There are so many things we can do during the summer, such as going swimming, kayaking, having a BBQ with friends and family, etc. But it’s not great anymore when you have to sleep the whole night in a room with extreme heat.
This is when you wish for the best portable air conditioner for bedrooms. No worries, if you don’t know how-to, we are here to help.
Here are the best portable air conditioners for bedroom you can buy in 2024:
- Best Overall: SereneLife 8,000 BTU
- Quietest: SHINCO 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioners
- Alexa & Google Assistant-Enabled: Midea Smart 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner
- User Friendly: Vremi 10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
- Energy Efficient: Honeywell HL10CESWK
- Best for Large Room: Whynter ARC-14S
| 6 Best Portable Air Conditioners For Bedroom | ||
|---|---|---|
Best Overall | SereneLife 8,000 BTU | |
Quietest | SHINCO 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioners | |
Alexa & Google Assistant-Enabled | Midea Smart 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner | |
User Friendly | Vremi 10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner | |
Energy Efficient | Honeywell HL10CESWK | |
Best for Large Room | Whynter ARC-14S | |
Best Overall: SereneLife 8,000 BTU
- Multifunctional – three operating modes: fan, dehumidifier, and cooling
- Easy to control – including a remote control
- Good for bedrooms – run quietly and huge cooling coverage
- Unclear instructions
Considering the cooling power, noise level, dimensions, and price point, this portable air conditioner gets the highest scoring out of others.
It gives you three running modes to choose from, including fan, dehumidifier, and cooling (with cooling power of 8000BTU and 290 M3/hour airflow). We really appreciate the dehumidifier function which helps reduce hugely mildew and dust mites in the space.
A good thing is in whichever setting chosen, the machine only gives off 55 to 57 decibels of noise, which is reasonable for bedrooms.
Besides, there is a remote control added in the package that allows you to control the power, choose modes, timing, adjust temperature, and fan speeds. So convenient!
| SereneLife 8,000 BTU Specifications | |
|---|---|
BTU | 8000 |
Room size | 215+ sq. ft |
Dimensions | 14.6’’ L x 13.8’’ W x 27.2’’ H |
Highlight features | three operating modes; include a remote control; cooling power of 8000BTU and 290 M3/hour airflow; 55 to 57 decibels of noise |
SereneLife 8,000 BTU is truly a steal for the best overall portable air conditioner for bedrooms.
Quietest: SHINCO 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioners
- Not wake you up because of loud fan noise – under 52 decibels of noise level
- Require fewer times to empty the water tank – self-evaporative cooling system
- Simple to use - castor wheels, visual LED display, full-featured remote, and simple construction
- The fan keeps running all the time, even after the machine cools to the desired temp
- Hose is short
We highly recommend the SHINCO 8,000 BTU for people who are insomniac or sensitive to noise.
This portable air conditioner, while offering similar powerful performance as others, stands out for its whisper-quiet operation – 52 decibels (or under) during our tests whereas still keep the desired temp while you’re sleeping.
The biggest selling point is its dehumidifying function with a capacity of 60 pints/day, and its self-evaporative cooling tech cuts off a huge amount of water collected in the tank.
Therefore, you don’t have to empty it as regularly as that using other counterparts.
One last bonus is it’s very easy to use thanks to the castor wheels, visual LED display, full-featured remote, and simple construction. Install this machine isn’t a real matter. It just takes around 5-10 minutes, even if you’re a low-tech person.
| SHINCO 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioners Specifications | |
|---|---|
BTU | 8000 |
Room size | 200 Sq.Ft |
Dimensions | 14.5 x 13.8 x 27.2 inches |
Highlight features | under 52 decibels of noise level; self-evaporative cooling system; castor wheels, visual LED display |
We know it’s really hard for insomniac people to fall asleep, which is the reason our experts particularly suggest this super-quiet portable AC.
Alexa & Google Assistant-Enabled: Midea Smart 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner
- Give multiple ways to control it – through Alexa/Google Assistant, a remote control, or LED display control panel
- Full of control – 24-hour timer & temperature adjustment within 62 to 90 degrees F
- Improve your indoor air quality – washable filter
- The exhaust hose is short
- The swing isn’t adjustable
- Lots of plastic
What wowed us the most when testing this portable AC from Midea is its compatibility with Google Assistant or Alexa via Wi-Fi, using voice control.
This smart function, while allowing it to synchronize with other smart devices in a smart home, gives you much optimal control, such as power on/off, set a schedule, and more.
Rest assured that it still gives you a remote with the same control abilities as well as a visual LED display panel for multiple uses. Also making it outstanding is the 24-hour timer and temp adjustment from 62 to 90 degrees F, depending on your preference.
