Midea Cube Dehumidifiers

For a damp basement with a downhill drain, our Midea Cube dehumidifier pick is the 50-pint MAD50S1QWT-A; choose the MAD50PE1QWT-B with pump when water must go uphill. For a lighter moisture load, consider the 20-pint MAD20S1QWT; the 35-pint MAD35S1QWT sits between them. Capacity and drainage are separate decisions, so keep the complete model suffix when shopping.

Quick picks and the capacity ledger

Pints per day measures removal, not bucket size. EPA explains that the current portable test uses 65°F rather than the older 80°F; capacity is water removed over 24 hours under test conditions. The ledger distinguishes Midea's named capacity classes from the precise EPA directory ratings. IEF measures water removed per unit of energy; higher means more liters per kWh under the rating procedure. Rating explanation.

Compare specifications and all conditions

MAD20S1QWT

Maker's daily class

20 pints

EPA removal, pints/day

20.16

EPA IEF, L/kWh

1.7

All specifications

Built-in pump

No

Choose it for

Lighter moisture loads

MAD35S1QWT

Maker's daily class

35 pints

EPA removal, pints/day

Not verified for this suffix

EPA IEF, L/kWh

—

All specifications

Built-in pump

No

Choose it for

Middle capacity; check label

MAD35S1QWT-A

Maker's daily class

Separate revision

EPA removal, pints/day

35.82

EPA IEF, L/kWh

2.01

All specifications

Built-in pump

Not established here

Choose it for

Suffix reference, not a pick

MAD50S1QWT-A

Maker's daily class

50 pints

EPA removal, pints/day

49.67

EPA IEF, L/kWh

2.01

All specifications

Built-in pump

No

Choose it for

Our Cube pick for a downhill drain

MAD50PE1QWT-B

Maker's daily class

50 pints

EPA removal, pints/day

49.67

EPA IEF, L/kWh

2.01

All specifications

Built-in pump

Yes

Choose it for

An elevated drain

Frigidaire FHDP5033Y1

Maker's daily class

50 pints

EPA removal, pints/day

49.95

EPA IEF, L/kWh

2.01

All specifications

Built-in pump

Yes

Choose it for

Conventional bucket layout

Full comparison table ↔

Swipe to compare. Row labels stay visible.

Exact model	Maker's daily class	EPA removal, pints/day	EPA IEF, L/kWh	Built-in pump	Choose it for
MAD20S1QWT	20 pints	20.16	1.7	No	Lighter moisture loads
MAD35S1QWT	35 pints	Not verified for this suffix	—	No	Middle capacity; check label
MAD35S1QWT-A	Separate revision	35.82	2.01	Not established here	Suffix reference, not a pick
MAD50S1QWT-A	50 pints	49.67	2.01	No	Our Cube pick for a downhill drain
MAD50PE1QWT-B	50 pints	49.67	2.01	Yes	An elevated drain
Frigidaire FHDP5033Y1	50 pints	49.95	2.01	Yes	Conventional bucket layout

Exact model	Maker's daily class	EPA removal, pints/day	EPA IEF, L/kWh	Built-in pump	Choose it for
MAD20S1QWT	20 pints	20.16	1.7	No	Lighter moisture loads
MAD35S1QWT	35 pints	Not verified for this suffix	—	No	Middle capacity; check label
MAD35S1QWT-A	Separate revision	35.82	2.01	Not established here	Suffix reference, not a pick
MAD50S1QWT-A	50 pints	49.67	2.01	No	Our Cube pick for a downhill drain
MAD50PE1QWT-B	50 pints	49.67	2.01	Yes	An elevated drain
Frigidaire FHDP5033Y1	50 pints	49.95	2.01	Yes	Conventional bucket layout

EPA records: 20, 35-A, 50-A, pump 50-B, Frigidaire. These ratings do not promise the same collection rate in your room.

Read the suffix before comparing

Midea's US store still identifies its middle model as MAD35S1QWT. A separate MAD35S1QWT-A appears in the newer US manual and EPA directory. Likewise, the older shared manual names MAD50S1QWT and several MAD50PS1QWT pump variants; our non-pump pick is MAD50S1QWT-A, and our pump pick is MAD50PE1QWT-B. These are separate model identifiers, not permission to transfer bucket sizes or setup instructions. US 35 page, older family manual, revision manual.

