In stockMeaco MeacoDry Arete One 12L Review
If you only need to dehumidify one room — most commonly a bedroom prone to condensation on the windows — the MeacoDry Arete One 12L is the size and quietness level UK reviewers and Meaco's own sizing guide point to first.
Our verdict: The best dehumidifier for a bedroom or a flat — quiet enough to sleep next to, backed by the same 5-year warranty as Meaco's bigger models, at a noticeably lower price.
Performance profile
- Extraction power5%
- Quietness93%
- Tank capacity5%
- Value for money11%
Compare with 2 other dehumidifiers — click a card to overlay it on the radar.
Meaco MeacoDry Arete Two 20L
£299.00
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Read the full review →
Pro Breeze 500ml Premium Mini Dehumidifier
£34.99
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Read the full review →Full specifications
About Meaco
The Arete One is the simpler sibling to the Arete Two range: same 5-year warranty, same HEPA H13 air purifier built in, same laundry mode for drying clothes indoors, but with a smaller footprint, a lower price, and — notably — an even quieter minimum volume than the bigger unit, since it doesn't need to move as much air.
Meaco sizes the 12L for flats and houses up to three bedrooms when used in a single room, which matches how most UK buyers actually search for it: 'dehumidifier for bedroom' and 'small dehumidifier UK' are two of the highest-volume searches in this category, and this is the product both point to.
Who it's for, and how to use it in your home
For a bedroom, run it in Smart Humidity mode targeting 50-55% and switch on Night Mode before bed — this dims the display and drops the fan to its quietest 35dB setting, which most owners describe as no louder than a fridge on its lowest hum.
For drying a small load of laundry (a single airer's worth), the laundry mode runs for six hours before automatically switching off. It won't dry as fast as the 20L Arete Two on a full multi-airer load, but for one or two items overnight it's more than adequate and considerably cheaper to run at 3p/hour.
The 2.5L tank is smaller than the Arete Two's, so in a genuinely humid room expect to empty it every 1-2 days rather than every 3-4.
Pros
- ✓ One of the quietest compressor dehumidifiers…
- ✓ 5-year warranty matches the bigger Arete Two
- ✓ Compact enough for a small bedroom…
- ✓ Laundry mode and night mode both…
- ✓ Hidden castors and a carry handle…
Cons
- ✕ 12L a day won't keep up…
- ✕ Only 2 fan speeds versus 3…
- ✕ Smaller 2.5L tank needs emptying more…
Pros and cons in detail
What we like
- One of the quietest compressor dehumidifiers you can buy at 35dB on its lowest setting
- 5-year warranty matches the bigger Arete Two, unusually generous for this size
- Compact enough for a small bedroom or flat without dominating the room
- Laundry mode and night mode both included despite the lower price than the 20L
- Hidden castors and a carry handle make it easy to move between rooms
Points to watch for
- 12L a day won't keep up in a genuinely damp 3+ bedroom house
- Only 2 fan speeds versus 3 on the Arete Two, and no LCD 'chase' display
- Smaller 2.5L tank needs emptying more often than larger units when working hard
What UK buyers say
Reviewers buying this for a single bedroom or a flat consistently describe it as genuinely quiet enough to sleep next to — the most repeated phrase across ratings is some version of "I forget it's on." The main complaint from a minority of owners is that 12L/day isn't enough for a larger, genuinely damp house; several reviews explicitly recommend the bigger Arete Two for that use case instead. Praise for the 5-year warranty and build quality comes up almost as often as the noise level.
Our detailed scoring
Our verdict: 4.6/5
Buy the Arete One 12L if your main problem is one damp bedroom, a flat, or condensation on windows, and quiet overnight running matters more than raw extraction power. If you need to cover a whole house or dry laundry regularly and quickly, step up to the Meaco Arete Two 20L.
Check price on Amazon.co.uk — £179.99Frequently asked questions
Is the Arete One 12L enough for condensation on bedroom windows?+
Yes — this is precisely the problem Meaco designed it for. Run it overnight in Smart Humidity mode and most owners report windows are dry within a few nights of consistent use.
How quiet is it really?+
35dB on the lowest setting, which is genuinely close to silent — most reviewers describe it as a gentle hum they stop noticing after the first night, though a small number of light sleepers do notice it.
Can it dry a full wash load like the bigger models?+
It can, but slower than the 20L Arete Two — expect closer to 8-10 hours for a full airer versus 4-6 hours on the bigger unit. For occasional single items it's fine; for a household that dries laundry indoors every week, the 20L pays for itself faster.
Does the smaller tank mean more emptying?+
Yes, the 2.5L tank fills faster than the Arete Two's larger tank when working hard in a very damp room, so expect to empty it roughly every 1-2 days rather than every 3-4.
Alternatives worth comparing
In stockMeaco MeacoDry Arete Two 20L
The best all-round dehumidifier for a UK home battling condensation, damp or slow-drying laundry. If budget allows, this is the one we'd buy first.
In stockPro Breeze 500ml Premium Mini Dehumidifier
The best budget dehumidifier for a small bathroom, wardrobe or caravan — not a replacement for a full-size unit, but excellent value for light, localised condensation control.
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11 dehumidifiers compared · Amazon.co.uk prices checked August 2026
Meaco MeacoDry Arete One 12L
£179.99