Having a good air conditioner is essential for getting through the hottest parts of the year.
And fortunately, you now have plenty of options to choose between when it comes to the best air conditioners on the market.
Below, you’ll find a list of the best air conditioning units to fit any size room and budget. These reviews include movable units, like a portable AC, the classic window air conditioner style, and more permanent options, such as a central air conditioning system and ductless mini split air conditioner.
As you’ll discover, each of these best AC units comes with various choices in terms of power output, energy efficiency, and price. But by the end, you’ll have everything you need to make the right decision for buying the best air conditioner for your home, office, or apartment.
Table of Contents
Disclosure: Home Air Guides is reader-supported. As an Amazon associate and affiliate for independent brands, we earn from qualifying purchases made through the links on our site. Learn more.
Air Conditioners Reviewed in this Guide
Here’s a quick comparison chart showing the top air conditioners. We’ll cover each aspect of these units in the reviews section below, but this gives you an idea of what’s available and an easy way to compare them.
| Image | Air Conditioner Details | Price |
|---|---|---|
 | Goodman 3 Ton 16 SEER Air Conditioner
| Check Price |
 | Whynter ARC-14S Air Conditioner
| Check Price |
 | MIDEA U Inverter Air Conditioner
| Check Price |
 | LG LT1016CER Air Conditioner
| Check Price |
 | Pioneer WYS018G-19 Air Conditioner
| Check Price |
 | MIDEA 5,000 BTU Air Conditioner
| Check Price |
 | Senville SENL-24CD Air Conditioner
| Check Price |
 | Rollibot ROLLICOOL Air Conditioner
| Check Price |
 | Honeywell HL14CESWB Air Conditioner
| Check Price |
 | Luma Comfort EC111B Air Conditioner
| Check Price |
Best Air Conditioner Reviews (Top 10 List)
1. Best Central Air Conditioner: Goodman 3 Ton 16 SEER
If you want a central air conditioner that can be purchased without any hassle, then the Goodman central air conditioning unit is a fantastic choice.
That’s because you don’t have to worry about purchasing it through a dealer or needing an HVAC license as you do with some other brands like Carrier, Trane, and Mitsubishi.
There are four different sizes to choose from, so you’ll be able to find the perfect central air conditioner to match your house:
- 1.5 Ton 14 SEER: 900 square feet
- 2 Ton 14 SEER: 1,200 square feet
- 2.5 ton 14 SEER: 1,500 square feet
- 3 Ton 16 SEER: 1,800 square feet
Each size has a good SEER rating, which means that it’s highly energy-efficient. Despite its power, this central air conditioner also has a fairly low noise output too, so you won’t have to worry about the sound coming in through the windows.
The variable speed settings give you the power to create the perfect temperature inside your home.
It’s also incredibly durable and features a baked-on polyester coat of paint. This makes it a good choice if you live in an area that suffers from particularly harsh weather conditions, and it’s even approved for up to 500 hou rs of salt-spray, so it’s a good choice for beach-side locations.
In an attempt to keep installation costs down and to make it an easier process, this air conditioner features factory-installed pressure switches, a high-capacity muffler, easily accessible gauge ports, and service valves with sweat connections.
It’s also fitted with dual-access panels that give you easier access when the air conditioner needs some maintenance work.
2. Best Portable Air Conditioner: Whynter ARC-14S
The Whynter ARC-14S portable air conditioner is a great choice for anybody that would like to move their air conditioner between rooms throughout the day.
It features four built-in casters that allow you to wheel it from room to room, so there’s no need to worry about heaving lifting.
The 14,000 BTUs of power can cool a room measuring up to 500 square feet quickly and efficiently.
It also has three operational modes to choose from: air conditioner, dehumidifier, and fan. This offers you fantastic versatility and gives you the power to create the perfect temperature and humidity level for your room.
Other features include a 24-hour programmable timer, full thermostatic control between 61ºF – 89ºF, and an auto-drain function that exhausts condensation automatically.
It also includes a remote control, so you can operate the air conditioner from the comfort of your armchair.
Since it’s portable, it doesn’t need to be permanently installed into a window. Instead, simply attach the included exhaust hose and feed to your window sill with the included slider kit. Then, plug the air conditioner into a power outlet, and you’re all set for cooling comfort.
