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      Best 10,000 BTU portable air conditioners

      A 10,000 BTU portable unit really cools about 350-450 sq ft.

      The most efficient of the 34 rating profiles (758 model numbers) is Midea MAP12S1TBL at 14.7 CEER. A typical one draws about 1,266 W and costs about $171 a year to run. Boxes marked 14,000 BTU commonly certify at 10,000 SACC.

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

      #Features
      1Midea MAP12S1TBL6 model numbers, 3 brands14.7$92Dual-hose, Inverter
      2Danby DPA100B9IWDB-61 model number14.7$92Dual-hose
      3Gsabye CoolPrime 100002 model numbers13.6$104Dual-hose
      4Hisense 43508121 model number13.3$102Dual-hose, Gravity drain
      510,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC, 12.8 CEERe.g. Rnice YAC-10CPD/PD1BpSG, EUHOMY PAC005-14K + 57 more12.8$106Dual-hose, Inverter
      610,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 12.8 CEERe.g. Rnice YAC-10CHPD/PD1BpSG + 8 more12.8$106Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
      7Frigidaire Gallery GHPC142AA11 model number12.5$114Single-hose, Inverter
      8Hisense AP-10UR1RSBD606 model numbers, 2 brands12.2$111Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
      9Frigidaire Gallery GHPH142AA11 model number12.2$111Single-hose, Heat, Inverter
      1010,300 BTU dual-hose portable AC, 12.0 CEERe.g. TCL H10PD56W + 15 more12.0$116Dual-hose
      11TCL W10PDH568 model numbers, 3 brands12.0$116Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
      12TCL T10PQ3SD6 model numbers, 2 brands12.0$116Dual-hose, Inverter
      1310,000 BTU single-hose portable AC, 12.0 CEERe.g. Antarctic Star OL-A018DD10N3BP/S, Auseo OL-A018DD10N3BP/S + 15 more12.0$113Single-hose
      14Midea MAP10V1JWT2 model numbers12.0$113Single-hose, Inverter
      1510,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC, 11.8 CEERe.g. Midea MAP10DV1XWT-A, Whynter ARC-1280MX + 44 more11.8$115Dual-hose, Inverter
      16ACHIMCO PAC-A026A-10KRH3 model numbers, 3 brands10.0$139Single-hose, Heat, Inverter
      17COSTWAY FP10772US-WH2 model numbers10.0$139Single-hose, Heat
      18Sea Breeze PADH312M1 model number8.9$152Dual-hose
      19Power Breezer H750L1 model number8.4$145Single-hose, Inverter, Bucket
      2010,800 BTU single-hose portable AC, 8.1 CEERe.g. COSTWAY FP11025US-WH, ACEKOOL PAC-M15 + 14 more8.1$180Single-hose
      21Moxeay MY12221 model number8.1$180Single-hose, Heat
      2210,300 BTU single-hose portable AC, 8.1 CEERe.g. Midea MAP10S1WBL, Whynter ARC-148MS + 42 more8.1$172Single-hose
      23simzlife PAC012-14K5 model numbers8.1$172Single-hose, Heat
      24ACEKOOL PAC-M018 model numbers, 2 brands8.0$157Single-hose
      25Whynter ARC-147WFH5 model numbers, 2 brands7.9$171Dual-hose, Heat
      26Whynter ARC-14S1 model number7.9$163Dual-hose
      2710,000 BTU single-hose portable AC, 7.9 CEERe.g. LG LP1027WS, Midea MAP10S1XWT + 308 more7.9$171Single-hose
      2810,000 BTU single-hose portable AC with heat, 7.9 CEERe.g. Midea MAP10HS1WBL, Whynter ARC-148MHP + 157 more7.9$171Single-hose, Heat
      29LG LP1022FVSM2 model numbers7.9$171Single-hose, Inverter
      30Whynter ARC-147WF1 model number7.8$173Dual-hose
      31Whynter ARC-14SH1 model number7.8$160Dual-hose, Heat
      329,250 BTU single-hose portable AC, 7.6 CEERe.g. Serenelife PC9R-AMB, air master PC9R-AMB + 8 more7.6$165Single-hose
      33Eaton SRCOOL12KE4 model numbers, 2 brands7.6$165Single-hose, Heat, Condensate pump
      34icyberboom RHKT140301 model number7.6$164Single-hose, Heat

      More about 10,000 BTU portable air conditioners

      Yearly running cost by city$22-$341

      A typical unit (7.9 CEER) against the most efficient (14.7 CEER), at each city's cooling hours and state electricity price.

      CityTypicalMost efficient
      Phoenix, AZ$328$176
      Houston, TX$284$152
      Miami, FL$341$183
      Atlanta, GA$148$79
      New York, NY$188$101
      Chicago, IL$114$61
      Denver, CO$73$39
      Seattle, WA$22$12
      What the box says and what it delivers9,000-10,800 SACC

      Boxes marked 14,000 BTU commonly certify at 10,000 SACC. The number to size by is the SACC, the cooling the unit delivers in the Department of Energy test, after the heat it lets back in. How SACC differs from the BTU on the box.

      Size calculator for your room

      Questions5
      What is the best 10,000 BTU portable air conditioner?
      On certified efficiency, Midea MAP12S1TBL at 14.7 CEER, about $92 a year at typical U.S. use. The typical certified unit in this size has 7.9 CEER.
      How big a room does a 10,000 BTU portable air conditioner cool?
      About 350 to 450 sq ft for a unit that really delivers 10,000 BTU (SACC), with normal sun and two people, following the ENERGY STAR floor-area table. Boxes marked 14,000 BTU commonly certify at 10,000 SACC. In a very sunny room use about 10% less area; a kitchen needs about 4,000 BTU more.
      How many watts does a 10,000 BTU portable air conditioner use?
      Between 680 and 1,333 watts at full power for certified models, about 1,266 W for the typical one. That is about $171 a year at 750 hours and 18.0¢/kWh.
      Is a dual-hose 10,000 BTU portable air conditioner worth it?
      22% of the certified models in this size have two hoses, and they lead the efficiency ranking: the best dual-hose unit is 14.7 CEER against 7.9 for the typical unit.
      Is a portable air conditioner of this size as efficient as a window unit?
      No. The 35 ENERGY STAR certified window units that cool about as much have a median CEER of 15.0, against 7.9 for the typical portable unit here, so the window unit costs about $90 a year to run against $171. A portable unit is the answer when a window unit will not fit.

      The Department of Energy lists every certified model, including some no longer sold: check availability before you plan around a unit.

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