If you want fresh, breezy air without the stress of window installation, a portable air conditioner can be a great solution. Think of them as AC units on wheels, able to cool a single room without semi-permanent installation in your home and windowsill.
To help you find the best portable air conditioner, we spoke with cooling and appliance experts and selected top-rated models based on their advice, including budget-friendly, smart-connected and premium options for different sized rooms.
SKIP AHEAD Top-rated portable air conditioning units in 2024 | How to shop for a portable air-conditioning unit
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To pick the best portable air conditioners on the market, we spoke with experts on what to look for in specs and features. Following their guidance, we selected top-rated units that met the following criteria:
- BTUs (British Thermal Units): An air conditioner’s cooling ability is typically measured in BTUs — the higher the number, the more powerful the AC. Per expert guidance, we selected portable ACs with a range of BTUs and recommended room size, so you can pick the most appropriate option for your space. (More on BTUs in our FAQ section.)
- Functionality: All of our selections have additional fan and dehumidifier functions, as well as washable dust filters.
- Portability: Portable air conditioners often weigh over 50 pounds. We only selected units with built-in wheels that make them easier to move around.
- Top-rated: We selected portable AC units with at least a four-star average rating from customers on Amazon.
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Our top picks come from large brands like Black+Decker, Midea and Honeywell. Below each recommendation, we highlight important specs like size, cooling power and more.
For small spaces: Black+Decker 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
This unit from Black+Decker is best suited to smaller rooms up to 350 square feet — think bedrooms and offices. While there are a few size options available, this 8,000 BTU version is the most affordable. Like all of our picks, you can adjust the settings on the unit itself or via the remote. Bonus settings include a timer, sleep and auto mode.
Modes: Cool, fan, dehumidify | Cooling power: 8,000 BTUs | Room size: Up to 350 sq ft | Hose type: Single hose | Speeds: 3 | Weight: 52.9 lbs | Dimensions: 15.3 D x 14 W x 24.8 H in
For large spaces: DeLonghi 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
With 14,000 BTUs of cooling, this powerful unit from DeLonghi is designed to cool large spaces up to 700 square feet. The unit monitors temperature and humidity, and will automatically adjust its settings to create a good balance between the two, according to the brand. It also has motorized fan slats that can oscillate to more evenly spread cool air around your space.
This is the largest, heaviest and priciest unit on our list, but it also cools the largest sized space of our top picks.
Modes: Cool, fan, dehumidify | Cooling power: 14,000 BTUs | Room size: Up to 700 sq ft | Hose type: Single hose | Speeds: 3 | Weight: 83 lbs | Dimensions: 18.3 D x 34.3 W x 20.1 in
Most affordable: Shinco 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
This unit from Shinco is a good pick for anyone looking to cool a small space on a budget. It has a swing mode that automatically oscillates the fan grille up and down to better distribute cool air. And like other other picks, you can control the AC via the on-unit controls or the wireless remote.
The low price does mean some compromises on features. There is no smart connectivity and the remote does not have a temperature readout like our picks from Black+Decker and Midea. While this AC is powerful for the price, light sleepers may want to avoid it — some reviewers on Amazon say it is loud, even on low fan settings.
Modes: Cool, fan, dehumidify | Cooling power: 8,000 BTUs | Room size: Up to 200 sq ft| Hose type: Single hose | Speeds: 3 | Weight: 46 lbs | Dimensions: 13.4 D x 14.7 W x 37 H in
Small and portable: Honeywell 10,000 BTU Smart Wi-Fi Portable Air Conditioner
Select editorial director Lauren Swanson and I have both used Honeywell portable air conditioners in the past, but both of our units have been discontinued. This more up-to-date model is rated for medium-sized rooms and is slightly more compact than most of our other picks.
It also has smart connectivity — you can connect the unit to your home Wi-Fi and control it through your phone via the Honeywell Air Comfort app and Amazon Alexa.
Modes: Cool, fan, dehumidify | Cooling power: 10,000 BTUs | Room size: Up to 450 sq ft | Hose type: Single hose | Speeds: 3 | Weight: 62.8 lbs | Dimensions: 16.3 D x 13.6 W x 28 H in
For dual hose efficiency: Whynter ARC-14S 14,000 BTU Dual-Hose Portable Air Conditioner
This Whynter model is a dual-hose unit: one hose pulls fresh air into your home, the other pushes hot air outside. Dual-hose units are generally more powerful and efficient, but can be louder and more complicated to install. (More on hose type in our How to Shop section.)
It has both a dust filter and a carbon filter that work together to block dust, clear gas and eliminate odors, according to the brand.
Otherwise, it is similar (albeit heavier) to our other picks, with three operating modes, three operating speeds, wheels and a wireless remote control.
