Choosing a model that is the right capacity (size) is paramount when buying a dehumidifier. They come in a wide variety of sizes, which can make selecting the right one for your living space confusing. So let’s discuss the basics of dehumidifier size so you can choose the best dehumidifier for your home.
Table of Contents
Do I Need a dehumidifier?
When contemplating buying one for the first time most people will first ask themselves; do I really need a dehumidifier? For most of us, the answer is usually yes.
High humidity can damage furniture, clothing, electronics, and wallpaper. It can make many areas of your home unbearable and/or unhealthy. In rooms, such as laundry rooms and basements where higher levels of dampness are common due to natural conditions, a dehumidifier can help solve your problems. Plus, it will reduce those musty odors. You can learn about all the benefits of dehumidifiers here.
Even if you own a home air conditioner, there might be enough moisture in the air of your home to still make having a dehumidifier be a necessity during the summer months. This happens when the air conditioner gets the home to the desired temperature and shuts off (like it is supposed to do) despite the humidity levels still being higher than you would like. However, the need for a dehumidifier doesn’t necessarily end once fall comes. Many homes have problems with excess moisture year-round.
Thankfully, a dehumidifier can help us to maintain the recommended relative humidity level in our homes regardless of which season we are in. The EPA states that relative humidity (RH) should be kept below 60 percent — with levels between 30 percent and 50 percent being ideal.
Main Types of Dehumidifiers
There are two main types of dehumidifiers namely: refrigeration and desiccant dehumidifiers. Each type has different strengths and weaknesses. So understanding the differences can help you purchase the correct model for your situation.
Desiccant Dehumidifiers
Desiccant dehumidifiers work well in spaces that require consistent dehumidification, including laundry rooms, basements, or garages. One advantage of desiccant dehumidifiers is that they can work at low air temperatures (below 65°F ), which can cause refrigeration style dehumidifiers to freeze up and stop working.
They work by passing the air through the rotor that contains materials (such as silica gel) that absorb and hold water vapor. These materials usually absorb water from the air, after which the air is then pushed back out through vents into the room. Eventually, the desiccant material is heated, which vaporizes the water then it is then ducted out of the room.
In addition to working well in cooler temperatures, there are a couple of other positives about desiccant dehumidifiers. First, unlike the refrigerant types, desiccant dehumidifiers don’t have a compressor or use any refrigerants, which makes them easy to maintain. Second, because they don’t have a compressor desiccant dehumidifiers have lower noise levels and usually run quieter than their refrigeration style counterparts.
Refrigeration Dehumidifiers
Refrigeration humidifiers are by far the best at eliminating and removing excess moisture from the air compared to desiccant dehumidifiers, especially at high moisture and higher temperatures. This unit comes with refrigerated coils that help to drive the moisture out simply by pulling the damp, warm air from within the room and passing it over these cold evaporator coils that cool the surrounding air below its dew point temperature. In turn, the gaseous water in the air undergoes condensation. Then, the condensed water is automatically captured by the machine and directed into the storage unit. After some time, the water is ejected from a dehumidifier machine through the floor drain, and the dried air is released into your room or the facility’s environment.
Refrigeration style dehumidifiers are more energy-efficient and consume less energy per hour and are thus generally cheaper to run and own.
The vast majority of people are buying dehumidifiers for use in their homes and don’t need to worry about having to operate the dehumidifier in colder temperatures because of this and the fact that they are more energy-efficient, the most common type of dehumidifiers people buy are the refrigeration style.
How to Calculate Your Needs?
Different room sizes and conditions require different dehumidifier ratings. Various factors will determine the best dehumidifier capacity for your room or house. Therefore, when selecting your model, these are the two main factors to consider:
The Size of Your Room or House You Wish to Dehumidify (Square Footage)
First, think about the size of the house you want to dehumidify. Remember to measure your room in square meters. Noticeably, that is the unit given or quoted by the manufacturer. Also, you need to decide on the space your tool will cover. To this end, you must calculate the square footage.
