The best portable air conditioner in 2025, tried and tested

CNN

7 days ago

The best portable air conditioner I tested
Best portable air conditioner: Black+Decker 14,000-BTU Smart Portable Air Conditioner BPACT14WT The best portable air conditioner might just help you survive the coming summer months, especially if you have an antiquated unit and no way of installing a newer wall or window air conditioner. With some predictions of above-average temperatures from now until August 2025, a cooling fan may not cut it, meaning we'll need all the cooling products we can get.
Portable air conditioners are generally considered less effective and less efficient than traditional AC units. However, they do still have some value to the right user. According to Jonathan Berkson, owner of SuperCoolNYC, a portable AC is 'best when you don't have a window that a regular window AC can be installed in. Like a basement or a crank-open window.' It's also a great supplement to your existing setup and can be moved easily around the home to cool down the space that needs it most.
So, if your living conditions don't allow a proper air-conditioning unit, it doesn't mean you're stuck sweating it out all summer. I tested seven highly rated portable air conditioners currently on the market to find one that'll keep you comfortable, whether you're an apartment dweller, a nomad who constantly moves from city to city or someone with a struggling HVAC system.
Black+Decker 14,000-BTU Smart Portable Air Conditioner BPACT14WT
This midrange investment blew me away with its easy setup, excellent cooling performance and smart features. It's the best value in a portable air conditioner you'll find anywhere. I'm a little disappointed the Black+Decker BPACT14WT isn't as readily available for purchase at top online retailers as its rivals (or even other Black+Decker portable air conditioners), as it truly was a standout during my testing. And that's against the likes of Frigidaire and Dreo, whose cooling solutions are known for their reliability and affordable prices.
That isn't to say that this Black+Decker unit blew the others out of the water on all testing criteria, but for a midrange option that costs less than the Dreo Smart Air Conditioner AC516S or the Frigidaire FHPC142AA1, it outmatched them all in cooling performance.
During my tests, the Black+Decker BPACT14WT consistently excelled in cooling both small and medium-sized rooms. When starting at 79 degrees Fahrenheit, the unit cooled each room by 7 and 5 degrees, respectively, in just 30 minutes. Only the pricier Dreo AC516S managed to deliver a similar performance. And while its dehumidifying function sadly doesn't allow you to set a target humidity level, it did have almost the same performance, which makes this an ideal option for those living in cities more humid than Los Angeles, where I live.
I was especially appreciative of how this unit helped me manage my insomnia, which is triggered by hot nighttime temperatures. With this in use, I was able to avoid looking like a zombie in the daytime. It also has a 14,000-BTU rating, meaning it can cool rooms bigger than mine, up to 700 square feet.
There's more to love here as well. While setup was a breeze, there are other things I appreciated more, such as the fact that its exhaust tube or hose is easy to affix to the window panels and that those panels, which are very inclusive of window sizes, are more stable together. My biggest pet peeve about portable air conditioners is that the window panels they come with never seem to truly stick together, no matter how tightly you secure them, and this makes setup and cleaning incredibly annoying.
I wish I could tell you that the Black+Decker BPACT14WT is the most efficient option out there. Unfortunately, with an Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) of about 10.2, it's two points short of what's considered ideal. However, its auto function does help minimize unnecessary energy consumption, especially at night when you're sleeping.
Meanwhile, its smart home function — another surprising detail considering its affordable price — means you can control it from your phone or with your voice via Alexa or Google Assistant. The app is easy to set up and use, but it is not as sleek as Dreo's app. That doesn't affect the functionality, however.
It also isn't the quietest, emitting an average of 55 decibels during my test, or the easiest to wheel from one room to another. But those are hardly deal breakers when you're getting excellent cooling performance at an affordable price.
All things considered, this is the best value portable air conditioner you can buy right now. I just wish more online retailers besides Amazon carried it. Heck, even Black+Decker's online store isn't selling it.
Testing portable air conditioners has its challenges. While installing a window air conditioner is undoubtedly more laborious, portable air conditioners still require some work. You can't just roll them in a room, stick their exhaust hose or tube out the window and expect great results.
My testing of these portable air conditioners, therefore, was a bit more meticulous than others I've done before, though not as meticulous and long-term as the testing I did for the best hydroponic gardens.
I tested each portable AC for a week, going through the process of unboxing it, installing its parts according to the manufacturer's specifications, using it day and night in temperatures of 79 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, and cleaning and draining it. During testing, I evaluated each unit based on the following criteria.
