Best portable air conditioners – our top picks for cooling, heating, and humidity control

Contrary to popular belief, the best portable air conditioners do more than just keep you cool in the summer – many are also designed to bring comfort all-year round, for use well into the winter months. Portable ACs have become increasingly popular in recent years because they're easy to set up and manoeuvre, making them a great choice for anyone who wants an efficient way to maintain a comfortable home environment.

In an ideal world, our homes would naturally stay cool in summer and warm in winter; but for most of us, that's not always the case. When temperatures get too hot or too cold, enlisting the help of one of the best portable conditioners can do wonders for keeping your home at the perfect balance without the high costs and fuss of installing a permanent unit.

Unlike the best fans, which simply circulate air to create a breeze to cool a person, portable air conditioners actively lower a room's temperature by using a refrigerant and compressor. However, portable ACs are a bit more of an investment as a result, so it's important to take your time to find the right one for your needs. Therefore, to help inform your decision, the Ideal Home team have tested models from top brands to find the best ones among the bunch – looking at how well they cool, how easy they are to use, how loud they are, and what kind of value they offer.

One model that immediately stood out to us was the MeacoCool MC Series, which combines reliable cooling power, simple controls, and fantastic value (but more on that below). Furthermore, you'll find our top options for every home, alongside plenty of helpful tips to ensure you make the right choice.

The quick list

Short on time? This quick list is an overview of the very best portable air conditioners available, according to our experts. You'll find more information on each air conditioning unit and why our testers recommend it if you keep on scrolling.

Best portable air conditioner 2024

Best portable air conditioner overall

Relatively affordable, lightweight, compact, energy-efficient and easy to use, there's a lot to love about the MeacoCool MS Series portable air conditioners. This is why we think they're the best portable air conditioner to invest in if you're looking for an affordable all-rounder. We tested the smallest model, the 7000BTU version, which is recommended for rooms between 12-22m². For larger spaces, Meaco offers a wide range of options from 8000 to 14000BTU, ensuring there's a suitable model for various sizes and scenarios.

The 7000BTU air conditioner's 20.5kg weight, whilst not insignificant, makes it far lighter than the 30kg average and means this unit is much easier to move around the home than most. It also boasts a low power consumption of just 780W, resulting in lower running costs overall. During testing, it effectively reduced the room temperature by 2°C in just 10 minutes. While it produces 51-53dB of noise depending on the cooling setting, our testers found this acceptable given its efficient cooling capabilities.

The unit also comes with a remote control and includes two window kits, as well as a timer function and a 'night' mode for slightly quieter operation while you sleep. It also offers 3-in-1 functionality as an air conditioner, fan, and dehumidifier, for added versatility. Overall, the MeacoCool MC Series 7000BTU Portable Air Conditioner is a solid option that delivers excellent performance at an attractive price point.

Read our full MeacoCool MC Series 7000BTU Portable Air Conditioner review for more details.

Best powerful portable air conditioner

The AEG Comfort 6000 Portable Air Conditioner is a powerful and stylish unit that quickly cools spaces up to 18m². It's easy to use, relatively quiet , and even offers Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to control it from the comfort of your phone. With a cooling capacity of 900BTU, the AEG Comfort 6000 can move big amounts of cold air with no issues at all and even offers a 12000BTU model for larger areas of up to 36m². Yes, it comes with slightly higher running costs than others on the list; namely, the MeacoCool MC Series which operates at 780W for 7000BTU, it makes up for it with its impressive cooling speed and power, effectively cooling a room in just minutes – meaning it doesn't need to run for as long to achieve those optimal temperatures.

As far as noise levels go, the AEG Comfort 6000 is notably quieter than most portable air conditioners, maxing out at 64dB. While other units can sound like a tractor engine rattle, our reviewer noted that it instead sounded like the 'white noise' of gushing cold air. This made it tolerable and even suitable for use in the bedroom overnight, which is a huge plus if you want a portable AC to achieve a comfortable night's sleep in the stifling heat.

Unfortunately, this unit doesn't include a remote control or window kit, which some models offer as standard. It's also one of the heavier units we've tested, coming in at 31.5kg, making it a bit challenging to move freely from room to room. However, with a sleek design and strong cooling power, the AEG Comfort 6000 continues to stand out as a top choice nonetheless for those who want fast, effective cooling and quieter operation compared to what's currently on the market.

