7 Quietest Portable Air Conditioners (Ranked By Decibels) (2024)

Written By

Josh Mitchell

Expert Reviewed By

Holly Curell

Last Updated On

June 11, 2024

If you like the sound of the Midea Duo but don’t quite have the budget, then I recommend the Whynter ARC-1230WN, which can provide both for large spaces of up to 600 square feet.

The listing says 500, but I’ve tested it up to 600, which is what I expect from a 14000 BTU

This Whynter model has an EER rating of 10.79, making it one of the most energy-efficient on my list, only behind the Dreo TwinCool.

Again, though, where the Whynter really impresses is with it’s quiet operation, which registers at just 42.5 dB when on a low setting.

I recently installed this one in a 550-square-foot studio apartment, and my customer has been really pleased with the results, saying that it’s quieter than the three box fans she was previously using for cooling.

The Whynter can cool up to 600 square feet of space, which is almost as much as the Della model further down my list.

Whereas I often consider these coverage areas to be an overestimation of a product’s ability, I do think this Whynter model has the chops to keep up with 600 square feet.

Dual hose units are really good at blocking sound with their hose-in-hose setup, so even on a high setting, the Whynter ARC-1230WNH only gets up to 56 dB, which is slightly quieter than a regular conversation.

Similar to my first two choices, Whynter includes WiFi controls, which is nice for further energy savings.

My customer loves being able to turn her AC on about one hour before she gets home from work, so that it’s just the right temperature when she arrives home.

The Whynter is one of the heavier items on my list, weighing in at 77.2 lbs. Part of that is due to it’s longer hose, which extends up to 49”.

This is actually really impressive for a dual hose AC, and provides a bit more flexibility than is typically seen with similar models.

For those looking for a heating and cooling combo, the Whynter ARC-1230WNH is the same model with a built-in heater.

It costs about $100 more than it’s little brother, but it still cools just as quietly.

Impressively, Whynter offers a 3 year warranty on the compressor for this AC, which is almost unheard of. All other parts are covered for the standard 1 year.

If you’re looking for a model that you can rely on year after year to provide quiet cooling, this one should definitely be on your list.

I recently had a customer who was looking to cool a large open floorplan space of 500 square feet, but specifically wanted to be able to direct cooling toward the kitchen while he was cooking, and direct cooling toward the living space when he was relaxing.

For this scenario, I chose the LG LP1419IVSM. Its single-hose installation (with a 35.5” long hose) in a centrally located window allows my customer to simply swivel the unit in the direction he wants airflow most.

Single-hose designs are typically louder, but this LG model performs just as quietly as the Midea Duo model, registering at just 44 dB.

The LG LP1419IVSM doesn’t cover quite as much space as Della model, but it is much more energy efficient with an EER of 10.22.

Maybe even more impressive on how quiet the LG is on low (44 dB) is how quiet it is when set on high – just 53 dB, which is comparable to a washing machine or dishwasher.

I’m giving LG bonus points here, because I feel like most brands just focus on the sound levels on the lowest settings.

Just like the Midea Duo, this LG model is has an inverter that contributes to it’s quiet and powerful operation.

The LG LP1419IVSM is slightly more expensive than the Midea unit, but I still feel that any portable AC for a large space is a bargain at under $550.

A lot of portable ACs now come with a washable filter, which I definitely appreciate instead of buying new filters every few months.

It’s also nice that the LG model has an indicator of when to wash the filter, because hey, life is busy.

This LG model has WiFi controls that are similar to Midea and Whynter’s, and I find this particularly nice if you already use the LG ThinQ platform with other appliances.

This was the ultimate selling point for my customer, who already has an LG washer and dryer combo.

My only word of warning with the LG model is that it is a powerful dehumidifier. So if you’re living in an area with high humidity, there’s a good chance you’ll be emptying the reservoir every 2-3 hours.

That said, this one can be fitted with a drain hose, but it’s not included with purchase.

Drain hoses can be a bit tricky, so if you install one, make sure to monitor the unit closely for the first hour or so for leaks.

I originally started installing the Dreo TwinCool for clients because of its incredible EER of 12.24.

This makes it the most energy-efficient dual hose unit I’ve worked with, and it’s almost the most energy-efficient model on this list, so I give it double accolades.

What my customers keep coming back to tell me, though, is that they can’t believe how quiet the Dreo DR-HAC001 is.

I even had one woman tell me that she had to leave the room for an hour to see if the temperature dropped because she wasn’t convinced the compressor was actually working it was so quiet!

Just like the Midea Duo above, the inverter compressor and dual hose design of the Dreo TwinCool helps keep things quiet, down to 42 dB on low.

The Dreo TwinCool covers 450 square feet, so while it’s not as powerful as the Whynter ARC-1230WN, it’s still great for medium-sized spaces.

I recently installed this one in a buddy’s large 30x14-foot living space.

While I couldn’t feel the breeze from 28 feet away like Dreo advertises, I can confirm that it cooled the entire space quite nicely.

I love that the oscillating fans move 80 degrees up and down, boosting air circulation. This ensures that there aren’t any hot spots in the room, which is important, especially in shared spaces.

Most portable ACs, such as the LG and Della models, have a standard one-year warranty.

The Dreo TwinCool also comes with a one-year warranty, but registering the product can increase the warranty to up to 30 months.

I might even consider this Dreo warranty better than the 36-month compressor warranty from Whynter, as all Dreo parts are covered for 30 months upon registration.

While the Dreo TwinCool lacks the smart features and WiFi connectivity of units like the Della and the Midea Duo, I have found that I personally don’t tend to use these features very often.

