When it comes to summer, staying cool is always at the top of mind. If you're someone who doesn't have the luxury of central air conditioning, don't fret; there are other affordable options to help cool your home. Welcome: portable air conditioners.
These home appliances become essential for beating the heat in the sweaty summer months, but what’s the best way to find the right one for you? There are a couple of things you should consider before you make a purchase, from the space you're looking to cool to the air quality. And if you suffer from allergies, we asked a physician to break down the benefits of having a portable air conditioner.
Benefits of a portable air conditioner
Eliminate potential allergens
If you don’t have central air in your home or office, a portable air conditioning unit can also be an important tool in managing your allergies. “Having an air conditioner allows windows in the home to be closed, decreasing pollen entry into the home,” said Dr. Jennifer Diaz of ENT & Allergy Associates in Long Island, New York. She goes on to mention that they also help you breathe easily by filtering air and removing allergens.
And because many seasonal allergy sufferers also deal with indoor allergens year-round, “AC also decreases the humidity in your environment, making it more difficult for indoor allergens like mold and dust mites to proliferate,” she said.
It also helps to know what you’re allergic to. If you have trouble with dust, then one with a HEPA filter is best, says Diaz. But if your issue is pollen, then standard filters are typically sufficient at trapping these larger particles, she says.
What to look for in a portable air conditioner
Look for easy-to-clean filters
Another pro tip: Keep filters clean. Dirty filters won’t work to trap nasties as well, and they may even push more dust out into your surroundings, says Diaz. You want to find a unit that has filters that are easy to replace or clean.
Consider the space you’d like to put the unit in
Before you make a purchase, research the size requirements of the room it’s going to be in. While the portability makes it seem like you can take it from the living room to the bedroom to the office, one designed for a smaller space won’t function as well in a larger room, and many also have to be hooked up to the window for ventilation, which the brands normally note on the production descriptions.
Additionally, consider your sleep when picking something for the bedroom. “Temperature is a key consideration for sleep,” Rebecca Robbins, a sleep researcher and co-author of “Sleep for Success"! previously told us when discussing the best cooling fans.
“Although a fan cannot lower the temperature of a room, it can create a sensation of the room being cooler by creating a wind chill effect that can promote evaporation of sweat,” she explains.
Below, we're rounding up portable air conditioning units that cool down a room quickly, filter out allergens and look great, too (because you don’t want a monstrosity hanging out with you).
Best portable air conditioners to shop
Best budget
You won't need to install this unit through a window; the cooling system requires ice boxes to lower the airflow temperature.
Best for small spaces
The brand says this slim design allows you to easily move it from room to room and keep out of the way of your daily activities — all while keeping you cool.
Best lightweight air conditioner
This AC unit gives you easy access to the filter, so you can keep your home free of allergens. Plus, Amazon reviewers say the system is really quiet.
Best smart air conditioner
This 3-in-1 unit also has a sleek design, so it won't clash too much with your bedroom decor.
Editor's pick
Commerce editor Vivien Moon says she was impressed with how easy this was to set up and how well it worked.
"I do find that it has a stronger reach than my window unit and is better at distributing cool air. It also has a "dry" a.k.a. dehumidifying mode, which I am excited to use on the really muggy, humid days that can happen in the summer," she says.
Best for large spaces
If you need to cool a larger home, this bestselling unit is great for large areas and has smart capabilities through an app, so you can control it from your phone.
Best for purifying
This Dyson system has a purifier with a HEPA filter to thoroughly eliminate allergens in your home. Its small stature allows you to place it on counters, dressers, desks or tuck it away in an office corner.
How we chose
We chose the portable air conditioners based on insights and recommendations from a medical doctor specializing in allergies. We also included editor and shopper picks to complete the list, prioritizing positive user reviews and customer feedback.
Meet the experts
- Dr. Jennifer Diaz is a physician specializing in adult and pediatric allergy, asthma and immunology at ENT & Allergy Associates in Long Island, New York.
- Rebecca Robbins is a sleep researcher and co-author of “Sleep for Success!”
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