Need to know
- Portable air conditioners can be convenient, but are usually less efficient and more expensive to run than split-system units, and can be extremely heavy and bulky
- You may be keen on a smaller model, but the size of the room you wish to cool is an important consideration in determining if the appliance will have enough capacity
- CHOICE experts have reviewed over 60 portable air conditioners. We assess units based on cooling performance, noise, energy efficiency and more
Portable air conditioners are useful if you don't have air conditioning installed in your home and you need fast relief from a heatwave.
While they may not do the job as well as in-built systems, they're comparatively cheap to buy, easy to install and simple to use, which makes them popular alternatives for people on a budget, in rented accommodation, or anyone who just wants to cool a small area.
CHOICE experts have reviewed over 60 portable air conditioners and can give you the lowdown on how the size of the unit affects its cooling performance, as well as some other things to note before you buy a portable air conditioner on size alone.
How portable are they?
If you've started researching which portable air conditioner to buy, you may have noticed that they're often described as 'compact'. However, they can actually take up quite a bit of space in a bedroom or office.
They often come on castor wheels to make them easy to move around, but most also come with a 'window kit', which includes a flexible ducted tube to vent air outside that must be affixed to a suitable window.
They also need to be plugged into a power point, with space around the unit for airflow – so you'll need to allow about double the space of the unit's footprint.
Some units weigh over 40kg ... and stand at a height of up to about a metre, which all starts to make the 'portable' label seem a bit far-fetched
In addition, some units weigh over 40kg (almost half of the models we looked at weigh 30kg or more), and stand at a height of up to about a metre, which all starts to make the 'portable' label seem a bit far-fetched.
They're not the most discreet appliances and are hardly going to be on your list of 'most desired features' when you're styling the interiors of your home.
So, what is the smallest and most effective portable air conditioner you can buy?
Physical size vs cooling capacity
When manufacturers, retailers or review websites refer to the size of a portable air conditioner, they're most likely referring to the cooling capacity of the appliance, which is measured in kW (kilowatts).
For every extra kW, you have more cooling power, but it's also going to cost you more in energy.
The bigger the room you want to cool, the more kilowatts you'll need. (To find out the recommended kilowattage for the size of room you want to cool, see our portable air conditioner buying guide.)
If your priority is finding an air conditioner that isn't too bulky or heavy, it's also important to consider how well that unit is actually going to perform
If your priority is finding an air conditioner that isn't too bulky or heavy, it's also important to consider how well that unit is actually going to perform.
Our reviews of portable air conditioners over the past couple of years have found that the physically smaller and lighter models tend to have a lower cooling capacity of around 2–3kW, which means they're really only suitable for small- to medium-sized rooms, such as small bedrooms or home office spaces.
Keep in mind that while some units may be lighter than others, and therefore easier to move around, they may be bulkier in size.
How do smaller and lighter portable air conditioners generally perform?
As smaller and lighter models usually have lower cooling capacities, their performance and the score they receive in CHOICE reviews doesn't stack up very well compared to larger air conditioners with a greater cooling capacity.
On the whole, portable air conditioners are not energy-efficient appliances, so even the top-scoring models in our review only manage an overall score of up to 73%.
The best small portable air conditioners
Below are some of the best, physically smallest portable air conditioners in our review. However, we use the term 'best' lightly: these models still really only achieve borderline cooling performance and could only be used in small rooms.
To find which portable air conditioners were ranked as the best performers in our expert independent testing, read our portable air conditioner reviews (available to CHOICE members).
For more information on how to buy the best portable air conditioner, view our portable air conditioner buying guide.
1. Bonaire PRC6000026 2.6kW portable air conditioner
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 60%
- Cooling capacity: 2.6kW
- Price: $419
- Cooling score: 57%
Standing at 69cm high with a width of 33cm and a depth of 28cm, this air conditioner is on the smaller side and one of the lightest we reviewed at 21kg. Other models we've looked at measure up to 88cm or taller, and weigh over 30kg.
Available from retailers such as Big W and Mitre 10, it ranks among the top five in our testing (as well as being the cheapest of those five). Note that our experts only recommend one portable air conditioner, which has a CHOICE Expert Rating of 73%.
It ranks among the top five in our testing (as well as being the cheapest of those five).
Despite its cheaper price, its running cost of $137 over summer is slightly above average for units of this approximate size.
It comes with a remote control, timer and window kit, as well as the cooling and dehumidifying features that come with most portable air cons.
On the other hand, it's rated by our experts as being noisy at full power and only comes with a two-year warranty (some models come with a three-year warranty).
Read the full Bonaire PRC6000026 2.6kW portable air conditioner review.
2. TCL TAC-09CPBMZ portable air conditioner
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 58%
- Cooling capacity: 2.6kW
- Price: $549
- Cooling score: 48%
This portable air con stands 69cm high, 42cm wide and 36cm deep. The height and depth are amongst the smallest we've measured, however the width is about 10cm greater than the smallest models in our review. It also weighs 26kg, which although still lighter than many models we've tested, would be quite hefty to move around.
In terms of the price, it's in the mid-range of all the portable air conditioners we've looked at (which vary in price from $229 up to over $1000). Its cooling score of 54% is amongst the highest in our review. Plus, it outscores models that cost many hundreds of dollars more.
With two fan speeds, time and remote control, it might be worth considering if you're looking for a smaller model to operate in a small-medium room (note that, like many models, it's very noisy at full power). Read the full TCL TAC-09CPBMZ portable air conditioner review.
3. Dimplex DCP9C portable air conditioner
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 54%
- Cooling capacity: 2.6kW
- Price: $700
- Cooling score: 47%
Relatively expensive for a unit with this level of cooling capacity (only suitable for a small-medium room), this portable air conditioner is on the physically smaller side when compared to other units, standing at 68cm high with a relatively slim width of 29cm and a depth of 28cm.
It weighs a relatively low 20.8kg and, like most models, has castor wheels so you can move it around, and also comes with 2 speed settings, remote control and touch controls.
Its cooling performance is borderline when compared to other models, so you should only attempt to use it in a small-medium room. However, it's also noisy at full power and only comes with a two-year warranty.
Read the full Dimplex DCP9C portable air conditioner review.
We're on your side
For more than 60 years, we've been making a difference for Australian consumers. In that time, we've never taken ads or sponsorship.
Instead we're funded by members who value expert reviews and independent product testing.
With no self-interest behind our advice, you don't just buy smarter, you get the answers that you need.
You know without hesitation what's safe for you and your family.
And you'll never be alone when something goes wrong or a business treats you unfairly.
Learn more about CHOICE membership today
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
