What size room does a unit with these ratings cool?

10,300 BTU of real cooling (SACC) suits about 350 to 450 sq ft with normal sun and two people (about 315-405 sq ft if very sunny), by the ENERGY STAR floor-area table. Size by SACC, not the larger BTU on the box.

How many watts does a unit with these ratings use, and what does it cost to run?

About 1272 watts at full power (10,300 BTU/h divided by its CEER of 8.1), roughly 11.1 amps if it runs on 115 V. At 750 hours a year and 18.0¢/kWh that is about $172, which is $1 more than the typical certified 10,000 BTU portable unit ($171). Its CEER beats 71% of the 706 certified models in its size class.

Is a one-hose portable air conditioner a problem?

It is the common design: 78% of the certified 10,000 BTU models have one hose, with a median of 7.9 CEER. The top-ranked Midea MAP12S1TBL has two hoses and 14.7 CEER.

Do I have to empty a unit with these ratings?

Usually not. It evaporates the water it removes and sends it out through the exhaust hose. In very humid weather the pan can still fill, and most units then stop and ask to be drained, so keep a drain hose or a bucket handy.

Can a unit with these ratings also heat the room?

No, it only cools. 200 of the 706 certified 10,000 BTU portable models can also heat if you want one unit for the year.

Is a unit with these ratings as efficient as a window air conditioner?

No. The 32 ENERGY STAR certified window units that cool about as much (within 15% of 10,300 BTU) have a median CEER of 15.0, against 8.1 here, and the best reach 17.6. At 750 hours a year a window unit with that median would cost about $93, $79 less than this one. ENERGY STAR window units are the more efficient part of the window market, so the gap to an average window unit is smaller. A portable unit makes sense when a window unit will not fit or is not allowed.

Which model numbers have the same ratings as a unit with these ratings?

44 certified model numbers from 20 brands share these ratings: capacity, CEER, hose design, heating, drain type and compressor. They may be the same unit under different brands, or different products that test the same; the DOE data does not include dimensions or noise, so check those with the maker. The full list is on this page.

10,300 BTU (SACC) single-hose portable air conditioner

10,300 BTU single-hose portable AC, 8.1 CEER

Very good efficiency for its size: a CEER of 8.1 beats 71% of the certified 10,000 BTU portable air conditioners.

A unit with these ratings delivers 10,300 BTU of real cooling (SACC), enough for about 350-450 sq ft, draws about 1272 watts and costs about $172 a year to run at typical U.S. use and prices. A window unit that cools as much costs about $93 a year.

Includes Midea MAP10S1WBL, Whynter ARC-148MS, Pelonis PAP13R1CWT and 41 more model numbers, all certified at these ratings. Full list

CEER: 8.1 Combined efficiency, higher is better
Very good · beats 71%
Real cooling: 10,300 BTU/h (SACC)For about 350-450 sq ft
Energy use: 954 kWh/yrAbout 1272 W, at 750 hours a year
Design: One hose Uses room air for its condenser

A good fit if…

You want low bills - its CEER beats 71% of the 706 certified 10,000 BTU portable models.
You do not want to empty a bucket - it evaporates the water and sends it out through the hose in normal weather.

Think twice if…

You want the most efficient design - one-hose units pull warm air in through gaps; dual-hose units lead the efficiency ranks.
You also need heat - it cools only.

