Best Dehumidifiers (2026): 8 Picks for Basements, Bedrooms and Bathrooms

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A musty smell when you open the basement door, a towel that never quite dries, beads of water on the inside of the bedroom window on a cold morning. These are the everyday signs that the air in part of your home holds more moisture than it should. Left alone, damp air feeds mold, warps wood and makes a room feel clammy even when the thermostat says it is warm.

This guide compares eight dehumidifiers on Amazon so you can find the best dehumidifier for the space you actually have: a 50-pint basement unit, two models with built-in pumps, a large-room ENERGY STAR pick, a mid-size unit for bedrooms and living rooms, a compact Cube for apartments, a mini model for small bathrooms and a cordless absorber for closets. Every capacity, wattage, coverage and noise figure below comes from the product listings, and we say “not stated” when a listing leaves something out.

You also get the parts most roundups skip: a pint-size chart by square footage and dampness (based on ENERGY STAR guidance), the humidity range to aim for, a simple way to estimate what a dehumidifier costs to run, where to put it, how to set up a drain hose or pump, and a cleaning schedule. If your problem is the opposite, dry winter air, see our guide to the best humidifier for bedroom use instead, and for dust and allergens rather than moisture, our best air purifier for bedroom picks are sized by CADR. For a living room or finished basement, our air purifier for large room guide covers bigger spaces.

Comparison table: capacity, coverage, drain and power

Capacity figures are the manufacturer’s numbers. Note that brands do not all test the same way: the Midea and GE ratings read like standard daily ratings, while Waykar quotes 80 pints at 95°F and 90 percent humidity and hOmeLabs quotes 120 pints under the same harsh conditions (50 pints at 80°F and 60 percent). Do not compare those numbers pint for pint. Noise figures, where listed, are also the manufacturer’s; none come from our own measurements.

The 8 best dehumidifiers, reviewed by use

Each best dehumidifier pick lists capacity, coverage, tank size, how it drains, power draw and noise where the listing gives it. We grouped them by the job they do best so you can jump to your space.

1. Midea Cube 50 Pint Dehumidifier: Best Overall

2. Midea 50 Pint Dehumidifier with Pump: Best Dehumidifier with Pump

3. Waykar 80 Pints Dehumidifier: Best for Large Rooms and ENERGY STAR Efficiency

4. hOmeLabs 50 Pint Dehumidifier with Pump: Best for Very Large or Wet Basements

5. GE 35 Pint Dehumidifier: Best Mid-Size for Bedrooms and Living Rooms

6. Midea Cube 20 Pint Dehumidifier: Best Quiet Dehumidifier for Bedroom and Apartments

7. Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier: Best Small Dehumidifier for Bathroom

8. Eva-Dry E-333 Wireless Mini Dehumidifier: Best Cordless for Closets and Cabinets

What size dehumidifier do I need? Pint chart by room size and dampness

“What size dehumidifier do I need?” is the question that decides whether a unit fixes the problem or runs nonstop without catching up. ENERGY STAR says capacity depends on two things: the size of the space and how damp it is before you start. It also advises that it is better to oversize than undersize. Use the condition column to describe your space honestly, then read across to your square footage.

The ranges for under 2,000 and over 2,000 square feet follow the ENERGY STAR sizing chart for portable dehumidifiers; the narrower square-footage columns are our own interpolation to make the chart easier to use. If you are replacing an old dehumidifier, ENERGY STAR suggests judging by how much water you empty each day. Remember that capacity ratings changed under the newer federal test (run at 65°F rather than 80°F), so a 50-pint unit today removes roughly what an older 70-pint label promised. The Midea Cube 20 listing, for example, says its 20 pints is similar to 30 pints under the 2012 test.

Quick picks from the chart

• Bathroom, closet or RV (under 250 sq ft): Pro Breeze Mini, or the Eva-Dry E-333 inside a closet
• Bedroom, office or apartment (up to about 1,500 sq ft, moderately damp): Midea Cube 20 Pint
• Living room, medium basement (up to 3,000 sq ft, damp): GE 35 Pint
• Typical basement, very damp: Midea Cube 50 Pint, the best dehumidifier for basement use with a floor drain nearby
• Basement with no floor drain: Midea 50 Pint with Pump or hOmeLabs 50 Pint with Pump
• Large open basement or whole floor: Waykar 80 Pints or hOmeLabs 50 Pint with Pump

Ideal indoor humidity: 30 to 50 percent

The best dehumidifier is not the one that makes the air as dry as possible. The EPA’s guide to mold and moisture recommends keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally between 30 and 50 percent. ENERGY STAR gives the same 30 to 50 percent range and adds that in colder climates during the heating season, 30 to 40 percent helps prevent window condensation. Above that range, mold has an easier time; below about 30 percent, you start to feel dry skin and static, which is when a humidifier, not a dehumidifier, is the right tool.

