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      Best portable air conditioner for an apartment

      Where a window unit is not allowed (some leases, casement windows, windows that do not open far) a portable unit is the fallback. Look for two hoses, real cooling that matches the room and a unit that is light enough to move yourself.

      All 68, ranked

      Portable units certified at 6,000 to 10,999 BTU of real cooling (SACC), ranked by CEER. Each row is a rating profile: every model number certified at the same ratings.

      Filter by size, brand or features

      68 rating profiles, ranked by CEER (efficiency). Yearly cost at 750 hours and the U.S. average electricity price.

      #Features
      1Midea MAP12S1TBL6 model numbers, 3 brands10,00014.7$92Dual-hose, Inverter
      2Danby DPA100B9IWDB-61 model number10,00014.7$92Dual-hose
      3Gsabye CoolPrime 100002 model numbers10,50013.6$104Dual-hose
      4Hisense HIAP0825TWD1 model number8,00013.5$80Dual-hose
      5Hisense 43508121 model number10,00013.3$102Dual-hose, Gravity drain
      6Hisense HAP0825TWD3 model numbers8,00013.0$83Dual-hose, Inverter
      710,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC, 12.8 CEERe.g. Rnice YAC-10CPD/PD1BpSG, EUHOMY PAC005-14K + 57 more10,00012.8$106Dual-hose, Inverter
      810,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 12.8 CEERe.g. Rnice YAC-10CHPD/PD1BpSG + 8 more10,00012.8$106Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
      9Frigidaire Gallery GHPC142AA11 model number10,50012.5$114Single-hose, Inverter
      10Hisense AP-10UR1RSBD606 model numbers, 2 brands10,00012.2$111Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
      11Frigidaire Gallery GHPH142AA11 model number10,00012.2$111Single-hose, Heat, Inverter
      1210,300 BTU dual-hose portable AC, 12.0 CEERe.g. TCL H10PD56W + 15 more10,30012.0$116Dual-hose
      13TCL W10PDH568 model numbers, 3 brands10,30012.0$116Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
      14TCL T10PQ3SD6 model numbers, 2 brands10,30012.0$116Dual-hose, Inverter
      15Serenelife SLINV12CHPD1 model number8,20012.0$92Dual-hose, Heat
      16Serenelife SLINV12CPD1 model number8,20012.0$92Dual-hose
      17TCL T08PQ4SD1 model number8,20012.0$92Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
      1810,000 BTU single-hose portable AC, 12.0 CEERe.g. Antarctic Star OL-A018DD10N3BP/S, Auseo OL-A018DD10N3BP/S + 15 more10,00012.0$113Single-hose
      19Midea MAP10V1JWT2 model numbers10,00012.0$113Single-hose, Inverter
      20Midea MAP08V1JWT3 model numbers, 2 brands8,00012.0$90Single-hose, Inverter
      2110,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC, 11.8 CEERe.g. Midea MAP10DV1XWT-A, Whynter ARC-1280MX + 44 more10,00011.8$115Dual-hose, Inverter
      228,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC, 11.5 CEERe.g. Agtana AGPAC-08-BP1, Fosawd HXPAC-08-BP1 + 42 more8,00011.5$94Dual-hose, Inverter
      238,300 BTU single-hose portable AC, 10.7 CEERe.g. Antarctic Star A011E-8K, Auseo A011E-8K + 47 more8,30010.7$105Single-hose
      24ACHIMCO PAC-A026A-10KRH3 model numbers, 3 brands10,30010.0$139Single-hose, Heat, Inverter
      25COSTWAY FP10772US-WH2 model numbers10,30010.0$139Single-hose, Heat
      26Sea Breeze PADH312M1 model number10,0008.9$152Dual-hose
      27Power Breezer H750L1 model number9,0008.4$145Single-hose, Inverter, Bucket
      28Hisense AP0822CW1W1 model number8,1508.2$134Single-hose
      2910,800 BTU single-hose portable AC, 8.1 CEERe.g. COSTWAY FP11025US-WH, ACEKOOL PAC-M15 + 14 more10,8008.1$180Single-hose
      30Moxeay MY12221 model number10,8008.1$180Single-hose, Heat
      3110,300 BTU single-hose portable AC, 8.1 CEERe.g. Midea MAP10S1WBL, Whynter ARC-148MS + 42 more10,3008.1$172Single-hose
      32simzlife PAC012-14K5 model numbers10,3008.1$172Single-hose, Heat
      33ACEKOOL PAC-M018 model numbers, 2 brands9,3008.0$157Single-hose
      34Whynter ARC-147WFH5 model numbers, 2 brands10,0007.9$171Dual-hose, Heat
      35Whynter ARC-14S1 model number9,5007.9$163Dual-hose
      3610,000 BTU single-hose portable AC, 7.9 CEERe.g. LG LP1027WS, Midea MAP10S1XWT + 308 more10,0007.9$171Single-hose
      3710,000 BTU single-hose portable AC with heat, 7.9 CEERe.g. Midea MAP10HS1WBL, Whynter ARC-148MHP + 157 more10,0007.9$171Single-hose, Heat
      38LG LP1022FVSM2 model numbers10,0007.9$171Single-hose, Inverter
      39Whynter ARC-147WF1 model number10,0007.8$173Dual-hose
      40Whynter ARC-14SH1 model number9,2007.8$160Dual-hose, Heat
      419,250 BTU single-hose portable AC, 7.6 CEERe.g. Serenelife PC9R-AMB, air master PC9R-AMB + 8 more9,2507.6$165Single-hose
      42Eaton SRCOOL12KE4 model numbers, 2 brands9,2507.6$165Single-hose, Heat, Condensate pump
      43icyberboom RHKT140301 model number9,2007.6$164Single-hose, Heat
      448,250 BTU single-hose portable AC, 7.6 CEERe.g. LG LP0825WSSM, BLACK+DECKER BPT08WTB + 67 more8,2507.6$147Single-hose
      458,250 BTU single-hose portable AC with heat, 7.6 CEERe.g. Serenelife SLACHT128, simzlife PAC012-12K + 8 more8,2507.6$147Single-hose, Heat
      466,450 BTU single-hose portable AC, 7.4 CEERe.g. Antarctic Star A011D2-10K, Auseo A011D2-10K + 31 more6,4507.4$118Single-hose
      47Gasbye CoolPrime 8000-B2 model numbers8,3007.3$154Dual-hose
      48GE APHS08W +RAP041 model number8,0007.3$148Dual-hose
      498,000 BTU single-hose portable AC, 7.3 CEERe.g. LG LP0827WS, Midea MAP08S1WGR + 341 more8,0007.3$148Single-hose
      508,000 BTU single-hose portable AC with heat, 7.3 CEERe.g. Danby DPA080HE3WDB-6, Rnice YAC-08CHPD/PD1 + 124 more8,0007.3$148Single-hose, Heat
      51LG LP0825WFR1 model number8,0007.3$148Single-hose, Bucket
      52LG LP0725WSSM6 model numbers, 4 brands7,4007.3$137Single-hose
      53BLACK+DECKER BPP06WTB2 model numbers6,0007.3$111Single-hose
      54AUX APACM08V11 model number8,0007.2$150Single-hose, Gravity drain
      556,250 BTU single-hose portable AC, 7.2 CEERe.g. EUHOMY PAC002-10K, simzlife PAC002-10K + 103 more6,2507.2$117Single-hose
      56vevor OL-A016LF05N31 model number6,4007.1$122Single-hose, Heat
      577,100 BTU single-hose portable AC, 7.0 CEERe.g. LG LP0721WSR, Midea MAP07R1WWT + 45 more7,1007.0$137Single-hose
      58ACHIMCO PAC-A035A-07KR9 model numbers, 6 brands7,1007.0$137Single-hose, Heat
      59GE APHS07W +RAP042 model numbers, 2 brands7,0006.9$137Dual-hose
      60Whynter ARC-122DHP1 model number7,0006.9$137Dual-hose, Heat
      61Antarctic Star AC7207-7K6 model numbers, 6 brands7,0006.9$137Single-hose, Gravity drain
      62Whynter ARC-115WG1 model number6,8006.9$133Single-hose
      636,500 BTU single-hose portable AC, 6.7 CEERe.g. Frigidaire FHPC102AC1, Danby DPA065B6WDB-6 + 9 more6,5006.7$131Single-hose
      646,300 BTU single-hose portable AC, 6.6 CEERe.g. BLACK+DECKER BPACT10WT, Danby DPA063E1WDB + 9 more6,3006.6$129Single-hose
      656,000 BTU single-hose portable AC, 6.6 CEERe.g. LG LP0621WSR, Midea MAP06R1CWWA + 371 more6,0006.6$123Single-hose
      666,000 BTU single-hose portable AC with heat, 6.6 CEERe.g. NINGPU NPL-06H/X1E, Rnice YAC-06CHPD/PL2 + 17 more6,0006.6$123Single-hose, Heat
      67AUX A039-10K1 model number6,0006.5$125Single-hose, Gravity drain
      68Pelonis PAP10R1BWT3 model numbers, 2 brands5,8006.4$123Single-hose

