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Best Window Air Conditioner

Candace Osmond

Indoor central air conditioning is one of the best ways to beat the summer heat. However, many homes are still not fitted with central air. You might also have that one room in the house that no matter how low you put the thermostat, it just doesn’t cool down. A window air conditioner is a great alternative.

A window unit can not only reduce the heat, it can remove humidity from the room too. The window AC units available today are not your grandma’s AC! They are much smaller and compact and better at circulating air. There are units with Wi-fi connection that you can control from literally anywhere to more simple units with knobs or a digital control panel. No matter what you need, there is a unit that will get you cool and comfortable.

RankProductHighlights
#1MIDEA 5,000 BTU EasyCool

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  • BTU: 5000
  • Fitting Area: 100-150 sq ft 
  • Color: White 
  • Power Source: Corded Electric
#2GE 8,000 BTU Smart Window Air Conditioner

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  • BTU: 8000
  • Fitting Area: 350 sq ft 
  • Color: White 
  • Power Source: Corded Electric
#3Midea 12,000 BTU EasyCool Window AC

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  • BTU: 12,000
  • Fitting Area: 550 sq ft 
  • Color: White 
  • Power Source: Corded Electric
#4hOmeLabs 10,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner

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  • BTU: 10,000
  • Fitting Area: 450 sq ft 
  • Color: White 
  • Power Source: Corded Electric
#5GE 6,000 BTU Serenity Quiet Window Air Conditioner

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  • BTU: 6,000
  • Fitting Area: 250 sq ft 
  • Color: White 
  • Power Source: Corded Electric
#6LG LW8017ERSM Smart Window Air Conditioner

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  • BTU: 8,000
  • Fitting Area: 350 sq ft 
  • Color: White 
  • Power Source: Corded Electric
#7FRIGIDAIRE FGRC1044T1 10000 BTU Cool Connect

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  • BTU: 10,000
  • Fitting Area: 450 sq ft 
  • Color: White 
  • Power Source: Corded Electric
#8Haier Energy Star 12,000 BTU

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  • BTU: 12,000
  • Fitting Area: 550 sq ft 
  • Color: White 
  • Power Source: Corded Electric

We have compiled a list of the eight best window air conditioners available online to bring you our recommendations and help you narrow down your options. Read on to find the one that best suits your needs.

Our Picks for the Best Window Air Conditioner

1. Top Pick – MIDEA 5,000 BTU EasyCool Window Air Conditioner and Fan

SPECS:

  • BTU: 5000
  • Fitting Area: 100-150 sq ft 
  • Color: White 
  • Power Source: Corded Electric

This mini-compact air conditioner from Midea is perfect for quickly cooling a room up to 150 square feet. This is the perfect unit to keep your room or office as comfortable as possible. It has 7 temperature settings, 2 cooling/2 fan only speeds and 2-way air direction to give you the perfect amount of cooling every time. 

It runs quietly and features easy-to-use mechanical controls to set the temperature, mode, and speed that you want. There is also a removable and washable air filter. This reduces bacteria, room odors and other airborne particles for a healthier, more comfortable environment. Midea’s 5,000 BTU EasyCool Window Air Conditioner has a combined energy efficiency rate of 11.0 which helps reduce your energy costs to save money throughout the year. 

Installation is easy in your home or apartment’s existing window frame.  This unit is suitable for windows 23-26 inches wide and a minimum of 13 inches high. All of the mounting accessories are included.

ProsCons
  • Easy installation and includes all of the mounting hardware. 
  • Fast cooling up to 150 square feet. 
  • Perfect for smaller spaces. 
  • Washable mesh filter.
  • Energy efficient. 
  • The fan is noisy.
  • Drips a lot of water.

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2. Best Smart Window Air Conditioner – GE 8,000 BTU Smart Window Air Conditioner

SPECS:

  • BTU: 8000
  • Fitting Area: 350 sq ft 
  • Color: White 
  • Power Source: Corded Electric

This is the perfect window unit for cooling medium sized rooms as it delivers 8,000 BTU cooling capacity up to 350 square feet. This air conditioner from GE is also smart to give you connected peace of mind. It is integrated with the SmartHQ app which allows you to monitor, schedule and control your smart air conditioner from anywhere. It’s also compatible with your favorite devices, including Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. 

For the most energy efficient cooling, select from three cooling and three fan speeds. When the room is cool enough, Energy Saver Mode automatically turns off the fan and compressor, saving you money on utilities. The unit runs best when you have a clean filter. Thanks to the smart technology, it will remind you when it needs to be cleaned

This AC has a fixed chassis and installs easily in a double hung window with the included EZ Mount installation kit.

