If you are faced with hot and humid weather or are dealing with a damp room or basement you need to be prepared to address the humidity and the problems it can bring. Dehumidifiers remove excess moisture from your home and provide a lot of benefits to your health, home, and belongings.
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
- High-Efficiency Dehumidification: COLAZE dehumidifier offers superior performance, removing up to 34 pints of moisture per day (under 95°F, 90%RH), making it ideal for spaces up to 2500 square feet. Perfect for basements, laundry, living rooms, bedrooms, offices, garage, stockroomand, and more, it enhances air quality and maintains an optimal humidity level of 45%-55% for a comfortable living environment
- Advanced Humidity Management: Our home dehumidifier comes with a user-friendly smart touch control panel for adjusting humidity levels, setting timers, and controlling fan speeds.With three dehumidification modes — Dehu, Continuous, and Dry Clothes—plus two fan speed options, it caters to various humidity needs. The 24-hour timer function reduces energy consumption
- Convenient Drainage System: The dehumidifier for large room is equipped with both automatic and manual drainage systems.The automatic drainage feature allows for continuous water removal via a 3.9 ft long dehumidifier drain hose, eliminating the hassle of manual emptying. For manual drainage, a 2.2L capacity tank shuts off the dehumidifier when full, with an indicator light alerting you to empty it, preventing overflow
- Portable Design with Color Indicator Lights: With a built-in handle, it's easy to move around different areas. The removable and washable filter allows for easy maintenance, ensuring continuous fresh and clean air quality.Three color LED lights (blue, green, red) intuitively display environmental humidity, automatically changing according to the surrounding conditions
- Safety Protection & Exceptional Service: The COLAZE dehumidifiers feature multiple automated safety functions, including automatic shut-off when the tank is full, and high-precision sensors for automatic defrosting, ensuring stable and efficient operation. We also provide a three-year warranty service and always-on customer support, giving you peace of mind with your purchase
- Efficiently eliminating up to 30 pints of moisture per day, this basement dehumidifier is perfect for spaces up to 2,000 square feet, maintaining a dry and comfortable living environment, preventing mold and mildew, and keeping your home fresh.
- Energy Star Certified: Embrace an eco-friendly lifestyle with the latest 2024 Energy Star Certification. By doing so, you'll not only shrink your carbon footprint but also enjoy reduced energy bills, making for a sustainable and economical living solution.
- Distinctive Design: Comes with easy-to-move wheels and handles for effortless mobility. Boasts a quiet fan operation, ensuring minimal noise. The filter is removable and washable, making cleaning and maintenance a piece of cake, facilitating a sanitary and effective dehumidification process.
- The unit provides flexible drainage options with a 4.9-feet drain hose for continuous drainage or manual drainage using the water tank. You can choose the method that best fits your needs for consistent moisture control without the need for constant monitoring.
- The home dehumidifiers offers three adjustable modes for optimal performance. You can easily customize it to your preferred humidity level and keep it running all day, every day. When the water tank reaches its maximum capacity, the bathroom dehumidifier will automatically turn off, ensuring safety and preventing any potential overflow.
- 【High-Efficiency Dehumidification】：Built-in high-efficiency condensing compressor, RUWORA dehumidifier can remove moisture 30 Pints daily (under 95°F, 90% RH ). This home dehumidifier can create a comfortable environment by keeping your place in the ideal 45%-55% humidity. It's a great choice for space up to 2500 sq. ft, such as the basement, office, living room, bedroom, garage, laundry room, closet, RV, etc.
- 【Manual & Auto Drain Options】：With a 2.5L/0.66-gallon tank capacity, this home dehumidifier will automatically turn off and illuminate the "Full" indicator, while also sounding an alarm that beeps three times when the tank is at maximum capacity. You also have the option of continuous drainage by inserting a 39.4" hose.
- 【Super Quite & 24 h Timer】：This home dehumidifier features an advanced silent design that ensures a noise level of no more than 40 decibels during operation. Additionally, equipped with a 24-hour automatic switch time setting function, it allows you to enjoy a peaceful and restful environment after a long day at work. So, you can kick back, relax, and recharge in comfort without any disturbances.
- 【Intelligent Control & Visualized Humidity】：Our RUWORA dehumidifier is equipped with a touch-sensitive smart screen for easier operation without worrying about the keys being damaged. Press the "SETTING" button to display actual humidity or adjust humidity (30%-90% RH in 5% increments), and set the ideal value. It will automatically stop working when the specified humidity is reached.