Consider Dampness In The Area You Wish to Dehumidify
Choosing a model based on the size of your room as well as its capacity alone isn’t enough, though. To come out with the best solution, you need to consider the conditions of your room. So you need to ask yourself this question- How damp is my space? Stick with the capacity that matches your space. If your space has lower levels of humidity, choose a smaller-capacity unit. If you want to tackle an extremely wet space, then go with a larger capacity unit.
So let’s talk about different levels of humidity and how you might be able to identify them without the use of a humidistat. For the purposes of our discussion let’s break it down into four categories
- Moderately Damp (RH level between 50 and 60 percent) – There is an occasional musty smell and feels damp.
- Extremely Damp (RH level between 60 and 70 percent) – It often smells musty and will often feel damp.
- Wet (RH levels of between 70 and 85 percent) – Area feels wet and smells musty with damp spots on walls and/or floors.
- Extremely Wet (RH level that’s greater than 85%) – Area feels wet and smells musty with water seepage appearing on the walls and/or floors. You may also notice mold growing.
So What Size Dehumidifier Do I Need?
So once you have decided what type of dehumidifier you want to have you need to think about the size or capacity, that will be best for the area you will be putting it into. Units are usually categorized by the number of pints of water they can collect in a 24 hour period. They come in four main categories.
Which category you should be considering is largely determined by the size of the space you are trying to dehumidify and the level of moisture in the air. Let’s take a look at the different categories.
Small Dehumidifiers
Maybe you only have slight excess moisture problems in just one small area of your house. If that is the case, you might want to look at getting a small (or mini) dehumidifier. There are units that are designed to be in areas that are 200 square feet or less and spaces that are between 200 and 300 square feet.
Because of their small size, these models are great for small spaces such as bedrooms, bathrooms or enclosed kitchens. However, some of these units might only hold around a full pint of water and only remove 1/2 pint per day. Due to the limited amount of moisture they can remove from the air each day you want to remember that they aren’t the solution for larger areas or spaces with very high humidity levels.
30 Pint Dehumidifiers
These models are suitable for areas between 500 and 3,000 square feet depending on the dampness. Each day, they collect about 30 pints of water and are appropriate to use in residential spaces including basements. Here is some more information on when to use 30 pint units:
- 500-1500 square feet – Good for extremely wet spaces with RH up to levels that are greater than 85%
- 2000 square feet – Good for extremely damp spaces with RH up to levels between 60 and 70 percent
- 2500-3000 square feet – Good for moderately damp spaces with RH up to levels between 50 and 60 percent
- 【𝑾𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆-𝑯𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝑴𝒐𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓】 Tackle dampness anywhere with our 30-pint dehumidifier! Its heavy-duty compressor works quickly to reduce humidity from 90% to a comfortable 30%—perfect for bedrooms, basements, laundry areas, and large spaces up to 3,000 square feet. Finally, breathe easy in a fresher, drier home.
- 【3-𝒊𝒏-1 𝑺𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝑫𝒓𝒚𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 & 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒆】 This versatile dehumidifier combines three functions in one: control humidity (30%-80% adjustable), quickly dry laundry, or circulate fresh air. The display shows real-time humidity (20%-90% range), while dual fan speeds let you customize power for any need—from gentle drying to rapid moisture removal.
- 【𝑺𝒆𝒕 𝑰𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝑰𝒕 𝑫𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒆】 Choose your preferred drainage: use the 0.7-gallon removable tank (auto-shutoff when full with indicator light) or connect the 60-inch drain hose for continuous, hands-free operation. No more interruptions—perfect for basements or long vacations!
- 【𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕, 𝑨𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑨𝒏𝒚𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆】 Move it anywhere with 360° smooth-rolling wheels and a comfortable handle. The control panel features a 24-hour timer and child lock, while the washable filter and advanced frost sensor ensure reliable operation even in chilly 42°F environments. Winter won't stop your comfort!
