Our Top-Tested Air Conditioners Will Keep You Cool When the Temperature Soars (2025)

Recommended cooling area: 340 sq ft | BTU cooling rating (ASHRAE): 8,000 | Dimensions: 19.6" x 19.4" x 12.4" | Weight: 58 lbs | Noise level: 53 dB | Energy Star certification: No

Why we love it: Superb cooling power at a competitive price made LG's 8,000 BTU window AC the top overall pick in our latest round-up. Its standout performance is matched by LG’s solid track record for reliability, based on years of testing at the Good Housekeeping Institute. If properly maintained, this window AC should keep your home cool and comfortable for at least a decade.

Performance: The LG is perfect for consumers who are looking to cool up to 350 square feet of living space, whether it's a large family room or a small studio apartment. For larger spaces up to 850 square feet, this model line from LG comes in a 15,000 BTU unit that we expect to perform similarly. One caveat: the LG does not carry the Energy Star label, a government-regulated program that helps consumers identify the most energy-efficient products on the market.

Ease of use: The unit comes with everything you need for installation, including side panels and foam insulation. LG includes a remote control, nice for managing temperature and fan speed from the sofa or bed. If you prefer the LCD display, our testers found its interface to be clean and intuitive, which is not the case with all units we tested. The check filter signal is a helpful reminder, one that will keep this top-rated AC running smoothly all summer long.

Tester notes: "This LG unit is vry easy to maintain, since it has a removable filter that you can wash at the sink with soap and water," said Alec Scherma, test engineer at the Good Housekeeping Institute. Other testers noted that the unit is fairly quiet, making it a good option for a bedroom or TV room.

Recommended cooling area: 150 sq ft | BTU cooling rating (ASHRAE): 5,000 | Dimensions: 16" x 15.25" x 12" | Weight: 41 lbs | Noise level: 52 dB | Energy Star certification: No

Why we love it: Homes without central air conditioning often require multiple window ACs, which can quickly add up. For the price of one premium-priced AC you can purchase a few units of this easy-to-install Frigidaire, without sacrificing much in the way of cooling power or performance.

Performance: While this 5,000 BTU unit isn't super powerful, it's suitable for a room around 150 square feet, like a bedroom or office. It's also available in strength up to 15,000 BTU if you need to cool a larger area. With only high and low fan speeds, it’s harder to regulate air flow from the Frigidaire, though adjustable vents allowed testers to direct cool air in multiple directions.

Ease of use: The no-frills Frigidaire doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles — no Wi-Fi capability, for example, or a remote control. Instead, its controls are completely manual. Because it's operated by hand, the AC defaults to the same settings each time it's turned off, and there's no timer to automatically shut it off after a set period of time.

Tester notes: "The control dials don't tell you the exact temperature of the room," confirmed one tester. “Instead, they let you choose from a 1-to-7 temperature setting, which isn’t as helpful as digital displays where you can set a precise temperature."

Recommended cooling area: 350 sq ft | BTU cooling rating (ASHRAE): 8,000 | Dimensions: 19.3"D x 19.4"W x 13.2"H | Weight: 55.6 lbs | Noise level: 42 dB | Energy Star certification: Yes

Why we love it: Inverter-powered ACs are one of the latest innovations in air conditioning, replacing conventional compressors. This 8,000 BTU Windmill demonstrates the key upsides of the technology — precise temperature control, energy efficiency and quiet operation. These benefits are due to the fact that the inverter controls how much power the AC uses to cool air, unlike a compressor-powered air conditioner that runs on full power the entire time.

Performance: The Windmill earned near-perfect marks for cooling performance with our trio of expert testers, who evaluated the AC over the course of an entire summer. The Windmill is also one of the better looking ACs from our tests, with a sleek front panel and discrete control panel that minimizes any flashing lights or other visual noise. That's another reason why we like the Windmill for small spaces.

Ease of use: The Windmill was very easy to install thanks to the built-in frame that makes it a cinch to attach the Windmill securely to your window. Another smart feature of this window AC is its Wi-Fi-connectivity, which allows you to control it via the smart phone app, or even by voice commands through your Alexa or Google Assistant smart speaker.

