The 5 best portable air conditioners to beat the heat at home

Some homes aren’t set up for central air conditioning and may not be ideal for window AC units, either. Whether you’re a renter or an owner, choosing one of the best portable air conditioners on the market is a great way to keep your home cool this summer.

Portable air conditioners use a cooling unit that attaches to a window with a hose. The air conditioner works its magic, cools down the air temperature, and sends the hot exhaust air outside. 

While they’re not quite as efficient as window units, portable air conditioners are much more flexible, and can be installed in just about any window.

As the name suggests, they’re also easy to move. Just detach the exhaust hose and power cord, roll or carry the unit to another room, and set it up in a new window. Compared to bulky window units, the process is a total breeze. 

Convinced that a portable AC is right for you? Check out our top recommendations below, and find the right one for your home or apartment.

Read more: Make cafe-style coffee at home with the best espresso machines

Our top picks for the best portable air conditioners

Best portable air conditioner with dehumidifier and fan

BLACK+DECKER Air Conditioner with Double Motor Dehumidifier and Remote

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$293.37 at The Home Depot

Best budget-friendly air conditioner

Vissani 5,000 BTU 115V Portable Air Conditioner

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$299 at The Home Depot

Best compact portable air conditioner

Hisense 5000-BTU DOE 115-Volt White Vented Portable Air Conditioner

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$299 at Lowe's

Best portable air conditioner with no hose

Honeywell 700 CFM Indoor/Outdoor Portable Evaporative Cooler

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$219.99 at Sylvane

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Best portable air conditioner with dehumidifier and fan

BLACK+DECKER Air Conditioner with Double Motor Dehumidifier and Remote

You save $81.13 (21.66%)

$293.37$374.50

$293.37 at The Home Depot

Pros & Cons

• 8,000 BTU rating

• Built-in dehumidifier for moisture removal

• Quiet 52 dBA operation

• Window hose kit may not fit all windows

• Compressor is loud when switching on and off

Many who live in areas with a hot, humid climate will tell you that it’s not just the heat that gets you to. It’s the humidity! The more humid your room is, the hotter it will feel, even if the air is relatively cool. That’s why this portable air conditioner from BLACK+DECKER includes a double-motor dehumidifier. 

While all AC units will remove some moisture from the environment during normal operation, this portable air conditioner steps things up, with the ability to remove up to 50 pints of water every 24 hours. 

It also features rolling wheels and a relatively lightweight design, so it’s easy to move from room to room. For example, you can keep it in your bedroom at night, and move it to your living area during the day.

Depending on the measurement method used, this AC unit boasts up to 8,000 BTUs of cooling power, and has three cooling speeds and three fan speeds. It can cool air down to a temperature of 64 degrees Fahrenheit, and has an Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) of 8.7, which means it’s pretty energy efficient. That means lower temperatures in your home without sky-high power bills.

Best budget-friendly air conditioner

Vissani 5,000 BTU 115V Portable Air Conditioner

$299

$299 at The Home Depot

Pros & Cons

• Simple climate control settings

• Washable and reusable air filter

• Fan can run continuously for enhanced cooling

• Only cools up to 150 square feet

• Louder than more expensive units

If you’re looking to keep a small bedroom or another smaller living space cool on a budget, this unit from Vissani is the best portable air conditioner for the job. 

It’s small and unobtrusive, while still boasting up to 5,000 BTUs of cooling power. It may lack fancy LED displays and smart features, but it will get the job done and keep you cool.

It also includes a dehumidifier feature to lower the humidity in your room, and a drain hose to simplify moisture removal. This Vissani air conditioner also has a 24-hour programmable timer, so you can set it up to run on your schedule. The auto-off feature means it will also turn off when your room reaches the desired temperature.

Best compact portable air conditioner

Hisense 5000-BTU DOE 115-Volt White Vented Portable Air Conditioner

$299

$299 at Lowe's

Pros & Cons

• Compact size is fantastic for small spaces

• Quiet, with a peak dBA rating of just 49

• Two-year warranty is longer than average

• Only powerful enough for small rooms

• 6.4 EER rating means it’s not very energy efficient

If you’re short on space in your room, you may be looking for the best portable air conditioner with a small footprint. This model from Hisense packs 5,000 BTUs of cooling power into a tiny package, making it ideal for small spaces, or for anyone who just wants a small, unobtrusive AC unit. It’s designed to cool rooms under 299 square feet. It measures just 26.4 inches high, 11.8 inches in width, and 13 inches in depth.

The unit also has three different cooling modes. You can run the AC mode for cooling, dehumidifier to remove moisture, or run it as a fan to maximize airflow in your space. This portable air conditioner from Hisense also has a drain-free design. This means you don’t need to manually remove water from the unit, which is a plus.

Best portable air conditioner with no hose

Honeywell 700 CFM Indoor/Outdoor Portable Evaporative Cooler

$219.99

$219.99 at Sylvane

Pros & Cons

• Requires no hose for operation

• Very energy efficient

• Large 4.75 gallon tank means fewer refills

• Will not deliver the same cooling power as a traditional portable AC

• Doesn’t work well in hot, humid climates

Portable air conditioners have to be attached to a window using a hose. This is because the AC unit needs a way to vent hot exhaust air after cooling down your room. But what if you don’t have a window that will work for a portable air conditioner?

