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      Best 12,000 BTU or more portable air conditioners

      A 12,000 BTU or more portable unit really cools about 450-550 sq ft.

      The most efficient of the 14 rating profiles (151 model numbers) is 12,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 14.2 CEER at 14.2 CEER. A typical one draws about 938 W and costs about $127 a year to run. The largest portable units: dual-hose models marked 14,000 or 15,000 BTU certify at 12,000 SACC.

      Compare all 14 rating profiles

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

      #Features
      112,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 14.2 CEERe.g. Midea MAP14HS1TBL, Whynter ARC-1230WNH + 8 more14.2$114Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
      2Midea MAP14S1TBL7 model numbers, 3 brands13.8$118Dual-hose, Inverter
      3Danby DPA120CBIMBDB-61 model number13.8$118Dual-hose
      4Gasbye CoolPrime 12000-W1 model number13.0$129Dual-hose, Inverter
      512,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC, 12.8 CEERe.g. Rnice YAC-12CPD/PD1BpSG, Agtana AGPAC-12-BP1 + 75 more12.8$127Dual-hose, Inverter
      612,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 12.8 CEERe.g. TCL 344286217, Rnice YAC-12CHPD/PD1BpSG + 16 more12.8$127Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
      7Serenelife SLACHT1684 model numbers12.3$132Dual-hose, Heat
      8Midea MAP12DV1XWT-A1 model number12.1$134Dual-hose, Inverter
      9Hisense 65172771 model number12.0$135Dual-hose, Heat, Gravity drain
      10Power Breezer H950SL1 model number11.4$161Dual-hose, Inverter, Bucket
      1112,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC, 11.2 CEERe.g. Agtana AGBP-12CPD-C1, Domanki DKPAC-12BP-C1 + 24 more11.2$145Dual-hose, Inverter
      12Tripp Lite SRCOOL24KE1 model number9.8$221Single-hose
      13Sea Breeze PADH314HPM1 model number8.9$182Dual-hose, Heat
      14Airo comfort AC16MWS2 model numbers8.4$193Dual-hose, Heat

      More about 12,000 BTU or more portable air conditioners

      Yearly running cost by city$17-$253

      A typical unit (12.8 CEER) against the most efficient (14.2 CEER), at each city's cooling hours and state electricity price.

      CityTypicalMost efficient
      Phoenix, AZ$243$219
      Houston, TX$210$189
      Miami, FL$253$228
      Atlanta, GA$109$99
      New York, NY$140$126
      Chicago, IL$85$76
      Denver, CO$54$49
      Seattle, WA$17$15
      What the box says and what it delivers12,000-16,000 SACC

      The largest portable units: dual-hose models marked 14,000 or 15,000 BTU certify at 12,000 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 12,000 BTU or more portable air conditioner?
      On certified efficiency, 12,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 14.2 CEER at 14.2 CEER, about $114 a year at typical U.S. use. The typical certified unit in this size has 12.8 CEER.
      How big a room does a 12,000 BTU or more portable air conditioner cool?
      About 450 to 550 sq ft for a unit that really delivers 12,000 BTU (SACC), with normal sun and two people, following the ENERGY STAR floor-area table. The largest portable units: dual-hose models marked 14,000 or 15,000 BTU certify at 12,000 SACC. In a very sunny room use about 10% less area; a kitchen needs about 4,000 BTU more.
      How many watts does a 12,000 BTU or more portable air conditioner use?
      Between 845 and 1,633 watts at full power for certified models, about 938 W for the typical one. That is about $127 a year at 750 hours and 18.0¢/kWh.
      Is a dual-hose 12,000 BTU or more portable air conditioner worth it?
      99% of the certified models in this size have two hoses, and they lead the efficiency ranking: the best dual-hose unit is 14.2 CEER against 12.8 for the typical unit.
      Is a portable air conditioner of this size as efficient as a window unit?
      No. The 40 ENERGY STAR certified window units that cool about as much have a median CEER of 15.0, against 12.8 for the typical portable unit here, so the window unit costs about $108 a year to run against $127. 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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