Last updated: September 1, 2026
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Quick Answer
Choose a 35-pint dehumidifier for a smaller or medium-size basement that is only moderately damp and can reach your target humidity without running nearly all day.
Choose a 50-pint dehumidifier when the basement is very damp or wet, is large/open, has laundry or other moisture loads, or a smaller machine struggles to recover after humid weather.
For most buyers deciding between the two, moisture load matters more than square footage alone. A 1,000 sq. ft. basement with seepage, damp masonry and indoor laundry can need more capacity than a much larger finished basement that stays near 55–60% RH.
Our simple rule: moderately damp + smaller/closed basement → start with 35 pint. Very damp, wet, large/open or slow to recover → choose 50 pint. Active leak, seepage or standing water → fix the water source first.
A 50-pint unit has about 43% more rated daily moisture-removal capacity than a 35-pint unit. That does not mean it will always finish the job exactly 43% faster, but it gives substantially more recovery capacity when the moisture load is high.
30-Second Size Decision
| Basement condition | Better starting choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Smaller/medium finished basement, mildly or moderately damp | 35 pint | Usually enough capacity without paying for unnecessary headroom |
| Basement consistently feels/smells damp | 35 or 50 pint | Size alone does not decide it; lean 50 as moisture load rises |
| Damp spots regularly appear on walls/floor | 50 pint | Higher moisture-removal load |
| Laundry regularly dries in basement | 50 pint | Laundry creates an additional moisture load |
| Large open basement or open stairway | 50 pint | Dehumidifier effectively serves more air volume |
| Existing 35-pint unit runs almost continuously | 50 pint | Strong signal that more recovery capacity may help |
| Humidity remains above target for many hours after rain | 50 pint | More capacity can improve recovery |
| Basement normally sits around 50–60% RH | 35 pint may be enough | Maintenance load is relatively modest |
| Active seepage, puddles or plumbing leak | Neither fixes the cause | Repair water entry first |
Do not choose capacity from square footage alone. Official ENERGY STAR sizing guidance considers both room size and how damp the room is before dehumidification. A wet small room can need more capacity than a larger mildly damp one.
What ENERGY STAR's Sizing Guidance Says
ENERGY STAR's current portable-dehumidifier guidance separates spaces by both size and moisture condition.
For spaces under roughly 2,000 sq. ft.:
- Slightly to moderately damp: roughly 20–30 pints/day
- Very damp: roughly 25–40 pints/day
- Wet/high-load conditions: roughly 30–50 pints/day
For spaces above roughly 2,000 sq. ft.:
- Slightly to moderately damp: 30+ pints/day
- Very damp: 40+ pints/day
- Wet/high-load conditions: 50+ pints/day
What that means for a 35-vs-50 decision: 35 pint sits in the middle. It is a reasonable choice for many smaller and moderately damp basements and can also fall within the recommended range for a smaller very-damp space. 50 pint gives you more margin for wet conditions, larger spaces and high moisture loads. This is not a rigid rule that every basement above a particular square footage requires 50 pints.
🇨🇦 What Size Dehumidifier Does Your Basement Need?
Use the calculator below as a starting point based on basement area and moisture condition. It is not a substitute for measuring actual relative humidity or fixing an active water source.
Dehumidifier capacity depends primarily on the size of the space and how much moisture is present. Larger or very damp Canadian basements generally need more moisture-removal capacity than smaller, moderately damp spaces.
Use the interactive basement size calculator on this page to get a personalized starting recommendation based on your square footage and moisture level.