Set the humidistat to 45 or 50 percent to start, check a hygrometer after a few days, and lower it if the space still smells musty. All ENERGY STAR dehumidifiers include a built-in humidistat, so the unit cycles off when it reaches your target instead of running all day. The EPA also stresses that wet materials should be dried within 24 to 48 hours of a leak or spill to prevent mold, so a dehumidifier is a good partner to, not a substitute for, fixing the water source.

How much does a dehumidifier cost to run?

You can estimate running cost yourself with one formula: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours per day × your electricity rate. The result is cost per day. For the rate, look at your utility bill or use the U.S. average from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, which lists the average residential price at about 18.3 cents per kWh for July 2026. Here is the math for the picks whose listings state wattage, assuming 12 hours of compressor run time a day:

Real costs are usually lower once the room reaches your set humidity, because the compressor cycles off and only the fan or nothing runs. They are higher in a wet basement in August. Two habits cut the bill: keep doors and windows to the space closed while it runs, and choose ENERGY STAR. ENERGY STAR says certified dehumidifiers remove the same moisture as a similar conventional unit while using about 20 percent less energy. Electricity rates vary a lot by state; our guide to the average heating bill by state shows how wide the gap can be, and a smart thermostat helps you see how the rest of your HVAC is running.

Compressor vs mini (thermoelectric) vs desiccant absorber

Where to put a dehumidifier and how to set up the drain

Even the best dehumidifier underperforms in the wrong spot. Placement and drainage decide whether your new unit works quietly in the background or becomes another chore. These tips follow ENERGY STAR’s placement best practices plus each listing’s drain details.

• Give it breathing room. Units with top-mounted air discharge can sit near a wall; others should be kept away from walls and furniture so air circulates freely around the unit.
• Close the space. Shut doors and windows to the area you are drying so the unit is not trying to dehumidify the outdoors.
• Keep it out of the dust. Do not park it next to a workbench or woodworking tools; dust clogs coils and grills.
• Use a grounded outlet and keep drain hoses away from cords, outlets and electrical devices.
• Gravity drain: the hose must run downhill the whole way to a floor drain or sump. Put the unit on a sturdy stand or shelf if the drain is not far below the outlet, and keep the hose short to avoid kinks and trip hazards.
• Pump drain: a dehumidifier with pump (the Midea 50 Pint with Pump or hOmeLabs 50 Pint with Pump) can push water up into a laundry sink or out a basement window, which is the fix when there is no floor drain.
• Cold basements: if the space often sits below 65°F, ENERGY STAR notes frost can form on the coils; pick a unit with auto defrost (the Waykar, GE, Midea Cube 20 and hOmeLabs listings all mention it).
• Expect a little warmth. A dehumidifier slightly warms the air around it; that is normal.

In a bathroom, the first step is the exhaust fan or an open window during and after showers, as the EPA recommends. A mini unit like the Pro Breeze then handles the leftover dampness. Pair it with a quick-drying rug such as the one in our chenille bath rug review, a mildew-resistant liner from our best shower curtains guide, and the ventilation ideas in our spa bathroom ideas.

How to choose the best dehumidifier: 6 things to check

1. Capacity for your dampness, not just square feet

Use the pint chart above to match the best dehumidifier size to your space. A 1,000 square foot basement that smells musty all summer needs more capacity than a dry 1,000 square foot living room. When in doubt, step up one size: a larger unit reaches your target faster and cycles off sooner.

2. ENERGY STAR certification

ENERGY STAR models use more efficient coils, compressors and fans. Efficiency is measured as the integrated energy factor in liters of water removed per kWh; higher is better. In this guide the Midea Cube 50, Midea 50 Pint with Pump, Midea Cube 20 and Waykar 80 Pints list ENERGY STAR; for the others it is not stated.

