Air conditioners are a must have in all homes because of its high functionality and useful features. It will keep you cool on hot summer days while you work or lounge away in your room. Some of the models come with extra dehumidifiers and fans for added comfort. They can even double up as a heater for colder temperatures in the Fall and winters.
There are a variety of air conditioners in the market with its own set of unique characteristics and features. Five main air conditioner categories are window air conditioners, wall air conditioners, ceiling or cassette air conditioners, portable air conditioners, and ducted air conditioners. All of these are super effective in cooling some more than others.
However, some air conditioners can be extremely big and bulky which makes it not suitable for small and mobile homes or offices. Wall Air conditioners especially can be bulky and tend to stand out too much which not only takes a lot of space but also messes with the perfect decor of the room. Air coolers too tend to be very big in size and unsuitable for compact spaces.
Portable and window air conditioners however tend to take up less space which makes them ideal for smaller spaces and homes. These are also quite effective in cooling your room while sitting in a corner. Portable Air Conditioners can be moved around for convenience and cost way less than standard mounted air conditioners. They are extremely easy to install and can be maintained easily from time to time.
If you are looking for such a small air conditioner with many good features, we have prepared a list of the best small air conditioners to fit your small rooms and homes. Here are all the air conditioners that we have picked:-
List of Best Small Air Conditioners for Small Rooms
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Whynter Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner |
| Check Price On Amazon |
 | Frigidaire FHPH132AB1 |
| Check Price On Amazon |
 | BLACK+DECKER BPACT08WT |
| Check Price On Amazon |
 | Whynter ARC-14SH |
| Check Price On Amazon |
 | Whynter ARC-12SDH |
| Check Price On Amazon |
These air conditioners are highly efficient and have been selected for its unwieldy features and functionality. Below you will find detailed accounts of all these models which will help you to compare and select the best option that will be well suited for your bedroom, living room, office, or gym room. These products are easily available on Amazon where you will also find customer reviews to further help you decide on one. Keep reading to know more.
Whynter Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner
(Recommended by us for overall features)
Specifications
- 14,000 BTU (ASHRAE) / 9,500 BTU (SACC) cooling capacity
- Item Dimensions: 16 x 19 x 35.5 inches
- Item Weight: 80 Pounds
- Price: $599.99
- Warranty: One year warranty on unit and three year warranty on compressor
Whynter Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner is a very powerful air conditioner that comes in a compact design. It’s a 14,0000 BTU AC from Whynter and comes with a dual hose for faster and more efficient cooling. This small but powerful air conditioner can cool upto 500 sq ft of space. If you don’t require such high power cooling, you can even opt for the less BTU option of 9,500 that will save you some money. It is quite good even for medium sized rooms. It also works as a fan that has three adjustable speeds and a dehumidifier is equally efficient.
The design of this Air Conditioner is very modern and pristine. In Spite of being a Portable Air Conditioner, the design will blend in with your room decor and add a modern home feel to it. The general settings of these air conditioners include the 24 hour programmable timer that lets you set a schedule for throughout the day which will be according to your convenience. The digital panel on the air conditioner displays the temperature and fan speed settings. The operation of this air conditioner is also very quiet at only 58 decibels.
The exhaust hose extends up to five feet so you’ll have some flexibility in placing it. However, like any Portable Air Conditioner, you will have to make some ground space for its placement.
PROS:-
- 3 in one- cooling, dehumidifier, fan
- Powerful
- Fast cooling
- Good for even medium sized rooms
- Sleek and compact design
- Good warranty
- Eco-friendly CFC free Green R-32 refrigerant
- Low noise levels
Cons:-
- Not for big spaces
- Not very durable
- Expensive
BLACK+DECKER BPACT08WT Portable Air Conditioner
(Recommended by us for most compact design)
Specifications
- 8000 BTU onwards
- Product Dimensions: 16.5 x 11.5 x 26 inches
- Item Weight: 52.9 pounds
- Price:
- Warranty: 1 year limited warranty
The Black+Decker Portable Air Conditioner is another great air conditioner with a compact and sleek design. Though this air conditioner does not have a stylish look like the Whynter Dual Hose one, it still looks sleek and simple. It comes in a full white finish and will quietly sit in a corner without standing out too much and disturbing the decor of your room. This air conditioner is also quite lightweight at only 52 pounds which means you can easily move it away if you need the space. It won’t take up much space in your room anyway.
The air conditioner comes at a very resolvable price but has many features. It’s a little more than 1 feet in length which means it is super small and will fit into compact spaces. Small houses with less free spaces will find this to be a great feature. The air conditioner has a 24 hour timer along with sleep mode for automatic temperature control. It’s R410a refrigerant makes it quite an Eco-friendly choice. While the 8000 BTU is not enough to cool large spaces, it can effectively cool small rooms like bedrooms and offices. It also acts as a dehumidifier to keep the air dry around you. It is suitable for cooling 100 to 150 square feet of space. The control panel is located on the air conditioner but it can also be controlled by a wireless remote.
A complete installation kit is provided along with the unit so that you can easily install this yourself without having to call a professional. The total package consists of an air exhaust hose, hose inlet/outlet adapters, window casement, water drain hose along with the remote control.
