What size room does a unit with these ratings cool?

12,000 BTU of real cooling (SACC) suits about 450 to 550 sq ft with normal sun and two people (about 405-495 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 938 watts at full power (12,000 BTU/h divided by its CEER of 12.8), roughly 8.2 amps if it runs on 115 V. At 750 hours a year and 18.0¢/kWh that is about $127, which is $0 less than the typical certified 12,000 BTU or more portable unit ($127). Its inverter compressor slows down once the room is cool, so real use is often lower. Its CEER beats 55% of the 147 certified models in its size class.

Why does a unit with these ratings have two hoses?

One hose brings outdoor air in to cool the condenser, the other sends the heat out, so no cooled room air is wasted. 99% of the certified 12,000 BTU or more models have two hoses, and at 12.8 CEER this one is above their 12.8 median.

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. 33 of the 147 certified 12,000 BTU or more 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 40 ENERGY STAR certified window units that cool about as much (within 15% of 12,000 BTU) have a median CEER of 15.0, against 12.8 here, and the best reach 16.8. At 750 hours a year a window unit with that median would cost about $108, $19 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?

77 certified model numbers from 17 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.

12,000 BTU (SACC) dual-hose portable air conditioner and inverter

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

Average efficiency for its size: a CEER of 12.8 beats 55% of the certified 12,000 BTU or more portable air conditioners.

A unit with these ratings delivers 12,000 BTU of real cooling (SACC), enough for about 450-550 sq ft, draws about 938 watts and costs about $127 a year to run at typical U.S. use and prices. A window unit that cools as much costs about $108 a year.

Includes Rnice YAC-12CPD/PD1BpSG, Agtana AGPAC-12-BP1, Domanki DAC-12CPD-BP1 and 74 more model numbers, all certified at these ratings. Full list

CEER: 12.8 Combined efficiency, higher is better
Average · beats 55%
Real cooling: 12,000 BTU/h (SACC)For about 450-550 sq ft
Energy use: 703 kWh/yrAbout 938 W, at 750 hours a year
Design: Two hoses Draws outdoor air for its condenser

A good fit if…

You want the better cooling design - with two hoses it does not pull warm outdoor air into the room to replace what it exhausts.
You want steadier, quieter running - its variable-speed compressor slows down instead of cycling.
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 also need heat - it cools only.
You have limited space - units this size are the largest and heaviest portable air conditioners.

Calculate my running cost Check the size for my room

Details

Certified ratings12,000 BTU SACC, 12.8 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	12,000 BTU/h
CEERCombined energy efficiency ratio, includes standby power	12.8
Power drawSACC divided by CEER	About 938 W
Yearly energy use750 hours of cooling a year	703 kWh
Design
Hose design	Dual-duct (two hoses)
Heating	No, cooling only
Compressor	Variable speed (inverter)
Water removal	Self-evaporating (exhausts the water through the hose)
Certification
Certified model numbers	77 (77 basic models)
Brands	17
Size class	12,000 BTU and up

Model numbers with these ratings77 from 17 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.

RniceYAC-12CPD/PD1BpSG, YAC-12CPD/PD2BpSG, YAC-12CPD/PD3BpSG, YAC-12CPD/PD4BpSG, YAC-12CPD/PD6BpSG, YAC-12CPD/PD8BpSG, YAC-12CPD/PD9BpSG, YAC-12CPD/PDRBpSG, YAC-12CPD/PD10BpSG, YAC-12CPD/PD11BpSG, YAC-12CPD/PD12BpSG
AgtanaAGPAC-12-BP1, BFPAC-12-BP1, WMPAC-12-BP1, PACFC-12C-BP1, PACWD-12C-BP1
DomankiDAC-12CPD-BP1, DAC-12CPD-BP2, DAC-12CPD-BP3, DMAC-12CPD-BP1, DMAC-12CPD-BP2
FosawdHXPAC-12-BP1, FCCEC12-CPDBP1, FDCEC12-CPDBP1, WMCEC12-CPDBP1, LXTCEC12-CPDBP1
HumholdHDPAC-12-BP1, HDPAC-12-BP2, HDPAC-12-BP3, HMPAC-12-BP1, HMPAC-12-BP2
TanoxoPACGZ-12C-BP1, PACGZ-12C-BP2, PACGZ-12C-BP3, PACGZ-12C-BP4, TAC-12CPD-BP1
UpstremanI12-115P, P116-115, PI16-115S, PI16-115W, PI16-115WS
AC InfinityAC-ACN10, AC-ACN11, AC-ACN12, AC-ACN14
Antarctic StarA9092R-12K, 90038EAC0-12K-AS, 90038EAC0-12K-ASZ, YAC-12CPD/PDRBpSG
ElectacticA9092R-12K, 90038EAC0-12K, 90038EAC0-12K-EL, YAC-12CPD/PDRBpSG
KamlamKMCEC12AC-BP1, KMCEC12AC-BP2, KAMCEC12AC-BP1, KAMCEC12AC-BP2
KISSAIRA9092R-12K, 90038EAC0-12K-KA, 90038EAC0-12K-KAZ, YAC-12CPD/PDRBpSG
KoolSilnHAC903, HAC-903, HAC903WF, HAC-903WF
LcxmtvGDPAC-12-BP1, GDPAC-12-BP2, GDPAC-12-BP3, LMPAC-12CPDBP1
ZAFROA9092R-12K, 90038EAC0-12K-ZA, 90038EAC0-12K-ZAZ, YAC-12CPD/PDRBpSG
DELLA048-PACIN-12, 048-DPACIN-12, 048-C-DPACIN-12
EQUATORPAC 162R

