Best Dehumidifier on Amazon
Dehumidifier pint ratings fell in 2019 because the test changed — the machines did not. A DOE final rule moved the capacity test from 80°F to 65°F at 60% relative humidity, much closer to a real basement. Cooler air holds less moisture, so the identical machine condenses fewer pints and earns a lower number. As a general pattern, a pre-2019 "70-pint" is today's "40–45-pint", and a pre-2019 "50-pint" is today's "30–35". So if you are replacing an old unit, today's 50-pint models are a step up, not a downgrade. Best for a damp basement: Frigidaire FFAP5033U1 (ENERGY STAR, low-temperature rated). Best value: hOmeLabs 1871. Mid-size: Midea DH35AW. Small room: Frigidaire FFAD2233W1.
Square footage alone cannot size a dehumidifier. AHAM's chart needs the space's square footage and its dampness level — moderately damp, very damp, wet, or extremely wet — at a standard 8-foot ceiling. A box claiming "4,500 sq ft" is quietly assuming a dampness level, usually the lightest one. See how many pints do I need? and what square-footage coverage means.
Old badge vs today's badge
| Pre-2019 rating (80°F test) | Same machine today (65°F test) | DOE product class |
|---|---|---|
| 30-pint | 20-pint | Class 1 (≤25.00 pt/day) |
| 40-pint | 25-pint | Class 2 (25.01–50.00 pt/day) |
| 50-pint | 30-pint | Class 2 (25.01–50.00 pt/day) |
| 60-pint | 35-pint | Class 3 (>50.00 pt/day) |
| 70-pint | 40–45-pint | Class 3 (>50.00 pt/day) |
| 90-pint | 55-pint | Class 3 (>50.00 pt/day) |
A general reduction in the neighbourhood of 30–40% — but not a fixed conversion constant; the exact percentage varies by model. Use this to interpret old marketing, not to compute a specific unit's capacity. Full row-by-row table: The Pint Rating Conversion Index. Background: why pint ratings dropped, the DOE test procedure, and is a new 50-pint the same as an old 70-pint?
Ceiling height changes the answer too
| Ceiling height | AHAM adjustment |
|---|---|
| 8 ft | Baseline — what the AHAM chart assumes |
| 9 ft | ~1.13× |
| 12 ft | ~1.5× |
Best for a large or cold basement: Frigidaire FFAP5033U1
ENERGY STAR-certified 50-pint (2019) unit rated for low-temperature basement operation, which many budget compressor units are not.
Best for: Cold basements (below ~65°F) where standard compressor dehumidifiers can frost over. Watch out: Low-temperature-rated compressor units cost more than standard models — if your basement stays above ~65°F year-round, you likely don't need this feature and could save with a standard-range unit.
See best basement dehumidifier, can one work in a cold basement?, and do I need a pump?
Best value at 50-pint: hOmeLabs 1871
A widely-available 50-pint (2019) unit with a large advertised square-footage claim at a lower price than the smart-connected competitors.
Watch out: The '4,500 sq ft' coverage claim on the box assumes a lighter dampness level than 'wet' — cross-check against the AHAM sizing table by actual moisture condition, not just square footage, before buying.
Best mid-size: Midea DH35AW
ENERGY STAR certification plus a digital humidistat at a competitive price for the 35-pint (2019) class.
Watch out: No built-in pump on this model — gravity or manual bucket emptying only unless you buy the pump variant, which changes the price band.
On a tighter budget, Vremi 1595 (30-pint) — A budget mid-capacity unit with a 24-hour timer and continuous-drain hose port for basement use without daily tank emptying. Watch out: Not all listings clearly state whether the '30-pint' figure is 2019-tested — verify in the spec sheet, since a pre-2019-tested '30-pint' badge would mean meaningfully less real capacity. That verification step matters more in this category than almost any other, precisely because of the 2019 change. See best mid-size dehumidifier.
Best small: Frigidaire FFAD2233W1
One of the few small-capacity units with genuine ENERGY STAR certification under the current 65°F test, so the number on the box is directly comparable across brands.
