Best Energy-Efficient Dehumidifiers 2026: ENERGY STAR Picks

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After a week of summer rain, the basement smells musty, the towels in the laundry room never quite dry, and the kids’ playroom down there feels clammy. A dehumidifier fixes that, but it’s also one of the hungrier appliances in a home, running for hours a day all season. Picking an efficient one, and running it the right way, makes a real difference on the bill.

The best energy-efficient dehumidifier for most homes is the Midea Cube 50-pint with built-in pump: ENERGY STAR certified under the current Version 6.0 rules, with an efficiency (IEF) of 2.01 liters per kWh and a rated 515 kWh a year. Its pump drains to a sink or window on its own, so it never stops because the bucket is full.

Below: how dehumidifier efficiency is measured, what one costs to run, three ENERGY STAR-labeled 50-pint picks, and the settings that save the most energy. We researched and compared them from ENERGY STAR’s product data, maker pages and retailer listings; we did not test them.

Prices change often and none of the makers showed a price when we checked in October 2026; check the current price before you buy.

Our top picks

Energy-efficient dehumidifiers compared

Model	Capacity	Efficiency (IEF)	Rated energy use	Drain	ENERGY STAR status we found
Midea Cube MAD50PS1BQGR	49.67 pints/day	2.01 L/kWh	515 kWh/yr	Built-in pump	Listed under Version 6.0 (2025)
Frigidaire FHDD5033W1	50 pints/day	2.01 L/kWh for the newer FHDD5033Y1	520 kWh/yr (Y1); 545 W	Bucket or hose; pump version FHDP5033	W1 labeled ENERGY STAR by retailers; current database lists the Y1
hOmeLabs 50-pint with pump	50 pints/day	Not in ENERGY STAR’s current list	Not listed	Built-in pump	Sold as ENERGY STAR; not in the current database

ENERGY STAR raised its dehumidifier requirements with Version 6.0, effective October 1, 2025. A unit made under the older rules may still have the label on its box without appearing in the current database. Before you buy, look up the exact model number in the ENERGY STAR product finder.

How dehumidifier efficiency works

The number to compare is the Integrated Energy Factor (IEF): liters of water removed per kilowatt-hour of electricity, counting standby and fan time too. Higher is better. Under ENERGY STAR Version 6.0, a portable dehumidifier rated 25.01 to 50 pints a day needs an IEF of at least 2.01 L/kWh. ENERGY STAR says a certified dehumidifier uses more efficient coils, compressors and fans and removes the same moisture as a similar conventional unit with 20% less energy.

Pint ratings changed in 2019. DOE moved to a new test with cooler conditions, closer to a real basement, so the same machine now gets a lower pints-per-day number. A unit once sold as “70 pints” is often rated about 50 pints today; the hOmeLabs listing shows both. Compare models rated under the same test.

What a dehumidifier costs to run

ENERGY STAR rates the Midea Cube at 515 kWh a year, based on the standard test’s assumed hours of use. At the 2025 U.S. average of 17.30 cents per kWh (EIA), that’s about $89 a year (our estimate). Another way to see it: the Frigidaire draws 545 W while its compressor runs, about 9.4 cents an hour. If it ran 12 hours a day for a month, that’s about 196 kWh, or about $34. In practice the compressor shuts off once the room reaches the humidity you set, so the right setting is your biggest saving.

The best energy-efficient dehumidifiers

1. Midea Cube 50-Pint with Pump (MAD50PS1BQGR): best overall

The Cube is the only pick here we found in ENERGY STAR’s current Version 6.0 database: 49.67 pints a day, an IEF of 2.01 L/kWh and 515 kWh a year, with lower-GWP R-32 refrigerant. Midea rates it for spaces up to 4,500 sq ft and builds in a pump, so it can push water up to a sink or out a window instead of filling a bucket. It has app and voice control, an ionizer, and a “lift-and-twist” body that nests down small for storage. It’s about 14.8 inches tall and 41.5 lb, with a 2-year warranty.

• Good: current ENERGY STAR listing; built-in pump; compact; smart controls; 2-year warranty.
• Watch out: the “B” version is the current model; older Cube listings (MAD50PS1QGR) are no longer sold by Midea, so check the model number on the listing.
• Best for: basements and large damp areas where you want it to run unattended.

Check the Midea Cube price on Amazon

2. Frigidaire 50-Pint Wi-Fi (FHDD5033W1): best smart controls

Frigidaire’s 50-pint unit adds Wi-Fi to a classic bucket dehumidifier: set the humidity, check readings and get alerts from your phone. Retailer specs list 545 W and 8.5 amps at 115 V, a 1.9-gallon bucket, a continuous-drain hose connection, a 24-hour timer, auto shut-off and restart, a low-temperature setting for cool basements, and 49 to 51.5 dBA. Retailers sell the W1 as ENERGY STAR. ENERGY STAR’s current database lists the newer FHDD5033Y1 at an IEF of 2.01 L/kWh and 520 kWh a year; if you see the Y1 at a similar price, it’s the one with the current listing. There’s also a pump version (FHDP5033).

• Good: app control; low-temp mode; slim shape; continuous drain option.
• Watch out: no pump on this version, so the drain hose needs a floor drain lower than the unit; the W1 isn’t in ENERGY STAR’s current database.
• Best for: basements with a floor drain, and anyone who wants phone alerts.