Read our full AEG Comfort 6000 Portable Air Conditioner review for more details.

Best portable air conditioner and dehumidifier

Traditionally, the UK has long been associated with wet, dreary weather for the majority of the year, making the best dehumidifiers a more fitting investment for all-year-round use in a British home. However, with week-long heatwaves and general warm temperatures becoming more commonplace, having an appliance to tackle both concerns is the ideal solution. Enter, the Russell Hobbs 2-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner and Dehumidifier.

Although it doesn't exactly bypass the issue of space and heaviness (coming in at 29kg), its design is undeniably one of the more compact and slimline among the models we've tried. Equipped with a window sealing kit for easy installation and handles and castor wheels for added portability, this appliance is sure to become your best friend during those long stints of hot weather. Better yet, because of its dehumidifier function, having both of these functionalities working in tandem with one another can help you achieve the best possible indoor air quality – especially when you consider how humid British summertime can get.

During testing, our reviewer particularly liked the LED screen on the front and the way the top opening automatically shuts when the appliance isn't in use. However, it's worth noting that because of its slightly more compact size, it likely won't effectively cool down spaces above 16m². Not to mention, the temperature at its coolest is only 18°C. But, this should still be enough of a difference to experience significant relief during unbearable soaring temperatures. That said, it's one of the best we've tested from the brand and a worthy investment.

Read our full Russell Hobbs 2-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner and Dehumidifier review for more details.

Best multifunctional portable air conditioner

The Russell Hobbs RHPAC11001 stands out with its 4-in-1 functionality, allowing it to serve as an air conditioner, fan, dehumidifier, and heater. This versatility could potentially offer better value for your money, as it can keep your space cool in summer and warm in winter, making it a practical year-round solution that just keeps on giving.

Equipped with a powerful 11000BTU cooling capacity, it can effectively cool spaces of 13-21m² while consuming just 1230W of energy, resulting in lower running costs when compared to the 3400W consumed by the AEG Comfort 6000. In our tests, the Russell Hobbs RHPAC11001 cooled a 4.5m² room by 2°C in just 10 minutes, and despite a manufacturer-stated noise level of 65dB, our reviewer found it quieter than the MeacoCool MC Series. This makes it most comparable to the AEG Comfort 6000 on this front.

While it's heavier than some alternatives, making it less portable, the Russell Hobbs RHPAC11001 boasts good build quality, easy-to-use controls, and an unobtrusive design that can be desirable for many. It just falls short of the MeacoCool MC Series because of its heavier weight and more affordable price tag, and to the AEG Comfort 6000 in terms of cooling power. However, if those models are out of stock, this unit remains a strong investment for effective cooling and year-round versatility.

Read our full Russell Hobbs RHPAC11001 Portable Air Conditioner review for more details.

Best stylish portable air conditioner

The Duux North 9K Smart Air Conditioner is a stylish portable unit that offers 3-in-1 functionality, including cooling, heating, and dehumidifying, alongside Wi-Fi connectivity and a remote control for ease. Its sleek, modern design sets it apart from traditional bulky, white air conditioners, making it visually appealing and less obtrusive in a room. However, its aesthetics are really its biggest talking points, as the Duux North 9K Smart fell short of our expectations given its higher price point.

Performance-wise, it felt a little underpowered compared to the AEG Comfort 6000, and, although its 1000W energy consumption is a lot less than the 3400W AEG comfort – making for cheaper running costs – it couldn't beat the best-in-class 780W MeacoCool MC Series on that front either.

Unfortunately, the noise levels emitted by the Duux North 9K is comparable to most portable air conditioners, coming up as a disappointment for those who were perhaps hoping for a quieter operation similar to the brand's Whisper Flex Ultimate Fan. If you're looking for a silent solution to keep a bedroom cool, we'd be more inclined to recommend the fan, even if it doesn't actively lower room temperatures like the North 9K Smart. Overall, if you're after effective cooling and a stylish design, this unit could be worth considering; but it's hard to overlook its shortcomings, especially at its premium price.

