Yahoo Lifestyle10 Portable Air Conditioners So You Don't Have to Bother With Window Units
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10 Portable Air Conditioners So You Don't Have to Bother With Window Units
We updated this guide in June 2022 to ensure all portable ACs vetted by the Home Improvement Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute were in stock, available and correctly priced. We also added more insights from our most recent tests, new picks from Pinguino, TCL and Twincool and additional questions to consider before you buy.
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. When deciding whether or not to buy a portable air conditioner, the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute take into account how well they perform, how efficient they are and whether they are easy to use. 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 Good Housekeeping Institute rounded up the best portable air conditioners on the market based on our experience with brands we trust, love and use. Since 2020, we have tested nearly 24 models and reviewed documentation on newer versions 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.
Our top picks:
Stick around after our top picks to read more about how we test portable AC units plus a breakdown of what you should consider to ensure you buy the right unit for your needs.
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Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner
Whynter
amazon.com
$564.99
This powerful portable AC from Whynter has a dual hose so it can cool down a room faster than other portable units. "Dual hose" means it uses outside air instead of inside air to cool down the internals of the AC, helping it to cool the room quicker and more efficiently. Our engineers were impressed by its year-round versatility; in dehumidifier mode, it removed up to 101 pints of moisture in a 24-hour period, and as a heater, it can generate heat up to 77°F. Testers also like the programmable timer that lets you set a schedule for the day, for example programming it to turn on 30 minutes before you'll be home from work. You can monitor the temperature on the digital readout. Even though the exhaust hose must be vented out a window, it extends up to 5 feet, so you’ll have some flexibility on the placement. The storage bag is a nice added convenience if you do need to stow the unit away throughout the year.
• BTU: 14,000 ASHRAE (9,500 SACC)
• Cooling area: 500 sq. ft.
• Weight: 80 lbs.Whynter - 3/12
Portable Evaporative Cooler with Fan
Honeywell
amazon.com
$139.15
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. Because it cools the air by the evaporation of water, 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. It only weighs 11.2 pounds, making it easy to move around. The included remote is an extra bonus so you can control it without needing to leave your bed. It's also perfect for a patio or backyard. This air cooler pulls less power than any of the other units on the list in such a way you could plug in multiple and still use less energy than a single other portable AC
• BTU: N/A
• Cooling area: 120 sq. ft.
• Weight: 11.2 lbs.Honeywell - 4/12
Portable Air Conditioner
TCL
amazon.com
$596.08
Precise temperature control sets this portable AC apart from the competition. When our testers set the unit to 64 degrees F and came back sometime later, the temperature in the room was 65.6 degrees F. No other portable AC came that close to achieving the proper ambient temperature. Plus it's a robust 10,000 BTUs SACC, so it has enough cooling power for nearly any room in the house. The air coming from the TLC also came out faster and reached farther than other tested models. Our experts also like the WiFi connectivity, allowing you to control the unit via a smartphone app. But if you don't feel like downloading the app, it also comes with a remote.
• BTU: 14,000 ASHRAE (10,000 SACC)
• Cooling area: 350 sq. ft.
• Weight: 61 lbs.Amazon Prime - 5/12
BPACT08WT Portable Air Conditioner
Black + Decker
amazon.com
$339.99
Look to this 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.
• BTU: 8,000 ASHRAE (4,000 SACC)
• Cooling area: 150 sq. ft.
• Weight: 52.9 lbs.Black + Decker - 6/12
Pinguino Portable AC
DeLonghi
amazon.com
$699.95
The Pinguino is perfect for large rooms with its combination of AC, fan and dehumidifier modes. The unique feature of this machine is the so-called ECO Real Feel, which allows it to work as if it has an inverter, essentially modulating compressor action so that when you reach the appropriate temperature, it doesn't work at 100% anymore. Instead it matches the power needed to maintain the temperature allowing it to save energy. Its swing function allows air to reach more of the room, and its quiet mode turns its already quiet sound levels even lower. Do keep in mind that while it is great for larger rooms, if you are not using the ECO Real Feel, our testers noticed that it used the most power out of all the models we tested.
• BTU: 14000 ASHRAE (8,600 SACC)
• Cooling area: 700 sq. ft.
• Weight: 83 lbs.Amazon Prime - 7/12
ARC-12SDH Portable Air Conditioner and Heater
Whynter
wayfair.com
$508.98
This all-in-one heater, dehumidifier, fan and cooler will get you through the year with its multi-functionality. Whynter claims this unit can cool up to 400 square feet, and it can dehumidify up to 96 pints over 24 hours. The two-hose operation helps it cool a room faster than single-hose portable ACs, and the front-facing read-out helps you monitor the temperature with ease. You can program it for up to a 24 hour period.
• BTU: 12,000 ASHRAE (7,900 SACC)
• Cooling area: 400 sq. ft.