      Before you buy

      What size for your apartment?ENERGY STAR sizing guide, applied to SACC

      Normal sun and two people. Size calculator for your own room · Why SACC, not the box

      Tips3
      • Check your lease: a portable unit is usually allowed, but some buildings restrict hoses through windows.
      • A sliding-door or casement window needs a vent kit that fits it: measure the opening before you buy.
      • Studios are open-plan: size for the whole floor area, about 8,000-10,000 SACC for 350-450 sq ft.
      Questions3
      What is the best portable air conditioner for an apartment?
      On certified efficiency, Midea MAP12S1TBL: 10,000 BTU of real cooling at 14.7 CEER, about $92 a year at typical U.S. use. If self-evaporating matters more, the pick is Danby DPA100B9IWDB-6. Portable units certified at 6,000 to 10,999 BTU of real cooling (SACC), ranked by CEER.
      What size portable air conditioner do I need for a apartment?
      Following the ENERGY STAR floor-area table, applied to real cooling (SACC): studio of 400 sq ft, about 9,000 BTU SACC; living room of 300 sq ft, about 7,000 BTU SACC; bedroom of 200 sq ft, about 6,000 BTU SACC. The box usually shows a larger number (the older ASHRAE rating), so size by SACC. Size up for a sunny room and down for a shaded one.
      How much does it cost to run?
      A typical unit on this list (8,000 BTU SACC, 7.3 CEER) draws about 1096 watts and costs about $148 a year at 750 hours and the U.S. average electricity price. The calculator works it out for your state.

      More portable air conditioner guides