What size dehumidifier do you need?
Pick your space and how damp it feels. The answer uses the ENERGY STAR sizing chart, which is based on the current pint ratings (the 65F test that started in 2019 and 2020).
| Condition before dehumidifying | Room under 2,000 sq ft (pints/day) | Space over 2,000 sq ft (pints/day) |
|---|---|---|
| Slightly to moderately damp feels damp, musty odor at times; about 50 to 75% RH | 20 to 30 | 30+ |
| Very damp always feels and smells damp, damp spots on walls or floor; about 75 to 90% RH | 25 to 40 | 40+ |
| Wet walls or floor sweat, seepage, laundry drying; about 90 to 100% RH | 30 to 50 | 50+ |
Source: ENERGY STAR dehumidifier buying guidance. ENERGY STAR adds: "it's better to oversize than undersize."
Buying guides
Best dehumidifiers10 top rated picks for basements, bedrooms, crawl spaces and tight budgets.Basement dehumidifiers9 picks for damp, large and finished basements, with pumps and low-temp options.Dehumidifiers with pump8 self-draining picks that pump water to a sink or out a window.Crawl space dehumidifiersAlorAir, Santa Fe and Aprilaire compared: pumps, low-temp ratings and sizing.Whole house dehumidifiersDucted Aprilaire and Santa Fe systems vs large portables, with costs.Energy efficient dehumidifiersRanked by official ENERGY STAR test data, with estimated yearly running cost.Dehumidifiers for moldKeep humidity under 50% in basements, bathrooms and closets so mold cannot return.Bathroom dehumidifiersMini, small, cordless and no-power picks for steamy bathrooms, plus safety rules.Bedroom dehumidifiersSmall, quiet picks you can sleep next to, plus ideal bedroom humidity.Garage dehumidifiersLow-temp, wall mounted and no-power picks for garages, shops, attics and sheds.Small dehumidifiersMini, compact and 30 pint picks for small rooms, closets and kitchens.Car dehumidifiersReusable silica bags and absorbers that stop foggy windows, and the truth about 12V units.Dehumidifier + air purifier2-in-1 dehumidifier air purifier units vs buying two machines, Dyson and LG answered.Cheap dehumidifiersBudget picks by price tier, and what you give up with a cheap dehumidifier.Dehumidifier for allergiesHow humidity drives dust mites and mold, and the picks that keep a home under 50%.Portable AC dehumidifierPortable AC units with a real dry mode, and when a dedicated dehumidifier is the better buy.70 pint dehumidifiersWhat a 70 pint label means today, plus large, heavy duty and 100 pint picks.50 pint dehumidifiersMidea, Frigidaire, GE, Hisense, Honeywell and hOmeLabs 50 pint models head to head.Battery operated dehumidifiersWhat cordless dehumidifiers really are, how the Eva-Dry works, and the best rechargeable picks.Non electric dehumidifiersHanging bags, refillable tubs, closet boxes and homemade options, and what they can realistically do.Commercial dehumidifiersCommercial and industrial units for big basements, job sites and warehouses, and how their ratings compare.Desiccant dehumidifiersHow desiccant dehumidifiers work, when they beat a compressor, and the best cold-room picks.RV dehumidifiersCompact units for campers on hookups, absorbers for storage, and the truth about 12V dehumidifiers.Quiet dehumidifiersThe quietest models backed by independent measurements, silent options and ways to cut the noise.Smart dehumidifiersWi-Fi dehumidifiers with apps, voice control and pumps, plus Midea Wi-Fi setup steps.Gun safe dehumidifiersRods, rechargeable desiccants and gun room dehumidifiers, plus the humidity your safe should sit at.Wall mounted dehumidifiersIn-wall, on-wall and ceiling-hung units that free up floor space and drain on their own.LGR dehumidifiersWhat LGR means, and Dri-Eaz, Phoenix and AlorAir units for flood and water damage drying.Grow room dehumidifiersTent-sized AC Infinity units, room and greenhouse picks, and humidity targets by growth stage.
