Our Top Picks
Midea Cube 20 Pint Dehumidifier for Basement1,500 Sq. Ft.13.5 x 13.5 x 13.39 inches33.29 poundsCheck on Amazon
Midea 50 Pint Dehumidifier for Basement4,500 Sq. Ft. - WiFi11.1 x 15.43 x 24.25 inches41.23 poundsCheck on Amazon
Midea 22 Pint Dehumidifier for Basement1,500 Sq. Ft. - WiFi10.51 x 15.31 x 19.8 inches33.51 poundsCheck on Amazon
Midea Cube 35 Pint Dehumidifier for Basement3,500 Sq. Ft.Grey14.45 x 14.76 x 14.96 inches39.62 PoundsCheck on Amazon
Before the models, one rule: pick the pint size first and the brand second. A 22 pint unit from either company will behave like a 22 pint unit, and a 50 pint unit from either will behave like a 50 pint unit. Brand matters only when you reach the questions this page answers: is the space a basement, do you need a pump, do you want Wi-Fi, and do you care about a stated square-foot figure.
The eight models below are four Midea and four Frigidaire listings. Everything stated about a model comes from its title; where the title is silent, the entry says to check the listing. Nobody on the team used or measured these units, and all performance and cost figures are labeled estimates.
Verdict by situation
Midea Cube 20 Pint Dehumidifier for Basement, 1,500 Sq. Ft, Energy star
One of the moisture-control product options compared in this guide.
View on AmazonMidea 50 Pint Dehumidifier for Basement, 4,500 Sq. Ft, Energy star
One of the moisture-control product options compared in this guide.
View on AmazonMidea 22 Pint Dehumidifier for Basement, 1,500 Sq. Ft, Energy star
One of the moisture-control product options compared in this guide.
View on AmazonMidea Cube 35 Pint Dehumidifier for Basement, 3,500 Sq. Ft, Energy star
One of the moisture-control product options compared in this guide.
View on Amazon
Frigidaire 50 Pint Dehumidifier w/Wifi | Portable, Quiet, Energy Efficient, Humidity Absorber, Moisture Extractor, for Bedroom Living Room Garage Attic Crawl Space
One of the moisture-control product options compared in this guide.
View on Amazon
Frigidaire 35 Pint Dehumidifier for Home, Bedroom & Medium Rooms, White | Portable, Quiet Energy Efficient, Humidity Absorber, Moisture Extractor, for Bathroom Bedroom Living Room Garage Attic
One of the moisture-control product options compared in this guide.
View on Amazon
Frigidaire 22-Pint Portable Dehumidifier with Wi-Fi and Energy Star Certification for Small/Medium Rooms, Bedrooms & Bathrooms, Custom Humidity Control, Auto Shut Off, White
One of the moisture-control product options compared in this guide.
View on Amazon
Frigidaire 50 Pint Dehumidifier with Built-In Pump for Basement, White | Portable, Quiet, Energy Efficient, Humidity Absorber, Moisture Extractor, for Bathroom Bedroom
One of the moisture-control product options compared in this guide.
View on Amazon| Your situation | Lean toward | Why, from the titles |
|---|---|---|
| Unfinished basement up to about 1,500 sq ft | Midea 22 pint or Cube 20 pint | Both state 1,500 sq ft and basement use |
| Large basement, 3,000 to 4,500 sq ft | Midea Cube 35 or Midea 50 | Stated coverage matches the size |
| Basement where water must go uphill | Frigidaire 50 pint with built-in pump | Only model here with a pump in the title |
| Bedroom or bathroom | Frigidaire 22 pint with Wi-Fi or 35 pint | Titles name bedrooms and bathrooms |
| Garage, attic or crawl space | Frigidaire 50 pint with Wi-Fi | Title lists garage, attic and crawl space |
| You want the lowest entry price | Midea 22 pint | Lowest price tier in the set |
Matched pairs: same size, different brand
The fairest way to compare two brands is to line up models of the same pint size. The set contains three natural pairs and one stray.
