The best window air conditioners are an easy, effective, and economical way to keep yourself cool in the midst of summer heat. They are a great solution for cooling individual rooms and spaces which you may not be committed to in the long run, like rented apartments. To help you find the best window air conditioner for your home and office, we have compiled a list of the top products available on the market.
Choosing the best window unit for you depends on your specific needs, preferences, and priorities. Our unbiased list of reviews includes models that vary in capacity, energy efficiency, price, and noise level so that you can find an option that best suits your particular needs. We have also included a buying guide that goes over the individual factors that you should consider when choosing your new window unit.
Best Window Air Conditioners!
- Best Overall: FRIGIDAIRE FFRE0833U1 White Air Conditioner
- Best for Large Rooms: FRIGIDAIRE FFRA1222U1 Air Conditioner
- Most Quiet: Friedrich CP08G10B Air Conditioner
- Most Budget-Friendly: Keystone KSTAW05C Air Conditioner
1. Best Overall: FRIGIDAIRE FFRE0833U1 White Air Conditioner
While it’s a great choice for anyone looking for an effective way to stay cool in the hottest summer days, this model’s features make it especially recommendable to individuals with allergies.
Our top recommendation for a window air conditioner is the Frigidaire FFRE0833U1, thanks to its cooling power, energy efficiency, and versatility. This air conditioner can handle small-to-medium sized rooms very quickly and economically. While it’s a great choice for anyone looking for an effective way to stay cool in the hottest summer days, this model’s features make it especially recommendable to individuals with allergies.
Pros:
One of the best features of this air conditioner is that its thermostat is, in a way, more “objective” than those of competing brands. The thermostat of the Frigidaire FFRE0833U1 is on the remote control rather than on the body of the AC. While other units think that the temperature is warmer than it actually is (as their thermostats are nearest to the window), this unit reads the temperature inside the room, providing a more accurate cooling response.
Another thing to love about this air conditioner unit is that it’s energy-efficient. The Frigidaire is Energy Star certified, and at 12.0 EER, it’s an economical and eco-friendly choice for the home.
This AC unit’s BTU is 8,000, (a product’s British Thermal Units determine its capacity to cool a given square footage) which make it ideal for rooms up to 350 square feet. Unless placed in a larger room, this powerful unit has one of the fastest cooling speeds of any window air conditioner.
Another thing to love about this AC unit is that it’s energy-efficient.
The top features of this unit which make it ideal for allergy sufferers are its dehumidifier and its clean-air Ionizer. The Frigidaire can dehumidify up to 1.7 pints per hour, and the Ionizer removes pollen and other impurities from the air. With this air conditioner option, you can say goodbye to congestion due to humidity, pollen, and pollution.
Some other nifty features that allow the Frigidaire to circulate a lot of cool air are its three fan speedss and an adjustable airflow in eight different directions.
Lastly, customers have said that this unit is very easy to install!
Cons:
While the Frigidaire is powerful, customers have complained that the unit can run loud.
It doesn’t come with a remote control.
2. Best for Large Rooms: FRIGIDAIRE FFRA1222U1 Air Conditioner
While most window air conditioners are best suited to smaller rooms, the Frigidaire FFRA1222U1 has the BTU capacity to handle larger rooms as well. This air conditioner is recommended for people looking for an affordable window air conditioner that will quickly cool the larger rooms in your home, like the living room, or an entire studio apartment.
Pros:
One of the most attractive features of this air conditioner is its capacity to cool large spaces. At 12,000 BTU, the Frigidaire FFRA1222U1 can effectively tackle a room with a size up to 550 square feet. Considering the high BTU capacity for cooling, the Frigidaire is a great value-for-money choice.
Another thing to love about this window air conditioner is its versatility. The Frigidaire can be operated via remote control or directly on the air conditioner unit’s body, and comes with three fan speeds, a 24-hour on/off timer, and it also features settings such as energy efficiency, auto-cool, and sleep mode. Additionally, like the Frigidaire FFRE0833U1, this air conditioner unit can easily be programmed to direct airflow in any direction needed, as its design includes an 8-way direction adjustment.
One of the best features of the Frigidaire is that it is also a strong dehumidifier, and can dehumidify up to 3.8 pints per hour, making it a good choice for hot and humid climates.
This air conditioner unit comes with a 1-year full warranty and a 5-year sealed system warranty.
Cons:
One of the issues with this model is that it isn’t Energy Star certified, so it’s not the most energy efficient choice on our list. Given the BTU rating, that’s not surprising.
