How Many Amps Does a Dehumidifier Use?

A dehumidifier uses about 4.2 running amps at 120 volts (roughly 500 watts). Because it is a motor load, it surges to several times that for a moment at startup. To get your unit's exact draw, divide the nameplate watts by 120: amps = watts / volts. A home dehumidifier draws about 3-6 amps (300-700 watts) with a small compressor surge and shares a normal 15A or 20A circuit. In a basement, where it usually lives, the 2023 NEC requires GFCI protection; use a quality GFCI so the unit does not trip and quietly stop drying.

A dehumidifier does not need its own breaker; at 4.2 amps it shares a standard 15A or 20A / 120V circuit (NEC 210.23(A)). Just avoid running it at the same moment as another heavy load on the same circuit. Keep the total continuous load under 80% of the breaker.

Divide the wattage on the nameplate by the voltage: amps = watts / volts. A dehumidifier at about 500 watts on 120V works out to 500 / 120 = 4.2 amps. Add a startup surge of several times that for a fraction of a second on the motor. The nameplate always governs over a typical value.

Same answer: basement dehumidifier is another name for a dehumidifier. It draws about 4.2 amps at 120V on a shared 15A or 20A circuit. A home dehumidifier draws about 3-6 amps (300-700 watts) with a small compressor surge and shares a normal 15A or 20A circuit. In a basement, where it usually lives, the 2023 NEC requires GFCI protection; use a quality GFCI so the unit does not trip and quietly stop drying.