| Size | Midea | Frigidaire | What differs on paper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 to 22 pint | Midea 22 pint and Cube 20 pint | Frigidaire 22-pint with Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi and bedroom focus versus basement focus with a 1,500 sq ft claim |
| 35 pint | Midea Cube 35 pint | Frigidaire 35 pint | 3,500 sq ft stated versus no figure, room-by-room use list |
| 50 pint | Midea 50 pint | Frigidaire 50 pint with Wi-Fi, 50 pint with pump | 4,500 sq ft stated versus Wi-Fi or a pump |
Two patterns stand out. First, Midea states a square-foot figure every time and ties it to a basement. Frigidaire never states one in these titles, and instead lists rooms. Second, the features split: Midea titles emphasize Energy Star, while Frigidaire titles emphasize Wi-Fi, pump and quiet running. Neither list is complete, which is why the product pages matter.
All eight models at a glance
| Model | Key spec from the title | Price tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midea 22 Pint | Basement, 1,500 sq ft, Energy Star | Budget | Small damp basement |
| Midea Cube 20 Pint | Basement, 1,500 sq ft, Energy Star | Budget | Small basement, cube shape |
| Frigidaire 22-Pint with Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi, Energy Star, auto shut off | Budget | Bedroom or bathroom |
| Midea Cube 35 Pint | Basement, 3,500 sq ft, Energy Star | Budget | Mid-size basement |
| Frigidaire 35 Pint | Medium rooms, portable, quiet | Mid-range | Living areas and medium rooms |
| Frigidaire 50 Pint with Pump | Built-in pump, basement | Mid-range | Basement drain uphill |
| Midea 50 Pint | Basement, 4,500 sq ft, Energy Star | Mid-range | Large open basement |
| Frigidaire 50 Pint with Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi, portable, many rooms | Premium | Garage, attic, smart control |
Price tiers are relative to this set of eight: Budget is the lowest group, Premium the single highest listing. The whole set is within a narrow range compared with commercial crawl space units, so the tier gaps here are smaller than the table suggests.
The eight models, one at a time
Midea 22 Pint (basement, 1,500 sq ft)
The simplest unit in the set by title: 22 pints, basement use, a 1,500 square foot claim and Energy Star. The lack of extra adjectives is informative. Nothing is said about Wi-Fi, a pump or a tank size, so assume a conventional portable unit and read the listing for the tank volume and drain port before buying.
Estimate: a 22 pint class compressor model typically draws on the order of 250 to 300 watts. At 8 hours a day that is about 65 kilowatt hours a month, or roughly 10 dollars at 16 cents per kilowatt hour. For a basement of 800 to 1,000 square feet with mild dampness, the 1,500 square foot claim has room to spare.
The weak point is the same as with any small unit in a large damp space: the tank fills and the unit shuts off. If you cannot empty it daily in summer, ask whether the listing mentions a drain hose connection.
Placement matters more than people expect. Put the unit near the dampest spot but away from the wall, ideally on a level surface at least a hand’s width from anything blocking the intake. In an unfinished basement, that usually means the center of the room or the base of the stairs. Close basement windows and exterior doors while it runs, or it will chase humid outdoor air all summer. A hygrometer costs little and tells you whether the setting you chose is doing anything at all.
Pros
- Lowest price tier in the entire set
- Stated basement and 1,500 sq ft use
- Energy Star in the title
Cons
- Small capacity for a really wet basement
- Drain method and tank size not in the title
- No smart features mentioned
Who it’s for: a first-time buyer with a modest, mildly damp basement who wants the cheapest sensible entry.
Midea Cube 20 Pint (basement, 1,500 sq ft)
The title mirrors the 22 pint model almost word for word: basement, 1,500 square feet, Energy Star, with Cube added to the name and two fewer pints. The titles do not explain the Cube label, so avoid assuming it means a smaller footprint or a different noise level. If shape matters to you, open the listing and compare the stated dimensions of the two.
