8 Best portable air conditioners to help beat the heat at home

A good air conditioning system in the heat is much like a big puffer jacket in the winter – essential.

Let’s be honest when we do get it we love the sun, but we can’t help but moan that it’s ‘too hot to sleep’ or fidget around the office as it slowly heats up to oven level.

And whilst the UK isn’t exactly the renowned hub for sunny weather – it’s not a bad thing to be prepared for the warmer weather. For customers who suffer with night sweats, an air conditioner with adjustable cool settings could be a nice touch for a more comfortable night’s rest.

A portable air conditioning unit will simply move from room to room instead of having a device mounted to just one wall in the home.

Portable air conditioners are rated in British Thermal Units (BTUs) the higher the BTU, the larger room it can dispense cool air for, anything below 8,000 BTU is likely best for a small room. Many air conditioners also require outdoor venting system to really operate properly.

Whatever you’re looking for, we’ve compiled a list of the best portable air conditioners that are available to buy today.

What type of air conditioning should I buy?

The type of air conditioner you buy depends on the size of the room you want to cool. Anything below 8,000 is likely only going to cool a small/personal space, whereas 9 -12,000 BTU’s can usually cool up to 25 square metres.

If you’re likely to use the air conditioning unit whilst you’re asleep, it’s worth looking for one with an operating noise level of 60db or under.

How should I spend on an air conditioning unit?

Portable air conditioners can cost anywhere between £200 to more than £1,000, depending on the product’s BTU rating as well as other features.

The higher the BTU the more expensive it gets, but remember lower BTU products are only going to be suitable for cooling smaller spaces.

Do I need to drain a portable air conditioner?

Self-evaporating models automatically evaporate moisture out of the exhaust hose along with warm air. Some models will require you to manually drain the water when it gets too full.

Best portable air conditioners to buy

1. Dyson Cool AM07 Tower Fan

Best Dyson fan

Features:

• BTU: n/a
• Speed settings: 10 speeds
• Oscillation: Yes
• Weight: 2.9kg

• Outdoor Venting: No

Beat the heat and nasty pollutants with this stylish gadget from tech giant Dyson. Although its not a traditional air conditioning unit, it’d be pretty difficult to have a roundup of cooling fans without featuring Dyson, wouldn’t it?

This device works to cool and purify the air around you, so you can work, rest or entertain in complete comfort and knowing that the air around you is pure. There’s also a handy indicating system that will let you know when the quality of the air drops.

The purifier is also armed with a HEPA filter, which effortlessly works to capture and remove unwanted gases and pollutants from the air.

There’s 10 speed settings to choose from and it’s able to oscillate for evenly distributed air and can cool up to around 28 square metres.

Buy now from Boots (£349.99).

2. electriQ Portable Evaporative Air Cooler

Best budget air conditioning unit

Features:

• BTU: n/a
• Speed settings: 3 speeds
• Oscillation: Yes
• Weight: 7.5kg

• Outdoor Venting: No

Feeling hot, sticky and uncomfortable? Don’t sweat it, literally. This air conditioner is a great and inexpensive solution compared to similar versions available on the market.

It also doesn’t require external venting like many do – simply add water to the huge 15-litre tank and let evaporation do the rest for you, there’s also an ice box for added cooling capabilities.

Not only is this great value unit an air conditioner, it also purifies and humidifies the air around you too, ensuring you stay cool and comfortable in lovely clean air.

Buy now from Amazon (£109.98).

3. Meaco Cool MC Series Portable Air Conditioner

Best overall air conditioning unit

Features:

• BTU: 7000
• Speed settings: 2 speeds
• Oscillation: No
• Weight: 20kg

• Outdoor Venting: Yes

With a 7000 BTU rating, this air conditioning unit from Meaco applies practical cooling in living rooms, bedrooms and offices with a size of between 12² to 22m².

Stay in charge with the easy-to-use display and remote control, you can also adjust the temperature and even engage sleep mode to ensure you get a restful nights sleep.

