7 Portable Air Conditioners So You Don't Have to Bother With Window Units

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We carefully reviewed this article in May 2023 and continue to stand by our top-rated picks.

When a cooling fan isn't quite cutting your home's needs, it might be time to upgrade to an AC. Although window air conditioners can save floor space while efficiently cooling a room, you can't beat the convenience and mobility of a portable air conditioner. When deciding between window or portable ACs you'll have to figure out whether a window unit is even feasible — some are incompatible with certain window shapes and house designs, or restricted by certain buildings.

The Good Housekeeping Institute has been testing portable air conditioners since 2020, rounding up the best models on the market and putting them to the test. When we test ACs, we take a look at how easy they are to install, the ease of operation, and most importantly, the efficiency of cooling a space. We also frequently update our market research, comparing testing notes of older models to the latest from manufacturers, taking note of changes to key performance indicators and additional features.

What's the best portable air conditioner for most people? Our best overall portable AC is the Whynter Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner. Its added features (like dehumidification and a timer) make it a versatile pick for consumers looking for control during hot and humid months, and upgrading to its heater-included version gives you even more flexibility. For those on a budget, the Honeywell Portable Evaporative Cooler with Fan is an impressive performer and doesn't need to be vented to a window for ultimate portability.

Our top picks:

We picked the models below for their impressive performance across the board, from effective cooling to additional features like built-in dehumidifiers and smart features like remote programming. Read on after our picks for an in-depth look at how we test portable air conditioners as well as a buying guide with all the things to consider when shopping for ACs. If you are looking for more options in the AC department, check out our guide to the best smart air conditioners.

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Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner

This powerful portable AC from Whynter has a dual hose so it can cool down a room faster than other portable units. "Dual hose" means it uses outside air instead of inside air to cool down the internals of the AC, helping it to cool the room quicker and more efficiently. Our engineers were impressed by its year-round versatility; in dehumidifier mode, it removed up to 101 pints of moisture in a 24-hour period, and you can opt to go for the upgraded model that includes a heater, generating heat up to 77°F.

Testers also like the programmable timer that lets you set a schedule for the day, for example programming it to turn on 30 minutes before you'll be home from work. You can monitor the temperature on the digital readout. Even though the exhaust hose must be vented out a window, it extends up to five feet, so you’ll have some flexibility on the placement. The storage bag is a nice added convenience if you do need to stow the unit away throughout the year. We noted this air conditioner cooled slightly slower than other models we tested, so be sure to set it early to ensure your room is cool when you need it.

Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner

This powerful portable AC from Whynter has a dual hose so it can cool down a room faster than other portable units. "Dual hose" means it uses outside air instead of inside air to cool down the internals of the AC, helping it to cool the room quicker and more efficiently. Our engineers were impressed by its year-round versatility; in dehumidifier mode, it removed up to 101 pints of moisture in a 24-hour period, and as a heater, it can generate heat up to 77°F. Testers also like the programmable timer that lets you set a schedule for the day, for example programming it to turn on 30 minutes before you'll be home from work. You can monitor the temperature on the digital readout. Even though the exhaust hose must be vented out a window, it extends up to 5 feet, so you’ll have some flexibility on the placement. The storage bag is a nice added convenience if you do need to stow the unit away throughout the year.

• BTU: 14,000 ASHRAE (9,500 SACC)
• Cooling area: 500 sq. ft.
• Weight: 80 lbs.

5P93C Smart Series Portable Air Conditioner

Precise temperature control sets this portable AC apart from the competition. We tested the brand's more robust 10,000 BTUs SACC unit, which has enough cooling power for nearly any room in the house, so while this smaller one's sound and output may vary slightly, we trust its performance.

When our testers set it to 64º F and returned to measure the temperature, the room had quickly reached 65.6º F. No other portable AC came that close to achieving the proper ambient temperature. The air coming from the TCL also came out faster and reached farther than other tested models, though the tradeoff is some expected noisiness. Our experts also like the WiFi connectivity, allowing you to control the unit via a smartphone app. But if you don't feel like downloading the app, it also comes with a remote.

Portable Evaporative Cooler with Fan

This inexpensive evaporative air cooler is ideal for a small office or bedroom in dryer climates (where humidity stays under 45%). You'll get more of a cool breeze than intense cold air, but it's a solid affordable option for a room that needs a chill. Because it cools the air by the evaporation of water, it doesn't need to be hooked up to a window in order to work, so you have more flexibility in choosing where to place it.

It only weighs 11.2 pounds, making it easy to move around. The included remote is an extra bonus so you can control it without needing to leave your bed. This air cooler pulls less power than any of the other units on the list, meaning you could plug in multiple and still use less energy than a single portable AC.

BPACT08WT Portable Air Conditioner

Look to this unit to cool your bedroom without keeping you up at night. It's quieter than other portable air conditioners and at 53 pounds, it has a lighter weight than most other portable ACs. This quietness and compactness, however, comes at the cost of having a slightly less powerful fan, creating slower air speeds in testing than other models.

This pick has a smaller suggested cooling area, so it's best for an office, apartment or small bedroom. The filter slides out of the back for easy access for cleaning, and the included remote means you won't have to pause working or get out of bed to change the settings.

PAC-UV Portable Air Conditioner

If you need to cool down an extra-large space, like a great room or big studio apartment, this DeLonghi is a great choice, with its chart-topping 700-square-foot cooling capacity. Like all portable ACs, it makes some noise at full power, but the quiet mode setting cuts the clamor in half, making it good for bedrooms. In fact, during our testing, this was determined to also be one of the quieter ACs, even when it wasn't running on quiet mode.

Our pros also like the washable filter screen, which makes the unit a good fit for allergy sufferers. Keep in mind that this model uses slightly more energy than some of our other picks per our energy consumption testing, but we don't mind given the large cooling area.

ARC-12SDH Portable Air Conditioner and Heater

This all-in-one heater, dehumidifier, fan and cooler will get you through the year with its multi-functionality. Whynter claims this unit can cool up to 400 square feet, and it can dehumidify up to 96 pints over 24 hours.

The two-hose operation helps it cool a room faster than single-hose portable ACs, and the front-facing read-out helps you monitor the temperature with ease. You can program it for up to a 24-hour period. Like the other Whynter model we looked at, its ratio of energy consumption to speed of cooling leaves something to be desired, but given its additional functionality we can turn the other cheek.

Smart Portable Air Conditioner

When our engineers tested the brand's 8,000 BTU (DOE) unit, we found it to be relatively quiet for its output and simple to move as needed, though that may vary slightly for this smaller-sized option. With the built-in WiFi, you can start or stop your cooling remotely, helping to optimize a room before you enter. Or you can opt for using an Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant device to control it for ultimate flexibility and ease.

We like that you can set it to cool mode, fan mode or dry mode, so you can create the ideal environment based on what sort of day it is (e.g. hot and humid or rainy and damp). We also found the controls to be clear and easy to use on the machine. It has the capability to produce some of the lowest temperatures out of all the units we tested, though there was considerable set-point deviation at five minutes during our cooling test, so expect it to take some time to equilibrate to your desired temperature.