The Best Dehumidifiers for 2026: Basement, Smart and Whole-Home Picks
By Claire Whitmore. Last updated October 2026.
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A musty basement isn’t just unpleasant. Humidity that stays above about 60% encourages mold, mildew and pests, and it can damage stored furniture, books and wine. A good dehumidifier pulls that moisture out and keeps a room at a steady 45% to 55%. The trouble is that portable dehumidifiers have a long history of failing early, and the category’s former favorite is now under a cloud.
This guide draws on Wirecutter’s August 2026 update, written by a reporter who has run dehumidifiers in flood-prone basements for years, plus WIRED, Consumer Reports, and independent testers The Heat & Air Review and Dehumidifier Buyer’s Guide. We haven’t tested these machines ourselves. Prices are from retailer listings and change with the season.
Quick answer: hold off on the Midea Cube for now. Wirecutter and others have paused recommending it after widespread reports of faulty humidistats. The safest portable choice right now is a 50-pint Frigidaire with Wi-Fi, such as the FHDD5034Y1. For a basement you need to keep dry for years, a ducted or stand-alone whole-home unit from AprilAire or Santa Fe is the more reliable, if pricier, answer.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Best for | Capacity | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frigidaire 50-pint Wi-Fi (FHDD5034Y1) | Best portable right now | 50 pints/day, about 2-gal bucket | Recommended |
| AprilAire E050 / E080 | Best whole-home and long-term | Rated 1,600 / 4,400 sq ft | Recommended (pro install) |
| Midea 50 Pint Cube | Best performer, when fixed | 50 pints/day, 4.25-gal bucket | Paused, wait |
| Midea 20 Pint Cube | Smaller spaces, when fixed | 20 pints/day | Paused, wait |
Status reflects Wirecutter’s August 2026 guidance. Check the latest before you buy a Midea Cube.
The Midea Cube problem
For several years the Midea 50 Pint Cube was the dehumidifier to buy. Its nested design holds 4.25 gallons, about twice a typical bucket, it was the quietest 50-pint model Wirecutter had measured at 51 decibels, it’s rated Energy Star Most Efficient, and it drew far fewer failure complaints than rivals. Wirecutter writers ran Cubes through floods and months of basement duty without trouble.
Since April 2026, though, many owners have reported Cubes with malfunctioning humidistats, the sensor that switches the machine on and off. They also say Midea’s customer service has been unhelpful. Wirecutter now says: “For now, we don’t recommend purchasing any Midea Cube model.” Independent reviewers have issued similar warnings, and some suggest using an external hygrometer if you already own one. If Midea fixes the problem, the Cube will likely return to the top of the list. Until then, we’d wait.
The best dehumidifiers
1. Frigidaire 50-pint Wi-Fi dehumidifier (FHDD5034Y1): best portable dehumidifier right now
Best for: basements, storage rooms and anyone who wants to check humidity from their phone.
Wirecutter’s smart pick was the Frigidaire Gallery FGAC5045W1. In testing it dropped humidity by 12% on high and 15% on low in an hour, and its app was stable, easy to connect and sent accurate full-bucket alerts. That model is discontinued, and Wirecutter points to the similar FHDD5034Y1 as the replacement, though it hasn’t tested that one. The Heat & Air Review also names the FHDD5034Y1 as the practical alternative to the Cube.
The 2.1-gallon bucket slides out and weighs about 20 pounds full, far easier than lifting the Cube’s 38-pound compressor off its bucket. It also works with Alexa and Google Assistant, and has a tuck-away handle, cord storage and an easy-to-reach drain-hose port. Frigidaire’s long-term reliability record is mixed, so set it up to drain on its own and register the warranty.
Pros
- App control and alerts
- Strong moisture removal
- Light, slide-out bucket
- Easy drain-hose hookup
Cons
- Frigidaire units draw more early-failure complaints
- Smaller bucket than the Cube
- Leave the ionizer off
2. AprilAire E050 or E080 whole-home dehumidifier: best for long-term reliability
Best for: homeowners tired of replacing portable units, and large or finished basements.