Similar to others, it comes with three operating modes: fan, dehumidifying, and cooling. The difference is this model highlights SmartCool technology with 10,000 BTU cooling power for faster cooling. And it has an additional filter for higher indoor air quality. As a small bonus, this filter is removable and washable.
| Midea Smart 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner Specifications | |
|---|---|
BTU | 10000 |
Room size | 200 sq ft |
Dimensions | 17.1 x 13 x 28.3 inches |
Highlight features | 10, 000 BTU, Alexa/Google Assistant compatibility, 24-hour timer & temperature adjustment; washable filter |
Looking for a portable AC that is compatible with Google Assistant or Alexa with decent cooling power? Try this!
User Friendly: Vremi 10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
- Easy to install – only require attaching window slide adapter and hose, and turning on the machine, all is under 15 minutes
- Simple to use – provide 5 big functional buttons with easy-to-guess icons, & remote control
- Functional – 4 operating modes
- A little on the noisy side at the highest fan modes
- Too wide hose inlet
- The window kit is a little flimsy
While one of the most common things stopping people from trying a portable AC is its complicated installation and manuals, this isn’t a thing.
Your tasks are just attaching its window slide adapter and hose (which fits all standard windows with a horizontal opening), turning on the machine, and done.
Everything is under 15 minutes. Another huge bonus is its easy-to-use control panel with only 5 function buttons. Importantly, they’re huge to press and the icon is all easy to guess.
About functions, we really like the additional Sleep mode for a quieter operation to not disturb your slumber.
| Vremi 10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner Specifications | |
|---|---|
BTU | 10000 |
Room size | 200 to 350 Square Feet |
Dimensions | 16.5 x 12.2 x 27.6 inches |
Highlight features | 10,000 BTU cooling power; coverage of up to 350 square feet; 5 big functional buttons with easy-to-guess icons, & remote control; |
Don’t blame your low-tech nature when you find ordinary portable ACs are too hard to install or understand to use! We’ve got this special design for you.
Energy Efficient: Honeywell HL10CESWK
- Ideal for huge rooms – coverage of up to 450 square feet & 10,000 BTU cooling power
- Not pile up your monthly electric bills – a sleep mode
- Improve indoor air quality more optimally – dual filters
Worry that the window AC would make your bill almost double in the warmer months? This Honeywell HL10CESWK will give you more peace in mind.
It features much smaller amperages than others for the same BTU rating, meaning that it doesn’t pull as much energy. Besides, the unit has a “night mode” which turns off the display and lowers the noise for not just quieter performance but also more energy-saving.
Our experts give extremely high scoring for its dual filtration system for better indoor air quality that any allergy sufferers will love.
| Honeywell HL10CESWK Specifications | |
|---|---|
BTU | 10000 |
Room size | 350- 450 sq. Ft. |
Dimensions | 18.9 x 15.7 x 31.3 inches |
Highlight features | cools rooms 350- 450 sq. Ft, 10000 BTU; a sleep mode; dual filters |
The Honeywell HL10CESWK is our recommendation for people who want to save as much operating expenses as possible while running a portable AC.
Best for Large Room: Whynter ARC-14S
- Ideal for big spaces – coverage of 500 square feet & dehumidifying capacity of 101 pints/day
- More energy efficiency & cool the space faster – dual hose construction
- Versatile – able to fit windows sizing from 20 to 46 inches either horizontally or vertically
- The LED display isn’t dimmable
- Heavy to move around
- The vent hose is a bit difficult to line up with the tabs
Offering a max cooling coverage of 500 square feet, Whynter ARC-14S is the shiniest contender for big bedrooms.
Another notable thing is its dual hose. Unlike the single hose, this new design has a less physical limit of efficiency and particularly, not throw the cooled air out the window. That means this machine will heat up the same space faster with higher energy efficiency.
The unit, on the other hand, emits a fewer amount of noise from any portable ACs we’ve tested.
The vent slider bar/insert is also easy to install as it fits windows sizing from 20 to 46 inches either horizontally or vertically.
| Whynter ARC-14S Specifications | |
|---|---|
BTU | 14000 |
Room size | 500 square feet |
Dimensions | 19″ W x 16″ D x 35.5″ H |
Highlight features | fit windows sizing from 20” to 46; room size of 500 square feet. Dehumidifying capacity of 101 pints per day; dual hose construction |
Looking for a heavy-duty portable AC for your large bedroom without flattening your wallet because of the insanely increased electric bills every month? Here is a good choice!
How To Choose The Best Portable Air Conditioner For Bedroom?