Finally, this air conditioner has won some amazing awards: Good Housekeeping’s “2020 Best Overall Portable Air Conditioner” and Consumer Report’s “2020 Highest Score”.
3. Best Window Air Conditioner: MIDEA U Inverter
The MIDEA U Inverter is designed to be installed into a window, but thanks to its unique U-shape, this unit offers you the ability to open and close your window without having to take it away.
The U-shape design of this window air conditioner also blocks most of the noise coming into your home from the compressor. As such, it has a super-quiet noise level of just 42 decibels (the lowest that exists on an AC unit). This makes it perfect for living rooms, bedrooms, and home offices.
Capable of blowing cool air across 20 feet of space directly in front of it, this air conditioner comes in three sizes to better suit your specific needs:
- 8,000 BTU: 300 to 350 square feet
- 10,000 BTU: 350 to 450 square feet
- 12,000 BTU: 450 to 550 square feet
Features include a timer, sleep mode, adjustable fan speed, and adjustable fan direction. All of these functions can be accessed using the clearly-labeled buttons located directly on the front of the machine.
This air conditioner is also WiFi-enabled, so it can be controlled through your smartphone. You can even link it to a virtual assistant, such as Alexa or Google Home, and control it using your voice.
Installation is easy and it comes complete with a support bracket that ensures the air conditioner is kept firmly in place at all times.
This air conditioner also uses 35% less power than a conventional window air conditioner, so it’s a great choice for anybody looking to conserve energy, keep their energy bill in check, and reduce their carbon footprint.
4. Best Wall Air Conditioner: LG LT1016CER
If you want to install an air conditioner but don’t want to block your windows or take up any floor space with a portable unit, then a wall air conditioner is the best choice.
While this unit looks like a window air conditioner, it actually is not. Instead, it mounts through a hole in the wall and slides into a metal sleeve to secure it into place.
The LG LT1016CER is amongst the best air conditioners for wall-mounting, and comes in two convenient sizes:
- 8,000 BTU: 340 square feet
- 10,000 BTU: 450 square feet
Features include a 24-hour timer that can be used to power the air conditioner off automatically. You can also switch between three fan speed settings and dial in the perfect temperature with the thermostat.
Your chosen settings can be seen on the LED display, and this air conditioner comes with a remote control for convenient operation.
It’s also easy to maintain and features easy-access washable filters. And to make it extra tough, this unit features the LG patented gold fin anti-corrosion coating that acts as a protective shield and ensures the air conditioner is as durable as possible against the outdoor elements.
As mentioned previously, this air conditioner needs to be installed through a wall, but this is quite easy to do and it comes with a universal-fit installation kit that contains everything you need to install it correctly.
5. Best Ductless Air Conditioner: Pioneer WYS018G-19
The Pioneer WYS018G-19 ductless air conditioner is a good choice for long-term use, and although it’s an expensive option, it’s almost unmatched in power and efficiency.
There are six sizes to choose from, each of which is designed for different sized spaces. The 18,000 BTU option is the most popular of them all as it has the power to quickly cool a room size of 400 to 650 square feet, which is about average in most homes.
The 18,000 BTU model is also the most popular choice as it has a quiet noise level of just 45 decibels. This means that it won’t disturb you too much, making it ideal for installing in living rooms, bedrooms, and other rooms that get a lot of use.
Available sizes include:
- 9,000 BTU: 200 to 350 square feet
- 12,000 BTU: 300 to 450 square feet
- 18,000 BTU: 400 to 650 square feet
- 24,000 BTU: 600 to 850 square feet
- 30,000 BTU: 900 to 1,100 square feet
- 36,000 BTU: 1,100 to 1,300 square feet
Maintaining this air conditioner is easy and it even features a self-clean mode that takes all of the hard work out of it for you.
Other features include adjustable fan speeds, a timer, and a turbo mode that can be used to give the air conditioner an extra boost on particularly hot days.
All of these features can be accessed directly from the control panel, or by using the included remote control. This ductless air conditioner is also WiFi-enabled, so you can control it using your smartphone, which is ideal when you’re away from home.