Two airflow settings allow you to choose what’s best for you at the time, and you can control it all from the comfort of your seat with a remote control.

Buy now from Amazon (£299.99).

4. Tower Presto 9000BTU Air Conditioner

Best air conditioning unit for all year round use

Features:

• BTU: 9000
• Speed settings: 2 speeds
• Oscillation: No
• Weight: 2.5kg

• Outdoor Venting: No

The Presto 3-in-1 air conditioner has multiple functions to combat both hot and wet climates with a choice of air conditioning, dehumidifying, fan cooling or an automatic mode.

The fan function directly cools down your surroundings using high and low airflow settings for maximum comfort, with an adjustable vertical louvre to redirect the breeze further across the room. The unit also helps to tackle the wet winter season by extracting up to 20 litres of excess moisture from your room per day.

The device operates at a 9,000 BTU output and has an A energy-efficiency rating to provide high-performance with low environmental impact and running costs – how good is that?

Buy now from Robert Dyas (£299.99).

5. Ecoair Apollo Portable Air Conditioner

Best air conditioning unit with free app

Features:

• BTU: 12,000
• Speed settings: 3 speeds
• Oscillation: No
• Weight: 39kg

• Outdoor Venting: Yes

The Ecoair delivers fresh air for any room in the home you’d like it to, it can cover areas of around 22 square metres overall. The unit has two in one capabilities, also doubling up as a dehumidifier to release the rooms in your home of moisture. These features can all be easily controlled with a wireless remote or via a free app.

12,000 BTUs make this unit ideal for cooling areas up to 22 squares metres, it’s also A energy rated so no need to worry about sky high energy bills either.

Three different fan speeds allow you complete control over how little or how much cool air you want. The unit sits atop of easy glide castor wheels, so you can transport it around the rooms in your home with ease.

Buy now from Amazon (£429.96).

6. NETTA Portable Air Conditioner Unit

Best compact air conditioning unit

Features:

• BTU: 8000
• Speed settings: 3 speeds
• Oscillation: No
• Weight: 22kg

• Outdoor Venting: Yes

If you’re looking for a pretty compact air conditioning unit – this option from NETTA is a top contender.

This air conditioner is ideal for small to average sized rooms ranging up to 20m². The multi-functional unit offers individual fan, cooling and dehumidifying modes to help create the perfect and most comfortable environment throughout those warmer months.

Built-in casters allow you to easily move the unit to any room in the house with a simple push, where the compact and upright design allows it to fit anywhere without taking up too much space.

Buy now from Amazon (£259.99).

7. De’Longhi Pinguino PACAN112 Portable Air Conditioner

Best air conditioning unit to use at night

Features:

• BTU: 11,000
• Speed settings: 3 speeds
• Oscillation: No
• Weight: 30kg

• Outdoor Venting: Yes

This portable air conditioning unit from De’Longhi has a fairly big price tag, although it’s not the most expensive out there, not to mention it isn’t the lightest on the market either.

However, the cost comes with some amazing benefits you may want to consider if you’re serious about staying cool throughout the year.

With an energy output of 11,000 BTUs (cooling up to 110 square metres) and are fairly silent operation, emitting sounds between 47 – 50 decibels.

The A+ energy rating makes this pretty large contraption efficient on the environment too. There’s also a built-in dehumidifier, which other models don’t have.

Buy now from Amazon (£635.97).

8. AEG ChillFlex Pro AXP26U338CW Portable Air Conditioner

Best quiet operation air conditioning unit

Features:

• BTU: 9,000
• Speed settings: Adjustable speed
• Oscillation: No
• Weight: 31.5kg

• Outdoor Venting: Yes

The ChillFlex Pro is a portable air-conditioner that combines efficiency and elegance.

It perfectly maintains the right temperature in the home – cool and fresh when it’s hot outside.

It has an A energy rating which is perfect for those worried about the price of running it, it also comes with a remote control for turning on / off, adjusting fan speed, timer, temperature and sleep modes.

Buy now from John Lewis (£549.99).