- 【𝑺𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝑺𝒂𝒇𝒆𝒈𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒔, 𝑺𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔】 Advanced electronic sensors auto-detect humidity and water levels, pausing operation when the tank is full. Clear error codes (E1/CL/CH/LO/HI) quickly identify issues, while multiple safety protections ensure worry-free drying. For details, just check the manual!
- Powerful 30-Pint Moisture Removal for Spaces up to 2500 Sq. Ft: High humidity can make rooms feel damp, uncomfortable, and difficult to maintain. This dehumidifier removes up to 30 pints of moisture per day (under 95°F, 90% RH) and helps regulate humidity in spaces up to 2500 sq. ft. Ideal for basements, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, garages, offices, storage spaces, apartments, and RVs, delivering dependable comfort during humid months
- Three Smart Modes for Everyday Humidity Challenges: Different environments require different solutions. DEHU Mode lets you set humidity from 30%–80% for daily comfort, DRY Mode helps dry clothes more quickly on damp days, and CONT Mode is perfect for long-term operation in areas with recurring humidity. (Tip: Close windows and doors during use for best results.)
- Continuous Drain Ready + Auto Shut-Off for Busy Homes: Avoid constant tank emptying. Use the 0.52-gallon water tank with auto shut-off and full-tank alert, or switch to the included 3.28 ft drain hose for continuous drainage—ideal for basements, laundry rooms, and spaces that require long-running moisture control
- Mirage Display & Customizable Humidity Settings: The backlit mirage display allows clear visibility day or night and auto-adjusts brightness in dark environments. Set your preferred humidity between 30%–80% to create the “just-right” atmosphere for sleeping, relaxing, or working
- Quiet 30dB Operation for Daytime or Night Use: With noise levels as low as 30dB, this dehumidifier is suitable for bedrooms, nurseries, upstairs rooms, and shared spaces where quiet operation matters—ensuring comfort without disrupting rest
- 【2000 Sq. ft. 30 Pint Dehumidifier for Home】HUMILABS Dehumidifier with self-developed high-power compressor, can remove up to 30 pints/3 gal of moisture in the air per day Suitable for basements, offices, bathrooms, bedrooms, garages, laundries, cellars and other occasions, effectively controlling the environmental humidity, to provide protection for the environment and physical health
- 【3 Dehumidification Modes】bathroom dehumidifier has three modes 1. fast drying mode, suitable for laundry rooms and bathrooms, effectively removes excess moisture from clothes, keeps the bathroom dry and prevents falls; 2. automatic mode, customizable humidity zones to maintain the ideal humidity value; 3. Sleep mode: Turn off all lights on the machine and let it run quietly so you can enjoy a comfortable sleep in a noise-free environment.
- 【Two Drainage】Auto Drainage: This dehumidifier for basement is equipped with a 3.3ft drain hose that can connect to the drain pipe hole to continuously drain the water without emptying the water tank multiple times. Manual Drainage: The water tank is 0.528 gal so when it reaches the maximum capacity, the dehumidifier will automatically stop and the “tank full” indicator will light up until the water tank is emptied. No worries about the risk of the water overflowing
- 【At-a-Glance Operation Panel】There are only 6 buttons on the digital panel of the dehumidifier for bedroom : power switch, humidity value setting, timer, mode switching, wind speed adjustment and child lock. The simple design makes it easy to understand at a glance, and it is very convenient to operate the unit after turning on the computer and pressing the power switch to start dehumidification
- 【Humanized Design & Worry-Free After-Sales】The bottom is equipped with 360° universal wheels and hidden handle, which can easily move the machine and won't scratch the floor. The removable filter on the back air inlet can effectively prevent hair and dust and other foreign objects. Warranty period is 1 year, please feel free to use
50 Pint Dehumidifiers
50 pint dehumidifiers can handle middle-sized spaces that are extremely humid or large spaces that are a little less humid. These units are powerful enough to work well in areas that smell musty and damp all the time. Here is a little more guidance on when to buy a 50 pint dehumidifier:
- 500-1000 square feet – A 50 pint humidifier is probably too big and unnecessary for this size of space.
