If you're tired of waking up cranky and sweaty in the warmer months, it's time to invest in an air conditioner. The best air conditioners for bedrooms provide enough cooling power, run quietly, and maintain a consistently cool, dry environment.
We've tested 20 air conditioners, and below are our recommendations for the best window and best portable air conditioners for bedrooms based on performance, noise, and efficiency. Using our lab testing and scoring, here's a quick guide to what matters most:
- Cooling Capacity: A tested cooling capacity of around 5,000 BTU/hr is enough for bedrooms measuring 150 ft2 or less, and 8,000 BTU/hr is sufficient for very large bedrooms measuring up to 350 ft2. The right size is key; too small will struggle to cool your space, and too large can leave the room feeling cold and clammy.
- A/C Type: Window units cool more efficiently and quietly since the compressor sits outside. Portable units are easier to install but less efficient overall. Dual-hose models perform better than single-hose designs.
- Compressor Type: Inverter compressors are quieter and maintain more stable temperatures. For bedrooms, quiet operation and good temperature consistency matter just as much as maximum cooling power.
For more details, check out our full buying guide below. If you're shopping for alternatives, see our recommendations for the best portable air conditioners, the best window air conditioners, and the best 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.
If this sounds cool to you, you'll definitely want to read more in our About Us.
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Best Bedroom Air Conditioner
Bedroom/Small Room8.6Inside Noise9.3Oversizing Tolerance9.1TypeWindow A/CAdvertised Coverage350 ft² (33 m²)Advertised Capacity (DOE)8,000 BTU/hrTested Capacity7,516 BTU/hr (2,204 W)See all our test resultsCompressor TechnologyInverterIf your living situation allows for a window-mounted A/C, the Friedrich Chill Premier Inverter CCV08A10A is the best air conditioning unit for bedroom use we've tested. Its cooling capacity of more than 7,500 BTU/hr can quickly cool all but the largest of primary bedrooms. The CCV08A10A has an inverter compressor; in practical terms, that means it'll keep your bedroom consistently cool and dry, and do so while consuming less power than cheaper alternatives with fixed-speed compressors, since this model won't have to go through the inefficient business of cycling its compressor on and off to maintain your desired temperature. It's quiet too. From indoors, operating noise is exceptionally low; setting the fan speed to its lowest level produces an operating noise hardly any louder than a dishwasher, making it a stellar choice for sensitive sleepers.
This unit also features Wi-Fi connectivity and a remote control, so you can adjust your desired temperature without rolling out of bed. There are a few minor downsides, however. Nearby neighbors who leave their own windows open at night might be unimpressed with the outdoor operating noise: the compressor outside your window produces a high-pitched chatter when the A/C enters a cooling cycle, which is typical for inverter units. Installation can also be a bit of a challenge; at over 50 lbs, this unit weighs more than comparable models, so you'll likely find it helpful to enlist a friend to help lift it up and mount it in place.
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Best Mid-Range Bedroom Air Conditioner
Bedroom/Small Room7.7Inside Noise7.5Oversizing Tolerance7.6TypeWindow A/CAdvertised Coverage150 ft² (14 m²)Advertised Capacity (DOE)5,000 BTU/hrTested Capacity4,809 BTU/hr (1,410 W)See all our test resultsCompressor TechnologyNon-InverterIf you have a smaller bedroom to cool and don't want to spend quite as much, the Frigidaire FHWC054TE1 is worth a look. This unit has a cooling capacity of just below 5,000 BTU/hr, making it best suited for average home and apartment bedrooms rather than larger suites. Compared to the Friedrich Chill Premier Inverter CCV08A10A, this Frigidaire takes roughly 30% longer to chill an equivalently sized room. The other main disadvantage it has over the pricier window unit is the Frigidaire unit's fixed-speed compressor: it'll actually have a slightly bigger impact on your monthly energy bill than the higher-powered, faster-cooling Friedrich. That simpler compressor also results in more distracting operating noise, as it constantly cycles on and off to maintain your desired temperature, though actual operating noise remains low enough to keep you from waking up overnight unless you're a particularly sensitive sleeper.
With all that said, the Frigidaire does a good job of keeping smaller bedrooms consistently cool, but the compressor cycling on and off to maintain your desired temperature can make the air feel a smidge damp at times. Unlike the Friedrich, there's no Wi-Fi connectivity, so you can't run the appliance from your smartphone, but you can keep the included remote control on your nightstand to change settings without walking over to your window in the dead of night. This unit is also compatible with a MERV-14 filter to filter airborne particulates from the cold air being blown into your room; great for allergy season.
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Best Budget Bedroom Air Conditioner
Bedroom/Small Room7.3Inside Noise6.9Oversizing Tolerance7.2TypeWindow A/CAdvertised Coverage250 ft² (23 m²)Advertised Capacity (DOE)5,000 BTU/hrTested Capacity4,622 BTU/hr (1,355 W)See all our test resultsCompressor TechnologyNon-InverterIf you're still on a tighter budget, the Frigidaire FFRA051WAE is worth a look. It's actually very similar in performance to the Frigidaire FHWC054TE1, with both units having similar cooling capacity and thus being mainly suitable for smaller bedrooms. The main difference between them lies in the user experience. Unlike the pricier FHWC054TE1's snazzy (if hard to read) digital thermostat, which lets you set the desired temperature yourself, the FFRA051WAE uses a less precise mechanical thermostat with physical dials that only offer loosely defined temperature presets and fan speed settings. The FFRA051WAE also lacks a remote control, so you'll need to get out of bed and walk over to the appliance if those settings aren't quite to your liking.
