We compared 9 whole-house and crawl-space dehumidifiers on honest AHAM capacity, coverage, drainage and price — so you can skip the spec-sheet games and buy dry air with confidence.
One clear winner for each kind of space. Tap a card for the full review.
Whole homes up to 5,500 sq ft — the one-unit answer for humid-climate houses with a ducted HVAC tie-in.
Crawl spaces up to 2,600 sq ft with no floor drain nearby — the built-in pump pushes condensate up and out.
Budget crawl space and basement jobs up to 1,300 sq ft — the cheapest way into a real pro-grade unit.
Low-clearance crawl spaces where 12 inches of height is all you get — it hangs between floor joists.
Swipe for more picks →
| Model | Score | AHAM pints/day | Marketed as | Coverage | Drainage | Energy Star | Price tier | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AprilAire E100 Pro | 9.1 | 100 | 100 (honest) | 5,500 sq ft | Gravity drain | Yes | Price tier: Premium, $2,000–$3,000 | Check price of the AprilAire E100 Pro on Amazon |
| AlorAir Sentinel HDi90 | 9.0 | 90 | 198 (saturation) | 2,600 sq ft | Built-in condensate pump | — | Price tier: Mid-range, $1,000–$2,000 | Check price of the AlorAir Sentinel HDi90 on Amazon |
| AprilAire E070 Pro | 8.9 | 70 | 70 (honest) | 2,200 sq ft | Gravity drain | Yes | Price tier: Mid-range, $1,000–$2,000 | Check price of the AprilAire E070 Pro on Amazon |
| AprilAire E130 | 8.8 | 130 | 130 (honest) | 7,200 sq ft | Gravity drain | Yes | Price tier: Premium, $2,000–$3,000 | Check price of the AprilAire E130 on Amazon |
| AlorAir Sentinel HD90 | 8.8 | 90 | 198 (saturation) | 2,600 sq ft | Gravity drain | Yes | Price tier: Mid-range, $1,000–$2,000 | Check price of the AlorAir Sentinel HD90 on Amazon |
| AprilAire E080 | 8.7 | 80 | 80 (honest) | 4,400 sq ft | Gravity drain | Yes | Price tier: Mid-range, $1,000–$2,000 | Check price of the AprilAire E080 on Amazon |
Capacity is compared at AHAM conditions (80°F, 60% RH). "Marketed as" shows the box number and which test produced it — see our AHAM vs saturation guide.
Enter your square footage, space type and dampness to get the AHAM pints/day you need.
Size my spaceSee what each model costs per year in electricity at your kWh rate.
Do the mathThe true 5-year cost of a portable versus a pro-grade whole-house unit.
Compare costsHow to choose a whole-house dehumidifier in 5 decisions: AHAM sizing, drainage, ducted vs standalone, climate/space type, and budget.
Know the numbersAHAM pints (80°F/60% RH) are the only fair way to compare dehumidifiers. Learn why saturation numbers run ~2x higher and how to translate box claims.
Head-to-headAprilAire vs AlorAir vs Santa Fe head-to-head: honest ratings, value picks, and build quality compared. Who should buy which brand in 2026.
Running costsWhat does a whole-house dehumidifier cost to run monthly? Real wattage figures, the exact formula, and monthly estimates for every major model.
InstallationWhole-house dehumidifier installation costs $1,500–$3,500 in 2026. Unit prices, labor ranges, and 3 real-world scenarios to sanity-check any quote.
Head-to-headAprilAire E100 vs E130 compared: 85 vs 105 DOE pints, 5,500 vs 7,200 sq ft coverage, 64 vs 98 lbs, and ~$2,015 vs ~$2,495. Which one your home actually needs.
We earn a commission when you buy through our links, but it never changes which dehumidifier we recommend.
How we score unitsEvery capacity compared at 80°F/60% RH. Saturation marketing numbers get translated, not trusted.
Capacity, coverage and drainage claims verified across manufacturers, spec sheets and owner reports.
Calculators built from real specs turn "what size?" into a number, not a guess.