Tester notes: “I am seriously obsessed with this AC!” raved one tester. “It has made such a difference this summer as my room is truly a cool oasis.” Another called the Windmill "the perfect AC for our small living room. It’s so much quieter than our old model, which means we don’t have to blare the volume to watch TV or yell at each other when we have something to say."

Recommended cooling area: 350 sq ft | BTU cooling rating (ASHRAE): 8,000 |Dimensions: 22.99" x 13.97" x 18.81" | Weight: 57.3 lbs | Noise level: 40 dB | Energy Star certification: Yes

Why we love it: Between its lightweight design and pre-assembled frame, this 8,000 BTU window AC from TCL stood out in our tests for its easy installation. The mid-priced unit also delivers capable cooling power, making it an excellent choice for medium to large-sized areas of the home.

Performance: Its use of inverter technology means the TCL delivers precise temperature control, and its Energy Star label makes it one of the more efficient models on the market (for good measure, the sleep and eco models cut down on energy consumption when it's not needed).

Ease of use: Maintenance is made easy by the washable air filter and the Wi-Fi-connectivity allows for remote operation via the smart phone app. (That same intelligent design helped land TCL's Smart Series Portable Air Conditioner on our winner's list for portable air conditioners.)

The only complaint from our testers was that the LCD display is quite bright, though she was happy to discover that it can be dimmed. So like many innovative products that pass through the Institute for testing, the TCL takes some getting used to, but all the features are there for a convenient, user-friendly experience.

Tester notes: "Super quick and easy to install," said one tester, adding that the AC is "extremely quiet compared with any other window air conditioner I’ve ever had."

Recommended cooling area: 550 sq ft | BTU cooling rating (ASHRAE): 12,000 | Dimensions: 15 15/16" x 25 15/16" x 29" | Weight: 116 lbs | Noise level: Not listed | Energy Star certification: Yes

Why we love it: If you have a lot of house to cool, this 12,000-BTU unit from Friedrich is up to the task. The model line goes all the way up to 35,000 BTUs, though that’s geared for commercial use, a category that Friedrich has influenced since the company was founded in 1883. As our test results of this model show, the brand makes superb ACs for homes too.

Performance: If you're looking to cool 500 square feet or more, the Friedrich will not disappoint. Its 12,000-BTU output delivered the fastest room cooling of all tested models. (Note: We also tested the 10,000 Kuhl and were impressed by its ability to quickly cool rooms measuring up to 450 square feet.) All that cooling power made this Friedrich one of the noisier units we tested, so it’s not a great fit for bedrooms or TV rooms.

Ease of use: Make no mistake, this is a massive unit, weighing a hefty 116 pounds, so you will definitely need a hand with the installation. At 26 inches wide, it’s also too big for some window frames.We like that the premium-priced AC has four fan speeds to choose from, as well as the ability to direct airflow to the right or left and up or down. It's also Wi-Fi-connected, so you can control it via the smart phone app, maybe turning the unit on shortly before you return home, so it will be nice and cool when you arrive.

Tester notes: “It was able to cool our entire main floor in under 10 minutes,” one expert reviewer said. “Since it is so powerful, it’s nice to be able to point the cool air in the other direction when we’re seated nearby,” added another tester.

Our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute start by surveying the marketplace to identify models that consumers are most likely to find on store shelves and online, focusing on brands that have performed best through our years of testing.

For the latest round of testing, our engineers and product testers reviewed hundreds of technical and performance data points.

Hands-on testing took place in the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab, as well as in the homes of consumer testers, enabling us to evaluate the equipment in real-world conditions.

Testing focused on the following factors:

✔️ Cooling power: Our experts measured how quickly the window ACs were able to cool a space and also how consistently they maintained target temperatures using built-in sensors.

✔️ Ease of use: We graded how easy it was to install and set up each AC, how they fit in various windows and how easy it was to remove, clean and re-insert the filter. We also considered useful features, including any Wi-Fi capabilities or remote control.

✔️ Noise: Engineers in the Lab used a sound meter to determine the loudness at different power levels and fan speeds, and an anenometer to determine the speed and power of each unit's air flow.

