Devola 12L Compressor Dehumidifier DV12L review: a compact dehumidifier perfect for small spaces

Price on writing: £130 | Buy now from Devola and Amazon

How I tested

I used this dehumidifier over the course of a damp February in a cold corner of my single-glazed sitting room, where condensation is usually a constant battle. I also tested it on a full indoor load of laundry to see whether the dedicated mode sped up drying time. I ran it across different settings, including auto and sleep, and paid attention to how often the tank needed emptying.

Related: Best dehumidifiers

My verdict

This is a practical, no-fuss dehumidifier that does exactly what a small-space model should. It’s easy to live with, simple to control and effective at reducing everyday damp and condensation.

Set-up is simple and the dehumidifier comes mostly ready to go, so it’s a case of positioning it, plugging it in and choosing a mode. The controls are clear and intuitive, and once set up it gets on with the job relatively quietly.

It made a noticeable difference in a damp corner of my sitting room, which is no small achievement given the single glazing and February weather. The humidity control and auto mode mean you can more or less leave it to get on with things once it’s set.

When pitted against a full load of laundry, however, it didn't speed up drying like a larger, more powerful model like the Meaco Arete One does. While they're both 12l models, the Meaco has a more powerful fan, making it better suited to drying laundry.

In the right setting, the Devola 12l dehumidifier's size works in its favour. It's best suited to clearing damp and condensation in small rooms, so its compact size means it won't take up too much floor space.

For bedrooms, small living spaces or targeted damp problems, it’s a solid, affordable option. However when it comes to heavy-duty use or laundry drying, it’s not designed to handle these jobs.

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Is the Devola 12l Dehumidifier good for drying laundry?

I tested the dehumidifier with a full load of washing on an airer with a pedestal fan directing air towards the dehumdifier. The laundry mode definitely pulls moisture out of the air, and the room felt less heavy and damp compared to leaving clothes to dry unaided. That alone makes it worthwhile if you’re trying to avoid damp settling on your walls and the lingering musty smell of drying laundry indoors.

The limitation is power. It doesn’t have the capacity to speed up drying full load like a more powerful unit, especially thicker items like towels or jeans.

Where it works well is smaller loads or as a boost alongside normal air drying. If you regularly dry washing indoors but don’t have space or budget for a bigger machine, it’s a helpful middle ground rather than a complete solution.

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Does the Devola 12l Dehumidifier offer good value for money?

At around £130, this sits in budget territory for a compressor dehumidifier. You’re getting core functionality without extras you’ll never use, and it covers the basics well.

Compared with larger 20L or 25L models, which cost more upfront but handle bigger spaces and laundry loads more efficiently, this feels like a sensible choice for smaller homes or specific problem areas. If you’re dealing with one damp room rather than an entire house, it’s a more proportionate spend.

About the author

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She researches and reviews the products Mumsnetters swear by, with a particular focus on home essentials like steam irons, vacuum cleaners and heated throws.

From a highly recommended retractable washing line to the best quiet fans money can buy, and Mumsnet's favourite dehumidifier to the steam generator iron that'll cut your ironing time in half, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the very best products on the market.