Amy Lockwood
This page was updated on 13/8/25 with in-stock air conditioners that we rate, including some great deals too.
With the UK baking in recurrent heatwaves, the best portable air conditioners are by far the fastest and most convenient way to cool down rooms during a particularly hot summer like this year. Portable ACs have become increasingly popular in recent years because they're easy to set up and manoeuvre, making them a great choice for anyone who wants an efficient way to maintain a comfortable home environment.
Unlike the best fans, which simply circulate air to create a breeze to cool a person, portable air conditioners actively lower a room's temperature by using a refrigerant and a compressor. However, portable ACs are a bit more of an investment as a result, so it's important to take your time to find the right one for your needs. Therefore, to help inform your decision, the Ideal Home team have tested models from top brands to find the best ones among the bunch, looking at how well they cool, how easy they are to use, how loud they are, and what kind of value they offer.
One model that immediately stood out to me was the MeacoCool MC Series, which combines reliable cooling power, simple controls, and fantastic value (but more on that below). Furthermore, you'll find my top options for every home, alongside plenty of helpful tips to ensure you make the right choice.
Alternatively, have you considered whether it's worth installing air conditioning in your home instead? Our renovations editor, Sarah Handley, has tried both portable air conditioners and fitted air conditioning, and she has a firm favourite.
Best in-stock air conditioners
With this summer’s heatwaves pushing temperatures sky‑high, many of our favourite portable air conditioners have been flying off the virtual shelves and are currently extremely hard to find.
While we haven’t personally tested every model mentioned below, we’ve carefully researched each brand’s reputation, user reviews, energy efficiency, and cooling performance to ensure they’re genuinely worth the investment.
For those of you who want to wait until stock is under control, you can see our top selections below to save for later or sign up for stock alerts.
Here are the best in-stock air conditioners to snap up right now while the going's good.
The quick list
Short on time? This quick list is an overview of the very best portable air conditioners available, according to our experts.
Best overall
Affordable, lightweight and compact, energy efficient and easy to use, there's a lot to love about the MeacoCool MS Series. Our reviewer tested the smallest 7000 BTU model, but there are also 8000, 9000, 10000, 12000, and 14000 BTU options for every room size imaginable.
Best affordable
There's no denying portable air con units are expensive, so if affordability is key, then this Pro Breeze model is one of the very best budget portable air conditioners for its 9000 BTU. We haven't tested it thoroughly yet, but third-party reviews mention it being basic – and noisy – but still doing the job of lowering the temperature when you're looking to beat the heat.
Best powerful
A powerful 3400w portable air conditioner that looks good, is easy to use, relatively quiet in comparison to most, has WiFi connectivity, and – most importantly – can cool down a room fast, as long as you don't mind its slightly higher running costs.
Best air conditioner and dehumidifier
Sporting a smooth, compact design with ease of portability thanks to its useful handles and castor wheels, this 2-in-1 air conditioner and dehumidifier helps tackle both heat and damp issues for all-year-round use.
Best multifunctional
If you're spending this much on an appliance – and one that's going to take up a good deal of storage space in the home – then you might want it to do more than just cool. The Russell Hobbs RHPAC11001 can do just that, offering 4-in-1 use thanks to air con, fan, dehumidifier, and heater functionality.
Best looking
A stylish mobile air conditioner that offers 3-in-1 functionality, WiFi connectivity, and comes with a remote control and window kit included. Our tests found it lacked a little power and was on the noisier side, but its 1000w energy consumption does mean lower energy use compared to many models.
Best portable air conditioners – tried and tested by expert reviewers
Best portable air conditioner overall
Relatively affordable, lightweight, compact, energy-efficient and easy to use, there's a lot to love about the MeacoCool MS Series portable air conditioners.
Our reviewer tested the smallest model, the 7000BTU version, which is recommended for rooms between 12-22m2. For larger spaces, Meaco offers a wide range of options from 8000 to 14000BTU, ensuring there's a suitable model for various sizes and scenarios.
