Best Whole-House Dehumidifiers: Ducted Units Compared by Pints, Efficiency and Coverage

How we made this guide: picks, prices and specs come from our catalog and the makers' published specs, owner quotes come from customer reviews on our product pages and every guide is checked and edited by Trevor Hall.

Our pick for most homes is the AlorAir Sentinel WHD100 at $1,399. AlorAir claims it covers up to 2,300 sq ft and rates it at 92 pints a day under the AHAM test (80°F, 60% RH), falling to 70 in the cooler DOE whole-home test (73°F, 60% RH). For the biggest or wettest houses, the WHD200 at $3,799 rates 140 pints at the DOE point.

Whole-house dehumidifiers compared: the quick-picks table

Every figure below is the maker's rating from the product listing. Pints are shown at the condition the maker gives, and AHAM figures are never compared with saturation figures. Coverage is each maker's own claim.

The BD-90P's 69.4 comes from XPOWER's owner's manual at 73°F and 60% RH. The second table adds the specs that decide where a unit can go.

What matters when you choose a whole-house dehumidifier

A portable dehumidifier dries the room it sits in. A whole-house unit pulls air from the house through a duct, dries it and returns it through its own supply duct or alongside the HVAC. That setup is the reason to buy one, and it changes what to check on the spec sheet.

Pints, and the condition behind them

Capacity ratings only compare when the condition matches. AHAM is 80°F and 60% relative humidity. The DOE whole-home point is 73°F and 60% RH, a cooler and drier point, so the same machine lists fewer pints there. AlorAir gives both for each WHD unit, plus a third point at 86°F and 80% RH. At 65°F a unit removes less than even its DOE figure, so in a cool basement treat the DOE pints as a ceiling. For a full walkthrough of the ratings and how to size a unit, read What Size Dehumidifier Do I Need?.

Coverage is a claim

Each coverage figure is the maker's own claim. Square footage ignores how wet the house is, how tall the ceilings are and how much outdoor air gets in. A tight 2,000 sq ft house in a mild climate and a leaky 2,000 sq ft house in the humid South are different jobs. Treat coverage as a starting point and use the DOE pints to check your answer.

Power and the circuit

Each WHD lists its own dedicated 15 A circuit with a GFCI outlet, and the WHD200 draws the most at 8.5 A. The HDi units list a 15 A GFCI circuit as well. Check the circuit before you pick a location.

Best overall: AlorAir Sentinel WHD100

The WHD100 is the pick for most homes in its range. Those two ratings, 92 pints a day in AHAM conditions and 70 in the DOE whole-home test, come from a fan that moves 229 CFM in low noise mode and 309 CFM at full speed. It draws 5.9 A and runs at 44 to 55 dBA, the quietest range of the six WHD and HDi units here. The compact cabinet weighs 89.07 lb.

The HDi100 costs the same and rates higher with a built-in pump, but it allows only 10 ft of total duct and has no fresh-air port. The WHD100 is the one built to serve a whole duct system.

Its controls cover a humidity setpoint from 35% to 90% in 1% steps, a GPP mode from 25 to 200 gr/lb and a continuous mode. The refrigerant is R32 and the filter is MERV-10. The listing gives AlorAir's limited warranty as 12 months from delivery, for defects in materials and workmanship.

Skip it if the house is over 2,300 sq ft, if the space sits well below the nearest drain and you do not want to add a pump, or if the load is heavy enough that the DOE point of 70 pints looks thin.

Best mid-size pick: AlorAir Sentinel WHD120

The WHD120 puts more capacity into the same compact cabinet: 104 pints a day at AHAM and 85 at the DOE point, with a claimed coverage of up to 3,000 sq ft. Airflow matches the WHD100 at 229 CFM low and 309 CFM high. It draws 6.8 A, its noise range is 48 to 62 dBA and it weighs the same 89.07 lb.

The jump from the WHD100 is 15 pints at the DOE point, and it is the smaller step up for a house of 2,500 sq ft or more.

Skip it if the house is under 2,300 sq ft and not especially damp (the WHD100 covers that) or if you need more than 3,000 sq ft.

