18 pints for 1,000 sq ft basement — Slightly–Moderately damp

Recommendation: 18 pints/day (35‑pint class)

• Space type: Basement
• Size: 1,000 sq ft
• Moisture condition: Slightly–Moderately damp

When to size up

If the space often stays below ~68°F, connects to other damp rooms, or you see frequent condensation, consider sizing up from 35‑pint class to the next class.

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 18 pints/day means for this basement

• Old-label equivalent: about 25 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 2.3 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: 18.0 pints per 1,000 sq ft, versus 14 pints/day for a above-grade room and 18 pints/day for a crawl of the same size and dampness.
• If the space is larger: 1,500 sq ft at the same dampness needs 22 pints/day (35‑pint class).
• If it gets wetter: very damp conditions push this to 22 pints/day (35‑pint class).

Compare nearby sizes

• Same basement, other sizes: 500 sq ft (12 pints/day) · 1,500 sq ft (22 pints/day) · 2,000 sq ft (26 pints/day)
• Same size, other dampness: Very damp (22 pints/day) · Wet (30 pints/day)
• Same size and dampness, other spaces: Above-grade Room (14 pints/day) · Crawl (18 pints/day)
• Pick interactively: pint capacity picker

FAQ

What size dehumidifier for a 1,000 sq ft basement that is slightly–moderately damp?

About 18 pints/day under current DOE (65°F) ratings, which puts you in the 35-pint class. On older pre-2019 labels that is roughly 25 pints.

How much water will it pull out each day?

At rated output about 2.3 gallons (18 pints) per day; real output is lower once humidity drops toward your setpoint.