Size & BTU
When we talk about choosing the right size, we talk about BTU or British Thermal Units. It’s important to fully understand what it is.
BTU is the amount of energy required for raising the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1-degree F at sea level. A product with a higher BTU’s amount will remove heat from a larger room at a certain rate, cooling the entire room down.
Avoid Too Little or Too High BTU
While a higher BTU rating means faster cooling, it doesn’t mean you should choose the highest BTU rating. A too-high BTU rating for a small room will cause the unit to cool quickly, but it will cycle off and then back on, over and over again to keep your room at the set temperature.
As a result, the air conditioner won’t remove humidity from the room. It will be overworked, consume more electricity, and you will have a room with excessive humidity.
Meanwhile, too-low BTU rating for the room means the air conditioner will run its cycle non-stop and it will be overworked too. The result is a hot room with large electricity consumption.
How to Know the Right BTU Rating?
It’s not easy to figure out the accurate needed BTU rating, but youcan still choose the right BTU range for your room. According to the standard rule, for each square foot of floor space, you need 20 BTU.
So, first, multiply the width of the room by its length, both of which in feet. Then, multiply the result by 20 and you will have the appropriate BTU rating for your room.
For example, a 300-square-feet room or smaller will need 10,000 BTU, a 500-square-feet room will need 10,000-14,000 BTU, while a room larger than 500 square feet will need over 14,000 BTU.
Factors Affecting the BTU Rating
The right BTU rating may vary depending on several factors as the following:
If the room is taller than 8 feet, raise the BTU amount by 10% for each foot.
If the room is shaded heavily, reduce the BTU amount by 10%.
If the room in sunny with a lot of sunlight entering, raise the BTU capacity by 10%.
If there are three or more people in the room, you should add 600 BTU for each person in the room.
If there are a lot of heavy appliances for use in the kitchen, you should increase the BTU rating by 4,000 BTU.
Noise
Air conditioners make noises when they operate, which can be considered “background noise.” While this continuous noise doesn’t seem considerable during the night, it can interfere with your sleep at night.
According to WHO, measurable sleep disturbance effects begin at the noise of 30 dB LAeq. Therefore, you should look for an air conditioner that produces noise lower than this level.
Other Features
- Programmable Thermostat: allows for setting an exact temperature for the room, at which the air conditioner will turn off automatically.
- Remote Control: allows for controlling the air conditioner from a distance without having to stand up and touching the machine.
Which Brands Make The Best Portable Air Conditioner For Bedroom?
Whynter
With the aim of refining your life, the brand offers products to help you sleep comfortably at night during the hot summer.
Honeywell
With over 100 years of experience, Honeywell has set its footprint in several sectors, including aerospace, building tech, safety & productivity solutions, performance materials & technologies.
Vremi
This brand is best known for making affordable, good home products. It offers various portable air conditioner models with varying BTU rating.
Midea
Founded in 1968, in China, Midea is the world’s largest manufacturer when it comes to household appliances. It offers both commercial air conditioners and consumers’ air conditioners.
SHINCO
Over the past 28 years, SHINCO has made itself one of the largest air conditioner manufacturers in China, setting its foot in other markets like the US, the UK, and Australia.
FAQs
Can I use a portable air conditioner in a room without a window?
How many BTU do I need for a 12x12 room?
You can easily calculate the needed BTU rating for a 12x12 room using the guideline we provided. In this case, a 12x12 foot room is 144 square feet, meaning you will need 7,500-10,000 BTU.
Do portable air conditioners waste a lot of electricity?
Generally speaking, a portable air conditioner is less energy-efficient than a window unit. For instance, a 10,000 BTU window unit can cool down a 450-square-foot room, but a 10,000 BTU portable unit can cool a 300-square-foot room only.
How can I make my portable air conditioner more efficient?
There are several things you can do to increase your portable AC’s efficiency:
Choose the right portable air conditioner.
Place it in the right place, avoid direct heat and light sources.
Vent the AC properly.
Clean the air filter
Store the AC properly.
Is it cheaper to use a portable air conditioner?
In certain situations, using a portable air conditioner is cheaper because it may use just 1/8 the electricity as the central air conditioner. But keep in mind that this is different from the energy efficiency we mentioned above, and a portable air conditioner can cool a small room only.
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing the best portable air conditioner for bedrooms, the one thing you need to keep in mind is the BTU rating, which is directly related to the needed size of the air conditioner.
It’s not easy to pick out the perfect portable AC for your bedroom, but once you know what and where to look, you will be able to finalize on one.
And we hope that our guideline will bring you to the smart decision faster.