- 【Convenient & Long-Life Usage】： Adopt the hidden handle and four 360° rotatable Casters, this portable dehumidifier is easy to move from room to room. And our dehumidifier is equipped with 2 replaceable filters. This can not only prolong the service life of the product filter, effectively block the dust and flying catkins in the air but also have a replacement filter during the cleaning process.
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
- EASY TO CLEAN WASHABLE FILTER: Capture dust from the air and keep your dehumidifier working efficiently with our easy-to-clean washable filter.
- CUSTOM HUMIDITY CONTROL: Maximize your comfort with customized control over the amount of humidity in your room.
- CONTINUOUS DRAIN OPTION: Skip emptying the water bucket -- this unit continuously drains your dehumidifier so that you don’t have to lift a finger.
- AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF: Unit shuts off automatically when the water bucket is full.
- Efficiently eliminating up to 30 pints of moisture per day, this basement dehumidifier is perfect for spaces up to 2,000 square feet, maintaining a dry and comfortable living environment, preventing mold and mildew, and keeping your home fresh.
- Energy Star Certified: Embrace an eco-friendly lifestyle with the latest 2024 Energy Star Certification. By doing so, you'll not only shrink your carbon footprint but also enjoy reduced energy bills, making for a sustainable and economical living solution.
- Distinctive Design: Comes with easy-to-move wheels and handles for effortless mobility. Boasts a quiet fan operation, ensuring minimal noise. The filter is removable and washable, making cleaning and maintenance a piece of cake, facilitating a sanitary and effective dehumidification process.
- The unit provides flexible drainage options with a 4.9-feet drain hose for continuous drainage or manual drainage using the water tank. You can choose the method that best fits your needs for consistent moisture control without the need for constant monitoring.
- The home dehumidifiers offers three adjustable modes for optimal performance. You can easily customize it to your preferred humidity level and keep it running all day, every day. When the water tank reaches its maximum capacity, the bathroom dehumidifier will automatically turn off, ensuring safety and preventing any potential overflow.
- 5000 SQ FT LARGE DEHUMIDIFIER - Our 10.6x14x20.6 inches dehumidifier removes up to 52 pints (under 95 °F, 90% RH condition) of moisture per day. This dehumidifier is fit for medium to large rooms to quickly and effectively absorb moisture without racking up your energy bill. Ideal for basement, office, home, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, stockroom, living room, laundry room, cellar, crawlspace, etc. A healthy 45%-55% humidity range has never been more accessible
- THREE DEHUMIDIFICATION MODES - DEHU mode maintains healthy humidity levels in your home and can be used in wine cellars and storage rooms where space humidity is a definite need. DRY mode quickly dries wet clothes and cotton household items and prevents clothes from getting damp. CONT mode is suitable for spaces that require continuous dehumidification
- PORTABLE DESIGN & QUIET EXPERIENCE - This dehumidifier has a stylish and user-friendly design, equipped with convenient universal wheels and two kinds of handles, making it easy to carry and move. With a high-quality compressor, you will enjoy peaceful and sweet sleep all night in comfortable and dry air
- MULTIFUNCTIONAL DEHUMIDIFIER - Provides accurate relative humidity and helpful auto dry, different fan speeds can be set to suit various dehumidification needs. Timer to help you adjust to your ideal working time from 1–24 hours. And the lock function protects the child. If the temperature is very low and the unit detects frost, automatic defrost begins automatically, ensuring your unit operates safely and efficiently
- TWO DRAINAGE OPTIONS - The dehumidifier is equipped with a 0.66-gallon visual water tank. When the water tank is full, the dehumidifier will automatically stop, and the indicator light will turn on to remind you to empty the tank. Alternatively, you can use our included 6.6-inch drain hose to connect to the dehumidifier outlet for continuous drainage, so you don’t need to empty the tank. Also, the removable filter can be removed and cleaned for healthy and fresh air
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%
- WAYKAR DEHUMIDIFIER FOR SPACES UP TO 5,000 SQ FT- Our dehumidifier is able to remove up to 80 pints (under 95°F,90%RH condition) of moisture per day. (Please note: under 95°F, 90%RH condition, the max dehumidification capacity up to 80 pints)for space up to 5,000 Sq. Ft and adjust humidity from 30% to 80%. It is a dehumidifier ideal for home, basements, office, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, stockroom, living room, laundry room, cellars, crawlspace, large spaces, etc.
