You have probably seen a couple of articles recommend the 70-pint dehumidifier over its 50 or 30 pint cousins and wondered how they compare in terms of power consumption.
I single out power consumption because the increased energy prices have got us all looking for energy-saving options.
While the 50-pint option may make more sense in terms of power consumption, there are numerous reasons why the 70-pint dehumidifier is the better of them.
Let us compare the 50 pint vs 70 pint dehumidifier below to help you differentiate and pick the right one for your house.
What is a 50 Pint Dehumidifier?
First off, when we talk about what a 50-pint dehumidifier can do, we mean that the unit can remove up to 50 pints of water from the air within a span of 24 hours.
What is a 70 Pint Dehumidifier?
The 70-pint unit can, therefore, remove up to 70 pints of water from the air within a 24 hour period.
So, the pint rating used to determine a dehumidifier’s size refers to its moisture removal capacity and not its catch basin size, as many people tend to (wrongly) believe.
Pros and Cons of 50 pint Dehumidifier and 70 pint Dehumidifier
Why would you choose to buy a 50 pint dehumidifier unit over the 70 pint unit? 
Pros of 50 pint dehumidifier
- It costs less to buy
- It has a smaller fan that can use less electricity
- Sometimes weigh less by a few pounds
- Most 50 pint models are quieter than their 70 pint counterparts by a slight margin.
Cons of a 50 pint dehumidifier
- Limited space coverage
- Less energy efficient in terms of water removed per kilowatt-hour of electricity
Pros of 70 pint units
- They are portable, with a handle for lifting and wheels for moving them around. This is advantageous for their weighty profile.
- More energy efficient; they remove more water from the air per kilowatt-hour of electricity.
- Can dehumidify larger spaces
- Handles high humidity better
Cons of 70 pint dehumidifiers
- They consume more electricity overall
- They are typically more expensive
Which Way to go, Key Differences Between 50 Pints and 70 Pint Dehumidifier?
Often, a 50 pint dehumidifier is identical to the 70 pint unit in design and size. Therefore, it can be near-impossible to differentiate them simply by looking at their sizes.
However, these two models differ in several other aspects. So let us put them side by side and see how they compare.
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50 pint vs 70 pint dehumidifier: Compactness
In terms of the space each unit occupies, the two are a close match. As we have mentioned, a 50-pint unit is generally the same size as a corresponding 70-pint unit, provided they are from the same manufacturer.
Verdict: There is a tie.
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50 pint vs 70 pint dehumidifier: Pricing
It appears that the smaller the pint count, the less money you are likely to pay regardless of the manufacturer.
Different brands tend to charge about $30 to $50 more for a 70 pint model than a 50 pint option. So you may want to keep in mind this as you decide on how much you wish to spend on the dehumidifier.
Verdict: The 50-pint unit is a winner.
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50 pint vs 70 pint dehumidifier: Noise output
The difference in noise levels between the two units can be as little as one or two decibels. Nonetheless, the 50-pint dehumidifier is usually the one with less noise output.
For many homeowners, noise is a major consideration that they will want to minimize as much as possible.
If you are one such person, the 50-pint option may be an obvious choice for you.
Noise usually comes from the action of the fan spinning within the unit. Clearly, a larger dehumidifier will have a bigger fan and a corresponding larger motor buzzing more loudly and creating more noise.
Taking the example of the Frigidaire brand, the 50-pint model produces up to 80 decibels on turbo. The 70-pint model, on the other hand, reaches about 95 decibels on its high setting – which is a significant difference on the higher side.
Verdict: 50 pint is the winner.
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50 pint vs 70 pint dehumidifier: Coverage
In terms of area coverage, the winner is almost apparent. The higher-pint unit is designed to remove more water in larger floor space than the smaller one.
Indeed, the 50-pint model will work great for 1000 square feet and below. However, it will struggle to dehumidify this 1000 square feet if the humidity is north of 80 percent.
