14 Recommended Portable Air Conditioners in 2020

Nobody wants to feel uncomfortably hot in their own home. If you need a way to cool down your house in the areas you need it most during the hot summer months, a portable air conditioner can be an excellent solution. Our guide can help you navigate the many options to help you find the best portable air conditioner for your needs.

  Source: which.co.uk

Buying Guide

There are many portable air conditioners on the market made in different sizes and for different budgets and needs. Here are a few tips to consider before you purchase:

• How portable air conditioners work: A portable air conditioner has a hose that vents outside rather than sitting in a window to allow you to move it inside a room within reach of the hose length.
• Considerations to make when purchasing: These air conditioners can be convenient for some, but they also aren’t always very portable. They typically weigh at least 50 pounds, and their movement is limited by the venting hose.
• Available draining systems: Most portable air conditioners have an exhaust system that removes water through evaporation. In cases of high humidity, it might become necessary to manually drain the storage tank.
• Why portable air conditioners are noisy: Because a portable air conditioner sits inside a room, it seems noisier than a window unit, whose cooling components sit outside your window.
• BTUs and what they mean: Air conditioning energy is measured by the British Thermal Unit (BTU). The higher the BTU, the more area an air conditioner can cool, but higher BTU units are often more expensive. In general, look for 20 BTU per square foot of the area you want to cool.

Buying Recommendations

Budget Portable Air Conditioners

Save money with these budget-friendly portable air conditioner options.

1. Shinco Portable Air Conditioner – Editor’s Pick

The Shinco Portable Air Conditioner is our top budget good choice for smaller rooms because of its simplicity to set up and multiple operation modes.

The Shinco SPF2-08C features remote-controlled operation, a built-in dehumidifier, a fan mode, and an LED display for your convenience. The relatively quiet 52 dB noise level makes it ideal for small rooms in which you want ultimate comfort.

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2. BLACK+DECKER Portable Air Conditioner

The BLACK+DECKER BPACT08WT Portable Air Conditioner includes carry handles that make the unit easier than others to move around a room. The unit also comes with a remote control and convenient LED display to help you switch between settings to find your ultimate comfort level at a budget price.

Premium Portable Air Conditioners

These premium portable air conditioners are our top picks for people with higher budgets who want a few more bells and whistles.

1. Honeywell Portable Air Conditioner – Editor’s Pick

With its easy installation, quick-wash filter, and fan and dehumidifier modes, the Honeywell MN14CCS Portable Air Conditioner with Dehumidifier is our top premium pick.

This portable air conditioner has just about everything you could want to keep a larger room cool and comfortable, thanks to its high-power cooling and additional fan and dehumidifier settings. The unit utilizes a Smart Digital Thermostat system to keep it set to your preferred cooling temperature.

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2. EdgeStar Portable Air Conditioner and Heater

The EdgeStar AP14001HS Portable Air Conditioner and Heater has an advantage over other portable ACs because of its ability to also heat your room in cooler months. You can program your cooling and heating to your preferred temperatures in Celsius or Fahrenheit, and you can even set it up to 24 hours ahead of time.

Portable Air Conditioners for Small Rooms

These portable air conditioners for small rooms can ensure that you’re not wasting energy with too much cooling power.

1. Midea Portable Air Conditioner – Editor’s Pick

The MIDEA MPF08CR81-E Portable Air Conditioner comes with excellent customer reviews and reliable cooling to make it our top pick for small rooms.

This portable air conditioner is the perfect, compact size and offers just the right amount of cooling for a smaller room. The unit includes a remote control and resizable window bracket to make installation and setup as straightforward as possible.

2. LG Portable Air Conditioner with Remote Control

The LG LP0817WSR Portable Air Conditioner offers up to 150 square feet of cooling area and has a top air discharge to keep heat from making its way to you. Although it has a small water storage capacity, the Water Full indicator light helps you know when to empty it.

Portable Air Conditioners for Mid-Size Rooms

Mid-size rooms up to 500 square feet should cool well with these best portable air conditioners.

1. Whytner Dual-Hose Portable Air Conditioner – Editor’s Pick

The Whynter ARC-14S Portable Air Conditioner sits at the top of our list for mid-size room picks for its ability to cool a room reliably while keeping the air clean.

With its thermostat control that offers both AC and heat, low power consumption, and air-cleansing system, the Whynter ARC-14S Portable Air Conditioner has a lot to offer you and your home. The pre-filter is washable, and the activated carbon filter keeps harmful particles from recycling into your home’s air.

2. SereneLife Portable Air Conditioner

Coming in a close second for our pick for a mid-size portable air conditioner is the SereneLife SLACHT108 Portable Air Conditioner. This unit offers fan-only, dehumidifying, cooling, and heating modes. With its automatic swing mode air circulation, it also stays relatively quiet compared to similar models.

Portable Air Conditioners for Large Rooms

Your large room may benefit from having one of these top portable air conditioner picks in place.

1. hOmeLabs Portable Air Conditioner – Editor’s Pick

This 14,000 BTU portable AC unit from hOmeLabs is a winner in our book, thanks to its quiet and energy-efficient operation for a unit with its power.

With an exceptionally large water storage tank for dehumidifying your room and its energy-saving window seals and operation, the hOmeLabs 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner keeps your home cool without being a nuisance. We also love that it’s simple to set up, so you can have it running in just a few minutes.

2. Della Portable Air Conditioner

This 14,000 BTU portable AC unit from hOmeLabs is a winner in our book, thanks to its quiet and energy-efficient operation for a unit with its power.

With its max power of 14,000 BTU, this unit can cool down an area of up to 700 square feet and keep the same area warm in the winter. Set the programmable timer on or off at your chosen time to keep cooling and heating efficient when you’re not home.

Portable Air Conditioners for Cars

If your car air conditioner isn’t working properly, you might consider trying one of these small, portable units.

1. Silini Mini Air Conditioner – Editor’s Pick

If you have a USB port in your car, you can plug in this mini air conditioning unit to cool off your interior fast.

Fill the Silini Mini Air Conditioner with some water, and you’ll get up to 8 hours of extreme cooling in a small space, like your vehicle. Its tiny profile won’t take up a lot of space in a seat, center console, or on the floor.

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2. Palmer Air Conditioner

Another small air conditioning unit, the Palmer Air Conditioner can cool off your car’s interior as soon as you fill it with water and turn it on. Even with its powerful cooling technology, this air conditioner operates quietly.

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Portable Air Conditioners for Camping

When you’re a camper on the go, these portable air conditioner units can keep you conveniently cool.

1. Scinex Personal Air Cooler – Editor’s Pick

This small air conditioning unit by Scinex is our top pick for a lightweight, portable option for personal use while camping.

The Scinex Personal Air Cooler comes with a portable charger, making it an excellent choice for campers who don’t want to be tied to a cord. Set it up where it’s convenient, like your camper or tent, and cool off.

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2. Zero Breeze Portable Conditioner

Take the Zero Breeze Z19-B Portable Air Conditioner to the pool, campground, or even the beach with you. You can elect to use it with a compatible lithium-ion battery or take advantage of its several power options to meet your needs for portability.

Final Thoughts

The best portable air conditioners can be an excellent option for you if you want to save a little money on a unit while still keeping hot rooms cool during the warmest months. These units tend to be a bit noisier than window AC units, though, so keep that in mind when you consider where you want to place one. We hope that our recommendations above help you find the best portable AC for your needs.

Last update on 2025-07-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API