Watch out: The 22-pint rating is a 2019-test number — if you're replacing an old pre-2019 unit rated '30-pint,' this is roughly the equivalent capacity, not a downgrade, but the tank fills faster than a legacy '30-pint' machine's marketing implied.
Budget alternative: hOmeLabs DH20 (20-pint) — A straightforward, inexpensive small-capacity unit with a continuous-drain option for set-and-forget use in a closet or crawlspace. Watch out: Not ENERGY STAR certified on this model — check the specific listing's IEF before assuming best-in-class efficiency, and the manual humidistat is less precise than a digital one. See best small dehumidifier.
Why the efficiency numbers are not comparable either
IEF (Integrated Energy Factor) replaced the older EF metric alongside the 2019 test change, and unlike EF it counts the energy a unit draws while cycled off. So a pre-2019 EF figure and a current IEF figure are not apples to apples. ENERGY STAR certification — and the newer Most Efficient tier — is based on IEF rather than raw pint capacity, which means a smaller unit can be more efficient per pint removed than a bigger one. See what IEF is and what "Most Efficient" means.
Whole-home units use a different scale entirely
A whole-home ducted dehumidifier that can tie into existing ductwork to condition an entire basement or main floor from one unit.
Watch out: Whole-home units use a SEPARATE DOE product class and pint scale from portable units (see our conversion table) — a whole-home '85-pint' is not directly comparable to a portable '85-pint' rating, and installation typically needs a professional.
DOE splits portables into Class 1 (≤25.00 pt/day), Class 2 (25.01–50.00) and Class 3 (>50.00). Whole-home and ducted units sit in a separate class with their own pint scale, so the numbers do not cross-compare.
The picks
Research-based picks (how we evaluate), from published 2019 DOE ratings, ENERGY STAR certification status and AHAM sizing guidance — not hands-on moisture testing. Live Amazon search links, no prices or ratings, an honest drawback on each.
Frigidaire FFAD2233W1
22-pint (2019 DOE rating), ~1,500 sq ft moderately damp, ENERGY STAR certified, built-in pump option
One of the few small-capacity units with genuine ENERGY STAR certification under the current 65°F test, so the number on the box is directly comparable across brands.
Best for: Small-to-mid bedrooms, bathrooms, or closets in a moderately damp home
Watch out: The 22-pint rating is a 2019-test number — if you're replacing an old pre-2019 unit rated '30-pint,' this is roughly the equivalent capacity, not a downgrade, but the tank fills faster than a legacy '30-pint' machine's marketing implied.
Check price on AmazonNot deciding today? Add it to your cart over there — Amazon keeps it saved (and flags any price change) until you're ready.
hOmeLabs DH20 (20-pint)
20-pint (2019 DOE rating), ~1,000-1,500 sq ft, continuous drain hose option, manual humidistat
A straightforward, inexpensive small-capacity unit with a continuous-drain option for set-and-forget use in a closet or crawlspace.
Best for: Budget buyers cooling a single damp room who don't need smart controls
Watch out: Not ENERGY STAR certified on this model — check the specific listing's IEF before assuming best-in-class efficiency, and the manual humidistat is less precise than a digital one.
Check price on AmazonNot deciding today? Add it to your cart over there — Amazon keeps it saved (and flags any price change) until you're ready.
GE TTW20AW (20-pint)
20-pint (2019 DOE rating), compact footprint, electronic controls, washable filter
A compact, name-brand small unit with electronic controls and a washable filter for basic upkeep.
Best for: Apartments and small bedrooms wanting a recognizable brand at 20-pint capacity
Watch out: 20-pint (2019 rating) is genuinely small-room capacity — don't size this for a basement or multi-room space even though it may be labeled as a direct swap for an old '30-pint' unit.
Check price on AmazonNot deciding today? Add it to your cart over there — Amazon keeps it saved (and flags any price change) until you're ready.
GE TAD50EXT-equivalent 35-pint
35-pint (2019 DOE rating), ~2,000 sq ft very damp, ENERGY STAR certified, built-in pump, smart app control
ENERGY STAR-certified at the 35-pint (2019) tier with a built-in condensate pump, letting you drain uphill into a sink instead of emptying a bucket.
