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Now that summer is in full swing, the best air conditioners on Amazon are helpful home appliances to install in a pinch. After all, no one wants to spend the day sweaty or toss through the night because the air feels thick with heat. Our top picks include the best portable air conditioners, units with a window kit for easy installation, and WiFi-enabled models that you can control at your fingertips (and without getting off the couch—thank you, voice control features!).
Plus, we’ve included tried-and-true picks from AD-approved appliance brands that our editors use to keep their spaces refreshed as temperatures spike. All of our recommendations include fan modes and some even have a washable filter and a dehumidifier function. A cool room is a click away.
Best Overall
Specs
- BTU: 12,000 BTU cooling, 9,000 BTU heat
- Cooling area: 550 sq. ft.
- Weight: 53.8 Pounds
- Warranty: Limited
The Black + Decker Smart Portable AC is perfect for renters. Senior commerce editor Nashia Baker has had this unit for four years and says it’s held up no matter how intense NYC heat waves have gotten each summer. She says the window attachment is sturdy and stays put when adjusting the portable air conditioner’s position.
This three-in-one system is a best seller for a reason. It works as air conditioning when temps hit high, but it can also be used as a fan should you need to cool down any other time of the year. Finally, you can use it as a dehumidifier should your bathroom feel like a sauna even when you’re not using it. “This AC has strong cooling capabilities to stretch throughout my entire apartment, and the remote is a handy helper to turn it on or off from a distance,” Baker says. “I also like using the remote to schedule it to turn off at a certain time after I leave the house so it’s not wasting energy.”
Reliable Window Unit
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Specs
- BTU: 5,000
- Cooling area: 250 sq. ft
- Weight: 35.27 Pounds
- Warranty: Limited
City living warrants the Frigidaire window-mounted unit. Not only is it budget-friendly, but the washable dust filter keeps pollutants at bay. Baker has this straight-to-the-point AC in her space and it consistently delivers on cooling power. It has two fan speeds and runs pretty quietly, at 52 decibels. (For reference, a quality fan is about 25 decibels at full speed.) “While there are two cooling modes, there are also two fan modes that allow me to either push cold air throughout my space or just have air circulating. On really hot days, I will keep it running on the low cooling mode for hours and it refreshes my entire apartment,” Baker says. “Its soft sound level is true to its description, as I can hardly hear it in other rooms while it runs in my bedroom.”
Innovative Portable Pick
Specs
- BTU: 14,000
- Cooling area: 700 sq. ft.
- Weight: 72.8 Pounds
- Warranty: Limited
The Frigidaire Gallery 3-in-1 Smart Inverter portable AC is a good option for anyone who needs to cool a large room. “Compared to window units I’ve had in the past, this AC is much quieter even when cranked up to its highest setting,” says Lori Keong, AD’s associate commerce director. “It also oscillates air back and forth so you can cover a room quickly. Mine is parked in my living room, which has pretty high ceilings, but usually only requires about 10 minutes to get it from about 80-something degrees back down to a reasonably cool low 70s temperature.” The sleep mode feature is another detail to call out as it adjusts the coolness factor as you snooze. One thing to note, at 70-plus pounds, you’ll want to get some help moving it around, especially if steps are involved. The window attachment installation can be tricky as well, so make sure to allocate some time and tap into your DIY persona.
For Small Spaces
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Specs
- BTU: 5,000
- Cooling area: 150 sq. ft.
- Weight: 36.5 Pounds
- Warranty: Limited
The GE Window unit is a no-frills system that blends seamlessly into the background. Contributor Yelena Alpert had hers installed into the wall below a casement window, which is not compatible with typical installation kits. “I had to replace a dusty-and-disgusting AC from the 1980s and chose this GE model because it looks as if the system is barely there,” she says. Alpert hired a contractor to install it, as it was part of a larger sunroom renovation, and has kept cold air out of the room even during arctic winter months. Now that summer is here, she uses the remote to keep the space breezy during the day. “This room used to get so stuffy, but I feel the difference as soon as I turn it on,” she says, noting that it’s the perfect capacity for her 144 square foot space.
More Bestselling AC Units We’re Browsing
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Specs
- BTU: 5,000
- Cooling area: 150 sq. ft.
- Weight: 36.5 Pounds
- Warranty: Limited
The GE Window AC unit is what we call basic with benefits. It is designed to be easy to install and operate, but it still gets the job done. It comes with an installation kit that won’t require a PhD to figure out. Once the window unit is all set, switch between two cooling modes and two fan speeds as needed.
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Specs
- BTU: 12,000
- Cooling area: About 550 sq. ft.
- Weight: 82.7 Pounds
- Warranty: Manufacturer’s warranty can be requested from customer service
If you have an older house, a mini split may be your only option—unless you want to spend a couple grand on central air. The GarveeHome mini split AC and heat pump is an energy efficient model: it has a two-star Energy Star rating and a 20 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) to help keep those utility bills on the low end.
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Specs
- BTU: 10,000
- Cooling area: N/A
- Weight: 57.2 Pounds
- Warranty: Limited
As far as appliances go, Dreo has an intuitive app that will house all your cooling gadgets for ultimate smart home capabilities. Wi-fi syncing is a cinch. This system works with Alexa and Google assistant for quick temperature adjustments that won’t require you to lift a finger. Like other portable models it has a regular AC, fan, and dry modes, but the feature that makes it stand out is the drainage-free system that relies on sensors and algorithms to eliminate humidity without dealing with a messy hose. It comes in black and white colorways and you can downgrade to lower BTUs, if the 10,000 BTU model is more cooling power than you need.
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Specs
- BTU: 8,000
- Cooling area: 215 sq. ft.
- Weight: 46.3 Pounds
- Warranty: 1 year
When it comes to portable AC units, the SereneLife fits the bill with wheels and side handles that make room-to-room transport seamless. At 46 pounds, it’s also the lightest portable AC in our guide. It comes with a remote control to help you adjust the airflow of the three operating modes. In terms of design, this model has a more futuristic look thanks to a curved front and a black-and-white color palette.
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Specs
- BTU: 14,000
- Cooling area: 500 sq. ft.
- Weight: 73 Pounds
- Warranty: 1 year
At 73 pounds, the Whynter portable AC is on the heavier side but that doesn’t stop it from having almost 3,000 five-star customer reviews on Amazon. Its quiet operation is what makes it a solid choice for bedrooms or an office space. For those who want to make a minimal environmental impact, note that this model runs off CFC-free R-32 refrigerant, which essentially means there aren’t harmful compounds like carbon or chlorine emitted into the ozone layer.
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Specs
- BTU: 5,000
- Cooling area: 150 sq. ft.
- Weight: 36.4 Pounds
- Warranty: Contact the manufacturer for warranty info
In terms of energy efficiency Della takes top marks. It has a five-star Energy Star rating—the highest on this list. Easy installation is another reason to consider this model, as it fits windows that are from 23 to 34 inches. When it comes to room size, think about small cozy spaces no larger than 150 square feet to get the most cold air.
