The 11 Best Window Air Conditioners to Cool Your Home This Summer, According to Reviews

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If your home or apartment doesn’t have central air conditioning, a window air conditioner is often a necessity during the summer. Unlike portable air conditioners and tower fans, these air conditioners don’t take up any floor space since they are mounted into your window. They’ll help keep you and your home at a comfortable temperature so you sweat less while indoors.

Since there are so many different options out there, we scoured thousands of customer reviews to find the best window air conditioners for every budget and room size. And if you’re wondering where to buy window air conditioners online, retailers like Amazon, Wayfair, and Target all still have options in stock.

These are the best window air conditioners in 2021, according to reviews:

• Best Overall: LG 10,000 BTU Window-Mounted Air Conditioner

• Best for Small Rooms: Midea EasyCool 5,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner

• Best for Large Rooms: Frigidaire 25,000 BTU Heavy-Duty Window Air Conditioner

• Best Dual Inverter: LG 9,500 BTU Energy Star Window Air Conditioner

• Best Saddle Design: Soleus Air 6,000 BTU Over-the-Sill Air Conditioner

• Most Affordable: LG 5,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner

• Most Stylish: Frigidaire Cool Connect Smart Window Air Conditioner

• Quietest Option: GE Profile Series 8,000 BTU Energy Star Window Air Conditioner

• Best Casement: Koldfront 8,000 BTU Energy Star Window Air Conditioner

• Best Smart Option: GE 10,000 BTU Smart Window Air Conditioner

• Best With Heat: LG 12,000 BTU 230V Window-Mounted Air Conditioner

What size window AC do I need, and are they efficient?

When shopping for AC units, one of the most important things to consider is the size of the space you need it for. You’ll see a number called a BTU (aka, British thermal unit) that corresponds with how big of a room each appliance can effectively cool. Small rooms require fewer BTUs, while large rooms will need more, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Most websites list how many square feet each air conditioner is capable of cooling, so it’s also helpful to know the dimensions of the room you’re installing it in. Picking a unit that is too small for your space will be inefficient at lowering the temperature, but on the other hand, picking one that has too many BTUs for your room means you’ll end up paying for more electricity than you really need. “Based on size alone, an air conditioner generally needs 20 BTU for each square foot of living space,” says the U.S. Department of Energy. “Other important factors to consider when selecting an air conditioner are room height, local climate, shading, and window size.”

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What are the best features to look for in window ACs?

You'll also want to keep an eye out for certain features that make using your air conditioner easier and more convenient. For example, if you want to be able to turn your appliance on or off and change the settings without getting up—especially if you're putting the AC in your bedroom—look for a unit that comes with a remote control. Some of these air conditioners even have special settings that come in handy for different needs, like energy-efficient power-saving modes, or sleep functions that raise the temperature a few degrees in the middle of the night once you're already asleep. You can even look for Energy Star-certified window air conditioners, which save energy by using better sealing and insulation materials to prevent air from leaking in or out of the room.

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For even more convenience, you might want to opt for one with extra technology features. Many customers love their "smart" window air conditioners, like this Energy Star-approved one from GE or Frigidaire's Cool Connect model (which has a super modern appearance). These types of savvy units have Wi-Fi capabilities, so they can be completely controlled from your smartphone through the brands' designated apps. And if you have an Amazon Echo or Google Home, you can often use it to easily change your air conditioner's settings.

Keep reading to learn more about the best window air conditioners you can buy online in 2021.

Best Overall: LG 10,000 BTU Window-Mounted Air Conditioner

This LG window air conditioner has a built-in timer, sleep mode, and three different fan speeds—plus, the unit comes with a remote control so you can easily change the settings from your bed or couch. “I live in a small but adequate 700-square-foot one-bedroom cottage and wanted a unit that would cool the entire cottage but not break my budget,” wrote one shopper. “It's affordable, easy to install, looks nice, reasonably quiet, and cools the entire cottage easily without the use of fans to help circulate the air.”

Best for Small Rooms: Midea EasyCool 5,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner

As one of Amazon’s best-selling window air conditioners, this small AC unit from Midea is a great option if you need a no-frills unit to cool small rooms up to 150 square feet. It has seven different temperature settings and two fan speeds, all of which can be controlled by the dials on the front of the appliance or the included remote control. Despite its low price, this mini compact window air conditioner still comes with mounting hardware to make installation easier. Shoppers say setting it up was a breeze, especially since the appliance is so compact and lightweight. “I bought this air conditioner because I have a finished attic with a couple of very small windows (16 inches wide), and this was the only in-window unit I could find that could fit it,” one wrote.

Best for Large Rooms: Frigidaire 25,000 BTU Heavy-Duty Window Air Conditioner

If you need to quickly cool down a large room or a small home, this heavy-duty Frigidaire unit is a great option since it’s designed for spaces up to 1,600 square feet. (Just remember that it needs a 230-volt electrical outlet.) Shoppers say that it blows out “icy cool” air. Plus, the convenient remote control makes it easy to change between the various options, which include an energy-saving function and a sleep mode. “This is the next best thing to having a central AC,” wrote one customer. Another added: “I placed this in my living room window and I can feel the cool [air] all the way in the front of the house.”

