HVACRated.com

Best 18,000 BTU window air conditioners

A 18,000 BTU window air conditioner suits a room of about 700-1200 sq ft.

The most efficient of the 10 certified models is the Midea MAW18RV1KWT (16.0 CEER). A typical one draws about 1432 W and costs about $194 a year to run.

Top picks

Compare all 10 18,000 BTU window air conditioners

Filter by size, brand or features

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

#Features
1Midea MAW18RV1KWTalso sold as 7 other model numbers18,00016.0$15225.4"230 V
2Whirlpool WHAW182INValso sold as 1 other model number18,00016.0$15225.4"U-shaped, 230 V
3Hisense AW1823TW3W18,00015.0$16223.6"230 V
4Midea MAW18R2VWTalso sold as 6 other model numbers18,00015.0$16223.6"230 V
5LG LW1822IVSM18,00014.7$16626"230 V
6Kühl KCVM18B30B20,90014.6$19425.9"Saddle, 230 V
7Friedrich CCV18A30Aalso sold as 3 other model numbers18,00014.4$16926"U-shaped, 230 V
8TCL T18WQ2S18,00014.4$16925.4"U-shaped, 230 V
9Whirlpool WHAW-181IN18,00014.4$16930"U-shaped, 230 V
10Friedrich KCVM18B30A19,10014.4$17925.9"230 V

More about 18,000 BTU window air conditioners

Yearly running cost by city$25-$386

A typical model (14.6 CEER) against the most efficient (16.0 CEER), at each city's cooling hours and state electricity price.

CityTypicalMost efficient
Phoenix, AZ$371$292
Houston, TX$321$252
Miami, FL$386$303
Atlanta, GA$167$131
New York, NY$213$168
Chicago, IL$129$101
Denver, CO$83$65
Seattle, WA$25$20
Is this the right size?700-1200 sq ft

The ENERGY STAR guide gives 18,000 BTU for about 700-1200 sq ft. Adjust for your room: a heavily shaded room needs about 10% less, a very sunny one about 10% more, add 600 BTU for each person beyond two, and 4,000 BTU for a kitchen.

Size calculator

Questions4
What is the best 18,000 BTU window air conditioner?
On certified efficiency, the Midea MAW18RV1KWT at 16.0 CEER, about $152 a year at typical U.S. use. The best U-shaped design is the Whirlpool WHAW182INV (16.0 CEER).
How many square feet does a 18,000 BTU window air conditioner cool?
About 700-1200 sq ft with normal sun and two people, following the ENERGY STAR sizing guide. In a very sunny room it covers about 10% less; add 4,000 BTU if it cools a kitchen.
How many watts does a 18,000 BTU window air conditioner use?
Between 1125 and 1432 watts at full power for certified models, about 1432 W for a typical one. That is about $194 a year at 750 hours and the U.S. average price.
Does a 18,000 BTU window air conditioner need a special outlet?
Yes. All 10 certified models need a 230 V outlet on its own circuit.

Other sizes