- 1500 square feet – Good for extremely wet spaces with RH up to levels that are greater than 85% (A 50 pint dehumidifier might be a little too much for a space this size if it has lower humidity levels )
- 2000-2500 square feet – Good for extremely wet spaces with RH levels that are up to and greater than 85%
- 3000 square feet – Good for wet spaces with RH up to levels up to the 70 and 85 percent range
- Effortless Portability & Convenience - Designed with a sturdy, easy-carry handle, this dehumidifier allows for seamless movement between rooms. Whether it's the basement, bedroom, or living area, enjoy hassle-free humidity control anywhere you need it.
- Energy Star Certified – Eco-Friendly & Cost-Saving - Engineered to meet strict ENERGY STAR efficiency standards, this dehumidifier reduces energy consumption while delivering powerful moisture control. Enjoy lower electricity bills and a more sustainable home environment.
- Hassle-Free Water Removal - The slide-out bucket makes emptying collected water a breeze. Designed for quick access and spill-free disposal, it ensures smooth operation for continuous dehumidification.
- Whisper-Quiet Comfort - Experience powerful dehumidification without the noise. Engineered for ultra-quiet operation, this unit runs discreetly in the background—perfect for bedrooms, offices, and living spaces, allowing you to relax, work, or sleep undisturbed.
- Smart Filter Maintenance for Cleaner Air - The built-in filter indicator alerts you when it’s time for a clean, ensuring consistent performance and fresher air. The washable filter is easy to remove and clean—simply rinse, dry, and reinstall to keep your dehumidifier running at peak efficiency.
- EXTRACT UP TO 50 Pints OF MOISTURE DAILY & Keeps spaces up to 4,500 sq.ft. moisture-free and dry: With a powerful dehumidification capacity of 50 Pints per day, this portable unit ensures improved air quality and a healthy environment. It effectively removes excess moisture, making spaces comfortable and free from dampness. Suitable for spaces of upto 4500 sqft.
- AUTOMATIC SAFETY FEATURES: When its 6.5L / 1.7 Gallons tank is full, the dehumidifier automatically shuts off for safety. This feature ensures hassle-free operation without the risk of overflow. Moreover, the machine boasts an automatic defrosting function, enhancing its efficiency and lifespan.
- INTUITIVE TOUCH CONTROL & TIMER: The touch control panel provides ease of use, while the 3-color environmental humidity lamp offers a visual indication of the current humidity levels. You can also set a timer for up to 24 hours, giving you full control over its operation.
- CONTINUOUS DRAINAGE & WASHABLE FILTER: Although equipped with a spacious tank, you can also opt for continuous drainage for extended operation. The washable air filter ensures that you're always surrounded by pure, allergen-free air.
- BUILT-IN CONVENIENCE: Designed with practicality in mind, it features castors for easy movement and a built-in handle for effortless portability. The dehumidifier operates quietly, producing noise levels of less than 48dB(A).
- SMALLER FORM, LARGER CAPACITY - 3X larger water tank allows the Midea Cube to operate up to 3X longer than a conventional dehumidifier. Enjoy more time without the hassle of emptying the water tank
- BUILT IN PUMP - The built-in water pump easily drains vertically or horizontally into a sink or out of a window (16 feet drain tube included). The bucket never needs emptying again.
- CONTINUOUS DRAIN OPTION - Versatile, no-bucket option provides more flexibility to remove moisture. You can remove the water tank and place the unit above the sink using the included drain hose, or position it over a floor drain, near a window or door.
- SMART CONTROL -The Midea Cube is Wi-Fi enabled and can be controlled from anywhere through the cloud using the SmartHome app on iOS or Android. You can also use voice commands throughout your house, office, or apartment using Alexa or Google Assistant.
- LIFT AND TWIST- World's first extendable dehumidifier offers unparalleled flexibility - operates in extended or nested form. You can easily find a place to store the unit when the space becomes dry, or extend it to its full capacity whenever you need it.