The practical question is why anyone would take 20 pints over 22 at a similar price tier. The honest answer from the titles alone is that you would not, unless the Cube has a physical advantage you can verify, such as fitting under a shelf or beside a furnace. Otherwise, the 22 pint is the stronger value on paper.
Estimate: a 2-pint gap is roughly 9 percent of daily capacity, which in a 1,000 square foot basement is unlikely to change the outcome. The gap would matter in a very wet space, where neither model is the right size anyway.
One more angle: the 20 pint figure suggests a lower power draw than the 22 pint, probably by a small margin, but that saving would be a dollar or two a month at most. If you are choosing between the two, spend your attention on the physical footprint, the location of the water bucket or drain port, and the display and control layout rather than on a small capacity difference. When two listings look this similar, small usability details decide whether you keep using the machine.
Pros
- Same basement and square-foot claim as the 22 pint
- Budget tier with Energy Star in the title
- Possibly a different footprint; check the listing
Cons
- Fewer pints than the neighboring model
- The Cube name is not explained in the title
- Same unknowns on drain and tank
Who it’s for: someone who has measured a tight space and found the Cube dimensions on the listing to be the better fit.
Frigidaire 22-Pint Portable with Wi-Fi and Energy Star
This is the only 22 pint model in the set aimed at the bedroom. The title lists small and medium rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms, custom humidity control, auto shut off, Wi-Fi and Energy Star. Auto shut off is a tank-full safeguard, so the unit probably uses a bucket; the title does not state a drain hose, so check.
The bedroom use changes the buying criteria. In a bedroom noise matters more than coverage, and the title gives no decibel figure. Check the listing and compare any sleep or quiet mode claim. If you sleep lightly, a unit that cycles on and off every hour can be more disturbing than a steady hum.
Humidity affects bedding too; if what you are fighting is a clammy mattress rather than room humidity, our waterproof mattress protector comparison covers that side of the problem.
A practical bedroom setup uses a humidity target around the mid 40s to 50 percent, with the unit placed a few feet from the bed and away from curtains that could block airflow. Wi-Fi scheduling can run the unit in the late afternoon and shut it off before bedtime, which avoids compressor noise during sleep. That is only possible if the app allows schedules, so check the listing for that feature rather than assuming it.
Capacity is the limit to respect. At 22 pints, this model is sized for a bedroom, bathroom or small office, and in a damp season it may run most of the day. If the room is a laundry room or a bathroom with a long shower habit, the tank can fill within a day, and the auto shut off will stop the unit until you empty it. Decide in advance who empties the tank and when.
Pros
- Wi-Fi for remote checks and scheduling
- Energy Star in the title
- Custom humidity control and auto shut off
Cons
- No stated square-foot coverage
- Bucket emptying likely, with no drain hose in the title
- Noise level not stated
Who it’s for: a renter or homeowner treating one bedroom or bathroom who wants app control.
Midea Cube 35 Pint (basement, 3,500 sq ft)
At 35 pints, the Cube is the step up for a larger basement. The title states 3,500 square feet, basement use and Energy Star. It sits in the Budget tier, which makes it one of the better values on paper: a 35 pint unit in the same price tier as 22 pint units from the other brand.
Treat the 3,500 square foot figure as a best case rather than a promise. For a 2,000 square foot basement with ordinary dampness, either should have margin. Estimate: about 350 to 450 watts while running.
The common mistake with a unit like this is to put it in a corner. Dehumidifiers need open air on all sides. Keep the intake and exhaust at least a hand’s width from walls, and place it where air can circulate across the whole space.
The price-to-capacity ratio is the reason to look at this model first. Within this comparison, only the Budget tier includes a 35 pint unit, and it also carries the stated basement coverage figure. If your basement is a single open space and you have a way to drain by hose, you may never need the 50 pint units. If you must empty a bucket, remember that a 35 pint unit can fill a tank faster than a small one, so size the tank and your schedule together.