ProsCons
  • Cools up to 350 square feet. 
  • Smart technology to control the unit from your smart device. 
  • Energy saver mode. 
  • Easy installation.
  • Users have had many issues with the app. 
  • Extremely noisy.

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3. Midea 12,000 BTU EasyCool Window AC

SPECS:

  • BTU: 12,000
  • Fitting Area: 550 sq ft 
  • Color: White 
  • Power Source: Corded Electric

Midea is the world’s air treatment brand with a motto to help make customers feel at home with each of their products. The Midea EasyCool Window AC unit has three modes to help your house, apartment, office, or room be as comfortable as possible. It can cool a space quickly, circulate air with its 3-speed fan, or reduce humidity utilizing the dehumidifier mode. This one cools up to 350 square feet at 12,000 BTU. 

It is quiet and easy to use. According to Midea, it is quieter than a household refrigerator. It also features an intuitive LED display and includes a compact remote control (batteries included) to easily set the time, temperature, and mode from across the room. There is also a removable and reusable air filter to protect your family and living space from dust and pet hairs.

The EasyCool window air conditioner is Energy Star certified to help save you money throughout the year. There are also multiple custom settings to help you be even more energy efficient like Eco mode and an EasyTimer feature to program a schedule that fits your needs. It is easy to install in your home or apartment to an existing window frame. All of the mounting accessories are included. A screwdriver is required (but not included) for installation. For some window frames, pilot holes are recommended before installing screws.

ProsCons
  • Easy to install. 
  • Three in one comfort – cools, circulates, dehumidifies. 
  • Reusable and washable air filter. 
  • Energy Star certified to save you money.
  • The fan is loud even on the lowest setting. 
  • This unit is huge and heavy.

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4. Most Cooling Functions – hOmeLabs 10,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner

SPECS:

  • BTU: 10,000
  • Fitting Area: 450 sq ft 
  • Color: White 
  • Power Source: Corded Electric

The hOmeLabs 10,000 BTUwindow AC is a powerful indoor air conditioner packed with multiple cooling functions: from cool, dry, fan, ECO to sleep mode. You can select between six different cooling options including cool, dry, fant, auto, eco, or sleep. Plus, you can pick high, medium, or low for the fan speed. You can direct the airflow using the directional louvers. The temperature ranges from 61 degrees to 88 degrees Fahrenheit. 

This unit is a practical way to get fast and efficient air cooling for a single bedroom or small living room that is around 400-450 square feet without having to install a central air conditioning unit. You can turn the power on and off, adjust the temperature, set a timer to automatically turn itself off or set select modes using the digital control panel. You can also operate this indoor air conditioner with just a simple click using the full-featured easy-to-use remote control making it easier for you to control the appliance anywhere you are in the room. 

You can set a timer to have the AC turn off or on in 0.5 to 24 hours. There is a reusable and removable air filter that can be washed using warm water and dish soap. You should check your air filters at least once a month. The unit can be installed easily without significantly modifying your existing window frame. It is designed to fit in a standard double-hung window with a window width between 26” and 36” and must allow a minimum 16” of vertical clearance.

ProsCons
  • Six different cooling options. 
  • 24 hour timer. 
  • Energy Efficient. 
  • Sleep mode to automatically adjust temperatures.
  • Noisy.

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5. Most Quiet Window Air Conditioner – GE 6,000 BTU Serenity Quiet Window Air Conditioner

SPECS:

  • BTU: 6,000
  • Fitting Area: 250 sq ft 
  • Color: White 
  • Power Source: Corded Electric

This unit is the best for cooling small rooms without making a ton of noise. It delivers 6,000 BTU for rooms up to 250 square feet. The GE Serenity Quiet AC provides an ultra quiet operation at only 43 dBs for minimum noise. 

This doesn’t disappoint in the cooling either. It has energy efficient cooling with three cooling and three fan speeds to provide flexible and optimal home comfort. Sleep mode will gradually increase temperatures overnight so you can sleep comfortably. 

This AC has a fixed chassis and installs easily in a double hung window with included EZ Mount installation kit.

ProsCons
  • Ultra quiet. 
  • Cool small rooms. 
  • Three cooling speeds. 
  • Sleep mode. 
  • Easy installation.
  • No smart controls. 
  • It may get louder over time.

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6. Best Wifi Controlled Window Air Conditioner – LG LW8017ERSM Smart Window Air Conditioner

SPECS:

  • BTU: 8,000
  • Fitting Area: 350 sq ft 
  • Color: White 
  • Power Source: Corded Electric

Imagine controlling your AC from anywhere! Now you can with the LG ThinQ Technology. You can start or stop cooling, change the mode, or set the temperature while on the go. The ThinQ app lets you control your LG smart air conditioner right from your phone. It also works with Amazon Alexa and Google so you can change settings with simple voice commands.

