Dehumidifier Wattage & Most Efficient Revealed [573 Studied]

Last updated: February 4, 2024.

How much electricity does a dehumidifier use? Find out here (based on 573 models). Plus, get details on dehumidifier wattage and see which is the most energy efficient dehumidifier on the market, in 2024.

The following dehumidifier wattage, power consumption and energy efficiency details are based on 573 dehumidifiers.

Spoilers:

• The average dehumidifier wattage is 483.24W;
• On average, dehumidifiers use 0.427 kWh of electricity per hour (10.24 kWh per day);
• The most energy efficient dehumidifier, i.e. the Midea Cube (pump option), uses 12.031 kWh per day; and
• The lowest daily dehumidifier power consumption recorded was 5.24 kWh from the INNOVATIVE IW-25-4.

Continue reading to see 14 of the most energy efficient dehumidifiers in 2024 along with their energy efficiency rating, daily water removal capacity, wattage, power consumption, square feet covered, and much more.

Dehumidifier wattage

Dehumidifier wattage ranges from 214W to 970W, with 483.24W being the average. The most common dehumidifier wattage is 600W.

This is based on research into the power consumption of 573 dehumidifiers.

The dehumidifier wattage range is quite substantial. There’s a 756W difference between the low and high end of the range.

This is because there’s a considerable difference between the performance of modern energy efficient dehumidifiers and older models.

Let’s break down the wattage range into low, medium and high, and take a brief look at each.

Related post: Cost To Run A Dehumidifier [573 Studied + 9 $$ Saving Tips]. Briefly, dehumidifiers cost $0.06 per hour, on average. Per day, they cost $0.83 to $3.54 to run, and $24.84 to $106.20 per month.

But first, what if wattage isn’t listed?

Dehumidifier wattage, and even amp draw, isn’t readily available in most cases, before purchase at least.

But what’s almost always listed is how much moisture they remove per day (in pints). 

You can combine this with the unit’s efficiency rating, i.e. Integrated Energy Factor (IEF) or L/kWh (more on this later), to estimate a dehumidifier’s wattage.

For convenience, here’s a calculator…

Dehumidifier wattage calculator

Use this dehumidifier wattage calculator to estimate the wattage of any dehumidifier, based on water removal capacity and efficiency rating.

Alternatively, you can estimate a dehumidifier’s wattage based on the voltage and listed amperage, if available. Simply multiply the unit’s voltage by the listed amp draw.

But, while a lot less convenient, it’d be best to request and / or confirm a unit’s wattage with the manufacturer.

OK, let’s get back to the wattage breakdown.

Low wattage dehumidifiers

Low wattage dehumidifiers use between 214W and 466W.

The lowest wattage dehumidifier comes in at 214W. It’s the most efficient dehumidifier for 1,500 sq. ft. rooms.

Low wattage dehumidifiers are more modern, energy efficient appliances. Many of these are ENERGY STAR certified.

However, not all ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifiers fall within this low wattage range. Some ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifiers consume up to and above 540W.

This is because “low wattage” does not mean “energy efficient” – I go into more details about this in the Dehumidifier Energy Efficiency section below.

Note: these figures relate to portable dehumidifiers only. These are by far the most commonly used in households. Whole-home dehumidifiers (these require dedicated circuits and cannot be moved) and personal dehumidifiers (these are typically handheld and are not effective at removing moisture from air in a whole room) are not included in these figures.

Medium wattage dehumidifiers

Medium wattage dehumidifiers range between 467W and 700W.

The average wattage (483.24W) and the most common dehumidifier wattage (600W) falls within this category.

Most modern dehumidifiers and some ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifiers also fall within this category, albeit at the lower end of the range.

Older dehumidifiers appear frequently in this category too.

High wattage dehumidifiers

High wattage dehumidifiers use between 701W and 970W.

Older household dehumidifiers and industrial units appear most in this category.

It’s also worth noting that, in many cases, medium wattage dehumidifiers can fall within this category too if the wattage is calculated from the voltage and amperage alone. Actual consumption, tested using an energy monitor, tends to be considerably lower than this calculation suggests.

