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Dehumidifier Size Calculator
Enter your space, its size and how damp it gets. Get the pints per day you need, on the 2019 rating listings now use, the drain setup that fits, and units with their monthly running cost.
Updated Oct 13, 2026
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- See the math behind every number
- Get models that actually fit
Every dehumidifier this tool can recommend
Sorted by pints per day on the 2019 DOE test. Coverage and wattage come from each listing or maker page.
Midea Cube 35 Pint Dehumidifier
- ENERGY STAR
- Wi-Fi
- 35 pints/day
- 3,500 sq ft
+3 moreFewer
- 2019 DOE 35 pint class
- 4.2 gal bucket
- Drain hose
A 35 pint Energy Star unit (Midea lists it as similar to a 50 pint 2012 DOE rating, so 35 pints on the 2019 DOE test) rated for 3,500 sq ft, with a 4.2 gallon bucket and Wi-Fi.
- 4.2 gallon bucket, up to 3X a conventional tank
- Wi-Fi app plus Alexa and Google Assistant
- Energy Star, humidity set from 35 to 85%
- Gravity drain hose only, no built-in pump
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
GE 35 Pint Dehumidifier
- 35 pints/day
- 3,000 sq ft
- 30 to 70% humidistat
- Auto defrost
+1 moreFewer
- Auto restart
A 35 pint portable rated for 3,000 sq ft, with Smart Dry fan control, three fan speeds, auto defrost and auto restart after a power outage.
- Auto restart keeps settings after an outage
- Smart Dry adjusts fan speed to room humidity
- Drain hose connection plus 8.5 pint bucket
- 8.5 pint bucket fills about 4 times a day at full output
- No Wi-Fi listed
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
AlorAir Helios D35 Energy Star Crawlspace Dehumidifier (70 PPD at saturation)
- ENERGY STAR
- 35 pints/day
- 1,000 sq ft
- 70 pints at saturation
+3 moreFewer
- Auto defrost
- Under 52 dB
- 6-year warranty
A compact crawl space unit rated 35 pints a day at AHAM conditions and 70 at saturation, for spaces up to 1,000 sq ft, with auto defrost for cold spaces.
- Auto defrost for cold crawl spaces
- Runs below 52 dB per the maker
- 6-year limited warranty, first 2 years full
- Rated for 1,000 sq ft, far below portable claims
- Gravity drain hose, no pump
$250 to $500, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
70pints per day at saturation
AlorAir Sentinel HD35P (built-in pump)
- ENERGY STAR
- 35 pints/day
- 1,000 sq ft
- Built-in pump
+1 moreFewer
- Auto defrost
Low-profile crawl space and basement unit with a condensate pump, 70 pints a day at saturation.
- Built-in pump, drains up and out
- Low profile for crawl spaces
- Energy Star
- Sold on AlorAir's store, not Amazon
About $466 at AlorAir, checked Oct 16, 2026
Check price at AlorAirPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Show all 11 modelsShow fewer
Midea Cube 50 Pint Dehumidifier
- ENERGY STAR
- Wi-Fi
- 50 pints/day
- 4,500 sq ft
+2 moreFewer
- 4.2 gal bucket
- Drain hose
A 50 pint Energy Star unit rated for 4,500 sq ft, with the same 4.2 gallon bucket, drain hose and Wi-Fi as the 35 pint Cube.
- 50 pints a day, rated for 4,500 sq ft
- 4.2 gallon bucket, or continuous drain hose
- Wi-Fi app plus Alexa and Google Assistant
- No built-in pump; the hose needs a drain below the unit
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
GE 50 Pint Dehumidifier
- 50 pints/day
- 5,000 sq ft
- 15 pint bucket
- Drain hose
+1 moreFewer
- Smart Dry
A 50 pint portable rated for spaces up to 5,000 sq ft, with Smart Dry fan control, a 15 pint bucket and a drain hose connection.
