Best Rated Portable Air Conditioner.
Portable air conditioner units are becoming more popular — perfect for city apartments or older homes without internal heating & cooling systems.
To help you find the right one, I reviewed my favorite portable air conditioners for home or office.
Portable AC units on my list range, $299 to $649.
- Black & Decker Portable AC
- Whynter Portable Air Conditioner
- Honeywell Portable AC Unit, 8000 BTU
- DeLonghi PACAN120EW AC Review
- Honeywell Contempo Air Conditioner
- JHS Portable Air Conditioner
- Shinco SPF2-12C Air Conditioner
- JHS Smart Portable Air Conditioner
- Colzer Portable AC System
- Costway Portable AC Review
Best Rated Portable Air Conditioner Review
#1.) Black and Decker Portable Air Conditioner
The Black and Decker portable air conditioner is the top seller online.
As an affordable AC unit it comes in four sizes w/ the 12,000 BTU is being the most popular.
Power: 12,000 BTU
Rooms: 400 sq. ft.
Price: Medium
Buyers love its powerful, fast cooling that’s perfect for medium or large rooms. It is also designed for consistent cooling for long hours.
Black and Decker portable air conditioners include adjustable temp control. Simply set your desired temp and let the machine do the rest!
Here is a list Black and Decker portable ac units:
| Black+Decker AC | Cooling Power | Room Size | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BPACT08WT | 8000 BTU | 150 sq. ft. | ||
| BPACT10WT | 10,000 BTU | 300 sq. ft. | ||
| BPACT12WT | 12,000 BTU | 400 sq. ft. | ||
| BPACT14WT | 14,000 BTU | 550 sq. ft. |
Buyers also confirm that it is fairly
Also includes:
powerful dehumidifier, auto-evaporation system, easy install
Very affordable portable AC units.
#2.) Whynter ARC-14SH Review
The Whynter 14,000 BTU dual hose portable AC is a top seller.
It is a 3-in-1 ac unit w/ 14000 BTU cooling power.
AC Units: ARC-14S / ARC-14SH
Rooms: 500 sq. ft.
Price: Medium
Designed with a self-evaporation system it is one of most energy efficient portable air conditioners available.
Using a self-evaporation system: AC uses water condensation from the dehumidifier water tank to cool the coils needed to operate. It consumes 20-30% less energy.
Because of this process, the Whynter ARC-14SH will help you save on the electric bill.
Another benefit is its quiet operation — fairly low noise for bedrooms.
Noise level (dBs): < 56 decibels
Also includes a powerful, built-in dehumidifier w/ continuous drainage for basement use.
FYI — the dehumidify function is nice during peak summer months!
Dehumidifier: 100-pint (12.6 gallons)
Fairly expensive, but I think it is the best portable air conditioner for living rooms or large areas.
Lots of happy buyer reviews.
#3.) Honeywell Compact Portable AC Unit
The Honeywell compact is one of the best rated portable air conditioner units for smaller rooms.
Buyers say it is very quick at cooling and is quiet enough for bedrooms — about 10-20% quieter than comparable portable acs.
AC Cooling: 8000 BTU
Room Size: 300-450 sq. ft.
Noise Level : < 53 decibels
It was a top seller last year and is one of the hottest units available in 2020.
Honeywell compact portable ac is offered in two sizes — 8,000 BTU or 10,000 BTU portable ac.
Light sleepers will love the “Sleep Mode” feature — Honeywell compact acs keep lower noise levels while maintaining a constant, cool temperature.
I personally think it is the best portable air conditioner for bedrooms.
If you are a light sleeper, this is the one you want.
Buyers say it takes only 10-15 mins to install
Affordable price w/ good buyer ratings.
#4.) Honeywell Contempo Portable AC
Honeywell Contempo was a top single-hose portable ac in 2018.
This year Honeywell upgraded their Contempo Series to include quieter operating models.
| Honeywell HL Series | Cooling Power | Room Coverage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HL10CESWK | 10,000 BTU | 350 – 450 sq. ft. | ||
| HL12CESWK | 12,000 BTU | 450 – 550 sq. ft. | ||
| HL14CESWK | 14,000 BTU | 550 – 700 sq. ft. |
Buyers love its quiet operation — extremely quiet when you are trying to sleep.
Installation: 10-15 mins (approx.)
Noise Level (dB): 49 – 52 decibels
If you are a light sleeper, the Honeywell Contempo Portable AC is perfect for you!
Read Honeywell Contempo Full Review >>
Honeywell portable air conditioner units come w/ dual motor and self-evaporation (for lower energy usage).
Also the new sleep mode is great for keeping noise 48-52 dB — very quiet operation for bedrooms!
Good reviews, but a little expensive.
