This is our buying guide on the best dehumidifiers for 500 sq feet in 2023. Below is a quick summary of our top recommendations. Scroll further down to read our in depth, hands on reviews, for each humidifier.
HomeLabs Dehumidifier
- 1.6-gallon water tank capacity
- Removes up to 50 pints humidity per day
- Up to 4500 square feet
- Sleek and clean look
- Ideal for large rooms
- Easy to use
- Adjustable moisture settings
- Built-in pump compressor
- Auto shutoff
- Turbo mode
Frigidaire
- It works fast
- Quiet
- Happy with spaces from 500 square feet upwards
- Build quality is magnificent
- Design is ultimately user friendly
- Easy to clean
- Easy to maintain
- Exceptional runtime
- Superior water reservoir capacity
- Continual drainage option
- Consistent humidity levels, even under extreme conditions
Black + Decker Dehumidifier
- Covers up to 4500 square feet
- Removes up to 50 pints of moisture per day
- 14.3-pint tank
- Washable mesh filter
- Environmentally friendly with an Energy Star rating
- Water level indicator
- 3.28-foot drain hose
- Audible alert when the water reservoir is full
- Top mounted control panel
- Adjustable humidistat
- 4 casters for easy moving
In this article, we’ll bring you the results of our tests to determine the best dehumidifier for 500 square feet.
The capacity of a dehumidifier is based on the amount of space it will cover – in the case of the units tested in this article, 500 square feet or more.
In this test, we put several 500 square feet dehumidifiers through their paces in areas ranging from 50 square feet to 780 square feet and found the Frigidaire FAD5033W1 the best overall performer.
A water bucket is conveniently located in the front of the unit for easy access, while the carry handle and splash guard make emptying your bucket hassle-free.
It also works fast. The Frigidaire dehumidifier is quiet and highly efficient at extracting moisture from spaces more than 500 square feet. It is also exceptionally good at maintaining optimal humidity levels.
But let’s bring you the complete test results – the good and the bad – of the ones we found to be the best in their categories.
Frigidaire Dehumidifier
BEST OVERALL
At a glance
This Frigidaire is hands-down the best dehumidifier in its class in 2022. All of our tests point to that.
Firstly, it’s quick. It removes the moisture from the air in 500 square feet without breaking a sweat. The Frigidaire is designed to operate at temperatures down to 41 degrees F, and it also features an auto shutoff when the water bucket is full.
Design
We spent hours acquiring hands-on experience with a wide range of dehumidifiers. The quality and durability of the materials used in this Frigidaire smacks of class. The build and design quality is also superior to the competition.
It has a continuous drain option which lets you skip emptying the water bucket. It will continuously drain your dehumidifier so that you don’t have to lift a finger.
The Frigidaire is easy to clean and maintain, has an exceptional runtime, and features a superior water reservoir capacity when you’re not using the continuous drain option.
Water Tank Capacity
This dehumidifier has a large, 50-pint water reservoir. It yields longer runtimes compared to other units, which typically have average tank sizes of around 20 pints.
Runtime
The dehumidifier will run for about 3-4 days if you use the continous drain option. If you extract water into the reservoir, it will run up to 36 hours between refills.
Coverage
This Frigidaire dehumidifier is ideal for 500 square foot areas and above, but it also proved efficient in smaller spaces like bathrooms. In a larger testing area of 780 square feet, the humidity reached optimal levels (for us, that is around 43%) in less than ten minutes, and it maintained those levels with minimal fluctuation.
Noise
The Frigidaire FFAD5033W1 turned out to be as quiet as bat wings. It measured a mere 43dB in three of our tests.
These low noise levels, according to the manufacturer, are achieved because it pumps out exhaust air in an upwards direction. The other dehumidifiers we put through their paces in this test use downward exhaust technology, and without exception, they were noisier.
Special Features
The Frigidaire FFAD5033W1 simply does most things better than any of the other units we ran during this test. The dehumidifying speed is far superior, the water collection reservoir is larger, it has a continual drainage option, the noise levels are lower, and the unit’s build quality is simply something to write home about.
It gets our unequivocal vote for the best dehumidifier for 500 square feet.
Pros
- It works fast
- Quiet
- Happy with spaces from 500 square feet upwards
- Build quality is magnificent
- Design is ultimately user friendly
- Easy to clean
- Easy to maintain
- Exceptional runtime
- Superior water reservoir capacity
- Continual drainage option
- Consistent humidity levels, even under extreme conditions
Cons
- The unit is big and somewhat bulky
hOmeLabs HME020031N
BEST BUDGET
At a glance
Although not quite as quick as the Frigidaire, the hOmeLabs is certainly faster than most other units in the 50-pint class.
