8,000 BTU U-shaped window air conditioner
Whirlpool WHAW081CX
Very good efficiency for its size: a CEER of 16.0 ranks #7 of 29 8,000 BTU window air conditioners.
It cools a room of about 250-350 sq ft, draws about 500 watts and costs about $68 a year to run at typical U.S. use and prices.
- CEER
- 16.0 Combined efficiency, higher is betterVery good · beats 83%
- Cooling
- 8,000 BTU/hFor about 250-350 sq ft
- Energy use
- 375 kWh/yr47% less than the federal minimum
- Unit size
- 18.6" wide 13.3" high, 17.7" deep, 43 lb
A good fit if…
- You want low bills - its CEER beats 83% of 8,000 BTU window air conditioners.
- You want a quieter room and a usable window - the window closes into the U, so the compressor sits outside the glass.
- You want to plug it into an ordinary outlet - it runs on 115 V.
- You want the very top tier - it meets the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient criteria.
Think twice if…
- You also need heat - it cools only.
Calculate my running costCheck the size for my room
Details
Specifications
| General | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Whirlpool |
| Also sold as | TCL |
| Model number | WHAW081CX |
| Type | Window |
| Design | U-shaped (window closes through it) |
| Heating | No, cooling only |
| Compressor | Variable speed (inverter) |
| Voltage | 115 V (standard outlet) |
| Refrigerant | R-32 (GWP 675) |
| Support bracket included | Yes |
| On the market since | November 11, 2025 |
| Last certified | September 30, 2026 |
| Performance | |
| Cooling capacity | 8,000 BTU/h |
| CEERCombined energy efficiency ratio, includes standby power | 16.0 |
| Yearly energy useENERGY STAR test: 750 hours | 375 kWh |
| Better than federal minimum | 47% less energy |
| ENERGY STAR Most Efficient | Yes |
| Size | |
| Width × height × depth | 18.6" W × 13.3" H × 17.7" D |
| Weight | 43 lb |
How it compares with 28 other 8,000 BTU window units
- CEER (class median 15.0)16.0, tied with 7 others
- Yearly cost vs. class median ($72)$5 less
- Width 18.6" (class median 19.4")narrower than 86%
- Weight 43 lb (class median 56 lb)lighter than 96%
- Rank among 10 similar designs (U-shaped)#2
Compared with the other ENERGY STAR certified 8,000 BTU window units. Yearly cost at 750 hours and 18.0¢/kWh.
Same unit, other model numbers
Questions
- How many square feet does the Whirlpool WHAW081CX cool?
- At 8,000 BTU/h it suits a room of about 250 to 350 sq ft with normal sun and two people, following the ENERGY STAR sizing guide. In a heavily shaded room that stretches to about 275-385 sq ft; in a very sunny one it shrinks to 225-315 sq ft. A kitchen needs 4,000 BTU more.
- How many watts and amps does the Whirlpool WHAW081CX use?
- About 500 watts at full power (8,000 BTU/h divided by its CEER of 16.0), which is 4.3 amps at 115 V. That is 33 W less than the typical unit in its class (533 W), or $5 a year cheaper to run at 18.0¢/kWh. Its inverter compressor slows down instead of cycling, so real use is usually lower. Its CEER beats 69% of the 29 units in the class.
- Can the Whirlpool WHAW081CX run on a standard outlet?
- Yes. It runs on 115 V and draws about 4.3 A, well inside a standard 15 A outlet, but do not share the circuit with a space heater, microwave or other big load. Every certified unit in this class is 115 V.
- What are the dimensions of the Whirlpool WHAW081CX, and will it fit my window?
- 18.6" W × 13.3" H × 17.7" D, 43 lb. It is narrower than 86% of its 28 competitors and lighter than 96% of them. The window closes into the U-shaped slot, so measure the opening height as well as the width: you need at least the unit's 18.6" width between the frame sides.
- Is the Whirlpool WHAW081CX U-shaped design an advantage?
- Mostly yes. The sash closes into the unit, so the window stays sealed and daylight comes in, and the compressor is outside the glass, which cuts noise indoors. The trade-off is a window that must slide up and down, and a few extra steps to fit the foam seals.
- Can the Whirlpool WHAW081CX also heat the room?
- No, it only cools. If you also need heat, 4 certified units in this class can do both; see the list of air conditioners with heat.
- Is the Whirlpool WHAW081CX worth buying to replace an old air conditioner?
- An old unit of the same size at 9 CEER would cost about $120 a year to run at 750 hours and 18.0¢/kWh; this one costs about $68, so it saves roughly $53 a year.
- Is the Whirlpool WHAW081CX the same as the TCL W8WC72?
- As far as the certified data goes, yes. ENERGY STAR lists 6 model numbers with the same capacity, efficiency, energy use, dimensions and weight, which means the same unit sold under another brand or with a different colour or retailer code. The full list is on this page.
Running cost calculator
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Closest alternatives
Units with a similar CEER in the same class, and what sets each one apart from the Whirlpool WHAW081CX.
| Model | CEER | Compared with this one |
|---|---|---|
| GE PWJV08W | 16.0 | same CEER, 3 lb heavier, standard box |
| Midea MAW08V1WBK | 16.0 | same CEER, standard box |
| Midea MWEUWA-08CRFN8-BCP0 | 16.0 | same CEER, 0.6" wider, 10 lb heavier, standard box |
| Midea 1010451315 | 16.0 | same CEER, 0.6" wider, 11 lb heavier |
| GREE GJC08BU-A6DRNJ2A | 16.0 | same CEER, 2.4" wider, 18 lb heavier |
See all 29 8,000 BTU window air conditioners, ranked
Source: ENERGY STAR Certified Room Air Conditioners (U.S. EPA), certification of September 30, 2026. How we use the data.