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      Best inverter portable air conditioners

      An inverter (variable-speed) compressor slows down when the room reaches the set temperature instead of switching on and off. It keeps the temperature steadier, runs quieter on average and usually uses less electricity than a fixed-speed unit of the same size.

      All 27, ranked

      Every DOE-certified portable air conditioner reported with a variable-speed compressor, ranked by CEER. Each row is a rating profile: every model number certified at the same ratings.

      Filter by size, brand or features

      27 rating profiles, ranked by CEER (efficiency). Yearly cost at 750 hours and the U.S. average electricity price.

      #Features
      1Midea MAP12S1TBL6 model numbers, 3 brands10,00014.7$92Dual-hose, Inverter
      212,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 14.2 CEERe.g. Midea MAP14HS1TBL, Whynter ARC-1230WNH + 8 more12,00014.2$114Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
      3Midea MAP14S1TBL7 model numbers, 3 brands12,00013.8$118Dual-hose, Inverter
      4Gasbye CoolPrime 12000-W1 model number12,40013.0$129Dual-hose, Inverter
      5Hisense HAP0825TWD3 model numbers8,00013.0$83Dual-hose, Inverter
      612,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC, 12.8 CEERe.g. Rnice YAC-12CPD/PD1BpSG, Agtana AGPAC-12-BP1 + 75 more12,00012.8$127Dual-hose, Inverter
      712,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 12.8 CEERe.g. TCL 344286217, Rnice YAC-12CHPD/PD1BpSG + 16 more12,00012.8$127Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
      810,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC, 12.8 CEERe.g. Rnice YAC-10CPD/PD1BpSG, EUHOMY PAC005-14K + 57 more10,00012.8$106Dual-hose, Inverter
      910,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC with heat, 12.8 CEERe.g. Rnice YAC-10CHPD/PD1BpSG + 8 more10,00012.8$106Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
      10Frigidaire Gallery GHPC142AA11 model number10,50012.5$114Single-hose, Inverter
      11Hisense AP-10UR1RSBD606 model numbers, 2 brands10,00012.2$111Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
      12Frigidaire Gallery GHPH142AA11 model number10,00012.2$111Single-hose, Heat, Inverter
      13Midea MAP12DV1XWT-A1 model number12,00012.1$134Dual-hose, Inverter
      14TCL W10PDH568 model numbers, 3 brands10,30012.0$116Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
      15TCL T10PQ3SD6 model numbers, 2 brands10,30012.0$116Dual-hose, Inverter
      16TCL T08PQ4SD1 model number8,20012.0$92Dual-hose, Heat, Inverter
      17Midea MAP10V1JWT2 model numbers10,00012.0$113Single-hose, Inverter
      18Midea MAP08V1JWT3 model numbers, 2 brands8,00012.0$90Single-hose, Inverter
      1910,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC, 11.8 CEERe.g. Midea MAP10DV1XWT-A, Whynter ARC-1280MX + 44 more10,00011.8$115Dual-hose, Inverter
      208,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC, 11.5 CEERe.g. Agtana AGPAC-08-BP1, Fosawd HXPAC-08-BP1 + 42 more8,00011.5$94Dual-hose, Inverter
      21Power Breezer H950SL1 model number13,60011.4$161Dual-hose, Inverter, Bucket
      2212,000 BTU dual-hose inverter portable AC, 11.2 CEERe.g. Agtana AGBP-12CPD-C1, Domanki DKPAC-12BP-C1 + 24 more12,00011.2$145Dual-hose, Inverter
      23ACHIMCO PAC-A026A-10KRH3 model numbers, 3 brands10,30010.0$139Single-hose, Heat, Inverter
      24Power Breezer H750L1 model number9,0008.4$145Single-hose, Inverter, Bucket
      25LG LP1022FVSM2 model numbers10,0007.9$171Single-hose, Inverter
      26Antarctic Star AC7290-10K6 model numbers, 6 brands5,5007.9$94Single-hose, Inverter, Gravity drain
      27LG LP0524WFR1 model number5,0006.1$111Single-hose, Inverter

      Before you buy

      Tips3
      • The certified CEER already reflects how an inverter compressor behaves in the DOE test. It does not capture the quieter, steadier running you notice day to day.
      • Inverter units usually cost more. At about 750 hours a year the electricity saving alone takes years to repay the difference, so buy one for comfort first.
      • Not every certification reports the compressor type. A unit missing from this list may still have an inverter.
      Questions3
      What is the best inverter portable air conditioners?
      On certified efficiency, Midea MAP12S1TBL: 10,000 BTU of real cooling at 14.7 CEER, about $92 a year at typical U.S. use. If most cooling matters more, the pick is Power Breezer H950SL. Every DOE-certified portable air conditioner reported with a variable-speed compressor, ranked by CEER.
      How much does it cost to run?
      A typical unit on this list (12,000 BTU SACC, 12.8 CEER) draws about 938 watts and costs about $127 a year at 750 hours and the U.S. average electricity price. The calculator works it out for your state.
      How many portable air conditioners have an inverter?
      350 certified model numbers are reported with a variable-speed compressor, in 27 rating profiles. Older certifications do not report the field at all, so the real number may be a little higher.

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