Our home improvement pros at the Good Housekeeping Institute reviewed and tested more than 30 portable air conditioners. The best portable air conditioner that we've tested is the Whynter NEX ARC-1230WN. This high-end portable unit packs in all the bells and whistles one could want in an A/C unit.
We tested nine units in a humid Florida home to find the best portable air conditioners of 2025. Here are the models we recommend considering for any size space. The best portable air conditioners cool rooms without taking up window space.
We tested several to see which cooled quietly and efficiently. A good portable AC is hard to find, but our picks provide year-round climate control that's quiet and efficient. If you need more than just a window AC unit, a portable air conditioner is the answer.
Invest in one of these lab. While this portable air conditioner barely made a difference in my medium-sized living room during testing, it managed to drop the temperature in my small bedroom by 6 degrees, more than enough to. A portable A/C unit can be a flexible way to bring cool air into your living space.
Portable AC units offer convenient cooling without the permanence of built-in units, making them ideal for various room sizes and layouts. Below is a summary table followed by detailed reviews of top-rated portable air conditioners suited for living rooms, focusing on features like cooling capacity, noise levels, portability, and smart controls. Unlike window air conditioners, portable air conditioners roll easily from room to room and are quick to set up, with no labor.
