As it warms up outside, your home will begin to warm up too. Sitting in a hot house all day can make you feel drained of your energy, not to mention sweaty. Thankfully, a capable air conditioner can make your home feel a whole lot more bearable, but not everybody has central air. You could always use a window unit, but they’re bulky and can be challenging to install and remove.
Portable air conditioners give you all the same benefits as a window unit, without the hassle, but which one is best?
Typical portable air conditioners have a hose that runs out of your window. This hose pushes hot air out of the back of the unit and your home. Some portable air conditioners feature dual-hoses that pull fresh air from outside using one hose and expel hot air out the other.
Evaporative coolers do not require a hose, meaning that they aren’t an air conditioner in the technical sense of the word. They still serve to keep your air cool, but rather than removing hot air, they simply circulate air and cool it using water or ice. Evaporative coolers typically don’t provide as much cooling as a standard unit, but they’re far more energy-efficient.
Whynter ARC-14S 14,000 Btu Portable Air Conditioner
This sleek portable air conditioner has an activated carbon filter that cleans your air as it cools it. The unit serves as a dehumidifier and features an easy-to-use digital display. Whynter’s convenient portable AC has a temperature range of 61°F to 89°F and can cool rooms up to 500-square-feet.
Sold by Amazon
BLACK + DECKER BPACT10WT 10,000 Btu Portable Air Conditioner
BLACK + DECKER’s inexpensive portable AC is perfect for cooling small to medium-sized rooms. This unit has a reusable filter that can be washed with water, saving you the trouble of buying replacement filters. Some users feel that this unit is noisy, but for under $400, this is an excellent option if you’d like to save some money.
Honeywell MN14CHCSBB Portable Air Conditioner 14,000 Btu Air Conditioner
This multipurpose unit serves as an air conditioner, dehumidifier and heater for colder months. This machine runs quiet and has a reusable filter for added convenience. At nearly $700, this certainly isn’t the most affordable option. Still, if you feel like you’ll need a heater when winter comes, you may end up saving money in the long run with this unit.
Sold by Wayfair
SereneLife SLACHT108 Portable 4-in-1 Air Conditioner
Much like the Honeywell MN14CHCSBB, this multifunctional device can heat your air as well as cool it. The design is aesthetically pleasing and this model works as both a dehumidifier and fan in addition to its heating and cooling capabilities.
Sold by Amazon
SereneLife SLPAC105W 10,000 Btu Portable Air Conditioner
This compact unit can cool rooms up to 300 square feet. This air conditioner has an automatic swing mode that maximizes airflow with a moving vent. Although this may not be as small as some other units, the convenient wheels make moving it a breeze.
Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Tripp Lite SRCOOL12K 12,000 Portable Air Conditioner
This narrow portable air conditioner is excellent for cooling small offices, closets and other areas where larger units don’t fit. Unlike many other portable air conditioners, this unit has a built-in evaporator that eliminates the need for emptying water.
Sold by Amazon
COMFYHOME 3-in-1 Bladeless Air Conditioner
The COMFYHOME 3-in-1 AC unit uses an evaporative cooling media, with 3 wind speeds. This machine features a convenient twelve-hour timer feature and has a remote for easy use. Its compact size is perfect for placing near a desk or a sofa.
Sold by Amazon
TOSOT 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
This small AC unit can cool rooms up to 300 square feet and runs quietly. This unit functions as a dehumidifier in addition to an AC unit and costs just under $400. The convenient X-Fan mode keeps the fan spinning at a slow, silent speed that helps dry residual water from the unit.
Sold by Amazon
Hessaire 3,100 CFM 3-Speed Portable Evaporative Cooler
This powerful evaporative cooler is capable of cooling rooms up to 950 square feet in size. This unit’s three-panel design allows it to intake more air than the average evaporative cooler, reducing static pressure and increasing air output. Despite the machine’s power, it’s still incredibly energy-efficient compared to a standard portable air conditioner.
Sold by Home Depot
Honeywell 1700 CFM 3-Speed Evaporative Cooler
This convenient hoseless air conditioner can cool rooms up to 610 square feet. This unit is perfect for hot desert climates that lack humidity. Just add ice or water and turn it on to immediately feel cooler and add humidity to the air. The 150-watt Honeywell 1700 is energy efficient compared to other options as well.
Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Hessaire MC18M Portable Evaporative Cooler
This unit’s design may look a little dated, but don’t let that fool you. The Hessaire MC18M does a great job of cooling rooms up to 500 square feet. You can either fill this machine with water manually or use the convenient continuous-fill mode by attaching a household water hose.
Sold by Amazon
NewAir 470 CFM 3-speed Portable Evaporative Cooler
The NewAir 470 has a convenient removable water tank that makes refilling it incredibly easy. This energy-efficient unit can cool rooms up to 250 square feet and comes with a remote control that allows you to adjust the timer and fan settings without getting up from your couch.
Sold by Home Depot, Overstock and Wayfair
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Cody Stewart writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
