24 models · specs checked October 2026

Air Conditioner Finder

Which portable or window AC actually fits your room? Set your room size and we rank every model by its real cooling, not the number printed in big type on the box.

sq ft
Needed for 320 sq ft (8 ft ceiling)
8,000 BTU

Different ceiling, people or a kitchen? Get your exact number in the BTU calculator and use "Compare all models" there.

Must have

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Real cooling = rated BTU for window units and SACC for portables. Specifications as stated by each manufacturer on its product listing, checked October 2026. Prices change often, so we link to Amazon for the current price. As an Amazon Associate, ComfortSizer earns from qualifying purchases.

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Why we rank portables by SACC

Portable air conditioners used to be sold on their ASHRAE rating. The U.S. Department of Energy now also requires a Seasonally Adjusted Cooling Capacity (SACC), which accounts for the heat a portable unit leaks back into the room. The difference is large: in this list, portables boxed as 14,000 BTU deliver about 10,000 BTU of real cooling, and an 8,000 BTU box can mean 5,000.

That is why a portable can look big enough on the box and still struggle in your room. The finder compares the SACC figure with what your room needs. When a maker does not publish SACC, we label it instead of guessing.

Window or portable?

For the same real cooling, window units are usually cheaper to buy and run, and quieter. Choose a portable when a window unit will not fit your window or is not allowed, or when you want to move it between rooms. U-shaped window units straddle the sash, so the window still opens and most of the noise stays outside.

Sizing in one line

Find the BTU your room needs with the BTU calculator, then pick a model whose real cooling is at or slightly above it. Much bigger is not better: an oversized unit cycles on and off and leaves the air clammy.

All models

Every air conditioner in the finder

ModelTypeBox BTUReal coolingRoom size (maker)Noise
DREO 318SPortable8,0005,000not stated45 dBAmazon
Midea MAP05S1AWT-APortable8,5005,000up to 150 sq ftnot statedAmazon
BLACK+DECKER BPACT08WTPortable9,0005,300up to 400 sq ftnot statedAmazon
BLACK+DECKER BPACT10WTPortable10,0005,550up to 450 sq ftnot statedAmazon
Midea MAP07S1AWT-APortable10,0007,100up to 300 sq ftnot statedAmazon
DREO 515SPortable12,0008,000not stated45 dBAmazon
BLACK+DECKER BPACT12WTPortable12,0008,350up to 550 sq ftnot statedAmazon
DREO 516SPortable14,00010,000not stated45 dBAmazon
BLACK+DECKER BPACT14WTPortable14,00010,200up to 700 sq ftnot statedAmazon
Midea Duo MAP14HS1TBL-APortable14,000–not statednot statedAmazon
Midea EasyCool MAW05M1BWTWindow5,0005,000up to 150 sq ftnot statedAmazon
Frigidaire FFRA051WAEWindow5,0005,000up to 150 sq ft52 dBAmazon
GE AWAS05BWAWindow5,0005,000up to 150 sq ft52 dBAmazon
Midea MAW06R1YWT-SWindow6,0006,000up to 250 sq ft52 dBAmazon
GE AWCS06BWAWindow6,0006,000up to 250 sq ft52 dBAmazon
Midea U MAW06V1UWTWindow (U-shaped)6,0006,000up to 250 sq ft32 dBAmazon
Midea MAW08S1YWTWindow8,0008,000up to 350 sq ftnot statedAmazon
Frigidaire FHWC083TC1Window8,0008,000up to 350 sq ft54 dBAmazon
Midea MAW08HV1CWTWindow8,0008,000up to 350 sq ft45 dBAmazon
Midea U MAW10V1UWTWindow (U-shaped)10,00010,000up to 450 sq ft32 dBAmazon
TCL H10W35WWindow10,00010,000up to 450 sq ftnot statedAmazon
GE AWCS12WWAWindow12,00012,000up to 550 sq ftnot statedAmazon
LG LW1424RDWindow14,00014,000up to 700 sq ftnot statedAmazon
Frigidaire FHWW144TF1Window14,00014,000not statednot statedAmazon
FAQ

Choosing an air conditioner

What is SACC on a portable air conditioner?
SACC stands for Seasonally Adjusted Cooling Capacity. The U.S. Department of Energy introduced it for portable air conditioners because the older ASHRAE number did not account for the heat a portable unit lets back into the room through its hose and casing. SACC is usually several thousand BTU lower, and it is the figure that tells you how much cooling you actually get.
Is a window or portable air conditioner better?
For the same real cooling, a window unit is usually cheaper, quieter and more efficient, because the hot side of the machine sits outside. Portables make sense when your window cannot hold a window unit, when your building does not allow them, or when you want to move the unit between rooms.
What does a U-shaped window air conditioner do?
The unit straddles the window sash, so the noisy compressor stays outside and the window can still be opened and closed. That is why U-shaped models can be much quieter indoors than a standard window unit.
Do I need a dual hose portable air conditioner?
A single-hose portable pulls room air to cool its condenser and pushes it outside, which draws warm air into the room through gaps. A dual-hose design takes that air from outside instead, which usually cools a room faster. It matters more in hot, sunny rooms.
How do you pick the models in this finder?
We include well-known brands with a large number of buyers, and we only show specifications the manufacturer states on its own listing. When a maker does not publish a figure, such as SACC or noise, we say so instead of guessing.