Top Rated Quiet Portable Air Conditioners Review Guide For 2023-2024

Top Rated Quiet Portable Air Conditioners Review Guide For 2023-2024 – A window air conditioner is probably not an option if you don’t have central air. Portable room air conditioners can be quite noisy, so they are never anyone’s first choice. But, if they are your only option, do know that you don’t have to sacrifice peace and quiet to cool down your home.

While you won’t find a portable air conditioner that is completely silent, there are dozens of great units out there that are surprisingly quiet. And the best quiet portable air conditioners on the market are energy efficient and cost-efficient as well.

To help you pick out the best quiet portable air conditioner for your home, here are the top rated units on the market today. To see them keep reading our Top Rated Quiet Portable Air Conditioners Review Guide For 2023-2024.

NewAir AC-10100E, Ultra-Compact Portable Air Conditioner

On top of being very quiet, the NewAir AC-10100E is one of the most compact portable AC units on the market. No matter how your room is decorated, this little fella is sure to blend in well. It is a great choice for rooms under 300 sq ft.

You won’t have to worry about water condensation since the unit is self-evaporating. The portable AC also includes an auto-fan function, remote control, and 12-hour timer.

Considering it’s performance, the NewAir AC-10100E comes at a more than fair price. It’s only drawback is the fact that it uses a single hose ventilation system instead of a dual hose system.

Product Details:

• PERSONAL AC – This small portable air conditioner is perfect for small spaces up to 325 square feet
• FEATURES – With self-evaporative technology, air filter, and a 12-hour timer, this unit has it all
• ECO-FRIENDLY – The efficiency booster lets you add water to let the compressor run on less power
• QUALITY – This portable air conditioner is made with quality materials, to keep you comfy all day
• NEWAIR – With good quality products and excellent customer service, NewAir is a name you can trust
• Wattage: 909 watts

Features:

• Cooling Capacity: 10,000 BTUs
• Noise level: <56 dB
• Weight: 53 lbs.

Pros:

• Great value for money
• Auto-fan function
• Lightweight
• Easy to move
• Remote control

Cons:

• The single hose ventilation system could be better

Whynter Elite ARC-122DS Amazon’s Choice

The Whynter Elite is definitely a list-topper, as far as portable AC units go. This portable air conditioner is on the pricey side, but it’s an excellent purchase if you live in an area where it is hot and humid most times of the year.

When it is in use, the Whynter Elite is incredibly quiet. The noise level never goes over 52 dB (decibels). Even though it is a quieter unit, it is as powerful as they get. It can cool down an area of up to 400 sq ft.

The Whynter Elite is a dehumidifier and a fan as well as an AC. It comes with a programmable thermostat that gives you full control of the unit.

The 24-programmable timer is quite a nice feature. To get rid of any residual condensation, the unit has a super convenient auto-drain function.

Product Details:

• 12,000 BTU (ASHRAE) / 7,000 BTU (SACC) cooling capacity
• Three operational modes: air conditioner, fan or dehumidifier. This unit can cool up to a 400 square feet space (ambient temperature and humidity may influence optimum performance)
• Full installation set includes extendable exhaust and intake hose (up to 60″) and window kit: 6.5″ W x 20″ (min)/ 46″ (max) L
• AWARD WINNING : 1. Good Housekeeping’s “Best Portable Air Conditioners to Buy in 2019” 2. The New York Times Wirecutter named “the most efficient and fastest cooling portable AC”
• Full thermostatic control (61°F – 89°F) with digital readout, 24 hour programmable timer; Eco-friendly CFC free Green R-32 refrigerant; Patented auto drain function fully exhausts all condensate automatically in most environments

Features:

• Cooling Capacity:12,000 BTUs
• Noise level: <52 dB
• Weight: 60 lbs.

Pros:

• Energy efficient
• Quiet
• Easy to move
• Auto-drain function
• Remote control

Cons:

• Pricey

DeLonghi Pinguino PACN135EC

If you are looking for a portable 3-in-1 unit, the DeLonghi Pinguino is another great choice. It’ll maintain a nice and comfy temperature in your room, no matter the season. You can easily adjust it to cool, fan or dehumidify the room.

The unit operates quietly, but efficiently. Rated at 53 dB, it is one of the quietest units on the market. For comparison, the level of noise in the library is generally rated at around 40 dB. A normal conversation is usually rated around 60 dB.

It will cool down a 550 sq ft room in no time. Both the remote and the air conditioner come with an easy-to-read electronic display. You can use the remote to set the cooling mode, fan speed, and thermostat temperature.

There is also a timer that can come in really handy if you want to save energy. The unit moves easily as well, so you should be able to set it up quickly and without much effort.

