Dehumidifiers · Guide
How to Choose a Dehumidifier
Choosing a dehumidifier comes down to four things: how much moisture it removes, the space it has to cover, how you get the water out, and how loud it is while it works. The catch is that capacity numbers were redefined in 2019, so a "50-pint" today is not what it was a few years ago, and some listings still quote inflated peak figures. This guide walks the real decision, grounded in units we track and score.
Start with capacity: read the DOE pint rating, not the hype
Pints per day is how much water a unit pulls from the air in 24 hours at a standard test condition set by the Department of Energy (DOE). This is the number that actually matters, so learn to read it. Ignore giant "95F" or "90% humidity" figures some listings tout, those measure a hot, saturated lab peak, not everyday removal in your home. Compare units on their DOE-standard rating instead. Every model we track is listed at its DOE figure: 50, 34, 22, or 20 pints per day. Anything advertised well above its class is usually quoting a peak, not a promise.
What the 2019 DOE change means for the numbers
In 2019 the DOE changed its test condition from 80F down to a cooler 65F at 60% relative humidity, much closer to real basement air. Cooler air holds less moisture, so the same machine now posts a lower pint number, roughly 30 to 40 percent lower than before. In practice, a dehumidifier sold as a "70-pint" before 2019 is about a "50-pint" today. Nothing about the hardware got weaker; the yardstick got more honest. So do not be alarmed that today's top units top out around 50 pints. A true 50-pint (DOE) like the Frigidaire FFAD5034W1 is a serious whole-basement machine.
Match pints and square footage to your space
Bigger, damper spaces need more pints. A true 50-pint unit like the Frigidaire FFAD5034W1 or the Midea Cube 50 covers up to 4,500 sq ft, the right call for a full basement, whole-home humidity, or a persistent musty smell. A 34-pint Waykar (2,000 sq ft) or a 22-pint Frigidaire (1,500 sq ft) is a room-sized tool: a damp bathroom, closet, or single bedroom, not a basement. Undersizing is the common mistake, the unit runs constantly and never catches up. Oversizing a small room mostly just costs more upfront. When in doubt in a basement, size up.
Drainage: bucket, gravity hose, or built-in pump
There are three ways to get the water out, and you should decide this before you fixate on capacity. Bucket is simplest, but you empty it by hand, and a 1.7-gallon tank like the Frigidaire's fills fast in a wet basement. Continuous gravity drainage means attaching a hose to a floor drain, no emptying, but the drain has to sit below the unit. A built-in pump pushes water up and out, into a utility sink or out a window, when there is no low drain available. In our catalog only the Midea Cube 50 has a pump, which makes it the pick for a basement with no floor drain.
Noise and the features worth paying for
Compressor dehumidifiers hum around 45 to 51 dBA. That is fine in an unfinished basement but disruptive in a bedroom or home office. The Waykar 34 is quietest here at a manufacturer-rated 33 dBA on low (real-world runs higher), while the Vremi 50 is loudest at 51 dBA. Manufacturer numbers are low-fan figures, so expect more in practice. On features: Energy Star, and Energy Star Most Efficient on the Midea Cube 50 and Waykar 34, lowers running cost on a unit that may run for months. Wi-Fi and app control (Midea Cube) is convenient but not essential. Skip paying for a big tank if you plan to run a drain hose anyway.
Our picks for this
Extendable-tank smart Cube — runs efficiently and drains itself
$280
7.4/10
The proven 50-pint workhorse for most American basements
$260
7.2/10
Whisper-quiet 33 dB and Energy Star Most Efficient for its size
$156
7.3/10
FAQ
What size dehumidifier do I need for a basement?
For a full basement or a whole-floor musty smell, get a true 50-pint (DOE) unit rated for around 4,500 sq ft, like the Frigidaire FFAD5034W1 or the Midea Cube 50. A 34-pint covers about 2,000 sq ft, enough for a small, only slightly damp basement but not a large or wet one. When unsure, size up: an undersized unit runs nonstop and still loses.
Why is a 50-pint dehumidifier today different from a few years ago?
In 2019 the DOE changed its test condition from 80F to a cooler 65F at 60% relative humidity, closer to real basement air. Cooler air holds less moisture, so the same machine now posts a lower pint number, roughly 30 to 40 percent lower. A pre-2019 "70-pint" is about a "50-pint" today. Ignore inflated "95F" figures and compare the DOE (2019) rating.
Do I need a dehumidifier with a pump?
Only if you cannot drain by gravity. A pump pushes water up and out, into a sink or out a window, which matters when there is no floor drain below the unit. In our catalog only the Midea Cube 50 has one. If your basement has a floor drain that sits lower than the unit, a plain gravity hose does the same job for less, with no pump to fail.
How loud are dehumidifiers?
Compressor models run roughly 45 to 51 dBA, a background hum that is fine in an unfinished basement but noticeable in a bedroom. The Waykar 34 is quietest at a manufacturer-rated 33 dBA on low (real-world is higher); the Vremi 50 is loudest at 51 dBA. Manufacturer figures are low-fan numbers, so expect more in practice. Weigh noise heavily only if people share the space.
See the full ranking
Every dehumidifier we track, scored on moisture removal, noise and energy use.
Best dehumidifiers of 2026