What is the best portable air conditioner with heat (heater combo)?

On certified efficiency, 12,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 14.2 CEER: 12,000 BTU of real cooling at 14.2 CEER, about $114 a year at typical U.S. use. If dual-hose matters more, the pick is 12,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 12.8 CEER. Every DOE-certified portable unit with a heating function, ranked by cooling efficiency (CEER).

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.

Is a portable air conditioner with heat cheaper than a space heater?

Only if its heating mode is a heat pump, and the certified data does not say which kind each unit has. A heat pump moves heat and delivers more heat per kWh than an electric element, but a resistance element costs the same as any space heater. Ask the maker, and check the heating capacity too: 29 rating profiles (418 model numbers) in this list heat, 69 of those model numbers with two hoses.

Best portable air conditioner with heat (heater combo)

These units add a heating mode to the cooling. The DOE data records only that a heating function exists, not how it works: some are heat pumps, some use an electric element. Ask the maker which before you count on it for savings.

Best overall

12,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 14.2 CEER

12,000 BTU (SACC) · dual-hose · heats too · inverter

e.g. Midea MAP14HS1TBL, Whynter ARC-1230WNH and 8 more

CEER: 14.2
Power draw: 845 W
Per year: $114

Highest CEER (14.2) of the units that also heat.

Ratings, size and running cost

Best dual-hose

12,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 12.8 CEER

12,000 BTU (SACC) · dual-hose · heats too · inverter

e.g. TCL 344286217, Rnice YAC-12CHPD/PD1BpSG and 16 more

CEER: 12.8
Power draw: 938 W
Per year: $127

Heats and cools with two hoses. CEER 12.8.

Ratings, size and running cost

Most cooling

Serenelife SLACHT168

12,000 BTU (SACC) · dual-hose · heats too

CEER: 12.3
Power draw: 976 W
Per year: $132

12,000 BTU of real cooling and a heating mode.

Ratings, size and running cost

Models that qualify418 from 66 brands
Efficiency range5.0-14.2 CEER
Typical running cost$171/yr
Dual-hose16% of models
Inverter compressor14% of models

All 29, ranked

Every DOE-certified portable unit with a heating function, ranked by cooling efficiency (CEER). Each row is a rating profile: every model number certified at the same ratings.

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

#					Features
1	12,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 14.2 CEERe.g. Midea MAP14HS1TBL, Whynter ARC-1230WNH + 8 more	12,000	14.2	$114	Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
2	12,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 12.8 CEERe.g. TCL 344286217, Rnice YAC-12CHPD/PD1BpSG + 16 more	12,000	12.8	$127	Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
3	10,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 12.8 CEERe.g. Rnice YAC-10CHPD/PD1BpSG + 8 more	10,000	12.8	$106	Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
4	Serenelife SLACHT1684 model numbers	12,000	12.3	$132	Dual-hose, Heat
5	Hisense AP-10UR1RSBD606 model numbers, 2 brands	10,000	12.2	$111	Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
6	Frigidaire Gallery GHPH142AA11 model number	10,000	12.2	$111	Single-hose, Heat, Inverter
7	Hisense 65172771 model number	12,000	12.0	$135	Dual-hose, Heat, Gravity drain
8	TCL W10PDH568 model numbers, 3 brands	10,300	12.0	$116	Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
9	Serenelife SLINV12CHPD1 model number	8,200	12.0	$92	Dual-hose, Heat
10	TCL T08PQ4SD1 model number	8,200	12.0	$92	Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
11	ACHIMCO PAC-A026A-10KRH3 model numbers, 3 brands	10,300	10.0	$139	Single-hose, Heat, Inverter
12	COSTWAY FP10772US-WH2 model numbers	10,300	10.0	$139	Single-hose, Heat
13	Sea Breeze PADH314HPM1 model number	12,000	8.9	$182	Dual-hose, Heat
14	Airo comfort AC16MWS2 model numbers	12,000	8.4	$193	Dual-hose, Heat
15	Moxeay MY12221 model number	10,800	8.1	$180	Single-hose, Heat
16	simzlife PAC012-14K5 model numbers	10,300	8.1	$172	Single-hose, Heat
17	Whynter ARC-147WFH5 model numbers, 2 brands	10,000	7.9	$171	Dual-hose, Heat
18	10,000 BTU single-hose portable AC with heat, 7.9 CEERe.g. Midea MAP10HS1WBL, Whynter ARC-148MHP + 157 more	10,000	7.9	$171	Single-hose, Heat
19	Whynter ARC-14SH1 model number	9,200	7.8	$160	Dual-hose, Heat
20	Eaton SRCOOL12KE4 model numbers, 2 brands	9,250	7.6	$165	Single-hose, Heat, Condensate pump
21	icyberboom RHKT140301 model number	9,200	7.6	$164	Single-hose, Heat
22	8,250 BTU single-hose portable AC with heat, 7.6 CEERe.g. Serenelife SLACHT128, simzlife PAC012-12K + 8 more	8,250	7.6	$147	Single-hose, Heat
23	8,000 BTU single-hose portable AC with heat, 7.3 CEERe.g. Danby DPA080HE3WDB-6, Rnice YAC-08CHPD/PD1 + 124 more	8,000	7.3	$148	Single-hose, Heat
24	vevor OL-A016LF05N31 model number	6,400	7.1	$122	Single-hose, Heat
25	ACHIMCO PAC-A035A-07KR9 model numbers, 6 brands	7,100	7.0	$137	Single-hose, Heat
26	Whynter ARC-122DHP1 model number	7,000	6.9	$137	Dual-hose, Heat
27	6,000 BTU single-hose portable AC with heat, 6.6 CEERe.g. NINGPU NPL-06H/X1E, Rnice YAC-06CHPD/PL2 + 17 more	6,000	6.6	$123	Single-hose, Heat
28	NINGPU NPP-05H/X1E6 model numbers, 2 brands	5,000	6.3	$107	Single-hose, Heat
29	GOUKA GK-LB1-UBRF2 model numbers	2,800	5.0	$76	Single-hose, Heat, Condensate pump

Before you buy

Tips3

The DOE rates cooling only (CEER). There is no certified heating efficiency for portable units, so compare the heating capacity the maker publishes.
A heating mode still needs the hose vented outside, so the same window kit applies in winter.
If you mainly need heat, a mini-split heat pump is far more efficient than any portable unit.

Questions3

What is the best portable air conditioner with heat (heater combo)?: On certified efficiency, 12,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 14.2 CEER: 12,000 BTU of real cooling at 14.2 CEER, about $114 a year at typical U.S. use. If dual-hose matters more, the pick is 12,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 12.8 CEER. Every DOE-certified portable unit with a heating function, ranked by cooling efficiency (CEER).
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.
Is a portable air conditioner with heat cheaper than a space heater?: Only if its heating mode is a heat pump, and the certified data does not say which kind each unit has. A heat pump moves heat and delivers more heat per kWh than an electric element, but a resistance element costs the same as any space heater. Ask the maker, and check the heating capacity too: 29 rating profiles (418 model numbers) in this list heat, 69 of those model numbers with two hoses.

Best portable air conditioner with heat (heater combo)

Top picks

12,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 14.2 CEER

12,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 12.8 CEER

Serenelife SLACHT168

All 29, ranked

Before you buy

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