For these homes, portable air conditioners are a good way to deal with short term heat waves or a few sweltering weeks in summer. Theyre not the most efficient air conditioning system available compared to window units but they do offer comfort and cooling thats better than basic ventilation from a fan. Theyre less expensive to operate compared to central air conditioning, and because they can move from room to room, theres flexibility and convenience to change with the seasons. If a regular window AC wont work in your home, a portable air conditioner can cool down a room relatively well, depending on factors like climate, direct sunlight, humidity and room ventilation. Why its Smart to Go Small. The average portable air conditioner clocks in at about 5. They can move from room to room, yes, but the setup of a portable AC makes it difficult to do so with any ease. The weight of the unit, combined with the setup time and effort, mean that most portable ACs simply stay in one place as needed. So why does getting the smallest unit matter Aside from taking up floor space, smaller units can be more efficient at cooling down a room. In fact, a room air conditioner thats too big for the area it is supposed to cool will perform less efficiently and less effectively than a smaller, properly sized unit, says the US Department of Energy. The reason an oversized unit will cool the rooms to the thermostat set point before proper dehumidification occurs, making the area feel clammy and uncomfortable. A less is more approach is best here its often ideal to get the smallest portable AC that will still comfortably cool your room without expending unnecessary energy. That said, the size of your unit will also depend on the size of the room, so that some of the smaller units may not have the cooling power for a larger space like a living room or large office. The benefits of buying a smaller portable AC More efficient at cooling bedrooms and small areas. Less floor space and often less weight than larger units. Quieter many smaller units produce lower noise than larger ACs. Easier to store when not being used. If your home is limited on space, or the areas you need to cool arent large, a small portable AC unit can do a good job of cooling the air while still keeping your energy bills down. The Best Small Portable Air Conditioner. Our research found that the best small portable air conditioner is the Haier HPC1. XCR, based on the units height, weight and overall user experience. This model offers a cooling power of 1. BTU, enough to cool down about 4. If you have a room larger than this, youll want to consider something in the 1. BTU range, but those are bulkier units. The smallest 1. 0,0. BTU unit we recommend is the LG LP1. WSR. Its just slightly shorter than the Haier model, but it does weigh an additional five pounds. This model would be ideal for smaller rooms, nurseries or offices that dont need a lot of power, but want to minimize the space taken up by an air conditioner. The LG model is best for rooms up to 3. How We Found the Best Small ACs. To find the best small AC units, we spent hours analyzing dimensions and data from more than 5. Our final list of 4. Our research showed that the average height of our models was 2. There were 2. 3 models under that height and 1. Ultimately, there were five models that had low weights, low heights and relatively good user experiences. In addition to our top two picks from Haier and LG, there was one Black Decker model, a second Haier model and one unit from Costway. Although the units from Costway and Black Decker were small, they didnt appear to have the same brand recognition or user feedback as the other units, so we didnt recommend them, though they are small and in the same price range. Our Additional Recommendations. Because the difference in height, dimensions and weight was often minimal between units, we also recommend several ACs based on their features. If youre looking for the smallest 1. BTU unit, we recommend the Honeywell MM1. CCS, which is the lowest and lightest of the 1. BTU units we researched. If youre only looking for a dual hose portable AC, we recommend going with the Whynter ARC 1. DHP because of its relative size and performance. Though its a few inches taller than most of our picks, and slightly heavier, it is a great option for those looking for performance over just size. Its dual hose setup means more energy is spent on cooling the air rather than circulating air thats been warmed by the compressor, an inefficiency thats worth noting for single hose units. Our Top Pick. Haier HPC1. XCRClocking in at 5. Haier HPC1. 