Whole-house
21 certified models
Installed on the air ducts, usually by a contractor. Rated 52–172 pints a day.
Capacity
52–172 pintsMedian efficiency
2.35 L/kWhPer 100 pints in the United States
$3.69Average lifetime
19 yearsSide by side
The two kinds, side by side
Portable
461 certified models
Plugs in and dries the space it stands in. Rated 2–50 pints a day.
Capacity
2–50 pintsMedian efficiency
2.01 L/kWhPer 100 pints in the United States
$4.31Average lifetime
11 yearsHow much water2 of 2 differ
Capacity rangeDOE 2019 test
52–172 pintsHigher
2–50 pints
Median capacity
65 pints
32 pints
Efficiency and running cost5 of 5 differ
Median efficiency (IEF)Liters removed per kWh. Higher is better
2.35 L/kWhHigher
2.01 L/kWh
Top efficiency on the list
3.26 L/kWh
2.24 L/kWh
Federal minimum10 CFR 430.32, units made since 2019
1.77 or 2.41 L/kWh
1.30 to 2.80 L/kWh
Cost to remove 100 pintsAt the median efficiency and the selected price
$3.69Lower
$4.31
Cost a yearEPA yearly estimate, median
Not comparable
$63
Install and use4 of 4 differ
DuctsFederal definition
Works with ducting
Works without ducts
Who sizes and installs itENERGY STAR guidance
A contractor
You, from the EPA sizing table
Where the water goesENERGY STAR guidance
A drain, or a condensate pump
The bucket, or a hose to a drain
Wi-Fi app
0 of 21
34 of 461
Lifetime1 of 1 differ
Average lifetimeDOE estimate, 2016
19 yearsLonger
11 years
Not published by our sourcesAsk the seller
Noise, dB(A)
Not published
Not published
Installed price
Not published
Not published
Warranty
Not published
Not published
Medians of the certified models sold in the United States (EPA list, Oct 15, 2026). Whole-house yearly figures on the EPA list follow no common method, so we compare by efficiency. Lifetimes come from the DOE final rule on dehumidifier standards, Federal Register, June 13, 2016, and prices from the EIA.
Before you order
Check before you buy
0 of 4 checked
Questions
Can a portable dehumidifier dry a whole house?
ENERGY STAR sizes portables by floor area, under and over 2,000 sq ft. In a humid climate, for a home with central air, it points to a whole-house unit instead, especially when humidity reads above 55% all through.
ENERGY STAR, Dehumidifiers buying guidance, read Oct 5, 2026Does a whole-house dehumidifier need ductwork?
By the federal definition, yes: it works with ducts that bring air to it and carry the dried air to one or more rooms. A portable works within the space, without ducts, though some accept an optional duct.
10 CFR 430.2, as of Jan 1, 2025Which costs less to run?
Per pint removed, the whole-house unit, at the median: $3.69 to remove 100 pints in the United States, against $4.31 for a portable. Your total depends on how much water your home gives off.
EPA list, Oct 15, 2026 · EIAHow long does each kind last?
The Department of Energy puts the average lifetime at about 11 years for a portable and 19 for a whole-house unit. It made that estimate when it set today’s efficiency standards.
DOE final rule on dehumidifier standards, Federal Register, June 13, 2016Related
Go further
Whole-house dehumidifierGuideBasement dehumidifierGuideSize calculatorToolHow long dehumidifiers lastGuide
Medians of the certified models sold in the United States (EPA list, Oct 15, 2026). Whole-house yearly figures on the EPA list follow no common method, so we compare by efficiency. Lifetimes come from the DOE final rule on dehumidifier standards, Federal Register, June 13, 2016, and prices from the EIA. How we compare · Report an error