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      Best portable air conditioner for a large room

      Living rooms and open-plan spaces of 400 to 550 sq ft need 10,000 to 12,000 BTU of real cooling. Few portable units reach that: this is where dual-hose and inverter designs dominate the certified list.

      All 41, ranked

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

      Filter by size, brand or features

      41 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
      312,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 14.2 CEERe.g. Midea MAP14HS1TBL, Whynter ARC-1230WNH + 8 more12,00014.2$114Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
      4Midea MAP14S1TBL7 model numbers, 3 brands12,00013.8$118Dual-hose, Inverter
      5Danby DPA120CBIMBDB-61 model number12,00013.8$118Dual-hose
      6Gsabye CoolPrime 100002 model numbers10,50013.6$104Dual-hose
      7Hisense 43508121 model number10,00013.3$102Dual-hose, Gravity drain
      8Gasbye CoolPrime 12000-W1 model number12,40013.0$129Dual-hose, Inverter
      912,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC, 12.8 CEERe.g. Rnice YAC-12CPD/PD1BpSG, Agtana AGPAC-12-BP1 + 75 more12,00012.8$127Dual-hose, Inverter
      1012,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 12.8 CEERe.g. TCL 344286217, Rnice YAC-12CHPD/PD1BpSG + 16 more12,00012.8$127Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
      1110,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC, 12.8 CEERe.g. Rnice YAC-10CPD/PD1BpSG, EUHOMY PAC005-14K + 57 more10,00012.8$106Dual-hose, Inverter
      1210,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 12.8 CEERe.g. Rnice YAC-10CHPD/PD1BpSG + 8 more10,00012.8$106Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
      13Frigidaire Gallery GHPC142AA11 model number10,50012.5$114Single-hose, Inverter
      14Serenelife SLACHT1684 model numbers12,00012.3$132Dual-hose, Heat
      15Hisense AP-10UR1RSBD606 model numbers, 2 brands10,00012.2$111Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
      16Frigidaire Gallery GHPH142AA11 model number10,00012.2$111Single-hose, Heat, Inverter
      17Midea MAP12DV1XWT-A1 model number12,00012.1$134Dual-hose, Inverter
      18Hisense 65172771 model number12,00012.0$135Dual-hose, Heat, Gravity drain
      1910,300 BTU dual-hose portable AC, 12.0 CEERe.g. TCL H10PD56W + 15 more10,30012.0$116Dual-hose
      20TCL W10PDH568 model numbers, 3 brands10,30012.0$116Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
      21TCL T10PQ3SD6 model numbers, 2 brands10,30012.0$116Dual-hose, Inverter
      2210,000 BTU single-hose portable AC, 12.0 CEERe.g. Antarctic Star OL-A018DD10N3BP/S, Auseo OL-A018DD10N3BP/S + 15 more10,00012.0$113Single-hose
      23Midea MAP10V1JWT2 model numbers10,00012.0$113Single-hose, Inverter
      2410,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC, 11.8 CEERe.g. Midea MAP10DV1XWT-A, Whynter ARC-1280MX + 44 more10,00011.8$115Dual-hose, Inverter
      25Power Breezer H950SL1 model number13,60011.4$161Dual-hose, Inverter, Bucket
      2612,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC, 11.2 CEERe.g. Agtana AGBP-12CPD-C1, Domanki DKPAC-12BP-C1 + 24 more12,00011.2$145Dual-hose, Inverter
      27ACHIMCO PAC-A026A-10KRH3 model numbers, 3 brands10,30010.0$139Single-hose, Heat, Inverter
      28COSTWAY FP10772US-WH2 model numbers10,30010.0$139Single-hose, Heat
      29Tripp Lite SRCOOL24KE1 model number16,0009.8$221Single-hose
      30Sea Breeze PADH314HPM1 model number12,0008.9$182Dual-hose, Heat
      31Sea Breeze PADH312M1 model number10,0008.9$152Dual-hose
      32Airo comfort AC16MWS2 model numbers12,0008.4$193Dual-hose, Heat
      3310,800 BTU single-hose portable AC, 8.1 CEERe.g. COSTWAY FP11025US-WH, ACEKOOL PAC-M15 + 14 more10,8008.1$180Single-hose
      34Moxeay MY12221 model number10,8008.1$180Single-hose, Heat
      3510,300 BTU single-hose portable AC, 8.1 CEERe.g. Midea MAP10S1WBL, Whynter ARC-148MS + 42 more10,3008.1$172Single-hose
      36simzlife PAC012-14K5 model numbers10,3008.1$172Single-hose, Heat
      37Whynter ARC-147WFH5 model numbers, 2 brands10,0007.9$171Dual-hose, Heat
      3810,000 BTU single-hose portable AC, 7.9 CEERe.g. LG LP1027WS, Midea MAP10S1XWT + 308 more10,0007.9$171Single-hose
      3910,000 BTU single-hose portable AC with heat, 7.9 CEERe.g. Midea MAP10HS1WBL, Whynter ARC-148MHP + 157 more10,0007.9$171Single-hose, Heat
      40LG LP1022FVSM2 model numbers10,0007.9$171Single-hose, Inverter
      41Whynter ARC-147WF1 model number10,0007.8$173Dual-hose

      Before you buy

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

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

      Tips3
      • Portable units rarely certify above 12,000 SACC. For a room over about 550 sq ft, a window, through-the-wall or mini-split system is the better tool.
      • In a large room a single-hose unit works hardest against the air it pulls in. Prefer two hoses.
      • A portable unit cools the area around it first; point it at where you sit.
      Questions3
      What is the best portable air conditioner for a large room?
      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 most cooling matters more, the pick is Tripp Lite SRCOOL24KE. Portable units certified at 10,000 BTU of real cooling (SACC) or more, ranked by CEER.
      What size portable air conditioner do I need for a large room?
      Following the ENERGY STAR floor-area table, applied to real cooling (SACC): living room of 450 sq ft, about 10,000 BTU SACC; large living room of 550 sq ft, about 12,000 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 (10,000 BTU SACC, 7.9 CEER) draws about 1266 watts and costs about $171 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