If you don’t have central air and need to cool a room ASAP, the first question you have to address is whether you want to buy a portable AC unit or a window air conditioner. A portable air conditioner is the best route if you can’t install a window air conditioner in your space because of design limitations or building restrictions. It’s also a better pick if you’d like a mobile air conditioning unit that can be moved from room to room or stored away at the end of the season.
The experts at the ABC Air rounded up the best portable air conditioners on the market based on categorical expertise from brands we trust, love, and use. Since the onset of the pandemic we have road tested nearly 24 models, and reviewed documentation on newer variants of ones we’ve previously reviewed. We look to see how easy they are to set up, how efficiently they cool a space, and how intuitive they are to operate and maintain. The following models were selected because they are efficient at cooling and cutting down on high humidity and easy to use and install. Here are the best portable air conditioners you can buy:
- Best Overall Portable Air Conditioner: Whynter Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner
- Best Value Portable Air Conditioner: Honeywell Portable Indoor Evaporative Air Cooler
- Best Portable Air Conditioner for Bedrooms: Black + Decker Portable Air Conditionerner with Heater
- Best Portable Air Conditioner for Large Rooms: Whynter Elite ARC-122DS Portable Air Conditioner
- Best Portable Air Conditioner with Heat: Whynter Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner with Heat
- Quietest Portable Air Conditioner: Frigidaire Portable Room Air Conditioner
- Best Portable Air Conditioner for High Humidity: Whynter Portable Air Conditioner and Heater
- Best WiFi-Connected Portable Air Conditioner: LG Smart Wi-Fi Portable Air Conditioner
- Best Smart Portable Air Conditioner: LG Smart Dual Inverter Portable Air Conditioner
- Best Portable Air Conditioner for Allergies: Frigidaire Portable Air Conditioner with Wi-Fi Control
- Most Convenient Portable Air Conditioner: Black+Decker Portable Air Conditioner with Heat
When deciding whether or not to buy a portable air conditioner, the experts at the ABC Air are often asked a host of questions related to how well they perform, how efficient they are, and whether they are easy to use. Here, the answers to all your questions about portable air conditioning units:
Are portable air conditioners as good as window units?
If you have the ability to window-mount, you’re likely going to have more success cooling a room. You may be able to find comparable portable AC units to those that have to be wall or window mounted, but you’re likely going to pay more for them. While portable air conditioners are meant to be easier to move about (they’re on wheels after all), they do tend to be louder, since all their mechanicals are sitting right there in the room, instead of out the window. They can also be larger than their counterparts, weighing up to 80 pounds. That and the fact that an exhaust hose is necessary for venting, they’re not as portable as one may imagine.
Portable AC units take up floor space, so it’s important to make sure you have the extra square footage for one. You want to place the unit away from walls so the airflow isn’t restricted, but that will likely mean a longer hose and more space taken up. Which is another drawback, as they require an exhaust tube to be removed and re-installed each time it is moved to another space. For proper efficiency, you need to make sure the exhaust hose is as straight as possible as kinks can limit the effectiveness.
Do portable ACs have to be vented out a window?
Yes. A portable AC does not work without an exhaust hose. They have to be vented to the outside because they are extracting the hot air that you want released outside of the room. You can choose to vent through a window (most common), wall, ceiling, or even door in theory.
Since there are no portable ACs without an exhaust hose, you may want to consider an evaporative cooler if you want a portable unit with no venting to the outside. They require a large amount of water to cool the space and are ideal in dry climates where humidity levels are low and the air is hot.
How to find the right portable AC unit for you
While useful features and aesthetics are nice, most importantly, you’ll have to find a portable air conditioner with the correct British thermal units (BTUs) or Seasonally Adjusted Cooling Capacity (SACC) rating for capacity. Too strong and you’ll waste unnecessary power, too weak and you’ll likewise use too much energy continuously running the machine on full power and still feeling too warm.
- BTUs: This is how conditioner capacity is measured. It equates to a particular room size for cooling.
- SAAC: More recently, the Department of Energy (DOE) introduced this new rating which is measured in BTU per hour and is a weighted average based on a variety of test conditions. You may have to size up if your room is atypical, such as having high ceilings or being in a particularly sunny place.
Overall, our top portable air conditioner recommendations are:
BEST OVERALL PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER
Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner Whynter
This powerful 14,0000 BTU AC (9,500 BTU DOE) from Whynter has a dual hose so it can cool down a room faster than other portable units. It also works as a fan (with three speeds) and a dehumidifier that can remove up to a claimed 101 pints per 24 hour period. The 24 hour programmable timer lets you set a schedule for throughout the day (read: scheduling it to turn on 30 minutes before you’ll be home from work), and you can monitor temperature on the digital readout. The exhaust hose extends up to five feet so you’ll have some flexibility in placing it, but you’ll definitely want to clear some space.
- Impressive cooling power
- Doubles as a dehumidifier
- Programmable timer
Portable Evaporative Cooler with Fan Honeywell
This inexpensive evaporative air cooler is ideal for a small office or bedroom in dryer climates (where humidity stays under 45%). You’ll get more of a cool breeze than intense cold air, but it’s a solid affordable option for a room that needs a chill. It doesn’t need to be hooked up to a window in order to work, so you have more flexibility in choosing where to place it (and it only weighs 14 pounds, making it easy to move around). The included remote is an extra bonus — control it without needing to leave your bed.
- Moderately priced
- Space-saving tower design
- Energy-efficient
- Cooking and humidifying modes
BEST PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER FOR BEDROOMS
BPACT08WT Portable Air Conditioner Black Decker
Look to this 8,000 BTU (5,000 BTU DOE) unit to cool your bedroom without keeping you up at night. It’s quieter than other portable air conditioners and at 53 pounds, you won’t strain a muscle moving it. It has a smaller suggested cooling area, so it’s best for an office or small bedroom. The filter slides out of the back for easy access for cleaning, and the included remote means you won’t have to pause working or get out of bed to change the settings.
- On the quieter side
- Easy to clean and maintain
BEST PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER FOR LARGE ROOMS
Elite ARC-122DS Portable Air Conditioner Whynter
Similar to our all-in-one pick from Whynter, this double hosed 12,000 BTU (7,000 BTU DOE) cooler and dehumidifier is rated for a room up to 400 square feet. The 24-hour programmable timer and included remote helps you better manage cooling throughout the day. Whynter claims it can dehumidify up to 76 pints per 24 hour period while the manufacturer’s claimed noise level is under 52 dBA, so it should be easy to sleep through its operation. The included storage bag helps keep all parts and accessories together for storage in the winter.
- Programmable
- Built-in dehumidification mode
- Storage bag for stowing away in winter
BEST PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER WITH HEAT
Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner with Heater Whynter
Almost identical in function to our overall pick, this 14,000 BTU (9,000 BTU DOE) unit also functions as a heater so you can use it year-round. Manufacturers say it cools as low as 61°F and heats up to 77°F, so you’ll be comfortable no matter the weather (and can control temp with the included remote). If you do need to stow it away throughout the year, it comes with a storage bag. Similar to our overall pick, it can dehumidify up to 101 pints for every 24 hour period, helping bring ease to a humid summer.
- Can cool and heat
- Can operate as a dehumidifier, too