Best Cube for a basement floor drain: MAD50S1QWT-A

Choose this non-pump Cube when you want the larger daily capacity and have a suitable downhill drain. Its matching manual allows the supplied continuous-drain hose or a garden hose and requires the unit above the sink or drain. That is a plumbing requirement, even if a listing emphasizes smart controls.

Midea advertises SmartHome app and voice-assistant control. Its manual also describes local fan, humidity and timer controls. We do not transfer the older MAD50S1QWT's bucket figure to the -A revision. Model details, matching manual.

Best Cube for an elevated drain: MAD50PE1QWT-B

The pump is the reason to choose this model. Its exact manual says the pump can pump up to 14 feet above the drain port (the maker's maximum), and lists 4.23 gallons at the maximum bucket fill level. Do not substitute the older family manual's larger-model bucket figures.

The pump inlet must sit in the bucket. It starts at the highest fill level and deliberately leaves water behind to keep the inlet submerged. Pump operation is unavailable in bucketless mode, and Midea still requires emptying the bucket at least once a week during pump use. This is reduced emptying, not maintenance-free drainage. Product page, exact pump manual.

Best Cube for a lighter moisture load: MAD20S1QWT

The smallest capacity here is our starting point for a less demanding room. Midea specifies no built-in pump. Its manual's MAD20S1QWT column gives fill settings of 1.5, 2, 2.75 and 3 gallons; adjacent larger-model values do not belong to it.

Lower fill settings let you choose a lighter bucket to carry, at the cost of more emptying. Cube emptying requires lifting the dehumidifier off the bucket before carrying the bucket away, so consider that handling step before choosing any Cube for manual collection. Product page, 20-pint manual.

Middle capacity, exact label required: MAD35S1QWT

This is the model currently named on Midea's US 35-pint page, with no built-in pump. Its own manual's larger-model column lists 2.25, 3, 3.75 and 4.25 gallons. It offers more daily removal than the 20 without moving to the 50 class; that is the reason to consider it, rather than the conflicting coverage claims.

If the offered unit says MAD35S1QWT-A, use that revision's documentation instead. The ledger's 35.82 pints/day and 2.01 L/kWh belong to the -A EPA record; we have not established a current directory rating for the unsuffixed pick. US model page, matching manual.

Conventional pump alternative: Frigidaire FHDP5033Y1

Consider this if you prefer removing a conventional bucket rather than lifting the Cube body off its container. Frigidaire specifies 50 pints/day, a 1.9-gallon bucket, Wi-Fi and a built-in pump. Its manual describes 5 m (16.4 feet) as the maximum distance and rise from the unit: that wording does not establish the same measurement as Midea's height above the port.

Frigidaire publishes 49 dBA on low and 51.5 dBA on high, without a measurement distance in the sheet. We have no matched US sound measurements for the Cube suffixes here, so these figures cannot establish a quietness winner. For other brands and room scenarios, see our dehumidifier buying guide. Frigidaire specifications, owner's guide.

Drainage: bucket, gravity, bucketless or pump

Bucket: collect water and empty it by hand. Gravity: run the continuous hose downhill to a lower drain. Bucketless: on the documented 20, unsuffixed 35 and PE-B, remove the bucket and enable the manual's bucketless mode; the hose still slopes down. Pump: on the PE-B, keep the bucket and pump inlet in place and use the separate pump outlet and supplied pump hose for an elevated drain.

The 20 manual, 35 manual and PE-B manual specify bucketless activation within 3 minutes of plugging in: hold UP and FILL LEVEL for 3 seconds. The PE-B's pump uses FILL LEVEL for 3 seconds instead. Keep the two modes separate.

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01How will water leave?+

Choose for your drain height and bucket handling.

• By hand → Bucket → carry to drain
• Downhill → Port → downhill hose → lower drain
• Uphill → PE-B with bucket → pump hose → higher drain

Sources: 1: Manual collection requires lifting the Cube off the bucket before carrying the bucket to empty it., 2: The PE-B bucketless drain hose must slope down below its drain port., 3: The PE-B pump cannot operate in bucketless mode., 4: The PE-B pump can lift water up to 14 feet above the drain port.

