While many people aim for massive whole-house or portable HVAC systems, you don’t always need to cool or condition the entire home.
Sometimes it pays just to have a small personal air conditioner to make you feel comfortable in your bedroom, patio, or that holiday room.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to choose the best one, whether it’s the right option for you, and what the top products are on the market.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Personal Air Conditioners
- OUR TOP PICK: Evapolar evaCHILL
- RUNNER-UP: Nertpow Portable Air Conditioner
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: BlitzWolf BW-FUN10
Comparison of the Best Personal Air Conditioners
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What Do I Need To Know About Personal Air Conditioners Before Buying?
We know you’re excited to buy your first personal air conditioner, but there are some things you should keep in mind first. While we recommend several products, you’ll need to judge which will suit your needs the most.
Cooling / Humidifying Capacity
When it comes to capacity or performance, even small air conditioners can cover different room sizes. There are three measurements you’ll generally find for cooling, ventilation, and humidification. These are British Thermal Unit (BTU), Cubic Feet Per Minute (CFM), and Pints Per Day (PPD), respectively.
However, you might not find these specifications on personal air conditioners due to their size. What you may discover is how much area it covers in square feet, providing a rough guide for whether it’s suitable for your requirements.
Noise Level
While these air conditioners are relatively small compared to the larger portable variety, some of them still produce background noise while running. A few manufacturers employ technology to soften the noise, while other devices might keep you up late at night with their incessant humming.
If you read the specifications, there should be an indication of the noise in decibels (dB), but you can also read customer reviews that are bound to be more honest.
Power Source
Since the personal air conditioners are incredibly portable, you’ll want to be able to use them anytime, anywhere. To do so, you’ll need to keep the unit charged, especially if you plan on running it through the night.
Have a look at which power sources are available. In most instances, it’s a USB for charging via a laptop or power bank, but you might find the odd one that has a more challenging method.
Portability and Placement
Personal air conditioners are portable by nature, but you should look at how convenient it is to move around the house. Do you need to install and uninstall brackets, does it have a carry handle, or do you need to empty the water tank first?
You’ll also want to assess where the best position is to place the air conditioner. Think about your room’s layout and if you need shelving or a side table to accompany it.
Ventilation
When air conditioners cool a room, the hot air needs to go somewhere. In most cases, it gets vented through a hose out the window via an installation kit.
However, there are other ways it can be done, and some merely exhaust the heat out of a vent on the device itself. Ensure that the ventilation method works for you.
Review of the Best Personal Air Conditioners
Now that we’ve viewed some vital aspects of this device, it’s time to look at our list of the best personal air conditioners. You should bear in mind that you’ll need to assess which ones will be the most effective for your home.
Best Overall
Evapolar evaCHILL
Specifications
Capacity: 1.69 Pints
Coverage Area: 45 sq.ft.
Dimensions (in): 6.5×6.5×6.5″
Weight: 2 lbs.
Decibel Level: 10 dB
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Review
This compact air conditioner provides you with three different modes: cooling, humidification, and ventilation. You can set it at different speeds depending on how high the temperature is.
Since it has such a small design and provides moisture for dry regions, the last thing you want to do is use it in high-humidity regions or extreme climates. Furthermore, you can expect to refill the water tank several times a day.
For ambience, there’s a light feature that you can switch on to light your bedroom at night. You’ll be able to use it for nine straight hours without charging, while the leakproof design ensures that no water damages your bedside table or content.
Bottom Line
This personal air conditioner will make your small space at home or work cold while providing more moisture in the air. With a decent size tank that’s leakproof, you’ll need to refill it a few times a day, while you’ll receive nine hours of operation without charging.
Overall, it has an excellent design that will light up your room.
Pros
Three different modes to select
Relatively large water tank for its size
Featured light display to set the mood
Leakproof design to prevent water damage
Works for nine hours before needing a charge
Cons
Struggles against high humidity levels
Requires regular refilling despite bigger tank
Runner-up
Nertpow Portable Air Conditioner
Specifications
Capacity: 0.63 Pints
Coverage Area: Personal Space
Dimensions (in): 8.23×7.37×7.01″
Weight: 2.33 lbs.
Decibel Level: N/A
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Review
Nertpow’s portable air conditioner has the ideal blend of high power with low power consumption. The four functions it provides include cooling, humidification, ventilation, and purification.
As with most of these devices, you’ll struggle to cool the air and low moisture in areas with high humidity. It’s best that you keep the air conditioner on a flat surface, as the design wasn’t made to run at a tilted angle.
The personal air conditioner is easy to carry around with a built-in handle. There’s a cable for easy charging, which will leave you with several hours of running depending on the temperature and humidity levels.
Bottom Line
This product’s top feature is the four different modes that you can switch between, depending on what you need the most. You can cool the air, raise the humidity, circulate the airflow, or cleanse it from airborne contaminants.
It also helps that it has an attractive appearance.