Midea Cube 35 vs 50 Pint: A Useful Canadian Example
| Specification | 35-Pint (MC35MSWBA3RCM) | 50-Pint (MAD50S1QWT-A) |
|---|---|---|
| Rated removal | 35 pints/day | 50 pints/day |
| Manufacturer room claim | Up to 3,000 sq. ft. | Up to 4,500 sq. ft. |
| Bucket | 16 litres | — |
| Manufacturer noise rating | 45 dBA | — |
| Weight | Approx. 41 lb | Approx. 42 lb |
| Automatic defrost | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in pump | No | No |
| Smart/Wi-Fi functionality | Yes | Yes |
| ENERGY STAR certified | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 1-year limited | 1-year limited |
The physical difference between the current Midea Cube 35-pint and 50-pint models is almost negligible. That makes the 50-pint version attractive whenever the price premium is reasonable, since you get more rated capacity without giving up floor space or a smaller bucket. Because both share a similar reservoir size, the 50-pint machine can fill it faster under heavy conditions, so continuous gravity drainage matters more as capacity increases.
Manufacturer coverage claims and independent sizing guidance are different things. Midea markets these models for large spaces, but we would still size a basement primarily by actual dampness and moisture load rather than assuming every 3,000-sq.-ft. room is appropriate for a 35-pint machine.
Check the Midea Cube 35-Pint on Amazon.ca | Check the Midea Cube 50-Pint on Amazon.ca
What Does "35 Pint" or "50 Pint" Actually Mean?
The number is the rated quantity of water a dehumidifier can remove from the air in 24 hours under standardized test conditions — it is not the bucket size, and it is not a prediction that your basement will produce exactly that much water every day. Compare current DOE rating with current DOE rating — never a "saturation" headline against a standard portable rating.
Why Did Old 70-Pint Dehumidifiers Become 50-Pint Models?
Portable dehumidifier test procedures changed around 2020. Newer ratings use cooler, more realistic conditions than the older rating procedure, so an appliance that would once have been marketed with a much higher pint number can receive a lower modern capacity rating.
ENERGY STAR gives approximate examples such as: old 30 pint → about 20 pint under newer testing; old 50 pint → about 30 pint; old 60 pint → about 35 pint; old 70 pint → roughly 40–45 pint; old 90 pint → roughly 55 pint.
Do not compare the pint number on a ten-year-old dehumidifier directly with a current model without checking which test standard was used.
35 vs 50 Pint by Basement Size
Around 500–1,000 sq. ft.: if the basement is finished and moderately damp, 35 pint is often enough. Choose 50 pint instead if humidity routinely rises well above your target, walls/floors feel damp, laundry adds moisture, the basement is open to other levels, or you want faster recovery after moisture spikes.
Around 1,000–1,500 sq. ft.: either can work depending on moisture load. Lean 35 pint for a well-finished, relatively dry space. Lean 50 pint for unfinished masonry, regular mustiness, laundry or slow recovery.
Around 1,500–2,000 sq. ft.: we would generally lean 50 pint unless the space has a very mild moisture load.
Above roughly 2,000 sq. ft.: a 50-pint portable unit is the more appropriate starting point when choosing only between these two capacities, especially if the space is very damp. Very large or compartmentalized basements may instead need better airflow, more than one unit or a whole-home/ducted strategy.
These are starting points, not guaranteed coverage ratings. Basement layout, temperature, air leakage and actual moisture entry can matter as much as floor area.
What Does the Extra 15 Pints Actually Buy You?
A 50-pint rating means the machine is rated to remove up to 15 more pints of moisture per day under the standardized test conditions. That extra capacity is most useful when humidity rises rapidly after rain, the basement starts far above the target RH, damp masonry continuously releases moisture, laundry adds intermittent moisture, doors/stairs connect the basement to more conditioned space, or a smaller dehumidifier runs nearly continuously. It matters much less when the basement already stays close to the target humidity and the unit spends much of the day cycled off.
Think of 50 pint as extra recovery capacity, not permission to make the basement drier. The humidistat still determines the target humidity.
When a 35-Pint Dehumidifier Is Enough
Choose 35 pint when most of these are true: basement is finished or reasonably well sealed; moisture problem is mild to moderate; RH normally sits around 50–65%, rather than staying extremely high; mustiness is intermittent rather than constant; walls/floors are not regularly visibly damp; laundry is not adding a large moisture load; basement is reasonably closed off from the rest of the house; the dehumidifier reaches target RH and cycles off; and drainage/bucket management is easy.