#5.) DeLonghi PACAN120EW Review
Delonghi PACAN120EW-3A is one of the best rated portable air conditioner models for large rooms.
Designed with whisper-quiet technology and reduces noise nearly 50% — buyers say it is one of the best portable air conditioners for light sleepers.
Delonghi: PACAN120EW-3A
Power: 14,000 BTU
Rooms: 450 sq. ft.
Remote control includes adjustable temperature (instead of increasing/decreasing power). Buyers say it reaches desired temp quickly and maintains it throughout the day or night..
Also comes w/ specialized air filter which removes mildew, mold, and odors.
As a 14000 BTU portable ac unit, the PACAN120EW-3A includes a dehumidifier w/ “No Drip” function – helps decrease condensation and avoid leaks.
Expensive option, but good buyer reviews.
#6.) JHS Portable Air Conditioner
The JHS portable is one of the best rated portable air conditioner units with smartphone control.
It is available in two sizes:
- A018-12KR/C: 12K BTU (400 sq. ft.)
- A018-14KR/C: 14K BTU (500 sq. ft.)
Buyers love its easy installation and ability to cool large rooms in only 10-15 minutes.
JHS portable AC units include a built-in dehumidifiers and adjustable temp control.
Dehumidifier: 55-65 pints daily
Temp setting: 61°F – 88°F
Read Full JHS Portable AC Review >>
Lots of buyers say the JHS is great as a bedroom AC since it is relatively quiet (54 decibels), especially on lower power levels.
Expensive, but has very good ratings.
#7.) Shinco SPF2-12C Portable Air Conditioner
The new Shinco SPF2-12C Air Conditioner is a newer model, but is trending to be the top seller this year.
Shinco SPF2 air conditioner units are avail in three sizes:
| Shinco Air Conditioner | Power | Room Size | Dehumidifier | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPF2-08C | 8,000 BTU | 200 – 350 sq. ft. | 60 pints daily | |||
| SPF2-10C | 10,000 BTU | 300 – 450 sq. ft. | 75 pints daily | |||
| SPF2-12C | 12,000 BTU | 450 – 550 sq. ft. | 90 pints daily |
As a compact ac unit, it is very high-powered — perfect for cooling large areas up to 550 sq. ft.
Great option for homes with open-layouts or rooms w/ high ceilings.
Power: 12,000 BTU
Rooms: 300 – 550 sq. ft.
As a portable air conditioner, it operates quietly under 52 decibels — using the remote control you can set it for “sleep mode”.
Read our Full Shinco AC Review >>
All have the same features, but different ac motors.
Lots of good reviews from buyers + affordable price.
#8.) JHS Wi-Fi Portable AC Review
The JHS 10,000 BTU is one of the best rated portable air conditioner units with “smart” functionality.
It is a 3-in-1 portable air conditioner that connects to your home WiFi — control it w/ the mobile app!
Power: 10,000 BTU
Rooms: 300 sq. ft.
Using the mobile app you can control:
- ON/OFF (turn off if you forget!)
- Select exact room temp
- Increase/decrease power
- Change mode (fan or dehumidifier)
- Switch to sleep mode
You can also connect it with Amazon Alexa or Google Home for voice controls.
Read Full JHS Air Conditioner Review >>
Buyers love the voice commands and say it is even more convenient than using the mobile app — especially if using as a bedroom portable ac!
The JHS WiFi air conditioner also includes:
no-drip design, water-full notification (for dehumidifier) and auto-evaporation system.
Very affordable w/ very good buyer reviews.
#9.) Colzer Portable Air Conditioner
The Colzer 14,000 BTU is one of the best portable air conditioner units for large rooms.
As a high-end ac unit it offers 4 modes of operation and can quickly cool rooms up to 500 sq. ft.
AC Power: 14000 BTU
Room Size: 350 – 500 sq. ft.
Noise level: < 56 dB (very quiet)
Buyers confirm that it is very fast — they feel a difference immediately and have their desired room temp within 10-mins.
As a 4-in-1 unit it offers:
cooling, dehumidifier, fan + heater (for winter)
The built-in dehumidifier is powerful as well — it can remove up to 160 pints of air moisture daily (up to 20 gallons per day!).
Colzer portable AC is a newer model, but offers a lot of high-powered features others don’t.
Also has lots of positive buyer reviews!
#10.) Costway Portable Air Conditioner
Costway offers multiple 10,000 BTU portable AC units, but this one is the most popular in 2020.
Buyers love its compact size.
You also can not see it in the image, but it has wheels on the bottom making it very portable.
Rooms: 200 – 300 sq. ft.
Noise level: <56 dBs
As a 10,000 BTU portable air conditioner, the Costway can cool rooms up to 300 sq. ft.