Best for: Living rooms or small basements at the 'very damp' AHAM level
Watch out: This is the modern equivalent of what used to be marketed as a '50-pint' unit before 2019 — if a listing calls it '50-pint' anywhere, confirm which test standard that number uses before comparing it to a genuinely 2019-tested 35-pint model.
Check price on AmazonNot deciding today? Add it to your cart over there — Amazon keeps it saved (and flags any price change) until you're ready.
Vremi 1595 (30-pint)
30-pint (2019 DOE rating), ~1,500-2,000 sq ft, continuous drain hose, 24-hour timer
A budget mid-capacity unit with a 24-hour timer and continuous-drain hose port for basement use without daily tank emptying.
Best for: Budget buyers with a moderately damp basement or large bedroom
Watch out: Not all listings clearly state whether the '30-pint' figure is 2019-tested — verify in the spec sheet, since a pre-2019-tested '30-pint' badge would mean meaningfully less real capacity.
Check price on AmazonNot deciding today? Add it to your cart over there — Amazon keeps it saved (and flags any price change) until you're ready.
Midea DH35AW (35-pint)
35-pint (2019 DOE rating), ~2,000-2,500 sq ft, ENERGY STAR certified, washable filter, digital humidistat
ENERGY STAR certification plus a digital humidistat at a competitive price for the 35-pint (2019) class.
Best for: Buyers wanting certified efficiency without paying for a built-in pump
Watch out: No built-in pump on this model — gravity or manual bucket emptying only unless you buy the pump variant, which changes the price band.
Check price on AmazonNot deciding today? Add it to your cart over there — Amazon keeps it saved (and flags any price change) until you're ready.
Midea MAD50S1WWB-equivalent 50-pint
50-pint (2019 DOE rating), ~3,000-4,000 sq ft wet, ENERGY STAR Most Efficient, built-in pump, smart app + Alexa
Carries the ENERGY STAR 'Most Efficient' distinction (a higher bar than base ENERGY STAR) at the current 50-pint (2019) rating, with smart-home integration.
Best for: Wet basements or crawlspaces per the AHAM chart, where efficiency matters because the unit runs often
Watch out: This 50-pint (2019) unit is the rough equivalent of what was marketed as a '70-pint' machine before 2019 — if you're replacing an old 70-pint unit, this is likely the right size, not a downgrade, but confirm against your actual square footage and dampness level, not just the number.
Check price on AmazonNot deciding today? Add it to your cart over there — Amazon keeps it saved (and flags any price change) until you're ready.
hOmeLabs 1871 (50-pint)
50-pint (2019 DOE rating), ~4,500 sq ft, continuous drain hose, washable filter, 24-hour timer
A widely-available 50-pint (2019) unit with a large advertised square-footage claim at a lower price than the smart-connected competitors.
Best for: Budget buyers with a large damp basement who don't need app control
Watch out: The '4,500 sq ft' coverage claim on the box assumes a lighter dampness level than 'wet' — cross-check against the AHAM sizing table by actual moisture condition, not just square footage, before buying.
Check price on AmazonNot deciding today? Add it to your cart over there — Amazon keeps it saved (and flags any price change) until you're ready.
Frigidaire FFAP5033U1 (50-pint)
50-pint (2019 DOE rating), ~4,500 sq ft, ENERGY STAR certified, built-in pump, low-temperature operation
ENERGY STAR-certified 50-pint (2019) unit rated for low-temperature basement operation, which many budget compressor units are not.
Best for: Cold basements (below ~65°F) where standard compressor dehumidifiers can frost over
Watch out: Low-temperature-rated compressor units cost more than standard models — if your basement stays above ~65°F year-round, you likely don't need this feature and could save with a standard-range unit.
Check price on AmazonNot deciding today? Add it to your cart over there — Amazon keeps it saved (and flags any price change) until you're ready.
Browse dehumidifiers on Amazon
Which should you buy?
Large or wet basement: Frigidaire FFAP5033U1 — especially if it runs
cold.