The strongest evidence that 35 pint is enough is not the square footage — it is that the machine reaches your humidity target without running nearly continuously.
Do not choose it merely because the basement is under 1,000 sq. ft. — a small wet basement can create a larger moisture load than a big, well-sealed finished one.
When the 50-Pint Dehumidifier Is Worth It
Choose 50 pint when several of these are true: basement is consistently musty or damp; RH regularly stays above roughly 65%; walls/floors develop damp spots; basement is large or open to other levels; unfinished concrete/block contributes moisture; laundry dries in the space; humidity climbs rapidly after rain; a smaller unit takes many hours to recover; existing unit runs almost continuously; or you want more recovery margin during humid summer weather.
If a 35-pint unit already keeps the basement at target RH and cycles normally, replacing it with a 50-pint machine may accomplish very little.
Is a 50-Pint Dehumidifier Overkill?
Sometimes — but "overkill" does not simply mean the basement is small. A correctly functioning humidistat lets the dehumidifier stop or cycle after reaching the set point, so a 50-pint machine does not automatically keep removing water until the basement becomes excessively dry.
The downsides of unnecessarily oversizing can instead be: higher purchase price, potentially higher instantaneous power draw, a larger/heavier machine depending on model, and more capacity than the space ever uses. But when two models have similar size, noise and price, buying additional capacity can be reasonable.
Do not replace a perfectly adequate 35-pint machine just because 50 sounds better.
Drainage Matters More Than the 15-Pint Difference
A dehumidifier you cannot drain conveniently can become annoying regardless of whether it is 35 or 50 pint.
Both Midea Cube models reviewed here support a drain hose but do not include a built-in pump — the hose must descend continuously from the unit to a floor drain without kinks or upward loops. Because a higher-capacity machine can collect water faster under heavy conditions, continuous drainage becomes increasingly useful as moisture load rises.
If the drain is below the machine and the hose can stay downhill, gravity is simplest. If water must go uphill to a laundry sink or elevated drain, use a built-in or external condensate pump. If the only destination is a laundry sink, elevated standpipe or window, choose a pump model instead, such as the Midea 50-Pint with Pump. See our full pump vs gravity drain comparison for the complete decision.
Does a 50-Pint Dehumidifier Cost More to Run?
Not necessarily over an entire season. A 50-pint unit may draw more power while operating, but it may also reach the humidity target sooner and spend more time cycled off. A 35-pint unit may draw less power at an instant but run for more hours. Actual energy use depends on: power draw × operating time × moisture load. Therefore compare exact model efficiency, ENERGY STAR certification, rated capacity and how long the machine actually needs to run — do not assume either capacity is automatically cheaper to operate.
If a 35-pint model can maintain target humidity while cycling normally, the larger machine may provide little energy advantage. If the 35-pint unit runs nearly continuously, additional capacity may make more sense.
Which Size Is Quieter?
Capacity alone does not determine noise. The current Midea Cube examples are useful because the published specifications do not support the assumption that "larger capacity automatically means much louder." Also consider runtime: a slightly larger unit that reaches target RH and shuts off may be less noticeable over a full day than a smaller machine running constantly.
What About a Cold Canadian Basement?
Capacity ratings do not override temperature. Compressor dehumidifiers remove less moisture as basement temperature falls and may enter defrost cycles as frost forms on the coil. A 50-pint rating does not mean the machine will remove 50 pints every day in a cool Canadian basement. Check the exact model's operating-temperature specifications and solve unusually cold-basement conditions separately.
20 vs 35 vs 50 Pint: Simple Starting Point
| Capacity | Best starting use |
|---|---|
| 20 pint | Small room or mild maintenance drying |
| 35 pint | Smaller/medium basement with mild-to-moderate moisture load |
| 50 pint | Very damp, wet, larger/open basement or high recovery load |
Humidity condition can move you up or down a size. Do not choose from square footage alone. For product recommendations beyond this size comparison, see our Best Basement Dehumidifiers in Canada guide.
