Here Are the Best Portable Air Conditioners to Beat the Heat (2024)

Our Top Picks

We love LG's 115V Dual Inverter Portable Air Conditioner (model LP1419IVSM). This 14,000 BTU unit is equipped with a variable speed compressor, which translates into quieter noise levels and improves energy efficiency to save you money. It's sized right for rooms up to 500 square feet, making it an ideal choice for keeping a super spacious room—or even a small apartment—cool and comfortable.

Adjusting the settings of this air conditioner is super simple, thanks to the push-button control panel and LCD display. There are three fan speeds, along with user-friendly features like a timer function and sleep mode. An optional "auto swing" setting on the louvers (the slats of the air conditioner where the air comes out) helps to better distribute cold air throughout the room. At the same time, the smart features of this unit mean that you won’t even need to walk over to the unit to make adjustments. Instead, this portable air conditioner with Wi-Fi can be controlled using the LG app on your smart device or with voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Home. This feature comes in handy if you want to turn on the unit before you arrive home, or if you need to adjust the temperature setting, but have your hands full with cooking or another task.

The sleek white housing is simple enough to blend into most rooms without becoming a major eyesore in your home. It’s mounted on four caster wheels for easier maneuvering, but don’t expect to do much repositioning. This model has a 34-inch vent hose that doesn’t allow the unit to stray too far from the window, too, where it’s installed. On the subject of installation, this model is consistently praised for being easy to unpack and set up. At the end of the season, a storage tray on the back of the unit keeps the hose and window kit stowed away with the unit, so you don’t have to hunt for these essential items when setting up the air conditioner in spring.

This three-in-one unit functions as an air conditioner, fan, and dehumidifier, but it's missing a heater element that some other multi-functional portable air conditioners have. Even still, it’s powerful and reliable, giving it the upper hand over other models on the market.

_{Type: Single hose | BTU: 10,000 DOE/14,000 ASHRAE | Room Size: 500 square feet | Dimensions:30.43 x 19.41 x 18.11 inches | Weight: 71 pounds}

The Midea EasyCool Portable Air Conditioner is a good option if you need a cooling solution for spaces that measure up to 200 square feet. This model has 10,000 BTU to bring down the temperature in your bedroom, office, or small living area.

We’re most impressed by the fact that the Midea MAP10S1CWT includes Wi-Fi. You can pair the unit with Amazon Alexa or Google Home and issue voice commands to raise or lower the temperature setting, among other things. Even if you don’t utilize a smart home assistant, the Midea app puts control over the unit in the palm of your hand. An included remote control provides another convenient way to control the settings of this portable air conditioner. Installation using the included adjustable window brackets is simple and can be done in a matter of minutes, as well.

The most frequent complaints about this unit’s performance have nothing to do with cooling power. It’s noisy at high fan speeds, although that’s not unusual for any type of portable or window air conditioner. One thing to keep in mind is that, while it has four caster wheels to support its weight, it's still nearly as heavy as our best overall option—that's notable if you plan to carry it up a flight of stairs. Unlike some pricier models, it doesn't have heating or dehumidifying capabilities. Still, its features are hard to beat if you're on a budget.

_{Type: Single hose | BTU: 5,800 DOE/10,000 ASHRAE | Room Size: 200 square feet | Dimensions: 28.3 x 17.1 x 13 inches | Weight: 67.9 pounds}

The DeLonghi 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner (model #EX390LVYN) is a premium option with substantial cooling power (it has 8,600 BTU). It's a super quiet model that can also function as a fan or dehumidifier. Notably, this air conditioner additionally uses the brand’s Cool Surround Technology, referred to as CST.

The best way to sum up this DeLonghi portable air conditioner may be: quiet and effective. At its highest setting, its sound level registers at 52 decibels, making it a great option for your bedroom, where you may want cool, comfortable temperatures but not a lot of excessive noise.The enhanced remote control that's also included with the unit looks like a small box, and it is equipped with temperature and humidity sensors. The remote connects to the air conditioner via Bluetooth—if you keep the remote near you, it can provide the air conditioner with location-specific information about how cool and humid it is where you are, even if you're across the room.