70 Pint Dehumidifiers
If you need a dehumidifier for a large space and/or dealing with extreme humidity plaguing your home during hot and humid months, then a 70 pint dehumidifier could be your answer. These models can easily remove about 70 pints of water a day. They are superb for homes with very wet crawl spaces and basements. Here is some advice on the situations where you will want to consider a 70 pint dehumidifier:
- 500-2000 square feet – A 70 pint humidifier is probably too big and unnecessary for this size of space.
- 2500-3000 square feet – Good for extremely wet spaces with RH levels that are up to and greater than 85%
- 【Covers up to 5,000 Sq. Ft. with Powerful 80 Pint Capacity】Waykar removes up to 80 pints of moisture per day (at 95°F, 90% RH), outperforming standard 80-pint units tested under 95°F, 95% RH. The adjustable humidity range from 30% to 80% offers flexibility beyond the 40% floor seen in typical models. Perfect for basements, bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens, storage areas, living rooms, laundry rooms, RVs, boats, and more.
- 【Energy Star 2025 Certified for High Efficiency】Waykar dehumidifiers deliver up to 50% more energy efficiency compared to non-Energy Star models. Choose a dehumidifier that saves energy, lowers bills, and supports global sustainability.
- 【Wide-Angle Swing for Faster, Targeted Dehumidification】Waykar features an automatic 30°–90° swing function that promotes air circulation and speeds up drying. Customize airflow direction to focus on specific areas like closets or damp corners. Enjoy whisper-quiet operation as low as 42 dB, perfect for bedrooms and quiet spaces.
- 【Active Protection with Auto Defrost and Memory Restart】Stay protected with active safeguards including auto defrost, overload protection, and automatic restart after a power outage—no smart plug needed. Even in colder environments, Waykar maintains stable, efficient performance.
- 【Smart Touch Control and 24-Hour Timer】The intuitive touch panel allows you to easily set humidity levels, monitor real-time humidity, and schedule operations with a 24-hour timer. Once set, the system intelligently adjusts to maintain your ideal comfort without constant attention.
- ☆. Efficient Dehumidifier for homes over 4500 sq.ft: The dehumidifier with 1.59 gallon water tank capacity removes up to 70 pints from the air per day. It is great for basement. This dehumidifier can safely and effectively remove excess moisture and peculiar smell in the air, great for your bathroom, bedroom, garage, office, kitchen, large room, storage room and RV.
- ☆. Intelligent Humidity Control Dehumidifier: This basement dehumidifier is equipped with a smart screen with touch control, which is easy to operate without worrying about button damage. In the normal dehumidification mode, customize the humidity (30% - 80% RH). When the specified humidity is reached, it will automatically stop working.
- ☆. High Effective Dehumidification: Our bathroom dehumidifier has an efficient and energy-saving compressor, which increases the fan speed to remove moisture to the maximum extent. It can quickly and effectively reduce humidity, maintain dry air level, and make you feel more comfortable.
- ☆. Auto or Manual Drainage with Drain Hose: Our dehumidifiers are equipped with drainage hoses. You can not only drain water manually, but also insert hoses to achieve automatic drainage. The water tank is 6L/1.59 gallon, when it reaches maximum capacity, the "Full "indicator will light up as well as an alarm will beep to remind you to empty the water tank, and the dehumidifier will stop working automatically at the same time.
- ☆. Super Easy To Use: This home dehumidifier is very simple and convenient to use. You just need to adjust to the ideal humidity setting, and then let it run continuously until the tank is full, at which time it will automatically close. It also has the function of automatic defrosting, so you don't need to pay too much attention to it. The dehumidifier also has the function of child lock to prevent children from touching by mistake.
- AIRPLUS Multifunctional Dehumidifier For Hone:Combines dehumidification,drying,and air purification functions in one machine.With the dual protection of water full auto shut off working and compressor power off,ensures optimal performance and longevity,The dehumidifier is safe to use even when you are not at home.
