lingering smells. Air purifiers only filter particles and are ideal for removing odours, dust, smoke and allergens. In the case of mold, they can filter existing mold spores.
FAQs: Best dehumidifiers in Singapore
Which brand of humidifier is the best?
You can buy some of the best dehumidifiers on the market from established brands such as Sharp, LG, Cornell, and Philips.
Does Singapore need a humidifier or dehumidifier?
Due to the high levels of humidity in Singapore year-round, a dehumidifier makes more sense. Ideally, indoor humidity levels should be kept between 30 to 50 per cent.
Where not to put a dehumidifier?
You should not place a dehumidifier near a window or door or against a wall. Avoid placing it directly in your bathroom too.
This story was adapted from HardwareZone.
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