Humidity guides and brand reviews
Ideal basement humidityTarget levels for summer and winter, what 60% and 70% mean, and how to fix it.Midea Cube reviewIs the 50 pint Cube worth it? Specs, measured noise, pump and app, vs Frigidaire and GE.Dehumidifier for condensationWhy windows get wet, what size dehumidifier fixes it, and other fixes.Frigidaire reviewEvery current Frigidaire model, the older FFAD5033W1, drain setup and error codes.Black Friday dealsThe models worth watching this Black Friday and how to spot a real deal.Aprilaire reviewE070, E080, E100 and E130 compared, plus the older 1830 and 1850 and how Aprilaire stacks up against Santa Fe.Hisense reviewThe current 35 and 50 pint Hisense models, the older DH7019KP1WG, and how they compare to Midea and Frigidaire.GE reviewGE's current 35 and 50 pint models, the APEL50LZ pump unit, recall history and how GE compares.Santa Fe reviewCompact70, Ultra70, Advance90, Advance Dry110 and Classic compared, plus Santa Fe vs AlorAir vs Aprilaire.Whole house dehumidifier costWhat you will pay for the unit, the install and the electricity, with brand price tiers.Honeywell reviewThe classic TP70WKN, the current TP-Fit 50 pint and pump models, and who actually makes them.hOmeLabs reviewEvery current hOmeLabs model, what its pint ratings really mean, and how it compares to Midea.Dehumidifier in summer vs winterWhen to run a dehumidifier each season, the best settings, and how to pair it with AC or heat.Hisense E9 errorWhat Hisense E9 most likely means, safe fixes, and Frigidaire F0 and other common codes.Dehumidifier running costsCost per hour, day and month by wattage and size, a calculator, and ways to cut the bill.Dehumidifier makes room hotWhy dehumidifiers blow warm air, how much heat is normal, and six ways to keep the room cool.Dehumidifier freezing upWhy coils ice over, how to fix each cause, and the low-temperature models that avoid it.Where to buy a dehumidifierReturn windows, price matching and brands at Home Depot, Lowe's, Costco, Best Buy and Amazon.Quest 225 reviewQuest 155, 225, 335, 506 and Hi-E Dry 195 compared on capacity, efficiency and power.Danby reviewDanby's current 50 pint models, the Premiere line, and what every button and light means.Sanidry reviewWhat the SaniDry Sedona is, what it costs, and the similar-capacity units you can buy yourself.
Why a "50 pint" dehumidifier used to be called "70 pint"
In 2019 the U.S. Department of Energy changed how dehumidifiers are tested: capacity is now measured at 65F instead of 80F. Cooler air holds less water, so the same machine now gets a smaller number on the box. That is why older reviews and forum threads talk about "70 pint" models while today's shelves top out at "50 pint" for most portables.
| Old rating (80F test, through 2019) | Approximate new rating (65F test, 2020 on) |
|---|---|
| 30 | 20 |
| 40 | 25 |
| 50 | 30 |
| 55 | 30 to 35 |
| 60 | 35 |
| 70 | 40 to 45 |
| 90 | 55 |
Source: ENERGY STAR, Dehumidifier Testing and Capacity, which calls this "a rough correlation" that varies by model. Some makers label their own conversions differently: Honeywell and Hisense, for example, market former 70-pint models as 50 pints under the 2019 standard.
What humidity should your home be?
| Relative humidity | Rating | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Below 30% | Too dry for most homes | Dry skin and static; wood can shrink. Turn the dehumidifier off or raise the setpoint. |
| 30 to 50% | Target range | EPA's recommended range for homes. Mold and dust mites struggle to grow. |
| 50 to 60% | Watch zone | Dust mites do better above 50%. Fine for short periods, not as an average. |
| Above 60% | Too humid | EPA says keep indoor humidity below 60% to limit mold growth. Run a dehumidifier. |
| 70% and up | High risk | Musty smells, condensation and mold growth on cool surfaces become likely. |
Sources: EPA Mold Course, Chapter 2 ("below 60 percent, ideally between 30 percent and 50 percent"); ENERGY STAR ("The optimum RH level for a building is generally considered to be between 30% and 50%").
More detail: ideal basement humidity by season.