Midea Cube Dehumidifier Review: 20, 35 and 50 Pint Models Compared

The three Cube models

Capacity, efficiency and annual energy from ENERGY STAR's certified data; buckets per the Amazon listings; cost at 17.2 c/kWh (EIA 2025 average).

Model	DOE pints/day	IEF (L/kWh)	kWh/year	Cost/year	Bucket
Cube 20 (MAD20S1QWT)	20.16	1.70	249	$42.83	3.2 gal
Cube 35 (MAD35S1QGR-A)	35.82	2.01	378	$65.02	4.2 gal
Cube 50 (MAD50S1QWT-A)	49.67	2.01	515	$88.58	4.2 gal

Midea's listing for the 20-pint describes it as similar to a 30-pint unit under the 2012 DOE test, which matches ENERGY STAR's rough guide that an old 30-pint rating is about a new 20. The 35-pint listing makes the same comparison to an old 50-pint rating.

Which size you need

ENERGY STAR's sizing guide puts a very damp space under 2,000 square feet at 25 to 40 pints a day and a wet one at 30 to 50, and says it is better to oversize than undersize. That makes the Cube 50 the safe choice for most basements, the Cube 35 for a moderately damp basement or a large room, and the Cube 20 for a bathroom, closet or small bedroom. Try the sizing calculator.

Design: nested and extended

Midea says the Cube operates in an extended or nested form. Nested, it is a compact cube for storage when the season is dry; extended, the bucket is at full capacity. At 14.45 by 14.76 by 14.57 inches (Midea's figures for the 50-pint), it takes less floor space than a typical tall 50-pint tower, though at 41.54 pounds it is still a heavy box to carry up stairs. Wheels help on a flat floor.

Drainage

The large bucket is the Cube's main advantage over rivals. A 4.2-gallon bucket holds about 34 pints, so in a very damp basement the 50-pint model would fill it in well under a day at full output, but much less often once the space is dry and the unit cycles. For hands-off use, the listing says you can remove the bucket and use the included drain hose to a floor drain, sink or other drain below the unit. There is no pump, so the hose needs to run downhill.

Controls and smart features

Midea lists Wi-Fi control through its SmartHome app and voice assistants, and the Amazon listing gives a humidity setting from 35 to 85%. ENERGY STAR advises keeping humidity at 30 to 50%, so set it at 45 to 50% for a basement. The 20-pint listing also mentions auto restart after power outages and auto defrost, useful in a cool basement.

Running cost and efficiency

The Cube 35 and 50 are certified at 2.01 L/kWh, exactly ENERGY STAR's minimum for the 25.01-to-50-pint class; neither carries the Most Efficient flag. The Cube 20 sits at the 1.70 minimum for its class. ENERGY STAR estimates the 50-pint model at 515 kWh a year, about $88.58 at the 2025 US average price. If your space is only moderately damp, a 25-pint Most Efficient model such as the Levoit LDH-H251S uses less; see energy-efficient dehumidifiers.

Maintenance

Clean the washable filter as the manual directs; ENERGY STAR notes that dust and dirt can clog coils and grills. EPA advises draining and cleaning dehumidifier collection trays frequently so they do not grow microorganisms. Before summer storage in the nested position, empty and dry the bucket.

Midea Cube vs the alternatives

ENERGY STAR certified data; drainage per each listing.

Model	DOE pints/day	IEF	Pump
Midea Cube 50	49.67	2.01	No
Midea 50-pint with pump	49.74	2.01	Yes
Frigidaire FHDD5034Y1	49.71	2.01	No
hOmeLabs HME0089	32.46	2.01	No
Levoit LDH-H251S	24.54	1.88 (Most Efficient)	Removable pump

Who should buy the Midea Cube

• Buy the Cube 50 for a very damp or wet basement where you can use a floor drain, or are willing to empty a large bucket.
• Buy the Cube 35 for a moderately damp basement or large room.
• Buy the Cube 20 for a small room or bathroom.
• Skip it if the drain is above the unit; choose a model with a pump.