Best Dehumidifier for a Basement
Basements run cooler than the rest of the house, and humidity can climb quickly after rain. All three picks below are rated to keep running at 41°F or colder.
The Midea Cube 50-pint is the strongest all-around pick for most basements. It has the largest rated coverage of the three picks at 4,500 sq ft and is the only one that ships with a drain hose. For smaller or moderately damp basements, the Frigidaire 35-pint costs less and runs down to the same 41°F floor.
Have a basement larger than 1,000 sq ft or one that soaks through after heavy rain
Want continuous drainage without manually emptying a tank
Need a unit rated to keep running at 41°F or colder
Are running the unit seasonally in an unfinished space
Have a smaller finished basement that stays relatively dry
Are managing light, seasonal humidity rather than consistent dampness
Need near-silent operation, since basement-rated units run louder than bedroom units
| Model | Capacity | Coverage | Lowest temp | Drain | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midea Cube 50-pint | 50 pt/day | 4,500 sq ft | 41°F | Hose included | 4.3 | Top pick |
| Frigidaire 35-pint | 35 pt/day | 3,000 sq ft | 41°F | Port, hose not included | 3.5 | |
| Hisense 35-pint | 35 pt/day | 3,000 sq ft | 38°F | Port, hose not included | 4.0 |
What makes a basement different
Below-grade spaces stay cooler than the rest of the house. Since June 2019, portable dehumidifier capacity ratings in the US come from a Department of Energy test run at 65°F, down from 80°F under the older procedure, a change ENERGY STAR describes as matching basement conditions more closely. A basement colder than 65°F removes less water per day than the rating on the box, and close to a unit’s rated minimum the coils can frost over.
The lowest rated operating temperature is the spec to compare. The Midea Cube and the Frigidaire are rated down to 41°F and the Hisense down to 38°F. Whether a unit defrosts itself varies by model, so if your basement sits in the low 40s for weeks at a time, check the owner’s manual for a defrost mode before you buy.
Drainage is the other practical consideration. A dehumidifier running continuously in a damp basement can collect several gallons of water per day. Emptying a tank manually multiple times a day is not realistic. Any unit used as a primary basement dehumidifier should have a gravity drain or pump option that routes collected water to a floor drain or utility sink continuously.
Midea Cube 50-pint
The Midea Cube 50-pint earns the top spot for basements because it is rated for up to 4,500 sq ft, the largest coverage of the three picks, and its 4.2-gallon tank holds more than double the Frigidaire’s 1.7 gallons. It is also the only pick that ships with a drain hose, so continuous drainage to a floor drain or utility sink works out of the box.
It is rated to run down to 41°F, the same floor as the Frigidaire, and supports Wi-Fi control through the Midea app with Alexa and Google Home. The linked listing is the no-pump version, so drainage relies on gravity unless you buy the pump variant.
Read the full Midea Cube 50-pint review.
- Largest tank of the three picks (4.2 gallons)
- Only pick with a drain hose included
- Rated to run down to 41°F
- Energy Star certified
- Wi-Fi app control with Alexa and Google Home
- No built-in pump, so gravity drain only unless you buy the pump variant
- Midea publishes no noise rating for this model
- Costs more than the Frigidaire
Frigidaire 35-pint
The Frigidaire 35-pint (FHDD3534Y1) is rated to remove 35 pints a day across up to 3,000 sq ft and to run down to 41°F. For a basement, our sizing recommendation is up to around 1,500 sq ft with moderate humidity, since a damp below-grade space works a unit harder than the rated test condition.
Continuous drain works through a standard garden hose, which is not included, and the three fan speeds give some control over noise. It supports Wi-Fi control through the Frigidaire app with Alexa and Google Home, and it is the lowest-priced of the three picks.
Read the full Frigidaire 35-pint review.