A dehumidifier with a high wattage is not always bad, although it’s likely in most cases. This is because wattage doesn’t always relate to energy efficiency.

But before we jump into energy efficiency, let’s take a look at how much electricity dehumidifiers use over various durations.

How much electricity does a dehumidifier use?

On average, dehumidifiers use 0.427 kWh of electricity per hour.

The most common amount of electricity that dehumidifiers use per hour is 0.548 kWh.

Overall, the amount of electricity that dehumidifiers use per hour ranges from 0.23 kWh to 0.983 kWh.

ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifiers use between 0.23 kWh and 0.548 kWh of electricity per hour.

But how much electricity do duhumidifiers use over longer durations?

How much electricity dehumidifiers use per day

Dehumidifiers use 10.24 kWh of electricity per day, on average.

The amount of electricity that dehumidifiers use ranges from 5.52 kWh to 23.6 kWh per day, with 13.14 kWh being the most common.

ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifiers use between 5.52 kWh and 13.14 kWh of electricity per day.

These figures assume that the appliance runs continuously for a 24 hour period.

Dehumidifier electricity usage per month

Assuming 30 days of continuous usage, dehumidifiers use 307.2 kWh of electricity per month, on average.

The most common amount of electricity used by a dehumidifier per month is 394.2 kWh.

These electricity usage results are based on study results.

Your usage may be different.

So, to help you get custom energy usage insights, including running costs, here’s another dehumidifier calculator.

Dehumidifier power consumption calculator (incl. electricity costs)

Use the calculator below to see how much power your dehumidifier consumes, and how much it costs to run.

And, as mentioned, I found wattage and amp draw specifications to be less commonly listed than water removal capacity and efficiency figures.

As a result…

This dehumidifier power consumption calculator uses moisture removal capacity (in pints per day) and efficiency rating to estimate dehumidifier energy usage.

Simply enter these figures along with your unit rate (i.e. how much you pay per kWh).

The results assume max draw and continuous usage. 

It’s rare to run a dehumidifier 24/7 for weeks. As a result, the dehumidifier power consumption and electricity costs will be overestimated when it comes to longer periods.

For shorter periods, simply use the estimated hourly power consumption and running cost.

OK, now that we’ve covered power consumption let’s look at how / where dehumidifiers use electricity.

Dehumidifier energy use

Dehumidifiers use various amounts of energy when active. They cycle through different stages, activating different components, when removing moisture from the air.

They may also enter standby mode when a certain moisture level is reached.

The refrigeration coil, fan, compressor and standby mode consume different amounts of energy.

Humidity level of a room also impacts energy usage – the higher the humidity, the more power is used.

In order to get accurate energy usage assessments, the hourly, daily and monthly electricity usage figures noted above assume continuous usage over a 24 hour period.

This captures the various energy usage levels over time.

The figures are based on the electricity usage of 573 dehumidifiers. IEF (L/kWh) and daily capacity (more on these below), for the majority of dehumidifiers, were sourced from ENERGY STAR. Older models and best selling models are also included.

Related post: Dehumidifier Amps [Listed By Size, Efficiency & Stage].

Now that we know where dehumidifiers use energy and how much electricity a dehumidifier uses, let’s put the consumption into perspective.

Do dehumidifiers use a lot of electricity?

Yes. Dehumidifiers use a lot of electricity.

While the wattage (483.24W is average) and the hourly electricity usage (0.427 kWh is average) are not substantial, the long duration of use results in dehumidifiers consuming a considerable amount of electricity.

At up to 23.6 kWh per day, older dehumidifiers can use a substantial amount of electricity.

Modern energy efficient dehumidifiers use a lot less electricity, consuming as little as 5.52 kWh per day.

However, this is still quite considerable.

To put dehumidifier electricity usage into perspective, let’s compare the amount of electricity that a dehumidifier uses per day with other household appliances. 

