Window vs portable air conditioner: which should you buy?
Window units and portables are the two self-install options for cooling one room, and shoppers cross-shop them constantly. They cost about the same up front, but they differ on efficiency, noise and how they sit in the room. Here is how the two types compare on the real units we track, and the best current pick of each.
The short answer
Across the 123 window units and 30 portables we track in stock, a window unit is cheaper (typically $499 in stock, against $584); a window unit is the more efficient of the two to run. Neither is "better" outright: match the type to how long you will cool the room, your budget and your windows (see when to choose each below).
| On the numbers | Window | Portable |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price (in stock now) | $499 | $584 |
| Price range | $159 – $2,649 | $298 – $5,396 |
| Typical noise | 52 dB(A) (about as loud as a refrigerator) | 52 dB(A) (about as loud as a refrigerator) |
| Energy efficiency | Moderate | Lowest (a single hose exhausts cooled air) |
| Typical room coverage | up to 488 sq ft | up to 450 sq ft |
| Installation | Self-install in a sash window | No install, plug and play |
| Models we track (in stock) | 166 (123 in stock) | 48 (30 in stock) |
Typical figures are the median across the in-stock window air conditioners and portable air conditioners we track. Prices are live retailer prices. Size any unit to your actual room, not the type.
The best of each type, in stock now
The current top pick from our window air conditioner and portable air conditioner buying guides, chosen on the same honest scale.
Best window unit
42 dB(A), about as loud as a quiet library · CEER 15 · covers up to 350 sq ft
Best portable
CEER 6.6 on DOE's portable test, among the most efficient of the 2 in-stock portables DOE rates for rooms up to 250 sq ft · 6,000 BTU of DOE-tested cooling (sold as 10,000 BTU)
Choose a window air conditioner if
- upfront cost matters most: the typical in-stock window unit runs $499 against $584 for a portable
- running cost and efficiency over years of use matter (it is the more efficient type)
Choose a portable air conditioner if
- you need to wheel cooling between rooms, or cannot commit a unit to one window
How we compare
Every typical figure above is computed from the real, in-stock units we track in the US (median price, noise and coverage), not a manufacturer claim. The best pick of each type is the same unit its buying guide crowns. Efficiency is the standard ranking for the type. Nobody pays for placement.
Read our full methodology