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Best Quiet Portable Air Conditioners in 2022

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Updated February 14, 2022

The best quiet portable air conditioners offer convenience, mobility, efficiency, and good cooling capacity with low-noise operation for small spaces where installing a window air conditioner isn’t possible and a wall or dual hose unit isn’t practical. If you’re looking for a quiet model, a portable model may be one of the best air conditioners for your needs.

Ventless AC units like these portable models can be placed anywhere and moved around as preferred. Their low-noise operation makes them a great choice for small offices or recording studios, especially where even the best quiet window air conditioner is impractical.

Before you choose a quiet portable air conditioner, though, it’s a good idea to be aware of factors that dictate efficiency such as EER rating and BTU class, and convenient features like digital controls, remote controls, or programmable timers, like a 24-hour timer function.

If you’re looking to buy the best quiet portable air conditioner on the market, keep reading our buying guide to learn more about what they offer.

Top Quiet Portable Air Conditioners

 #1   Shinco SPF1-08C 8000BTU Portable Air Conditioner

Award: TOP PICK

WHY WE LIKE IT: It is ideal for small rooms, and has three modes to choose from. Users will also appreciate its low noise output and how easy it is to assemble.

Pros
  • Large dehumidifying capacity of up to 19 liters per day
  • Low noise output
  • Easy to use and assemble
Cons
  • Has to be placed near a window to work

The Shinco 8000BTU air conditioner is a quiet yet compact unit meant to efficiently serve rooms up to 200 Sq ft in size. It comes with a cooling mode for whenever it is hot, a dehumidification mode that allows it to dehumidify up to 19 liters per day, as well as a two-speed fan. When set to its slowest speed, it only has an output of less than 55 decibels, so it is not likely to cause any disturbance. Using it is also pretty easy since all its controls are well laid out around its LED display panel. However, it will have to be placed near a window for it to work.

The air conditioner also comes with an easy-to-use remote control that saves users the trouble of walking up to it, and since it comes with an automatic timer, owners can choose to have it operate for several hours at night before eventually shutting down. The air conditioner is very easy to install and comes with caster wheels for swift movement between rooms.

 #2   Airo ACO08MWS 8000 BTU SACC Quiet Portable Air Conditioner

Award: HONORABLE MENTION

WHY WE LIKE IT: It has a very modern design and comes with three different modes of operation.

Pros
  • Three modes to choose from
  • Very quiet operation
  • Comes with a remote control
Cons
  • Must be placed near a window

The Airo comfort portable air conditioner is a quiet, modern-looking machine that is perfect for 200 Sq ft spaces and allows for either vertical or horizontal window installation. The air conditioner features an 8000 BTU rating and can be set to function as a cooler, fan, or dehumidifier depending on user preferences. Its double-layered filters are both removable and easy to wash, and on its top, the air conditioner has controls that can set up its timer, switch through its different modes, increase or decrease the temperature, and alternate between a low, medium, or high fan speed. Unfortunately, it’ll have to be placed next to a window to work.

With a noise output of only 50dB, this air conditioner shouldn’t cause any disruptions, and since it comes with a remote control, users will be able to operate it from their bed or sofa. Those that opt to keep it in their bedroom should try out its sleep mode since it combines quiet operation with enhanced energy efficiency, and since all of the required accessories come with the packaging, the unit is also pretty easy to install.

 #3   DeLonghi PACEM360 WH Penguino Portable Air Conditioner

Award: BEST FOR CONVENIENT PLACEMENT

WHY WE LIKE IT: It can be placed anywhere in the room and has easy-to-wash filters.

Pros
  • Easy to wash dust filter
  • Can be placed anywhere in the house
  • Has castor wheels for easy movement
Cons
  • Hose is not insulated

The Delonghi PACEM360 WH is a powerful yet compact 11,000 BTU air conditioner meant to service rooms and spaces up to 400 Sq ft in size. Like a good majority of the ACs in its category, this one also has a cooling, dehumidifying, and fan function and comes with a washable dust filter that eliminates dust and other airborne particles from the air. The air conditioning unit comes with castor wheels that allow easy movements from room to room, however, its hose is not insulated, and this has had some users complain that it brings back heat into the room.