Read our full Duux North 9K Smart Air Conditioner review for more details.

Best affordable portable air conditioner

There's no denying portable air con units are expensive, so if affordability is key then this Pro Breeze 9000 BTU 4-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner is certainly a winner on price. While we haven't had a chance to test this model ourselves, our previous experiences with Pro Breeze products have suggested they perform adequately at entry-level price points. Not to mention, third-party reviews say that while this model is basic and somewhat noisy, it still effectively lowers room temperatures to more comfortable levels.

Weighing in at 24kg, this Pro Breeze model is relatively lightweight compared to most of the portable air conditioners in our round-up, averaging 30kg and more. It also shares the efficient 780W energy consumption of the MeacoCool MC Series, although it's possible that it may lack the power of higher-end models like the AEG Comfort 6000 and the Russell Hobbs RHPAC11001.

While it probably won't win prizes in the style stakes, this Pro Breeze model offers several handy features for its price, including a remote control, timer, 'night' settings, and Wi-Fi connectivity. However, some reviewers mention its Smart features leave a little to be desired. Overall, at its current price point, the Pro Breeze 9000 BTU 4-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner stands out as one of the most affordable options from a recognised brand, which makes it a pretty compelling choice if you're pressed for funds.

Bestselling portable air conditioner

Although we haven't reviewed the Black + Decker BXAC40008GB Portable 3-in-1 Air Conditioner ourselves, we've still decided to include it in this round-up because of its consistent popularity as a bestseller on Amazon, boasting over 780 reviews with an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars. This model offers a 12000BTU cooling capacity, making it ideal for efficiently cooling large spaces of up to 51m² and is the brand's bestseller. However, the unit is available in a range of options, from 5000BTU to 16000BTU.

Like most portable air con units of this power, it isn't light, weighing in at 27kgs, and its most common negative gripe from users is – as with most air con units – its noise. On its lowest, night-time setting, the manufacturer advises it produces 53dB of noise, but the lack of decibel ratings for higher speeds suggests that it could be significantly louder at those settings. However, its big talking points include a timer function, remote control, and a window kit for easy setup.

Another standout benefit of the Black + Decker Portable Air Conditioner is its availability. Amid a shortage of air conditioners that happens around the summer months, this unit can often be found in stock at various retailers. This combination of reliable cooling power and accessibility makes it a potential strong contender in this list, even if we've never tested it ourselves.

In-stock portable air conditioners

During the winter months, finding portable air conditioners in stock is relatively easy. However, with higher-than-usual temperatures now becoming commonplace in the summer, we're suspecting units to sell out fast when the warmer months hit again.

If you've arrived at an unfortunate time and our top recommendations below aren't available, here are the best places to look for alternative options.

Airconcentre: all things air quality and cooling
Amazon: a wide selection of brands and models
Appliances Direct: options from 7000 to 23000BTU
Argos: a range of options from affordable to investment
B&Q: a good selection of in-stock options
Currys: a wide range of brand names
Robert Dyas: affordable portable air conditioners

How to choose a portable air conditioner

The best portable air conditioners don't come cheap, so this is an investment purchase where it pays to have a little know-how under your belt before you shop.

Therefore, we've rounded up the key features to look out for when sourcing the best portable air conditioner for your home.

BTU (British Thermal Units)

The first thing you'll want to consider when choosing the best portable air conditioner for your home is BTU.

BTU stands for British Thermal Unit and describes how many units of heat an air conditioning unit can suck out of the air per hour to cool down an indoor space.

Portable air conditioners tend to start from 5000 BTU and can go up to a substantial 23000 BTU. The higher the BTU the larger the space that the air con unit will be able to cool and the quicker it will do so.

However, a higher BTU also means a higher price tag, and likely higher running costs, so it's a balancing act of investing as much as you can for better performance against how much you're willing to pay upfront for a unit.

Room size

As mentioned, BTU is also linked to the size of space that an air conditioner can keep cool. Most manufacturers will give a recommended room size in the air-con unit's specifications, generally somewhere from 8m2 to 100m2+, so make sure to check that the unit you buy is powerful enough to cope with your indoor space.