Performance
Cooling performance: The most important thing about a portable air conditioner is its ability to cool a room on a hot day or a warm night. Getting fairly accurate results proved tricky since the weather in Los Angeles was inconsistent during testing. However, it was vital to see how each model performed against high temperatures, so I made sure to wait for days that were 79 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer to test and install each unit. To gauge each portable AC's cooling performance, I tested it in a small room and a medium-sized room, placing at least two room thermometers in different parts of each room.
Energy efficiency: According to the US Department of Energy, 'efficiency of a room air conditioner is measured by the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER), which is the ratio of the cooling capacity (in BTU per hour) to the power input (in watts). The higher the EER, the more efficient the air conditioner.' So, I tested the wattage of each unit and calculated its EER rating to determine if it's more or less energy efficient.
Noise level: Portable ACs tend to be louder than traditional AC units; however, some portable ACs do attempt to keep their noise level down. To know which models are better at it, I used my Decibel meter app to measure the noise while each portable AC is running at its highest mode. This criterion didn't make as big an impact on my results, since cooling is still the priority, but it's good to know what you're getting before you commit.
Design
Ease of setup and installation: Portable ACs are easier to set up than traditional wall or window ACs because, well, there's no heavy lifting. This type of air conditioner is designed to be rolled into position. For a portable air conditioner to work, though — not to mention to cool a room efficiently — its exhaust tube needs an outlet (i.e., a window) and its window panel kit needs to be installed properly. Most units have a very similar exhaust tube and window panel setup; however, some do make it easier on users than others, whether that's due to a more seamless design or just better materials. To test which ones are easiest to install, I went through each unit's installation according to the instructions in its manual.
Ease of use: I judged each unit's ease of use based on how easy and convenient it is to operate daily, as well as how many customization settings it offers.
Portability: I judged each unit's portability based on two things: its wheels' maneuverability and the footprint or area it occupies. One of the biggest downsides to portable air conditioners is that they take up precious space in the room because you can't mount them. The good news is that some are more compact and easier to move from room to room than others.
Build quality: Though it takes long-term testing to truly gauge a portable air conditioner's build quality (and I plan on doing so throughout the summer), I wanted to share my initial thoughts on the matter by examining each unit's design and materials to see whether or not it feels robust and of good quality.
Extra features: Most portable air conditioners are nothing fancy, but things like app support, Alexa- and Google Assistant-compatibility, and availability of setting customizations add to their value, so I made sure to check those extra features out as well.
Overall value
Price: Considering all the criteria above, I compared each portable air conditioner's test results against its price tag, and that of its rivals, to make sure it's a good investment for you.
Choosing a portable air conditioner is, in some ways, harder than choosing a window unit. Not only do you have to consider your window size and compatibility but you also have to think about the available space next to that window and balance that with the size of the room (and therefore, a portable AC's BTU). In addition, when buying a portable air conditioner, Berkson recommends that you 'choose one that automatically expels condensation via evaporation or a pump.'
Check your window size and the window panel kit compatibility
Before tapping 'buy,' ensure the window panel kit included is compatible with the window you want to install it in. Most portable air conditioners come with window panel kits that are versatile enough to be largely compatible with most windows. However, if you plan to install it in a wider-than-average window, you may not have enough panels to cover the entire opening and ensure cooling efficiency. Additionally, some window panels are only designed to be installed horizontally, which will pose a challenge if you need to install them vertically.
There's more. Most portable air conditioners do not come with an exhaust pipe long enough to reach higher windows or to allow you to place the unit farther from a window, which you shouldn't do anyway. According to Berkson, you want to 'keep the tube run as short as possible.' So, if that's what you're dealing with, you have to find either a different window to use or an alternative cooling solution.
Know your room size
The higher a portable air conditioner's British Thermal Units (BTU) rating, the bigger the room it can handle — that's the idea, anyway, since other factors affect cooling performance. A model's Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) and EER ratings, both of which you can calculate yourself, also matter when it comes to air-conditioning efficiency. However, the BTU rating is a good gauge of whether a unit can handle the room you want to put it in.
The rule of thumb is 20 BTUs for every square foot of space. Therefore, an 8,000-BTU portable air conditioner should be able to handle a 400-square-foot room, while a 14,000-BTU one can cover 700 square feet of space.
What do you need it for?
While Berkson noted that 'window AC units cool much better than portable ACs and are more efficient,' sometimes a window unit just isn't an option. In those cases, a portable AC might be your best bet. Knowing why you need a portable air conditioner as a cooling solution is crucial because it helps you decide which model to get or if it's even the best option for you. For example, if you only need a portable AC as a supplement to your existing (and still working) air-conditioning system, or if the room you're trying to cool down doesn't get very hot, you might not need something super powerful. On the other hand, if you hope to use it as your main cooling solution, especially in a room that gets a lot of direct sunlight and little airflow, you'll want to use something more effective at cooling.