While you're shopping for the best window AC, keep these points top of mind:

✔️ Room size and BTUs: It's important to purchase the right sized room AC for your space. Getting too powerful a unit can mean you'll end up with excessive electricity bills on your hands. Meanwhile, a unit that is undersized will be inefficient. Most models list their cooling capacity on the box or website. It's measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units), which correspond to the square footage of a room. Window air conditioners for residential use generally range from 5,000 to 15,000 BTUs. In general, the larger the room, the more BTUs you will need. A quick guide:

• 5,000 to 7,000 BTUs can cool 100 to 200 square feet
• 7,000 to 9,000 BTUs are suited to 200 to 400 square feet
• 9,000 to 15,000 BTUs can cover 400 to 600 square feet or more

Keep in mind that other factors beyond square footage might force you to size up a bit, for example high ceilings, location (you'll want a bigger unit in the kitchen where it can get warmer) and how sunny the room gets. For more details, see this AC size guide from Trane, one of the biggest and most used HVAC manufacturers out there.

You'll see a lot of BTU's rated by ASHRAE in our product specifications for each product. ASHRAE stands for the "American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers." They created a standard on how to evaluate BTU's for window AC's, which is the most widely used standard for determining the cooling capacity of the AC.

✔️ Noise: Our tests found a wide range in volume of operation, from whisper quiet to so noisy it could be difficult to fall asleep. If the unit will be installed in a bedroom, look for a quiet model, like the recommended Midea that operates at 42 decibels. Some window ACs also have quiet settings that get as low as 40 decibels. The National Institute of Health says that sounds below 70 decibels are generally safe sound level, while those over 85 decibels can lead to hearing loss.

✔️ Features: Our experts like to see the following: a “check filter” indicator, which visually reminds you to clean or change the filter; directional vents to help move the unit's air flow from side to side for more efficient room cooling; remotes, great for adjusting the temp without having to move; and smart controls, which allow you to operate the unit from your phone.

✔️ Window size: It's important to measure the height and width of the window opening to ensure that the unit can be properly mounted inside it. Measure twice, buy once.

Window air conditioner units are the better pick for most situations, assuming you're able to install one in your window. Window ACs won't take up floor space or require you to vent a long hose from the device to the outside. They also tend to be quieter and cost less money for comparable capacity.

One of the biggest differences is in the name: While they both need windows, window ACs tend to stay in one location, while portable ACs are mobile and can be wheeled from room to room. However, some window sizes and shapes don't allow for window ACs, and in those cases, a portable AC is best.

Compared to portable ACs, definitely, but some are more efficient than others. Here's what to look for to ensure energy savings:

✔️ Check its energy efficiency rating (EER), which is derived by dividing BTUs by power consumption in watt-hours. The higher the efficiency rating, the less you’ll spend on home electricity bills. Usually you can find this rating on the packaging itself, or on the official website of the device.

✔️ Check EnergyStar.gov, which is run by the EPA and DOE in order to help promote energy efficiency using standardized methods. Input the model number of the AC you're considering for information on its energy use.

✔️ Look for an energy-saver switch. This setting ensures that the fans don’t operate continuously. Likewise, some units have sleep modes that will raise the room temperature at night for improved efficiency.

✔️ Get an AC with inverter tech. Inverters work by modulating the compressor motor within the system, adjusting how much power the unit draws rather than operating at full strength all the time (which is what ACs without inverters do). That means an AC with an inverter is capable of controlling how much power it uses instead of utilizing full power at all times. This makes inverters great for reducing overall costs as well as helping to provide better energy efficiency.

Dan DiClerico has been testing and writing about air conditioners for 25 years. As Director of Home Improvement and Outdoor at the Good Housekeeping Institute, he oversaw the latest round of window AC testing in our Labs, as well as the continuous in-home, survey-based consumer testing that allows us to evaluate the equipment in real-world conditions.

For this report, Dan worked closely with Alec Scherma, a test engineer at the Institute. Scherma's background in mechanical engineering and HVAC consulting provide valuable testing expertise and knowledge on the different types of HVAC equipment available to consumers.