This, and the price, got it the top spot in the budget category in our quest to find the best dehumidifiers for 500 square feet.
It will remove up to 50 pints of humidity per day from areas up to 4500 square feet, and has a sleek and clean look.
Design
You can easily set your desired humidity level from 35% all the way up to 85%.
This dehumidifier has an auto-defrost mode. This function will automatically activate when temperatures start dropping below freezing. The unit will begin to defrost its coils to ensure continuous running. A warning light will tell you when this setting is active.
The hOmeLabs’ control panel feels wonderfully familiar. There’s no head-scratching while figuring out how to set up your unit. We found the controls are well-marked and intuitive.
The design is sleek with high-quality LED displays. Control panel readability is sometimes an issue with these units, especially for people who use glasses. I found I could read the display even without my wearing my spectacles.
Water Tank Capacity
The capacity of the water tank is 1.6 gallons. It will run for a day and a night without a refill.
Runtime
The runtime indicated by the manufacturer is 24 hours between refills. That said, once we achieved optimal humidity levels in our testing areas, we could run it for as long as 36 hours without pausing for a refill.
Coverage
hOmeLabs indicate a coverage area of 4,500 square feet. We tested the unit in smaller spaces, and its performance remained stable across the board.
Humidity extraction capacity
In our moisture removal tests, the hOmeLabs did exceptionally well.
We measured its ability to dehumidify 50 square feet – dropping the moisture levels in the atmosphere from 90% to 40%. The hOmeLabs dehumidifier managed this in 10 minutes.
And once it reached the optimal humidity level, it maintained it with less than a 2% fluctuation in either direction.
Noise levels
This unit is one of the quieter dehumidifiers in its class. When conducting tests in our larger test areas, we sometimes had to walk over to see whether the humidifier was on or off.
Special Features
This hOmeLabs unit comes with a 2-year, no questions asked warranty.
It has a defrost function that automatically kicks in when the temperature drops below certain levels.
This all-around dehumidifier can handle large and small spaces and is the best unit in this price range that has crossed out desks in a while. That is why we have no qualms about rating it the best budget dehumidifier in our tests for the best dehumidifiers for 500 square feet.
Pros
- 1.6-gallon water tank capacity
- Removes up to 50 pints humidity per day
- Up to 4500 square feet
- Sleek and clean look
- Ideal for large rooms
- Easy to use
- Adjustable moisture settings
- Built-in pump compressor
- Auto shutoff
- Turbo mode
Cons
- Dehumidifying slower than other units
Black + Decker BDT50WTB
BEST PREMIUM
At a glance
The Black + Decker is the top premium dehumidifier on our list of best dehumidifiers for 500 square feet.
It covers up to 4500 square feet, will remove up to 50 pints of moisture per day, and has an extended runtime due to the 14.3-pint tank.
Design
The Black + Decker BDT50WTB’s timer works in 30-minute increments for up to ten hours. And from the ten-hour mark, you can set it in one-hour increments up to 24 hours. That gives you total control without having to fuss over the dehumidifier.
Humidity levels can be increased in 5% increments.
Water Tank Capacity
The BDT50WTB’s water tank has a capacity of 14.3 pints. The size of the water reservoir yields long runtimes without the need to empty it.
Runtime
Black + Decker BDT50WTB will run for 36 hours or more depending on the humidity levels in the atmosphere and your preferred settings on the unit.
Coverage
The manufacturer specs this unit to be effective in areas up to 4500 square feet, which effectively makes it a whole-house dehumidifier.
Moisture extraction capacity
In our tests, the Black + Decker was able to reduce the humidity in a 500-square-foot area from 90% to optimal levels in under eleven minutes.
Noise levels
The noise levels are slightly higher than in some of the other units we tested but bear in mind this is a more powerful dehumidifier. The fan can be annoying at higher speeds.
Special Features
The auto-defrost mode is a winner. When the ambient temperature drops too low, the dehumidifier will automatically defrost the coils to keep the unit operational.
There is also a check-filter indicator, which takes much of the think-work out of running this unit. The mesh filter is washable, and the Energy Star rating makes it eco-friendly.
Pros
- Covers up to 4500 square feet
- Removes up to 50 pints of moisture per day
- 14.3-pint tank
- Washable mesh filter
- Environmentally friendly with an Energy Star rating
- Water level indicator
- 3.28-foot drain hose
- Audible alert when the water reservoir is full
- Top mounted control panel
- Adjustable humidistat
- 4 casters for easy moving
Cons
- Noisier than other units
