The 9 Best Small-Room Air Conditioners to Cool Your Home

Madeline Buiano, Blythe Copeland
·6 min read

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No central air? No problem. These window unit and portable air conditioners will effectively cool your home's hottest nooks and crannies.

Courtesy of Amazon
Courtesy of Amazon

When summer temperatures climb, there's only so much a fan can do to cool down a room, especially when you're trying to sleep. But if you don't have a central air conditioning system, you know how difficult it is to get shut-eye without some form of cool breeze.

Small-space air conditioners, typically available as window units or as portable appliances you can move from room to room, can effortlessly cool down any area of your home, but they're especially great for bedrooms and home offices.

When shopping for an air conditioner, check the British Thermal Units, or BTUs, which measure cooling capacity, to see which size is appropriate for your space. Typically, a unit will use 20 BTUs per square foot to cool a room, so for a 100- to 250-square-foot room (which is typically the size of a small to medium bedroom), you'll need about 5,000 to 6,500 BTUs. Choose an appliance with a cooling capacity that matches the size of your space to bring down the temperature and eliminate unwanted humidity.

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Related: How to Cool Down a Room Without Using Air Conditioning—and More Ways to Beat the Heat This Summer

Best Overall: Whynter Arc-14s 14,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner

Courtesy of Whynter
Courtesy of Whynter

With a dual hose operation that allows for quick cooling, this portable design is multifunctional—it serves as an air conditioner, dehumidifier, and fan all in one. It also has a full thermostatic control remote that ranges from 61 to 89 degrees, so you can set it to your desired temperature without even getting up.

Another big plus: The unit's advance auto-drain technology uses and recycles water collected during the cooling process (so you won't have to babysit the water tank). We also love the auto-restart function, which is ideal after summer storms cause power outages.

Price at time of publish: $499

Best Window Unit: Frigidaire 8,000 BTU 115-Volt Window-Mounted Mini-Compact Air Conditioner

Courtesy of Frigidaire
Courtesy of Frigidaire

Cooling rooms up to 350 square feet, this in-window air conditioner gives you a bit more control over temperature thanks to a digital thermostat and three different fan speeds. It also has six-way air direction that allows for even cooling throughout your room.

If you're gone for long stretches of the day, use the programmable timer to save on energy costs while you're out and come home to a cool and welcoming space.

Price at time of publish: $299

Best Portable: Black and Decker 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner

Courtesy of Amazon
Courtesy of Amazon

Ideal for small rooms, this floor-standing portable air conditioner has an adjustable fan speed and cools the air to 65 degrees at the coldest setting. You won't have to worry about the fuss of installation with this design—just wheel it into any room with a double hung or sliding window and attach the included hose and window adapter. Then, plug it into an outlet.

When you're ready to clean it, simply slide the filter out and rinse it thoroughly under running water; pop it back in place. Light sleepers should take advantage of sleep mode, which makes the appliance extra quiet while you rest.

Price at time of publish: $329.99

Best Miniature: Arctic Air Pure Chill 2.0

<p>Courtesy of Amazon</p>

Courtesy of Amazon

If you're just looking for a device to quickly cool down a small home office space and don't need something heavy and hard to move, go miniature! This small air conditioner and humidifier has an easy-to-fill water tank that will spit out cold air for hours on end while you work. The mobile appliance has four cooling levels, so you can find one that's just right.

Price at time of publish: $39.97

Best Affordable: Frigidaire Window-Mounted Room Air Conditioner, 6,000 BTU

Cool down a 250-square-foot room or smaller at a lower price point with this option from Frigidaire. The highly-rated appliance maintains your room's desired temperature, so you'll feel comfortable at all times.

Thanks to the included handheld remote, you'll be able to control the air conditioner's setting from across the room for optimal convenience. It also has a built in timer that allows you to preset the unit to turn on and off every 30 minutes, so your room will stay cool with less energy.

Price at time of publish: $225

Best Smart: LG 8,000 BTU Smart Portable Air Conditioner

Courtesy of Amazon
Courtesy of Amazon

This portable air conditioner from LG has built-in smart technology that allows you to control your appliance from anywhere. You can start or stop cooling, change the mode, or set the temperature while you're at home or on the move.

The device also works with Amazon Alexa and Hey Google, so you can change the settings with voice commands rather than fussing with the buttons. The three-in-one operation allows you to cool your home and dehumidify it on hot days, while fan mode circulates air throughout your home.

Price at time of publish: $418.06

Best Quiet: Frigidaire Inverter Quiet Temp Smart Room Air Conditioner, 12,000 BTU

Courtesy of Amazon
Courtesy of Amazon

Few things are as disruptive to your sleep cycle as a loud air conditioner droning on throughout the night. This appliance from Frigidaire was build with quietness in mind; it also offers up to 46 percent annual energy savings over a standard air conditioner.

Worried about its air reaching the entirety of your room? It has optimum air circulation to reach more angles of your room for ideal cooling thanks to its auto swing louver and three different fan speeds.

Price at time of publish: $494

Best Dehumidifier: Costway 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner and Dehumidifier Function

Courtesy of Home Depot
Courtesy of Home Depot

Remove the humidity and heat from your home simultaneously with this dual-action air conditioner that easily provides cool air throughout any space up to 250 square feet. The machine also boasts air deflection that eliminates hot spots and provides cool relief to the entirety of your room. Be sure to utilize the included remote control for easy temperature, fan speed, and timer adjustments without needing to move from where you are.

Price at time of publish: $304.93

Best U-Shaped: Midea 8,000 BTU U-Shaped Air Conditioner

<p>Courtesy of Amazon</p>

Courtesy of Amazon

An inverter air conditioner automatically lowers the speed of its compressor as your room cools, so it uses less energy and produces less noise. This even quieter U-shaped version attaches to your windowsill, allowing your window sash to open and close while the unit is installed. Close the window when the air conditioner is on and the glass will block even more of the compressor sound; open it on less humid days to allow a breeze to circulate.

Price at time of publish: $399