- Lowest price of the three picks
- Rated to run down to 41°F
- Three fan speeds
- Wi-Fi app control with Alexa and Google Home
- Auto restart after a power interruption
- Smallest tank of the three (1.7 gallons) if not using continuous drain
- 35-pint capacity is borderline for larger or wetter basements
- Drain hose not included, and no published noise rating
Hisense 35-Pint Compact Dehumidifier
The Hisense 35-Pint Compact Dehumidifier removes up to 35 pints of moisture per day and is rated to operate down to 38°F, colder than any other unit on this list. That makes it the strongest option for an unheated or unfinished basement where temperatures drop below the range most dehumidifiers are built to handle. Hisense’s own spec sheet lists coverage up to 3,000 square feet, meaningfully less than the 3,500 square feet used in some retail listings for this unit.
The tradeoffs come from what Hisense leaves out. There is no Wi-Fi control, no published noise rating, and no drain hose included in the box, so budget for one separately if you want continuous drainage. It carries a 2-year warranty and Energy Star certification, but with about 20 customer reviews as of late September 2026, it has less of a track record than the Midea or Frigidaire units above.
Read the full Hisense 35-Pint Compact review.
- Rated to operate down to 38°F, colder than the other units here
- Energy Star certified
- 2-year warranty
- Compact footprint
- No Wi-Fi control
- Drain hose not included
- Manufacturer does not publish a noise rating
- Far fewer customer reviews than the other picks on this list
How to size a basement dehumidifier
Coverage area is a manufacturer figure, and a cool, poorly ventilated basement with concrete walls works a unit harder than a heated room of the same size.
The basement sizing guide reads pints per day off ENERGY STAR’s capacity table by dampness and square footage.
A practical approach: size up from what the square footage calculation suggests, particularly if your basement has below-average ventilation, stays below 60°F for extended periods, or shows signs of persistent moisture such as efflorescence on walls or musty odor that returns quickly after airing out. A unit running at 60% capacity in your conditions is more reliable over time than one running at maximum continuously.
If your basement has standing water after heavy rain, a dehumidifier is the wrong first tool. Stop the water intrusion first, with a sump pump or regrading around the foundation, before running a dehumidifier. A unit running in a space with active water intrusion will never keep up and will likely fail prematurely.
What temperature is too cold for a basement dehumidifier?
It depends on the unit’s rated minimum operating temperature. The three picks here are rated down to 41°F (Midea Cube, Frigidaire) and 38°F (Hisense). Capacity ratings come from a test at 65°F, so expect less water removed per day as the basement gets colder than that, and check the operating range in the specs before buying.
Do I need a dehumidifier with a pump for my basement?
Only if your drainage options require pumping water upward or horizontally to reach a drain or sink. If you have a floor drain in the basement, gravity drain via hose is sufficient and simpler. If the nearest drain is a utility sink at counter height, a pump-equipped unit saves the hassle of manual emptying. The Midea Cube 50-pint with pump variant is the unit to consider if you need that capability.
Why does my basement dehumidifier keep icing up?
Coil icing happens when the coils drop below freezing, which gets more likely as the room cools toward the unit’s rated minimum. If yours ices up often, compare the basement temperature with that minimum (41°F or 38°F for the picks here), and check the manual for a defrost setting.
How often should I run a basement dehumidifier?
In humid climates or during summer months, continuous operation is typical for basements that experience regular moisture. Most units with a built-in humidistat will cycle on and off to maintain a target humidity level rather than running at full power continuously. Setting a target of 50% relative humidity is a reasonable starting point, low enough to discourage mold growth and high enough that the unit is not working unnecessarily hard.
Which basement dehumidifier should you buy?
For most basements, the Midea Cube 50-pint is the right choice. It covers the largest rated area of the three and is the only one with a drain hose in the box, though it costs more than the Frigidaire.
If your basement is smaller, under 1,500 sq ft, and stays relatively dry except during wet seasons, the Frigidaire 35-pint is the lower-cost option with the same 41°F floor. If your basement runs cold, the Hisense 35-pint is worth considering: it is rated to operate down to 38°F, colder than the other units here, and it carries Energy Star certification, though it has no Wi-Fi and you will need to supply your own drain hose.
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