- INTELLIGENT TOUCH CONTROL- By integrating a smart control panel, the dehumidifier allows you to control the unit in an easy manner. The humidity reading display helps maximize the convenience to monitor the humidity, adjust the humidity level, set the timer. Simply adjust to your ideal moisture setting, it will smartly sense room humidity and control dehumidification to maintain pre-set humidity levels. 24H TIMER: For preset operation and reduced energy consumption.
- ENERGY STAR CERTIFIED & ELIMINATES MOSTURE EFFECTIVELY- Waykar ENERGY STAR certified Dehumidifier cut down your hassle on energy with maintaining an ideal room humidity, to quickly and effectively absorb moisture without racking up your energy bill.
- QUIET EXPERIENCE & LIGHTWEIGHT PORTABLE DESIGN AT HOME- With a unique quiet design, you will enjoy a quiet experience in the comfortable and dry air. The oscillating fan helps dry your room faster while with lower DB of noise. Put it in your bedroom, and you’ll have a quiet and cozy day with the dehumidifier working beside you. The Waykar dehumidifier is compact and lightweight. The casters at the bottom make it easy to move the machine from one room to another.
- VARIOUS DRAINAGE OPTIONS- Two drainage methods are provided for the dehumidifier. You can detach and remove the bucket to empty the 4.3L (1.14 Gal) reservoir, or enable continuous drain only via a 3.3 ft drain hose (included) for peace of mind. The DETACHABLE filter allows you to remove and wash it, for healthy and fresh air. CAUTION: When you drain with water tank, Please tighten the switch at the water pipe to avoid water leakage.
- Large Room Dehumidification: This compactly designed dehumidifier caters to large rooms up to 4,500 sq ft. It can remove up to 50 pints per day (70 Pint 2012 DOE Standard), making it ideal for large indoor wet spaces.
- WiFi-Enabled Smart Functionality: Adjust your settings and control your dehumidifier remotely. With the cutting-edge WiFi feature, connect your dehumidifier to your home's network and manage your comfort from anywhere.
- Stylish for Modern Homes: We've designed with the modern consumer in mind, providing a sleek appearance, convenient wheels and handles, and a subdued fan that won't interfere with your quiet activities.
- Ease of Use: Simplicity at its best - adjust to your preferred moisture setting and let it operate continuously until the tank is full, upon which it will automatically shut off. For continuous drainage, a hose outlet is provided (hose not included).
- Efficient Moisture Removal: This advanced dehumidifier works through its built-in pump compressor, featuring a Turbo mode to maximize fan speed from Normal Air CFM 188 to High Air CFM 218.
- AIRPLUS Multifunctional Smart Dehumidifier For Home:Combines dehumidification,drying,and air purification functions in one machine.with Timer,Humidity Display and Silent Mode,Bringing you the highest quality experience
- AIRPULS Dehumidifiers for home with drain hose is more easy to continuous drainage! Only insert the hose into the drainage hole at the bottomof the water tank,so that you needn't pour out the water tank by yourself. We also equipped with Defrost Sensors too, Automatic defrosting starts when the temperature drops below 45°F which means that dehumidifier can operational even works properly even in the cold winter months
- Convenient Drainage：This dehumidifier is equipped with two types of drainage. You can choose to use the 3.9 ft long dehumidifier hose for easier and less effort in continuous drainage. Or use the large capacity tank, if the 0.8Gal tank is full, the dehumidifier beeps and automatically shuts off until it is emptied and placed in the correct place will start working again. No need to worry about overflowing when the water is full
- AIRPLUS dehumidifier is equipped with button control panel Digital display of temperature,humidity,timer,and current mode indicator .24-hour timer,Auto shut-off/restart,Automatic defrost function,Negative ion function.Is a Multifunctional Smart Dehumidifier for Basements,home and bathroom,Comes with a detailed instruction manual.
- The powerful the dehumidifier performs and works efficiently, the longer it will last a longer lifespan, saving your energy bills. It's your affordable choice for energy savings and environmental protection，If you have any after-sales problems, please contact us in a timely manner, and we will answer them for you as soon as possible
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 2025-03-18 at 04:00 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API