Available space matters as well. 'Portable AC [units] take up valuable floor space if you have a small apartment,' Berkson said. So, if you have a tiny city apartment, you may have to settle for something with a smaller footprint, which could — though doesn't always — mean lower cooling performance.
Dreo 14,000-BTU Smart Air Conditioner AC516S
While its cooling performance is on par, and at times better, than my top pick, this Dreo portable AC is slightly less efficient and takes up more space. It's no secret that Dreo is one of my favorite appliance brands. I'm a massive fan of its air fryer and several of its space heaters are among the best you can buy. So, I had high hopes for the Dreo 14,000-BTU Smart Air Conditioner AC516S, especially considering its beautiful modern design, high-quality build and responsive smart home features coupled with its comprehensive yet user-friendly app.
Unsurprisingly, this portable air conditioner is no slouch when it comes to cooling performance. It consistently held its own against the Black+Decker BPACT14WT, dropping a medium-sized room's temperature 4 degrees Fahrenheit in just 30 minutes and a small room's temperature 10 degrees in an hour. The one thing it does better than the Black+Decker (other than its lower noise level) is dehumidifying, not just because it lets you set the target humidity level but also because it managed to drop that level six points in 30 minutes during testing.
Sadly, that isn't enough for it to snag the top spot. As good as it is, the Dreo 14,000-BTU Smart Air Conditioner AC516S takes up more space; its window panels frustratingly do not stay together, which makes setup and cleaning infuriating; and worse, its EER rating is slightly lower, so it's less efficient. Combine those concerns with its higher price tag, and you'll understand why the Dreo AC516S didn't beat out the Black+Decker BPACT14WT.
Dreo Smart Air Conditioner AC319S
A compact option for smaller spaces, this sleek AC unit feels robust and is easy to transfer from room to room. Sadly, it's not that effective in cooling more than a small room. Those seeking a cooling solution for a small room may not require a portable AC as powerful as the Black+Decker BPACT14WT. Luckily, there's the Dreo Smart Air Conditioner AC319S. It's not just the ever so slightly more compact form that makes it great for small spaces. With a BTU of 10,000, it's ideal for them too, which it proved during testing.
While this portable air conditioner barely made a difference in my medium-sized living room during testing, it managed to drop the temperature in my small bedroom by 6 degrees, more than enough to keep me cool when I'm taking an afternoon nap and to keep the heat-induced insomnia at bay on boiling nights. Its dehumidifying function, however, is impressive in both small and medium-sized spaces, which makes it ideal for cities with higher humidity levels. During my tests, it managed to drop one to three points below my target humidity level of 40% from 50%.
That cooling performance, coupled with its smooth wheels, lightweight design, excellent app support and smart home features, not to mention effortless setup, makes it a fantastic choice for small spaces, even though it is expensive for what it offers. My only gripe here is that it uses the same annoying window panel kit as the Dreo Smart Air Conditioner AC516S.
Frigidaire 14,000-BTU Portable Air Conditioner FHPC142AA1
This portable air conditioner from Frigidaire has good humidifying performance … and that's about it. Disappointingly, there are better — and smaller — portable air conditioners than this one, especially at this price. I don't think I've ever been more befuddled by an appliance. Usually, pricier appliances offer better performance, a higher-quality build or a superior feature set. Unfortunately, the Frigidaire FHPC142AA1 doesn't have any of those things.
I can forgive the gargantuan footprint, which is somewhat understandable with its 14,000 BTU; however, the fact that it barely made a dent in the temperature in a medium-sized room is inexcusable, even if it is slightly more energy efficient than the Black+Decker BPACT14WT. This Frigidaire model bottomed at 76 degrees Fahrenheit from 79 degrees Fahrenheit, even after an hour.
That's not all. Setting up this portable air conditioner wasn't a walk in the park, thanks to poorly designed and somewhat shoddy window panels as well as an exhaust hose that proved incredibly hard to secure to the window panel kit. Meanwhile, its massive size and heavy weight take a toll on its wheels, making it annoying to roll from one spot to another. And while its touch buttons are responsive, there's no remote control in the box. I'm sure I'm not the only person who doesn't want to deal with the inconvenience of having to get up (or worse, out of bed at night) just to turn on or off my AC, especially if that AC unit set me back more than $500.
