Best portable air conditioners, rated by UK families

Hotter summers mean more and more UK families are investing in air conditioning, with affordable portable models the most popular choice. The UK Energy Research Centre estimates up to 32% of UK households will have air conditioning by 2050, so if you're searching for the best portable air conditioner for your home, you're certainly not alone.

Best portable air conditioners UK - at a glance:

Best portable air conditioner overall: Meaco MeacoCool Pro Series 10000 Portable Air Conditioner, £500
Best budget portable air conditioner: EcoAir Crystal MK3 Portable Air Conditioner, £300 - SOLD OUT
Best portable air conditioner, dehumidifier and fan in one: electriQ EcoSilent 8000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner, £430
Best portable air conditioner with an app: AEG Comfort 6000 Portable Air Conditioner, £680
Best portable air conditioner for bedrooms: De'Longhi Pinguino 9000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner, ~~£569~~ £469
Best portable air conditioner for small rooms: VonHaus 5000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner, £200

I spoke to Jose Escalante, home efficiency expert at Roofing Craftsmen, to find out more. "With UK summers getting hotter, portable AC units are no longer a luxury; they’re becoming a seasonal necessity," he says. "While fans and open windows might suffice on cooler days, they don’t provide the consistency or humidity control that portable ACs do, especially in heatwaves."

On stifling hot days and nights, a portable AC system can be an invaluable addition to your home, and they work much better than a neck fan or even an air cooler in a heatwave. With more and more people working from home — and in extensions and garden or home offices ill-equipped for extreme temperatures, you’ll want to ensure you have everything you need to keep you and your family cool and comfortable throughout the summer months.

Of course, you’re never going to need an air conditioner in the middle of winter in the UK, which is why most air conditioners for homes sold here are portable units which often double up as heaters or dehumidifiers. But with so many to choose from and important factors like running costs, noise levels, price and size to consider, it can be tricky to pick the right one.

To bring you our list of the best portable air conditioners you can buy right now, I first scoured the Mumsnet forums for tried-and-tested recommendations.

I then conducted in-depth research into what makes a great portable air conditioner, explored air conditioning brands and authentic customer reviews to ensure that only the very best make the cut. I then began an ongoing process of testing and reviewing portable air conditioners in real family homes, assessing key features including user-friendliness, effectiveness and noise levels.

Finally, I asked home efficiency expert Jose Escalante to scrutinise our shortlist, giving us his informed take on the air conditioning units we selected.

Here are the best portable air conditioners to buy.

1

Best portable air conditioner overall

Meaco MeacoCool Pro Series 10000 Portable Air Conditioner

Check stock at Meaco

What we like

Trusted brand
Impressive cooling power
Sleep mode for overnight

What we don't like

Reviewers find it quite noisy
Limited stock available due to its popularity

Key specs

What Mumsnet users say

SuperWorm24 · Recommended brand

We bought a portable unit this year. It's a meaco one and it's brilliant. We have a newborn baby and I'm breastfeeding. Where most adults can just put up with the heat it's a little more stressful when you have a baby or family member who cannot regulate their own temperature properly.

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beebopdoobop · Recommended brand

I live in a South facing new build and I bought Meaco air con from John Lewis. The tube goes out a window and I bought a window kit to seal the window. It was on for about four hours today and I would not be without it when working from home.

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Our verdict

Tested by Mumsnet editor Poppy O'Neill: Read our full MeacoCool MC Series Pro 10000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner review

Unfortunately, this air conditioner has sold out at the time of writing. We still think it's the best portable air conditioner in the UK, so we're keeping our eyes peeled for stock updates. In the meantime, we recommend the De'Longhi Pinguino as an alternative.

On hot nights, summoning up the energy even to move from your star-fished position on the bed can be exhausting, which is where a smart air conditioning unit really comes into its own. If the night starts to get sticky, you can control this portable air conditioner via your mobile device or hook it up to your Alexa or Google Home, so it can start pumping out cool air at the touch of a button - transforming the room "from sauna to pleasant" in the words of one Mumsnet user.

"This model stands out for its quiet operation and energy-efficient performance," says home efficiency expert Jose Escalante. "It’s ideal for light sleepers or those working from home in small-to-medium rooms. The remote control and timer add convenience, though the hose length might be a bit limiting in larger spaces."

