Portable AC and Fans in stock
Temperatures this week are set to soar as high as 38 degrees in parts of the UK, so it comes as no surprise that we're all on the lookout for cooling solutions for our homes. The best portable air conditioners are the best way to quickly cool your home, but they have been flying off the virtual shelves. In fact, many of our top-rated models are already sold out at multiple retailers, and we imagine some of the best fans are set to start selling out just as quickly, too.
However, there are still portable air conditioners, air coolers and misting fans available to buy if you know where to look. We've tracked down where you can still find a portable AC in stock, and any rare fan deals we come across along the way.
At Ideal Home, we test portable ACs and fans all year round, so we have all the insider intel on which ones are worth spending on, the alternatives that deliver similar results for a lower price point and other cooling hacks that will tide you over until you get your hands on a portable AC.
Portable air conditioners in stock
- Appliances Direct: a steady stock level of electriQ and Midea portable air conditioners
- AO.com: the Dimplex air conditioner is the only one available
- Argos: the Bush air conditioner units are the only two left in stock
- Amazon: steady stock of portable AC's, including a Dreo model
- B&Q: a range of affordable portable ACs still in stock
- Currys: De'Longhi air conditioner still in stock
- Robert Dyas: Jack Stonehouse air conditioner
Fans in stock
- Amazon: Rare deal on the whisper-quiet Duux Whisper Flex 2
- Argos: Next-day delivery on Shark and Bush fans
- AO.com: Dyson and Shark tower fans.
- Currys: Duux, Dyson and Shark still in stock.
- Debenhams: Savings on Pro Breeze fans.
- Very: Range of tower, pedestal and desk fans
- John Lewis: Dyson, Meaco, Duux and Phillips fans
As well as being Ideal Home's Renovation Editor, I also lead on all of the website's heating and cooling content, which means I'm well versed in what it takes to keep your home a comfortable temperature year-round and how you can do that in the most energy-efficient way possible.
I regularly test portable air conditioners and fans in my 1970s three-bed home.
Live updates
Where I'd go to buy a portable AC in stock this evening
Appliances Direct tends to have a steady stock level of portable air conditioners, including a range of ElectriQ air conditioners. The ElectriQ 10000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner we've reviewed is currently out of stock, but you can still pick up the ElectriQ Slimline 7000 BTU Small Portable Air Conditioner for £449 at Appliance Direct.
Buy now or wait?
So should you buy a portable air conditioner now or wait? After all, these appliances aren't cheap, with even the most budget friendly models costing in excess of £250.
If you need a portable air conditioner to be able to get through the next few days, then if you find a portable AC that will suit your needs and it's in stock, then definitely don't wait to snap it up. Stock is moving very quickly, so if you don't you could miss out.
However, if you have a very specific model in mind, like the new super-quiet Meaco Cirro, then if you can hold on for a few more days, you may be able to get the one you want, with more stock due in early July. It's worth checking back daily too. In the last few days, I’ve seen portable air conditioners come back into stock and sell out again on the same day.
Misting fan alternative
If you're not able to get your hands on your chosen portable air conditioner just yet, or they are out of your budget, then it's definitely worth considering a misting fan, especially if it feels like your fan is just blowing hot air.
With an integral water tank, they spray an ultra-fine mist as they blow out air, which results in a very cooling breeze for those in its path. It's not likely to lower the overall temperature in a room like a portable air conditioner, but it'll feel like a cooler breeze than a normal fan, so it's a good middle ground.
I've been trying out the Dreo 765S TurboCool misting fan, available at Amazon for a few weeks now, and it definitely creates a cooling breeze and doesn't leave me soggy.