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
- Conquer 2000 sq ft, banish humidity: This dehumidifier features an advanced compressor, removing up to 30 pints of moisture daily (at 95°F, 90%RH), swiftly reducing humidity from 80% to 40%. Its smart start-stop function maintains optimal humidity levels, suitable for spaces up to 1500 square feet, including bathrooms, bedrooms, basements, garages, apartments, and living rooms
- Quiet Operation, Guardian of Serenity: Utilizing advanced silent technology, this dehumidifier operates at an industry-leading noise level of just 40dB, preserving the peace of your living space. Even in the bedroom, it ensures your sleep remains undisturbed, truly becoming the guardian of your comfortable lifestyle
- Dual Drainage Modes, Continuous Dryness: Fight humidity! When the water tank is full, it automatically alerts and pauses—just empty to restart. Or connect a 38-inch hose to enable continuous gravity-fed drainage, requiring no manual intervention, saving you time and effort. Suitable for bathrooms, kitchens, and basements, it keeps the environment dry. Keep your home fresh and dry all day long
- Smart Control, Easy Operation: This dehumidifier features an intuitive electronic panel that allows you to easily set humidity levels (40%-80%), adjust fan speed, set a timer, and activate a child safety lock. Designed with users of all ages in mind, it ensures that every family member can safely and effortlessly enjoy a comfortable and healthy home environment
- Portable Design and Versatility: Elegant modern design blends seamlessly into your home. Features a convenient handle and 360° rotating wheels for easy mobility. An innovative three-color indicator quickly assesses humidity levels; a washable filter lowers maintenance costs and improves air quality. Also ideal for laundry rooms to speed up drying, enhancing home comfort and convenience
- 【SAYING GOODBYE TO DAMPNESS 】 Equipped with an efficient and powerful rotary compressor, Hansabenne dehumidifier works like a beast which enables a maximum removal of 30 pints moisture quickly per day (under 95°F, 90%RH condition) without racking up your energy bill. It’s the ideal affordable dehumidifier for homes, basements, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, living rooms, laundry rooms, cellars, crawlspaces or any large rooms up to 2000 Sq. Ft. Enjoy the fresh air with Hansabenne dehumidifier,Keep away from dampness.
- 【3 PRACTICAL DEHUMIDIFIER MODES】 With this efficient dehumidifier, you can choose the suitable mode according to the environmental conditions you need. Intelligent mode: Set your desired humidity for max comfort, the dehumidifier will run intelligently. CONT mode (Preset program,, no button required) : The machine will automatically shut down for 8 minutes after 8 hours of operation. DRY mode will dry your clothes quickly and prevent them from getting smelly and deformed.WIth an easy-to-use panel ，use the dehumidifier effortlessly.
- 【FRIENDLY HUMANIZED DESIGN 】In our dehumidifier, you can see multiple user-friendly designs, there is always a design for you. 360° moving universal wheel that can be moved anywhere effortlessly, ergonomic recessed portable embedded handle. 3 colors of humidity light, easy to distinguish the current humidity level.Automatic restart and auto-defrost effectively protect the machine. A truly versatile dehumidifier, must a have in your home.
- 【TWO DRAINAGE OPTIONS 】 Manual drainage: 0.528-gallon tank with an sensitive upper water float that automatically detects and closes when the water is full. The indicator light will flash for kindly reminder. Automatic drainage: Connect the drain hose to the dehumidifier. When the water in the tank reaches the drain hose , it will automatically drain water without manual water change.Also, the removable filter can be removed and cleaned for healthy and fresh air.
- 【WHISPER-QUIET DEHUMIDIFIER】Enjoy all-day serenity and comfort, enabled by its quality compessor and several layers silencer cottons. 40dB low sound can hardly notice, ensuring no disruptions during conversation, working hours, TV binging hours, and nighttime sleep.Quietly and efficiently dehumidifies.
- Superior Humidity Control: Capable of removing up to 22 pints of moisture per day (30 Pint 2012 DOE Standard), this powerful dehumidifier efficiently revitalizes a medium to large room's air quality.
- WiFi-Enabled Smart Functionality: Experience the ease and flexibility of controlling the settings of your dehumidifier remotely. This new feature allows you to connect your device to home Wi-Fi and regulate your climate anywhere, anytime.
- Modern & Portable Design: With sleek aesthetics and ultimate convenience in mind, this dehumidifier features built-in wheels, handles, and a quiet fan to ensure no disturbance to your current entertainment or rest.
- Effortless Operation: Simplicity is paramount. Choose your desired moisture setting and let the dehumidifier run its continuous 24-hour cycle. It features an automatic shut-off when the tank is full, or benefit from continuous draining via a drain hose outlet.
- Effective Moisture Elimination: This model reduces moisture via its potent built-in pump compressor. Use Turbo mode to increase fan speed for maximum moisture removal at High Air CFM 135 from Normal Air CFM 118.