This air conditioner comes in two parts. One part is the evaporator that’s installed on an interior wall. This unit provides the cooling inside. The other part is the compressor that’s installed outdoors. It powers the evaporator and exhausts hot air. Both units are connected together through a small line set that goes through a hole in the wall (about 3 inches in diameter).
Obviously, the installation is more difficult than most other types of air conditioning units, but you do receive a full installation kit along with technical support. Of course, you can always hire a professional HVAC technician to install it for you, if you prefer to go that route.
6. Best Air Conditioner for Small Rooms: MIDEA 5,000 BTU
The MIDEA 5000 BTU air conditioner is a good choice for smaller rooms as it is designed to be used in spaces up to 150 square feet.
It’s very easy to install into a window and it can be set up in under 15 minutes.
You have full control over seven temperature settings and two fan speeds. You’re also able to switch between a 2-way air direction and choose between cooling and fan modes to create the right temperature for your room.
Controlling all of these features is simply done by turning the dials located directly on the front of the air conditioner. There are not buttons or confusing menus to contend with.
Another stand out point is that the noise level never exceeds 57 decibels, even when it’s running on the most powerful setting. That makes it a good choice for a bedroom, living room, or home office.
Maintaining this air conditioner is as easy as operating it too. The filters can be simply removed through the easy-access opening and washed for ultimate convenience. This gives you the ability to prolong the life of the unit, and you won’t need to replace the filters as regularly.
It also has an 11.0 CEER (Certified Energy Efficiency Rate), so it’s highly energy efficient and this reduces your energy costs as well as your environmental impact.
7. Best Air Conditioner for Large Rooms: Honeywell HL14CESWB
The 10,000 BTU power of the Honeywell HL14CESWB air conditioner makes it one of the best air conditioners for large rooms.
It can quickly and efficiently cool a room measuring up to 450 square feet, and despite being so powerful, it operates with a noise level of just 53 decibels.
It’s also a portable air conditioner, so it can be moved between rooms with ease. This means that it doesn’t need to be permanently installed and it can simply be placed near an open window with an exhaust hose being fed out of it. The included window installation kit works well for horizontal and vertical windows between 26.6” to 52” inches.
This air conditioner features dual-filters that are designed to protect the inner-workings of it from dust and hair. This helps to prolong the life of the air conditioning unit. These filters are easy to maintain and can simply be washed under a running faucet.
Further easy-maintenance is offered through the auto-evaporation system. This removes up to 80 pints of moisture from the air each day without you having to worry about constantly attending to it. So it’s excellent for humid environments.
You also have the option to choose between three fan speeds, a sleep mode, and a 24-hour timer. All of these features can be accessed through the digital display or by using the remote control.
8. Best Garage Air Conditioner: Senville SENL-24CD
If you’re looking for an air conditioner for a garage, then a mini split air conditioner like this one is the best choice.
The SENL-24CD is a great option as it doesn’t need to be installed into a window, which is something most garages don’t have.
Another great feature that this air conditioner has to offer is a heat pump. Garages not only get hot in the summer but cold in the winter, so by being able to cool and heat the space gives you extra value for your money because of the year-round use.
The 24,000 BTUs of power can provide cooling and heating to a garage measuring up to 1,500 square feet. And, despite its extreme power, this air conditioner operates with a very low noise level of just 32 decibels. That means you’ll barely hear it.
Every feature on this air conditioner, including the timer, sleep mode, turbo mode, and fan speed settings, can be easily operated using the remote control.
Maintenance is easy too, and there is a self-clean feature that takes all of the hard work out of cleaning the air filters.
As we mentioned in our #7 air conditioner review, ductless mini split air conditioners are more difficult to install than other types of units. However, if you’re looking for a highly efficient way to cool your garage, they are the best overall choice.
9. Best Overall Air Conditioner: Rollibot ROLLICOOL
If you’re looking for an air conditioner that can do it all and is easy to install, then the Rollibot ROLLICOOL is exactly what you need.