With a sleep mode for quieter operation overnight and an hour timer to pre-cool any room of your home, the unit also boasts a dry mode for reducing humidity, and a fan mode for use when air conditioning isn't required.

Meaco is a trusted and much-recommended brand on the Mumsnet forums, making some of the best fans and best dehumidifiers around, at affordable prices. All in all, we think this is the best portable air conditioner in the UK right now. However, due to the popularity of their air conditioners, at the time of writing there's very limited stock available. We managed to find a few new on eBay, and there are lower BTU versions suitable for smaller rooms available at Argos and John Lewis.

Related: The best desk fan for keeping your cool when working from home

2

Best budget portable air conditioner

EcoAir Crystal MK3 Portable Air Conditioner

Buy now from Amazon

What we like

Air conditioner, fan and dehumidifier in one
Remote control
Castors for easy moving
Window kit included

What we don't like

Noisy

Key specs

What Mumsnet users say

Amiable · Recommended brand

I have one from EcoAir. Love it.

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Mumsnet editor, Poppy · Tried & Tested

The air conditioner cools the room effectively and quickly, it started to feel more comfortable in my stuffy WFH office within a minute or two. Without a sleep mode, it is a little noisy, but it certainly takes the edge off during a heatwave.

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Our verdict

Tested by Mumsnet editor Poppy O'Neill: Read our full EcoAir Crystal MK3 Portable Air Conditioner review

If you're looking for a portable air conditioner that'll do the job without breaking the bank, the EcoAir Crystal MK3 Portable Air Conditioner is definitely worth a look.

Relatively lightweight at 19kg, the Crystal MK3 Air Conditioner comes with 9000 BTUs and can offer almost-instant cooling in rooms up to 26m². And, while it is still pretty pricey (AC units don't come cheap), it's one of the more pocket-friendly models on our shortlist.

To make it that much more of a bargain, it doubles as a dehumidifier, so will come in handy all year round for drying laundry indoors over the winter months.

Related: The best budget fans for keeping cool without breaking the bank

3

Best portable air conditioner, dehumidifier and fan in one

electriQ EcoSilent 8000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner

Buy now from Appliances Direct

What we like

Set and forget with smart cooling technology
Sleep mode
A-rated for energy-efficiency
Website has a clever BTU calculator
Window kit included

What we don't like

Not the quietest Sleep mode

Key specs

Our verdict

A portable air conditioner is a big investment, and getting one with a dehumidifier function makes a lot of sense in the UK. This model from ElectriQ will keep you cool in summer with its air con and fan functions, and help dry your laundry in winter as a dehumidifier.

Thanks to Appliances Direct's clever calculator, you can find the perfect BTU rating and air conditioner for your needs. This model stands out thanks to its affordable price, included window kit and smart cooling technology that holds the perfect temperature.

4

Best portable air conditioner with an app

AEG Comfort 6000 Air Conditioner

Buy now from AEG

What we like

Good energy efficiency
Great for pre-cooling a room
Uses modern eco-friendly R290 refrigerant gas
Operated via the AEG smartphone app or compatible device
Two-year guarantee

What we don't like

Fairly heavy compared to other models
Window kit sold separately

Key specs

What Mumsnet users say

Namechange202323 · Recommended product

We bought this one last week, it really does cool a big bedroom. AEG 6000. It's heavy and needs a window outlet, but effective, the room is much cooler than using a fan. Can be controlled with phone app too!

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Our verdict

Reviewed by Mumsnet editor Poppy O'Neill: Read our full AEG Comfort 6000 Portable Air Conditioner review

Unfortunately, at the time of writing this air conditioner has sold out. We're keeping our eyes peeled for stock updates. In the meantime, we recommend the De'Longhi Pinguino as an alternative.

If your tower fan just isn't cutting it anymore as the temperatures rise, this easy-to-use AEG Comfort 6000 Portable Air Conditioner can be set up and installed in your bedroom or living space in minutes and offers quick cooling for spaces up to 36m². Whilst it’s fairly heavy compared to some models, it has casters to the base and strong grip handles to improve its portability, allowing you to move it around your home or upstairs as required, with a little bit of effort and some help lifting it.

