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      Best 8,000 BTU portable air conditioners

      An 8,000 BTU portable unit really cools about 250-350 sq ft.

      The most efficient of the 23 rating profiles (728 model numbers) is Hisense HIAP0825TWD at 13.5 CEER. A typical one draws about 1,096 W and costs about $148 a year to run. Boxes marked 12,000 BTU commonly certify at 7,500 to 8,150 SACC.

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

      #Features
      1Hisense HIAP0825TWD1 model number13.5$80Dual-hose
      2Hisense HAP0825TWD3 model numbers13.0$83Dual-hose, Inverter
      3Serenelife SLINV12CHPD1 model number12.0$92Dual-hose, Heat
      4Serenelife SLINV12CPD1 model number12.0$92Dual-hose
      5TCL T08PQ4SD1 model number12.0$92Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
      6Midea MAP08V1JWT3 model numbers, 2 brands12.0$90Single-hose, Inverter
      78,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC, 11.5 CEERe.g. Agtana AGPAC-08-BP1, Fosawd HXPAC-08-BP1 + 42 more11.5$94Dual-hose, Inverter
      88,300 BTU single-hose portable AC, 10.7 CEERe.g. Antarctic Star A011E-8K, Auseo A011E-8K + 47 more10.7$105Single-hose
      9Hisense AP0822CW1W1 model number8.2$134Single-hose
      108,250 BTU single-hose portable AC, 7.6 CEERe.g. LG LP0825WSSM, BLACK+DECKER BPT08WTB + 67 more7.6$147Single-hose
      118,250 BTU single-hose portable AC with heat, 7.6 CEERe.g. Serenelife SLACHT128, simzlife PAC012-12K + 8 more7.6$147Single-hose, Heat
      12Gasbye CoolPrime 8000-B2 model numbers7.3$154Dual-hose
      13GE APHS08W +RAP041 model number7.3$148Dual-hose
      148,000 BTU single-hose portable AC, 7.3 CEERe.g. LG LP0827WS, Midea MAP08S1WGR + 341 more7.3$148Single-hose
      158,000 BTU single-hose portable AC with heat, 7.3 CEERe.g. Danby DPA080HE3WDB-6, Rnice YAC-08CHPD/PD1 + 124 more7.3$148Single-hose, Heat
      16LG LP0825WFR1 model number7.3$148Single-hose, Bucket
      17LG LP0725WSSM6 model numbers, 4 brands7.3$137Single-hose
      18AUX APACM08V11 model number7.2$150Single-hose, Gravity drain
      197,100 BTU single-hose portable AC, 7.0 CEERe.g. LG LP0721WSR, Midea MAP07R1WWT + 45 more7.0$137Single-hose
      20ACHIMCO PAC-A035A-07KR9 model numbers, 6 brands7.0$137Single-hose, Heat
      21GE APHS07W +RAP042 model numbers, 2 brands6.9$137Dual-hose
      22Whynter ARC-122DHP1 model number6.9$137Dual-hose, Heat
      23Antarctic Star AC7207-7K6 model numbers, 6 brands6.9$137Single-hose, Gravity drain

      More about 8,000 BTU portable air conditioners

      Yearly running cost by city$19-$296

      A typical unit (7.3 CEER) against the most efficient (13.5 CEER), at each city's cooling hours and state electricity price.

      CityTypicalMost efficient
      Phoenix, AZ$284$154
      Houston, TX$245$133
      Miami, FL$296$160
      Atlanta, GA$128$69
      New York, NY$163$88
      Chicago, IL$99$53
      Denver, CO$63$34
      Seattle, WA$19$10
      What the box says and what it delivers7,000-8,300 SACC

      Boxes marked 12,000 BTU commonly certify at 7,500 to 8,150 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 8,000 BTU portable air conditioner?
      On certified efficiency, Hisense HIAP0825TWD at 13.5 CEER, about $80 a year at typical U.S. use. The typical certified unit in this size has 7.3 CEER.
      How big a room does an 8,000 BTU portable air conditioner cool?
      About 250 to 350 sq ft for a unit that really delivers 8,000 BTU (SACC), with normal sun and two people, following the ENERGY STAR floor-area table. Boxes marked 12,000 BTU commonly certify at 7,500 to 8,150 SACC. In a very sunny room use about 10% less area; a kitchen needs about 4,000 BTU more.
      How many watts does a 8,000 BTU portable air conditioner use?
      Between 593 and 1,137 watts at full power for certified models, about 1,096 W for the typical one. That is about $148 a year at 750 hours and 18.0¢/kWh.
      Is a dual-hose 8,000 BTU portable air conditioner worth it?
      8% of the certified models in this size have two hoses, and they lead the efficiency ranking: the best dual-hose unit is 13.5 CEER against 7.3 for the typical unit.
      Is a portable air conditioner of this size as efficient as a window unit?
      No. The 30 ENERGY STAR certified window units that cool about as much have a median CEER of 15.0, against 7.3 for the typical portable unit here, so the window unit costs about $72 a year to run against $148. 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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