Pros
Low power consumption
Four different modes available
Three fan speeds you can adjust
Powered by a battery for easy charging
Includes a carry handle for easy portability
Cons
Not ideal for high-humidity regions
Only suitable for horizontal surface and can’t be tilted
Best for the Money
BlitzWolf BW-FUN10
Specifications
Capacity: 0.74 Pints
Coverage Area: Personal Space
Dimensions (in): 6.69×5.91×7.09″
Weight: 1.92 lbs.
Decibel Level: 58 dB
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Review
This BlitzWolf air conditioner is another device that promises four different modes, providing you with cooling, ventilation, purification, and humidification. There’s also a stunning light panel at the top that cycles between seven different RGB colors.
Of course, you’re going to struggle to bring temperatures down in hot climates, even with the device right next to you. You’ll also need to refill the water tank regularly to ensure that it runs effectively all day and night long.
On the plus side, you’ll receive a USB cable for charging with a power bank or computer, or you can insert it in a USB charging socket. You’ll have low power consumption and almost no noise to keep you up at night.
Bottom Line
This personal air conditioner is powerful for its size, as long as you don’t have to deal with blistering temperatures. You’ll love the cycling colors that will light up your room at night while keeping you cool and refreshed.
You can also enjoy several hours of operation on the battery or with the USB charging cable.
Pros
RGB light with seven color settings
Includes four functions you can use
Carry handle with lightweight design
USB charging cable for built-in battery
Lower power consumption and noise levels
Cons
Struggles with extreme temperatures
Needs constant refilling of ice and water
Best Desktop Portable Air Conditioner
Air Choice AC801
Specifications
Capacity: 1 Pint
Coverage Area: Personal Space
Dimensions (in): 7x7x7.4″
Weight: 2.25 lbs.
Decibel Level: 58 dB
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Review
If you have varying temperature levels in the day, you can choose one of three fan speeds to cool you. It has four modes available, specifically humidification with a self-evaporative function.
Unfortunately, you may need to deal with a loud humming noise at the highest fan setting. What’s more, you might struggle to feel the airflow if you’re sitting in a large space, as the cool air dissipates quickly.
This personal air conditioner is efficient and effective enough to work at your work desk or at home. The evaporative function is eco-friendly, ensuring that it doesn’t pour harmful chemicals into the air while using little electricity.
Bottom Line
This small device will surprise you with its functionality while lighting your room with seven different colors. You can use any one of the fan speeds that will help cool you down or switch to the humidification and purification modes.
Overall, it’s an energy-efficient air conditioner that provides the comfort you need for your personal space.
Pros
A selection of four modes
Three different fan speeds
Suitable for the home and office
Night light has seven colors to switch between
Eco-friendly evaporative design with superb energy-efficiency
Cons
Struggle to feel airflow in bigger spaces as it dissipates quickly
High noise level on highest setting compared to similar products
Best Mini Desktop Air Conditioner
Saleting MMAC-01
Specifications
Capacity: 1 Pint
Coverage Area: Personal Space
Dimensions (in): 7.5×7.9×6.9″
Weight: 1.76 lbs.
Decibel Level: N/A
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Review
The Saleting personal air conditioner uses Hydrocooling technology developed by the manufacturer to ensure that you receive the ultimate experience in cooling at high efficiency. It also has a unique tank design that delivers improved functionality and performance.
You might not like the appearance, though, when compared to similar products on the market. The internal filter also needs regular cleaning if you want to continue breathing clean air.
The manufacturer issues warranty policies for these products, so you can contact the support team if any components fail. Besides cooling, you can also switch to humidification and purification.
Bottom Line
Not all air conditioners have beautiful designs, but they serve their purpose. Place it on your desk or bedside table for when you need cooling, purification, or humidification.
While you’ll have to clean the air filter regularly, you’ll still enjoy the powerful performance with the unique Hydrocooling design.
Pros
Includes a warranty policy
Three different modes available
Seven LED night lights to choose from
Hydrocooling technology provides efficient cooling
Unique filter and water tank design with no leakage
Cons
Unappealing appearance
Filter needs to be cleaned regularly
Are Mini Air Conditioners Any Good?
It may be worth considering buying a personal or mini air conditioner if you just need to cool your personal space and not a massive area. For instance, you don’t need to spend your entire budget or monthly electricity costs if you only want to use it next to your bed or workplace.
Types of Personal Air Conditioners
While most personal air conditioners serve the same purpose, there are different features you may find among them. We’re going to look at some of these so that you can evaluate any products you are busying eyeing for purchase.
Cooling and Ventilation
For the most part, personal air conditioners provide temperature control in the form of cooling. You might even be able to set the thermostat to create the proper comfort levels in the room.
There are also generally fan speeds you can select for ventilation. If you want the cool breeze to move around the room, increasing the fans’ rotation will help with this.