The 7000BTU air conditioner's 20.5kg weight, whilst not insignificant, makes it far lighter than the 30kg average and means this unit is much easier to move around the home than most. It also boasts a low power consumption of just 780W, resulting in lower running costs overall.
During testing, it effectively reduced the room temperature by 2°C in just 10 minutes. While it produces 51-53dB of noise depending on the cooling setting, our testers found this acceptable given its efficient cooling capabilities.
The unit also comes with a remote control and includes two window kits, as well as a timer function and a 'night' mode for slightly quieter operation while you sleep. It also offers 3-in-1 functionality as an air conditioner, fan, and dehumidifier, for added versatility. Overall, the MeacoCool MC Series 7000BTU Portable Air Conditioner is a solid option that delivers excellent performance at an attractive price point.
Read the full MeacoCool MC Series 7000BTU Portable Air Conditioner review for more details.
Best affordable portable air conditioner
There's no denying portable air con units are expensive, so if affordability is key, then this Pro Breeze 9000 BTU 4-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner is certainly one of the best budget portable air conditioners on price.
While I haven't had a chance to test this model myself yet, the review is coming soon, and our testers' previous experiences with Pro Breeze products have suggested they perform adequately at entry-level price points. Not to mention, third-party reviews say that while this model is basic and somewhat noisy, it still effectively lowers room temperatures to more comfortable levels.
Weighing in at 24kg, this Pro Breeze model is relatively lightweight compared to most of the portable air conditioners in our round-up, averaging 30kg and more. It also shares the efficient 780W energy consumption of the MeacoCool MC Series, although it may lack the power of higher-end models like the AEG Comfort 6000 and the Russell Hobbs RHPAC11001.
While it probably won't win prizes in the style stakes, this Pro Breeze model offers several handy features for its price, including a remote control, timer, 'night' settings, and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Best powerful portable air conditioner
The AEG Comfort 6000 Portable Air Conditioner is a powerful and stylish unit that quickly cools spaces up to 18m2. It's easy to use, relatively quiet, and even offers Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to control it from the comfort of your phone.
With a cooling capacity of 900BTU, the AEG Comfort 6000 can move big amounts of cold air with no issues at all and even offers a 12000BTU model for larger areas of up to 36m2. Yes, it comes with slightly higher running costs than others on the list; namely, the MeacoCool MC Series which operates at 780W for 7000BTU, it makes up for it with its impressive cooling speed and power, effectively cooling a room in just minutes – meaning it doesn't need to run for as long to achieve those optimal temperatures.
As far as noise levels go, the AEG Comfort 6000 is notably quieter than most portable air conditioners, maxing out at 64dB. Our reviewer noted that it instead sounded like the 'white noise' of gushing cold air, making it suitable for use in the bedroom overnight.
Unfortunately, this unit doesn't include a remote control or window kit, which some models offer as standard. It's also one of the heavier units we've tested, coming in at 31.5kg, making it a bit challenging to move freely from room to room.
Read the full AEG Comfort 6000 Portable Air Conditioner review for more details.
Best portable air conditioner and dehumidifier
Traditionally, the UK has long been associated with wet, dreary weather for the majority of the year, making the best dehumidifiers a more fitting investment for all-year-round use in a British home. However, with week-long heatwaves and general warm temperatures becoming more commonplace, having an appliance to tackle both concerns is the ideal solution. Enter the Russell Hobbs 2-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner and Dehumidifier.
Although it doesn't exactly bypass the issue of space and heaviness (coming in at 29kg), its design is undeniably one of the more compact and slimline among the models we've tried.
Equipped with a window sealing kit for easy installation and handles and castor wheels for added portability, this appliance is sure to become your best friend during hot weather. Better yet, because of its dehumidifier function, having both of these functionalities working in tandem with one another can help you achieve the best possible indoor air quality.
