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Dehumidifier Sizes: What Pint Rating You Need

Dehumidifier size is pints of water removed per day; ENERGY STAR suggests 20 to 50 pints for a room under 2,000 square feet, and ratings since 2020 run lower.

On this page
Bar chart of dehumidifiers on Wiki Shopping by stated pints per day. 50 to 99 pints is the largest group with 26 dehumidifiers, followed by 150 pints or more with 23, under 50 pints with 17 and 100 to 149 pints with 17.
Dehumidifiers on Wiki Shopping by stated capacity, from our listing data on October 27, 2026. Chart by Wiki Shopping.

The short answer

A dehumidifier's size is its capacity: how many pints of water it can pull out of the air in 24 hours. Pick it from two things, the size of the space and how damp it is. ENERGY STAR's sizing table and its advice that it is better to oversize than undersize are the simplest guide.

Sizing chart

ENERGY STAR gives these capacities, in pints per day, by how damp the space is without a dehumidifier:

How damp the space isRoom under 2,000 sq ftRoom over 2,000 sq ft
Slightly to moderately damp (50 to 75% humidity)20 to 30 pints30+ pints
Very damp (75 to 90% humidity)25 to 40 pints40+ pints
Wet (90 to 100% humidity)30 to 50 pints50+ pints

If you are replacing an old unit, ENERGY STAR suggests estimating from how much water you empty from the bucket each day.

Why pint ratings dropped in 2020

If you shopped for a dehumidifier years ago, today's numbers look smaller. The unit did not shrink; the test changed. ENERGY STAR explains that the Department of Energy test now runs portable units at 65°F instead of 80°F, closer to a basement, and cooler air holds less water. Lower ratings began appearing in early 2020.

ENERGY STAR lists these approximate matches for portable units:

Old rating (through 2019)New rating (2020 on)
30 pints20 pints
40 pints25 pints
50 pints30 pints
60 pints35 pints
70 pints40 to 45 pints
90 pints55 pints

So an old "70 pint" model and a new 40 to 45 pint model can remove about the same amount of water. ENERGY STAR notes the change varies by model, and the maker can confirm the exact figure. When you compare listings, check whether a rating is under the old or new test.

Efficiency and cold rooms

ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifiers use 20% less energy than standard units that remove the same amount of moisture. Efficiency is rated in liters of water removed per kWh; a higher number is better. 24 dehumidifiers on Wiki Shopping list ENERGY STAR.

For a space that often drops below 65°F, such as a basement in winter, ENERGY STAR suggests a unit rated for low temperatures or one with an anti-frost sensor. For a whole house in a humid climate with central air, it suggests a whole-home unit sized by an HVAC professional.

What Wiki Shopping lists

Of the 90 dehumidifiers listed on Wiki Shopping on October 27, 2026, the stated capacities split like this:

Larger units include 37 listed as commercial or industrial and 10 listed as LGR models. For draining, 39 come with a drain hose and 32 with a pump.

How we count

Capacity, type and features are read from each dehumidifier's store listing on Wiki Shopping. Listings that do not state a spec are left out of that count, and one listing can show several features. The counts change as listings are added or removed.

Shop by spec

Dehumidifiers

GESpec score 7.7

Under 50 pints

+Suited to basements, bedrooms and bathrooms
+Includes a drain hose for continuous drainage
+Covers up to 3,000 sq ft of area
−Capacity under 50 pints is less suited to very damp basements
$215.99-13%List: $249.00
as of 11/03/2026 23:09 PST - Details
WhirlpoolSpec score 7.7

Under 50 pints

+Energy Star certified for efficient operation
+Compact design for smaller rooms
+Under 50 pints capacity suits typical room sizes
−Capacity limited to under 50 pints per day
−Not suited to large or commercial spaces
$229.99
as of 11/04/2026 07:42 PST - Details
LGSpec score 8.2

50 to 99 pints

+Wi-Fi connectivity for remote control
+Suitable for basements
+Capacity of 50 to 99 pints per day
$289.99
as of 11/03/2026 23:58 PST - Details
See all 90 in Dehumidifiers ›