Best Garage Air Conditioners (Reviews & Buying Guide)

Are you looking for an efficient way to cool a garage?

Have you been thinking about getting a dedicated garage air conditioner but are not sure which one to buy?

If so, this guide is for you.

We’ll take an in-depth look at some of the best garage air conditioners on the market and show you how each one operates to keep you cool while you work.

As you’ll see, the best AC unit for a garage comes in various types to suit your specific needs and budget. You can choose between portable, window, ductless mini split, and evaporative coolers.

By the end of this page, you’ll have everything you need to make a well-informed decision on buying the best air conditioner for a garage of any size, with or without windows.

Garage Air Conditioners Reviewed in this Guide

Here’s a quick comparison chart showing the top garage 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
	Senville SENL-24CD Air Conditioner Best Garage Air Conditioner BTUs: 24,000 Coverage: 1,250 to 1,500 square feet Average Decibels: 32 dBA	Check Price
	Whynter ARC-14S Air Conditioner Best Portable Air Conditioner for Garage BTUs: 14,000 Coverage: 500 square feet Average Decibels: 56 dBA	Check Price
	MIDEA U Inverter Air Conditioner Best Window Air Conditioner for Garage BTUs: 8,000 to 12,000 Coverage: 300 to 550 square feet Average Decibels: 42 dBA	Check Price
	Pioneer WYS018G-19 Air Conditioner Best Mini Split for Garage BTUs: 9,000 to 36,000 Coverage: 200 to 1,300 square feet Average Decibels: 39 to 54 dBA	Check Price
	Honeywell CO60PM Air Conditioner Best Evaporative Cooler for Garage Reservoir Tank Capacity: 15.9 gallons Coverage: 850 square feet Average Decibels: 62 dBA	Check Price
	STANLEY 655704 Air Conditioner Best Blower Fan for Garage Speed Settings: 3 Coverage: 200 square feet Additional Features: Built-in circuit breaker and two integrated outlets	Check Price
	Midea MAP08R1CWT Air Conditioner Best Air Conditioner for Small Garage BTUS: 8,000 - 14,000 Coverage: 150 to 330 square feet Average Decibels: 51 dBA	Check Price
	Hessaire MC37M Air Conditioner Best Air Conditioner for 2 Car Garage Reservoir Tank Capacity: 10.3 gallons Coverage: 950 square feet Average Decibels: 59 dBA	Check Price
	Portacool Jetstream Air Conditioner Best Air Conditioner for Garage with No Windows Reservoir Tank Capacity: 50 gallons Coverage: 700 to 5,625 square feet Average Decibels: 65 to 76 dBA	Check Price

Garage Air Conditioner Buying Guide

If you need some additional help on how to choose a garage air conditioner, then this section can be beneficial.

Below, you’ll find out more about the various types of air conditioners for garages, features to look for in a new unit, and answers to the top questions people have about these units.

We also have a garage heater reviews page if you’re looking for a heating option as well.

Types of Air Conditioners for Garage

Window Air Conditioner

As the name suggests, a window air conditioner needs to be installed into a window, and they are highly effective for cooling small to medium-sized garages.

Pros of Window Air Conditioners for a Garage:

• Affordable: Window air conditioners are generally less expensive than other garage air conditioners that need permanent installation. 
• Energy-Efficient: While they aren’t as energy efficient as mini-split air conditioners, there are many Energy Star Certified window air conditioners. This means that the unit will use the least amount of energy possible while cooling.
• Multiple Features: Window air conditioners come with multiple features including remote control operation, timers, fan speeds, different modes, and some have Wi-Fi capabilities.

Cons of Window Air Conditioners for a Garage:

• Installation: Some garages don’t have windows, which makes installing a window air conditioner impossible.
• Window Size: If you’re lucky enough to have a garage with windows, you may still find that you’re restricted by window-size. Most window air conditioners are designed to be installed into regular windows. Garage windows tend to be much smaller as a safety measure, which can make it harder to find a window air conditioner that fits. 

Portable Air Conditioner

Portable air conditioners are a great choice for garages because they don’t need to be permanently installed and they can be set up in a matter of minutes. 

Pros of Portable Air Conditioners for Garages:

• Affordability: Portable air conditioners are fairly inexpensive. They also don’t need to be permanently installed, so there aren’t any hidden installation costs with them either. 
• Portability: A portable air conditioner can be set up anywhere as long as it is properly vented. Your options for venting are out a window, through the gap between a garage door and the floor, or through a hole cut in the wall or a closed garage door. Once vented, these units can be moved from room to room or around your garage as required. This also allows you to focus airflow on a specific target, rather than cooling down the entire garage at once.

