Air conditioners have become increasingly popular in recent years because of their ability to not just circulate the air (like fans) around the room but also expel cooler, more refreshing air. Many of the best portable air conditioners can also tackle heat and humidity, so it's easy to see why people are incorporating them into their homes.
As the UK enters a heatwave, we have looked at some of the best portable options that offer convenience with wheels and handles that make it simple to move them from room to room.
We've done our due diligence to research and rate some of the top portable aircon options, so you don't have to. The key factors we looked out for are ease of use, how it promises to improve the air quality in your home, maintenance and affordability. Some have a price tag on the heavier side, but for those who struggle to get their homes at a comfortable temperature year-round, they are worth it (honest!).
Scroll down to see our top picks or, if you prefer something a little cheaper, take a look at our guide to the best fans.
What is the best portable air conditioner?
The best portable air conditioner (in our opinion) is the Black+Decker BXAC40008GB Portable 3-in-1 Air Conditioner, which boasts 12000 BTU cooling power, an energy efficiency rating of A, and an excellent design that - while it won't quite blend in - makes it much less of an eyesore than many other air con units.
It's also multifunctional, with three modes: air conditioning, dehumidifying, and cooling. That makes it much better value and allows it to be used all year round.
The best portable air conditioners
Towards the more expensive end of the air-con models, this one gets our vote best portable air conditioner model overall and for use in larger rooms. And it's rather stylish, too. Moreover, it's a premium choice that you can use throughout the year due to its total of three modes - air conditioning, dehumidifying, and cooling.
This model has a super-powerful 12,000 BTU air circulation rate focusing on air conditioning. It's enough to cool down your room, flat, garage, or office up to 30 square meters.
The unit also boasts an LED digital display with a 24-hour on/off timer and Energy-saving sleep mode, which you can operate from the handy remote control. In addition, if you select a low speed, the noise level will drop to a relatively quiet 35dB so that you can drift off to sleep will little to no disturbance.
If you're looking for the best portable air conditioner that goes above and beyond, then the Russell Hobbs RHPAC3001 3-in-1 is a great choice. An air conditioner, air cooler, and dehumidifier in one, it's a complete climate control tool for your home.
A remote control allows you to switch between two-speed settings while the machine works away, removing unwanted moisture from the room and turning warm air into cool, fresh air with its 0.3L capacity water tank. There's also an oscillating fan function, which means greater coverage.
If you want to go the extra mile, the Russell Hobbs air conditioner comes with a window kit and flexible 1.5m hose to install. Of course, that kind of defeats the purpose of the 'portable' element, but for those who want something slightly more efficient, it's nice to know you'll have the tools.
One of the more expensive examples in our ranking, the AEG ChillFlex Pro, is one for those who want a heavy-duty machine that will seriously cool the air efficiently.
Like others listed here, the machine is completely portable and doesn't need to be installed. In addition, it has convenient carry handles and wheels that mean you can move it around the home with you or store it away in the colder months without the hassle of lugging it around.
The conditioner uses sustainable gas to boost its eco-friendly credentials, and its energy consumption rating is A. The only drawback here is the slightly conservative room size it's capable of cooling, which, for the price, might limit its usefulness for those with larger homes.
This option from electriQ, which is also a fan and dehumidifier (check out our guide to the best dehumidifiers for more like this), gets our vote for the best portable air conditioner for use in the bedroom. Yep, this 3-in-1 unit is compact and portable and won't take up too much space as it cools room sizes of up to 20 SQM.
Ready to use straight out of the box, you can choose from five settings to give you the best balance between noise levels and powerful airflow. It's even equipped with Sleep Mode, which will turn off annoying lights and automatically reduce the fan speed to its quietest setting.
And speaking of modes, there's also a Smart Cooling Mode which is an intelligent one-touch option where the fan automatically adjusts the amount of cooling required based on the temperature settings.
All this tech spec doesn't cost the earth, either. It has an A energy rating, meaning it will cost less than 12 pence per hour to run.
A top choice for smaller rooms, this small air conditioner gets our vote for the best portable air conditioner for those on a budget. Available to buy for around the £100 mark, it has all the features and functions to keep you feeling cool.
Equipped with three-speed settings and an oscillation function, you'll be able to keep your room at a constant temperature, albeit as a cooler, purifier, or humidifier. And if you're struggling to sleep through stuffy nights, reviewers have claimed that it is quiet when switched on, so it has helped keep them cool during the night.
Others say, however, that if you want your room even cooler, use ice cubes instead of water so cold air is blown out.
How to set up your portable air conditioner
They're pretty straightforward to set up and are often ready to use straight out of the packaging. However, for maximum cooling performance, you must vent your air conditioner. Air conditioners extract warm air from your room which you must remove through the provided hose pipe. You can vent the hose through a window, door, ceiling, or wall.
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