What Size Dehumidifier Do I Need?

From funky smells to suspicious discolored patches, dampness can wreak havoc with your comfort and health. A dehumidifier helps tackle dampness by extracting moisture from the air, preventing it from damaging your home's walls, ceilings and floors and inhibiting mold growth.

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While interpreting dehumidifier sizes can feel like learning another language, some basic knowledge can help you choose the right dehumidifier for your square footage and wave goodbye to moldy, musty rooms.

How Are Dehumidifiers Sized?

Generally, dehumidifier size refers to the quantity of water a unit can remove from the air in 24 hours, not the physical size of the device. For example, a 20-pint dehumidifier can remove 20 pints of water per day.

While high-capacity dehumidifiers for larger spaces often have larger dimensions than those designed for smaller areas, this isn't always the case. Therefore, you should check your dehumidifier's size rating to determine whether it's right for your home instead of relying on the physical dimensions.

What Do Pints and Square Footage Represent?

When it comes to dehumidifier size, "pints" represents the amount of water the unit can extract from the air in a day. Remember that the tank capacity doesn't relate to the extraction rate. For example, a 12-pint dehumidifier may have a 6-pint tank. In this scenario, you'll likely need to empty the tank once or twice per day during peak operation.

Dehumidifiers often come with recommended square footage ratings. These ratings can help you understand how large an area the dehumidifier can handle. You can calculate the square footage of your room by measuring the length and width and multiplying them together. For instance, a 10x10 room measures 100 square feet.

What Size Dehumidifier Do I Need?

The most suitable dehumidifier size depends on the size of your room and how damp it is. If your room feels moderately damp or humid, the following dehumidifier sizes should be sufficient:

• 500-square-foot room: 10-pint dehumidifier

• 1,000-square-foot room: 14-pint dehumidifier

• 1,500-square-foot room: 18-pint dehumidifier

• 2,000-square-foot room: 22-pint dehumidifier

You'll need a larger dehumidifier to tackle very damp or wet spaces because the unit must extract more moisture from the air per day. If your room is very damp, you'll notice a constant musty odor and visible damp patches on the walls, floors and ceilings. Very damp spaces usually require at least a 12-pint dehumidifier, and you may need to increase the size up to 32 pints for extra-large rooms.

Fourteen- to 38-pint dehumidifiers are suitable for wet spaces. A room counts as wet if you notice water droplets on the walls, floors and ceilings. An HVAC professional can recommend the best dehumidifier size for your room dimensions and damp levels if you're unsure.

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Do I Need More Than One Dehumidifier?

Whether you need more than one dehumidifier depends on several factors, including the size and layout of your home and the scale of your dampness problem. One dehumidifier could be enough if you only experience dampness in one part of your house. For example, a dehumidifier for your basement could be all you need if the rest of your house is dry. A single dehumidifier is often sufficient in small apartments and studios, especially those with open-plan layouts that allow good air circulation.

However, you'll likely need multiple units if you have widespread dampness issues in a larger home with multiple floors and closed-off rooms. A single dehumidifier will usually struggle in these types of homes because the air can't circulate as freely. In this situation, you may require a dehumidifier in every room with a dampness problem or a dehumidifier per floor.

Alternatively, whole-house dehumidifiers are a practical option for multi-floor homes. These units integrate with your existing HVAC system and remove moisture from the air as it flows through your ductwork. While whole-house units are often more expensive to purchase and install, they could cost significantly less to run over time than multiple smaller units.