The 6 best portable air conditioners to keep you cool and comfortable this summer
With summer officially here, temperatures are starting to rise. If you're looking for solutions to help you stay cool during these warmer months, consider purchasing a portable air conditioner.
A portable air conditioner is a wonderful solution for households of all kinds. One of these units can cool a specific area -- bedroom, home office, dining area or living room -- but you don't have to choose just one. These units are relatively portable (and usually on wheels), so you can move a portable AC unit around your home and use it where and when it's needed.
These devices are easier to set up than traditional window air conditioners. And, most portable air conditioners use an exhaust hose to transfer hot air outside through a window, which makes them a particularly convenient option for renters who can't alter a living space or add central air.
What is the best portable AC unit in 2024?
Our in-house shopping experts have carefully curated the best portable air conditioners for any scenario, including tiny spaces and tiny budgets.
- Best portable air conditioner overall: Midea Duo MAP14HS1TBL (14,000 BTUs)
- Best portable air conditioner for smaller spaces: Black+Decker portable AC (8,000 BTUs)
- Best portable air conditioner on wheels: Rintuf portable air conditioner (12,000 BTUs)
- Best portable air conditioner from Amazon: Amazon Basics portable AC (13,000 BTUs)
- Best smart air conditioner: LG smart Wi-Fi portable air conditioner (10,000 BTUs)
- Best portable air conditioner with dehumidifier: Whynter ARC-14S (14,000 BTUs)
Best portable air conditioner overall: Midea Duo MAP14HS1TBL (14,000 BTUs)
The Midea Duo portable air conditioner is not only relatively quiet -- generating no more than 42dB of sound -- but also mighty, with 14,000 BTUs of cooling power that can cover up to 550 square feet of living space. Control it with a handheld remote, dedicated mobile app or voice commands.
This unit measures 16.73 x 19.53 x 34.48 inches. It uses a dual hose-in-hose design that intakes fresh air and releases exhaust outdoors. The single combo hose allows for balanced air circulation indoors and prevents hot outside air from seeping in through gaps. The unit's design also cools your living space up to two times faster than some competing portable AC models.
As a bonus, the Midea Duo serves as a portable heater, so you can use it in any season.
Best portable air conditioner for smaller spaces: Black+Decker portable AC (8,000 BTUs)
This portable AC unit uses 8,000 BTUs of cooling power to make a room up to 350 square feet far more comfy. The unit serves as an air conditioner, as well as a fan and dehumidifier. It offers simple controls on board, or you can try the included handheld remote, both of which have an LED display.
Because this AC unit is on wheels, it's easy to move from room to room. It measures 15.3 x 14 x 24.8 inches, but take note: It weighs 45.8 pounds, so carrying it upstairs is not as easy as moving it between rooms on the same floor. Two features we particularly like: a slide-out washable filter and a 24-hour timer. It comes with an easy-to-install window kit, too.
In an average-size room, this AC unit can maintain a temperature between 64 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. It generates no more than 52 dB of noise.
Best portable air conditioner on wheels: Rintuf (12,000 BTUs)
This portable air-conditioning unit has built-in wheels and two handles, which makes it easy to maneuver from room to room. It generates 12,000 BTUs of cooling power, which is enough to keep a 530-square-foot space at a comfortable temperature, even on the hottest days, so it's well suited to larger rooms. It maintains a temperature between 61 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
The AC unit offers three speeds and can also serve as a dehumidifier or a fan. It includes a window installation kit with an exhaust hose, adapter, connector and a handheld remote. The unit measures 34.2 x 14.82 x 18.34 inches and creates no more than 44 dB of sound.
It has a 70 pints per day dehumidifying capacity, so it can help to keep your space fresh and dry, even in the muggiest areas. Its onboard controls and handheld remote are easy to operate.
Best portable air conditioner from Amazon: Amazon Basics (10,000 BTUs)
As part of its popular Amazon Basics product line, Amazon makes a portable air conditioner that customers absolutely love. It has earned a solid four-star rating and features onboard wheels and side handles to help move it from room to room.
Hot hair is let out through a window using the unit's expandable outtake hose. It comes with a venting kit with sealing, side panel leaf covers, a bracket and a handheld remote. You also get three speeds, three cooling settings and an automatic timer, which gives it versatile cooling capabilities.
Ideal for an average size room (up to 450 square feet), this Amazon Basics portable AC unit offers 10,000 BTUs of cooling power. It measures 17.9 x 27.6 x 14.4 inches and weighs about 60 pounds.
Best smart air conditioner: LG smart WiFi portable air conditioner (10,000 BTUs)
We're huge fans of LG's latest product offerings -- from its Evo G4 and Evo C4 OLED TVs to the LG WashCombo appliance (which is a washer and dryer in one unit) and the CineBeam Q portable projector. But even if you're not invested in the LG ecosystem, you can still take advantage of this smart portable air conditioner.
With a rating of 10,000 BTU, the LG dual inverter smart Wi-Fi portable air conditioner can effectively cool areas up to 500 square feet. It features the brand's ThinQ technology which allows you to control it remotely for comfort even when you're not at home.
It makes minimal noise during use and its space-saving design makes it perfect for smaller rooms. The unit's 3-in-1 operation lets you choose from cool mode for cooling and dehumidifying, fan mode to circulate air or dry mode for damp rainy days.
This energy-efficient air conditioner can provide you with up to 40% energy savings, according to the brand.
Best portable air conditioner with dehumidifier: Whynter ARC-14S (14,000 BTUs)
In addition to offering 14,000 BTUs of cooling power -- that's on the high end for what portable air conditioners typically offer -- this unit serves as a fan and dehumidifier. It's designed to work in a space of up to 500 square feet and uses an activated carbon filter to remove odors. The Whynter ARC-14S air conditioner makes less than 56 dB of noise.
With this model, you get dual hose operation and a patented auto-drain function that fully exhausts all condensed water in most environments. It soaks up to 71 pints of moisture out of the air per day. With the fan, you get three user-selectable speeds.
The unit measures 19 x 16 x 35.5 inches. The activated carbon air filter needs periodic replacement, but the pre-filter can be washed and reused. This portable AC unit, like most, has onboard controls and an included handheld remote.
For reviews, roundups and more, be sure to read our continuously updated tech and home, kitchen and outdoor coverage. Meanwhile, if you're looking to give your entire patio a makeover for summer, you'll definitely want to see our favorite 10 ways to upgrade your patio with picks from Amazon, Walmart, West Elm and more.