"This is a premium choice with solid cooling performance and sleek design," says air con expert Jose Escalante. "Its powerful 12000 BTU output makes it great for large rooms or open-plan living spaces. A downside is its weight. Portability is relative here, so it's best for those who won’t need to move it often."

Simple to control remotely via the AEG app, it runs at a relatively low noise level and thanks to its powerful 12000 BTU rating, it gets to work pretty fast once you turn it on. Plus, if you don't want to control it through your smartphone, you can also set it to work manually on the control panel.

Unlike some older portable air conditioner models, it uses the modern R290 refrigerant gas to cool your surroundings, a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly choice. It also boasts an A energy efficiency rating, but as with all portable air conditioning units, the overall performance can be improved by using a window seal kit to prevent warm air from re-entering the room. The window kit is sold separately, which we don't like - there are different types for different window frames available on the AEG website.

Related: The best neck fans, as recommended by Mumsnetters

5

Best portable air conditioner for a bedroom

De'Longhi Pinguino 9000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner

Buy now from Currys

What we like

Fast and efficient cooling
Three-in-one product with fan and dehumidifier options
Quiet mode for overnight

What we don't like

Costly
Reviewers found the exhaust hose length a little short

Key specs

What Mumsnet users say

Canthelpmyselffromjoiningin · Recommended product

We've had a delonghi pinguino for about 4 years which I thoroughly reccommend. You do need to put the vent hose out of a window, but its very effective at cooling and the air feels better too as its also a dehumidifier. Worth every penny when the weather is like this.

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NeverDropYourMooncup · Recommended product

Weighs a ton but once it's upstairs, it's really easy to move around. It's really noisy when actively cooling, but stick it on a noise absorbing mat like one for underneath a washing machine and when you get to night time, it's a lot quieter on the sleep setting. I loved being able to set a timer for it so that I'd get home and head for the bedroom where it had been running for about 45 mins before I got in - bliss. Also usable as a dehumidifier in winter for clothes.

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Havinganamechange · Recommended brand

Forget all the fans, go straight for a mobile air con unit. We have a delonghi which was about £500 but it works brilliantly. Hose out of the window, on full and it’s amazing.

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Our verdict

We all know that heat rises, meaning our bedrooms can be unbearable during the summer months. If you have young children, this can lead to a disturbed night for everyone. Having a portable air conditioning unit upstairs or in your master bedroom can make the surroundings far more comfortable and conducive for sleep.

"The Pinguino offers a good balance of power and eco-friendliness, using R290 refrigerant," says Jose. "It’s quieter than many models in its class, making it ideal for bedrooms or offices. It's a bit pricier, but you're paying for quality and brand reliability."

The De'Longhi Pinguino 9000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner is a great choice for bedrooms up to 90m2 with a choice of the fan for mild nights or the air conditioner when it starts to get hot, offering fast and efficient cooling without using too much energy or creating too much noise.

You can control it remotely from the comfort of your ‘on top of the sheets’ bed, and there are three fan speeds or a quiet mode that will offer a more silent cooling solution. The downside? At over £500, it's quite an investment, but the dehumidifier setting should help you get some use out of it in the colder months, too.

Related: Discover the best ice cube trays for perfectly chilled drinks

6

Best portable air conditioner for small rooms

VonHaus 5000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner

Buy now from Amazon

What we like

Energy-efficient
Specifically made for smaller room settings up to 10m²
Also functions as a fan and dehumidifier

What we don't like

Quite noisy

Key specs

What Mumsnet users say

Mumsnet writer, Lucy · Tried & Tested

The air con mode impressed me the most, noticeably lowering the temperature in my room even after a short duration. On the first night of testing, it dropped 6 degrees in my bedroom in just over 50 minutes.

See Post

Our verdict

Tested by Mumsnet writer Lucy Cotterill: Read our full VonHaus 500BTU Portable Air Conditioner review

Smaller bedrooms can quickly become stifled and feel overbearing during extreme heat, making them far from appealing when it's time to go to bed. The VonHaus 5000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner is relatively light, plus it takes up less floor space than more powerful units. If you're looking to cool a relatively small room, there's no point forking out for a higher BTU rating than you need. This one is recommended for spaces up to 10 square metres in size, and there are also 7000 BTU version for 15 sq m, priced at £240; and 9000 BTU version for rooms up to 18sq m, priced at £260.

