Dehumidifier Sizing

22 pints for 2,000 sq ft above-grade room — Slightly–Moderately damp

Modeled from DOE/ENERGY STAR guidance; see methodology.

Recommendation: 22 pints/day (35‑pint class)

  • Space type: Above-grade Room
  • Size: 2,000 sq ft
  • Moisture condition: Slightly–Moderately damp

When to size up

If borderline or cooler than ~68°F, step up one class for margin.

Portable dehumidifiers are rated at 65°F under DOE 2019/2020. Cooler air reduces capacity; basements and crawls often benefit from moving up one class.

What 22 pints/day means for this above-grade room

  • Old-label equivalent: about 30 pints on a pre-2019 (80°F AHAM) box. Ratings shrank when DOE moved testing to 65°F, so ignore old charts that list bigger numbers (why).
  • Water removed at rated output: about 2.8 gallons a day. Most bucket units need emptying at least daily at that rate, so a drain hose or condensate pump is worth it if you will run it continuously.
  • Capacity density: 11.0 pints per 1,000 sq ft, versus 26 pints/day for a basement and 26 pints/day for a crawl of the same size and dampness.
  • If it gets wetter: very damp conditions push this to 27 pints/day (35–50‑pint class).

Compare nearby sizes

FAQ

What size dehumidifier for a 2,000 sq ft above-grade room that is slightly–moderately damp?

About 22 pints/day under current DOE (65°F) ratings, which puts you in the 35-pint class. On older pre-2019 labels that is roughly 30 pints.

How much water will it pull out each day?

At rated output about 2.8 gallons (22 pints) per day; real output is lower once humidity drops toward your setpoint.