02Bucket → carry to drain+

Lift the Cube off its bucket before carrying the bucket to empty it.

Outcome

Sources: 1: Manual collection requires lifting the Cube off the bucket before carrying the bucket to empty it.

03Port → downhill hose → lower drain+

The hose slopes down. Bucketless operation still needs gravity; the PE-B cannot pump without its bucket.

Outcome

Sources: 2: The PE-B bucketless drain hose must slope down below its drain port., 3: The PE-B pump cannot operate in bucketless mode.

04PE-B with bucket → pump hose → higher drain+

The PE-B pump lifts water up to 14 feet above its drain port.

Outcome

Sources: 3: The PE-B pump cannot operate in bucketless mode., 4: The PE-B pump can lift water up to 14 feet above the drain port.

Source notes4 references+

1. 1

   Manual collection requires lifting the Cube off the bucket before carrying the bucket to empty it.

   www.midea.com ↗ — source for Manual collection requires lifting the Cube off the bucket before carrying the bucket to empty it.

   Using proper lifting techniques, remove the unit from the bucket. Be aware, some residual water may spill from the bottom of the unit while not on the bucket. • Using two hands, grab the bucket handle and carry it to the desired drainage point.

2. 2

   The PE-B bucketless drain hose must slope down below its drain port.

   www.midea.com ↗ — source for The PE-B bucketless drain hose must slope down below its drain port.

   ensuring the hose slopes down and does not raise above the drain port.

3. 3

   The PE-B pump cannot operate in bucketless mode.

   www.midea.com ↗ — source for The PE-B pump cannot operate in bucketless mode.

   In Bucketless mode, the bucket capacity can't be selected and the unit can't turn on PUMP feature.

4. 4

   The PE-B pump can lift water up to 14 feet above the drain port.

   www.midea.com ↗ — source for The PE-B pump can lift water up to 14 feet above the drain port.

   pump can pump up to 14 feet above the drain port

Hose, lift and temperature limits by manual

Use the matching manuals linked above. We leave unconfirmed hose diameters out rather than suggest an unverified replacement. The PE-B manual also prohibits outdoor hose drainage when the outside temperature is 32°F or below, because water can freeze and block the hose.

Buying advice, controls and maintenance

Size for moisture load as well as floor area: EPA's guidance changes capacity recommendations with dampness. Start with a humidity reading; our humidity and hygrometer guide explains the measurement. Minimum operating temperature is an operating limit, not a promise of rated collection at that temperature.

Before buying, record the room conditions, exact suffix and sound evidence; these are the checks behind the choices above. EPA sizing guidance.

1. 1

   Record the room conditions

   Measure humidity and note temperature as well as floor area.

2. 2

   Match the complete model label

   Use the manual and capacity record for that suffix.

3. 3

   Check sound evidence

   Do not turn an unmatched manufacturer dBA figure into a quietness ranking.

The 20, unsuffixed 35 and PE-B manuals describe High/Low fan settings and Set, Max and Continuous operating modes. In Set mode the unit cycles around the selected humidity; Max and Continuous do not let you adjust the humidity setpoint. Select the mode deliberately rather than expecting continuous operation to follow a target.

For Cube upkeep, unplug before cleaning, wash and dry the air filters, clean the bucket, and empty it before nesting. The manuals call for letting the system dry naturally for one full day before long storage. The PE-B pump filter also needs cleaning; Frigidaire specifies every two weeks under normal conditions for its pump filter. Follow each model's care section rather than assuming a connected app replaces maintenance.

How we choose

This is document research using manufacturer product pages, exact-model manuals and EPA capacity records, checked November 2, 2026. Recommendations prioritize moisture load, drainage geometry and bucket handling. We have not physically tested these products or established comparative noise, reliability or real-room collection rates. Conflicting maker fields and unconfirmed measurements remain visible instead of becoming selection criteria. Our broader method is on How we choose.

Verdict

Choose MAD50S1QWT-A for larger-capacity gravity drainage, MAD50PE1QWT-B for a higher drain, and MAD20S1QWT for lighter loads. Consider the MAD35S1QWT only with a matching model label and manual; keep -A revision figures separate. Choose Frigidaire FHDP5033Y1 if its conventional bucket and pump arrangement better suits how you will empty and maintain it.