It's generally recommended to close doors and windows in the room that you're trying to keep cool, so if you only want to keep a small bedroom cool then you can opt for a cheaper lower BTU unit, however an open plan space will require a much more powerful appliance with a larger BTU.

As such, it's also worth being aware of the worst places to put an air conditioner so you can ensure your unit is operating in the best possible way per its location.

Portability

You're likely opting for a portable air con unit because you would like it to be – well, portable! However, in reality, even the best portable air conditioners are both bulky and heavy, weighing from 20kgs for a smaller 'lightweight' air conditioner to 30kgs+ for more powerful units.

Check that your preferred unit comes with built-in wheels to help you manoeuvre it within the home, but bear in mind that if you want to carry a unit up and down the stairs then you're probably going to need two people to do that safely.

If you know you'll struggle with a cooling device of that weight, an air cooler could be a lighter option, although it won't deliver the same cold air that an air conditioner can. You can read up on the pros and cons of the two cooling devices in our detailed air conditioner vs air cooler explainer.

Noise levels

The biggest bug-bear with portable air conditioners – and the most common gripe found in online reviews across the board – is their noise levels.

A portable air con unit uses both a fan and a compressor to cool the air, and that's a noisy process, meaning you're likely to have to turn the TV up quite a few notches if you have one running in a living space. And, if you're a light sleeper, then you may struggle to sleep whilst the air con unit is running.

We found the the best bet is to run the air con unit in a bedroom for a few hours before you want to go to sleep, and then turn it off once you turn in for the night.

If you're sensitive to noise then make sure to check the manufacturer stated decibel level (measured in dB) before you buy. Most will be around the 50dB mark, with some models offering quieter functionality of 40dB and others clocking in around 60dB.

However, in our testing process, we found that there is noise and then there is noise. We tested several portable air conditoners where the noise they emitted resembled the sound of a train engine chugging – a noisy, mechanical whirring noise that chopped and changed and soon drove us to distraction, making us want to switch off the unit off as soon as we possibly could. Some of these were units with lower decibel ratings.

On the flipside, there were others, like the AEG Comfort 6000 Portable Air Conditioner, where despite the higher decibel rating the noise created was more like a steady stream of gushing air exiting the appliance. Because the noise is steady and never changing, it was more like having white noise playing in the background whilst you work or sleep. So once you got accustomed to it, it was actually pretty easy to ignore. Largely, that means reading the reviews to see how other users have found the experience of having the air con unit you're considering in their own home.

Other functionality

Very often an air con unit will come with additional functionality, usually a fan setting and dehumidifier function. More expensive portable air conditioners sometimes also feature a heater function that means you're more likely to be able to get year-round use out of your investment.

You might also want to consider whether you want your portable air conditioner to come with a timer, remote control, or WiFi connectivity.

A remote control is always a handy feature to have, especially if you're using the unit in the bedroom and don't want to have to get out of bed to adjust settings or turn the unit off.

Similarly, investing in a unit with a timer function gives you the ability to programme the unit to turn off a few hours after you've got into bed, or to turn on during the hottest part of the day to keep the house cool for pets, or reduce the temperature before you get home from work. A unit with Smart functionality can also offer the means to control the unit when you're away from home.

Window kit

In order for an air con unit to really do its job it needs to be operated within a sealed room and vented out of an open window via an exhaust hose to dispel the heat. For this reason, the best portable air conditioners come with window sealing kits, but not all do, so it's worth checking that one is included before you buy.

A window kit can be a bit of a faff to install the first time – especially as very few windows are a uniform size so a generic kit can sometimes fall short – but once installed you can leave it in place for subsequent use.

How we test portable air conditioners

You'll find full details of the Ideal Home review process on our how we test page.

Our team of reviewers tested a host of bestselling portable air conditioners within their own homes to compile this guide. We compared assembly and set-up, design, ease of use, cooling performance, energy use, noise levels, portability, and price point to find the best portable air conditioners for various needs and budgets.

FAQs

If there are any products that we haven't managed to test in person, or the product didn't achieve over 4 out of 5 stars, then they won't have an Ideal Home Approved badge.

However, you can rest assured we've done thorough research on their technical specifications and read multiple happy – and not-so-happy – customer reviews to narrow down our suggestions to only the best-in-class.