- Rated for spaces up to 5,000 sq ft
- 15 pint bucket or continuous drain
- Filter-clean reminder and bucket-full alarm
- No built-in pump in this version
- Humidistat range is 30 to 70%
$250 to $500, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Frigidaire 50 Pint Dehumidifier with Built-In Pump
- 50 pints/day
- Built-in pump
- Washable filter
- Humidity control
A 50 pint basement dehumidifier with a built-in pump, so water can be pushed up to a sink or out a window instead of needing a floor drain.
- Built-in pump, no floor drain needed
- Washable filter
- Adjustable humidity control
- Listing does not state a coverage area
$250 to $500, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
hOmeLabs 50 Pint Dehumidifier
- Wi-Fi
- 50 pints/day
- 7,000 sq ft
- 120 pints at 95 F, 90% RH
+1 moreFewer
- 188 to 218 CFM
Rated 50 pints a day at 80 F and 60% humidity (the older test condition, not the 2019 DOE 65 F test) and 120 pints at 95 F and 90%, for spaces up to 7,000 sq ft, with Wi-Fi.
- Wi-Fi control from an app
- Turbo mode raises airflow from 188 to 218 CFM
- Wheels and handles, auto shutoff when the tank is full
- Rated at 80 F, so not comparable to 2019 DOE pints
- Drain outlet provided but hose not included
$250 to $500, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
AlorAir Sentinel HD55S 120 PPD Crawlspace Dehumidifier
- ENERGY STAR
- 55 pints/day
- 1,300 sq ft
- 120 pints at saturation
+3 moreFewer
- Metal housing
- Auto defrost
- 6-year warranty
An Energy Star crawl space and basement unit in a metal housing, rated 55 pints a day at AHAM conditions and 120 at saturation, for spaces up to 1,300 sq ft.
- 55 pints AHAM, 120 pints at saturation
- Metal housing, auto defrost, low-temperature operation
- 6-year limited warranty, first 2 years full
- Gravity drain only, no pump in this model
- No bucket; it must drain to a hose
$500 to $1,000, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Santa Fe Ultra70 Whole House Dehumidifier
- 70 pints/day
- Whole house, ducted
- MERV-13 filter
- Vertical or horizontal discharge
A compact ventilating whole-house dehumidifier that removes up to 70 pints a day, filters to MERV-13 and can be ducted for a small home, condo, basement or crawl space.
- Up to 70 pints a day, MERV-13 filtration
- Converts between vertical and horizontal discharge
- Built for low-clearance installs
- Several times the cost of a portable
- Ducted installs usually need an HVAC contractor
$1,000 to $2,000, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
100pints per day (AHAM)
AlorAir Sentinel HDi100 (100 pints AHAM, pump)
- 100 pints/day
- 2,900 sq ft
- Built-in pump
- Remote control
+1 moreFewer
- 5-year warranty
Whole-home basement and crawl space unit, 100 pints a day at AHAM, up to 2,900 sq ft, built-in pump.
- 100 pints a day at AHAM
- Covers up to 2,900 sq ft
- Built-in pump with remote control
- Sold on AlorAir's store, not Amazon
About $1,399 at AlorAir, checked Oct 16, 2026
Check price at AlorAirPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Some of these links pay us a commission and some do not; each card says which. Commissions do not affect which models the tool picks or how it ranks them. See our disclosure.
How this calculator works
- Pints per day. The AHAM chart by floor area (500 to 3,000 sq ft) and dampness, from damp to standing water, with linear steps in between.
- Rating. We apply the chart to 2019 DOE ratings, which are lower for the same machine, so the result has headroom.
- Fit. Crawlspaces get low-profile units only. "Must drain up" needs a built-in pump; a floor drain needs a continuous drain port.
- Cost. Rated watts x hours a day x 30 x your state's average residential rate. AlorAir publishes amps, not watts, so we use amps x 115 V. Where a maker publishes neither, that unit shows no running cost.
Worked examples
1,000 sq ft basement that always smells musty
- Basement, 1,000 sq ft
- Very damp: musty smell, damp spots
- Floor drain nearby
17 pints a day. A 20 to 35 pint (2019 rating) unit with a hose to the floor drain.