During testing, our reviewer particularly liked the LED screen on the front and the way the top opening automatically shuts when the appliance isn't in use. However, it's worth noting that because of its slightly more compact size, it likely won't effectively cool down spaces above 16m2.
Read the full Russell Hobbs 2-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner and Dehumidifier review for more details.
Best multifunctional portable air conditioner
The Russell Hobbs RHPAC11001 stands out with its 4-in-1 functionality, allowing it to serve as an air conditioner, fan, dehumidifier, and heater. This versatility could potentially offer better value for your money, as it can keep your space cool in summer and warm in winter, making it a practical year-round solution.
Equipped with a powerful 11000BTU cooling capacity, it can effectively cool spaces of 13-21m2 while consuming just 1230W of energy, resulting in lower running costs when compared to the 3400W consumed by the AEG Comfort 6000.
In our reviewer's tests, the Russell Hobbs RHPAC11001 cooled a 4.5m2 room by 2°C in just 10 minutes, and despite a manufacturer-stated noise level of 65dB, our reviewer found it quieter than the MeacoCool MC Series. This makes it most comparable to the AEG Comfort 6000 on this front.
While it's heavier than some alternatives, making it less portable, the Russell Hobbs RHPAC11001 boasts good build quality, easy-to-use controls, and an unobtrusive design. It just falls short of the MeacoCool MC Series because of its heavier weight and less affordable price tag, and compared to the AEG Comfort 6000 in terms of cooling power.
Read the full Russell Hobbs RHPAC11001 Portable Air Conditioner review for more details.
Best looking portable air conditioner
The Duux North 9K Smart Air Conditioner is a stylish portable unit that offers 3-in-1 functionality, including cooling, heating, and dehumidifying, alongside Wi-Fi connectivity and a remote control for ease.
Its sleek, modern design sets it apart from traditional, bulky, white air conditioners, but the Duux North 9K Smart fell short of our tester's expectations given its higher price point.
Performance-wise, our reviewer felt it was a little underpowered compared to the AEG Comfort 6000, and, although its 1000W energy consumption is a lot less than the 3400W AEG Comfort, making for cheaper running costs, it couldn't beat the best-in-class 780W MeacoCool MC Series on that front either.
Unfortunately, the noise levels emitted by the Duux North 9K are comparable to most portable air conditioners, which might make it disappointing for those who were perhaps hoping for a quieter operation similar to the brand's Whisper Flex Ultimate Fan.
Read the full Duux North 9K Smart Air Conditioner review for more details.
Where to buy portable air conditioners
I've rounded up the best retailers to shop for the best portable air conditioners, offering a mix of prices, styles and features, so you can find the perfect match for your space.
- Airconcentre: all things air quality and cooling
- Amazon: a wide selection of brands and models
- Appliances Direct: options from 7000 to 23000BTU
- Argos: a range of options from affordable to investment
- AO: find a selection of air conditioners, from AEG to DeLonghi
- B&Q: a good selection of in-stock options
- Currys: a wide range of brand names
- Robert Dyas: affordable portable air conditioners
How to choose a portable air conditioner
The best portable air conditioners don't come cheap, so this is an investment purchase where it pays to have a little know-how under your belt before you shop.
Therefore, we've rounded up the key features to look out for when sourcing the best portable air conditioner for your home.
BTU (British Thermal Units)
The first thing you'll want to consider when choosing the best portable air conditioner for your home is BTU.
BTU stands for British Thermal Unit and describes how many units of heat an air conditioning unit can suck out of the air per hour to cool down an indoor space.
Portable air conditioners tend to start from 5000 BTU and can go up to a substantial 23000 BTU. The higher the BTU the larger the space that the air con unit will be able to cool and the quicker it will do so.
However, a higher BTU also means a higher price tag, and likely higher running costs, so it's a balancing act of investing as much as you can for better performance against how much you're willing to pay upfront for a unit.