Signs Your Dehumidifier Is Too Small
Your current machine may be undersized if it runs nearly continuously but cannot reach the target RH, RH rebounds quickly after it shuts off, recovery after rain takes many hours, musty odours remain despite continuous operation, walls or floors remain damp, the bucket fills repeatedly during high-load conditions, or the machine serves an open area much larger than originally expected.
Do not diagnose undersizing until you have checked obvious problems such as dirty filters, blocked airflow, poor placement, low basement temperatures and active water intrusion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 50-pint dehumidifier better than a 35-pint?
Not automatically. A 50-pint unit provides more moisture-removal capacity, which is useful in wetter or larger spaces. If a 35-pint unit already reaches your target humidity and cycles normally, the extra capacity may provide little benefit.
Is a 50-pint dehumidifier too big for a 1,000 sq. ft. basement?
Not necessarily. Dampness matters as much as square footage. A dry finished 1,000-sq.-ft. basement may be well served by 35 pints, while a wet or high-load basement of the same size can justify 50 pints.
What size dehumidifier for a 1,500 sq. ft. basement?
Either size can work depending on moisture conditions, but we generally lean toward 50 pints as the space approaches 1,500 sq. ft., especially for unfinished, very damp or high-load basements.
What size dehumidifier for a 2,000 sq. ft. basement?
When choosing between 35 and 50 pints, 50 pints is the stronger starting point for a basement around 2,000 sq. ft., particularly when it is very damp. Actual moisture condition and layout still matter.
Does a 50-pint dehumidifier remove moisture faster?
It has more rated moisture-removal capacity, so it can provide faster recovery when the moisture load is high. That does not mean every basement will dry exactly 43% faster.
Will a 50-pint dehumidifier make my basement too dry?
Not if the humidistat is functioning and you choose an appropriate target. The unit should cycle off after reaching the set humidity rather than continuously drying the space.
Does a 50-pint dehumidifier use more electricity than a 35-pint?
It may draw more power while running, but seasonal energy use also depends on runtime. A larger unit may reach the target sooner and cycle off, so compare exact model efficiency rather than capacity alone.
Is 35 pint enough for a basement?
Yes for many smaller or moderately damp basements. The best evidence is whether it can maintain your target relative humidity without running nearly continuously.
Why is my new 50-pint dehumidifier replacing an old 70-pint model?
Capacity test procedures changed. Newer ratings use different conditions, so modern pint numbers can be lower even when the new appliance is intended for a similar application.
How many square feet will a 35-pint dehumidifier cover?
A 35-pint unit is a practical starting point for many moderately damp finished basements under roughly 900 sq. ft.
Is a pump included on the Midea Cube 35 or 50?
Not on the current Canadian models compared here. Both support gravity drainage only.
Should I run two 35-pint units instead of one 50-pint unit?
Two units can improve distribution in separated rooms but add purchase cost, filter maintenance and electrical load. Start with one properly placed 50-pint model unless closed rooms prevent air circulation.
Final Verdict
Choose 35 pint when your basement has a mild-to-moderate moisture load and the machine can maintain your target humidity without running nearly continuously.
Choose 50 pint when the basement is very damp, wet, large/open, regularly affected by laundry or humid weather, or a smaller machine struggles to recover.
When the price and physical size are close, we generally prefer the extra capacity of the 50-pint model for a demanding Canadian basement. But do not buy by square footage alone.
The better decision sequence is: (1) fix active water intrusion; (2) measure how damp the basement actually is; (3) choose capacity; (4) choose the drainage method; (5) verify that the machine can reach roughly your chosen target RH and cycle normally.
A properly performing 35-pint machine is better than an unnecessarily large 50-pint machine selected only because the number sounds safer.
Check the Midea Cube 35-Pint on Amazon.ca | Check the Midea Cube 50-Pint on Amazon.ca
Related reading: Best Basement Dehumidifiers in Canada, Best Crawl-Space Dehumidifiers in Canada, Ideal Basement Humidity in Canada and our Basement & Moisture Control Canada hub.