A portable air conditioner is for a window that can’t take a window unit: a casement or sliding window, or a building that bans them. It cools less per dollar and per watt, because the whole machine sits in the room and its exhaust hose pulls warm outside air back in. Dual-hose models draw their cooling air from outside through a second hose and lose less, and inverter models run slower and quieter instead of cycling.
The capacity shown here is the DOE’s SACC, not the larger ASHRAE figure on the box. Size on SACC as you would a window unit’s BTU: about 6,000 for a bedroom, 8,000 to 10,000 for a living room.
Prices were last checked October 22, 2026 and are subject to change; the price and availability shown by the retailer at the time of purchase apply.
Full ranking 13
- Midea Duo 12,000 BTU Inverter#1 of 13Full review
The portable to get if you need real cooling from a unit that sits on the floor: the dual-hose duct and inverter compressor make it far more efficient than ordinary portables.
Amazon $579 Midea $498.79$498.7910,00014.742Yes - Whynter NEX ARC-1230WN 14,000 BTU#2 of 13Full review
A strong pick for a large room where a window unit won’t work: efficient inverter cooling and a hose-in-hose design that doesn’t fight itself.
Amazon $608.37$608.3712,00013.842.5Yes - GE Profile PPHV10WWF#3 of 13Full review
An efficient dual-hose inverter portable for a medium room, close to the Midea Duo in efficiency.
Amazon $563.98$563.9810,00013.6-Yes - Dreo 740S Dual-Hose Inverter#4 of 13Full review
A newer, lighter dual-hose inverter portable for anyone who wants efficient cooling and app control; the price is the main drawback.
Amazon $699.99$699.9910,00012.2-Yes - TCL H10P36W#5 of 13Full review
A low-cost smart portable for a medium room when budget matters more than efficiency or quiet.
Amazon $319.99$319.9910,2007.9-No - LG LP1419IVSM Dual Inverter#6 of 13Full review
A long-running inverter portable that suits bedrooms thanks to a quiet sleep mode, though dual-hose units cool large rooms more efficiently.
Amazon $590.99$590.9910,0007.944Yes - Shinco SPF1-12C#7 of 13Full review
A budget portable for a bedroom or small living room when price is the priority.
Amazon $289.99$289.997,500--No - Honeywell HX2CESAWG8 Slim#8 of 13Full review
A slim portable for tight corners; most buyers get more for less with a standard-size unit.
Amazon $424.91$424.918,000--No - SereneLife SLPAC12.5#9 of 13Full review
A basic portable for a small-to-medium room; its real (SACC) capacity is much lower than the headline number.
Amazon $389.90$389.907,000--No - Frigidaire FHPW122AC1#10 of 13Full review
A sensible smart single-hose portable for a medium bedroom or office, if you can live with typical portable-AC noise.
Amazon $394$3948,0007.249No - Amazon Basics 12,000 BTU Portable#11 of 13Full review
A plain, well-supported 8,000 BTU SACC portable sold directly by Amazon, for people who don’t need app control.
Amazon $399.99$399.998,0007.2-No - Whynter ARC-147WF 14,000 BTU Dual Hose#12 of 13Full review
A simpler, cheaper dual-hose portable for people who want Whynter’s two-hose design without paying for an inverter. Its efficiency is ordinary, so running costs are higher than the NEX models.
Amazon $459.99$459.9910,0007.851No - Danby DPA050E2BDB-6#13 of 13Full review
A compact portable for a small room where a bigger unit won’t fit; most buyers get more cooling per dollar elsewhere.
Amazon $340$3405,1506.2-No