It'll do a fantastic job of keeping smaller bedrooms consistently cool, but you may find your bedroom to feel uncomfortably clammy every now and then as its fixed-speed compressor cycles on and off. This unit is also a little more distracting than other models on this list in use, with a fan that produces an audible 'whoosh' that can be distracting for more sensitive sleepers.
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Best Portable Air Conditioner For Bedrooms
Bedroom/Small Room7.8Inside Noise8.6Oversizing Tolerance8.4TypeDual-Hose Portable A/CAdvertised Coverage550 ft² (51 m²)Advertised Capacity (DOE)10,000 BTU/hrTested Capacity7,533 BTU/hr (2,209 W)See all our test resultsCompressor TechnologyInverterIf your home or apartment doesn't allow for a window-mounted cooling solution, then the best portable air conditioner for bedroom use that we've tested is the Midea Duo MAP12S1TBL. On paper, this unit's advertised 10,000 BTU/hr output outguns the 8,000 BTU/hr Friedrich Chill Premier Inverter CCV08A10A, but in the real world, the two units have near-identical cooling performance; they'll both chill the air in the same bedroom in virtually the same amount of time. That's entirely a consequence of the Midea unit's portable design: with a portable A/C, the hot compressor is located inside the same room it's cooling. This slows its cooling rate and forces the unit to work harder to offset this bump in temperature, and you'll notice the difference in your monthly energy bill when running the unit overnight.
Of course, while the Midea is less efficient than the Friedrich, it's just as effective, and will cool the largest of bedrooms fairly easily. Its inverter compressor also helps keep the air consistently cool and dry, so you won't wake up feeling unpleasantly clammy and damp. You can also operate the Midea from your bed via your smartphone or with voice commands made through Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. It's also amazingly quiet while in operation and is unlikely to wake you in the middle of the night. That said, unlike the window-mounted Friedrich that isolates you from compressor noise, you'll occasionally hear the faint chatter from the Midea's inverter compressor, which is likely to be a distraction for light sleepers.
Notable Mentions
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Midea MAW12HV1CWT:
The Midea MAW12HV1CWT is a high-end window A/C with an inverter compressor. It can cool an equivalently-sized space faster than the Friedrich Chill Premier Inverter CCV08A10A due to its higher cooling capacity, but it also consumes more power and makes more noise.
See our review -
Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT:
The Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT is another high-end window A/C with an inverter compressor. Compared to the Friedrich Chill Premier Inverter CCV08A10A, it has a higher cooling capacity, though it's also louder and less efficient. It delivers near-identical performance to the Midea MAW12HV1CWT, but with a U-shaped body that allows you to open your bedroom window with it installed.
See our review -
Whynter NEX ARC-1230WN:
The Whynter NEX ARC-1230WN is a high-end dual-hose portable A/C. It's a rebranded, slightly modified variant of the Midea Duo MAP12S1TBL with a higher 12,000 BTU/hr capacity. It's a good alternative for large bedrooms, but it also does a worse job of maintaining consistently cool, dry conditions.
See our review
What To Consider When Choosing An A/C
There are a few main factors to consider when shopping for a new A/C unit. Here are some of the key considerations to take into account:
Cooling Capacity
While these guidelines aren't set in stone, you can have a good idea of whether an A/C unit is the right fit for your bedroom based on its approximate capacity:
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5,000 BTU/hr
- Generally suitable for bedrooms up to 150 ft2 (13.9 m2)
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8,000 BTU/hr
- Generally suitable for bedrooms up to 350 ft2 (32.5 m2)
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10,000 BTU/hr
- Generally suitable for bedrooms up to 450 ft2 (41.8 m2)
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12,000 BTU/hr
- Generally suitable for bedrooms up to 550 ft2 (51.1 m2)
Buying an A/C too small for your given space will result in the unit working near-constantly, increasing wear and tear. Meanwhile, buying an oversized unit will result in higher-than-necessary monthly utility bills and, in cases where the unit cools faster than it dehumidifies, leave your bedroom feeling cold and clammy instead of cool and dry.
A/C Design
We buy and test both window-mounted and portable units, which each have their own strengths and weaknesses:
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Portable Units
- Can be moved and installed relatively easily.
- The hot compressor is inside the room that it's cooling, increasing energy consumption and reducing cooling performance.
- Single-hose models are less efficient and less effective than dual-hose models.
- Single-hose models suck in indoor air to cool the compressor, which then draws in warm air from outside, forcing the machine to work harder.
- Dual-hose models have a secondary intake hose for cooling the compressor that leads outside, allowing them to cool the compressor without generating this negative air pressure effect, resulting in faster, more power-efficient cooling.
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Window Units
- The hot compressor is outside the room that it's cooling, lowering energy consumption and improving performance even compared to higher-end dual-hose portable units.
- Seasonal installation and removal can be a hassle, especially for larger, heavier high-capacity units.
- Not permitted in all apartments and might not fit all windows.
Compressor Design
In most household air purifiers, you'll encounter one of two compressor styles: fixed-speed and inverter-controlled.
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Fixed-Speed Compressors
- Typically found on cheaper units
- Relatively inefficient, and can result in inconsistent temperature and humidity levels since this style of compressor cycles on and off to maintain your desired temperature.
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Inverter Compressors
- Generally found on more expensive models.
- Can run consistently at a lower speed to maintain a desired temperature, instead of cycling on and off.
- This consumes less power, produces less distracting operating noise, and keeps the air in your bedroom cool and dry rather than cold and damp.
- Introduces a higher number of potential failure points.
All Reviews
The recommendations above are among the best air conditioning units for bedrooms 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.