Check the Frigidaire dehumidifier price on Amazon

3. hOmeLabs 50-Pint with Pump: best for long drain runs

hOmeLabs’ pump model is rated 50 pints a day under the 2019 DOE test (70 pints under the older one). Its pump pushes water through a 16.4-foot drain hose, handy when the nearest sink is across the basement. Listing specs include a 24-hour timer, auto shut-off, a drain outlet for gravity draining and coverage up to 4,000 sq ft. It’s sold as ENERGY STAR, but we didn’t find this model in ENERGY STAR’s current database, and the specs above come from the Amazon listing and third-party spec pages rather than a maker spec sheet.

• Good: built-in pump with a long hose; simple controls.
• Watch out: no current ENERGY STAR listing; IEF not published by the maker where we looked; hOmeLabs’ site now features a Wi-Fi 50-pint model, so confirm the model number.
• Best for: basements where the drain is far away or up high.

Check the hOmeLabs dehumidifier price on Amazon

Whole-home dehumidifiers are a different class: ducted units installed by an HVAC pro. They’re the most efficient on ENERGY STAR’s Most Efficient list, with the top model rated at an IEF of 3.26 L/kWh, and they’re worth asking about if your whole house is humid. Get two or three quotes.

How to run a dehumidifier for less

• Set it to 50%, not lower. ENERGY STAR says the best indoor relative humidity is generally 30% to 50%, and 30% to 40% in cold climates during heating season to avoid window condensation. Every point lower means more run time.
• Close the space. ENERGY STAR advises keeping the doors and windows of the room closed while it runs, or you’re drying the outdoors.
• Give it air. Keep it away from walls and furniture (unless the air comes out the top), and clean the filter as the manual says.
• Size it right. ENERGY STAR’s guide: for a wet space, 30–50 pints a day for small-to-medium rooms and 50+ for large ones; less damp spaces need less. A right-sized unit reaches your setting and shuts off.
• Fix the water source. Gutters, downspouts, a dryer vent leak or a bathroom without a fan can make any dehumidifier run all day.
• Remember it adds heat. A dehumidifier releases warmth into the room as it works. That’s fine in a basement, but in a room you’re also air-conditioning, the AC itself removes moisture, so try the AC alone first.

Where a dehumidifier earns its keep

Basements are the classic spot: cool walls and floors in contact with damp soil keep the air humid all summer, and the musty smell is often the first sign. Laundry rooms where clothes dry on a rack, and bathrooms without a working exhaust fan, are next. In a home that’s air-conditioned all summer, the main living areas often don’t need one at all, because the AC removes moisture as it cools.

Before you buy, it’s worth a few dollars for a simple hygrometer (humidity meter). If the space sits under 50% most of the time, you may not need a dehumidifier, and the cheapest kilowatt-hour is the one you never use. If it reads 60% or more for days, a right-sized ENERGY STAR unit set to 50% is the efficient fix.

How to choose an energy-efficient dehumidifier

• Check the model in ENERGY STAR’s database, not just the box, since the rules changed in October 2025. Compare IEF (L/kWh) and yearly kWh.
• Plan the drainage. A pump or a hose to a floor drain lets it run without stopping for a full bucket.
• Look for a humidistat you can set, auto restart after a power cut and a low-temperature mode for cool basements.
• Compare pints under the same test (2019 DOE ratings are lower than older ones for the same machine).
• Plug it straight into a grounded wall outlet and follow the manual on extension cords.

Keep exploring

Start with our guide on how to lower your electric bill, and read how to lower your electric bill in summer. Pair a dehumidifier with one of the best energy-efficient air conditioners, find out what uses the most electricity in your home, or track a dehumidifier’s real use with an energy-monitoring smart plug rated for the load. Learn the science in thermal energy, and browse every energy-saving tip.

Dehumidifier questions

What is the most energy-efficient dehumidifier?

Look for the highest IEF (liters per kWh) in ENERGY STAR’s product finder for the size you need. Among portable 50-pint models, many current listings sit at 2.01 L/kWh, the Version 6.0 minimum for that size, including the Midea Cube. Ducted whole-home units rate higher, up to 3.26 L/kWh on the Most Efficient list.

How much electricity does a dehumidifier use?

A 50-pint unit draws about 500 to 550 W while its compressor runs (the Frigidaire is listed at 545 W). ENERGY STAR rates the Midea Cube at 515 kWh a year under the standard test, or about $89 at 17.30 cents per kWh (our estimate). Your use depends on how damp the space is and your humidity setting.

What humidity should I set my dehumidifier to?

ENERGY STAR says the best indoor relative humidity is generally between 30% and 50%. Around 50% is a good, energy-friendly setting for a basement in summer. In cold climates during heating season, 30% to 40% helps prevent condensation on windows.

Is it better to run a dehumidifier or the air conditioner?

In rooms you’re cooling, the air conditioner already removes moisture, so try it alone first; a dehumidifier adds heat to the room. In basements and other spaces you don’t air-condition, a dehumidifier is the efficient choice.

Should I run my dehumidifier all the time?

Leave it on with the humidity set, not on “continuous” mode. With a setting around 50%, the compressor runs only when the air is damper than that and rests the rest of the time. In a dry month you may be able to switch it off entirely; check the readout or a cheap hygrometer.

Is a bigger dehumidifier less efficient?

Not necessarily. A properly sized unit reaches your humidity setting and shuts off, while an undersized one may run nonstop. Choose by how damp and how big the space is using ENERGY STAR’s sizing guide, then compare IEF among models of that size.