Described by the manufacturer as a 4-in-1, we think it's more accurately described as a 3-in-1. The functions are air conditioner, fan and dehumidifier - plus a sleep mode which is the fourth.

Dropping Lucy's bedroom temperature by 6°C in under an hour, it's clear this air conditioner does the job - and for a fraction of the price of more premium brands. While she didn't find the sleep mode particularly quiet, it certainly got her through the first heatwave of 2025.

Read next: The best deodorants for kids, according to Mumsnet users

Do portable air conditioners cool well?

Yes, if you want to beat the heat this summer, a portable air conditioner is one of the most effective ways to cool your home. While fans do come much cheaper, they blow air around the room giving you a welcome breeze, instead of actively lowering the air temperature like an AC unit.

The inverter compressor unit in an air conditioner forces warm air over cool ‘refrigerant’ gases, which can be evaporated over and over again to absorb heat and replace it with cooler more comfortable air.

Due to the energy required, they can be quite power hungry, so keep an eye out for the ‘energy rating’ from A to G - A is the highest award for efficiency. The good news is, most modern portable air conditioners use an environmentally-friendly refrigerant, unlike older models which could be damaging to the environment.

What’s the difference between an air conditioning unit and an air cooler?

An air cooler works in a similar way to a fan but cools down the air using a water tank. Unlike an air conditioner, they don’t require outside ventilation to cool a room and are cheaper to purchase, however, they won’t be as effective on really hot days, costing more to run as they work harder to cool their surroundings. Air coolers tend to lower the room temperature by up to three degrees, although when you’re sat close by, the effects will still be far more noticeable than using a traditional fan.

Portable air conditioners are generally more expensive to buy. They work with a refrigerant gas that actively removes hot air and replaces it with cool. They are generally far more effective, particularly in larger spaces. Air conditioners also offer far more control over the room temperature and can help reduce humidity too.

Where can I put a portable air conditioner?

A portable air conditioner can be used in most living spaces or bedrooms, but it needs to be positioned within close proximity of a window, as the hose needs to be vented to the outside in order to work effectively. To improve energy efficiency and prevent warm air from reentering the room, it’s also recommended you buy a window seal kit (usually sold separately).

Are portable air conditioners expensive to run?

As you may expect, portable air conditioners are fairly power-hungry. According to data from consumer champion Which?, portable air conditioners use as much energy in one hour as a typical fridge freezer uses in one day.

There are various ways you can reduce the running costs of your air conditioner:

Check the room size recommendations and the BTU rating. If you choose a smaller BTU rating, it will have to work extra hard and for longer if the space is too large, ultimately costing you more in energy consumption.
Use a window frame sealing kit to prevent warm air from travelling back into the room.

What is a BTU rating?

BTU stands for 'British Thermal Units'. It's a key consideration when shopping for the best portable air conditioner for you, and you'll notice each product on our shortlist has a BTU rating in the key specs.

The higher an AC's BTU, the more cooling power it has across a larger space. So, if you want maximum chills for a large room, go for something with a 12,000 BTU rating, but bear in mind this may be more expensive to buy and run than a less powerful unit. The higher the BTU rating, the less environmentally-friendly the AC unit tends to be, too.

Related: Best cooling boxes for chilled food and drink

How to choose the best portable air conditioner for you

Room size - The best portable air conditioners provide guidance on the recommended room size, but if not, take a look at the BTU rating (British Thermal Units). The higher the BTU, the more efficient it is at cooling a room and the larger space it can accommodate.
Multi-purpose - Some portable air conditioners offer other functions too such as a dehumidifier mode, fan or heating mode. Consider which options work best for your needs and what you are getting in terms of features for your money.
Variety of speed settings - How many speed settings does the air conditioner have? The more speed options, the more control you will have over your environment.
Ease of use - How easy is the air conditioner to set up and start using? Does it have a remote control or smart controls for quick and simple operation?
Noise levels - Air conditioning units obviously make a reasonable amount of noise, but in most cases, this is a small price to pay for a more comfortable night's sleep. Some units offer sleep or quiet modes that run with quieter fans for use overnight.
Energy efficiency - How energy efficient is the air conditioner? Is a window sealing kit included? If not, you may want to consider purchasing one to improve the overall efficiency of your choice.
Size and portability - How portable is the air conditioning unit? If you're intending to use the air conditioner in a number of rooms or regularly move it up and down the stairs, you should consider both the weight and overall size of the unit as well as the inclusion of castors for easy manoeuvring.
Cost - Last but by no means least, how much are you willing to spend? You can pick up a decent portable air conditioner from around £300, but for more features, multi-purpose units or a more significant BTU rating, you may need to spend a little more.