Another issue with this unit is that while it has easily removable and washable filters, which work well in trapping bacteria, they do fill up with grit and residue frequently, so they need to be cleaned regularly.
Additionally, while this is one of the most powerful window air conditioners, it is not our quietest recommendation.
Lastly, some customers have expressed that the packaging of the product may be somewhat flimsy, causing it to arrive with small dents from transportation.
3. Most Quiet: Friedrich CP08G10B Air Conditioner
This model is also energy efficient, and one of our most stylish recommendations.
The Friedrich CP08G10B Air Conditioner is the quietest recommendation on our list. It produces about half the noise of air conditioners from competing brands. This makes it a great choice for bedrooms or small offices, where you don’t want to be distracted by noise. This model is also energy efficient, and one of our most stylish recommendations.
Note: While this unit is cooling-only, the same company does offer models that have heating features as well.
Pros:
One of the best features of the Friedrich is that it comes with ultra-quiet operation, which means that no matter what speed setting you set it to, this air conditioner unit makes minimal noise. Satisfied customers have reported that this is the quietest air conditioner unit they’ve ever purchased.
The Friedrich has a cooling capacity of 8,000 BTU, which means that it can handle any room up to 300 square feet. Although this air conditioner unit is not the quickest to cool a room (compared to 10,000 BTU or 12,000 BTU models), it does maintain the temperature very efficiently and steadily once it reaches the desired degree. The auto air sweep louvers automatically oscillate to spread the chilled air in all corners of the room.
The Friedrich comes in a sleek, elegant design, which makes it a great addition to small spaces.
Another thing to love about this product is that it offers versatility in both modes/settings and installation. In terms of settings, which can be selected on the air conditioner’s body or via remote, the Friedrich includes multiple fan speeds, a 24-hour timer, and a “money saver” mode. While the air conditioner unit itself is Energy Star certified and energy-efficient, the “money saver” mode allows you to operate the fan only, which is even more budget-friendly.
In terms of installation, this air conditioner unit can be installed both in a window and through a wall up to 7.5 inches thick. This is the only air conditioner unit that offers a through-the-wall installation option, which is a good option as it gives you more freedom in terms of leveling. Additionally, installing it through the wall is a good choice if you want a sturdier, more permanent place for your new air conditioner.
Customers have reported that installing this unit was quite easy. The power cord can run on either the left or right side of the front of the unit.
The Friedrich comes in a sleek, elegant design, as well as an efficient size, which makes it a great addition to small spaces.
This air conditioner unit has a 1-year full warranty and a 5-year sealed system warranty.
Cons:
This air conditioner unit is on the pricier side, so it’s not a great choice if you are looking for something more budget-friendly.
Additionally, the thermostat on the Friedrich is not among the most accurate ones on this list. Yet, as you can adjust the temperature of the unit, and it’s highly efficient at maintaining the desired temperature in a room, this isn’t a very big issue.
4. Most Budget-Friendly: Keystone KSTAW05C Air Conditioner
It’s the smallest and lightest window AC among our top choices.
The Keystone KSTAW05C is the most budget-friendly recommendation on this list and is suitable for smaller rooms. It’s the smallest and lightest window air conditioner among our top choices. That makes it great for compact spaces and portable uses.
Pros:
The Keystone is a great budget-friendly choice both because of its price at purchase and its low energy consumption. It’s Energy Star certified, with an EER rating of 12.2. Additionally, as it has 5,000 BTU, it uses less electricity than other units. Still, that low BTU rating also means that it can only be used to cool rooms up to 150 square feet, and is not very efficient for spaces that surpass that size.
The Keystone is quite compact. Each of its dimensions is less than 20”, and it weighs less than 40 pounds so that it can be easily installed and mounted on any window. Plus, it can just as easily be transported or stowed away for the winter.
cx
For an AC unit that’s so compact and affordable, the Keystone still comes with a variety of useful features that you rarely find in competing units. To begin with, it has three cooling settings and three fan settings, for even lower energy consumption. It has a remote control, a timer, and settings such as auto mode, sleep mode, and even a dehumidifier. The dehumidifier can absorb humidity at up to 1.3 pints per hour, which is also impressive for its size.
Another rare feature among products in this category that the Keystone has is an auto-restart function, which saves all your settings for when power is restored to the unit.
The Keystone comes with a 1-year full warranty and a 5-year sealed system warranty, which is longer than any other air conditioner unit in this price range.
Cons:
The Keystone has low maximum airflow and quite a limited directional airflow, which make it unsuitable for any rooms that surpass 150 square feet.