Best for large homes: AlorAir Sentinel WHD150

The WHD150 is the first unit in the large cabinet, 37.3 in by 23.4 in by 24.3 in at 181.4 lb. AlorAir rates it at 140 pints a day at AHAM and 115 at the DOE point, with 309 CFM in low noise mode and 383 CFM on high. It lists 3,500 sq ft of coverage, two filters (a MERV-1 prefilter and a MERV-10 filter) and a draw of 6.5 A. Noise runs 52 to 64 dBA.

Its efficiency rows are the headline: 3.7 L/kWh at AHAM and 3.4 L/kWh at DOE, the highest of the units in this guide at either condition.

Skip it if you need to carry the unit up stairs alone, if the house is under about 3,000 sq ft, or if the space cannot take the large cabinet.

Best for the largest or wettest homes: AlorAir Sentinel WHD200

The WHD200 is the largest WHD. AlorAir rates it at 165 pints a day at AHAM, 140 at the DOE point and 250 at 86°F and 80% RH, with 309 CFM low and 412 CFM high. The claimed coverage is up to 4,500 sq ft. It draws 8.5 A (975 W at AHAM) and lists 53 to 65 dBA. At 187.4 lb it is the heaviest unit here.

Its efficiency rows read 3.3 L/kWh at AHAM and 3.2 L/kWh at DOE. That is below the WHD150's 3.7 and 3.4, so the WHD200 is the capacity pick rather than the efficiency pick. Choose it when the DOE pints, not the running cost, decide the job.

Skip it if the house is under 3,500 sq ft, if the load is moderate or if you are sizing to claimed coverage alone. The WHD150 does more per watt.

Most efficient whole-house dehumidifier: reading the L/kWh rows

AlorAir lists an efficiency row for each WHD unit in liters of water per kilowatt-hour. These are the maker's figures, and they only compare at the same condition.

The WHD150 leads both columns. The WHD200 is second, and the two compact units trail. The HDi100 and HDi120 list 2.7 L/kWh with no condition given, so we do not rank them against the WHD figures. XPOWER's manual gives the BD-90P an energy factor of 2.28 L/kWh without naming the test point, so we leave it out of the ranking.

For what a unit costs to run in dollars, the formula and an example are in How Much Does It Cost to Run a Dehumidifier?.

Best for a basement with short duct runs: AlorAir Sentinel HDi100 and HDi120

The HDi100 and HDi120 are sold in our crawl space category, but their spec rows list a built-in condensate pump and 10 in flex duct on the inlet and supply, with the duct adapters optional. They suit a different job from the WHD line: one finished or semi-finished area with a short run, where the water has to go up and out rather than down.

The HDi100 is rated at 100 pints a day at AHAM and 78 at DOE conditions (73°F, 60% RH), moves 250 CFM and claims up to 2,900 sq ft. It draws 6.82 A and runs under 60 dBA. Water leaves through an onboard condensate pump and a 19.6 ft hose, and a drain button empties the reservoir by hand before you move the unit. The listing gives a 10 ft maximum total duct run, which is the key limit: this is not a unit for a long trunk line across a house.

The HDi120 shares the HDi100's cabinet at 88 lb. It is rated at 120 pints a day at AHAM and 93 at DOE conditions, moves 290 CFM and claims up to 3,300 sq ft. It draws 7.8 A and runs under 60 dBA. The temperature range for both is 33.8°F to 104°F, a lower floor than the WHD line's 35.6°F.

Skip them if you plan a long duct network. For a basement on its own, with no duct at all, see our guide to the best basement dehumidifiers, or browse our crawl space dehumidifiers.

Best compact option: XPOWER Viking BD-90P

The XPOWER Viking BD-90P is the smallest and lightest unit here at 69.2 lb. Its spec row lists moisture removal at 85 PPD at AHAM (80°F, 60% RH) and 195 PPD at saturation (90°F, 90% RH), 180 CFM rated airflow, 5.8 A, 720 W and 115 V. The coverage claim is 2,600 sq ft. The drain hose is 20 ft, and you choose gravity drainage or the built-in pump, which XPOWER's manual says can lift water up to 16 ft above the machine. XPOWER's owner's manual shows an optional duct setup: a 10 in hose on the intake adapter and lay-flat ducting on the exhaust adapter. It carries a 1-year limited warranty and ETL/CETL certification listed on the page.

Skip it if you want one unit tied into the home's HVAC ducts or bringing in fresh air: the WHD line has 10 in collars and a 6 in fresh-air port for that. The BD-90P suits a basement, attic or garage where it stands on its own. For more stand-alone units in this size class, browse our 90 pint dehumidifiers.

