8 Best Small Portable Air Conditioners That Pack A Punch! (2024)

Written By

Josh Mitchell

Expert Reviewed By

Holly Curell

Last Updated On

June 9, 2024

This Frigidaire air conditioner is one of those small units that can make a big difference, and you'll quickly see why I've put it at the top of my list of small portable ACs.

I originally bought this Frigidaire model for my 12x12 foot home office, because the product listing said that it was suitable for spaces of up to 200 square feet.

However, when I set it up in my 144 square foot office, it only took me about 15 minutes to realize that I was freezing!

A closer look at the specifications quickly revealed that the product listing was wrong, and that this 8000 BTU model is suitable for cooling a whopping 350 square feet of space - way more than the advertised 200 square feet.

I moved this Frigidaire to my larger master bedroom instead, as it was just too much for my office.

It also comes with a powerful built-in dehumidifier that can handle humidity levels up to about 65%, which really comes in handy in my Carolina home.

The Frigidaire is remote-controlled but doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of larger portable ACs, such as a digital thermostat.

Instead, you get just two fan speeds plus the dehumidification. This is fine for my home setup, but particularly picky people might find it lacking in features.

The most useful feature was 'sleep mode,' which limits the device's noise levels and causes it to run in shorter cycles. I have been sleeping more soundly than ever while using this AC.

It still gives me a cool breeze that leaves me comfortably cool but doesn't make the room too cold.

All that said, this AC is only 50 dB on a high setting. For such a quiet AC, and I am really impressed at how much impact is has on my space.

The only thing that disappointed me with the Frigidaire AC was the caster wheels. They are not great quality, and I found it easier to lift the appliance from room to room.

It's not a huge problem because the device is only 52 lbs, but it is slightly inconvenient.

This isn’t the most efficient model, and it has a lower energy efficiency rating than the Black & Decker and LG models.

However, for such a small portable AC, it's cooling power has truly impressed me, and I would definitely recommend this option for areas of up to 350 square feet.

I love the reliability of Black+Decker products, so it should come as no surprise that the BPACT08WT is near the top of my list.

This compact unit has enough power to cool a room of up to 350 square feet to 64 degrees Fahrenheit.

I think 350 is a bit generous, but I can see this being true in ideal conditions.

Where I live in North Carolina, the B+D model needs to work a bit harder to remove moisture from the air, so I find it ideal for my 280-square-foot master bedroom.

Despite having 8000 BTUs of power, it’s still very compact.

It’s not as short as the SereneLife model, but it’s much shorter than most traditional portable ACs, making it a breeze to move from room to room.

The Black & Decker AC is also simple to install and use.

It has a programmable timer (which I didn’t use much) and an automatic fan mode that turns the AC on and off as needed.

This model is called a 3-in-1 appliance because it can be used as an AC, a fan, or just a dehumidifier. For those interested in all of this plus heating, B+D offers the same model with a heater function for about $150 more.

What impressed me most about this AC was how quickly it reduced the air temperature.

In fact, during regular use in my home, it reduced the temperature from 85 to 65 degrees in under 3 hours.

This fast cooling is down to high fan speed. However, the downside to the fast fan is that the air conditioner is noisier than other models, such as the Zafro.

It creates 50-55 decibels on the lowest setting, but when you crank it up to the higher settings, it produces about 65 decibels, which is comparable to the larger portable ACs.

The whole device can vibrate slightly, too, adding to the noise, so I would recommend placing it on carpet rather than hard flooring.

The Black & Decker AC uses a drip pan to capture excess moisture from the dehumidifier.

The device will switch off when it's full, so you do need to empty it frequently if it’s rather humid.

That said, the cooling capacity is impressive, but the heating and dehumidification capabilities give you extra value. I also found maintenance to be minimal, and I appreciate the washable filter.

I would recommend this air conditioner to any homeowners who want to save space and combine 3 appliances into 1.

Zafro isn’t a brand that many people know about, but they have some seriously good cooling products that are typically more affordable than the “big brands.”

This 8000 BTU air conditioner is the most budget-friendly item on my list, costing almost $100 less than the Black+Decker or SereneLife models.

This Zafro model is just a quarter inch wider than my slimmest model (the SereneLife), but it actually has the smallest footprint of all the models I’ve covered with 11.81” width and 11.81” depth.

The product listing says that this is a 4-in-1 product, but I don’t personally consider “Sleep Mode” to be a separate appliance.

That said, if you’re looking for a quiet AC while you’re sleeping, the Zafro registers at about 45 dB, which is about the same as a small room fan.

I recently set up this model in my mom’s bedroom, and she has loved the white noise while sleeping.

She uses the remote control to change the settings right from her bed and loves using the 24-hour timer so that she doesn’t have to remember to turn it off.

Upon setup, we were able to cool her 300-square-foot bedroom in just 15 minutes. Like the Black+Decker model, this one is rated for up to 350 square feet and I think it’d have no problem handling it.

When I asked my mom what was most important to her in buying a portable AC, she said, “Low maintenance.”

I think the Zafro delivers in that area, and I love that it has a double-layered washable filter that traps dust and debris while cooling the room.

The filter should be cleaned every two weeks, which I know seems like a lot, but that’s just how powerful it is at collecting dust!

Surprisingly, all that power comes with the smallest footprint on my list, as the Zafro is just 11.81" by 11.81" on the floor.

There is one warning I want to point out: that the instruction manual is less than ideal.

If you’ve never installed a traditional portable AC before, this one kind of glosses over how to install the drain hose.

So just be aware that if you skip this crucial step (as the manual does) and your drain hole isn’t plugged, you’ll end up with a big puddle on your floor within the first 30 minutes of running. (The drain does work well if you remember to install it!)