Additionally, while most customers have reported that the Keystone operates quietly, several users have reported that their units can run loud.
Conclusion
The best window air conditioner is the Frigidaire FFRE0833U1, as it has the cooling capacity to quickly handle rooms up to 350 square feet with decent energy efficiency. This window air conditioner unit also offers great value for the money, especially considering the variety of features it offers.
The main issue with this model is that it can run loud – so if you need something quiet for a bedroom or an office, or simply don’t want to put up with noise, then the Friedrich CP08G10B window air conditioner is a great choice for you. This unit’s steep price is justified by the high quality of the build, as well as its energy efficiency, low noise level, and stylishness. Plus, this air conditioner is great at maintaining a steady temperature.
On the other hand, if you are looking for something which is more budget-friendly for a smaller, cramped space, then the Keystone KSTAW05C is the way to go. Although it’s small and cheap, this window air conditioner surprises with a host of useful features (such as a dehumidifier, a timer, an auto-restart) and an Energy Star rating, which means you will save money both on the purchase and while using it.
Yet, the Keystone is only good for rooms up to 150 square feet, so if you are looking for an affordable way to cool larger rooms, the Frigidaire FFRA1222U1 is a great high-BTU choice that can cool up to 550 square feet. Its 8-directional airflow is great for ensuring that all cool air reaches all corners of the room.
If you still aren’t sure which option is the best choice for you, read on to our buying guide for some additional help in choosing.
What To Consider When Buying A Window Air Conditioner
Capacity
While most window air conditioners are good for small rooms, some may have the capacity to cool larger rooms as well. Check the BTU capacity of each window air conditioner unit to see which one is best suited for your space. AC units with 6,000 BTU are good for small rooms up to 200 square feet. Units with BTU of 8,000 can decently cool medium-sized rooms up to 340 square feet. If you are looking for something for larger rooms, look out for air conditioner units with 10,000-12,000 BTU, as they can cool areas up to 450-550 square feet.
If you are looking for something for larger rooms, look out for AC units with 10,000-12,000 BTU, as they can cool areas up to 450-550 square feet.
Price
Generally, window air conditioner units are quite affordable. Still, some are cheaper than others. Consider how much you are willing to spend on your new window air conditioner, as our recommendations do vary in price. Air conditioner units with the capacity to tackle larger rooms or that operate very quietly may be on the pricier side. Also, consider how much it will cost you to run your window air conditioner each month.
AC units with the capacity to cool larger rooms or that operate very quietly may be on the pricier side.
Energy Efficiency
One of the best things about window air conditioner units is that they have low energy consumption. Still, some options are more energy-efficient than others. Energy-efficient options come with Energy Star certifications and high EER ratings. The EER ratings (“Energy Efficiency Rating”) of each product tells us the ratio of the cooling output of the air conditioner over the cooling season, divided by the energy it consumes in terms of Watts/Hour. You should also remember that the higher the BTU, the higher your electricity costs will be.
One of the best things about window AC units is that they have low energy consumption.
Warranty
Knowing that a product comes with a decent warranty can help make you confident about your purchase. Most of our recommended products offer a 1-year full warranty, which covers any damage to the entire unit, and a 5-year sealed system warranty, which covers malfunctions within the sealed system of the unit.
Most of our recommended products offer a 1-year full warranty, which covers any damage to the entire unit, and a 5-year sealed system warranty, which covers malfunctions within the sealed system of the unit.
Buyers Also Asked
What should I look for when buying a window air conditioner?
When purchasing a window air conditioner you need to take several things into consideration. This includes the size of the space you want to cool, the BTU rating of the unit you are considering (BTU rating indicates how powerful an air conditioner is), installation costs, and your overall budget.
How long do window air conditioners last?
Window air conditioners will last ten years on average, as long as they are well maintained and taken care of.
Should you remove window air conditioners in the winter?
Yes, you should remove your window air conditioner in the winter. This is because, not only are you not using your window air conditioner in the winter, but cold weather can also damage your window air conditioner over time.
What’s Next?
Hopefully, you found our review of the best window air conditioners along with our buying guide useful for deciding which model is best suited to your needs. To get more information about each of our recommended AC units, you can follow the title links to learn their price, in-depth specifications, and customer reviews.
If you’re not sure whether a window unit is the best choice for your space, make sure to read the best air conditioner reviews to find even more recommendations and reviews to serve any need. You can also swing by our contact page to drop us a line if you have questions, comments, or any other feedback for us.
Enjoy your cool summer!