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
- 【Efficient Moisture Removal】 Britsou 50 Pint dehumidifier for basement reduces moisture effectively, ideal for basement dehumidifier, garage dehumidifier, and home dehumidifiers use in Bedroom, Bathroom, Kitchen, Closet and more. Note: 50 pints per day capacity is reached under 90°F, 95% humidity. Durable design and easy-to-clean filter ensure a healthy environment.
- 【Customizable Dehumidification Modes】 Tailor your environment with 3 modes. DEHU mode lets you set humidity from 30% to 80% and choose two fan speeds for precise control, perfect for maintaining comfort. DRY mode efficiently dries wet clothes, great for rainy seasons. CONTINUOUS mode runs non-stop until your desired humidity is reached, ideal for very damp areas. For best results, keep doors and windows closed while running.
- 【Auto & Manual Drainage】 Enjoy hassle-free drainage with two options. Home dehumidifier with the 3.28 ft drain hose, so you don’t need to manually empty the tank. The 0.66-gallon tank auto-stops when full, and an indicator light reminds you to empty it, preventing overflow (Water tank capacity ≠ dehumidification capacity). Choose the method that suits your needs for simple humidity control.
- 【Easy to Move and Maintain】 Our smart dehumidifier features a top handle, recessed handle, and four 360° wheels for easy movement between rooms. Its compact size makes storage simple. Check water levels with the front line and adjust humidity using the digital display. The removable, washable filter keeps the air fresh, and its modern design fits any decor.
- 【Reliable Support for Peace of Mind】 Enjoy a 1-year warranty, a 2-year extended warranty, and lifetime technical support with Britsou. If you have any issues, contact us first, and we'll respond within 24 hours to help. At Britsou, we enhance your life with reliable, high-quality dehumidifiers for home that make every day more comfortable.
- 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.
- 【Smart 50 Pints Dehumidifier for Basement & Home】: Say goodbye to excess moisture with our Wellsle powerful dehumidifier, designed to remove up to 50 pints of humidity daily under optimal conditions of 95°F and 90% humidity. With a humidity setting range of 80%-30%, it is ideal for a home basement, bedroom, bathroom, garage, kitchen, RV, office and any small- to medium-sized spaces.
- 【3 Practical Working Modes】: Choose from our DEHU mode for precise humidity control. DRY mode ensures rapid clothes drying, keeping them fresh and avoiding dampness. CONT mode provides continuous dehumidification in high-humidity spaces, ideal for areas like basements. Each mode helps you manage moisture effectively in different conditions.
- 【Continuous Drainage & 0.66 Gal Water Tank】: Our dehumidifier includes a 6.56-foot drain hose for continuous drainage and a 0.66-gallon water tank for manual drainage. Please note, the tank capacity is independent of the daily dehumidification rate, meaning you may need to empty it multiple times a day if not using the hose in a high humidity area, depending on room humidity.
- 【Smart and Convenient Design】: Wellsle’s home dehumidifier features a 24HR two-way timer and child lock function for added safety. Equipped with a top handle, ergonomic recessed handle, and 360° invisible wheels, it ensures easy mobility. The quiet design operates below 40 decibels, keeping your home peaceful without sacrificing performance.
- 【Important Usage Notes】: The 0.66-gallon tank is not equal to the 50-pint daily capacity; high humidity may require frequent emptying. Always let the unit stand upright for 24 hours before use to ensure proper function. Contact customer support if you experience any issues.
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%
- 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.
- Home Dehumidifier：Our dehumidifier combines dehumidification, drying and air purification into one multifunctional machine. With the dual protection of water full auto shut off working and compressor power off, it can ensure the performance and life of the machine more intelligently. It can remove 70 pints of water per day to maintain your space as comfortable and dry as possible.
- Modern & Humanistic Design：Designed in an all-white modern style, this dehumidifier can fit into any home, apartment or large small place. It comes with four 360° rotatable wheels and handle to easily move the dehumidifier anywhere you like. With a built-in digital display control panel and timing, you can use your dehumidifier quickly and efficiently!
- 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.
- 4 Multiple Modes：This dehumidification system has 4 modes to properly meet all your needs. You can switch between the different modes to keep the room at your ideal humidity level. The dry mode dries your delicate clothes that get wet or damp in the rain. With advanced noise reduction design and sleep mode, the noise level does not exceed 46 decibels. It won't disturb you while you sleep, watch TV, study and listen to music.
- Easy Control：This 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: For preset operation and reduced energy consumption. Auto shut-off/restart: Automatically shuts off when the bucket is full and restarts when the bucket is emptied. Automatic defrost function: Prevents collected water from freezing. Negative ion function: purify your room smelling and let you breathe clean air.
- 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.
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 2024-12-10 at 05:30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API