Portable or room dehumidifiers effectively manage humidity in various rooms and spaces around your home. If you need to buy a portable dehumidifier, the first question you may ask yourself is, "What size dehumidifier do I need?" Answering this question is simple—if you have the right information.
Grow rooms, musical instrument storage rooms, wine cellars, and art rooms are other places where a room dehumidifier can be useful.
Read on to learn how to choose the right size dehumidifier for your needs.
- How Dehumidifiers Are Sized
- Dehumidifier Sizing Chart
- Room Size vs. Room Conditions
- Consider a Desiccant Dehumidifier
- Find the Right Dehumidifier for You
- Additional Room Conditions to Consider
How Dehumidifiers Are Sized
Dehumidifiers are sized, or categorized, by the unit's total moisture removal capacity, which is rated in pints of moisture removed per day (24-hour period). A dehumidifier's capacity loosely indicates how large of a space it will cover in square feet. So, if you know the square footage of the area you need to dehumidify, you can get a good idea of the capacity, or size, you will need.
For example, when you see a 30-pint dehumidifier, you're looking at a model that's rated to remove 30 pints of moisture total per day at testing conditions. The updated testing conditions are 65 degrees F and 60 percent humidity. Previously, dehumidifiers were tested under 60 degrees F and 80 percent humidity, but those testing standards were updated in 2020 to reflect more real-world conditions. See this blog post for more information on new testing standards.
Dehumidifier Sizing Chart
To find the capacity for a single room like a basement or office, match the square footage of your space to the humidity conditions in your room.
For larger areas like basements, crawl spaces, or whole house applications, you'll want to choose a dehumidifier based on whether your building is loosely, moderately, or tightly sealed.
| Dehumidifier Sizing Chart | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conditions in your Space | 300 sq.ft. | 500 sq.ft. | 800 sq.ft. | 1,200 sq.ft. |
| Slightly Damp 50-60% Humidity Air feels slightly heavy |
20 pint | 25-30 pint | 35-40 pint | 50 pint |
| Moderately Damp 60-70% Humidity Occasional musty odor |
20 pint | 25-30 pint | 35-40 pint | 50 pint |
| Very Damp 70-80% Humidity Wet spots on walls & floor |
25 pint | 30 pint | 45 pint | 55 pint |
| Wet 80-100% RH Seepage/ some mold |
25-30 pint | 35-40 pint | 45-50 pint | 60 pint |
| Basement, Crawl Space, Whole House Dehumidifier Sizing | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building Conditions | 70-80 pints | 75-100 pints | 100-155 pints | |
| Loosely Sealed | up to 1,800 sq.ft. | up to 2,200 sq.ft. | up to 3,600 sq.ft. | |
| Moderately Sealed | up to 2,200 sq.ft. | up to 2,600 sq.ft. | up to 4,000 sq.ft. | |
| Tightly Sealed | up to 2,600 sq.ft. | up to 3,000 sq.ft. | up to 4,400 sq.ft. | |
Ready to find yours? Find the perfect dehumidifier for your space.
Room Size vs. Room Conditions
Choosing a room dehumidifier based on the size of your space and its capacity alone isn't enough. To find the very best solution, you'll also need to consider your room's conditions.
Start by asking yourself, "How damp is my space?" If it's only a little damp, you can probably stick with the rated capacity for your square footage. If you're dealing with an extremely wet space, you'll definitely need a large capacity unit. To help determine the relative humidity in a specific room, you can use a hygrometer to monitor the humidity level.
For example, a model that removes 50 pints of water when the air is saturated is less powerful than a model able to remove 50 pints of water at standard room conditions (65 degrees F, 60 percent humidity).
Consider a Desiccant Dehumidifier
There are cases when a different type of dehumidifier other than one with a compressor and refrigerant may be needed. This is true for spaces where draining the unit is difficult or where temperatures drop below freezing during the winter, such as outbuildings and storage areas, utility houses, and barns or stables. This article, with frequently asked questions about desiccant dehumidifiers, can help you determine if this may be a better option for you.
Find the Right Dehumidifier
Once you know which size dehumidifier you need, it's time to find yours
- Small Rooms (up to 499 sq. ft.)
- Medium Rooms (500-999 sq. ft.)
- Large Rooms (1,000+ sq. ft.)
- Crawl space dehumidifiers
Ready to shop for a room dehumidifier? Two of our most popular dehumidifiers are Danby and Friedrich, which have models for a variety of rooms, while Santa Fe dehumidifiers offer powerful, reliable units for crawl spaces and basements.
Additional Room Conditions to Consider
If any of the factors below are true for you, you should choose a unit with a higher capacity.
- If your home is located in a humid climate, add 10 pints.
- If multiple people live or will spend time in the space, add 5 pints.
- If there are multiple doors and windows in the space, add 5 pints.
- If there's a washer and dryer nearby, add 5 pints.
In Summary
To determine the right size dehumidifier you need, consider the size and dampness of your space, using a hygrometer if necessary. After this, you'll be able to determine the correct pint capacity dehumidifier to handle the humidity in your room. Our chart will help.
Still Have Questions?
We know choosing a dehumidifier isn't easy. To learn more about dehumidifiers, visit our Dehumidifier Knowledge Center. You can also shop for basement, crawl space, and whole-house dehumidifiers.
Not sure what's best for you? We can take the guesswork out of decision-making. Call us at 1-800-934-9194. We want to help make your indoors healthy and comfortable.
