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Best window air conditioner for a large room

Living rooms, open-plan spaces and finished basements of 450 to 1,000 sq ft need 12,000 to 18,000 BTU. Above 15,000 BTU every certified unit needs a 230 V outlet, so check your wiring first.

Top picks

All 58, ranked

Window units of 12,000 to 18,000 BTU, ranked by CEER.

Filter by size, brand or features

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

#Features
1Kühl KCVS12B30B12,70016.8$10225.9"Saddle, 230 V
2Kühl KCVS12B10B12,30016.2$10325.9"Saddle
3Friedrich KCVM14B10B14,10016.2$11825.9"Saddle
4Whirlpool WHAW151INV15,00016.0$12725.4"U-shaped
5Frigidaire Gallery GHWW125TF112,00016.0$10119.2"-
6Midea MAW12U1KWTalso sold as 2 other model numbers12,00016.0$10119.2"U-shaped
7Midea MAW12U1KWT-Malso sold as 1 other model number12,00016.0$10119.2"Saddle
8Midea MAW12V1WBKalso sold as 14 other model numbers12,00016.0$10121.7"-
9Midea MWEUWA-12CRFN8-BCP012,00016.0$10119.1"-
10Whirlpool WHAW121CWXalso sold as 5 other model numbers12,00016.0$10119.8"U-shaped
11Whirlpool WHAW121INV12,00016.0$10124.2"U-shaped
12Kühl KCVS16B30B15,40016.0$13025.9"Saddle, 230 V
13Midea MAW18RV1KWTalso sold as 7 other model numbers18,00016.0$15225.4"230 V
14Whirlpool WHAW182INValso sold as 1 other model number18,00016.0$15225.4"U-shaped, 230 V
15Hisense AWUS1227TWalso sold as 1 other model number11,50016.0$9720.3"U-shaped
16GE PWJV14W14,00016.0$11820.2"-
17Midea MAW14RV1KWTalso sold as 9 other model numbers14,00016.0$11821.7"-
18Whirlpool WHAW151CXalso sold as 4 other model numbers14,00016.0$11819.8"U-shaped
19Kühl+ KHVS12B33B12,60015.8$10825.9"Saddle, Heat, 230 V
20GE Profile AHTR12ACH212,20015.4$10710.6"-
21Midea 1010451379also sold as 4 other model numbers12,00015.2$10719.2"U-shaped
22TCL H12W4KWHalso sold as 2 other model numbers12,00015.2$10730"U-shaped
23Danby DAC120ECBIWDBalso sold as 1 other model number12,00015.0$10821.7"-
24Friedrich CCV12A10Aalso sold as 5 other model numbers12,00015.0$10820.7"-
25Friedrich KCVS12B10A12,50015.0$11325.9"-
26Friedrich KCVS12B30A12,70015.0$11525.9"230 V
27GE Profile PWDV12Walso sold as 11 other model numbers12,00015.0$10819"-
28GE Profile PWDV14Walso sold as 2 other model numbers14,00015.0$12619"-
29Hisense AW1823TW3W18,00015.0$16223.6"230 V
30Hisense LWCT12W25Aalso sold as 4 other model numbers12,00015.0$10820.3"U-shaped
31LG LW1222IVSM12,00015.0$10823.6"U-shaped
32LG LW1224IVSM12,00015.0$10823.6"-
33Midea 1014634880also sold as 12 other model numbers14,00015.0$12621.7"-
34Midea MAW12V1QWTalso sold as 12 other model numbers12,00015.0$10819.2"U-shaped
35Midea MAW12V1UWTalso sold as 6 other model numbers12,00015.0$10819.2"-
36Midea MAW18R2VWTalso sold as 6 other model numbers18,00015.0$16223.6"230 V
37Richmond RMV12A10A12,00015.0$10818.9"-
38TCL H12W4MW12,00015.0$10823"-
39TCL T12WQ2S12,00015.0$10820.7"U-shaped
40Whirlpool WHAW-121INalso sold as 6 other model numbers12,00015.0$10824.2"U-shaped
41GE Profile PHNT12CCH112,20014.7$11219.7"Saddle
42GREE GJC12BU-A6DRNJ2Aalso sold as 1 other model number11,50014.7$10621"U-shaped
43LG LW1522FVSMalso sold as 1 other model number14,00014.7$12923.6"Saddle
44Friedrich KCVM14B10A13,90014.7$12825.9"-
45GE Profile AHTR14AC13,50014.7$12410.6"-
46LG LW1822IVSM18,00014.7$16626"230 V
47Kühl KCVM18B30B20,90014.6$19425.9"Saddle, 230 V
48Friedrich CCV18A30Aalso sold as 3 other model numbers18,00014.4$16926"U-shaped, 230 V
49Midea MAW12HV1KWT-Aalso sold as 2 other model numbers12,00014.4$11319.4"Heat
50TCL T18WQ2S18,00014.4$16925.4"U-shaped, 230 V
51Whirlpool WHAW-181IN18,00014.4$16930"U-shaped, 230 V
52Friedrich KCVM18B30A19,10014.4$17925.9"230 V
53Friedrich KCVS16B30A16,20014.4$15225.9"230 V
54Friedrich CCV15A10Aalso sold as 2 other model numbers15,00014.4$14126"U-shaped
55TCL T15WQ2S15,00014.4$14125.4"U-shaped
56Whirlpool WHAW-151IN15,00014.4$14130"U-shaped
57Friedrich KHVS12B33A12,60014.4$11825.9"Heat, 230 V
58Midea MAW12HV1CWTalso sold as 4 other model numbers12,00013.3$12219.4"U-shaped, Heat

Before you buy

What size for your large room?ENERGY STAR sizing guide

Normal sun and two people. Size calculator for your own room

Tips3
  • About 12,000 BTU covers 450-550 sq ft, 14,000 BTU 550-700 sq ft and 18,000 BTU 700-1,000 sq ft.
  • A window unit cools best the room it sits in. For several connected rooms, a ductless mini-split usually spreads the air better.
  • In the ENERGY STAR list, every unit above 15,000 BTU uses a 230 V plug; up to 15,000 BTU most run on a standard outlet.
Questions3
What is the best window air conditioner for a large room?
On certified efficiency, the Kühl KCVS12B30B: 12,700 BTU at a CEER of 16.8, about $102 a year at typical U.S. use. If on a standard outlet matters more, the Kühl KCVS12B10B is the pick. Window units of 12,000 to 18,000 BTU, ranked by CEER.
What size window air conditioner do I need for a large room?
Following the ENERGY STAR sizing guide (normal sun, two people): living room of 500 sq ft, 12,000 BTU; open-plan area of 700 sq ft, 14,000 BTU; large open space of 1000 sq ft, 18,000 BTU. Size up for a sunny room and down for a shaded one.
How much does it cost to run?
A typical unit on this list (12,000 BTU, 15.0 CEER) draws about 800 watts and costs about $108 a year at 750 hours and the U.S. average electricity price. The calculator works it out for your state.

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