This means the unit can be ineffective in a space designed to be within its range. On the other hand, the 70-pint model does a great job clearing airborne water in spaces up to 1400 square feet with much higher humidity.
So, whenever you have to choose between a smaller and bigger dehumidifier to use in a highly humid environment, it helps to go for the latter. A more powerful unit is a more prudent choice over one that will not get the job done at all.
One thing you can do to simplify your work is choosing a 70-pint dehumidifier for any high-humidity area measuring more than two-thirds the size recommended for a 50-pint unit.
Verdict: 70-pint unit wins
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50 pint vs 70 pint dehumidifier: Energy efficiency
Even though the bigger unit should consume more power to operate, it removes more water per kilowatt-hour of electricity than a 50-pint unit. This makes it more energy-efficient than the smaller unit.
Still, with the example of Frigidaire, a 50-pint dehumidifier option removes more than 12 percent less water per kilowatt-hour of electricity than its 70-pint cousin.
The 70-pint model also typically runs for less time per day than a 50-pint unit. In most cases, a 70-pint dehumidifier will run for fewer hours to maintain a given relative humidity such as 45 percent.
A 50-pint model would run for far more hours to maintain the same humidity per day, consuming more power.
This difference is particularly substantial in areas that are close to the maximum threshold for the 50-pint unit.
In such cases, you are likely to save more on energy than you do on the upfront cost of purchasing the two competing appliances.
Verdict: 70 pint is a winner
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50 pint vs 70 pint dehumidifier: Moisture removal rate
A dehumidifier with larger motors draws in water from the air faster than smaller ones.
In this case, the larger-motor option is the 70-pint unit, which will capture more airborne water per given time than the 50-pint model.
More specifically, the 70-pint unit will remove up to 8.75 gallons of water every 24 hours, while the 50-pint model will manage only 6.34 gallons within the same time frame.
Verdict: 70-pint model wins
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50 pint vs 70 pint dehumidifier: Water Basin Capacity
While the 70-pint unit will remove more water from the air per given time than the smaller model, their catch basin capacities tend to be equal.
Most manufacturers equip their dehumidifiers with a removable condensate bucket with a capacity of up to 16 pints. On the lower side, the bucket can be about 12 pints on both units.
And, while this could mean you have to empty the water every now and then, the majority of these units have automatic drain functionality ensuring continuous operation on both models.
Verdict: It is a tie.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need a dehumidifier in every room?
A dehumidifier is more effective working in one room. However, it can cover multiple rooms if the rooms have an open floor plan, with open doorways connecting them.
For a multi-story house, you’ll want to buy several dehumidifiers or install a whole-house dehumidifier. Even then, you will have to ensure the unit has access to all the rooms by keeping connecting doors open.
- Can I use a large dehumidifier in a small room?
The answer to this question is “yes.” You can certainly use a 70-pint dehumidifier in a space designed for a 30-pint option, and it will not be any problem.
However, such a large unit may be too loud for the small space. Check out our Best dehumidifier for apartments.
- Where is the best place to put a dehumidifier in a room?
You can put a dehumidifier in any part of the room where you want to lower humidity, including the basement, bedrooms, laundry rooms, indoor pool area, and crawl space. Check out our list of similar products:
Best Dehumidifier for Large Basement
Best dehumidifier for Crawl Space
All these are areas that tend to experience a lot of moisture problems.
Final Verdict of 50 pint vs 70 pint Dehumidifier?
Choosing a dehumidifier is not a one-size-fits-all kind of thing. To get the most out of your unit, choose the 50-pint option if:
- You wish to spend less money upfront.
- The room you want to dehumidify is 1000 square feet and less, with between 60 to 80 percent relative humidity.
- You want the quietest dehumidifier
- You live in a moderately humid climate
On the other hand, go for the 70-pint option if:
- You live in a highly humid climate
- You are buying the unit for a large room measuring more than 1000 square feet.
- Energy efficiency is your primary consideration.
- You want a fast-acting unit that will lower humidity quicker.