For an estimate of running behavior, assume a draw of roughly 350 to 450 watts. Eight hours of compressor time a day for a month is about 85 to 110 kilowatt hours, which at 16 cents per kilowatt hour lands near 14 to 17 dollars. Energy Star certification in the title suggests the efficiency is competitive for the class, though the title gives no liters-per-kilowatt-hour figure to verify that.
Pros
- 3,500 sq ft claim in the Budget tier
- Basement positioning and Energy Star
- Good middle capacity for open basements
Cons
- No drain or tank details in the title
- Not marketed for bedrooms or living rooms
- Coverage claim should be treated as a best case
Who it’s for: owners of a 1,500 to 2,500 square foot basement who want better value than a 50 pint.
Frigidaire 35 Pint Dehumidifier for Home, Bedroom and Medium Rooms
The Frigidaire 35 pint is a general-purpose home unit. The title lists portable, quiet, energy efficient operation and a long list of places it could go: bathroom, bedroom, living room, garage and attic. There is no basement mention and no square-foot figure, so how much space it handles is a question for the product page.
The title calls it energy efficient but does not say Energy Star, so do not treat the two as equivalent. Look for a certification mark on the listing if that matters for rebates or running cost. Estimate: a 35 pint compressor unit commonly draws roughly 350 to 450 watts, so a month at 8 hours a day lands around 15 to 17 dollars at 16 cents per kilowatt hour.
The versatility is the selling point. A 35 pint portable model can move from the living room in spring to the garage in summer. But a single machine cannot dry multiple closed rooms; air does not pass through shut doors in useful volumes.
This model is the natural fit for a mixed-use home where you are not sure which room is the worst. The room list in the title is long enough that it should be treated as marketing language rather than a performance statement. The honest way to use it is to measure the humidity in each candidate room with a cheap hygrometer for a week, pick the one that stays above 60 percent, and place the unit there with the door open to the adjacent space.
Pros
- Flexible list of rooms in the title
- Portable and described as quiet
- Mid-range tier for 35 pints
Cons
- No coverage figure stated
- Energy Star not named in the title
- Drain method is not stated
Who it’s for: a household with a single medium-sized damp area that might change from season to season.
Frigidaire 50 Pint with Built-In Pump for Basement
This is the only model in the comparison where the title mentions a pump. Built-in pump, basement, portable, quiet, energy efficient. For a basement with a laundry sink, sump or window well above the floor, a pump is the difference between a machine you set and forget and one you empty twice a day.
Estimate: at 50 pints, expect about 6 gallons of water removal capacity per day and a draw around 500 to 550 watts. Over 10 hours a day for 30 days that is roughly 25 dollars a month at 16 cents per kilowatt hour. A 50 pint unit with a pump gives you capacity and drain flexibility but not a stated coverage figure, so the sizing logic is yours to supply.
Ask about pump lift height and hose length on the listing. A pump rated for a few feet of lift cannot push water to a high basement window, and a short hose may not reach the drain you have in mind.
Before buying any pump-equipped machine, walk the route the discharge hose will take. Measure the vertical rise from the unit’s outlet to the drain, add the horizontal run, and compare both with the listing’s stated lift and hose length. A hose that sags creates a trap where water sits and the pump struggles. Secure it with ties so it climbs in a steady slope, and keep the end of the hose above the water level of a sink or standpipe so there is an air gap and no back-siphon.
Pros
- Built-in pump in the title
- 50 pints in the Mid-range tier
- Basement named explicitly
Cons
- No stated square-foot coverage
- Pump lift and hose length not in the title
- No Energy Star mention in the title
Who it’s for: a basement owner with no floor drain nearby who is tired of carrying buckets.
Midea 50 Pint Dehumidifier for Basement (4,500 sq ft)
This one is the large-basement choice among Midea listings: 50 pints, basement, a 4,500 square foot claim and Energy Star. No pump is mentioned, which sets it apart from the Frigidaire 50 pint with pump. The Midea gives you the stated coverage and certification; the Frigidaire gives you the lift.