Room size
As mentioned, BTU is also linked to the size of space that an air conditioner can keep cool. Most manufacturers will give a recommended room size in the air-con unit's specifications, generally somewhere from 8m2 to 100m2+, so make sure to check that the unit you buy is powerful enough to cope with your indoor space.
It's generally recommended to close doors and windows in the room that you're trying to keep cool, so if you only want to keep a small bedroom cool then you can opt for a cheaper lower BTU unit, however an open plan space will require a much more powerful appliance with a larger BTU.
As such, it's also worth being aware of the worst places to put an air conditioner so you can ensure your unit is operating in the best possible way per its location.
Portability
You're likely opting for a portable air con unit because you would like it to be – well, portable! However, in reality, even the best portable air conditioners are both bulky and heavy, weighing from 20kgs for a smaller 'lightweight' air conditioner to 30kgs+ for more powerful units.
Check that your preferred unit comes with built-in wheels to help you manoeuvre it within the home, but bear in mind that if you want to carry a unit up and down the stairs then you're probably going to need two people to do that safely.
If you know you'll struggle with a cooling device of that weight, an air cooler could be a lighter option, although it won't deliver the same cold air that an air conditioner can. You can read up on the pros and cons of the two cooling devices in our detailed air conditioner vs air cooler explainer.
Noise levels
The biggest bugbear with portable air conditioners – and the most common gripe found in online reviews across the board – is their noise levels.
A portable air con unit uses both a fan and a compressor to cool the air, and that's a noisy process, meaning you're likely to have to turn the TV up quite a few notches if you have one running in a living space. And, if you're a light sleeper, then you may struggle to sleep whilst the air con unit is running.
We found the best bet is to run the air con unit in a bedroom for a few hours before you want to go to sleep, and then turn it off once you turn in for the night.
If you're sensitive to noise, then make sure to check the manufacturer's stated decibel level (measured in dB) before you buy. Most will be around the 50dB mark, with some models offering quieter functionality of 40dB and others clocking in around 60dB.
However, in our testing process, our testers found that there is noise and then there is noise. We tested several portable air conditioners where the noise they emitted resembled the sound of a train engine chugging – a noisy, mechanical whirring noise that chopped and changed and soon drove us to distraction, making us want to switch the unit off as soon as we possibly could. Some of these were units with lower decibel ratings.
On the flipside, there were others, like the AEG Comfort 6000 Portable Air Conditioner, where, despite the higher decibel rating, the noise created was more like a steady stream of gushing air exiting the appliance. Because the noise is steady and never changing, it was more like having white noise playing in the background whilst you work or sleep. So once you got accustomed to it, it was actually pretty easy to ignore. Largely, that means reading the reviews to see how other users have found the experience of having the air con unit you're considering in their own home.
Other functionality
Very often, an air con unit will come with additional functionality, usually a fan setting and a dehumidifier function. More expensive portable air conditioners sometimes also feature a heater function, which means you're more likely to be able to get year-round use out of your investment.
You might also want to consider whether you want your portable air conditioner to come with a timer, remote control, or WiFi connectivity.
A remote control is always a handy feature to have, especially if you're using the unit in the bedroom and don't want to have to get out of bed to adjust settings or turn the unit off.
Similarly, investing in a unit with a timer function gives you the ability to programme the unit to turn off a few hours after you've got into bed, or to turn on during the hottest part of the day to keep the house cool for pets, or reduce the temperature before you get home from work. A unit with Smart functionality can also offer the means to control the unit when you're away from home.
Window kit
For an air con unit to really do its job, it needs to be operated within a sealed room and vented out of an open window via an exhaust hose to dispel the heat. For this reason, the best portable air conditioners come with window sealing kits, but not all do, so it's worth checking that one is included before you buy.
A window kit can be a bit of a faff to install the first time – especially as very few windows are a uniform size, so a generic kit can sometimes fall short – but once installed, you can leave it in place for subsequent use.