Best Dual Inverter: LG 9,500 BTU Energy Star Window Air Conditioner

Thanks to its dual-inverter compressor, this LG window air conditioner constantly adjusts its speed to maintain the temperature in rooms up to 450 square feet—which saves up to 15 percent more energy in the end, according to the brand. It’s also equipped with Wi-Fi capabilities, so you can control it from anywhere in your home using the LG app on your smartphone. “It blows out constant cool air the moment it’s turned on and keeps a very large room comfortable,” one reviewer wrote. “The quality is great, and for the size, it has a lot of cooling power and wide vents for maximum airflow. Even on really hot days, it cools the room fast.”

Best Saddle Design: Soleus Air 6,000 BTU Over-the-Sill Air Conditioner

The best part about this window air conditioner from Soleus Air is its unique saddle-shaped design. Since it hangs over both sides of your windowsill, you can take full advantage of your windows by enjoying the view or opening them as needed. It’s incredibly easy to install since no tools are required—just check the measurements of your windowsill first to make sure it’ll fit. Other notable features include a 24-hour timer, a remote control, and a sleep mode that reduces noise and slightly increases the temperature while you’re asleep. “I needed an AC without taking up the entirety of my window and blocking out sunlight,” one shopper said. “The air in my room (200 square feet) was hot, heavy, and humid during the heatwave we just received in Chicago. I fired it on and my room was ice cold in less than five minutes.”

Most Affordable: LG 5,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner

At just under $150, this 5,000 BTU air conditioner from LG is the most affordable appliance on this list—and it’s also the number one best-selling option on Amazon. It has simple mechanical controls, so you can adjust the settings by rotating the knob. You won’t find any extra features with this unit (like a remote or timer), but its low price makes it a great choice if you’d prefer to spend a bit less. Even though there are only two different fan speeds to choose from, customers say the air conditioner “works like a charm” in small rooms, whether it’s a bedroom or a garage. “I have it in my son's room and it cools the entire room down very fast,” one wrote.

Most Stylish: Frigidaire Cool Connect Smart Window Air Conditioner

With this sleek option from Frigidaire, you don’t have to worry about your window air conditioner looking like an eyesore. The modern-looking unit can cool rooms up to 450 square feet in size without making too much noise, and it’s equipped with three different fan speeds and a sleep mode. Not only will it blend in nicely with any room’s decor, but the window air conditioner can also be controlled remotely over Wi-Fi using the Frigidaire app. “First of all, this is by far one of the most aesthetically pleasing window AC units that I've ever come across,” one owner wrote. “I love being able to control everything from my phone. I can set the unit to cool the bedroom 10 minutes before I’m ready for bed, and it is at the perfect temperature without having to walk upstairs to do it ahead of time myself!”

Quietest Option: GE Profile Series 8,000 BTU Energy Star Window Air Conditioner

This innovative window air conditioner from GE is a great choice for anyone who is particularly concerned about noise. It has a super quiet operation—the “quietest in the industry,” according to the brand—so you’ll still be able to hear your favorite TV show while the AC is running. “My air purifier is louder than this unit at times,” said one customer. It also features an automatically dimming LED thermostat, which is beneficial for light sleepers. Even though it’s designed for areas up to 250 square feet, some reviewers note that they’ve had success using it in slightly larger rooms, too.

Best Casement: Koldfront 8,000 BTU Energy Star Window Air Conditioner

Thanks to its vertical design, this window air conditioner from Koldfront works especially well with narrow casement windows that open sideways. It has a digital display with easy-to-use buttons that control the temperature and fan speed. There are plenty of different settings, including an energy-saving mode, sleep mode, and a dehumidifying function, and shoppers are pleased by how well each one cools down their homes. “I absolutely love this air conditioner,” said one. “It cools my entire dining room, kitchen, and living room areas.” Others note that installation is very simple, with one person saying it “just slid perfectly into the window.”

Best Smart Option: GE 10,000 BTU Smart Window Air Conditioner

This GE window air conditioner is WiFi-connected, so it works seamlessly with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Homekit. There’s even the option to control it from an app on your smartphone. One shopper said they haven’t even needed to use the included remote since installation because it’s so easy to control the unit with the app or their Alexa. But if you’d rather stick to the basics, you can also adjust the settings directly on the sleek digital control panel. Another customer said it works so well that their downstairs area becomes “freezing in no time.” The Energy-Star certified window air conditioner works well in rooms up to 450 square feet, and the various speed settings allow you to set the temperature exactly how you like it.

Best With Heat: LG 12,000 BTU 230V Window-Mounted Air Conditioner

If you’re willing to spend a bit more on your next window AC, it’s worth investing in this LG unit that also functions as a heater. Perfect for that in-between weather as the seasons change, this two-in-one unit can be used as an additional source of heat (as long as the outdoor temperature is no colder than 45 degrees Fahrenheit). It’s designed for rooms between 500 and 800 square feet, and customers say that it keeps their homes at comfortable, consistent temperatures. “Works like a charm in both heat and cool modes!” wrote one shopper, while another added: “I was surprised at how quickly the unit cools the room off. I turn on the unit and usually within five minutes the entire room is nice and cool.” Just note that this air conditioner requires a 230-volt electrical outlet instead of the standard 115-volt outlets.