Dehumidifiers are sized in pints per day at AHAM conditions (80°F, 60% RH).
Answer four questions and get the honest capacity your space needs — plus the models that deliver it.
How the math works
Start with roughly 10 pints/day (AHAM) per 500 sq ft in a moderately damp
space, then multiply by your space type, dampness level and climate — and add 20–30% headroom
so the unit cycles instead of running flat-out. The result is the AHAM figure to shop
for, not the inflated "saturation" number on some boxes. Our
AHAM vs saturation guide shows how
to translate marketing claims, and
sizing by climate zone has the full tables.