• Weight: 71 lbs.Whynter - 8/12
Smart Portable Air Conditioner
LG
amazon.com
$421.00
When our engineers tested it, we found this unit to be relatively quiet for its output and simple to move as needed. With the built-in WiFi you can start or stop your cooling remotely, helping to optimize a room before you enter. Or you can opt for using an Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant device to control it for ultimate flexibility and ease. You can set it to cool mode, fan mode or dry mode, so you can create the ideal environment based upon what sort of day it is (e.g. hot and humid or rainy and damp). We also found the controls to be clear and easy to use on the machine. It has the capability to produce some of the lowest temperatures out of all the units we tested.
• BTU: 12,000 ASHRAE (8,000 SACC)
• Cooling area: 350 sq. ft.
• Weight: 62.9 lbs.amazon.com - 9/12
Smart Dual Inverter Portable Air Conditioner
LG
amazon.com
$649.95
If you like to control your lights, thermostat, doorbell and more via your smartphone or voice control, you’ll probably want that same convenience with your portable AC. This model from LG is one of the smartest in our tests, thanks to its patented LG ThinQ technology, which integrates with a smartphone app, as well as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It also comes with Smart Diagnosis which allows it to self-diagnose issues and communicate them to you via the app. It’s also a highly versatile machine, able to cool, dehumidify or just circulate air in its fan-only mode. Through our testing, we also were able to determine that it was the quietest unit tested, running at just 50.7 decibels at its highest speed. Its dual-hose inverter combo also gives it the benefit of saving you money during the hottest months of the year. "This particular LG is also a good choice if brownouts are common in your area, since it will automatically turn itself back on after a power outage," says Home Improvement Lab Director, Dan DiClerico.
• BTU: 14,000 ASHRAE (10,000 SACC)
• Cooling area: 500 sq. ft.
• Weight: 78 lbs.amazon.com - 10/12
PAC-UV Portable Air Conditioner
DeLonghi
amazon.com
$649.95
If you need to cool down an extra-large space, like a great room or big studio apartment, this DeLonghi is a great choice, with its chart-topping 700-square-foot cooling capacity. "Like all portable ACs, it makes some noise at full power, but the quiet mode setting cuts the clamor in half, good for bedrooms," says DiClerico. Our engineers also like the washable filter screen, making the unit a good fit for allergy sufferers. While DeLonghi also says that the UV-C technology removes airborne bacterium in the room, we have yet to evaluate the efficacy of this feature. During our testing, this was determined to also be one of the quieter ACs, even when it wasn't running on quiet mode.
• BTU: 14,000 ASHRAE (6,800 SACC)
• Cooling area: 700 sq. ft.
• Weight: 83.3 lbs.DeLonghi - 11/12
Twincool Inverter Portable AC
Dreo
amazon.com
$659.99
If you're looking for a powerful AC that can also save you money, consider the Dreo TwinCool. With its dual-hose inverter technology, it avoids the issue of negative pressure. Negative pressure means that the air outside wants to come inside, so it will find any tiny crack and leak inside making it harder for the AC to cool the room. The Dreo, thanks to inverter tech, is capable of varying the power it uses. When the machine senses that the temperature is where it should be, it actually lowers the speed of the motor that's doing the cooling. Instead of running 100% and then turning it off and back on again, it runs at 50% so it can still keep the room at a cool temperature. Compared to other Portable ACs on the list, it used much less power in our tests, which is good for saving money in the hottest months. A favorite feature with our engineers is the “I Sense” feature, which turns the remote into a portable thermostat, allowing the AC to adjust its temperature and power based on the temperature of the remote. That's helpful if you want the AC to change its temperature and power based on your position in the room.
• BTU: 12000 ASHRAE (10,000 SACC)
• Cooling area: 450 sq. ft.
• Weight: 72.88 lbs.Amazon Prime - 12/12
How we test portable air conditioners
Our product experts start by shopping the current marketplace to identify top-selling portable ACs that you’re most likely to find at stores and online. Next, they identify brands that have performed the best and proven the most reliable through years of AC testing at the Good Housekeeping Institute. They also consider newer brands with unique features or innovations.
Hands-on testing takes place in our Lab, where we exhausted the heat hose through a flexible duct that went straight into the ceiling (pictured), preventing any heat leak and allowing us to get proper temperature measurements. We also tested some units at home to better evaluate them in real-world conditions. Our engineers consider a variety of factors, starting with ease of setup. We take into account how intuitive the user manuals and other instructions are.
Performance testing also covers multiple factors. We first check to see how close the air temperature coming out of the AC is to our set point. Next, we measure air speed with an anemometer. This tells us how quickly the AC can cool a room. We also test how much power each device consumed using a Kill-a-Watt electricity usage monitor; energy-efficient portable ACs earn extra points. Knowing that portable ACs are often used in bedrooms, we check decibel ranges at various fan speeds using a sound meter.
Alec