Dehumidifying
Some manufacturers include dehumidification as one of the modes. It reduces the air moisture so that you don’t have a hard time breathing, collecting water in a pan that you’ll need to regularly empty.
Purifying
Other personal air conditioners may have internal filters to clear the air of dust and allergens. You’ll be able to breathe fresh air while keeping the hot temperatures down.
Condensation Pumps
Instead of collecting water in internal trays, some devices have condensation pumps that expel the liquid outside into your garden. It helps to avoid wasting your day emptying the air conditioner.
Self-Evaporation
Finally, you have the types that include self-evaporation. These units don’t collect water or drain them through a pipe, but rather evaporates the moisture back outside through a hose.
Price Points of Personal Air Conditioners
If you’ve spent enough time shopping online, you’ll know that price isn’t always an indicator of quality. You can pay an exorbitant price for a brand name or high-end product and receive dismal performance, while you could pay a more affordable cost for something more reliable.
However, a price range is sometimes a good indicator of the type of features you’ll receive:
$25 – $50
We usually refer to these as the bottom of the barrel, where you’ll find the most essential functions that meet your most basic air conditioning needs. You may see other functions added, such as dehumidification, but its primary goal is cooling your immediate space.
$50 – $100
These mid-range personal air conditioners have more cooling capacity and performance, and you’ll probably receive four functions for the price of one. There are added features on the control panel and remote controls, and you’ll see a significant difference in noise levels and fan speeds. It will cool a larger area while also cleansing the air for you.
$100+
Meet the top-end products, where you’ll pay a bit more for additional performance and possibly a name brand. You can expect visual, audio, and physical attributes not available in cheaper models, and they’ll sport more buttons and lights with which you play. Expect massive installation kits and exhaust hoses with dual-vent capabilities.
Who Should Not Buy a Personal Air Conditioner?
While it may seem like a good idea to obtain a personal air conditioner, there are a few situations that call for other appliances. Let’s take a look at when you should not buy a personal air conditioner.
Humid Regions
Since your air conditioner introduces cold, moist air into the room, the last thing you want is to use one in a region with high humidity. Sure, you might cool the space, but you’ll find it harder to breathe.
In these situations, you’re better off with a dehumidifier. You can buy portable ones to move around the house, or feel free to aim for one of the larger units that you can attach to a whole-house HVAC system.
Mold and Mildew
Cold, dark rooms or surfaces with excess moisture tend to form mold and mildew. Since personal air conditioners add more moisture in the air to cool you down, you’re going to further encourage this growth.
Once again, dehumidifiers come to the rescue. If you buy a massive unit, generally at about 70 PPD, you can remove the moisture quickly and eliminate mold formations in your home.
Rooms With Inadequate Air Circulation and Ventilation
Basements and attics are well known for having a lack of air circulation and ventilation. You need the first to move the cool air around and the second to remove the exhaust air.
Portable fans and purifiers can also assist with these issues, but placing an air conditioner is a bad idea if you can’t vent the exhaust air somewhere.
High Temperatures
You need to remember that personal air conditioners can only handle small spaces up to a specific temperature. If you’re dealing with excessively high ones, you might want to look at devices with higher BTUs, perhaps window or whole-house ACs.
Dust and Allergens
Finally, you can’t use a personal AC to deal with extensive dust, pollen, and other air contaminants. Sure, they may have small filters inside, but they can only manage a limited number of particles.
You’re better off with a portable purifier that has several filter layers on the inside. While one deals with small particles, there are also pre-filters and activated carbon layers to deal with germs and odors.
Conclusion
Personal air conditioners help cool your immediate space when you’re in desperate need of some cooling. They offer an affordable means for temperature control, but you’ll need to know which one will suit you best. We hope this guide has helped you pick the right one.
People Also Ask
You might have some lingering questions you need answered. We’ve pulled some of the popular FAQs we receive from readers, which you’ll see here below. Feel free to send us more if you have an inquisitive mind.
There are two views on this query, but for the most part, it’s safe to do so. On the one hand, you’ll be wasting electricity once your room reaches the required temperature. On the other, the air conditioner will work twice as hard to maintain the temps if it rises again and you need to bring it down.
It helps if there is some form of ventilation, either from a window or fan, to make the cold air circulate the room. You should also ensure that nothing is blocking the vent so that you receive fresh air at all times. Remember to clean and maintain the device regularly.
It depends on the model you buy. Some can run as long as nine hours without needing a charge while others can only go as far as five hours. In terms of longevity, these air conditioners can run for ten years, but it depends on how well you maintain them.
A personal air conditioner removes the warm air, cools it down, and returns it into the room. The hot vapor is exhausted out of a vent to ensure that it doesn’t mix with the cool air, making it work twice as hard. It may have other functions, such as humidification, ventilation, and purification.
No, portable AC units are safe and not dangerous. However, you need to take certain precautions to ensure that it remains that way. For instance, you should guard against it overheating, ensure that there is no water leakage near electrical sockets, and place the unit on a flat surface.
