While a standalone A/C unit won't fully replace a central air system, there's no shortage of units on the market that can cool entire apartments and larger living areas. When shopping for a new A/C unit, there are a few considerations to keep in mind.
The first is obviously capacity: you don't want to buy a unit that's too small for a room in a reasonable amount of time, but there's also no need to overpay for an oversized unit that consumes more energy than you'd like, and which could potentially leave undersized spaces feeling cold and clammy instead of cool and dry. There's also a question of design: the best air conditioner units are window-mounted, as they offer both superior cooling performance and more energy-efficient operation, but not all living situations permit their use, and portable models fill a very valuable niche in that regard. Units with inverter compressors tend to be more expensive than non-inverter alternatives. Still, they run more quietly, have less impact on your energy bill, and are more versatile, as they can cool undersized areas without making the air feel unpleasantly damp.
Lastly, consider what sort of impact an A/C might have on your daily routine. Quiet operation is key for units installed in bedrooms and offices, and added features like Wi-Fi integration and smartphone compatibility let you change settings without the hassle of fiddling with the unit itself.
We've tested 20 air conditioners, and below are our recommendations for the best A/Cs based on those aspects, along with pricing and general availability. We've provided options for window and portable units to give you the best overview of the market. If you're shopping for a specific type of A/C, check out our recommendations for the best portable air conditioners and the best window air conditioners.
Behind all of our air conditioner recommendations are our product reviews. We buy our own air conditioners directly from major retailers and have our team rigorously test them in our lab. The result? Robust data on features you care about, like cooling capacity and inside noise, which you can then compare across the 20 models we've tested.
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Best Air Conditioner
TypeWindow A/CCompressor TechnologyInverterLarge Room8.4Bedroom/Small Room7.9Combined Efficiency7.8Oversizing Tolerance7.4Advertised Coverage550 ft² (51 m²)Advertised Capacity (DOE)12,000 BTU/hrSee all our test resultsTested Capacity12,038 BTU/hr (3,530 W)The Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT is the best air conditioner for homes and apartments we've tested, as long as you have space for a window unit. This high-end model delivers excellent overall cooling capacity, making it highly effective in cooling large spaces like open-concept apartments or large living rooms. This unit also features an inverter compressor, which can run steadily at a lower speed to maintain your desired temperature rather than cycling on and off like a simpler fixed-speed compressor. This reduces the hit to your power bill in warmer months and keeps your home or apartment consistently cool and dry because it doesn't cycle. It's also particularly quiet while running, so it won't distract you if it's set up near a bedroom or living area, though the unit does emit a high-pitched chatter that's very audible from outdoors; this is normal for inverter compressors.
This air conditioner's U-shaped body allows you to open your window while it's installed, so you can let a breeze in and cool your room without running the machine. This A/C unit is Wi-Fi enabled, so you can operate it remotely using the Midea Air companion app or via voice commands with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant devices. This unit was previously the subject of a stop-sale recall due to potential mold buildup, though Midea has since released a modified variant. If that still gives you pause, the Midea MAW12HV1CWT provides near-identical performance but in a more conventionally shaped package. You won't be able to open your window with the MAW12HV1CWT unit in place, but on the flip side, installation is comparatively easier.
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Best Mid-Range Air Conditioner
TypeWindow A/CCompressor TechnologyNon-InverterLarge Room7.6Bedroom/Small Room5.9Combined Efficiency6.6Oversizing Tolerance5.7Advertised Coverage700 ft² (65 m²)Advertised Capacity (DOE)14,000 BTU/hrSee all our test resultsTested Capacity14,646 BTU/hr (4,295 W)If you have a big room to cool and don't want to spend as much, the Hisense AW1422CW1W could be for you. Right off the bat, it's important to note that this unit isn't as versatile as the Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT: this is a high-capacity A/C with, crucially, a fixed-speed compressor. In practical terms, that means there's a very real risk that the Hisense will be oversized for most applications: in smaller spaces, it will cool an area faster than it can pull moisture from the air, making the room feel cold and clammy. Furthermore, because a fixed-speed compressor cycles on and off to maintain the desired setpoint, it struggles to maintain a consistent, comfortable humidity level. It'll also have a much bigger impact on your energy bill than the inverter-equipped Midea, and its compressor's constant on-off cycling is rather distracting in quieter areas.
Otherwise, the Hisense has a similar suite of features to the Midea, with Wi-Fi connectivity, an included remote control for those who don't want to use a smartphone app, and a dedicated dehumidification without a cooling setting. Given its high capacity, this unit is relatively small, though at nearly 70 lbs, installation will require a friend or two to hold things steady. This unit can be hard to find at some retailers; if you can't find it, check out the Hisense AW1222CW1W. We haven't tested its performance, but it has only a slightly lower advertised capacity of 12,000 BTU/hr and should perform similarly overall.
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Best Budget Air Conditioner
TypeWindow A/CCompressor TechnologyNon-InverterLarge Room7.0Bedroom/Small Room7.7Combined Efficiency8.0Oversizing Tolerance7.6Advertised Coverage150 ft² (14 m²)Advertised Capacity (DOE)5,000 BTU/hrSee all our test resultsTested Capacity4,809 BTU/hr (1,410 W)The Frigidaire FHWC054TE1 is the best budget A/C we've tested. As tested, its cooling capacity is less than a third of that of the pricier and much bulkier Hisense AW1422CW1W. As a result, it'll struggle to efficiently cool spaces larger than a typical bedroom or a smaller living room. While it isn't particularly well-suited to larger spaces, an upside is that this unit's power draw is very low, and it won't have too big an impact on your energy bill in the summer months. Its compressor also cycles rapidly enough in smaller spaces, unlike the higher-capacity Hisense, keeping humidity levels and temperatures consistent while the unit is running.