It’s available in three different sizes so you can find the most effective model for your home:
- 10,000 BTU: 275 square feet
- 12,000 BTU: 325 square feet
- 14,000 BTU: 375 square feet
This is a portable air conditioner, so it doesn’t need to be permanently installed. All you do is connect a hose from the back of the unit to a slim window kit and place it into a cracked window to exhaust the hot air.
The portability aspect means that you’re also free to move it between rooms whenever you want, and the integrated caster wheels take away the need to ever lift it.
There are three different modes to choose from: cooling, dehumidification, and fan. This gives you the versatility to not only create the perfect temperature within a room but reduces the amount of humidity as well.
This portable AC unit also features a timer that automatically switches the air conditioner off after a set period of time.
Switching between modes and using the features is easy using the clearly-labeled digital display located directly on top of the unit. However, this air conditioner is also WiFi-enabled which gives you the option to power it using your smartphone. It can also be paired with Alexa so you can switch modes and adjust the settings using only your voice.
This is a perfect air conditioner for living rooms, bedrooms, or childrens’ rooms as it has a super-quiet noise level. Even at its highest setting, it has a 55 dBA output, which is as quiet as a normal conversation.
10. Best Ventless Air Conditioner: Luma Comfort EC111B
The Luma Comfort EC111B ventless air conditioner offers you the simplest setup possible. It doesn’t need to be permanently installed and you don’t even have to feed an exhaust tube out of a window.
Instead, it uses evaporative cooling technology to produce a cool breeze in a room up to 250 square feet.
This ventless process works by using thick pads that absorb water stored in an internal reservoir, and as hot air is drawn in, the water molecules evaporate to cause the air temperature to drop.
This design makes for a much more energy-efficient way of cooling your room. In fact, the Luma Comfort EC111B only uses about as much energy as an ordinary 100W light bulb.
It has a programmable timer that allows you to keep the air conditioner running for up to 7.5 hours unsupervised. At the end of the timer you’ve selected, it will automatically switch itself off.
It also offers you three fan speeds and two operation modes: air conditioning and fan-only.
The easy-to-read display panel gives you an accurate indication of the current cooling settings and offers you a clearly-labeled view of the control buttons. It also comes complete with a remote control for ultimate convenience.
Air Conditioner Buying Guide
These days, air conditioners come in many different types and have a lot of innovative features to help meet your cooling needs. There are also many new brands on the market, all of which are competing for your attention.
To help you make the best decision possible on a new air conditioning unit, we have some additional information below that can guide your purchase.
You’ll find the most common questions about air conditioners answered here.
Types of Air Conditioners
Central Air Conditioner
Central air conditioners are a good choice for anybody with a large home who would like to cool several rooms at once. They work by using a cooling compressor that is located outside of the home and a coil filled with refrigerant that is used to cool the hot air.
Once the air comes into contact with the refrigerant, it is cooled down and blown back into the home through a fan, distributed throughout your established ductwork. This is usually the same system of ducts that your heating system uses to direct air from your furnace.
The warm air inside the home is drawn back through the central air conditioner’s return system and pushed through the exhaust system.
While this is a highly efficient system, central air conditioners require good planning and professional installation to get it done right.
Portable Air Conditioner
As their name suggests, portable air conditioners can be moved from room to room. This means that they don’t need to be permanently installed, which makes them one of the most popular choices for homeowners and renters.
Another great thing about portable air conditioners is that they can help you keep your energy bills in check. This is because you’ll be able to cool an individual room and target the airflow, rather than using a system that cools an entire home.
Since portable AC units do not need to be permanently installed, you’ll need to find somewhere to vent the hot air. This is done through an exhaust hose that can be secured to a window sill using a window installation kit.
Most portable air conditioners aren’t designed for large rooms; however, so if you’re looking to cool a room that exceeds 450 square feet, you may want to consider another type of air conditioner.
Window Air Conditioner
Window air conditioners are designed to be installed onto a windowsill and they exhaust hot air out of the back while blowing cool air into the room from the front.
These AC units are highly efficient at cooling all size rooms: small to large, and they come in a range of BTU sizes to best suit your rooms’ specific size requirements.
It’s quite easy to install a window air conditioner, which is one of the reasons for their popularity. Most units can be set up in under 15 minutes.