2XCR is our recommended small room air conditioner because of its combination of size and performance. Its 1. 2,0. 00 BTU cooling power is rated to cool a room up to 4. HPC1. 2XCR in a smaller room, such as a home office, and seeing good results. The HPC1. 2XCR is as convenient as any of todays technology driven units it has a full function remote, digital settings panel and three cooling speeds that help circulate and cool air. Its sleek design and minimalist aesthetics makes it a good choice for homes that want to keep things simple, and its low key enough to stand in the corner of a room without becoming an eyesore. Its 1. 2,0. 00 BTUs is powerful enough to consistently cool the air, and even with the possibility of reduced real world BTUs, many users find the cooling effects sufficient. A 6 foot power cord and 5 foot single exhaust hose offer an average amount of flexibility in where to keep your unit, and the included quick install window kit is easy to use, most users note. We do recommend using tape or some sort of sealer to keep the window kit perfectly sealed, but we make this suggestion across the board not just with this model. The top air discharge setup is standard, and the digital panel is also on top of the unit most users dont mind this, but some pointed out that you cant see the current settings from across the room, though the remote still works from that distance. The energy efficiency of this unit is solid its small size and good performance make it more effective than many larger units. This Haier has an EER of 9. Grant Morgan at Top Ten Reviews. Per our calculations, this unit costs approximately 9. This calculation is based on eight hours of use daily for three months out of the year. Helpful features like auto start and a 2. Casters make the unit mobile, but like many experts point out, a portable AC doesnt generally move a whole lot once its set up, so mobility is less of a factor than you may think. However, because the HPC1. XCR is lighter than almost every model we analyzed, it does make it easy to move the unit seasonally or from room to room as needed. A permanent slide out mesh filter is easy to clean and maintain, and does a good job of keeping the air feeling clean and circulated. Cad Software Other Than Autocad Lt. Best Window Air Conditioners Window Mounted Room AC Units. The mercurys rising, and unless youve got central air, you could be in for one hot, sticky summer. We tested seven of the newest window mounted air conditioners, from 5,4. Btu up to 1. 0,0. Btuto suit all your home or apartment cooling needs. If these AC units dont suit your needs, you can always build your own. Heres a review of a popular portable air conditioner. See also Appreciating the technological miracle that is air conditioning. Download Amazons Assistant extension to keep track of your orders, compare products, and keep tabs on sales. Frigidaire 1. 00. Btu Cool Connect Smart Window Air Conditioner w Wifi Control. Price 3. 79. Cooling Area 4. Square Feet. Unit Dimensions 1. W x 1. 9 D x 1. 4. HWeight 6. 3 pounds. Noise Level Decibels, high to low 5. Amps 7. 5. BUY NOWThis Frigidaire is the best looking window mounted air conditioner weve ever seen. Its sleek styling and low profile circular vents are a welcome departure from the traditional slats seen on most window AC units. Beneath its stylish looks is a tech filled appliance that features an app control so you can operate and monitor it remotely. Its also Energy Star rated, so you can stay cool without wasting dough. Advertisement Continue Reading Below. Advertisement Continue Reading Belowh. Ome 5. 00. 0 BTU Window Mounted Air Conditioner. Price 1. 19. Cooling Area 1. Square Feet. Unit Dimensions 1. W x 1. 2 D x 1. 5. HWeight 4. 3. 1 pounds. Amps 4. BUY NOWThis best selling window mounted air conditioner features seven speeds and two cool and fan settings. An included installation kit has leaf guards and the unit has a washable feature which can be reused season after season. Its compact size makes it ideal for cooling small rooms or RVs. Advertisement Continue Reading Below. Advertisement Continue Reading Below. Friedrich CP0. 5G1. A 5,4. 50 Btu Chill Series Window Mounted Room Air Conditioner. Price 2. 42. Cooling Area 1. Square Feet. Unit Dimensions 1. W x 1. 5 in. D x 1. HWeight 4. 6 pounds. Noise Level Decibels, high to low 7. Amps 4. 