Frigidaire 14,000-BTU 3-in-1 Heat/Cool Portable ACFHPH142AC1
Though this portable AC is as affordable as the winner, it takes up too much space for the level of cooling performance it delivers. It's not that versatile either. For the amount of space it takes up, the Frigidaire FHPH142AC1's performance feels anti-climactic. It's one of the larger models in my testing pool, yet it's among the biggest underperformers, despite its 14,000 BTU.
Don't get me wrong: It feels robust, is easy to set up and boasts very responsive buttons and smooth-rolling wheels. However, that's about it. It struggled to handle cooling a medium-sized room, bottoming at a warm 77 degrees Fahrenheit from 81 degrees Fahrenheit in both cooling and dehumidifying modes. Now, one can argue that it's hard to expect much from a sub-$500 option, but the fact that my top pick (and the best performer in the lot) sits at the same price point quickly invalidates that point.
What's more, its window panels are difficult to secure tightly and are only compatible with small windows, while its display and light indicators are not as bright, making them hard to see. It's too bad because, despite its enormous size, it looks good.
TCL 5,000-BTU Smart Portable Air Conditioner H5P44W
This extremely compact portable air conditioner is the most affordable of the bunch, and it delivers good cooling performance, but only if you sit in front of it to the right. I wish I could say that this TCL portable air conditioner is an excellent choice for budget buyers, but I can't. Its sub-$400 price makes it a much more attractive proposition than the Black+Decker BPACT14WT, yes. And its compact size — with a footprint of only 11 by 11 square feet — is also a plus, even if you have plenty of room in your home for a larger portable AC. Sadly, that's where the positives stop.
Try as I might to like the TCL Smart Portable Air Conditioner H5P44W, its subpar performance, coupled with its loud noise level, is undeniable. Don't get me wrong; plant yourself to the front-right of it and you'll stay cool, even when it's 79 degrees Fahrenheit in the room and the unit is just on fan mode. However, beyond that, the room still feels oppressive, dropping a medium-sized room's temperature by only about 3 degrees, whether it's on cooling or dehumidifying mode.
Its cooling performance would have been better had TCL given it oscillating capabilities, which would have come in handy. Instead, I found myself constantly turning the unit on and off throughout the day and during the night, which was not only very inconvenient but also prevented me from feeling completely comfortable.
Whynter 14,000-BTU Inverter Portable Air Conditioner ARC-1230WN
This gigantic portable AC takes up space. But it also delivers great cooling performance and is very easy to assemble. I'm just not sure it's worth the investment for the price. As you've probably realized by now, big doesn't always mean better in the world of portable air conditioners, and here's yet another perfect example. The Whynter ARC-1230WN isn't just very wide; it's also the tallest of the models I tested. And in its case, taking up space is not a good thing.
While it doesn't have the worst cooling performance of the models in my testing pool, it's also nothing to write home about. Handling a medium-sized room, it managed to drop the temperature 4 degrees from 79 degrees Fahrenheit, which is on par with the other non-winners. However, its dehumidifying function is disappointing. Not only does it not allow you to set a target humidity level, which is surprising for a portable air conditioner at its price range, but it somehow raised the humidity level two points during testing instead of lowering it.
Your return on investment on this model comes from its smart home features (it works with Alexa and Google Assistant), app support and the fact that its window panels and exhaust hose are probably the easiest to assemble because they were fitted together more securely than the other. If those are your priorities (likely not), you'll get your money's worth with the Whynter ARC-1230WN.
The following FAQs were answered by SuperCoolNYC owner Jonathan Berkson.
Do portable air conditioners work?
Do portable air conditioners work?
Yes, but according to Berkson, they 'are only a last resort if you can't do a window AC unit. They are less efficient, as the heat from the compressor needs to be expelled through a tube rather than directly outside like a traditional unit.'
How do you drain a portable air conditioner?
How do you drain a portable air conditioner?
Each portable AC unit should have easy-to-follow instructions on how to drain it. Berkson also recommends to 'clean the filter regularly according to the owner's manual, and always check and empty the condensation reservoir before you go to bed so you don't have to wake up in the middle of the night because the unit is beeping and needs to be drained.'
For this article, we consulted the following expert to gain his professional insights on portable ACs.
Jonathan Berkson, the owner of SuperCoolNYC, a New York City window air-conditioner installation company that specializes in working with parents and students to get their apartments set up with air-conditioning
CNN Underscored editors thoroughly test the products in our testing guides and provide full transparency about how we test them. We have a skilled team of writers and editors who have many years of testing experience and ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when relevant to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item.
Testing writer Michelle Rae Uy has years of experience covering home products and appliances, and writing product reviews. She covered home and kitchen appliances for various publications before joining CNN Underscored and wrote our best space heaters, best Dyson vacuums and best espresso machines guides.