What size room does a unit with these ratings cool?

8,000 BTU of real cooling (SACC) suits about 250 to 350 sq ft with normal sun and two people (about 225-315 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 696 watts at full power (8,000 BTU/h divided by its CEER of 11.5), roughly 6.0 amps if it runs on 115 V. At 750 hours a year and 18.0¢/kWh that is about $94, which is $54 less than the typical certified 8,000 BTU portable unit ($148). Its inverter compressor slows down once the room is cool, so real use is often lower. Its CEER beats 95% of the 710 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. 8% of the certified 8,000 BTU models have two hoses, and at 11.5 CEER this one is above their 7.3 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. 146 of the 710 certified 8,000 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 30 ENERGY STAR certified window units that cool about as much (within 15% of 8,000 BTU) have a median CEER of 15.0, against 11.5 here, and the best reach 17.0. At 750 hours a year a window unit with that median would cost about $72, $22 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 12 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.

8,000 BTU (SACC) dual-hose portable air conditioner and inverter

8,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC, 11.5 CEER

Excellent efficiency for its size: a CEER of 11.5 beats 95% of the certified 8,000 BTU portable air conditioners.

A unit with these ratings delivers 8,000 BTU of real cooling (SACC), enough for about 250-350 sq ft, draws about 696 watts and costs about $94 a year to run at typical U.S. use and prices. A window unit that cools as much costs about $72 a year.

Includes Agtana AGPAC-08-BP1, Fosawd HXPAC-08-BP1, Lcxmtv GDPAC-08-BP1 and 41 more model numbers, all certified at these ratings. Full list

CEER: 11.5 Combined efficiency, higher is better
Excellent · beats 95%
Real cooling: 8,000 BTU/h (SACC)For about 250-350 sq ft
Energy use: 522 kWh/yrAbout 696 W, at 750 hours a year
Design: Two hoses Draws outdoor air for its condenser

A good fit if…

You want low bills - its CEER beats 95% of the 710 certified 8,000 BTU portable models.
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.

Calculate my running cost Check the size for my room

Details

Certified ratings8,000 BTU SACC, 11.5 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	8,000 BTU/h
Full-load cooling (SACC)At maximum compressor speed	8,050 BTU/h
CEERCombined energy efficiency ratio, includes standby power	11.5
Power drawSACC divided by CEER	About 696 W
Yearly energy use750 hours of cooling a year	522 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	44 (44 basic models)
Brands	12
Size class	8,000 BTU

Model numbers with these ratings44 from 12 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.

AgtanaAGPAC-08-BP1, BFPAC-08-BP1, WMPAC-08-BP1, PACFC-08C-BP1, PACWD-08C-BP1
FosawdHXPAC-08-BP1, FCCEC08-CPDBP1, FDCEC08-CPDBP1, WMCEC08-CPDBP1, LXTCEC08-CPDBP1
LcxmtvGDPAC-08-BP1, GDPAC-08-BP2, GDPAC-08-BP3, GDPAC-08-BP4, LMPAC-08CPDBP1
TanoxoPACGZ-08C-BP1, PACGZ-08C-BP2, PACGZ-08C-BP3, PACGZ-08C-BP4, TAC-08CPD-BP1
DomankiDAC-08CPD-BP1, DAC-08CPD-BP2, DMAC-08CPD-BP1, DMAC-08CPD-BP2
HumholdHDPAC-08-BP1, HDPAC-08-BP2, HMPAC-08-BP1, HMPAC-08-BP2
KamlamKMCEC08AC-BP1, KMCEC08AC-BP2, KAMCEC08AC-BP1, KAMCEC08AC-BP2
ZAFRO90045EAC0-8K-ZA, 90045EAC0-8K-ZAZ, CA90045EAC0-8K-ZA, CA90045EAC0-8K-ZAZ
Antarctic Star90045EAC0-8K-AS, 90045EAC0-8K-ASZ
Electactic90045EAC0-8K, 90045EAC0-8K-EL
KISSAIR90045EAC0-8K-KA, 90045EAC0-8K-KAZ
RniceYAC-08CPD/PL2BpSG, YAC-08CPD/PLRBpSG

How it compares with the other 8,000 BTU portable units23 rating profiles

CEER (class median 7.3)11.5, no ties
Yearly cost vs. class median ($148)$54 less
Efficiency rank among 23 rating profiles#7
Models in the class with two hoses8%
Window units with similar cooling (median CEER 15.0)$72 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$12-$188

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	$180	$138
Houston, TX	1400	16.0	$156	$119
Miami, FL	1750	15.4	$188	$144
Atlanta, GA	775	15.1	$81	$62
New York, NY	525	28.4	$104	$79
Chicago, IL	475	19.0	$63	$48
Denver, CO	350	16.6	$40	$31
Seattle, WA	125	14.2	$12	$9

Ranked around it in the 8,000 BTU class#7 of 23

#	Model	BTU (SACC)	CEER	Per year
4	Serenelife SLINV12CPD	8,200	12.0	$92
5	TCL T08PQ4SD	8,200	12.0	$92
6	Midea MAP08V1JWT	8,000	12.0	$90
7	8,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC, 11.5 CEER	8,000	11.5	$94
8	8,300 BTU single-hose portable AC, 10.7 CEER	8,300	10.7	$105
9	Hisense AP0822CW1W	8,150	8.2	$134
10	8,250 BTU single-hose portable AC, 7.6 CEER	8,250	7.6	$147

Questions7

What size room does a unit with these ratings cool?: 8,000 BTU of real cooling (SACC) suits about 250 to 350 sq ft with normal sun and two people (about 225-315 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 696 watts at full power (8,000 BTU/h divided by its CEER of 11.5), roughly 6.0 amps if it runs on 115 V. At 750 hours a year and 18.0¢/kWh that is about $94, which is $54 less than the typical certified 8,000 BTU portable unit ($148). Its inverter compressor slows down once the room is cool, so real use is often lower. Its CEER beats 95% of the 710 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. 8% of the certified 8,000 BTU models have two hoses, and at 11.5 CEER this one is above their 7.3 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. 146 of the 710 certified 8,000 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 30 ENERGY STAR certified window units that cool about as much (within 15% of 8,000 BTU) have a median CEER of 15.0, against 11.5 here, and the best reach 17.0. At 750 hours a year a window unit with that median would cost about $72, $22 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 12 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 8,000 BTU, 11.5 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: $147
Per month of use: $27
Per day: $0.89
Per hour: 11.1¢
Power draw: 696 W

Electricity used: 918 kWh a yearAn old 9 CEER unit of the same size would cost $188

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
Midea MAP08V1JWT	12.0	0.5 CEER higher, single-hose
Serenelife SLINV12CHPD	12.0	0.5 CEER higher, 200 BTU more cooling, also heats, single speed
TCL T08PQ4SD	12.0	0.5 CEER higher, 200 BTU more cooling, also heats
Serenelife SLINV12CPD	12.0	0.5 CEER higher, 200 BTU more cooling, single speed
8,300 BTU single-hose portable AC, 10.7 CEER	10.7	0.8 CEER lower, 300 BTU more cooling, single-hose, single speed

See all 23 8,000 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.