These Top-Tested Air Conditioners Will Keep You Cool All Summer Long

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

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

For those of us who don't have central air conditioning, it is important to have a powerful air conditioner to keep you comfortable on those extremely hot summer days. But to avoid over-spending money on not only the initial investment but the electricity usage from running your new AC, you'll want to be sure you're investing in a unit that strikes the balance of quality and performance at the right price.

The engineers and product experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute test window air conditioners yearly, using consistent testing and consumer feedback over a period of a couple months. We've tested hundreds of different HVAC products, from portable air conditioners, evaporative coolers and cooling fans to humidifiers and dehumidifiers. We do both testing in-Lab and at home, so our engineers know exactly what keeps your home nice and cool year-round. When we test window ACs, our largest and most important consideration is that the AC can effectively cool down the space it says it can, so we measure fan speed and cooling capability. We also consider factors like loudness, ease of installation and removal and useful features like app connectivity. Based on our testing, our pros found the very best window air conditioners on the market.

Our top picks:

While looking at our choices below, it is necessary to keep in mind that most window AC's have multiple sizes and BTUs to fit your needs and square footage. Scroll to the bottom of this article for more information on what to keep in mind when shopping for the best air conditioner and answers to some air conditioner FAQs. Once you find the window AC that's right for you, consult our guides on how to clean an air conditioner and using an AC unit when air quality is bad.

Shop the best window air conditioner Prime Day deals on Amazon

8,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner

LG's 8,000 BTU window AC blew away the competition in our evaluations. We found it great for cooling a living room or a bedroom up to 350 square feet (and it's available in larger sizes up to 15,000 BTUs, for up to 850-square feet of cooling power). This unit carries the Energy Star label, which is a government regulated program that helps consumers identify the most energy-efficient products on the market, so you can trust that this pick will save you.

The AC comes with a remote, nice for manipulating everything with just a couple button presses. Our testers found the interface to be clean and intuitive, which is not the case with all units we test, causing frustration when you can't get the setting you want. We think the unit is easy to maintain, too, since it has a removable filter that you can wash at the sink with soap and water," adds Dan DiClerico, Director of Home Improvement & Outdoor with the Institute. The check filter signal is a helpful reminder. The unit comes with everything you need to install, including side panels and insulation.

FFRA0511R1 Window-Mounted Air Conditioner

When you need something cheaper and simple that can still get the job done, this is the window AC for you. To keep costs down, this unit doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles — no WiFi capability, for example, or other smart features. Its controls are completely manual. You can use dials to adjust coldness and functionality (whether just fan or AC). "The dials don't tell you the exact temperature of the room, which is another factor of its bare-bones design," says DiClerico. "But the truth is, you don't really need to know the temperature of the room. You just need to be comfortable within your room." That said, since it is manual, it defaults to the same settings each time it's turned off, and there's no timer.

While this 5,000 BTU unit isn't super powerful, it's perfect for a room around 150 square feet, like a bedroom or office — and it's also available in strength up to 15,100 BTU if you need it for a much larger space. It comes with a washable filter and a mounting brackets, so you can keep your air fresh and your AC in place.

U Inverter Window Air Conditioner

Our pros love Midea's U-shaped window AC. It's an inverter window AC, meaning that not only will it provide you with more energy savings, it'll actually be quieter overall. This is because the inverter allows the window AC to control how much power it utilizes for cooling air, instead of a non-inverter AC that just runs on full power the entire time. While this increases the initial cost, our experts say it will reduce your overall costs in the long run. This smart AC works with Alexa, Google Assistant and a smartphone app.

One important note: the Midea installs differently from traditional window ACs, and it can be a bit tricky to figure out. Instead of the window sash resting on top of the installed unit, this U-shaped window AC has a built-in cavity for the window, enabling you to close the window almost all the way. This is a massive benefit over other window AC's because it reduces the amount of air that might leak through the side panels and insulation that you install. It also reduces the amount of noise you hear coming from the interior of the unit as well, operating at 42 dBA according to the brand. We love that, when installed properly, the unit lets you open the window to allow in fresh air on days when you don't want to run your AC.

Energy Star Window Smart Room Air Conditioner

For a powerful AC with both WiFi and a smart home capability, look no further than this GE. This Energy Star-certified window AC cranks out 8,000 BTU, meaning it can cool a room of up to 350 square feet. Its flat display screen has a modern LED design and since it's smart, you can control it via app or its remote. Though the unit is very intelligent, we loved its simple controls, with three cooling modes and four different fan speeds. It also has a sleep mode, that will quiet the sound down even more to help prevent extra noise.

The GE comes with a traditional install kit (side panels, insulation and screws) and at 35 pounds, it could likely be installed by one person. Several Amazon reviewers wished this unit reached temperatures below 64ºF, something to keep in mind if you like your room extra cold.

Inverter Air Conditioner

This 8,000 BTU unit is both smart and energy efficient, thanks to its inverter. The technology also makes for quiet operation—all the way down to 41 decibels in quiet mode, which our experts say is just a tad louder than a quiet library. The Frigidaire also has many usability features that we look for, including the ability to control it by remote or via the app on your smart phone; that's handy, since a few reviewers noted that the front display is a little frustrating to see at certain times of the day due to the light. The AC can crank out 12,000 BTUs of cooling power, which is ideal for a small bedroom. Based on our engineer's analysis of the installation instructions, the unit should fit most windows.