I recently installed this LG LP0621WSR in a neighbor’s in-law suite, and within the first few minutes of using it, I could see why it is so popular online.

Just like the Black + Decker model, this LG unit has the 3-in-1 function of fan, AC, and dehumidifier.

My neighbor picked this model for its aesthetic. It’s more modern-looking than the Fridigaire or Zafro models, and I love the design of having the louvers on top instead of on the front.

The compact size also helps it to blend in. It doesn’t look like the smallest portable air conditioner at first, mostly because of the relative height, but it has a small width and depth.

This 10,000 BTU LG model is rated for 250 square feet, which is about the size of the in-law suite.

ACLAB Note:

Typically, I'd expect a 10,000 BTU unit to cover a much larger space (about 450 square feet). Based on the reviews of this model, I'm guessing this LG wasn't living up to its 10,000 BTU output and that LG reduced the room size it's suitable for to 250 square feet.

What really amps up this portable AC’s power, though, are the auto-swinging louvers that move to circulate air throughout the room.

If you’ve had issues with “hot spots” while using other portable ACs, you won’t have that issue here.

The LG has a built-in dehumidifier to remove moisture, and during my testing, it was able to keep the humidity below 50% (which is better than a lot of portables).

Humid weather and conditions can quickly fill the water tank, though, so you have to empty it frequently to keep the appliance running.

The same can be said for other models on my list because these smaller models don’t have the space for auto-evaporation parts.

That said, you can fit this model with a continuous drain hose, but it’s not included with the purchase.

Given the features and performance, I was slightly disappointed that the LG AC only had 2 fan speed options. This means it takes longer to cool a room, much longer than the similarly sized Black & Decker model.

I recommend the LG for homeowners who need air conditioning and dehumidification in rooms with limited drainage and ventilation options.

The remote control and 24 hour timer make this a nice option for guest rooms and rooms with high traffic, and maintenance is super easy with a washable filter.

I originally bought the EcoFlow Wave 2 to keep me cool while I worked out in my garage.

I was looking for a battery-powered item that could cool in the summer and heat in the winter, and the Wave 2 fit the bill.

Since purchasing it, though, I have used the Wave 2 in so many situations that I just had to include it on my list of small ACs.

I’ll be the first to admit that the EcoFlow Wave 2 isn’t as aesthetically pleasing as most of the models on my list, and as a permanent fixture to the room, I’d much rather use the Black + Decker or Frigidaire models.

That said, the EcoFlow Wave 2 is the king of versatility. I always make sure to keep the battery charged because I have taken it on the go so often that its usage has no limits.

It’s kept me cool while picnicking, warm while tail-gating, and comfortable while camping.

Perhaps the most notable use, though, has come in using it in my bedroom overnight when our power was out during a hurricane.

(My wife having a full night’s sleep is very important.)

I love that there are four ways to charge the batteries: regular wall outlet, car battery (which is what I used when the power was out), solar, and power stations.

I do have two batteries for the EcoFlow, which I suggest, but I understand that’s more of an expense.

The Wave 2 is already the most expensive product on my list, so I really only recommend taking this route if you think you’ll need heating or cooling in many different scenarios.

Personally, I’ve been able to get about 8 hours of running time by keeping the Wave 2 on eco-mode. I’ve found that it’s possible to keep the unit running while charging, but it will slow down the charge time a lot.

If you like the EcoFlow Wave 2 but only require cooling, you might consider the Zero Breeze instead, which is next up on my list.

Overall, if you’re looking for a truly portable option that you can throw in the car (gently… it is 50 lbs) and take with you anywhere, the EcoFlow might be the option.

There’s a room in my house that was originally intended as a large storage closet, but we recently outfitted it as a small crafting room instead. One problem – no window to vent an AC.

Thankfully, we found the Coolzy Pro, which is the only true portable AC that doesn’t require any installation, exhaust hoses, water drainage, or mess.

This was perfect for the setup in my 8x10-foot room. However, this compressor-driven AC can be vented like a traditional portable AC for even better cooling, if you have the means.

For that reason, I would say that the Coolzy Pro is the most versatile small AC I’ve used.

Just note that the venting kits are sold separately, and even without the venting kits, the Coolzy Pro is more money upfront than most of the models I’ve listed, including the Black+Decker model.

Most “ventless ACs” are just glorified fans or swamp coolers that increase the humidity in the room. There’s none of that with the Coolzy Pro.

The Coolzy uses refrigerant through its compressor to leave you feeling cold air the moment the unit turns on.

Now, I’d say the Coolzy Pro is more appropriate for personal cooling. It’s only rated for 88 square feet and works best when it’s pointed right in the direction you’re sitting.

When I’m in my craft room, this is the perfect setup, but it definitely can’t cool an entire room like the first five items on my list.

The icing on the cake is that the Coolzy Pro only uses 340 watts of electricity, which is roughly 70% less than traditional portable ACs.

I didn’t notice any difference on my utility bill while using this product for roughly 15 hours per week.

The Coolzy is so portable that I have even used it on a camping trip by pairing it with a small generator.

A product like this seems almost too good to be true, but it’s just the first (and only) of it’s kind, so be wary of knock-offs… and trust me, the knock-offs are out there.

The Coolzy was designed by Australians looking for a solution to beat the heat in the harsh outback.

Overall, if you’re looking for a small portable AC and don’t need to cool an entire room, then I’d say the Coolzy is your best bet for personal cooling.

FAQs

Window AC units are installed directly into a window (usually a sliding window) with half of the appliance outside of your home.

They are usually more powerful than portable ACs and can cool a larger area, but they are much more difficult to move between rooms or areas in your home.

1. https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=36692
2. https://www.ashrae.org/
3. https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/room-air-conditioners
4. https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hearing_loss/what_noises_cause_hearing_loss.html