22 pints for 1,000 sq ft basement — Very damp
Modeled from DOE/ENERGY STAR guidance; see methodology.
Recommendation: 22 pints/day (35‑pint class)
- Space type: Basement
- Size: 1,000 sq ft
- Moisture condition: Very 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 22 pints/day means for this basement
- 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 here.
- Capacity density: 22.0 pints per 1,000 sq ft, versus 17 pints/day for a above-grade room and 24 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 26 pints/day (35–50‑pint class).
- If it gets wetter: wet conditions push this to 30 pints/day (50‑pint class).
Compare nearby sizes
- Same basement, other sizes: 500 sq ft (14 pints/day) · 1,500 sq ft (26 pints/day) · 2,000 sq ft (32 pints/day)
- Same size, other dampness: Slightly–Moderately damp (18 pints/day) · Wet (30 pints/day)
- Same size and dampness, other spaces: Above-grade Room (17 pints/day) · Crawl (24 pints/day)
- Pick interactively: pint capacity picker
FAQ
What size dehumidifier for a 1,000 sq ft basement that is very 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.