Commercial-grade, whole-home dehumidifiers start at about $1,400 for a 70-pint unit, but Wirecutter says the extra cost buys real advantages. They’re built to last, can be repaired, are installed and serviced by trained contractors, and come with long warranties. AprilAire’s five-year warranty includes a brand-new replacement if a unit can’t be repaired. The E050 is rated for 1,600 square feet and the E080 for 4,400.
Spliced into your HVAC ducts, they hold the whole house at about 40% to 60% humidity even when the air conditioner is idle. Because dry air feels cooler, you can usually raise the thermostat a degree or two. AprilAire estimates savings of about 3% per degree. They can also run stand-alone in basements and crawl spaces, draining by hose or through a durable external condensate pump. Santa Fe makes comparable units.
Pros
- Built to last and repairable
- Long warranty with replacement
- Whole-house humidity control
- Can lower AC costs
Cons
- Expensive
- Needs professional installation
3. Midea 50 Pint Cube: best performer, but wait
Best for: buyers willing to wait until Midea fixes the humidistat problem.
When it works, the Cube is excellent. In Wirecutter’s tests it lowered humidity about 13% in an hour on high, ran at just 51 dB, and measured 460 watts on high. It can drain passively through the included hose, and its 4.25-gallon capacity means days between emptying. The downsides, even before the humidistat issue, are the heavy lifting, tiny casters, a buggy 2.4 GHz-only app and poor customer service. Hold off until Wirecutter and other testers lift their caution.
Pros
- Huge capacity
- Quietest 50-pint model tested
- Energy Star Most Efficient
Cons
- Not recommended right now (humidistat reports)
- Heavy to empty
- Buggy app
Models to skip
- LG UD501KOG5: came last in Dehumidifier Buyer’s Guide’s moisture-removal testing. Wirecutter found its compressor hum intrusive and its drain hookup the hardest it tested.
- GE APYR50LC: shallow, slippery handles on a 44-pound machine and an awkward drain hose.
- Hisense DH7021K1W: inexpensive, but buyer reviews show high failure rates. It’s fine for a short-term leak cleanup.
How to choose a dehumidifier
- Pints mean removal, not bucket size. The pint rating is how much water the machine can pull from the air in 24 hours. Under current Department of Energy rules, Wirecutter says 50-pint models suit spaces up to about 1,200 square feet and 20-pint models about 500.
- Set it up to drain itself. Wirecutter strongly recommends passive draining into a floor drain, sump or sink, which may mean putting the unit on a sturdy shelf. Emptying a 20- to 40-pound bucket every day gets old fast.
- Pumps are a mixed blessing. Built-in pumps can push water up and out, but they fail often. A separate condensate pump is more durable.
- Measure humidity yourself. A cheap hygrometer confirms the problem and checks the machine’s own sensor, which matters given the Cube’s issues.
- Look for R-32 refrigerant. It’s more efficient and has lower global warming potential than R-410A.
- Noise. In a finished basement, quieter units in the low 50s dB are much easier to live with.
Fix the cause, too
A dehumidifier treats the symptom. Wirecutter stresses fixing the source: regrade soil away from the foundation, extend downspouts, seal gaps, and repair leaks. Central AC or a window unit also dries air, often more reliably. Don’t use a dehumidifier in a bathroom, where shock is a risk. Use an exhaust fan instead.
FAQ
What humidity should I aim for?
About 45% to 55% in basements. Wirecutter’s reporter keeps his at 55%. Above 60% for long periods encourages mold.
Do dehumidifiers use a lot of electricity?
They draw a lot when the compressor runs. Wirecutter measured the Cube at 460 watts on high. Energy Star Most Efficient models and a sensible target humidity keep costs down.
Why do dehumidifiers fail so often?
Wirecutter says 8% to 12% of owners across brands report failures within about a year. Whole-home units from AprilAire and Santa Fe are built and backed for much longer service.
Can I run one in a crawl space?
Use a unit designed for it. Whole-home and commercial dehumidifiers are commonly installed in crawl spaces, with drainage to the outside or a condensate pump.
The bottom line
For now, buy a 50-pint Frigidaire with Wi-Fi and set it up to drain on its own. Skip the Midea Cube until its humidistat problem is fixed. If you’ve already gone through a couple of portable units, or you’re finishing a basement, a professionally installed AprilAire or Santa Fe whole-home dehumidifier is the long-term solution.