Think about the claim sensibly. Dividing 50 pints by 4,500 square feet gives about 0.011 pints per square foot, which is a very light load per square foot and assumes a well-sealed, only mildly damp space. If your basement is wet in humid months, size down the coverage you expect. As a rule of thumb, treat roughly half of the claim as realistic for a damp basement, or about 2,000 to 2,500 square feet.
That is not a flaw in this unit; it is how every manufacturer states coverage. The advice is to match it to the lower end of your own range.
A 50 pint machine at this price tier is a sensible purchase for anyone with a large unfinished basement and a hose route to a floor drain. If you do not have a drain, the tank will fill quickly in humid weather, and you may be emptying it twice a day. That is the moment many owners decide to buy a separate condensate pump or switch to a model with one built in, so factor that cost in from the start.
Estimate the running cost with the same method used elsewhere on this page: about 500 to 550 watts while the compressor runs, 10 hours a day, 30 days a month, at 16 cents per kilowatt hour, for roughly 25 dollars a month in peak season. In a cool, dry winter the figure drops sharply. Because the title includes Energy Star, it is worth looking at the efficiency number on the listing for a direct comparison with the Frigidaire 50 pint models.
Pros
- Largest stated coverage among the Midea listings
- Energy Star in the title
- Mid-range tier for 50 pints
Cons
- No pump in this title
- Large footprint and weight likely; check dimensions
- Coverage claim is optimistic for damp spaces
Who it’s for: owners of a large open basement who want certified efficiency and have a way to drain by hose or bucket.
Frigidaire 50 Pint with Wi-Fi (portable, many rooms)
The only Premium tier unit in this set. The title lists Wi-Fi, portable, quiet, energy efficient operation, and spaces including bedroom, living room, garage, attic and crawl space. It is the most flexible location list of any model here.
Estimate: for a 50 pint compressor unit, expect about 500 to 550 watts while running. The Wi-Fi feature earns its place when the unit lives somewhere inconvenient, such as an attic. For a crawl space, check whether a portable bucket unit is practical at all, since you would rarely see a full-tank shut-off in time; see whether the listing offers a hose drain.
Because this is the priciest model in the set, ask whether the extra cost buys anything beyond Wi-Fi. Compared with the 50 pint with pump, it lacks the pump in the title; compared with the Midea 50 pint, it lacks the stated coverage and Energy Star mention.
Premium pricing makes sense only if you will use the extra features. If the unit sits in a garage you walk past daily, the app is a novelty. If it sits in a vacation home you visit monthly, remote humidity readings and alerts can prevent a bad surprise. Think about who will maintain the unit, too. A smart appliance that a family member cannot operate without the app is a poor fit for a shared home.
Keep in mind that a portable bucket unit in a crawl space or attic is a maintenance burden if the tank is small. Whether this model includes a hose connection is a listing question. If it does, route the hose to a safe discharge point and check it seasonally for kinks. If it does not, this model is better in a garage or large room where you can reach the tank easily.
Pros
- Wi-Fi for monitoring hard-to-reach spaces
- Broadest list of suggested locations
- 50 pint capacity
Cons
- Highest price tier of the eight
- No pump or coverage figure in the title
- Energy Star not named in the title
Who it’s for: someone who wants app monitoring on a large unit and will place it in a garage, attic or other out-of-sight area.
Four questions that settle it
- Where does the water go? If it must go up and out, the Frigidaire 50 pint with pump is the clear lead. If gravity works, every other model can drain by hose if the listing supports it.
- How big is the space? For up to about 1,200 square feet of damp basement, the Midea 22 or Cube 20 pint models have a stated margin. For larger, step to the Cube 35 or the 50 pint models.
- Is it a bedroom? Then noise and humidity control precision matter more than coverage. Start with the Frigidaire 22-pint and read its listing for sound data.
- Do you want an app? Only two Frigidaire titles say Wi-Fi. If you do not want one, you save nothing by skipping it in the price tiers, so decide on need alone.
Worked example: one large unit or two small ones
Take a household with a 900 square foot basement and a 150 square foot second-floor bedroom. The bedroom door is closed at night. The basement is damp from May to September; the bedroom feels clammy during the same months.