This unit also has low noise performance so that it operates at sound levels as low as 52dB (in low mode) eliminating unnecessary noise. It can cool a room up to 350 square feet which is ideal for medium sized rooms. There are three cooling and fan speeds along with auto cool so that you can fully customize your experience. 

This air conditioner has met the high standards of the ENERGY STAR Program using energy-efficient technologies that translate into electricity savings.

ProsCons
  • Wifi enabled to control on the go. 
  • Low noise performance. 
  • Energy Star. 
  • Multiple fan speed.
  • Some users had issues with it cooling too slow.

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7. FRIGIDAIRE FGRC1044T1 10000 BTU Cool Connect Smart Window Air Conditioner with Wifi Control

SPECS:

  • BTU: 10,000
  • Fitting Area: 450 sq ft 
  • Color: White 
  • Power Source: Corded Electric

One of the benefits of a window air conditioner unit is that you can only run your AC when you need it to cut down on energy costs. The Frigidaire Gallery is a smart unit that allows you to cool your room from anywhere, anytime from your smart device. 

The Frigidaire app provides you with the convenience to remotely turn the unit on or off, change temperature, plus control modes and fan speeds. You will also stay informed with up-to-date alerts, such as clean filter indicators and other key notifications. We love that you can create a custom schedule for your AC 24 hours a day. 

This unit is 10,000 BTU and can perfectly cool a room up to 450 square feet.

ProsCons
  • Wi-fi connected with the Frigidaire Smart App. 
  • Create a custom schedule.
  • Too loud.

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8. Most Energy Efficient Window Air Conditioner – Haier Energy Star 12,000 BTU Smart Electronic Large Rooms up to 550 sq ft. Window Air Conditioner

SPECS:

  • BTU: 12,000
  • Fitting Area: 550 sq ft 
  • Color: White 
  • Power Source: Corded Electric

You want a cool room without all the expensive utility bills. This AC unit from Haier automatically goes into energy saver mode when the room is cool enough. Energy Star certified window ACs deliver optimal performance while using less energy and reducing your utility bills. 

This unit is large enough to cool a room up to 550 square feet, delivering 12,000 BTU cooling capacity. You can select from 3 cooling and 3 fan speeds for energy efficient cooling. This AC is also smart to give you connected peace of mind. It is integrated with the SmartHQ app allowing you to monitor, schedule and control your smart air conditioner from anywhere. It is compatible with your favorite devices, including Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Installation is easy as ths AC has a fixed chassis and installs easily in a double hung window with the included EZ Mount installation kit.

ProsCons
  • Energy saver mode. 
  • SmartHQ integration. 
  • Easy installation 
  • Great for large rooms
  • Too noisy.

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What To Look For in a Window Air Conditioner 

Let’s dive into the things to keep in mind when shopping around for a window air conditioner. 

1. Cooling Capacity

The cooling capacity should be your first consideration before buying a window AC. It is measured in British Thermal Units, or BTUs. They usually range between 5,000 and 12,000. BTUs basically tell you how effectively a unit can lower the temperature in a given space. 

Look for a unit that has a BTU level that is designed to fit the size of your space. The higher the BTU, the more it cools. 

2. Square Footage

In addition to the BTU’s, you need to know the square footage of your room that you want to cool. In our list, you’ll see the recommended square footage that the AC unit can cool. 

3. Easy Window Installation

Back in the day, installing an AC unit was quite a chore. The new units are much easier to install. Most window units are designed to fit inside a standard double-hung window. Window units usually come with the mounting hardware to install in your existing window frame. Look for ones that promise “easy installation.” Make sure you take accurate measurements of your window before ordering to make sure it will fit. 

4. Smart Technology

Many air conditioners now have smart technology features so that you can control your unit from virtually anywhere. In addition, you’ll find scheduling features to help you personalize your experience. Consider how “smart” you want your AC unit and which features are important to your lifestyle. 

5. Energy Efficiency

An energy efficient air conditioner is going to save you money on your utility bills because they use less energy. While shopping, you want to look for units that are “Energy Star Rated.” They usually use 10% less energy than other models. 

Final Thoughts 

We have provided you with lots of different options when it comes to searching for the best window air conditioner. Make sure that you make a list of what you need. There is something for everyone on our list of the best window air conditioners that are sure to meet your needs. Take all of our tips into consideration so that you can make the best choice when shopping online.