3. Drainage: bucket, hose or pump

A big bucket (like the Cube’s 4.2 gallons) is fine for occasional use. For a basement that runs all season, plan on continuous drainage: a gravity hose if you have a floor drain, or the best dehumidifier with pump if you need to drain up or across the room.

4. Noise for bedrooms and living spaces

Compressor units always hum. For a quiet dehumidifier for bedroom use, look for a listed low-speed rating (the Waykar lists about 42 dB, the Midea pump unit 49 dBA on low), a large bucket so it does not stop and beep at night, or a thermoelectric mini for small rooms.

5. Humidistat range and auto restart

A setting that reaches 35 percent or lower gives you room to work; the Waykar and GE go to 30 percent. Auto restart restores your settings after a power cut, which matters for basements nobody visits daily.

6. Weight and portability

The 50-pint units weigh about 30 to 42 pounds, so the best dehumidifier for a multi-room setup may be two smaller units. If you plan to move one between rooms, wheels and handles (like the GE’s) help; otherwise pick a spot and leave it there.

Dehumidifier cleaning and maintenance schedule

hOmeLabs, for example, recommends cleaning its filter with potable water and the unit and bucket with a mild detergent. Always unplug before cleaning and follow your manual. If you find visible mold while cleaning the space itself, the EPA’s guidance on mold cleanup in your home explains when you can handle it yourself and when to call a professional.

Damp air is often a winter problem too, especially in basements and around cold windows. If you are heating a cool basement room, our best space heaters guide compares heater types and safety features; warmer air also makes a dehumidifier work more efficiently.

How we chose these dehumidifiers

We did not test these dehumidifiers hands-on. We started with what US shoppers search for when they look for the best dehumidifier (basement units, pump models, quiet bedroom units, small bathroom units and sizing questions), then read each Amazon listing for capacity, the conditions that capacity was measured at, coverage, tank size, drain options, wattage, noise, humidity range and ENERGY STAR status.

We chose a mix of compressor, thermoelectric and desiccant types from established brands, matched each one to the job its published specs suit best, and built the sizing chart and humidity guidance from ENERGY STAR and EPA sources. Where a listing does not state a figure, we say so rather than guess. Listings change, so check current details on Amazon before you buy.

Helpful resources: EPA: A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home, ENERGY STAR: Dehumidifiers and EIA: Average Price of Electricity by Sector.

Dehumidifier FAQ

What is the best dehumidifier for most homes?

For most homes, the best dehumidifier is a 50-pint ENERGY STAR unit with a drain option. Our top pick is the Midea Cube 50 Pint: it is rated for up to 4,500 sq ft, has a 4.2 gallon bucket and an included drain hose, and offers Wi-Fi control. For small rooms, the Midea Cube 20 Pint uses just 214 watts.

What size dehumidifier do I need?

To answer what size dehumidifier do I need, start with how damp the space is. ENERGY STAR suggests 20 to 30 pints for a moderately damp space under 2,000 sq ft, 25 to 40 pints if it is very damp and 30 to 50 pints if it is wet. Spaces over 2,000 sq ft need 30, 40 or 50+ pints. When unsure, size up.

What is the best dehumidifier for basement use?

The best dehumidifier for basement use is usually a 50-pint model with continuous drainage. The Midea Cube 50 Pint suits basements with a floor drain, while the Midea 50 Pint with Pump or the hOmeLabs 50 Pint with Pump can drain up into a sink or out a window when there is no floor drain. Set it to 45 to 50 percent humidity.

Is a dehumidifier with pump worth it?

A dehumidifier with pump is worth it if your basement has no floor drain or the drain sits higher than the unit. The pump pushes water up or across to a sink or window, so you never empty the bucket. If you have a floor drain below the unit, a gravity hose works and a pump is not needed.

What is a good quiet dehumidifier for bedroom use?

For a quiet dehumidifier for bedroom use, choose a unit sized to the room so it cycles off often, with a large bucket so it does not stop and beep at night. The Midea Cube 20 Pint holds 3.2 gallons and draws 214 watts; the Waykar 80 Pints is listed at about 42 dB. For very small bedrooms, the Pro Breeze Mini is described as whisper quiet.

How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier?

Multiply watts by hours, divide by 1,000 and multiply by your electricity rate. At the EIA US average of about 18.3 cents per kWh, a 490 watt 50-pint unit running 12 hours costs about 1.08 dollars a day, while a 214 watt 20-pint unit costs about 47 cents. Costs drop once the humidistat cycles the unit off.

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