Calculate my running cost Check the size for my room

Details

Certified ratings10,300 BTU SACC, 8.1 CEER

Performance
Real cooling capacity (SACC)Seasonally adjusted cooling capacity: what the unit delivers in the DOE test, after the heat it lets back in	10,300 BTU/h
CEERCombined energy efficiency ratio, includes standby power	8.1
Range across these modelsCertified ratings differ by test noise	10,300 BTU, 7.9-8.1 CEER
Power drawSACC divided by CEER	About 1272 W
Yearly energy use750 hours of cooling a year	954 kWh
Design
Hose design	Single-duct (one hose)
Heating	No, cooling only
Compressor	Single speed
Water removal	Self-evaporating (exhausts the water through the hose)
Certification
Certified model numbers	44 (44 basic models)
Brands	20
Size class	10,000 BTU

Model numbers with these ratings44 from 20 brands

These model numbers are certified with the same capacity, efficiency, hose design, heating, drain type and compressor.They may be the same unit sold under several brands, or different products that test the same: the DOE data has no dimensions or noise figures, so check those with the maker. Ratings within about 2% in capacity and 0.3 in CEER are treated as the same; a model whose own rating differs a little shows it in brackets.

MideaMAP10S1WBL (7.9 CEER)
WhynterARC-148MS (7.9 CEER)
PelonisPAP13R1CWT (7.9 CEER)
Vissani331617259 (7.9 CEER)
EUHOMYPAC011-14K, PAC011-14KWH-CAEH, PAC011-14KWH-CAZX, PAC011-14KWH-USEH, PAC011-14KWH-USZX
simzlifePAC011-14K, PAC011-14KWH-CAEH, PAC011-14KWH-CAZX, PAC011-14KWH-USEH, PAC011-14KWH-USZX
AKIRESHY14MAC003, AK-HY14MAC003, OL-A018ED10N3B1/S, AK-OL-A018ED10N3B1/S
MEPTYHY14MAC003, ME-HY14MAC003, OL-A018ED10N3B1/S, ME-OL-A018ED10N3B1/S
GUNJIGJ1309PAC14, OL-A018ED10N3B1/S
KAIMENGKM1309PAC14, OL-A018ED10N3B1/S
KinethemeKT1309PAC14, OL-A018ED10N3B1/S
MANASTINMS1309PAC14, OL-A018ED10N3B1/S
NepsamNS1309PAC14, OL-A018ED10N3B1/S
NexaroNX1309PAC14, OL-A018ED10N3B1/S
PatiosunnyPS1309PAC14, OL-A018ED10N3B1/S
TEHANLDTH1309PAC14, OL-A018ED10N3B1/S
UrbanSyncUS1309PAC14, OL-A018ED10N3B1/S
UthfyHY14MAC003, OL-A018ED10N3B1/S
Sea BreezePAS414MSB (7.9 CEER)
SPTWA-S1032E (7.9 CEER)

How it compares with the other 10,000 BTU portable units34 rating profiles

CEER (class median 7.9)8.1, tied with 3 other profiles
Yearly cost vs. class median ($171)$1 more
Efficiency rank among 34 rating profiles#22
Models in the class with two hoses22%
Window units with similar cooling (median CEER 15.0)$93 a year

Compared with every DOE-certified portable unit in the same size class (SACC). Each model number counts once. Yearly cost at 750 hours and 18.0¢/kWh.

Yearly running cost by city$23-$343

This rating profile at each city's cooling hours and state electricity price, against a window unit that cools as much.

City	Hours	¢/kWh	Per year	Window unit
Phoenix, AZ	1675	15.5	$330	$178
Houston, TX	1400	16.0	$285	$154
Miami, FL	1750	15.4	$343	$185
Atlanta, GA	775	15.1	$149	$80
New York, NY	525	28.4	$189	$102
Chicago, IL	475	19.0	$115	$62
Denver, CO	350	16.6	$74	$40
Seattle, WA	125	14.2	$23	$12

Ranked around it in the 10,000 BTU class#22 of 34

#	Model	BTU (SACC)	CEER	Per year
19	Power Breezer H750L	9,000	8.4	$145
20	10,800 BTU single-hose portable AC, 8.1 CEER	10,800	8.1	$180
21	Moxeay MY1222	10,800	8.1	$180
22	10,300 BTU single-hose portable AC, 8.1 CEER	10,300	8.1	$172
23	simzlife PAC012-14K	10,300	8.1	$172
24	ACEKOOL PAC-M01	9,300	8.0	$157
25	Whynter ARC-147WFH	10,000	7.9	$171