The AC unit comes with a remote that allows for convenient functioning, and since it also has a 24-hour timer, users will be able to program its functioning and have it automatically turn off at the desired time. The unit is also pretty quiet, as it is noted to have a sound output of 53 decibels. It comes with a window kit but is still free-standing, so users can opt to place it anywhere in their house or room.

 #4   Tosot 8000 BTU Quiet Portable Air Conditioner

Award: BEST FOR LOW NOISE OPERATION

WHY WE LIKE IT: It can be set to operate very quietly and comes with a child lock to prevent anyone from tampering with its settings.

Pros
  • Low noise
  • Comes with a child lock
  • 24-hour timer
Cons
  • 65-pound weight may be hard to move around for some

The Tosot 8000BTU is a powerful air conditioner that is ideal for rooms up to 300 square feet in size. Aside from cooling, the air conditioner can also serve as a fan or a dehumidifier, and since it has a child lock, parents will be able to prevent any unwanted changes to its settings or functioning. The AC unit has castor wheels that make it fully portable and also comes with an adjustable timer that can be programmed to shut it down after a designated period. Unfortunately, even though it is wheel-based, some might find its 65-pound weight hard to move around.

The AC unit can be placed anywhere in the room, and with a super low 49-decibel noise level, the unit is sure to remain pretty quiet throughout the night. The inclusion of a remote control will save owners from the hassle of having to walk up to it to change settings, and since it comes with X-fan technology, its fan can be set to keep spinning slowly to dry the residual water in the machine as well as its exhaust hose.

 #5   Midea Duo MAP12SS1TBL 10,000 BTU Ultra Quiet Portable Air Conditioner

Award: BEST FOR SMART FEATURES

WHY WE LIKE IT: It is cleverly designed in ways that improve its functioning while also keeping it energy-efficient. It supports voice and app control and has powerful airflow for faster cooling.

Pros
  • Very energy efficient
  • Quiet operation
  • Support for voice and app control
Cons
  • Has to be placed near a window

The Midea Duo 3-in-1 portable air conditioner is an excellent alternative for anyone who wants to enjoy the convenience of controlling it through voice or a smartphone. It can be easily integrated into a smart home and operated through Alexa, and thanks to its duo hose design, it is able to intake and exhaust air outdoors, preventing unwanted air from getting into the room through gaps on the doors and windows. It also has an air duct system that blows air further into a room, therefore, cooling happens almost twice as fast as regular ACs. Sadly, it cannot be placed away from a window.

The AC unit has a reasonably high 12,000 BTU rating, making it perfect for rooms that are as large as 450 Sq ft. It also has a very low 42 dB noise output, which is quiet enough not to wake most people from their sleep. Its functioning can be alternated between cooling, dehumidification, and fanning, and thanks to its use of inverter technology, it can cool more using significantly less electricity.

 #6   LG LP0621WSR Portable Air Condition

Award: BEST FOR HOME USE

WHY WE LIKE IT: It has an oscillating air vent that ensures the room has good air circulation and also has a remote for convenient operation.

Pros
  • Features an oscillating air vent for well-balanced air circulation
  • Comes with a remote
  • Has a check filter indicator
Cons
  • May be noisy for some

This LG air conditioner has a BTU rating of 6000BTU, making it fit for rooms up to 250 Sq ft in size. It is easy to install, and its functioning can be switched between cool, fan, or dry mode. The AC unit features an oscillating air vent that allows for even air circulation and two different cooling and fan speeds that users can set it to. However, some customers found it to be a bit noisy.

This air conditioner also has a user-friendly control panel, where users will be able to set its timer, adjust its fan speed, and switch between its three modes. It comes with a remote for added convenience, and its caster wheels make it a lot easier to move from room to room. The unit also has an auto-restart feature that turns it back on when power is restored after an outage, and since it also has a check filter alert, owners won’t have to guess when its filters need to be taken out for cleaning.

Beginner’s Guide to Quiet Portable Air Conditioners

What Is a Quiet Portable Air Conditioner?