Are whole-house dehumidifiers worth it?

It depends on the house. A portable unit is enough when one area is the problem: a basement, a laundry room or a crawl space. It costs less to buy, it needs no ductwork and you can move it. Our guide to dehumidifier sizing and the dehumidifiers with a built-in pump list cover that route.

A ducted whole-house unit also helps in mild, humid weather, when the air conditioner runs too little to pull moisture out of the air. A ducted dehumidifier holds the setpoint without overcooling the house. It wins in four cases:

• Finished basements, where a portable's noise and drain hose are in the living space and where several rooms share the damp air.
• Several rooms that all need the humidity held, since one unit and a duct layout reach all of them.
• Low noise in the living areas, because the unit sits in a mechanical space or attic and the fan noise stays there. In an attic, check it stays inside AlorAir's listed operating range of 35.6°F to 102.2°F. The WHD100 lists 44 dBA at its quietest.
• Tying into existing HVAC, where the unit's 10 in inlet and outlet share the home's ducts.

The trade-off is cost and install work. A whole-house unit needs a drain, a dedicated circuit and a duct layout. The install side is covered in How to Install a Whole-House Dehumidifier, and the target humidity to hold in the ideal basement humidity level.

Gravity drain or built-in pump

This choice shapes the install more than any other spec. A gravity drain needs a path that falls from the unit to a floor drain, sump or outside. None of the four WHD units has a pump of its own: water leaves by gravity from a 3/4 in female NPT fitting, and a set of terminals lets you wire in an outside pump or a float switch. If your only drain is above the unit, plan on a separate condensate pump, since none comes with a WHD.

A built-in pump moves the water up and away, so the unit can sit in a basement corner with a hose run to a laundry sink. The HDi100 and HDi120 do this with their 19.6 ft hose, and the BD-90P offers a built-in pump alongside gravity drainage. For care of the pump and drain line, see dehumidifier maintenance.

Whole-house dehumidifier prices in our range

The four Sentinel WHD units run from $1,399 to $3,799, the range of the Whole House Dehumidifier type in our catalog. Here is how all seven units here fall into bands.

Choosing by house

Frequently asked questions

Is there such a thing as a whole-house dehumidifier?

Yes. A whole-house dehumidifier is a ducted unit that dries air drawn from the house through ductwork and returns it dry, on its own duct runs or tied into the HVAC. The AlorAir Sentinel WHD series has 10 in inlet and outlet collars for this and a 6 in fresh-air port.

Do dehumidifiers need to be vented?

A compressor dehumidifier does not exhaust air outside. It collects water as condensate, so what it needs is a drain, either by gravity, a pump or a bucket. The Sentinel WHD series lists a 6 in fresh-air port as a duct option, which is separate from drainage.

Is a whole-house dehumidifier worth it?

It is worth it when the damp air is spread through several rooms or a finished basement, when you want the noise out of the living space or when you will tie the unit into existing ducts. If one area is the problem, a portable unit usually does the job for less money and install work.

How big a dehumidifier do I need for a 2,000 sq ft house?

AlorAir claims the WHD100 covers homes up to 2,300 sq ft, so it fits a 2,000 sq ft house with room to spare. A damp house may need the next size up. The sizing logic is in What Size Dehumidifier Do I Need?

What is the most efficient whole-house dehumidifier here?

On AlorAir's own L/kWh rows, the WHD150 is highest at 3.7 at AHAM and 3.4 at the DOE point. Compare like conditions only, and note that the HDi listings and XPOWER's BD-90P manual give an L/kWh figure without a condition we can match.

What is the best dehumidifier according to Consumer Reports?

We do not test machines or reproduce other publishers' ratings. This guide compares the makers' own specs on the units we carry, with the condition behind each figure, so you can check them against the space you need to dry.

Related guides

• How to Install a Whole-House (Ducted) Dehumidifier: Layouts, Drains and Controls
• What Size Dehumidifier Do I Need? Pints per Day, AHAM vs Saturation and a Sizing Chart
• Best Basement Dehumidifiers: Commercial-Grade Picks for Big, Cold or Wet Basements
• Best Crawl Space Dehumidifiers: Picks by Size, Height and Drainage