Product Details:

• COOLING POWER: Cools rooms up to 600 square feet in total area
• SAVE ENERGY: By cooling only the room you’re in, you can raise your household thermostat and lower your energy bills
• PORTABLE COMFORT: Unit sets up in minutes. Caster wheels and integrated handles allow you to move it easily from room to room
• SENSOR TOUCH PANEL: Features a lighted display, adjustable thermostat, 3 fan speeds, timer and mode selection
• HEAT FUNCTION: Take the chill out of cool nights and mornings

Features:

• Cooling Capacity: 6,800 BTUs
• Noise level: <53 dB
• Weight: 67.5 lbs.

Pros:

• Saves energy
• Highly portable
• Super quiet
• Easy to set up
• 3 fan speeds

Cons:

• Pricey

BLACK+DECKER BPACT08WT

While it’s not among the quietest portable air conditioners on the list, the Black & Decker BPACT08WT is still quieter than most other options on the market. This unit has everything you need to cool down a small room very quickly.

Weighing in at 53 lbs, it’s one of the lightest portable air conditioners out there. On top of that, it comes with convenient handles and four castor wheels. This unit is as portable as they get.

When it’s in silent mode, it makes very little noise and it doesn’t use too much energy. The price point is attractive as well.

The unit offers 3 standard modes: dehumidifying, fanning, as well as cooling. This makes it a great year-round unit. All in all, the Black & Decker BPACT08WT is a great, simple and hassle-free solution for small bedrooms, living rooms, offices and cabins.

Product Details:

• QUIET & POWERFUL – Our 5,000 BTU DOE (8,000 BTU ASHRAE) compact air conditioner (16.5 x 11.5 x 26 in,) will keep you cool and comfortable all summer. An adjustable fan speed cools the air to 65°F at the coolest setting. Sleep mode makes it extra quiet while you rest
• PERFECT FOR SMALL ROOMS – This floor-standing portable AC unit provides steady, fast, effective cooling for rooms up to 150 sq. ft. It’s the ideal small air conditioner for dorms, apartments, cabins, campers, offices, bedrooms, or living rooms
• SIMPLE & QUICK TO INSTALL – Just wheel this portable air conditioner into any room with a double hung or sliding window. Attach the included hose (4’ 11”) & window adapter, & plug it in to an outlet! At the end of the season, just unhook & store
• EASY TO USE & CLEAN – The simple remote control & top-mounted LED display with 24-hour timer allow you to precisely control the air temperature. To clean the filter, just slide it out twice a month, rinse it thoroughly under running water, & put it back
• 3-in-1 FUNCTIONALITY – Combines 3 energy efficient functions for all of your cooling & ventilation needs with cool, fan, & dehumidifying modes all in one machine. Bucket-less, self-evaporating operation makes your living space cool, clean and dry

Features:

• Cooling Capacity: 8,000 BTUs
• Noise level: <75.6 dB
• Weight: 53 lbs.

Pros

• Energy efficient
• Lightweight and easy to move
• Attractive price point
• 3 modes
• Auto-control

Cons:

• Not for larger rooms

Frigidaire Cool Connect

If you are looking for something a bit more modern, the Frigidaire Cool Connect has a lot to offer. It is the most “high-tech” unit on the list. Its most prominent feature is Wi-Fi compatibility. All you need to do is download Frigidaire’s app on your phone and you’re ready to go.

The app is intuitive and very easy to use. It is much more convenient than the traditional remote controller. The unit offers a cooling capacity of 12,000 BTU and has a noise rating of just 53 dB, so you can rest assured it is not just another “Smart-labeled” gimmick. You can completely turn your home into a smart home that has become very popular in the last few years.

Product Details:

• Wi-Fi ready connected room air conditioner with Frigidaire smart app for mobile operation
• 12,000 BTUs Cools upto a 550 square foot room with 3 pints per hour dehumidification. Noise Level dB- 53
• 360-Degree airflow circulates cool air in an upwards, continuous spiral ensuring it reaches every corner of your room faster
• 3 cooling speeds, 3 fan speeds and 24-hour on/off timer. Watts (Cool) – 1090
• Auto cool function, energy saver mode and sleep mode for cooling flexibility
• Certifications & Approvals: Energy Star Certified: No|Safety Certification: UL/CUL (SA11087)|ADA Compliant – All Brands: No|NSF Certified: No|CSA Listed: No|UL Listed: Yes|ETL Listed: No
• General Specs: Warranty: 1 Year Full/5 Year Sealed System|Refrigerant: R410a|Net Weight: 66|Gross Weight: 77|Reconditioned: No|BrandFamilyFrigidaire: Yes|ProductLaunch: NA|Power Type: Electric|Size: N/A|Installation Type: Free-Standing|Collection: Frigidaire

Features:

• Cooling Capacity: 12,000 BTUs
• Noise level: <53 dB
• Weight: 85 lbs.