This portable air conditioner costs around $700, but it’s not short on cooling power. It can cool large spaces up to 700 square feet and has a long 51-inch vent hose so you have a bit of flexibility in how close you have to be to the window for venting. The biggest downsides are its heft—it weighs over 80 pounds—as well as its lack of a heater and smart features. The option to control the unit with an app or smart home assistant are features that we’d expect based on the price of this high-end model. Still, it performs well and does use its sensor technology to keep the temperature in the room consistent.

_{Type: Single hose | BTU: 8,600 DOE/14,000 ASHRAE | Room Size: 700 square feet | Dimensions: 18.3 x 34.3 x 20.1 inches | Weight: 83 pounds}

If you only have a small space to cool, the SereneLife SLPAC8 Portable Air Conditioner is a great option at a great price. This 4,000 BTU portable air conditioner isn’t the most powerful model you can buy, but it should be all you need to keep comfortable in a small room of about 200 square feet. It’s also lighter and more compact than some other options on our list, weighing in at just under 47 pounds and saving a few inches in height and width.

This portable air conditioner for small rooms has push-button controls on the top of the unit for settings like target temperature, fan speed, or activating the swinging louvers—a must-have feature if you’re looking for maximum air circulation. There’s an included remote control so you can adjust the settings from across the room.

Speaking of making adjustments, this three-in-one model serves as an air conditioner, fan, and dehumidifier. In cooling mode, it has a self-evaporating feature, so you shouldn't need to empty the drain tank of condensation very often. It’s easy to set up according to users, and the four caster wheels make it simple to position the air conditioner in place.

As long as you use this compact model in the right-sized room (like a small bedroom, playroom, or den) it should keep the temperature in check. There are few complaints about its cooling performance. Instead, the main gripe is that this portable air conditioner is noisy on high—which is something to keep in mind if you plan on using it in a bedroom and are a light sleeper.

_{Type: Single hose | BTU: 4,000 DOE/8,000 ASHRAE | Room Size: 215 square feet | Dimensions: 27.2 x 13.8 x 14.6 inches | Weight: 46.3 pounds}

Designed for more than keeping cool, this Black+Decker Portable Air Conditioner is a multifunctional model that does the work of four appliances in one sleek package. In addition to air conditioning, this portable unit can function as a heater, fan, and dehumidifier. In short, it offers year-round comfort, making it a smart investment and well worth the cost.

In cooling mode, this portable air conditioner is rated for 6,000 BTU. But if you need to take off the chill, then this unit is equipped with a 10,000 BTU heater to warm up your space. The manufacturer recommends this model for rooms up to 550 square feet in size. Swinging louvers evenly distribute the cool breeze or warm air throughout your space and you can take advantage of other modes, too, like a sleep option or a 24-hour timer.

Aside from heating and cooling performance, the Black+Decker Portable Air Conditioner with Heater stands out with a self-evaporating design, which reduces the need to empty the drain pan when the unit is functioning in cool mode. It also comes with a remote control to adjust the mode or setting of the unit, even from across the room. The most noticeable shortcomings are the fact that the LCD display can’t be dimmed at night and the unit lacks smart features. It is also loud at its highest fan speed, registering at about 75 decibels. But, we recommend this portable air conditioner with heater if you aren't sensitive to ambient light at night (or don’t plan to use this model in the bedroom), don't require app or voice assistant integration, and can give up a little peace and quiet for cool or warm air when you want it.

_{Type: Single hose | BTU: 6,000 DOE/12,000 ASHRAE | Room Size: 550 square feet | Dimensions: 27.9 x 16.5 x 11.7 inches | Weight: 53.8 pounds}

When compared to single-hose portable air conditioners, a dual-hose model can cool a room more quickly and is a better choice for larger spaces, according to Dixon. A model like the Whynter ARC-14S Portable Air Conditioner uses one hose to draw in outside air and another hose to exhaust hot air from the room. The trade-off is that these air conditioners are usually larger and more expensive than single-hose models.

However, if you have the extra space and the budget for a dual-hose portable air conditioner, the Whynter ARC-14S is a popular choice. It has 14,000 BTU to cool living rooms, small apartments, or any space up to 500 square feet in size. The built-in thermostat controller makes it easy to select your target temperature from 61 to 89 degrees Fahrenheit. You can pick from three fan speeds, set a timer for up to 24 hours, and make adjustments to the operation using a remote control. Aside from cooling the air, this portable air conditioner assists in keeping it clean and odor-free, too. A washable pre-filter and activated carbon filter assist are found in the back of the unit.