PROS:-
- Low energy consumption
- Eco-friendly
- Small and Portable
- Lightweight
- Simple design
- Fairly quiet at 78 dbl
- Installation kit provided
- Reasonable price
CONS:-
- Low warranty
- Low cooling power
Frigidaire FHPH132AB1 Air Conditioner
(Recommended by us for being most quiet)
Specifications
- 12,000 BTU
- Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 16.6 x 31.3 inches
- Item Weight: 77 pounds
- Price: $599.99
- Warranty: Limited
The Frigidaire FHPH132AB1 Air Conditioner is a great small appliance that is effective in cooling while maintaining super low noise levels. What’s more is that it even has a heating feature when the outside weather has cooler temperatures. It’s 12,000 BTU power is actually quite good to cool down even medium sized spaces. It boasts that its powerful cooling capacity can efficiently cool down upto 600 sq ft of space in a short time. This makes it an extremely good choice among powerful air conditioners.
The Frigidaire FHPH132AB1 has a very compact design that has a small height as it has a small length. You will hardly notice its presence in the room because of its amazing compact design. This small build is good for bedrooms and even nurseries due to the fact that it operates on extremely low noise levels.
This Air Conditioner has several features like heating, dehumidification, and fan along with the primary cooling function. This performs a 4-in-1 function that is impressive for its price bracket. The air conditioner also has built-in thermostat and easy settings control by using the wireless remote provided with the unit. There is also a control panel on the air conditioner itself which can be used to adjust temperatures when the remote control is not working or cannot be located.
The air conditioner is also designed to make its maintenance work easy and hassle-free. The filter is removable and can be cleaned at home with minimal effort. The installation of the unit is also quite easy and does not require a professional.
PROS:-
- Simple and sleek design
- Compact and low space consumption
- Powerful
- Effective and fast cooling
- Easy to clean and maintain
- 4-in-1 functionality
- Easy installation
- No assembly
- Low noise for peaceful sleep
CONS:-
- Heavy
- Expensive
- Poor customisation
Whynter ARC-14SH Air Conditioner Portable Air Conditioner with Heater
Specifications
- 14,000 BTU
- Product Dimensions: 16 x 19 x 35.5 inches
- Product Weight: 80 pounds
- Price: $679.99
- Warranty: One year warranty on unit and three year warranty on compressor
Whynter ARC-14SH Air Conditioner is quite similar to the Whynter Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner. The difference between the two is that this model can also act as a heater. While the first model only has 3 functions of cooling, dehumidifier, and fan, this model has an extra heating feature which gives it a 4-in-1 functionality.
The design of this model is also quite similar to the other one even in the Weight bracket. The outward design is almost the same with a black and white design that looks sleek, modern, and pristine. The control panel is a digital display on the air conditioner itself. Additionally it can be operated by a wireless remote control for easy use. It comes with an activated carbon filter and built-in thermostats. The filter is washable and easy to maintain.
The features of this model include 24-hour timer, sleep mode and adjustable fan speeds as well. The unit is also quite easy to install. The energy consumption is low and CFC free GREEN R32 refrigerant makes it super eco-friendly.
PROS:-
- 4-in-1 functionality
- Easy to clean carbon filter
- Easy to install
- Beautiful design
- Effective cooling
- Low noise
- Eco-friendly
- Low energy consumption
- Built-in thermostat
CONS:-
- Heavy
- Bulky
- Expensive
Whynter ARC-12SDH 12,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner
Specifications
- 12,000 BTU
- Product Dimensions: 16.5 x 20 x 34 inches
- Item Weight: 71 pounds
- Price: $612 approx
- Warranty: One year on unit and three year on compressor
Whynter ARC-12SDH Air Conditioner is yet another great pick from the brand Whynter. By now we already know that this brand is acing the game of making high quality Portable Air Conditioners. This is the third product from the brand on this list and is no less powerful than the others. This one has a rather simple design with a full white body and a black big digital panel for control and display.
This air conditioner has a good 12,000 BTU cooling capacity which can effectively cool small and medium sized areas. Due to its extra power and the dual hose system, it can cool down small rooms very fast. The product is also more lightweight than the other Whynter models on the list. This model has some unique features like the advanced auto drain technology which uses and recycles moisture collected during the operation of the air conditioner. The activated carbon filter gives clear cool air and can be washed easily.
It comes with cooling, dehumidification, and fan functions which is why it has a steep pricing as compared to standard air conditioners. The temperature and fan speeds are adjustable and can be done so using the wireless remote control or the control panel on the air conditioner unit. This air conditioner also operates on extremely low noise levels under 58 decibels. This makes it perfect for bedrooms and nurseries for peaceful sleep.