- High Effective Dehumidification:Our basements dehumidifier has an efficient and energy-saving compressor,You can easily remove 70 pints of water per day and covers areas up to 4,500 Sq Ft.It's perfect for use in basements,homes,garages,bathrooms,bedrooms,offices,kitchens,laundry rooms,storage rooms
- 4 Smart Modes Dehumidifiers:The 4 smart modes of our dehumidification options make it easy to switch between From dry mode for delicate clothes to advanced noise reduction design and sleep mode,Say goodbye to excess moisture, mold, and allergens！
- Two of Drainage Options:You can choose between using the 3.9 ft long dehumidifier hose for easy and continuous drainage,Or the 0.7 GAL large capacity tank,which automatically shuts off when it's full to prevent overflowing.The detachable filter allows you to remove and wash it.
- Intelligent Control:Our AIRPLUS dehumidifier is equipped with button control panel Digital display of temperature,humidity,timer,and current mode indicator for at-a-glance use.24-hour timer,Auto shut-off/restart,Automatic defrost function,Negative ion function.Comes with a detailed instruction manual.
Other Things to Consider
As we just stated, the square footage of the space and the overall level of dampness are the two biggest things to consider when deciding the capacity of the dehumidifier you need. However, there are some other factors that might make you increase your calculations and decide to get a higher capacity model.
Number of People In the Home
As humans, we are constantly expelling water into our environment. Whether we are talking, breathing or sweating our bodies are releasing moisture that is being absorbed by the air around us. So it only makes sense that the larger the number of people who live in a home the need for a higher capacity dehumidifier increases. Some places suggest that you will need an additional 5 pints of capacity for every 4 people in your house.
There are some additional factors associated with the number of people[le in your home that might require you to think about a higher capacity dehumidifier.
Washer and Dryer
If your home has a laundry room, then it requires additional water-removing capacity. This is because water is constantly flowing and evaporating whenever you run your dryer or washer. If you have a larger family or just simply do a lot of laundry you might want to add more 5 pints to your overall calculation.
Windows and Doors
One way moisture can sneak into your house via open doors and windows.
If you live in a humid area and have a lot of people constantly coming and going or if you simply like to leave the windows and patio doors open to get fresh air in the house you might want to add another 5 pints of capacity to meet your home’s needs.
Bathroom
Your bathroom is a room that bacteria and mold loves. Simply flushing your toilet, running showers and washing your hands can increase the relative humidity of your bathroom.
If you like to take long showers or if there are a lot of people living in your home who are taking multiple showers per day you might want to add another 5 or 10 pints to your calculations. This is especially true if your bathroom isn’t very well ventilated.
Why Not Just Get The Largest Capacity Unit You Can Find?
Getting a 70 pint model might not be a bad idea, but it might not be the right thing for you to do either.
Cons
There are several reasons why you might not want to get a model that is bigger than you need. One reason is that you could spend a lot of extra money. Another reason is that a larger unit will usually make more noise than a smaller unit and depending on where you put it noise could be an issue for you. Finally, the bigger the capacity the larger the dehumidifier will be larger and weigh more (70 pint units can be about 50 pounds), which can be an issue if you plan on putting the dehumidifier in a small space or plan on moving it around to different areas of the house.
Pros
Getting a large capacity model can be a good choice for several reasons. First, you know that it will be able to meet your needs and get the humidity to a healthy level in your home. Second, because it will be able to get the moisture out of the air faster than smaller models it might be more energy-efficient than a slightly smaller unit that needs to run virtually non stop to get the job done. Lastly, a larger capacity unit might last longer than some of its smaller capacity counterparts since it won’t have to run as long to do the same job.
Summary
Selecting a model with the proper size (capacity) is arguably the most important part of buying a dehumidifier. If you take a few minutes to think about the size of your home and the level of moisture in the air you will be able to successfully find a dehumidifier that will be able to meet your needs for years to come. That being said, if you are having a hard time deciding, remember to error on the side of going with the larger capacity option if you are having a hard time.
Last update on 2026-01-21 at 14:18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API