Cons of Portable Air Conditioners for Garages:

• Exhaust: Portable air conditioners need somewhere to exhaust the hot air they’ve pulled out of a room. If you can’t properly vent the hot air through the hose, then it’s best to get a different type of garage air conditioner.
• Space: Even though portable air conditioners are generally quite small, they still take up floor space. If you have a small garage, this is something you’ll want to consider. 
• Durability: Being placed on the floor leaves portable air conditioners open to the risk of being bumped into. This means that they may suffer damage more easily than a wall mounted or window air conditioner.

Evaporative Cooler

Evaporative coolers work really well at bringing the temperature of a garage down without needing to be connected to a window. They work by using pads that absorb cold water (added through an internal reservoir or continuous supply) and then evaporate it into the air as a way to cool it.

Pros of Evaporative Air Coolers for Garages:

• Energy-Efficient: Evaporative air coolers are by far the most energy-efficient way of cooling a garage. On average, they use around 75% less energy than any other type of air conditioner, so they are great for keeping your energy bills in check and reducing your carbon footprint.
• Cleaner Air: The pads inside an evaporative air cooler can act as a filter to trap dust particles and airborne allergens. This makes them a good choice for anybody that suffers from certain allergies, or simply wants clean and well as cool air. 

Cons of Evaporative Air Coolers for Garages:

• Humid Environments: They aren’t the best choice for humid environments. If there is too much moisture in the air, the system simply won’t work correctly. An evaporative cooler used in humid environments could also cause corrosion and condensation to the machine. 
• Maintenance: Over time, salt and mineral deposits will build up in the pads and this will need to be removed. 
• Not as Cold: Evaporative coolers do not remove hot air, so these units cannot cool the air as low as other types of air conditioners. If you want to set a specific temperature on the machine, then it’s best to choose a different type.

Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner

Ductless mini split air conditioners are revered as “state of the art” in terms of air conditioning and cooling. They come in two parts, with one half permanently installed on the inside wall of the garage and the other half permanently installed on the outside wall. 

A power line and refrigerant line connect the two halves together through a small hole that’s been cut out of the wall, and a condensate drain carries water from the indoor unit out of the garage. 

Mini split air conditioners are highly efficient at keeping a garage cool during particularly hot weather and, despite their high BTU power, they are also really energy-efficient.

Pros of Mini-Split Air Conditioners for Garages:

• Efficiency: Mini-split air conditioners have the highest SEER and EER ratings of any type of air conditioner. This means they are highly energy-efficient, so they are cheaper to run and will reduce your carbon footprint. 

• Size: There are loads of different sizes to choose from with mini split air conditioners. This means that you have more variety to find a size that suits the size of your garage for better efficiency. 

• Heating & Cooling: Most mini split air conditioners are able to produce hot and cold air. This gives them year-round use and you’ll be able to keep your workspace cool in the summer and warm during the winter. 

Cons of Mini-Split Air Conditioners for Garages:

• Price: Efficiency comes at a price, and mini split air conditioners are the most expensive of all garage air conditioners. So, if you’re working with a smaller budget, you’d be better off going for another type of air conditioner.

• Installation: While most mini split air conditioners come with an installation kit, you still need to know how to run electrical wiring and be comfortable mounting the two parts of the system to install it properly. If you’re not comfortable with this, then you’ll want to hire an HVAC technician, which will come at an extra cost. 

Blower Fan

If you want simplicity and portability, then a blower fan could be the best choice. These units are designed to simply plug into an electrical outlet and blow cool air. 

Pros of Blower Fans for Garages:

• Portable: Because these units don’t need to be permanently installed, a blower fan can be used anywhere. All you need to do is plug it into a wall outlet, turn it on, and you’re good to go.

• Targeted Cooling: You can position a blower fan at a certain angle to cool down specific areas much better than you can with any other air conditioner. If you’re working on a project and want cool air on you at all times, you can simply set it up directly in front of yourself.

Cons of Blower Fans for Garages:

• Space: As with portable air conditioners, blower fans take up floor space or table space.

• Lacks Features: Blower fans don’t have the full set of features that other air conditioners offer. Some units do have built-in electrical outlets, so they can be used as an extension cord, but you won’t find timers or Wi-Fi controls.

Just remember that air fills an entire space. So you also need to consider the height of your garage in addition to the width and length. If you have a small garage with an above average height for the ceiling, then you’ll need a higher number of BTUs.

To make things easy for you, we’ve included a handy BTU size chart a little further below that will help guide you towards choosing the perfect air conditioner size for your garage.

Noise

Although noise is less of an issue with a garage air conditioner than it is with a home air conditioner, you’ll still want it to be as quiet as possible. Anything that’s too noisy will disturb your peace and could potentially result in complaints from your neighbors.

Luckily, most air conditioners are designed to operate as quietly as possible. If you’re looking for a super-silent machine; however, we’d recommend going for a mini split air conditioner or an evaporative cooler. These units operate in virtual silence and don’t have the roar of louder types of air conditioners.

