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Short answer: in a flat, look for a compressor model of 10 to 12 litres with a laundry mode, a tank you will not empty three times a day, and a weight you can carry. In our list that means models such as the Pro Breeze OmniDry 10L (£94.99, 160 W, 6.95 kg) or the Meaco Arete One 10L (£159.99, 151 W, from 35 dB). Drying a load costs about 24p if it takes 6 hours [calc].
What to read on the spec sheet
- Laundry mode. Named on the page for every Meaco, Ebac and EcoAir compressor model we list, and for the Pro Breeze OmniDry and 20L models. Pro Breeze's 6L and 12L Compact pages describe a "continuous drying mode" instead.
- Tank. Washing puts a lot of water in the air at once. Tanks run from 1.7 litres (OmniDry 10L) to 5.5 litres (Pro Breeze 20L Premium and Max Extraction). Most models also take a hose for continuous drainage if you have a sink or drain nearby.
- Weight. In a flat you may move it between bedroom and bathroom: the OmniDry 10L weighs 6.95 kg, the Arete One 10L 11.3 kg, a 20-litre model 12 to 15 kg.
- Noise. Laundry modes run the fan at full speed, so the "from" figure is the quietest setting, not the laundry one. See the quietest models.
- Temperature. A heated flat suits a compressor model. Below about 15°C, extraction drops (see compressor vs desiccant).
Models with a laundry mode, cheapest to run first
| Model | Extraction (as published) | Power | Per hour [calc] | Noise | Tank | Price (Nov 14) | Seller |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meaco Arete One 10L | 10 L/day (30°C, 80% RH) | 151 W | 4.0p | from 35 dB(A) | 2.5 L | £159.99 | Meaco UK store |
| Meaco Arete One 12L | 12 L/day (30°C, 80% RH) | 151 W | 4.0p | from 35 dB(A) | 2.5 L | £179.99 | Meaco UK store |
| Meaco Arete Two 10L | 10 L/day (30°C, 80% RH) | 152 W | 4.0p | from 35 dB(A) | 2.5 L | £179.99 | Meaco UK store |
| Meaco Arete Two 12L | 12 L/day (30°C, 80% RH) | 155 W | 4.1p | from 35 dB(A) | 2.5 L | £194.99 | B&Q |
| Meaco 12L Low Energy | 12 L/day (30°C, 80% RH) | 157 W | 4.1p | from 41 dB(A) | 2.5 L | £177.99 | B&Q |
| Pro Breeze OmniDry 10L | 10 L/day (conditions not published) | 160 W | 4.2p | from 38 dB(A) | 1.7 L | £94.99 | Pro Breeze store |
| Meaco MeacoDry ABC 10L | 10 L/day (30°C, 80% RH) | 165 W | 4.3p | from 36 dB(A) | 2.6 L | £129.99 | Meaco UK store |
| Meaco MeacoDry ABC 12L | 12 L/day (30°C, 80% RH) | 165 W | 4.3p | from 36 dB(A) | 2.6 L | £149.99 | Meaco UK store |
| Pro Breeze OmniDry 12L | 12 L/day (conditions not published) | 180 W | 4.7p | from 36 dB(A) | 2 L | £109.99 | Pro Breeze store |
| EcoAir Summit S | 12 L/day (conditions not published) | 156 to 180 W | 4.7p | from 36 dB(A) | 2 L | £149.94 | EcoAir store |
How we compare: criteria, sources and dates
The cost of a load, worked out
At 26.32p per kWh, six hours of drying costs [calc]: Meaco Arete One 10L or 12L (151 W), 23.8p; Pro Breeze OmniDry 10L (160 W), 25.3p; Pro Breeze OmniDry 20L (270 W), 42.6p. A vented tumble dryer cycle, on the label of the Candy CSO V8DF-80, uses about 3.63 kWh: 95p. Change the hours and the dryer on the dehumidifier vs tumble dryer calculator.
Why it matters
The UK government's guidance on damp and mould in the home (updated 1 April 2026, for England) states that "damp and mould primarily affect the airways and lungs, but they can also affect the eyes and skin" (gov.uk). That guidance is written for landlords and housing providers, which is useful to know if you rent. A dehumidifier deals with the moisture in the air; it does not fix a leak or a ventilation fault.
All models side by side: the comparison.
Frequently asked questions
What size dehumidifier do I need to dry clothes in a flat?
The makers' own guides put the 10 to 12 litre class at flats and homes of up to two or three bedrooms (Meaco: Arete One 10L "up to 2 bedrooms", 12L "up to 3 bedrooms"; Ebac 2150e: "1 to 2 bedrooms"). Pro Breeze rates its OmniDry 10L for rooms up to 12 m² and its 12L models up to 20 m². For washing, a laundry mode matters more than the litres: it runs the machine at full power until you stop it.
How much does it cost to dry a load of washing with a dehumidifier?
Watts times hours times your unit rate. A 151 W Meaco Arete One 12L running 6 hours uses 0.91 kWh, about 24p at 26.32p per kWh; a 160 W Pro Breeze OmniDry 10L, about 25p [calc]. The drying time is our assumption: no product page we read publishes one.