The remote, on the other hand, I use all the time and I really appreciate the “Star” feature that allows me to save my preferred settings.

Overall, the TwinCool is a great option for those seeking quiet cooling with a high EER.

When I have a customer who is looking for all the features and an affordable price, I often point them to the Della 048-GM-48383.

For just around $500, this smart Della unit provides 14000 BTUs of cooling power and 13000 BTUs of heating power to a space of up to 650 square feet.

I personally think it can operate above this as well, at least to 700 square feet.

It’s a little bit louder than most of the units on my list, but for a powerful unit of 14000 BTUs, 50 dB is very quiet, comparable to moderate rainfall.

I actually find it quite soothing in my loft apartment and have come to expect its quiet lull in my 650-foot space.

Tech nerds like me will absolutely love the smart features that Della brings to the table.

Not only does it have WiFi controls and compatibility with Alexa and Hey Google, but it also uses a fun geo-fencing technology.

This means that I can set my AC to automatically turn off when I leave home and on when I return, which further helps me save on my utility bill.

Those savings come in addition to Della’s 10.37 EER. It’s not as high as the Dreo TwinCool, but all units above a 10 EER have pretty impressive energy savings.

The heating element of the Della 048-GM-48383 isn’t as compelling as the 14000 BTU cooling, and I wouldn’t recommend it as your sole source of heating, especially in areas where the temperatures drop below freezing.

As far as supplemental heating goes, though, I find this Della unit to be impressive.

It allows me to keep my apartment thermostat set really low (64F) and use it alongside the Della when I’m at home.

This Della unit is one of the easiest portable ACs to install and comes with a long window kit of 64.1 inches.

I have set this one up in regular sliding windows and horizontal casem*nt windows, and it’s very easy to trim to the correct size.

Overall, this is my choice for smart devices with cooling and heating.

I've used a lot of LG air conditioners over the years, and their LP0621WSR makes my list for the quietest portable AC for smaller areas (of up to 250 square feet).

The LG runs at around 50-53 decibels, so it isn’t as quiet as the Midea or Dreo units, but it is still quiet.

The blowing air actually acts like white noise and creates an almost unnoticeable background sound.

The LG is also a bit of a beast when it comes to cooling.

The BTU rating (6000 DOE / 10000 ASHRAE) isn’t that high, and it won’t cover as big an area as the other LG models, but it can make a big difference in a small room.

It creates a powerful stream of cold air that you can feel about 10-15 feet in front of the unit, and you can set it to oscillate. This improves indoor air circulation and flows surprisingly quickly.

In my small poolhouse/guest room, it reduced the temperature from 93 to 78 degrees in just 2 hours, which is a testament to the quiet power.

Like other models on the list, it has a 3-in-1 operation with AC, fan, and dehumidifier settings.

They all work well, but the dehumidifier setting can't handle extreme moisture, so I wouldn’t recommend it for very humid climates.

What I like most about this LG appliance is that it's very low maintenance. The installation is a breeze (it took me just 2 minutes to set up), the controls are basic, and it doesn't need much cleaning or upkeep.

In fact, the LG is one of the lowest-maintenance models out there. It’s perfect for busy homeowners who don’t have time to check their appliances constantly.

One thing to remember with this AC is that the single exhaust hose gives off a lot of heat.

I didn't notice it at first, but after an hour, I could feel the heat coming back from the exhaust into the surrounding air and back into the room.

I would recommend getting an insulation sleeve and fitting it over the exhaust. This will keep the heat flowing out of the room and improve the overall efficiency of the unit.

The LG is a powerful appliance in a small space. The small dimensions and noise output make these quiet units perfect for RVs, studio apartments, small bedrooms, or offices.

I have included three LG models on my list here, because it’s clear that LG knows what they’re doing when it comes to making quiet portable ACs.

The LG LP0821GSSM is a really popular model from LG that I recommend for medium-sized spaces of up to 350 square feet.

It’s not as powerful or as energy-efficient as the LG LP1419IVSM, but it provides excellent cooling.

In fact, this LG model is the least energy efficient on my list, with an EER of 8.78.

I don’t want that number to dissuade anyone from purchasing it, though, because I still consider any EER over 7 to be suitable for portable AC models.

One of the major selling points of the LG LP0821GSSM for my clients is its sleek black exterior and aesthetically pleasing design that is different from the other two LG models on my list.

So, while my customers are often sold on the color and style alone, I often recommend this LG model for bedrooms because it is really quiet for a portable AC.

On low, it produces 49 dB of sound, so it’s even slightly quieter than the Della model above.

One of the features that I’m seeing more on portable ACs like this LG model and the Dreo TwinCool is that the louvers fully close when the unit is not on.

I cannot tell you how great this feature is for protecting the internal unit from dust and debris and really extending its longevity. I think it also makes the unit look nicer when sitting in the corner of the room.

A couple times, though, I’ve received a call for a “clicking noise,” and troubleshooting has shown that small items like paperclips can easily fall in the unit and create quite a ruckus. It’s always nice to be an easy fix, though!

Like the Whynter unit, this LG model is also available as a cooling/heater combo for a bit more money.

The heater is not as powerful but it does provide supplemental cooling if that’s something you need. I typically just recommend the cooling-only unit as I know it’s reliable.

This LG model (as well as the other two on my list) has WiFi controls and can work smoothly with the LG ThinQ app.

Overall, if you need something a bit less powerful than the preceding items, this LG unit could be the answer.

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2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3531357/
3. https://www.carpetinstitute.com.au/residential/carpet-noise-pollution-reduction/
4. https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/units-and-calculators/british-thermal-units.php
5. https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/room-air-conditioners