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Short answer: the lowest noise figures published in our list are 32 dB (Meaco Arete One 6L, EcoAir DD1 Mini on low). At 10 litres a day or more, Meaco's Arete One 10L and 12L publish "from 35 dB" and draw 151 W, about 32p for eight hours at full power [calc]. No model is silent, and every figure is for the quietest setting.
The quietest published figures
Models in stock on November 14, sorted by the noise figure each maker publishes, then by price.
| Model | Type | Noise | Extraction (as published) | Power | Per hour [calc] | Price (Nov 14) | Seller |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meaco Arete One 6L | Compressor | from 32 dB(A) | 6 L/day (30°C, 80% RH) | 101 W | 2.7p | £125.99 | B&Q |
| EcoAir DD1 Mini | Desiccant | from 32 dB(A) | 6 L/day (20°C, 60% RH) | 270 to 442 W | 11.6p | £179.94 | EcoAir store |
| EcoAir Piccola | Desiccant | from 33 dB(A) | 5 L/day (20°C, 60% RH) | 200 to 320 W | 8.4p | £199.98 | EcoAir store |
| EcoAir DD1 Simple MK3 | Desiccant | from 34 dB(A) | 7.5 L/day (20°C, 60% RH) | 300 to 580 W | 15.3p | £199.98 | EcoAir store |
| EcoAir DD1 Classic MK6 | Desiccant | from 34 dB(A) | 7.5 L/day (20°C, 60% RH) | 300 to 580 W | 15.3p | £229.98 | EcoAir store |
| Meaco Arete One 10L | Compressor | from 35 dB(A) | 10 L/day (30°C, 80% RH) | 151 W | 4.0p | £159.99 | Meaco UK store |
| Meaco Arete Two 10L | Compressor | from 35 dB(A) | 10 L/day (30°C, 80% RH) | 152 W | 4.0p | £179.99 | Meaco UK store |
| Meaco Arete One 12L | Compressor | from 35 dB(A) | 12 L/day (30°C, 80% RH) | 151 W | 4.0p | £179.99 | Meaco UK store |
| Meaco Arete Two 12L | Compressor | from 35 dB(A) | 12 L/day (30°C, 80% RH) | 155 W | 4.1p | £194.99 | B&Q |
| Pro Breeze OmniDry 12L | Compressor | from 36 dB(A) | 12 L/day (conditions not published) | 180 W | 4.7p | £109.99 | Pro Breeze store |
| Meaco MeacoDry ABC 10L | Compressor | from 36 dB(A) | 10 L/day (30°C, 80% RH) | 165 W | 4.3p | £129.99 | Meaco UK store |
| EcoAir Summit S | Compressor | from 36 dB(A) | 12 L/day (conditions not published) | 156 to 180 W | 4.7p | £149.94 | EcoAir store |
| Meaco MeacoDry ABC 12L | Compressor | from 36 dB(A) | 12 L/day (30°C, 80% RH) | 165 W | 4.3p | £149.99 | Meaco UK store |
| Pro Breeze OmniDry 20L | Compressor | from 36 dB(A) | 20 L/day (conditions not published) | 270 W | 7.1p | £159.99 | Pro Breeze store |
How we compare: criteria, sources and dates
How to read a decibel figure
- "From": Meaco writes "From 35 dB", EcoAir gives two figures ("34/46 dB(A)" for the DD1 Classic, low and high). We keep the lower one, as published, so the table compares quietest settings.
- No method: none of the pages we read says at what distance or under which standard the figure was measured. Treat close figures as equal.
- The scale is logarithmic: 10 dB more is usually heard as about twice as loud, so 35 against 46 dB is a big gap; 35 against 36 is not.
- Awards: Meaco says its range holds eight Quiet Mark awards (its Awin profile) and Pro Breeze describes the OmniDry 20L as "Quiet Mark certified". These are the makers' statements.
Compressor or desiccant at night?
EcoAir's desiccant models publish some of the lowest figures (32 to 34 dB(A) on low) but draw 200 to 300 W on that setting, against 151 W for a Meaco Arete One 10L. Eight hours on low cost 57p (DD1 Mini) to 63p (DD1 Classic) at 26.32p per kWh, against 32p for the Meaco [calc]. In a cold bedroom, the desiccant's extra heat and better cold performance can be worth it: see compressor vs desiccant.
Running it overnight? Should a dehumidifier run all night works out the cost. Check any model on the running cost calculator or compare them all on the comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Is there such a thing as a silent dehumidifier?
Not among the 47 models we compared. The lowest published figures are 32 dB for the Meaco Arete One 6L (compressor) and 32 dB(A) for the EcoAir DD1 Mini (desiccant, low setting). Every figure is the quietest setting; the laundry or high setting is louder, and makers do not publish it.
What is the quietest dehumidifier for a bedroom?
On published figures, and at 10 litres a day or more: Meaco's Arete One 10L and 12L and Arete Two 10L and 12L, "from 35 dB". Pro Breeze publishes 36 dB for the OmniDry 12L and 20L. Below 10 litres, the Meaco Arete One 6L (from 32 dB) and EcoAir's small desiccants (32 to 34 dB(A) on low).
Can I compare decibel figures between brands?
Only roughly. No maker in our list publishes the distance or method of its measurement, and some figures say "from". A difference of 1 or 2 dB on paper tells you little; 35 against 46 dB is a real gap.