Questions7

What size room does a unit with these ratings cool?: 10,300 BTU of real cooling (SACC) suits about 350 to 450 sq ft with normal sun and two people (about 315-405 sq ft if very sunny), by the ENERGY STAR floor-area table. Size by SACC, not the larger BTU on the box.
How many watts does a unit with these ratings use, and what does it cost to run?: About 1272 watts at full power (10,300 BTU/h divided by its CEER of 8.1), roughly 11.1 amps if it runs on 115 V. At 750 hours a year and 18.0¢/kWh that is about $172, which is $1 more than the typical certified 10,000 BTU portable unit ($171). Its CEER beats 71% of the 706 certified models in its size class.
Is a one-hose portable air conditioner a problem?: It is the common design: 78% of the certified 10,000 BTU models have one hose, with a median of 7.9 CEER. The top-ranked Midea MAP12S1TBL has two hoses and 14.7 CEER.
Do I have to empty a unit with these ratings?: Usually not. It evaporates the water it removes and sends it out through the exhaust hose. In very humid weather the pan can still fill, and most units then stop and ask to be drained, so keep a drain hose or a bucket handy.
Can a unit with these ratings also heat the room?: No, it only cools. 200 of the 706 certified 10,000 BTU portable models can also heat if you want one unit for the year.
Is a unit with these ratings as efficient as a window air conditioner?: No. The 32 ENERGY STAR certified window units that cool about as much (within 15% of 10,300 BTU) have a median CEER of 15.0, against 8.1 here, and the best reach 17.6. At 750 hours a year a window unit with that median would cost about $93, $79 less than this one. ENERGY STAR window units are the more efficient part of the window market, so the gap to an average window unit is smaller. A portable unit makes sense when a window unit will not fit or is not allowed.
Which model numbers have the same ratings as a unit with these ratings?: 44 certified model numbers from 20 brands share these ratings: capacity, CEER, hose design, heating, drain type and compressor. They may be the same unit under different brands, or different products that test the same; the DOE data does not include dimensions or noise, so check those with the maker. The full list is on this page.

Running cost calculator

Pre-filled with these ratings. Pick your state and how many hours you run it, or see what portable units cost to run in every state.

1. The air conditioner 10,300 BTU, 8.1 CEER

Cooling capacity BTU/hCEER efficiency, higher is better

2. How you use it

StateElectricity ¢ per kWhHours a day at full powerDays a year from your state's climate

Per year: $269
Per month of use: $49
Per day: $1.63
Per hour: 20.3¢
Power draw: 1272 W

Electricity used: 1,679 kWh a yearAn old 9 CEER unit of the same size would cost $242

Power draw is capacity divided by CEER, which already includes standby power. Inverter units often run below full power, so real use can be lower. Electricity prices: U.S. EIA residential averages (12 months to July 2026). Days a year start from your state's cooling degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).

Closest alternatives

Rating profiles with a similar CEER in the same size class, and what sets each one apart from a unit with these ratings.

Model	CEER	Compared with this one
simzlife PAC012-14K	8.1	same CEER, also heats
Whynter ARC-147WFH	7.9	0.2 CEER lower, 300 BTU less cooling, dual-hose, also heats
Moxeay MY1222	8.1	same CEER, 500 BTU more cooling, also heats
10,800 BTU single-hose portable AC, 8.1 CEER	8.1	same CEER, 500 BTU more cooling
LG LP1022FVSM	7.9	0.2 CEER lower, 300 BTU less cooling, inverter

See all 34 10,000 BTU portable air conditioners, ranked

Before you buy

The Department of Energy lists every certified model, including some no longer sold: check availability before you buy. Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Compliance Certification Database (portable air conditioners), updated 2026-10-14. How we use the data.