Running the most energy efficient dehumidifier for 1 day is equivalent to:

• How much electricity a refrigerator uses after nearly 4 days of operation;
• The power consumption of a kettle after boiling 75 times; and
• How much electricity a ceiling fan uses after running for nearly 10 days straight.

For more context, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average amount of electricity consumed per month by residential US customers is 877 kWh.

Dehumidifiers can account for 19% to a whopping 81% of electricity consumed per month by US households. This assumes 24/7 usage throughout the month. 

If we assume 8 hours of use per day, dehumidifiers can account for 6.3% to 27% of electricity consumed per month by a typical US household.

So, now that we know that dehumidifiers use a lot of electricity, let’s take a look at dehumidifier energy efficiency and identify which dehumidifiers are the most efficient.

Dehumidifier energy efficiency

Energy efficient dehumidifier wattage ranges from 214W to 540W.

However, wattage shouldn’t be used as the sole energy efficiency consideration. This is because wattage doesn’t take into account how effective a dehumidifier is at removing moisture from the air.

Energy efficient dehumidifiers remove more moisture from the air per watt compared to standard dehumidifiers.

Energy efficient dehumidifiers use efficient compressors, refrigeration coils and fans.

They’re usually ENERGY STAR certified, which typically consume close to 15% less energy than standard dehumidifiers, while still achieving the same or better results.

ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifiers use from 5.52 kWh to 13.14 kWh of electricity per day.

Integrated Energy Factor and Capacity are key energy efficiency factors. Let’s take a look at these in more detail.

Energy efficient dehumidifier IEF (L/kWh)

Integrated Energy Factor, IEF for short, is a key performance metric for dehumidifiers.

Reported in liters per kWh (L/kWh) consumed, IEF is a measurement of dehumidifier energy efficiency.

L/kWh is commonly used instead of IEF.

Dehumidifiers with a higher IEF or L/kWh are more efficient.

The higher the IEF or L/kWh, the more moisture is removed from the air per watt consumed.

So now for the figures, sourced from 502 ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifiers.

Energy efficient dehumidifiers have an IEF (or L/kWh) that ranges from 1.57 to 1.95, with the average being 1.79.

The most common IEF (or L/kWh) is 1.8 for energy efficient dehumidifiers.

Now let’s take a look at Capacity.

Daily moisture removal capacity for energy efficient dehumidifiers

Dehumidifier Capacity is another energy efficiency factor.

This is a measurement, in pints, of how much moisture can be removed from the air over a 24 hour period.

The higher the capacity, the more effective the appliance.

Capacity, often referred to as Product Capacity or Moisture Removal Capacity, is not to be confused with bucket or tank capacity, which simply refer to how much water the dehumidifier can hold before it needs to be emptied.

Let’s take a look at the figures for Capacity (again sourced from 502 ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifiers). To rephrase this:

How much water should a dehumidifier remove in a day?

Energy efficient dehumidifiers remove between 20.04 pints and 50 pints of water from the air per day.

On average, per day, energy efficient dehumidifiers remove 39.09 pints of moisture from the air, however, 50 pints is most common.

Combining Capacity and IEF (or L/kWh), identified under standardized test conditions, helps identify the most energy efficient dehumidifiers.

This is more effective than using wattage as the sole energy efficiency factor. 

So which dehumidifiers are the most efficient?

Energy efficient dehumidifiers 2024

More than 117 ENERGY STAR certified portable dehumidifiers have an IEF (L/kWh) of 1.9 or higher – 1.95 is the highest.

However, whole-home dehumidifiers can achieve an IEF (L/kWh) of up to 2.35. These require professional installation and cannot be moved. When referring to dehumidifiers, most people are referring to portable dehumidifiers, which can be easily moved from room to room. For this reason, let’s focus on portable dehumidifiers.

There are over 50 dehumidifiers that received the coveted “ENERGY STAR Most Efficient” label. Within these, there are some stand out performers.

However, a key energy efficiency factor is matching the right product to your needs.