They also offer you a plethora of features including different cooling modes, adjustable fan speeds, sleep modes, and programmable timers. Some are even WiFi-enabled, so they can be controlled using a smartphone or with voice commands.
Window air conditioners are often the cheapest option as well. And cooling a room doesn’t add too much money to your energy bill.
Through the Wall Air Conditioner
Through the wall air conditioners work in a similar way as window air conditioners. They take in warm air and exhaust it from the back of the unit, while simultaneously bringing cool air into the room through the front.
They are also self-contained units. This means that you don’t have to worry about ductwork or a system of vents to bring the cool air in.
However, through the wall air conditioners take a little more installation and planning than a standard window air conditioning unit as they need to be installed inside a wall in order to work. This is a fairly simple task as long as you have the correct tools for the job, and most through the wall air conditioners come with an installation kit to help you do it.
This type of air conditioner is the best choice for somebody without accessible windows or for anyone who simply doesn’t want to block their view with an air conditioner.
These AC units also don’t take up any floor space, so they’re a good choice for rooms where space is a precious commodity.
Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner
Ductless mini split air conditioners are super-efficient when it comes to both cooling and heating a room. They are often a good choice for garages or for rooms that don’t have very many windows (if any at all).
These systems come in two halves. One half is installed onto an internal wall and acts as the cooling unit. It is called the evaporator. The other half is installed outside and is what powers the internal unit. It is called the compressor.
Each part of the system is connected together by feeding a powerline and refrigerant line between them.
While the process is simple enough, ductless mini split air conditioners do take a bit of time to install. You may even need to employ the services of a professional HVAC technician to get the installation done correctly.
Features to Consider in a New Air Conditioner
Size
An air conditioner needs to be powerful enough to cool down a room efficiently. Anything too small will take more time to work efficiently and will cost you more in terms of energy use.
With this in mind, it’s really important to consider the size of your new air conditioner.
There are two parts to this size requirement. The first is making sure that your chosen air conditioner actually fits into your window or can be placed in a room without taking up too much space. Secondly, you need to look at the number of BTUs your air conditioner has. This can sound like a confusing metric, but to put it in the simplest possible terms, the higher the BTU number is, the larger the room size it will be able to cool efficiently.
If you’re unsure about how many BTUs you need to be looking for in an air conditioner, take a look at our quick reference guide below:
| Room Size (Square Feet) | BTUs |
| 100 – 150 | 5,000 |
| 150 – 250 | 6,000 |
| 250 – 300 | 7,000 |
| 300 – 350 | 8,000 |
| 350 – 400 | 9,000 |
| 400 – 450 | 10,000 |
| 450 – 550 | 12,000 |
| 550 – 700 | 14,000 |
| 700 – 1000 | 18,000 |
| 1000 – 1,200 | 20,000 |
| 1,200 – 1,400 | 23,000 |
| 1,400 – 1,500 | 24,000 |
| 1,500 – 2,000 | 30,000 |
| 2,000 – 2,500 | 34,000 |
It’s worth noting that you need to remember that air fills an entire space. Therefore, you must measure the height of your room as well when considering the right air conditioning unit. For example, a small room with a high ceiling will need a higher number of BTUs to cool it more efficiently than a standard size room.
You can also check out these specific guides below to compare the top air conditioners with a particular BTU cooling capacity. These BTU ranges are the most commonly bought air conditioning units for home use.
- 5000 BTU air conditioners
- 6000 BTU air conditioners
- 8000 BTU air conditioners
- 10000 BTU air conditioners
- 12000 BTU air conditioners
Portability
Another important thing to consider when looking for the best air conditioner is whether or not you need it to be portable. A portable air conditioner doesn’t need to be permanently installed, so it can be moved from room to room with ease. A window air conditioner, on the other hand, cannot be transferred easily.
If you’re not overly concerned about moving your air conditioner from room to room, then a permanently-installed air conditioner would be fine.
Energy Efficiency
There are two main things you need to keep in mind when considering energy-efficiency: your household bills and environmental impact.
Ideally, you want to keep both of these as low as possible, so it’s a good idea to look for an air conditioner that is Energy Star Certified or has a good SEER or EER rating.