A quiet portable AC unit is designed to operate at minimum noise levels. Most portable AC units are ventless, meaning they don’t require window or wall-vent installation with hoses to cycle indoor and outdoor air. Any AC unit designed with any major additional functionality, such as the best window air conditioners with heat, will be clearly categorized with that functionality by manufacturers, so finding low-noise models to choose from shouldn’t be difficult.

The advantages of such units are that they allow for self-contained operation and much more freedom of placement and mobility. You can use them to cool windowless spaces or locations where cutting a vent hole into the wall is impossible or impractical.

Models built for quiet operation are an especially good option for small mobile office spaces, recording studios, and seasonal workshops where excessive noise during use is either disruptive or highly undesirable. Their quiet operation also means they’re a good option for cooling small bedrooms that don’t often need air conditioning.

These types of units can vary greatly in terms of cooling capacity, filter type, fan speed, and additional features like auto-timer and sleep mode. Their energy efficiency can also vary quite a bit from model to model, but most work by cooling indoor air with water, instead of using a refrigerant cycling process like in conventional models.

Quiet Portable Air Conditioners vs Other Models

Most window and wall air conditioners cool air using a refrigerant and indoor/outdoor airflow process combined with a compressor, condenser, and evaporator coil. Portable air conditioning units are typically ventless. They feature a water tank that provides moisture which is then cooled on a cooling strip and blown into the room.

Another major difference between portable units and conventional ones is that the ventless cooling of most such models doesn’t dehumidify indoor air, but actually humidifies it, since they cool air by adding moisture to it and sending it back into the room. Some such models include a dehumidifier mode in their extra features, but it’s fairly unusual and usually comes at a less affordable price.

Portable units built for quiet running, such as the popular Electriq 12000 BTU quiet portable air conditioner, are designed to address another difference between portable and conventional models. While portable models, especially ones that are ventless, are generally quieter in terms of decibel levels than conventional models, the fact that they’re free-standing, take up floor space, and are usually closer to people in the room means that they’re actually louder.

Lastly, the most quiet portable air conditioners, and portable models in general are less energy-efficient and slower to cool a space than conventional models, though this can vary depending on a specific model’s EER rating and Energy Star Status.

How Quiet Portable Air Conditioners Work

Portable air conditioners generally work significantly differently than window AC, wall-installed air conditioners, or central air conditioning systems, since most function with a ventless “evaporator cooler” design that doesn’t require access to outside air via window or exhaust hose.

A ventless air conditioner is usually on caster wheels for mobility and has an open tank at the bottom that contains a refillable water reservoir, connected to a fan and specialized cooling pad above. The fan draws in warm indoor air while a pump sends water to the cooling pad from the reservoir. Then the fan blows the indoor door air across the cooling pad where it picks up the moisture from the reservoir. This cooled air is then blown back into the room, cooling the room to the ideal temperature while increasing room humidity.

Why Should You Buy A Quiet Portable Air Conditioner?

The reasons any portable option would be a good fit for you also apply to any quiet portable AC unit, with the additional qualification that a low sound level is a priority for you.

If you’ve got a windowless space, such as a workshop, temporary office, or basement, that you need to cool and cutting a vent hole for a wall installation is either impossible or impractical, a quiet portable AC unit will do the job well. This is especially true if it doesn’t need to run constantly throughout the year.

If you’ve got a small to medium-sized windowless space that only occasionally needs cooling and quiet operation is a priority, quiet portable units are again a good option. Keep in mind that the larger a portable unit is, the less efficient it is. So, a 700 square foot room that would require an AC unit in the 15,000 BTU class might be worth attempting a wall installation (if it’s windowless) since the energy costs of a portable model in that BTU class would be high unless you used it very minimally.

Is a Quiet Portable Air Conditioner Worth Buying?

  • You have a small windowless workspace that needs to be quiet: If you have a small windowless workspace where noise would disrupt work, a quiet portable unit will do the job.
  • You have a small bedroom or nursery to cool: If you’ve got a baby room or bedroom to keep cool, especially if it doesn’t need regular cooling, a portable AC designed to run quietly is a good pick.
  • You have several quiet spaces that only occasionally need cooling: If you’ve got more than one quiet space that needs only sometimes cooling or need a versatile backup cooling option for your home, quiet portable units are a good option.

