How Much Does a Whole House Dehumidifier Cost?

Common Range: $1,400 – $3,300

National Average: $2,380, Installed

Updated: November 17, 2023. Written by: Steve Hansen

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Cost Range for a Whole House Dehumidifier

The cost of a whole house dehumidifier varies depending on the size of your home and the type of dehumidifier you choose. On average, you can expect to pay between $1,400 and $3,300 for a whole house dehumidifier, with some models costing as much as $4,500 or more. It’s always a good idea to consult with a professional HVAC technician to determine the right size and type of dehumidifier for your home.

Average Cost

Average cost of a whole house dehumidifier is around $2,380 for an installed unit, that’s connected to the home’s ductwork.

Average Do It Yourself Cost
$1,650 (Dehumidifier and supplies)
Average Contractor Installed Cost
$2,380
Typical Cost Range
$1,400 – $3,300

whole house ducted dehumidifiers

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Overview of Whole House Dehumidifiers

A whole house dehumidifier is designed to remove excess moisture from the air in your entire home. Unlike a portable dehumidifier, which is designed to dehumidify a single room or small area, a whole house dehumidifier is installed directly into your home’s heating and cooling system, connected to the HVAC duct. This allows it to remove moisture evenly throughout your entire home, providing relief from excess humidity in every room. Whole house dehumidifiers can be an effective way to improve air quality and comfort in your home, especially in humid climates or during the summer months.

This Costimate is about whole house dehumidifiers that are connected to the home’s central HVAC ducts. A ducted house dehumidifier is an excellent solution to high humidity.

In a typical installation, the unit is placed near the furnace or air handler. This might mean floor-mounted in a basement or crawlspace or hung from trusses in an attic.

A duct pulls air off the cold air return line and sends it into the dehumidifier. Moisture is condensed out of the air, collected in a pan and drained into a floor drain or out of the attic using a drain line. The dehumidified air is pushed back into the return line to be circulated by the air handler’s blower. Whole house dehumidifiers have a pleated filter of 8-12 MERV. The filter must be changed every 1-3 months as part seasonal HVAC maintenance, depending on how much the dehumidifier runs and whether pets are present in the home.

Costs for dehumidifiers and installation are included below. Cost factors are listed to help you accurately estimate what your whole houses dehumidifier cost will be. Costs from other estimate sites and prices submitted by readers give the full picture of potential costs.

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Whole House Dehumidifier Cost Factors

There are three factors affecting the price of a whole house humidifier. Installation cost factors are discussed later.

  • Capacity – The amount of moisture a unit can remove is measured in pints per 24 hours. Capacity starts at about 60 pints for small units. The largest whole house dehumidifiers remove more than 150 pints per day. Cost goes up with capacity.
  • Efficiency – Efficiency is measured in Pints / Kilowatt hour, how much moisture a dehumidifier can remove given a fixed amount of electrical energy. A unit with a higher efficiency rating will be able to extract more moisture than a less efficient model using the same amount of energy. An efficient unit will cost more, but the cost will be made up over time through lower energy bills. Look for the Energy Star label for a certified high-efficiency unit.
  • Internal Pump – If the unit will be installed below grade, and there’s no floor drain or sump crock, the moisture will have to be pumped up and out. Dehumidifiers with internal pumps, or when a pump must be added to the installation, cost will be $150-$500 higher.

Dehumidifiers are rated by the number of square feet they effective dehumidify. However, your home’s construction plays a role. Consider three homes, each 2,000 square feet.

  • Home w/ Loose Seal. Older homes with no house wrap and drafty doors and windows allow humid air to penetrate, so you’ll need a larger dehumidifier. Choose a model rated for 3,000 square feet.
  • Home w/ Tight Seal. Newer homes with a tight envelope and doors/windows in excellent condition don’t have air leaks. You’ll need a smaller dehumidifier: Choose a unit rated for 1,500 to 2,000 sq. ft.
  • Home w/ Average Seal: Homes 20-40 years old with windows and doors in good condition are considered average. Choose a humidifier rated 2,000 sq. ft.
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Whole House Dehumidifier Parts and Installation Supplies cost

Here’s an overview of whole house dehumidifier prices for just the unit.

  • $1,035 – $1,600 | Units with capacity of 60-90 pints per 24 hours
  • $1,250 – $2,200 | Units with capacity of 95-120 pints per 24 hours
  • $1,700 – $3,450 | Units with capacity of more than 120 pints per 24 hours

Cost of Installation Supplies

These supplies and accessories may be needed for installation or to enhance performance or convenience:

  • $120 – $200 | Condensate Pump Kit
  • $2.00 – $3.50 per foot | Insulated Flex Duct
  • $1.50 – $2.50 per foot | Flexible Drain Tube
  • $9.00 – $18.00 each | 8-12 MERV pleated filters
  • $50 – $315 | Remote Dehumidistat Control models range from simple analog dials to digital touchscreen WiFi models
  • $30 – $80 | Hanging Kit
  • $60 – $125 | Ducting Collar Kit if not included
  • $48 – $135 | Dampers for zoned dehumidification, with cost based on whether the damper is motorized
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Permits, Inspection, and Installation Costs

  • $0 – $125 | When power is available at the installation site, no permit is needed. A permit is required when an electric circuit and wiring is added to power the humidifier.

Installation Labor Cost

  • $35 – $50 per hour | Handyman labor rate
  • $60 – $115 per hour | HVAC technician labor rate

Most large handyman services have an experienced dehumidifier installer. However, hiring an HVAC pro might better ensure installation that maximizes the benefits of the dehumidifier, as well as preserving manufacturer warranties if required.

Installation Labor Factors

There are three installation labor cost factors:

  • Installation Difficulty: When the location is difficult to access, the job will take longer, and cost will rise.
  • Installer Demand: If you plan installation for a slow time of the year for HVAC installers, the estimates you get will be more competitive.
  • Cost of Living: Where you live can impact price by as much as 35%. Cost of living is average in major metropolitan areas of the South, Midwest and Southwest. It is highest in large metro areas on the Coasts. Costs are lower in rural areas.

Installation Time

  • 3-5 Hours | Time needed for a 2-person crew installing a whole house ducted dehumidifier.

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DIY or Hire a Pro

We recommend pro installation for a whole house dehumidifier.

A homeowner experienced in mechanical, electrical and plumbing might properly install a unit, but someone with those skills would likely skip this section.

Improper installation can produce mechanical failure, water damage from leaks and more serious problems.

The work also requires important planning steps. These include determining the proper unit size and where to integrate the ducts with your current ductwork to optimize the system’s performance. This is a challenging project, and that’s why it makes sense to hire a pro.

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Reviewed and edited by Steve Hansen of Costimates

steve hansen of costimates-sm Steve Hansen, that's me, the Senior Editor of Costimates. (Learn more about myself and our team) I'm an avid home improvement professional with more than 37 years experience working on all types of residential new home building, upfits, repairs and remodeling.

"Like most homeowners, I was frustrated with the lack of quality information available on specific home improvement repairs and renovations. In 2015, Costimates was formed to help homeowners learn as much as possible about various projects and their costs so they could make better financial decisions."