There's no Wi-Fi connectivity, but this unit does have a remote control for operation without getting close. Unfortunately, its white-on-white digital display is hard to read in direct sunlight. Operating noise is quite low, even at the highest fan speed, and won't be a major distraction, even if it's set up in an office or living area. However, sensitive sleepers might want to turn the fan down if the air conditioner is installed in a smaller bedroom.
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Best Portable Air Conditioner
TypeDual-Hose Portable A/CCompressor TechnologyInverterLarge Room8.0Bedroom/Small Room7.6Combined Efficiency7.7Oversizing Tolerance8.1Advertised Coverage600 ft² (56 m²)Advertised Capacity (DOE)12,000 BTU/hrSee all our test resultsTested Capacity9,256 BTU/hr (2,714 W)If your home or apartment doesn't allow for a window-mounted cooling solution, consider the Whynter NEX ARC-1230WN. Compared to a window unit with similar capacity, like the Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT, there are inherent compromises to both efficiency and cooling performance that come with a portable unit, even with a high-end dual-hose model such as this. A/C compressors get hot while a unit is running, and having that component inside the space a unit is cooling, rather than hung outside a window, increases your energy bill and slows the rate at which an A/C can cool your home. Operating noise is also more of a distraction, especially given that this unit has an inverter compressor that emits a high-pitched chatter, which can be distracting while you're watching TV or listening to music.
With all that said, the Whynter model still provides enough cooling capacity for larger spaces, and while it will have a bigger impact on your energy bill than the window-mounted Midea, it's still good overall in both respects. Its inverter compressor also minimizes temperature and humidity fluctuations, so your home should feel consistently cool and dry. While this unit has a space-saving two-in-one hose that shrinks its footprint compared to other dual-hose A/Cs, it's still liable to be a little too bulky for smaller living spaces. This unit's additional feature suite is similar to that of the Midea, with Wi-Fi connectivity and support for voice commands made through Google Home and Amazon Alexa devices.
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Best Mid-Range Portable Air Conditioner
TypeSingle-Hose Portable A/CCompressor TechnologyNon-InverterLarge Room5.6Bedroom/Small Room7.0Combined Efficiency4.5Oversizing Tolerance7.7Advertised Coverage300 ft² (28 m²)Advertised Capacity (DOE)7,000 BTU/hrSee all our test resultsTested Capacity3,540 BTU/hr (1,038 W)Look at the LG LP0721WSR if you're on a more limited budget and only need an A/C for a small space. Unlike the Whynter NEX ARC-1230WN, this portable unit has a single-hose design. That's a big compromise to both efficiency and performance, as this style of A/C intakes indoor air to cool the compressor, which draws in warm air from elsewhere inside your home, and even from outside, forcing the machine to work harder. As a result, this unit is liable to have a somewhat disproportionate impact on your energy bill, especially for an air conditioner that won't perform especially well in larger spaces. That said, this unit's limited capacity does have a small silver lining: it forces the fixed-speed compressor to run constantly rather than cycling on and off, keeping the room it's cooling consistently cool and dry rather than alternating between clammy and comfortable.
One advantage this unit has over the Whynter is size: the LG has a noticeably smaller, lighter chassis, and its single-hose design is a bit less of a nuisance to set up. There's no Wi-Fi connectivity or smartphone app, but you can change settings from afar with the provided remote control.
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Best Budget Portable Air Conditioner
TypeSingle-Hose Portable A/CCompressor TechnologyNon-InverterLarge Room5.1Bedroom/Small Room6.2Combined Efficiency4.9Oversizing Tolerance7.5Advertised Coverage215 ft² (20 m²)Advertised Capacity (DOE)4,000 BTU/hrSee all our test resultsTested Capacity3,335 BTU/hr (978 W)If you're on an even tighter budget, the SereneLife SLPAC8 could be for you. This unit offers comparable cooling capacity to the LG LP0721WSR, meaning it's really only suited for smaller bedrooms and offices and will quickly be overwhelmed in modestly sized rooms. Its biggest disadvantage is operating noise: it produces far more noise than the LG and occasionally emits brief bursts exceeding 78 dBA. That's more than loud enough to present an active disturbance, especially in normally quiet areas like bedrooms and offices. Fortunately, the SereneLife is both smaller and lighter than the LG, making it a slightly more compelling option for rooms where space is at a premium.
Notable Mentions
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Friedrich Chill Premier Inverter CCV08A10A:
The Friedrich Chill Premier Inverter CCV08A10A is an excellent alternative to the Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT if you don't need quite as much cooling capacity, with a lower output that gives superior efficiency in smaller rooms. The Friedrich is also quieter.
See our review -
Midea Duo MAP12S1TBL:
The Midea Duo MAP12S1TBL is mechanically related to the Whynter NEX ARC-1230WN and shares a similar feature suite, but with a lower 10,000 BTU/hr capacity. It's a good alternative if you want to cool a slightly smaller room. That said, it's no more efficient despite its lower capacity.
See our review
All Reviews
The recommendations above are among the best air conditioners for most people. We factor in price, visitor feedback, and availability.
That said, there's no single best option that'll suit everybody; your needs will depend on your budget, the size of the space you're trying to cool, your tolerance for operating noise, and whether you like having a device with convenience features like Wi-Fi connectivity. If you'd like to choose for yourself, here's the list of all our A/C reviews.