Pros:

• Controlled by Smartphone App
• Easy to move around
• Sleek design
• Energy-efficient
• 24-hour timer

Cons:

• Heavy

SereneLife SLPAC10 Amazon’s Choice

Weighing in at 55.1 lbs is a nice, lightweight, and portable solution for rooms up to 350 sq ft. Aside from being super quiet and compact, the SereneLife SLPAC10 comes with a variety of cool features.

The unit offers 4 operating modes (fan, dehumidifier, cooling, and heating). It also includes a 24-hour timer. To ensure maximum cooling efficiency, it can extract moisture from the air at a rate of 1.5 L per hour.

Thanks to its sleek design, it’s a good fit for any room—no matter the decorative style. The SereneLife SLPAC10 comes with a remote controller that allows you to operate the unit from the comfort of your bed or sofa.

Product Details:

• HANDY AND PORTABLE: The Serene Life Portable Air Conditioner System features a lightweight, handy, sleek body design intended to be used in the bedroom, living room, or garage at home or office. It features rolling wheels for easy portability
• BUILT-IN DEHUMIDIFIER: You don’t only get the cooling effect of the portable AC, but it also helps reduce humidity levels, acts as purifier which makes your home less hospitable to allergens such as dust mites, mold, and mildew by selecting dehumidifier mode. Wipe with soft semi-dry cloth
• 4 OPERATING MODES: The compact floor AC indoor cooler conditioning unit features a simple electric plug in operation and has 4 modes – cooling, heating, dehumidifier, and fan. Also features automatic swing mode w/ moving wind vent for maximum air circulation
• REMOTE CONTROL: Features a digital touch button control panel which includes the power, mode, timer, temperature, and fan speed settings. Other functions such as unit selector (°C/°F), sleep key can be adjusted using the included remote control
• GREAT FOR ALL YEAR ROUND: With 10, 000 BTU cooling power and 9, 000 BTU Heating power, this is the best option to save space and money. The cold air can cover a room up to 350+ sq. ft. , Air flow is rated at 290 m3/hr., moisture removal/dehumidifier at 15 liters/hr. w/ an operating noise level of only 52-56 dBa

Features:

• Cooling Capacity: 10,000 BTUs
• Noise level: 52 to 56 dB
• Weight: 55.1 lbs.

Pros:

• Great efficiency
• Remote control
• 4 operating modes
• Lightweight
• 24-hour timer

Cons:

• Setting up the hose can be tricky

Top Rated Quiet Portable Air Conditioners Buyers Guide For 2023-2024

How to Choose The Best Quiet Portable Air Conditioner

BTU (Cooling Capacity):

If you want to pick out the best portable AC for your home, first you need to know how many BTUs you’ll need to efficiently cool the room in which you plan to place the unit. One BTU (British Thermal Unit) is the amount of heat needed to increase the temperature of 1 lb of water by 1° F.

BTUs (British Thermal Unit) tell us how powerful an AC unit is. To determine the cooling capacity of a portable unit, you need to check its BTU rating as well as the size of the room you want to cool. Essentially, the larger the room, the more BTUs you need.

But, you want to avoid getting a portable AC with a BTU rating that is too high for the area you want to cool. If your room is small and you get a unit with a very high BTU rating, you will reduce the lifespan of your portable AC without gaining anything in return.

The unit will deliver mediocre results. It will cycle off and on too often because it will cool too fast. And, if it cycles too often, it won’t be able to remove the excess humidity from the air. You’ll end up with an AC that’s overworked as well as a high energy bill.

But, if the BTU rating is not high enough, your AC will struggle to cool the room to the desired temperature. This will also overwork the unit.

Determining the Right BTU Rating For Your Needs:

Each room is the same, and, on top of that, the climate in your area can make it difficult to precisely determine your cooling energy requirements. Lucky for us, portable AC manufacturers are well aware of this, so they design their units to cover a wide range of room sizes and requirements.

For every square foot of floor space, you’ll need about 20 BTUs. Multiply the longest width of the room by the longest length to calculate the square footage. To make things simple, you can use this as a rule of thumb:

• Up to 200 sq ft: 8,000 BTUs or fewer
• 200 to 300 sq ft: 10,000 BTUs
• 400 – 500 sq ft: 10,000 – 14.000 BTUs
• Over 500 sq ft: 14,000 BTUs

But, there are still some other factors you need to take into account. You will need 10% more BTUs if the ceiling in the room is higher than 8 ft. You’ll need 10% fewer BTUs if your space is heavily shaded.

But, if it’s sunny, you will need 10% more total BTU. For each person that will occupy the space regularly, add 600 BTUs.

