We compared 9 whole-house and crawl-space dehumidifiers on honest AHAM capacity, coverage, drainage and price — so you can skip the spec-sheet games and buy dry air with confidence.
One clear winner for each kind of space. Tap a card for the full review.
Whole homes up to 5,500 sq ft — the one-unit answer for humid-climate houses with a ducted HVAC tie-in.
Crawl spaces up to 2,600 sq ft with no floor drain nearby — the built-in pump pushes condensate up and out.
Budget crawl space and basement jobs up to 1,300 sq ft — the cheapest way into a real pro-grade unit.
Low-clearance crawl spaces where 12 inches of height is all you get — it hangs between floor joists.
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| Model | Score | AHAM pints/day | Marketed as | Coverage | Drainage | Energy Star | Price tier | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AprilAire E100 Pro | 9.1 | 100 | 100 (honest) | 5,500 sq ft | Gravity drain | Yes | Price tier: Premium | Check price of the AprilAire E100 Pro on Amazon |
| AlorAir Sentinel HDi90 | 9.0 | 90 | 198 (saturation) | 2,600 sq ft | Built-in condensate pump | — | Price tier: Mid-range | Check price of the AlorAir Sentinel HDi90 on Amazon |
| AprilAire E070 Pro | 8.9 | 70 | 70 (honest) | 2,200 sq ft | Gravity drain | Yes | Price tier: Mid-range | Check price of the AprilAire E070 Pro on Amazon |
| AprilAire E130 | 8.8 | 130 | 130 (honest) | 7,200 sq ft | Gravity drain | Yes | Price tier: Premium | Check price of the AprilAire E130 on Amazon |
| AlorAir Sentinel HD90 | 8.8 | 90 | 198 (saturation) | 2,600 sq ft | Gravity drain | Yes | Price tier: Mid-range | Check price of the AlorAir Sentinel HD90 on Amazon |
| AprilAire E080 | 8.7 | 80 | 80 (honest) | 4,400 sq ft | Gravity drain | Yes | Price tier: Mid-range | Check price of the AprilAire E080 on Amazon |
Capacity is compared at AHAM conditions (80°F, 60% RH). "Marketed as" shows the box number and which test produced it — see our AHAM vs saturation guide.
Want these numbers as a spreadsheet? Download the same table as CSV or JSON(CC BY 4.0, free to cite).
Enter your square footage, space type and dampness to get the AHAM pints/day you need.
Size my spaceSee what each model costs per year in electricity at your kWh rate.
Do the mathThe true 5-year cost of a portable versus a pro-grade whole-house unit.
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Winter guideWill a dehumidifier work in a cold basement? How capacity drops, when coils frost, what auto-defrost does, and which units suit a winter basement.
SeasonalWet windows in winter? Practical fixes in order: measure, ventilate, move air, adjust the humidifier, then decide whether a dehumidifier is the right tool.
Buying adviceDesiccant vs compressor dehumidifier: compressor is the standard for heated spaces above about 15°C (59°F). See where desiccant wins, and who shouldn't buy one.
SeasonalWhat humidity should your house be in winter? A setpoint guide by outdoor temperature, when basements and crawl spaces still need a dehumidifier, and when to switch it off.
Every capacity compared at 80°F/60% RH. Saturation marketing numbers get translated, not trusted.
Capacity, coverage and drainage claims verified across manufacturers, spec sheets and owner reports.
Calculators built from real specs turn "what size?" into a number, not a guess.