As we enter the depths of summer, and it has been hot so far, air conditioners are critical to staying comfortably cool and safe in your home or apartment. And for a variety of different spaces, from entire homes to small bedrooms to living rooms, the best portable air conditioners are an effective way to accomplish that goal.
On especially hot days, portable air conditioning units (and really any air conditioner) play an important role in ensuring the safety of the elderly, children and pets. In a study published in 2012 in the Political economy magazineThe researchers found that having air conditioning in the house has reduced heat-related deaths by up to 80% since 1960, which seems like enough of a case to have even a small portable air conditioner on hand for when temperatures reach 90 o plus .
The Black + Decker BPACT10WT is designed to be as quiet as possible.
Amazon
Depending on your needs, a portable AC might be the best option to cool your space. Since the units are independent, they can be easily moved from one room to another. And while most models have great power saving modes, which help keep home energy bills low, it’s never a sacrifice of efficiency, many are just as powerful (if not more) than window-based units.
Also, many portable air conditioners are multifunctional, making them useful not only for cooling but also for dehumidifying and heating.
There are a few factors to consider when shopping around for the best portable air conditioner. One is aesthetics: does it look decent or detract from your interior design? Another is additional features, like a remote control, which adds to the convenience. And another is the BTUs (British Thermal Units), which dictate the number of square meters a unit can fill with cold air (the higher the BTUs, the more space it can cover).
With these factors in mind, we are compiling a list of the best portable air conditioners on the market right now. From units that can cover entire floors to devices more suited to single rooms, they are sure to help you beat the heat this summer. Here’s our list at a glance, but keep reading to see the full reviews for each model.
Best overall portable air conditioner
SereneLife SLPAC10
If you’re looking for a portable air conditioner that comes with all the comforts, consider the SereneLife SLPAC10. The device offers 10,000 BTU performance to cool a room up to 450 square feet, but as an Amazon reviewer said, it’s just as powerful, “It’s more like 12,000 BTUs.”
It has three cooling modes, including one that cools, one that dehumidifies, and one that pushes air with its fan. At just under three feet tall and 13 inches wide, it’s compact, and the SereneLife air conditioner comes with a remote control, so you don’t need to go up and down to change modes. It is a good device for general use, and will not ruin the bank.
The best portable AC unit for large rooms
HOmeLabs portable air conditioner
The hOmeLabs portable air conditioner is one of the most powerful options in this overview with a performance of 14,000 BTU. According to the company, it can cool up to a 600-square-foot room with ease. You can set the desired temperature in the air conditioner, but if you want to keep things quiet at night, turn on its “eco sleep mode” to make sure it only turns on when the room is too hot. Best of all, the hOmeLabs air conditioner features a remote control and a washable air filter, so you can make sure you’re only breathing fresh air.
The best premium portable air conditioner
Whynter ARC-14S Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner
If you don’t mind spending a lot more than our top-rated option for exceptional air conditioning performance, choose the Whynter ARC-14S Dual-Hose Portable Air Conditioner. The device has an impressive 14,000 BTUs and can cool a 600-square-foot room with ease. Better yet, you can dehumidify 101 impressive pints of water per day from home. And if you’re concerned about air quality, it has a washable pre-filter and an activated carbon air filter to keep the air cool.
Unlike some of the other options in this overview, the Whynter air conditioner has a temperature setting between 61 degrees Fahrenheit and 89 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing you to set the desired temperature and let the device do its work. Just be prepared to spend to get all its features.
The best portable air conditioner for looks
Frigidaire FFPH1222U1
Let’s face it: while there are clear times when air conditioning performance is most important, there are others when good design trumps functionality. And that’s where the Frigidaire FFPH1222U1 wins.
The compact device comes with an attractive carbon finish and can be easily moved from one location to another. And with the help of your remote control, you can easily adjust the settings (and set the temperature) without getting up. It offers a performance of 12,000 BTUs, which is good enough for a 500 square foot room, and can dehumidify up to 3.3 pints of liquid in the air per hour. It even features self-swinging louvers to efficiently move air throughout the home.
The best portable air conditioner for a room
Whirlpool Dual Exhaust Portable Air Conditioner
Although portable air conditioners are meant to be relocated, there are times when you simply want to use them in one place. And that’s where the Whirlpool dual-exhaust portable air conditioner can come in handy. It has an attractive, white and portable design, and is compact enough to sit in a room without being too noticeable. It has a performance of 12,000 BTUs and should be able to cool a 300 square foot room. It has no temperature settings, but you can count on it cooling at three different speeds and offering fan speeds on three levels. There’s also a built-in timer, so you can easily set it to run for a set period of time.
The best portable AC unit that is very quiet
Black + Decker BPACT10WT
Make no mistake, portable air conditioners can be noisy. But the Black + Decker BPACT10WT is all about keeping things as quiet as possible. While it features 10,000 BTU performance for rooms between 150 and 250 square feet, it is designed to mitigate unwanted noise and comes with a sleep mode so it is especially quiet at night. Better yet, it is designed to have no buckets, so it will evaporate condensation from the air conditioner without the need to flush out the water. The device has a filter that you can clean twice a month to keep the air fresh. And since it’s one of the cheapest options in this overview, it won’t ruin the bank.
The best portable AC for small spaces
Midea MAP08R1CWT 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner
The Midea MAP08R1CWT is not designed for large spaces. Instead, it’s the ideal choice for small rooms, apartments, or other small areas that don’t need as many BTUs. In fact, the Midea features just 8,000 BTUs, making it capable of cooling just 150 square feet of space. But what it lacks in size (it’s extremely portable), it makes up for in a solid design with fan and dehumidification capabilities. And since it has a 24-hour timer, it can easily cool your space throughout the day. Midea’s air conditioner, which also comes with temperature settings between 62 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, is one of the cheapest options in this roundup, making it a great choice for low-budget shoppers.
The best affordable portable air conditioner
SHINCO 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
If you’re not necessarily looking to break the bank with a new air conditioner, the SHINCO 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner might be a good place to start. At 8,000 BTUs, it can only cool a room up to 150 square feet, but at a price that’s almost half that of high-end models, it offers great value. It has three functions (cooling, dehumidification and fan) and two cooling speeds to keep your room comfortable. And since it has auto evaporation technology, the air conditioner will not fill with water during use.