Add 4,000 BTUs if you will use the AC in a kitchen or server room. Basically, you’ll need to add more BTUs on top of the standard calculation for every factor that increases the temperature of the room.

Ventilation System:

For a portable AC to work properly, it needs to vent air out of the room somehow. When it comes to portable ACs, there are two types of ventilation systems: single-hose and double-hose.

Single-Hose Portable Air Conditioner:

Naturally, a single-hose portable AC has just one hose. It draws air, cools most of it, and releases it back into the room. But, it doesn’t return all of it back. The unit siphons off part of that air and uses it to pull the heat off the evaporator.

Since this air is not cool, the AC vents it outside through an exhaust hose. If you don’t set the hose to pump the hot air outside the room, you’ll defeat its purpose.

Dual-Hose Portable Air Conditioner:

A dual-hose AC unit draws the air from your room, cools it, and then returns all of it back into the room. To pull the heat off the evaporator, a dual-hose portable AC uses 100% outside air. It uses one hose to cool the evaporator and the other to vent the warm air outside.

The major difference between the two types is the fact that a single-hose AC unit creates negative pressure in the room it is placed and a dual-hose AC unit does not. But, dual-hose portable air conditioners generally use more energy since most models have two internal fans.

Venting Options:

Before you buy a portable air conditioner, it is key to consider how you will install it. A portable AC unit can vent the air outside through a wall, door, or window—depending on how it is designed.

Most units come with a window kit that allows you to easily set everything up. It includes a few hose adapters, a bracket, and one or two vents. Before you buy a particular unit, you need to make sure the bracket will be a good fit for your window.

You may need to use a special kit if you want to set up the vent to lead through a glass door. It’s also possible to set the AC to vent through a duct or hole in a wall, but this requires a bit more planning and ingenuity.

High-end portable ACs usually feature a programmable thermostat. This allows you to set the unit to start or stop cooling at specific times. For instance, it can automatically turn on at certain times of the day or it can power off when the room is cooled down to a certain temperature.

Extra Features:

Ideally, you want to go with an air conditioner that does more than just power on and off. Quiet operation is cool, but don’t settle just for that. Look for a model that offers convenient extra features.

For instance, some portable air conditioners have built-in electrical strips that allow you to plug in other devices. If you want to be able to use the air conditioner to warm up your home, look for a model that comes with a heat pump.

The average portable AC doubles as a humidifier. Every AC unit dehumidifies the room to some extent. But, if you want an AC that will do a great job of dehumidifying the room, look for a unit that has separate settings for the dehumidifier and the air conditioner.

Drainage:

To cool the air, a portable AC needs to remove water from the air. And, that water has to go somewhere. There are a few different ways a portable AC can deal with condensation.

Fully Self-Evaporating Portable AC Units:

A self-evaporating unit exhausts all of the water that it collects along with the warm air. If you get a fully self-evaporating air conditioner, you won’t have to drain and dump the water yourself.

This is the most convenient type of AC, without a doubt. But, fully self-evaporating portable air conditioners are not suitable for really humid environments.

Partially Self-Evaporating AC Units:

A partially self-evaporating unit exhausts most of the moisture outside on its own. But, there is still some water you will need to get rid of on your own.

How often you will have to empty out the tray will mostly depend on the environmental conditions of your room. There are a few different ways a partially self-evaporating AC unit can exhaust the collected water:

• Drain hose/Gravity Drain: To ensure that the collected water will drain outside, most portable AC units come with a water drain hose connection. The drain hose can direct the water anywhere you want. You can use it with a bucket, window, or floor drain.
• Pump: To help drain the water through the drain hose, you can get a condensate pump. Some units come with a condensation pump included, but it is usually sold as a separate accessory.

A condensate pump allows for more versatility. For instance, if you want to cool your basement, you can use a condensate pump to route the hose upwards through the basement window.

Internal Container: There are still a few models out there that use internal containers to collect water. It’s not the most advanced solution, true, but it’s a great solution for those who treasure simplicity. If you get an AC unit that uses a tray or bucket, you will have to empty it regularly.

How to Get the Most out of a Portable Air Conditioner:

• Insulate the room
• Keep the air conditioner away from direct sunlight
• Install a ceiling fan in the room
• Don’t go under 25°C
• Clean the filters regularly
• Straighten the exhaust hose

Conclusion:

If you want to get a unit that will give you a bang for your buck, you can’t go wrong with the Whynter Elite ARC-122DS. Operating at a very quiet noise level of 52 dB, and packing a variety of extra features, it delivers great value for money. You can rest assured it will cool your room in no time—without making a ruckus. Thanks for taking the time to read our Top Rated Quiet Portable Air Conditioners Review Guide For 2023-2024.