Which window air conditioner fits your window?
Window air conditioners are built for windows that slide up and down. Sideways sliders, casements and angled windows need a special kit, a different window or another kind of unit.
Of 145 ENERGY STAR certified window units, 69 are standard boxes, 55 U-shaped and 21 saddle designs. Widths run from 10.6" to 30".
Window type by window type
| Your window | What works |
|---|---|
| Double-hung or single-hung (slides up and down) | Any window unit. The easy case. |
| Horizontal slider | A slider kit for your model, or a unit sold for sliders. Otherwise a wall unit or mini-split. |
| Casement or crank | A maker's casement kit, a wall unit or a mini-split. No certified unit is listed as a casement model. |
| Awning or hopper | Not suited. Use another window, a wall unit or a mini-split. |
| Bay or bow | Not suited. Same alternatives. |
| Narrow or small | The narrow and low units below. |
Always check the maker's installation sheet for the minimum and maximum window opening of the exact model.
Narrowest certified window units
| Model | Width | Height | BTU | CEER |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GE Profile AHTR10ACH2 | 10.6" | 14" | 10,100 | 15.7 |
| GE Profile AHTR12ACH2 | 10.6" | 14" | 12,200 | 15.4 |
| GE Profile AHTR14AC | 10.6" | 14" | 13,500 | 14.7 |
| Midea MAW06S1KWT-A | 16" | 12.1" | 6,000 | 16.0 |
| Midea MAW05R1KWT-B | 16" | 12.1" | 5,000 | 14.4 |
| TCL W5WC72 | 16" | 12.5" | 5,000 | 13.7 |
| Midea MAW08S1KWT-A | 16" | 12.1" | 7,800 | 13.7 |
| Midea MAW06S1VWBL-T | 16" | 12.1" | 6,000 | 13.7 |
Lowest units, for small windows
| Model | Height | Width | BTU | CEER |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whirlpool WHAW061CX | 12" | 16" | 6,000 | 13.7 |
| Midea MAW06S1KWT-A | 12.1" | 16" | 6,000 | 16.0 |
| Midea MAW05R1KWT-B | 12.1" | 16" | 5,000 | 14.4 |
| Midea MAW08S1KWT-A | 12.1" | 16" | 7,800 | 13.7 |
| Midea MAW06S1VWBL-T | 12.1" | 16" | 6,000 | 13.7 |
| LG LW6023IVSM | 12.4" | 19.6" | 6,000 | 15.5 |
Questions
Common questions
- What type of window does a window air conditioner fit?
- Almost all are made for windows whose sash slides up and down (single-hung and double-hung). The unit sits on the sill and the lower sash closes down onto it. Of the 145 ENERGY STAR certified window units, 69 are standard boxes, 55 are U-shaped (the sash closes into a slot in the middle) and 21 are saddle designs that hang over the sill.
- Can I put a window air conditioner in a sliding window?
- In a window that slides sideways (horizontal slider) a standard unit has nothing to rest on and no way to be sealed, so you need a unit sold for sliders or a slider kit that fits your model, and the unit is usually mounted turned on its side. Follow the maker's instructions for the exact kit; do not improvise a seal around the sliding track. If no kit exists for your window, a through-the-wall unit or a mini-split is the safer choice.
- Is there a window air conditioner for casement or crank windows?
- Casement (crank) windows swing outward, so a normal unit cannot close against them. Some makers sell units or panel kits for casements. None of the 145 ENERGY STAR certified window units in our data is listed as a casement model, so for a casement window you either use a maker's casement kit and accept that the unit will not be a certified model, or choose a through-the-wall unit or a mini-split.
- What about awning, hopper, bay and bow windows?
- Awning and hopper windows open on a hinge and do not leave a flat sill for the unit, and bay and bow windows have angled sashes. A window unit is not designed for them. Use a different window in the room, a through-the-wall unit or a mini-split.
- Which certified window air conditioner is the narrowest?
- The narrowest is the GE Profile AHTR10ACH2 at 10.6" wide (10,100 BTU, 15.7 CEER). The widest certified unit is 30" wide. Your window opening must be wider than the unit; the side panels fill any extra space.
- What if my window is small?
- The lowest certified unit is 12" high (the Whirlpool WHAW061CX). Measure the opening height with the sash raised: the unit plus the sash must fit under the top of the frame, and U-shaped units need the sash to close into their slot.