How we test portable air conditioners
You'll find full details of the Ideal Home review process on our how we test page.
Our team of reviewers tested a host of bestselling portable air conditioners within their own homes to compile this guide. And the rankings aren't based on spec sheets alone. They come from first-hand testing in our homes during the hottest spells. Each model is assessed over days or weeks so our reviewers can see how it performs in everyday life.
Our reviewers look at ease of set-up, from unboxing to getting the hose and window kit in place, and we note any extra parts you might need to buy. We check the design and controls, including whether it's compact enough for smaller rooms, easy to move room to room and if they are intuitive to use, with remote controls or WiFi connectivity where available.
The most important measure is cooling performance. We time how quickly each model brings a room down to a comfortable temperature and compare its BTU rating. We also factor in noise levels for overnight use, energy use and running costs. We then balance these findings against its price point and whether or not the unit offers value for money.
I then compare the units that score well across all these assessments to find the best portable air conditioners for various needs and budgets.
FAQs
Are portable air conditioners expensive to run?
As an electrical appliance, portable air conditioners will cost money to run, with larger and more powerful units (that means a higher BTU) generally using more energy than smaller units. On average, they cost around 20p to 30p per hour to operate. This means that running one for eight hours a day can add roughly £50 - £75 to your monthly electricity bill.
That said, it's important to buy the best portable air conditioner for your room size; otherwise, your unit will be working overtime to try and cool a too-large space and subsequently increase the cost of running a portable air conditioner. Running costs can be reduced by choosing the right size for your space, using timers or sleep modes, keeping filters clean and maintaining good ventilation.
Most portable air conditioning units come with an energy rating stated on their energy label to help you compare how many kW per hour the unit will use.
Do you need to vent a portable air conditioner?
Yes, a portable air conditioning unit will need to be vented out of a window in order to dispel the warm air that the unit has sucked from the room.
Technically, you could just stick the portable air conditioner's exhaust hose out of the window to do this, but this will mean you're letting hot outside air back inside the room. That means the air conditioner will be working very hard to cool the room, and it isn't energy efficient or economical.
A window sealing kit aims to prevent this situation by forming a seal around the opened window, and through that, you can poke the exhaust hose. The air conditioner can then draw hot air from the room into the body of the unit, cool it via refrigerant, blow the cooled air back into the room, and vent the extracted heat out to the outside world.
A window sealing kit is often provided with the best portable air conditioners, but not always, so it's worth checking the small print before you buy.
If you do need to purchase one separately, then there's a wide variety of window sealing kits available. Finding the right one for you will be dictated by the type of window you're venting the exhaust hose from. There's a wide selection of Air Conditioner Window Seal Kits on Amazon, including plastic or metal 'sliding plate' designs, and fabric kits that attach via sticky Velcro strips to your window frame and casement. The type that's best for you will be determined by your window's size, opening mechanism, and hinging placement.
Is a portable air con unit better than a fan?
Even though they don't actively cool the air, a good fan can work surprisingly well at cooling you down on a hot day. That's because they circulate the air, and the breeze against your skin helps heat and stickiness to evaporate, therefore making you feel cooler.
However, when temperatures inside the home really soar, even the best fan may not be able to cut it, and instead, a portable air conditioning unit will offer far superior cooling powers.
An air conditioner uses a fan to draw hot air from the room into the body of the unit, then cools it via a compressor and refrigerant, and blows the cooled air back out into the room. The extracted heat is vented through the exhaust hose out of a window to the outside world.
This dramatically reduces the room's temperature. In our tests, we found that the best portable air conditioners, used in a well-sealed room, could reduce the temperature by up to 10 degrees in under an hour.
So whilst the best fans definitely work to cool a person thanks to the breeze they create, that does a surprisingly good job of cooling the skin, only an air conditioner can dramatically lower the temperature of an entire room or living space. And only an air conditioner will deliver that fridge-like cold air we all crave in a heatwave.