Using unnecessarily powerful appliances results in electricity wastage. So, even the most energy efficient appliance may result in wastage if it’s not suited to your needs.

For this reason, I’ll list standout performers that are suitable for various room sizes, which have varying IEF, capacity and power consumption levels.

This should help those in the market for an energy efficient dehumidifier to choose the most appropriate model to suit their needs.

The table below is a shortlist of 14 of the most energy efficient dehumidifiers in 2024. The table is arranged from low to high IEF (the higher the IEF, the better).

Again, various IEF ratings, daily capacity, wattage, square footage, etc. are included in this shortlist so you can choose the most energy efficient dehumidifier for your circumstances.

For example, if you have a small room then a more powerful dehumidifier, even if it has a better IEF, will be unnecessarily powerful.

This, however, can be managed efficiently if the dehumidifier has the ability to automatically maintain humidity levels in a room. This is because a more powerful dehumidifier can reach the appropriate humidity level quicker than less powerful models, and then enter inactive mode.

Ultimately, a similar level of power consumption can be achieved by dehumidifiers that have high electricity usage on paper compared to models that consume less electricity.

Related: check out the cost to run energy efficient dehumidifiers, here.

With this in mind, let’s take a brief look at the most energy efficient portable dehumidifier.

Most energy efficient dehumidifier in 2024

The most energy efficient dehumidifier is the 50 pint Midea Cube – see details, incl. price, here. See the same model but with a pump feature, here.

With an IEF of 1.95, the 50 pint Midea Cube is an impressively efficient dehumidifier suitable for larger rooms. There are 20 and 35 pint models available too that are more suitable for smaller rooms.

The Midea Cube has a smart design that enables more water collection, while remaining compact.

It also has smart features, enabling you to preset humidity levels. This improves the efficiency of the device as it helps ensure that it only runs when needed.

The Midea Cube also achieved the coveted “ENERGY STAR Most Efficient” label.

Get more details, here.

Honorable mention

The #1 best selling dehumidifier on Amazon made the shortlist of the most energy efficient dehumidifiers.

It’s great to see that we have a lot of energy conscious shoppers.

With many 5 star reviews, an IEF of 1.7 along with its style and various automation settings, the hOme HME020030N dehumidifier must get an honorable mention – see device features and style on Amazon, here.

This dehumidifier also uses substantially less electricity than most.

Consuming just 6.1 kWh per day, this dehumidifier uses over 40% less electricity than average.

Check it out on Amazon, here.

Final thoughts

Dehumidifiers can use a lot of electricity if you’re not careful. 

Running an older dehumidifier all day can, in extreme cases, nearly double the amount of electricity that you use in your home.

As a result, it’s important to consider the energy efficiency of your dehumidifier.

Reducing the amount of electricity that your dehumidifier uses has the obvious benefit of reducing your electricity bills, while also reducing your carbon footprint.

I hope the details above give you some context on the power consumption of dehumidifiers and enables you to make more informed purchasing and usage decisions.

Next, check out the cost to run a dehumidifier, here. You might also be interested in: Dehumidifier Amps [Listed By Size, Efficiency & Stage].

Save 28% ($32.28) p/m on your electric bills

Get the 6 Quick Wins Cheat Sheet. No appliance upgrades or investments are required, just follow these 6 tips to reduce your bills & carbon footprint.

You can unsubscribe anytime – more details are available on our Privacy Policy page.

Start Saving Now

Loading…

It’s on its way!

Please check your inbox for a confirmation email. Sometimes emails like these end up in junk folders, so please check there too.

James

James, Eco Cost Savings co-founder and Editor-in-Chief, is also our experienced in-house energy management and sustainability expert, and manager of our network of sustainability consultants.

Before his journey into sustainability, James studied engineering. Additionally, he has experience in HVAC installation, and data analysis. A self-proclaimed practical environmentalist, and avid penny pincher, James established Eco Cost Savings to share his and his colleague’s expertise with the aim of helping to reduce energy bills and carbon footprints at scale.

Read more about James or connect directly on TokTok, here.