The decibel levels of the air conditioners reviewed on this page average between 42 dBA to 68 dBA.

Portability

You’ll also need to think about whether you’d like to be able to move your air conditioner around your garage, between rooms, and store it away when it’s not needed. If you need these options, then you’d be better suited to a portable air conditioner.

If you’re not particularly concerned about any of these things, then a permanently-installed garage air conditioner would be a suitable choice. 

Energy Use

Some air conditioner units use more energy than others, and there are two things to keep in mind here: electric bills and the environment.

It’s safe to assume that you would like to keep your energy costs and your carbon footprint as low as possible. With this in mind, it’s always a good idea to look for an air conditioner that has a good SEER or EER rating (when applicable). 

These ratings means that the air conditioner uses less energy to function so nothing goes to waste.

Generally speaking, portable garage air conditioners tend to use the most energy while mini split air conditioners use the least amount of electricity to cool a garage.

Energy use also goes hand in hand with the size of your air conditioner. Higher BTUs require more energy. Also, using an AC unit that’s too small for a garage means that you’ll need to run it for longer periods of time which requires more energy.

Maintenance

As with all appliances, garage air conditioners need to be properly maintained to keep them working well for years to come. So it’s worth looking into the ease of maintenance.

Many air conditioners come with easy-access filters that can be removed and cleaned whenever necessary. Some even have built-in indicators that tell you when the air conditioner needs to be cleaned and, as an extra safety measure, they will automatically turn themselves off until they’ve been cleaned.

As a general rule, window air conditioners, portable air conditioners, and evaporative coolers are the easiest to clean. Mini-duct air conditioners are a little harder because they can be mounted high up on a wall. But since these units are so efficient, they often do not need to be maintained as regularly.

Garage AC BTU Calculator

We’ve spoken above about how important it is to get an air conditioner for your garage that has the right number of BTUs for the space. You can work this out by using a BTU calculator or for faster reference take a look at our handy BTU size chart 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

Sizing a Garage Air Conditioner

Sometimes working out the size of your garage can be difficult though, so to make things even easier we’ve created a quick reference guide that will help you find the right size garage air conditioner based on the number of cars it can contain.

Number of Cars	BTUs Recommended
1	8,000
2	12,000
3	16,000
4	20,000

The above guide is meant to be simplistic; however, there are a few extra things you need to bear in mind when you’re properly sizing a garage air conditioner:

• Insulation: If your garage doesn’t have any insulation, then you should add an extra 2,000 to 4,000 BTUs to the size you need.
• Position: If your garage faces south and/or west, add 1,000 to 2,000 BTUs.
• Climate: If you live in an area with particularly hot summers, add 1,000 BTUs. 

Ceiling

If your garage has a room above it, it can also absorb a lot of heat from that space. 

To stop this from happening, install some rolled insulation to the garage ceiling. This will help keep the garage cooler and keep your air conditioner working efficiently.

Walls

Adding insulation to your garage walls will also help to keep it cool during the summer months. 

If you’re on a budget, we’d recommend starting with the walls that get hit by sunshine the most, and then focusing on shaded walls. This will keep a great amount of heat out of your garage and, in turn, your chosen air conditioner will be able to function efficiently at all times. 

Windows

Most garages don’t have windows, and in those that do, the windows only represent a small percentage of the heat that comes into the garage.

It’s still worth trying to keep as much heat out as possible though in an attempt to keep your air conditioner working efficiently.

To do this, cover the windows with a sheet of plywood or blackout curtains. This will stop light from penetrating through and adding to the heat. If you’d still like to let light in or retain the view from your garage windows, then you can use a reflective film instead. 

Common Questions About Garage Air Conditioners

Can you put an AC unit in the garage?

You can put an AC unit in the garage. In fact, there are several types of air conditioning units that are suitable for garages, including window air conditioners, portable, mini splits, and evaporative coolers. 

How many BTUs for garage air conditioner?

A typical two-car garage measures somewhere between 20 feet wide by 20 feet deep. A 400 square feet garage like this requires a 9,000 to 10,000 BTU air conditioner. 

How big of an air conditioner do I need for my garage?

Determining how big of an air conditioner you need for a garage starts with measuring the size of the space. Garage air conditioners range in size from 5,000 BTUs to 34,000 BTUs to cover 100 square feet to 2,500 square feet of garage space.

Generally speaking, the larger the garage is the more BTUs the air conditioner should have.

How to vent a portable air conditioner in garage?

If your garage has a window, then vent a portable air conditioner using the window kit. If not, you’ll have to vent the portable AC unit through a hole cut in the wall or under the garage door.

About Patrick Holmes

Patrick is a Senior Air Quality & Comfort Specialist. He conducts in-depth research and analysis for our product reviews and buying guides in order to offer expert recommendations for people who are seeking to improve their indoor air quality and comfort. (See Full Bio)