PROS:-
- Quietest operation
- Simple design
- Compact and lighter than many models
- Eco-friendly
- Washable filter
- Activated carbon filter for clean air
- Low energy consumption
- 3-in-1 function
- Auto drainage and water reuse
CONS:-
- Expensive
- Lacks adjustable features
- Window kit is not good
LG 8,000 BTU (DOE) / 12,000 BTU (ASHRAE) Smart Portable Air Conditioner
(Recommended by us for smart control)
Specifications
- 8,000 BTU (DOE) / 12,000 BTU(ASHRAE)
- Product Dimensions: 14.56 x 17.52 x 28.15 inches
- Item Weight: 62.9 pounds
- Price: $449.00
- Warranty: Limited
The LG 8,000 BTU (DOE) / 12,000 BTU (ASHRAE) Smart Portable Air Conditioner is an amazing product from the brand LG. LG is known all over the world for its HIGH quality and affordable home appliances. This product is also a great portable air conditioner model from the brand. This particular model gets its place on this list for its smart control features.
The LG Portable Air Conditioner is designed to be a smart device that will be way to control and operate from anywhere in the room. This model is WiFi enabled and can be operated by the LG ThinQ app, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home or Google Assistant from Your mobile phone. Yes you won’t even need to use the remote that comes along with this device. Design wise the product is extremely classy and sophisticated with a black outer casing and a beautiful digital display and control panel for way use.
This beast has several useful features like advanced temperature control, adjustable fan speeds and 24-hour timer. The cooling capacity of the product is quite good for small rooms upto 350 sq ft. It has a 3-in-1 cooling, drying, and fan feature for optimum usability. The removable and washable filter makes it easy to clean and maintain.
PROS:-
- Smart control
- Wireless remote
- Adjustable fan speed
- 3-in-1 functionality
- Moderate weight
- Reasonable price
- Trusted brand
- 24-hour timer
- Good for small spaces
- Installation kit
CONS:-
- Not good for spaces bigger than 400 sq ft.
Haier Energy Star 8,000 BTU Smart Electronic Window Air Conditioner
(Recommended by us in window air conditioners)
Specifications
- 8,000 BTU
- Product Dimensions: 15.31 x 18.56 x 12.63 inches
- Item Weight: 54.6 pounds
- Price: $319.00
- Warranty: 1 year
The Haier Energy Star 8,000 BTU Smart Electronic Window Air Conditioner is our best pick from the window air conditioners category. This model comes from the highly trusted brand Haier which is popular in making home appliances. Haier Energy Star is a window air conditioner which needs to be installed in a window only. Window air conditioners are actually more efficient than Portable Air Conditioners in cooling rooms.
This particular model has a BTU capacity of 8,000 which is just enough to cool a small and compact room fast and effectively. The low BTU power means low electricity consumption. You won’t have to worry about high electricity bills every month with this air conditioner. In Spite of being small and compact, this window air conditioner actually comes with WiFi connectivity and smart control features. Yes, this is quite uncommon for window air conditioners but this model can do it. You can easily connect this with your smartphone’s SmartHQ app to operate it from anywhere. It is also compatible with amazon Alexa and Google Home.
The air has a digital display panel on the unit which also has some control buttons on it. It comes with 3 temperature settings along with 3 fan speeds which can be adjusted according to your preferences. The unit is super easy to install and comes with an installation kit so you can do it yourself. The filter on this product is removable and can be cleaned easily.
PROS:-
- Small and compact design
- Lightweight
- Easy to install
- 3 fan speeds and temperatures
- WiFi enabled
- Smart control
- Energy Saver
- Eco-friendly
- Affordable
CONS:-
- Low cooling power
- Loud
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is higher BTU better for air conditioners?
A higher BTU generally means that the air conditioner will be able to cool down larger spaces in a shorter time. Generally 8000-10000 BTU is recommended for small rooms. 12,000-18,000 or more BTU capacity air conditioners are better choices for larger rooms and offices, especially hallways and living spaces. You can select one depending on the size of the room or how fast you want the room to be cooled. Avoid buying air conditioners with higher BTU for small spaces as it will cost you a lot of unnecessary expenses which can be saved. Also remember that higher BTU means more energy use and higher electric bills.
Q. Is Smart Control necessary to have in air conditioners?
Smart Control is a special feature that allows you to operate the air conditioner easily from your mobile phone or devices like Alexa and Google Home. It is not an absolute requirement to have smart control as it’s more about user experience than efficiency. If you want to have a low budget air conditioner and don’t require fancy features then you can opt for a normal air conditioner that doesn’t have WiFi features. However, if you already have multiple appliances with smart control that you actively use, then you might want to get a smart air conditioner as well.
Q. Is it necessary to buy an expensive air conditioner?
It is not always necessary to buy expensive air conditioners just because of their price. Oftentimes moderately priced air conditioners tend to have similar features to expensive ones but go unnoticed because people think the low price tag doesn’t guarantee good quality. While it is not advisable to purchase cheap air conditioners, you can easily opt for reasonably priced ones that come from trusted brands and have good user reviews. Remember that higher BTU costs more so if you have large rooms, be prepared to spend a few more bucks for best results.
Conclusion
Air conditioners are amazing devices that will help you have some comfortable summers without worrying about heat and sweat. When you decide to buy an air conditioner, make sure you list down your requirements to check if the model meets them. It is also important to have a budget so that you don’t overspend on an appliance that could have been bought with a lower price. Make sure you thoroughly check the specifications of the model and compare user reviews to make the best pick.