Portable Air Conditioner Review

Comparing portable and window air conditioners

Window air conditioners are less expensive than portable models, and all reviews say they work better. See our separate report on window air conditioners for more on these units. However, window installation isn't an option for some homes and apartments. In that case, a portable air conditioner is the only choice.

Portable air conditioners serve as an alternative to window or wall air conditioners or as a supplement to central air conditioning. They are suitable for apartment buildings that do not permit window units or for homes with windows that cannot accommodate permanently installed window AC units. Installation doesn't require any heavy lifting, and because these portable AC units are mounted on casters, you can theoretically move them from room to room. Installation does require that you place the unit close to a window, because you'll need to run the exhaust hose outside. Portable air conditioners are quite heavy, weighing between 50 and 90 pounds on average, and a few weigh as much as 120 pounds.

Despite a large number of units on the market, there are relatively few portable air conditioner reviews and comparisons. ConsumerReports.org, for instance, last published a thorough review of portable air conditioners in 1991; there's only a short buyer's guide online. For this report, we find the most credible reviews come from owners. Although websites like Air-Conditioner-America.com recommend portable air conditioners, the ratings criteria aren't disclosed. Editors say their picks are based on owner satisfaction and features, but no user reviews are posted. We find the best evaluations in owner reviews posted at Buzzillions.com, Epinions.com, Sears.com, HomeDepot.com, Amazon.com and Target.com.