Costway AC Unit Full Review >>
Smaller than most, but its compact size does not take up much space — great for bedrooms, city apartments, or home offices.
Medium price w/ solid buyer rating.
Best Rated Portable Air Conditioner – Added:
Notable #1 – LG Portable Air Conditioner
The new LG portable ac units are high-powered and very affordable.
Best part is that it is very low noise.
When you set on sleep mode, the noise will not go above 53 decibels — buyers say it is practically silent compared to their previous model.
LG portable air conditioner is offered in three sizes.
- LP0818WNR: 8000 BTU (200 sq. ft.)
- LP1018WNR: 10000 BTU (300 sq. ft.)
- LP1218WNR: 12000 BTU (400 sq. ft.)
Each LG portable AC includes a smaller dehumidifier and multiple fan speeds.
Read Full LG Portable AC Review >>
As a newer model there are not tons reviews, but so far it has received good ratings from buyers.
Many love its affordable price.
Notable #2 – Costway 10000 BTU Portable AC
Costway 10000 BTU portable air conditioning unit is an upgrade from last year’s model.
It is offered in 8,000 or 10,000 BTU — both units quickly cool rooms of 161 sq. ft.
Temperature: 62°F – 86°F
Using the remote control you can set the room temp, switch to dehumidifier (50 pints per day) or four fan speeds.
Downside is its lower output — good option for smaller rooms or complimentary unit for larger rooms.
Additional features:
washable filters, no-drip design & easy installation kit
Buyers say that it is the best portable air conditioner under $300
Notable #3 – Shinco Portable Air Conditioner
Shinco SPS5-14H is one of the best rated portable air conditioner w/ heater included.
The 14000 BTU portable ac is designed for large rooms, but Shinco offers it in multiple sizes.
It was released just a few months ago and already is getting very good reviews from buyers.
As a portable air conditioner it offers 4-in-1 functionality:
air conditioner, dehumidifier, fan, heater (for winter)
Very powerful dehumidifier, it can remove up to 105 pints of moisture per day (10-12 gallons!)
Read Shinco SPS5-14H Review >>
Shinco offers their SPS5 unit in four sizes:
| Shinco Air Conditioner | Cooling Power | Room Size | Heater | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPS5-08C | 8,000 BTU | 200 sq. ft. | No | |||
| SPS5-10C | 10,000 BTU | 300 sq. ft. | No | |||
| SPS5-12C | 12,000 BTU | 400 sq. ft. | No | |||
| SPS5-14H | 14,000 BTU | 650 sq. ft. | Yes |
More expensive than others, but one of the best in terms of power.
If you have a large room, open layout, or high ceilings, I think the Shinco SPS5-14H is the one for you!
Notable #4 – Quilo Portable Air Conditioner
The Quilo portable AC flies under the radar, but is still a top recommendation.
In terms of price, the Quilo units are middle-of-the road, but have a sleek design and very good buyer ratings.
Quilo QP110WK: 10K BTU (450 sq. ft.)
Quilo QP112WK: 12K BTU (550 sq. ft.)
Quilo QP114WK: 14K BTU (700 sq. ft.)
After reading many buyer reviews, the Quilo 12,000 BTU is a good option for high ceiling or open layouts.
Quilo Portable Air Conditioner Review >>
Remote control lets you set/change the room temps + speed. You can also activate the dehumidifier or fan.
Temp range: 61°F – 89°F
Quilo AC comes 95% preassembled — buyer say it takes only 10-15 mins.
Solid buyer reviews and medium price.
Notable #5 – Frigidaire Portable Air Conditioner
The Frigidaire is one of the best rated portable air conditioner units in terms of size.
It is a compact unit that is shorter and less obtrusive than others on my list — fits nicely in the corner.
One of the most expensive, but comes w/ high-end features + excellent reviews.
Portable AC maintains a consistent temp in an energy efficient way — using the remote control, set your desired temp and Frigidaire automatically adjusts for it.
Here is a list of ac sizes:
| Frigidaire Portable AC | Power | Room Size | Heater | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FFPA0822U1 | 8,000 BTU | 350 sq. ft. | No | |||
| FFPA1022U1 | 10,000 BTU | 450 sq. ft. | No | |||
| FFPA1222U1 | 12,000 BTU | 550 sq. ft. | No | |||
| FFPH1422U1 | 12,000 BTU | 550 sq. ft. | Yes | |||
| FFPA1422U1 | 14,000 BTU | 700 sq. ft. | No | |||
| FFPH1422U1 | 14,000 BTU | 700 sq. ft. | Yes |
Frigidaire portable ac also includes air purifier function — while circulating air, the Frigidaire portable AC uses an antibacterial filter to remove odors, dust + airborne pollutants.
Good reviews, but expensive price tag.