Like all dual-hose portable air conditioners, you won’t need to drain the Whynter ARC-14S very often. The exhaust hose expels condensation along with hot air, reducing the amount of water that collects in the drain tank. According to the user manual, it will only need to be emptied when humidity levels are above 70 percent. Even then, the amount of water will be minimal, since the unit is still capable of exhausting about 98 percent of the condensation.

Neither the lightest nor heaviest option on this list, the Whynter ARC-14-S weighs 73 pounds—and it has four rolling wheels to make the job of moving it around much easier. If you store this unit away during the cooler months of the year, a protective cover safeguards the housing and keeps out dust and dirt.

_{Type: Dual hose | BTU: 9,500 DOE/14,000 ASHRAE | Room Size: 500 square feet | Dimensions: 35.5 x 19 x 16 inches | Weight: 73 pounds}

If you’re set on having your own personal cooling device at your side 24/7, you’ll quickly find that most portable air conditioners aren’t compact enough and their installation is more hassle than it’s worth to frequently move around your home. That’s not the case for this mini model from Evapolar. The evaCHILL is technically a personal evaporative cooler, but it still accomplishes the mission of bringing a cool breeze to your personal space—and it does so with less noise and energy consumption than an air conditioner.

Open the box of this mini model and you’ll find that setup is as simple as plugging the included cable into a USB port. (Important note: If you want to plug it into a wall outlet, you'll need to use a separate adapter.) Then fill the 27-ounce water tank, and turn the unit on to create your own personal cooling breeze. If you relocate to another room, it's simple to lift the 1.6-pound unit by its handle and move it to a new spot.

As long as you have accurate expectations, you’ll find this to be one of the best options for a mini portable air conditioner. It covers an area of about 26 square feet and operates very quietly, registering at only 25 decibels, according to the manufacturer. When compared to portable air conditioners with a noise output between 50 and 60 decibels, you’ll notice a major difference—especially if you’re using the device while you’re on the phone or watching television. The biggest limitation of this small device is the fact that it functions best in dry climates; it’s recommended for use when humidity levels are below 70 percent.

_{Type: Mini | BTU: Not applicable | Room Size: 26 square feet | Dimensions: 7 x 7 x 7 inches | Weight: 1.6 pounds}

Final Verdict

The LG Electronics Portable Air Conditioner is our best overall pick for a portable air conditioner, frequently praised for its excellent cooling ability in rooms up to 500 square feet and a quieter-than-average noise level. Plus, it’s equipped with Wi-Fi so you can control it with your smartphone. For our best value option, take a look at the Midea EasyCool Portable Air Conditioner. It also offers smart features, but is a better fit for smaller spaces measuring around 200 square feet in size.

FAQ

• When should you choose a portable air conditioner over a window unit?

  While window air conditioners are excellent long-term cooling solutions, they tend to be less versatile and harder to install than their portable alternatives. Portable air conditioners also tend to be the better option if you need to be able to move your unit from room to room, or even between buildings.

• How do you install a portable air conditioner?

  Non-evaporative portable air conditioners will need to be set up near a window or vent so that their exhaust hose has somewhere to pump hot air out of your home. These units usually come with a window adapter that will create an airtight opening for the hose. Installation generally won't take longer than 15 to 20 minutes.

  Evaporative portable air conditioners don't need to be hooked up to a window or vent, but they work best in a well-ventilated area. Keeping yours near an open window will prevent the room from getting too cold or clammy.

• How do you empty a portable air conditioner?

  When the time comes to drain your portable air conditioner (which will vary depending on your model and how often you use it), you can empty the water tank manually by placing a pan under the unit and letting the water drain into it. If your unit comes with a drainage hose, you also have the option of attaching the hose and running it down a floor drain.

• How much does a portable air conditioner typically cost?

  The cost of a portable air conditioner ranges from about $250 to $700 or more. At the lower-end of the price range, you’ll find units with less power. These are more suited to smaller rooms or light-duty cooling, perhaps as a supplement to a central air conditioning system. At the other end of the spectrum, portable air conditioners that cost more than $500 usually offer greater cooling power for larger rooms, along with features like app control or integration with popular smart home assistants.

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