If you can’t seem to find any information on your new air conditioner’s energy-efficiency, there’s a simple calculation for working out it’s EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio). Simply divide the number of BTUs by it’s wattage. The resulting sum will be an accurate representation of it’s EER Rating.
For example: 12,000 BTU / 1000W = 12 (EER Rating).
To give you a better understanding of what to look for, an EER rating between 8.5 to 12 is considered above-average. Anything lower than 8.5 is considered below-average and will cost you more money to run. It will also create a larger carbon footprint.
Temperature Range
Temperatures are becoming increasingly unpredictable, and you may find that your room is much hotter on one day than it is on another. So make sure that you give some consideration to the temperature range your new air conditioner has to offer.
Being able to adjust the temperature will give you the power to create the perfect indoor temperature for your personal preference, rather than relying on a set temperature for all of the summer months.
Likewise, an air conditioner that features a heating element along with the adjustable temperature will allow you to warm a room up on a cold day.
Noise Level
This is something that is often overlooked, but the noise level your new air conditioner produces is an important thing to consider. This is measured in decibels and often referenced as dBA.
If you’re thinking about putting an air conditioner into a living room, you’ll still want to be able to read a book, watch TV, or hold a conversation without the air conditioner disturbing you.
Likewise, an air conditioner placed in a bedroom should be quiet enough to keep running without disturbing your sleep.
Luckily, most air conditioners are designed with noise levels in mind and operate at the same number of average decibels as a normal conversation. However, larger, more powerful air conditioners will be much noisier.
Wi-Fi Enabled
Some air conditioners available today are WiFi-enabled. So you’ll need to think about whether this is the right choice for you.
There are a few reasons why WiFi-enabled air conditioners are useful.
First of all, you can operate it and cycle through the features using your smartphone. This gives you the power to turn it on and start it running while you’re not at home.
Secondly, some WiFi-enabled air conditioners give you access to certain features that aren’t available on the unit itself. This includes creating custom cooling schedules throughout the week.
Finally, many WiFi-enabled air conditioners can be paired with a voice-activated virtual assistant, such as Alexa or Google Home. This gives you the power to control it using just your voice for ultimate convenience.
Warranty
It’s always a good idea to check what sort of warranty your new air conditioner comes with. While many AC units are guaranteed for a few years, this sometimes only covers certain parts or the outer casing so it’s good to read the fine print.
Ideally, you’ll want to make sure that the warranty covers the entire unit for a long period of time. This doesn’t only cover you for a repair or replacement if something were to go wrong, but also gives you some extra value for money as you won’t need additional insurance.
Best Air Conditioner Brands
There are literally hundreds of different air conditioner brands across the various types of systems. However, you can always feel confident in a new air conditioning unit when you select a model by one of theses top air conditioner brands below.
- Amana
- Frigidaire
- Friedrich
- GE
- Goodman
- Honeywell
- LG
- MIDEA
- Mitsubishi
- Pioneer
- Rollibot
- Senville
- Trane
Common Questions About Air Conditioners
What are BTUs?
BTUs stand for British Thermal Units and they are a form of measurement used for measuring energy. It’s most commonly used when talking about air conditioning units or heating, and 1 BTU refers to the amount of energy that’s required to increase the temperature of a pound of water by 1ºF. In the case of air conditioners, the number of BTUs measures how much heat is removed from the room.
How much does an air conditioner cost?
Air conditioner prices can vary dramatically depending on the type of air conditioner you’re buying. Window air conditioners are the cheapest while central air conditioners are the most expensive. Expect to pay between $150 to $300 for a window air conditioner and $1,500 to $3,000 for a central air conditioner unit.
How many air conditioners do I need?
You need one air conditioner for each room you want to cool. As a general rule of thumb, an air conditioner needs 20 BTUs for each square foot of room space. To measure your room, multiply the length by the width.
Enjoy Your New Air Conditioner
We hope you enjoyed this complete guide on the best air conditioners on the market.
As you learned, the best air conditioning units come in various types and sizes. You can literally pick the top option for your specific needs and budget.
And while the best AC units according to our expert option are reviewed on this page, new air conditioners do come out each month. So we’ll continue to update this guide with the latest and greats AC units as they’re brought to the market.