Option A: one 50 pint unit in the basement. Estimated draw is 520 watts. Running 10 hours a day for 30 days is 156 kilowatt hours, about 25 dollars a month at 16 cents per kilowatt hour. The bedroom stays untreated, because air from the basement does not reach it.
Option B: Midea 22 pint in the basement plus Frigidaire 22-pint in the bedroom. Each draws roughly 270 watts. At 8 hours a day for 30 days that is about 65 kilowatt hours each, or roughly 10 dollars a month each, 20 dollars combined. You treat two spaces for less than the running cost of one large unit.
The trade-off: two small units mean two tanks to empty. If the basement can drain by hose, the daily chore falls to one tank, in the bedroom. The numbers are estimates based on typical draw for the class, and your actual cost depends on how often each compressor cycles.
What the brands leave unsaid
Neither brand’s titles discuss noise, rated conditions, tank volume or warranty. That is not unusual, but it matters for a decision between near-identical models. Before ordering, open both listings and look for five details: the pint rating condition, tank capacity, drain connection type, the operating temperature range and the stated sound level.
The operating temperature range deserves special attention for a basement or garage. Compressor units generally slow down as the air cools, and a cold basement in spring may not yield the pint figure on the box. If your space regularly drops below the mid 60s Fahrenheit, treat the pint rating as a ceiling.
If your concern includes airborne dust as well as moisture, note that a dehumidifier is not an air purifier. Our guide to MERV 11 vs MERV 13 furnace filters is a better starting point for particle control.
How we picked these
The Editorial team works from published specifications, manufacturer documentation and buyer reviews. Nobody on the team used or measured these units. That limits what this page can say about sound, tank size and aging, and it is why those topics appear as things to look up rather than as findings.
To keep the match fair, the eight supplied models were sorted by pint size, then compared within each size. No model was dropped to make a brand look better or worse. Each sentence about a model is tied to its title, and the entry says so when the title is silent.
The running-cost figures assume typical draw for the pint class and 16 cents per kilowatt hour, so treat them as a planning aid. Listing prices are folded into three tiers because they shift frequently.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Is Midea or Frigidaire better for a basement?
Going by the listings, Midea titles all say for basement and state a square-foot figure (1,500 to 4,500), while only one Frigidaire title, the 50 pint with built-in pump, names a basement. If you want a stated basement coverage figure, Midea gives you one on every listed model. If you want Wi-Fi or a built-in pump at 50 pints, Frigidaire offers both. Neither brand’s titles give noise levels, so check the listing.
Which brand has a built-in pump?
Within the eight models compared here, only the Frigidaire 50 pint with built-in pump states a pump in its title. The other seven titles say nothing about a pump, so assume a tank or a gravity drain hose and confirm the drain method on each listing before buying. If your basement drain sits above the floor, that single title detail may decide the whole purchase.
Do the Wi-Fi models matter?
Wi-Fi shows up on two Frigidaire titles, the 50 pint and the 22-pint. It lets you view humidity or change settings from a phone, which helps in a hard-to-reach spot such as an attic or crawl space. It does not remove moisture any faster. For a unit in a main living area where you see the display daily, Wi-Fi is a convenience rather than a necessity.
How much does it cost to run a 50 pint dehumidifier?
As an estimate, a 50 pint class compressor model draws around 500 to 550 watts. At 10 hours a day, 30 days a month and 16 cents per kilowatt hour, that is roughly 25 dollars a month. A 22 pint unit, drawing around 270 watts for 8 hours a day under the same price assumption, would be closer to 10 dollars. Actual figures depend on humidity and thermostat settings.
Should I buy one large unit or two small ones?
One large unit suits a single open space such as an unfinished basement. Two small units suit separate rooms that stay closed, such as a basement and a second-floor bedroom, because air does not travel well through shut doors. In the two-room example on this page, two 22 pint units cost an estimated 20 dollars a month combined, versus about 25 for one 50 pint that could only treat one space.