The AHAM chart puts a very damp 1,000 sq ft space at 17 pints a day. Any unit rated 20 pints or more under the 2019 DOE test covers it, and a continuous drain hose lets it run without emptying the bucket.
2,000 sq ft basement with wet spots, no drain
- Basement, 2,000 sq ft
- Wet: sweating pipes, wet spots
- Has to drain up to a laundry sink
32 pints a day. A 35 to 50 pint unit with a built-in pump.
The chart gives 32 pints a day. At that rate a bucket fills about every 12 hours in humid weather, so a pump model that pushes water up to the laundry sink is the practical choice.
500 sq ft bedroom, damp in summer
- Room, 500 sq ft
- Musty in humid weather
- Bucket, 8 hours a day, US average rate
10 pints a day. A small 20 pint unit covers it, about $15 a month to run.
10 pints a day is the chart's smallest size, so any 20 pint (2019) unit has headroom. At about 300 W for 8 hours a day that is 2.4 kWh, about $12 to $15 a month at 17.3 cents.
Frequently asked questions
What size dehumidifier do I need for my basement?
Most basements need 20 to 35 pints a day on the current 2019 DOE rating. The AHAM chart gives 17 pints for a very damp 1,000 sq ft basement and 32 pints for a wet 2,000 sq ft one. Size up a step if it has standing water or seepage.
What size dehumidifier do I need for 1,500 sq ft?
18 pints a day if it is only damp in humid weather, 22 if it always smells musty, and 26 if it has wet spots. A 35 pint (2019) unit covers 1,500 sq ft in every case short of standing water.
What is the difference between 2012 and 2019 dehumidifier pint ratings?
The DOE changed the test in 2019 from 80 F and 60% humidity to 65 F and 60%, closer to a real basement. The same machine now removes fewer pints on paper: the old 70 pint class is sold as 50 pint and the old 50 as 35. Compare models on the same standard.
What humidity should my basement be?
Keep it between 30 and 50%, the range the EPA recommends to limit mold, and under 60% at most. Set the dehumidifier to about 45 to 50% and let it cycle.
How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier?
Watts x hours x your rate. A 500 W unit running 12 hours a day uses 6 kWh, about $1.04 a day or $31 a month at the US average of 17.3 cents. ENERGY STAR units remove the same water with about 15% less energy.
Should I run my dehumidifier all the time?
Leave it on with the humidistat set to 45 to 50%. It turns the compressor on and off by itself, so it only runs as much as the space needs. In winter many basements stay dry enough to turn it off.
Is a bigger dehumidifier better?
A bit bigger is better: it dries faster, cycles less and is not running flat out all summer. Too small is the common mistake, since an undersized unit runs nonstop and never reaches the set humidity.
Do I need a dehumidifier with a pump?
Only if the water has to go up or out, to a sink, a window or a drain above the floor. With a floor drain or sump nearby, a gravity hose on the continuous drain port works. Otherwise you empty a 1.5 to 2 gallon bucket by hand.
What dehumidifier is best for a crawlspace?
A low-profile crawlspace unit rated to work in cool air, usually 55 to 120 pints with a built-in pump or a drain. Seal the vents and lay a vapor barrier first, or the unit spends all summer drying outside air.
Does a dehumidifier help with mold?
It prevents new mold by keeping humidity under 50 to 60%, but does not remove mold that is already there. Clean existing mold and fix leaks or seepage first, then use the dehumidifier to keep it from coming back.
Marcus Reed
Founder and Editor, CrunchYourDollars
Marcus Reed builds the sizing tools on CrunchYourDollars. He is a software engineer with a long-running PC hardware and power supply habit, which is where the watts, watt-hours and surge math on this site comes from. Product specs are pulled from manufacturer data sheets, electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and water chemistry rules from the Water Quality Association. He is not a licensed electrician or plumber: the tools show the math and the matching models so you can make the call, and anything involving your electrical panel should be checked by a licensed pro.
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