8 Best Portable Air Conditioners of 2026

The ARC-1230WN is Whynter's NEX inverter model, and its 12,000 BTU SACC rating is the highest figure on this list. SACC is the Department of Energy's seasonally adjusted rating, which runs lower than the older ASHRAE number, so it is the fairer way to compare units; the ASHRAE figure here is 14,000 BTU. Whynter rates it for spaces up to 600 sq ft and lists a dehumidifying capacity of 87 pints per day. The hose-in-hose design keeps intake and exhaust in one window connection, and the louver swings automatically through 80 degrees. Whynter lists noise as under 42.5 dB on low, 49.5 dB on medium and 56.5 dB on high, with five fan speeds. Smart control works through Amazon Alexa, Google Home or the NetHome Plus app, and there is a 24-hour timer, sleep mode and auto restart. It costs $659.99 on Whynter's own store. The trade-offs: there is no heat mode on this version, and the maximum hose length is 47 inches, so place it close to the window.

The Midea Duo is the inverter portable that most closely matches the Whynter ARC-1230WN on paper. Midea lists 12,000 BTU on the DOE scale and a room size of up to 550 sq ft, and says its variable speed inverter gives over 40% energy savings compared to the US federal standard. Like the Whynter, it uses a hose-in-hose design: one window connection both pulls in outside air and expels hot air, which avoids the negative pressure of single-hose units. Midea rates it as low as 42 dBA. Control runs through the SmartHome app, Apple Watch and voice assistant devices, and the unit cools, dehumidifies and ventilates. The window kit fits a variety of window types and the unit rolls on four wheels. The drawbacks are weight and warranty: at 74.96 lbs it is heavy to carry upstairs, and Midea lists a one-year warranty. Midea's US store lists it at $659.99, the same as the Whynter ARC-1230WN, but showed it as Notify Me rather than in stock when we checked.

Dreo's 740S is a dual-hose inverter unit aimed at medium rooms. Dreo lists 10,000 BTU on the DOE scale and 14,000 BTU on ASHRAE, with a room size of up to 400 sq ft. It is the only model on this list whose product page publishes a CEER efficiency figure, at 12, and Dreo also lists 235 CFM of air volume and an airflow distance of 19.7 ft. The lowest noise level is 42 dBA, which matches the Midea Duo. Dreo calls it drainage-free in environments below 90% humidity, so in most homes you will not need to empty a tank. The box includes a four-panel universal window kit for window heights of 20 to 53 inches, two 5 ft exhaust hoses, a drain hose and a remote. Control works through the Dreo app, the touch panel, the remote, Alexa or Google Assistant, and there is a 24-hour app timer. At $699.99 on Dreo's store it is the most expensive verified price here, and the 400 sq ft rating suits a bedroom more than an open plan room.

LG's LP1419IVSM is the portable to consider if you already use LG appliances. LG lists 10,000 BTU on the SACC scale and 14,000 BTU on ASHRAE, with coverage for rooms up to 450 sq ft, and uses a dual inverter compressor that LG says uses less energy than non-inverter models. The LG ThinQ app lets you adjust settings, set schedules and monitor energy use, and the unit works with Alexa and Google Assistant. An auto swing vent spreads air across the room, and LG's auto evaporation system minimizes draining. Other listed features are multiple fan speeds, a 24-hour timer and auto restart after a power cut, plus a window kit LG describes as easy to install. LG calls it one of the quietest portable ACs available but does not publish a decibel figure on the page, which makes direct comparison with Midea's 42 dBA or Dreo's 42 dBA harder. LG's US store lists it at $699.00.

The 516S is Dreo's non-inverter smart portable. Dreo lists 14,000 BTU on the ASHRAE scale and a floor area of 400 square feet, with airflow that reaches up to 14 ft. The product page does not give a DOE or SACC rating, so it is harder to compare with the Midea Duo or Whynter models, which publish both. Dreo rates the noise at 46 dB. Like the 740S, it is drainage-free in most conditions, here when humidity is under 85%. Control works through the Dreo app, Amazon Alexa or Google Home, and it has cooling, dehumidifying and fan modes with a 24-hour timer. The universal window kit fits windows from 17 to 53 inches, and the box includes the kit, hose and remote. It uses R-32 refrigerant and measures 14.37 by 17.32 by 28.13 inches. At $599.99 on Dreo's store it sits $100 below the 740S, which adds an inverter, a dual hose and a lower 42 dBA floor.

GE's APWA14YBMW is a Wi-Fi portable that covers a large room for less than the inverter models. GE lists 9,850 BTU on the SACC scale and 14,000 BTU on ASHRAE, rated for rooms up to 550 square feet. The SmartHQ app lets you control and monitor it over Wi-Fi, and GE adds an LED control panel and a remote. In most room conditions it evaporates excess water, so GE says there is no need to drain it. Other features are auto louvers, a washable filter, four casters, auto restart after a power outage with the last temperature setting, and a 24-hour on and off timer in 1-hour increments. The included kit fits double hung and sliding windows with no cutting. It measures 32 by 18.5 by 15.5 inches. GE Appliances listed it at $560 on clearance against a $569 price, but the page also says the model is no longer being manufactured, so buy it soon if it suits you and expect stock to run out. GE does not publish a decibel figure on the page.

The ARC-14S is Whynter's long-running dual-hose model without an inverter. Whynter lists 14,000 BTU on ASHRAE and 9,500 BTU on the DOE 2017 standard, with coverage for spaces up to 500 sq ft. A dual-hose design pulls outside air in through one hose and pushes hot air out through the other, which keeps it from drawing warm air into the room through gaps. The filtration is better than most portables: an activated carbon filter and a washable pre-filter, with a 3M antimicrobial filter sold separately. Whynter lists dehumidifying at 71 pints per day and a patented auto drain function that exhausts condensate. Power draw is 1,300 watts at 11.6 amps, and the unit measures 16 by 19 by 35.5 inches. Noise is rated under 51 dBA on low and under 56 dBA on high, louder than the inverter models here, and there is no Wi-Fi. It lists at $509.99 on Whynter's store, but it was marked sold out when we checked.

Costway's 8,000 BTU unit is the budget pick, and at $269.99 it costs $240 less than the next cheapest verified price here. Costway rates it for spaces up to 230 sq ft, which makes it a bedroom, dorm or small office unit rather than a living room unit. It offers cooling, dehumidifying, fan and sleep modes, and sleep mode lowers the working noise to under 52 dB. There are 2 fan speeds and a 24-hour programmable timer. Costway lists an airflow rate of 300 cubic meters per hour. For water, it has a water-full warning and a 10 ft drain hose, so you can drain it into a bathroom rather than empty a tray. Four casters and a remote control are included, along with the exhaust hose and a window seal plate. Costway's store lists free shipping, 30-day returns and a 365-day warranty. The limits are clear: Costway gives only the ASHRAE rating, not the lower DOE figure, there is no app, and it will struggle in rooms much larger than 230 sq ft.