0. 3BUY NOWLikes At 5,4. Btu, this was the least powerful unit included in our test, but the results were on par with the 6,0. Btu models. The little Friedrich included a number of features similar to the other models, including a 2. It also comes with an LCD remote control and Entry. Gard protection, which is a steel retaining wire that secures the chassis to the housing in order to deter all too common kick in intrusions. Dislikes Despite paying a premium price for the Friedrich name, this model isnt Energy Star qualified, and bears an uncanny resemblance to the 6,0. Btu LG LW6. 01. 4ER we also included in our test. Advertisement Continue Reading Below. Advertisement Continue Reading Below. LG LW6. 01. 45. ER 6,0. Btu Window Mounted Air Conditioner. Price 2. 19. 26. Square Feet. Unit Dimensions 1. Weight 5. 0 pounds. Noise Level Decibels, high to low 6. Amps 3. 9. 8BUY NOWLikes Cosmetically, this unit is identical to the Friedrich CP0. G1. 0A. But unlike the pricier Friedrich, its Energy Star qualified, and at 6,0. BTU this lightweight ac can cool a medium size room surprisingly quickly. Dislikes The vinyl side curtains were also quite gappy, providing an entry point for bugs, and we noted more than a few took advantage, especially at night. Advertisement Continue Reading Below. Advertisement Continue Reading Below. Frigidaire FFRL0. Q1 6,0. 00 Btu Window Mounted Room Air Conditioner. Price 3. 01. Cooling Area 2. Square Feet. Unit Dimensions 1. Weight 4. 9 pounds. Noise Level Decibels, high to low 6. Amps 4. 6. BUY NOWLikes Of all the 6,0. Btu models tested, this one was the quietest and the easiest to install by far. Frigidaire decided to eschew the traditional screw in vinyl side curtains in favor of ones that slide into either side of the metal housing, and then included metal clips that secure firmly to the window frame to prevent insects from coming in. A built in air ionizer filters the air as it cools, providing additional relief to allergy sufferers. Dislikes The standard remote control included does not have a built in temperature sensing thermostat. Advertisement Continue Reading Below. Advertisement Continue Reading Below. Frigidaire FFRE1. S1 1. 0,0. 00 Btu Window Mounted Room Air Conditioner. Price 2. 99. Cooling Area 4. Square Feet. Unit Dimensions 1. Weight 6. 2 pounds. Noise Level Decibels, high to low 7. Amps 7. 5. BUY NOWLikes This unit was simple to install, with vinyl side curtains that slide into either side of the metal housing and lock tightly into the window frame. No bugs creeping in here. Remote control comes equipped with a built in temperature sensing thermostat that allows you to see, set, and maintain room temperature without having to get up. Includes all the same features and settings as the 6,0. Btu appliance, including the built in air ionizer. Dislikes None. Advertisement Continue Reading Below. Advertisement Continue Reading Below. LG LW1. 01. 5ER 1. Btu Window Mounted Air Conditioner. Price 3. 19. Cooling Area 4. Square Feet. Unit Dimensions 1. W x 2. 0 51. 6 in. D x 1. 4 1. 11. HWeight 6. Noise Level Decibels, high to low 7. Amps 7. 5. BUY NOWLikes This compact unit performed admirably, cooling a large room quickly and efficiently. Dislikes The faceplate controls are straightforward, but the no frills remote control made getting up to check the unit settings a regular occurrence. While quiet overall, there was some rattling at higher fan speeds. Advertisement Continue Reading Below. Advertisement Continue Reading Below. Friedrich CP1. 0G1. B 1. 0,0. 00 Btu Window Mounted Room Air Conditioner. Price 4. 39. Cooling Area 4. Square Feet. Unit Dimensions 2. Weight 8. 1 pounds. Noise Level Decibels, high to low 6. Amps 7. 5. BUY NOWLikes The big Friedrich is built like a tank. But once properly installed in the wall or window, it was the quietest 1. Btu unit in our test. Automated air sweep louvers cooled the room noticeably faster then the other models and overall performed like a dream. If you have the money, you wont be disappointed. Dislikes Weighing in at 8. Since it can be installed through a wallas well as in a windowthe unit is made to be removed from its metal housing. Unfortunately, before we could mount the housing in the window, we had to redrill the screw holes for the vinyl side curtains. Then, sliding the unit back inside its housing required a second set of hands. Bottom line Make sure to have a friend handy. Youll need the help. Advertisement Continue Reading Below.