Enter the world of evaporative coolers, like this model from Honeywell. Evaporative coolers don’t work like normal air conditioners, which means they can be built with a hoseless design. In an evaporative cooler, air is blown over a water-saturated “cooling media.”This water evaporates as the air blows over it. This absorbs heat and cools the air by up to 25 degrees. 

This particular model from Honeywell is meant to be used in rooms that are up to 430 square feet. However, the biggest drawback of this type of air conditioner is that evaporative coolers only work if the air is not completely saturated with moisture. This means they’re best for dry climates, like the desert. If you live in an area that’s both hot and humid, an evaporative cooler is not typically a good option.

Best quiet portable air conditioner

LG Electronics 6,000 BTU (DOE) 115-Volt Portable Air Conditioner

You save $9.02 (2.76%)

$318.01$327.03

$318.01 at The Home Depot

Pros & Cons

• Whisper-quiet design with just 50 dBA of noise

• Simple digital control panel for easy operation

• Sleek design fits in with any decor

• Water needs to be removed frequently

• Relatively low energy efficiency rating

Air conditioners have lots of mechanical parts including pumps and fans, so they can be pretty loud. If you’re sensitive to noise, you may be looking for a portable air conditioner that’s both quiet and powerful. This portable AC unit from LG is a great option. It has a decibel rating of 51, which means it’s very quiet compared to some other picks on this list.

It puts out 6,000 BTUs of cooling power, which means it’s suitable for rooms that are up to 250 square feet. That means it will work for most smaller living areas. Since it’s quiet, this LG portable air conditioner is ideal for bedrooms, since it’s not likely to interrupt sleep or relaxation. It also has plenty of handy features, like dual fan speeds, a dehumidifier function, and the ability to turn the LED lights off to prevent light pollution while sleeping.

What to look for in a portable air conditioner 

Shopping for any kind of home appliance can be complicated, and portable air conditioners are no different. That said, with a bit of guidance, choosing the right one is easy.

Let’s break down some of the most important concepts you should understand while shopping for the best portable air conditioner for your home.

Cooling power (BTUs)

The cooling power of a portable air conditioner is measured in British Thermal Units, or BTUs. The higher the BTU rating of an AC unit, the more cooling power it has. When in doubt, it’s best to go for the highest BTU rating you can afford. You don’t want to end up with an underpowered air conditioner. For example, a 6,000 BTU air conditioner will be fine for the average 150 square foot bedroom, but for a larger living space like a 700 square foot living room, you’ll want at least 12,000 BTUs for maximum cooling efficiency.

Energy efficiency

Each portable air conditioner also has an EER rating, which is a rating of the unit’s overall energy efficiency. You should look for an EER of 8 or more, and the most energy-efficient units can have an EER of 10 or more. The higher the EER rating, the less you’ll pay in energy costs to cool your space, which is always a good thing!

Noise levels

Since they have fans, pumps, and other mechanical components, portable air conditioners can make quite a bit of noise. Most units have a dBA (Decibel) rating of around 54-56. This is about the noise level of a quiet refrigerator. If you’re very sensitive to sound, though, you can find units with 50 dBA or less. The lower the dBA rating, the quieter the AC unit will be.

Single-hose or dual-hose configuration

Most portable air conditioners have just one hose. They draw in air from the room, cool it, and send the hot exhaust air back outside. However, there are dual-hose units available. These have two hoses. One draws fresh air from outside, and the other exhausts warm air. Dual-hose portable air conditioners tend to be more expensive and bulky, but are typically quieter and more powerful than single-hose units.

Ease of operation

The best portable air conditioners are easy to use. We recommend looking for models with simple temperature controls, as well as the ability to automatically schedule their operation (turning off when you’re at work, for example). If you have a “smart home,” you may also want to look for models that can connect to other devices in your home.

Maintenance requirements

Due to the nature of how air conditioning works, all portable air conditioners will collect water (condensation) as they operate. Some portable AC units have a condensation collection tray that must be manually emptied, while others come with a drain hose that you can set up, which allows you to drain moisture automatically into a bucket or similar container. Also, some units are “self-evaporating,” which means they can eliminate most of this water during normal operation, reducing the need for maintenance.

Our Verdict

If you live in a home or apartment that’s not suitable for a window air con unit, one of the best portable air conditioners from this list is sure to be a great choice for you. All of them are solid options, but if we had to pick an overall favorite, we’d go with the 5,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner from BLACK+DECKER. It’s a good value, quiet, and powerful enough to cool down most small rooms efficiently. It also works with both vertical and horizontal windows.

However, if you’re in a situation where you don’t have a window you can use with a portable air conditioner, the Honeywell 700 CFM Indoor/Outdoor Portable Evaporative Cooler is a good hoseless alternative. Since it’s an evaporative cooler, it’s best for dry climates, and it won’t deliver the same cooling power as a true AC unit. However, it’s still a good option if you need relief from the heat and you can’t install a portable AC unit in your home.

Prices updated on 08/03/2023. We are not responsible for any changes to the prices mentioned above.