Modes: Cool, fan, dehumidify | Cooling power: 14,000 BTUs | Room size: Up to 500 sq ft | Hose type: Dual hose | Speeds: 3 | Weight: 73 lbs | Dimensions: 16 D x 19 W x 35.5 H in
For premium features: Midea Duo 14,000 BTU Inverter Portable Air Conditioner
This portable unit from Select-favorite brand Midea is a high-end, dual-hose model with energy-efficient inverter technology and smart connectivity. Inverter air conditioners are more energy efficient than non-inverters — they typically cost more up front, but can save you money on your energy bill long-term.
The Midea Duo can be connected to Wi-Fi and synced with the Midea Air app, letting you control it remotely or with voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. There are six versions of the Midea Duo across multiple price points, including lower-priced options that retain smart connectivity and a higher-priced model that can heat as well as cool your space.
Modes: Cool, fan, dehumidify | Cooling power: 14,000 BTUs | Room size: Up to 550 sq ft | Hose type: Dual hose | Speeds: 3 | Weight: 77.2 lbs | Dimensions: 16.73 D x 19.53 W x 34.48 H in
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Portable air-conditioners are generally pricier than window ACs. However, they’re much easier to install and are typically more compact, so you can move the unit from room to room without much effort, says Dr. John McKeon, CEO of Allergy Standards — an organization that works with brands and manufacturers to improve indoor air quality science and standards.
If a portable AC sounds right for your needs, keep the following in mind as you shop:
Placement and maintenanceA portable air conditioner has to be close to a window and an electrical outlet to work. They also require some maintenance, including draining the water from the unit as needed and cleaning the air filters every couple of weeks. This will help avoid mold growth in your unit, which can decrease your room’s air quality, said McKeon.
Smart connectivitySome portable air conditioners can connect to your Wi-Fi and be controlled via smartphone app, though these models will typically cost more, says McKeon. Decide if this is a worthwhile feature for you before adding a model to your cart.
Hose typePortable air conditioners either come with one or two hoses that vent through your window to the outside. Single hose models are more common: they pull and cool the air inside your room, pushing hot air out. Dual-hose units have one hose that pulls and cools fresh air into your home and another that pushes hot air out.
Dual-hose units are typically louder and more expensive than single hose units, says Carl Prouty, a tech expert at electronics and appliance retailer Abt. You’ll also have to empty the water in dual hose units more often, as pulling in outdoor air produces more condensation. But dual-hose units are typically faster, more powerful and more energy-efficient, according to manufacturers.
Frequently asked questions
A portable air-conditioning unit stands on the floor of your space and has a large, typically plastic vent that connects from the unit to a window. The unit pulls in ambient air from either inside your home (single hose) or outside (dual hose), cools that air down, and pushes it out into your room, says Prouty. Hot air is then vented through the window hose outside, keeping your indoor space cool.
An air conditioner’s cooling ability is typically measured in British thermal units, or BTUs. The higher the number of BTUs, the more powerful the air conditioner. Portable ACs with a higher BTU capacity are generally larger, heavier and more expensive.
On average, an air-conditioning unit needs about 20 BTUs per square foot of space to keep things cool, says McKeon. To figure out how many BTUs you need for your room size, multiply the square footage of your room by 20.
Below is a breakdown of the number of BTUs needed to cool different-sized spaces. These calculations are averages — it’s still important to refer to the square footage rating referenced on an AC unit.
- Up to 250 square feet: 5,000 to 6,000 BTUs
- 250 to 350 square feet: 7,000 to 8,000 BTUs
- 350 to 450 square feet: 9,000 to 10,000 BTUs
- 450 to 550 square feet: 12,000 BTUs
- 550 to 700 square feet: 14,000 BTUs
Using an AC with the right amount of power is extremely important, says Prouty. A unit that is too powerful might cool the room too quickly. This is bad for two reasons: it won’t do an efficient job of dehumidifying the room and it will cycle on and off too frequently, causing undue stress on the AC, which will likely lead to a premature breakdown. On the other hand, a unit that’s not powerful enough won’t cool your room effectively — it will run continuously, meaning a higher energy bill and, in all likelihood, a premature breakdown.
If you plan on putting your portable AC unit in a sunny space, you should add about 10% to the ideal number of BTUs based on the room’s size, says Prouty. If the room gets little to no sun, you’ll need about 10% less. If there are more than two people typically occupying the room, you’ll need to add 600 BTUs for each additional person, and if it’s going in a kitchen, you’ll need to add 4,000 BTUs to “counteract the additional heat [that] kitchen appliances produce,” says Prouty.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. John McKeon, CEO of Allergy Standards — an organization that works with brands and manufacturers to improve indoor air quality science and standards.
- Carl Prouty is a tech expert at electronics and appliance retailer Abt.
Harry Rabinowitz is a reporter at NBC Select who covers technology including guides to fitness trackers, air purifiers and streaming devices. To better understand the nuances of portable air conditioners, he spoke with industry experts and used their advice to help pick top-rated options across price points.
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