What is the best portable air conditioner?

The Meaco MeacoCool Pro Series 10000 Portable Air Conditioner is the best portable air conditioner to buy in the UK in 2025. An energy-efficient model using modern refrigerant, it's portable, has low noise levels and can be operated remotely via your smartphone. It’s quick and easy to set up - if a little heavy - and thanks to the 10000BTU rating, can have an instant impact when making your rooms more comfortable.

You can read our review of the MeacoCool Pro Series 10000 Portable Air Conditioner here.

Where can I buy a portable air conditioner?

If your house tends to get warm in summer or you’re already concerned about another heatwave, it’s best to buy air conditioners earlier in the year as prices will fluctuate with demand. Most of the air conditioners we recommend can be found at Amazon, John Lewis, Argos, B&Q, Currys or Appliances Direct.

How to vent a portable air conditioner

You will need to vent your AC unit, but fortunately this can be done in a few easy steps. Grab the hose and connect it to the back of your AC. Here's the important part: make sure the other end of the hose is directed outside, preferably through a slightly open window or a vent hole. This lets the hot air escape while your AC cools things down indoors. Just double-check for any gaps or leaks around the window and hose, and you're good to go. A lot of air conditioners come with a sealing kit so you can maximise its efficiency, too, by blocking gaps in the open window.

How to clean an air conditioner

If you want to ensure your air conditioner performs at its best and runs efficiently, you must look after it. You should ensure that the filters and fans are cleaned regularly to avoid the build-up of dust, using either a vacuum or wiping down with a dry cloth (when unplugged). You should then use a damp cloth to wipe down the grill, ensuring to get in between the individual vents where dust or fluff could build up.

Before stashing away in the loft for winter, you should ensure water is fully drained by removing the plug before spraying your unit with hydrogen peroxide and wiping down to fend off mould and mildew building whilst in storage.

How we chose the best portable air conditioners UK

Recommendations from real Mumsnet users

Last year's heatwave hit hard, and as a result, many Mumsnet users decided to bite the bullet and get an air conditioning unit for the very first time. To help you choose the best one, we first sought out the trusted opinions of Mumsnet users to get their feedback on the portable air conditioning units they own and would recommend based on their tried-and-tested experience.

We also looked out for any negative reviews, where Mumsnetters highlighted products that they felt were poor quality, incredibly noisy, or failed to work effectively.

Expert opinions

Next up, we considered reviews and feedback from trusted industry experts. We want to be confident that the products we recommend are fit for purpose, so we looked out for award-winning products or those that were well regarded in the marketplace, including those recommended by consumer champions such as Which?.

Authentic consumer reviews

Finally, to bring you our definitive list of the best portable air conditioners on the market, we thoroughly investigated genuine, in-depth customer reviews on retailer sites such as Amazon, Argos and John Lewis to get wider consumer experiences regarding the products on our shortlist.

About the authors

Lucy Cotterill is a freelance writer, who in addition to running an established blog, Real Mum Reviews, writes lifestyle content for a variety of publications in the UK and US, with a focus on detailed and balanced product reviews.

She's written about a vast range of products for Mumsnet, including the top ways to beat the heat this summer, whether that's with the best cooling boxes for family trips or the top cooling pillows for a dreamy night's sleep.

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She researches and reviews the products Mumsnetters swear by, with a particular focus on home essentials, laundry and fans. From a highly-recommended retractable washing line to the best quiet fans money can buy, and Mumsnet's favourite dehumidifier to the steam generator iron that'll cut your ironing time in half, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the very best products on the market.

Why you should trust us

We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find products that real parents rate.

Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.

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