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5 Portable Air Conditioners That Reviewers are Raving About

It goes where you go!

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The summer heat can be unbearable, and the hottest day of the year is being set what feels like weekly. And while fans can work great, there’s nothing like the instant cool that comes from pressing a button and blasting the air conditioner to your desired temperature.

There’s no doubting AC units are worth the investment, but finding the right one for your space can be a challenge. Window air conditioners are popular, but are bulky and unsightly from the outside. Wall AC units require installation, and take up valuable space you could be using for prettier things, like wall planters and pictures of the grandkids.

But when it comes to investment, versatility, and overall ease-of-use, more and more people are opting for portable air conditioners. They come in a variety of sizes and strengths, and can be wheeled from room to room without hurting your back, a feature that, if you ask us, makes them worth every penny.

Scroll down for the best portable air conditioners that will cool every room in your house with the push of a button.

HL Series 12,000 BTU, 115-Volt Portable Air Conditioner with Dehumidifier and Remote Control in White and Blue

best portable air conditioner and dehumidifier

$549.99, The Home Depot

Features:

  • White/Blue HL Series 12,000 BTU portable air conditioner
  • 3-speed air conditioner, fan and dehumidifier with wheels
  • Washable slide-out filter (back access) for unwanted dust

This portable air conditioner is stylish and powerful, and capable of cooling rooms approximately 450-550 square feet. It also features an automatic vertical wind motion, which helps evenly distribute the cold air. With three fan speeds to choose from, a sleep setting, a digital remote, and a 24-hour energy-saving timer, this thing will be your new best friend.

One reviewer wrote: “This is a very nice unit. I have owned several portable AC units through the years and this 14,000 BTU unit is by far the quietest and efficient unit I’ve ever owned. … I put the unit through a pretty tough test. I placed it in my 300 square foot garage which is un-insulated. I live in South Florida. At the time the garage was 82 degrees. After turning the unit on and setting it to 74 degrees, I shut the door and came back in one hour. The temperature had dropped to 76 degrees! I was amazed at how quickly the unit drops the temperature. Within 30 more minutes, the temperature had dropped to 73 degrees and the compressor had cut off.”

Honeywell CS071AE Quiet, Low Energy, Compact Portable Evaporative Cooler with Fan & Humidifier, Carbon Dust Filter & Remote Control, White

best portable air conditioner for dry air

$129.99 (was $159.99), Walmart

Features:

  • Five speeds.
  • Features whisper quiet option.
  • Innovative evaporative air cooling technology.

Lightweight, compact, and affordable, this air conditioner (turn humidifier in winter months) is energy-efficient and can be set will keep you cool in those hot summer afternoons. Using an evaporative cooler, it creates a moisture-filled airflow, similar to the fresh breeze you’d feel at the beach.

One reviewer wrote: “Not only does this evaporative cooler look good (which is important in its self) it is also very quiet and works so well. The remote is also nice to have! It is nice to have the cool air in the desert climate of Nevada. The best-kept secret is it keeps the dust down too, and keeps my carpet healthy-feeling under my bare feet! Of course, we know you can always count on Honeywell to produce a good product!”

Whynter ECO-FRIENDLY 14000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner

best eco-friendly portable air conditioner

$690.75, Wayfair

Features:

  • 14,000 BTU cooling capacity
  • This unit can cool up to a 500 square feet

With both lead-free and a eco-friendly components, you’ll feel cool (and green) with the Whynter portable air conditioner. Whynter uses patented technology to recycle the moisture collected from the cooling process to reproduce cool air, so you can enjoy a guilt-free breeze that is safe for the environment.

One reviewer wrote: Bought for an exceedingly hot upstairs bedroom when overnight guests were expected. It did the job quite nicely. The room is 10×15 and it cooled down significantly in a few hours. The guests noted that it was fairly quiet and more like white noise than annoying. It was easy to set up and easy to regulate.”

LG 14,000 BTU 115V White Smart Wi-Fi Portable Air Conditioner – LP1419IVSM

best energy-efficient portable air conditioner

$679.00 (was $699.00), Abt

Features:

  • 14,000 BTU Cooling
  • Dual Inverter Compressor
  • 44dB Quiet Operation
  • SmartThinQ Technology
  • 233 CFM
  • 500 Sq. Ft. Cooling Area

Air conditioning can rake up the costs when trying to keep cool, that’s why the LG LP1419IVSM features a dual inverter compressor, which uses an efficient fine-tune speed variable. This enables a reduction in energy by 40 percent, which will save you a ton of money this summer.

One reviewer wrote: “I love my new air conditioner. It cools the room down fast while remaining whisper quiet. I also love the features that are available like controlling the air conditioner from my LG app on my phone. This is the best air conditioner I’ve ever bought.”

Arctic King 8,000 BTU (12,000 BTU ASHRAE) 115V Smart Portable Air Conditioner, Gray, WPPD08CW0N

<strong>BEST SMART PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER</strong>

$357.00, Walmart

Features:

  • 3 Functions – Air Conditioner, Fan, and Dehumidifier 
  • Smartphone Compatibility
  • Voice Control with Virtual Assistant Devices, Not Included 
  • Cools or Heats a room up to 350 square feet
  • Evaporative Technology equal to an 41 Pint Dehumidifier 

The Arctic King 8k portable air conditioner is compatible with your smartphone or to your smart devices, such as Alexa or Google Assistant. It’s designed to cool a medium-sized room or apartment at 350 squared feet. With all the bells and whistles on this unit, you’d think it would be pricier!

One reviewer wrote: “We needed an air conditioner for our upstairs bedroom because it stays warm up there. This one is great because it fits perfectly near the window with the cord being long enough to reach an outlet. It is also Bluetooth which I love because I can change the temperature from my bed. And if I leave it on and go downstairs, I can still check and change the temperature.”

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