Why a Quiet Portable Air Conditioner May Not Be For You:

  • You’re sensitive to humidity: Since most portable units are ventless models that use evaporation cooling, most of your options here will noticeably raise humidity levels in a room, especially over long periods of use. While there generally isn’t a dry mode on such models, some include a dehumidifier mode.
  • You’re cooling a large windowless space with a limited budget: If your budget is tight and you need to cool a windowless space with square footage over 700′, be aware that portable units, including quiet-running models, in the 15,000 BTU and higher class can come with a big price tag and low efficiency, meaning a bigger power bill. In this case, it might be worth looking into a wall-installed unit, which will offer superior performance at a better value.
  • Energy efficiency is your primary concern: Portable AC units are far less energy-efficient than window air conditioners, regardless of their EER rating and Energy Star status, which also means a bigger carbon footprint.

How Long will a Quiet Portable Air Conditioner Last?

Portable air conditioners are less efficient than window models and thus usually have a shorter lifespan- less than ten years with regular use. This includes quiet running units.

Several factors affect a unit’s lifespan:

Frequent Moving

Portable units are usually less sturdily built than their window and wall counterparts. If you’re using one in multiple spaces and moving it frequently, rattling parts and increased wear and tear can shorten the overall lifespan.

Heavy Regular Use

Sustained periods of heavy use increase wear and tear on a unit. Moreover, the humidity that ventless units create while cooling rooms can also take a toll on various components. Both of these factors can shorten life spans significantly.

How to Choose a Quiet Portable Air Conditioner

Now that you’ve decided to purchase a quiet portable air conditioner unit, consider a few additional factors and features that will help you choose the right model for you.

Best Quiet Portable Air Conditioner Key Factors

1. How big a space do you need to cool?

Like in conventional models, portable air conditioners’ cooling capacity or cooling power is measured using British Thermal Units (or BTUs). Since they’re less efficient than stationary models, and high-BTU portable units are more expensive than comparable window or wall units, consider whether a portable unit is a practical use of your budget if your space is larger than 700 square feet. Cutting a venting hole for a wall unit may be the more affordable option, despite the installation process, and you’ll get more effective cooling performance, making it the more efficient option.

2. Do you prioritize energy efficiency?

Like window air conditioners, portable (and quiet portable) ACs measure energy efficiency with ratings created and enforced by the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy. These will tell you how models within the same BTU class differ in terms of efficiency:

  • Energy Efficiency Ratio: A unit’s EER rating indicates BTUs per watt of power used. A higher rating means higher efficiency. For portable models, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends an EER rating of 8.0 or higher.
  • Energy Star Certified: An Energy Star sticker or emblem on an appliance indicates it’s guaranteed to use a minimum of 10% less energy than comparable products. Most U.S. states also offer rebates on Energy Star products.

3. What’s your room used for?

Portable air conditioners designed for quiet operation tend to be a bit more expensive than comparable models and can be less efficient, so it’s worth thinking about how much quiet operation really matters to you if you’ve got a strict budget. While a baby’s room or bedroom is somewhere you might need an ultra quiet air conditioner, other spaces, especially larger ones, don’t necessarily need one, especially if they face noisy areas, like streets or schools.

Best Quiet Portable Air Conditioner FAQs

What's the standard noise level in decibels for a portable air conditioner?

The approximate decibel range of portable air conditioners available on the market is 36 to 83 dB, depending on the model, with an average of around 70 decibels.

How many decibels do the quietest portable air conditioners produce?

A quiet or "silent" portable air conditioner is generally classified as one with a noise level below 55 decibels, which is around the level of the hum of a refrigerator. A unit's decibel rating is usually easy to find either on the unit itself or the manufacturer's website.

Do portable air conditioners need to be drained?

For the most part, no. Most portable air conditioners are ventless, meaning they use the water in their tanks to cool the air by adding moisture to it. While their tank needs to be regularly refilled, it doesn't need to be drained unless it's being cleaned.

Are portable air conditioners quieter than window devices?

It can vary quite a bit, depending on the quality of the respective models, the BTU class, and other factors, but one mitigating factor is that, even if a portable unit has a lower noise level, the fact that it's usually placed closer towards the center of the room means the noise they make is projected more.