Same capacity, lower price: hOmeLabs 1871.
Mid-size room, certified efficiency: Midea DH35AW.
Bedroom, bathroom or closet: Frigidaire FFAD2233W1.
Whole house: a ducted unit — and ignore the pint number when comparing it to
portables.
Replacing a pre-2019 unit: today's 50-pint is roughly your old 70-pint.
Never size on: square footage alone, or a pre-2019 pint badge.
Capacity and coverage specifications describe moisture-removal performance only. They are not claims about mould prevention or any health outcome — for questions about mould and indoor air quality, consult the EPA, your local health department, or a qualified indoor air quality professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
For a large or damp basement, the Frigidaire FFAP5033U1 — a 50-pint 2019-rated unit that is ENERGY STAR certified and rated for low-temperature operation, which many budget compressors are not. For value at the same capacity, the hOmeLabs 1871. For a mid-size space, the Midea DH35AW pairs ENERGY STAR certification with a digital humidistat. For a bedroom or bathroom, the Frigidaire FFAD2233W1. Remember that these 2019-rated pint numbers are not comparable to pre-2019 ratings.
Because the test changed, not the machines. In a final rule published on 13 June 2016, the US Department of Energy changed how portable dehumidifier capacity is measured for units manufactured on or after 13 June 2019. The test moved from 80°F at 60% relative humidity to 65°F at 60% — much closer to a real basement. Cooler air holds less moisture, so the identical physical machine condenses fewer pints during the test and earns a lower official rating, even though nothing about the hardware changed.
Roughly, yes — that is the practical effect of the 2019 test change. As a general pattern, a machine that would have earned about a 50-pint badge before 2019 now earns roughly 30 to 35 pints, and one that earned about 70-pint now earns roughly 40 to 45. That is a reduction in the neighbourhood of 30 to 40 percent. It is not a fixed conversion constant, though — the exact percentage varies by model, so treat the table as a guide for interpreting old marketing rather than arithmetic to apply to a specific unit.
Its physical capacity has not changed. An old unit badged 70-pint under the pre-2019 test removes the same amount of moisture it always did; it would simply be labelled around 40 to 45 pints if tested today. So a pre-2019 machine is not secretly underpowered. What has changed is that you cannot compare its badge to a new unit's badge directly, and its efficiency figure is also not comparable, because IEF replaced the older EF metric at the same time.
Square footage alone cannot answer this. AHAM's sizing chart takes two inputs: the space's square footage and its dampness level — moderately damp, very damp, wet, or extremely wet — assuming a standard 8-foot ceiling. Taller ceilings need more capacity, with AHAM's own adjustment factors running about 1.13 times at 9 feet up to 1.5 times at 12 feet. A box claiming coverage of 4,500 square feet is assuming a dampness level, and it is usually the lightest one.
Integrated Energy Factor, the efficiency metric that replaced the older Energy Factor alongside the 2019 test change. Unlike EF, IEF accounts for the energy a dehumidifier uses even while cycled off — its standby draw. That is why efficiency comparisons between a pre-2019 EF-rated unit and a current IEF-rated one are not apples to apples either. ENERGY STAR certification, including the newer Most Efficient tier, is based on IEF rather than raw pint capacity, so a smaller unit can be more efficient per pint removed than a larger one.
A standard compressor dehumidifier can frost over in cold conditions, which is why some models are specifically rated for low-temperature operation — the Frigidaire FFAP5033U1 is one. Those units cost more. If your basement stays above roughly 65°F year-round you likely do not need the feature and can save by choosing a standard-range model. It is worth noting that the 2019 test itself runs at 65°F precisely because that is closer to real basement conditions than the old 80°F test was.
No. DOE splits portable dehumidifiers into three product classes by capacity — Class 1 at 25.00 pints per day or less, Class 2 from 25.01 to 50.00, and Class 3 above 50.00 — while whole-home and ducted units are tested and rated under a separate product class with its own pint scale entirely. A whole-home 85-pint figure is not directly comparable to a portable 85-pint figure, and whole-home installation typically requires a professional.