12,000 BTU U-shaped window air conditioner
Midea MAW12U1KWT
Very good efficiency for its size: a CEER of 16.0 ranks #4 of 34 12,000 BTU window air conditioners.
It cools a room of about 450-550 sq ft, draws about 750 watts and costs about $101 a year to run at typical U.S. use and prices.
- CEER
- 16.0 Combined efficiency, higher is betterVery good · beats 82%
- Cooling
- 12,000 BTU/hFor about 450-550 sq ft
- Energy use
- 563 kWh/yr47% less than the federal minimum
- Unit size
- 19.2" wide 13.5" high, 22" deep, 58 lb
A good fit if…
- You want low bills - its CEER beats 82% of 12,000 BTU window air conditioners.
- You want a quieter room and a usable window - the window closes into the U, so the compressor sits outside the glass.
- You want to plug it into an ordinary outlet - it runs on 115 V.
- You want the very top tier - it meets the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient criteria.
Think twice if…
- You also need heat - it cools only.
Calculate my running costCheck the size for my room
Details
Specifications
| General | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Midea |
| Model number | MAW12U1KWT |
| Type | Window |
| Design | U-shaped (window closes through it) |
| Heating | No, cooling only |
| Compressor | Variable speed (inverter) |
| Voltage | 115 V (standard outlet) |
| Refrigerant | R-32 (GWP 675) |
| Support bracket included | Yes |
| On the market since | July 14, 2026 |
| Last certified | July 14, 2026 |
| Performance | |
| Cooling capacity | 12,000 BTU/h |
| CEERCombined energy efficiency ratio, includes standby power | 16.0 |
| Yearly energy useENERGY STAR test: 750 hours | 563 kWh |
| Better than federal minimum | 47% less energy |
| ENERGY STAR Most Efficient | Yes |
| Size | |
| Width × height × depth | 19.2" W × 13.5" H × 22" D |
| Weight | 58 lb |
How it compares with 33 other 12,000 BTU window units
- CEER (class median 15.0)16.0, tied with 7 others
- Yearly cost vs. class median ($108)$7 less
- Width 19.2" (class median 20.7")narrower than 70%
- Weight 58 lb (class median 59 lb)lighter than 55%
- Rank among 12 similar designs (U-shaped)#1
Compared with the other ENERGY STAR certified 12,000 BTU window units. Yearly cost at 750 hours and 18.0¢/kWh.
Same unit, other model numbers
Questions
- How many square feet does the Midea MAW12U1KWT cool?
- At 12,000 BTU/h it suits a room of about 450 to 550 sq ft with normal sun and two people, following the ENERGY STAR sizing guide. In a heavily shaded room that stretches to about 495-605 sq ft; in a very sunny one it shrinks to 405-495 sq ft. A kitchen needs 4,000 BTU more.
- How many watts and amps does the Midea MAW12U1KWT use?
- About 750 watts at full power (12,000 BTU/h divided by its CEER of 16.0), which is 6.5 amps at 115 V. That is 50 W less than the typical unit in its class (800 W), or $7 a year cheaper to run at 18.0¢/kWh. Its inverter compressor slows down instead of cycling, so real use is usually lower. Its CEER beats 71% of the 34 units in the class.
- Can the Midea MAW12U1KWT run on a standard outlet?
- Yes. It runs on 115 V and draws about 6.5 A, well inside a standard 15 A outlet, but do not share the circuit with a space heater, microwave or other big load. 12% of certified units in this class need 230 V, so a 115 V model is the easy case.
- What are the dimensions of the Midea MAW12U1KWT, and will it fit my window?
- 19.2" W × 13.5" H × 22" D, 58 lb. It is narrower than 70% of its 33 competitors and lighter than 55% of them. The window closes into the U-shaped slot, so measure the opening height as well as the width: you need at least the unit's 19.2" width between the frame sides.
- Is the Midea MAW12U1KWT U-shaped design an advantage?
- Mostly yes. The sash closes into the unit, so the window stays sealed and daylight comes in, and the compressor is outside the glass, which cuts noise indoors. The trade-off is a window that must slide up and down, and a few extra steps to fit the foam seals.
- Can the Midea MAW12U1KWT also heat the room?
- No, it only cools. If you also need heat, 5 certified units in this class can do both; see the list of air conditioners with heat.
- Is the Midea MAW12U1KWT worth buying to replace an old air conditioner?
- An old unit of the same size at 9 CEER would cost about $180 a year to run at 750 hours and 18.0¢/kWh; this one costs about $101, so it saves roughly $79 a year.
- Is the Midea MAW12U1KWT the same as the Midea MAW12U1KWT-A?
- As far as the certified data goes, yes. ENERGY STAR lists 3 model numbers with the same capacity, efficiency, energy use, dimensions and weight, which means the same unit sold under another brand or with a different colour or retailer code. The full list is on this page.
Running cost calculator
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Closest alternatives
Units with a similar CEER in the same class, and what sets each one apart from the Midea MAW12U1KWT.
| Model | CEER | Compared with this one |
|---|---|---|
| Frigidaire Gallery GHWW125TF1 | 16.0 | same CEER, standard box |
| Whirlpool WHAW121CWX | 16.0 | same CEER, 0.6" wider, 6 lb lighter |
| Hisense AWUS1227TW | 16.0 | same CEER, 1.1" wider |
| Midea MAW12U1KWT-M | 16.0 | same CEER, saddle design |
| Midea MWEUWA-12CRFN8-BCP0 | 16.0 | same CEER, 8 lb lighter, standard box |
See all 34 12,000 BTU window air conditioners, ranked
Source: ENERGY STAR Certified Room Air Conditioners (U.S. EPA), certification of July 14, 2026. How we use the data.