How it compares with the other 12,000 BTU or more portable units14 rating profiles

CEER (class median 12.8)12.8, tied with 1 other profile
Yearly cost vs. class median ($127)about the same
Efficiency rank among 14 rating profiles#5
Models in the class with two hoses99%
Window units with similar cooling (median CEER 15.0)$108 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$17-$253

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	$243	$207
Houston, TX	1400	16.0	$210	$179
Miami, FL	1750	15.4	$253	$216
Atlanta, GA	775	15.1	$109	$93
New York, NY	525	28.4	$140	$119
Chicago, IL	475	19.0	$85	$72
Denver, CO	350	16.6	$54	$46
Seattle, WA	125	14.2	$17	$14

Ranked around it in the 12,000 BTU and up class#5 of 14

#	Model	BTU (SACC)	CEER	Per year
2	Midea MAP14S1TBL	12,000	13.8	$118
3	Danby DPA120CBIMBDB-6	12,000	13.8	$118
4	Gasbye CoolPrime 12000-W	12,400	13.0	$129
5	12,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC, 12.8 CEER	12,000	12.8	$127
6	12,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 12.8 CEER	12,000	12.8	$127
7	Serenelife SLACHT168	12,000	12.3	$132
8	Midea MAP12DV1XWT-A	12,000	12.1	$134

Questions7

What size room does a unit with these ratings cool?: 12,000 BTU of real cooling (SACC) suits about 450 to 550 sq ft with normal sun and two people (about 405-495 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 938 watts at full power (12,000 BTU/h divided by its CEER of 12.8), roughly 8.2 amps if it runs on 115 V. At 750 hours a year and 18.0¢/kWh that is about $127, which is $0 less than the typical certified 12,000 BTU or more portable unit ($127). Its inverter compressor slows down once the room is cool, so real use is often lower. Its CEER beats 55% of the 147 certified models in its size class.
Why does a unit with these ratings have two hoses?: One hose brings outdoor air in to cool the condenser, the other sends the heat out, so no cooled room air is wasted. 99% of the certified 12,000 BTU or more models have two hoses, and at 12.8 CEER this one is above their 12.8 median.
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. 33 of the 147 certified 12,000 BTU or more 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 40 ENERGY STAR certified window units that cool about as much (within 15% of 12,000 BTU) have a median CEER of 15.0, against 12.8 here, and the best reach 16.8. At 750 hours a year a window unit with that median would cost about $108, $19 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?: 77 certified model numbers from 17 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 12,000 BTU, 12.8 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: $198
Per month of use: $36
Per day: $1.20
Per hour: 15.0¢
Power draw: 938 W

Electricity used: 1,238 kWh a yearAn old 9 CEER unit of the same size would cost $282

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
12,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 12.8 CEER	12.8	same CEER, also heats
Gasbye CoolPrime 12000-W	13.0	0.2 CEER higher, 400 BTU more cooling
Serenelife SLACHT168	12.3	0.5 CEER lower, also heats, single speed
Midea MAP12DV1XWT-A	12.1	0.7 CEER lower
Hisense 6517277	12.0	0.8 CEER lower, also heats, single speed, gravity drain

See all 14 12,000 BTU or more 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.