10 Best Small Window Air Conditioners in 2024: Reviews & Top Picks

Staying cool when the temperature gets hot is essential, especially if you live in an area where it gets genuinely searing. If you’re sweating the heat and looking for an economical way to cool off, a window air conditioner is an excellent solution.

The question most people have when purchasing a window air conditioner is simple; which one is best for the room you want to keep cool? To save money on utilities, you’ll want a window air conditioner that’s easy on the electricity. A unit that’s easy to set up and doesn’t make a huge racket is also a big plus.

If you’re in the market for a window air conditioner but don’t know where to start or what to look for, read on! We’ve reviewed a wide variety of window AC units to help you! Below are the 10 best window air conditioners for this year.

A Quick Comparison of Our Winners (2024)

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		LG Mounted BTU Window AC	Excellent price Auto Restart Quiet operation (53 dB)	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		Frigidaire Window-Mounted Room AC	Affordable price Extra long power cord Adjustable side panels	CHECK PRICE
Premium Choice		Midea BTU EasyCool Window Air Conditioner	Many excellent built-in features Clean filter warning system Washable filter	CHECK PRICE
Quietest Window Air Conditioner		TOSOT BTU Window Air Conditioner	Super-quiet 42 dB Highly efficient cooling Energy-Star rating	CHECK PRICE
Easiest To Install		Soleus Air Exclusive Air Conditioner	Extremely easy to install Combines a portable AC, window AC, and mini-split AC in 1 unit Doesn’t block your window	CHECK PRICE

The 10 Best Small Window Air Conditioners

1. LG Mounted 8,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner – Best Overall

Several factors make this the best overall window air conditioner. It’s perfect for smaller rooms like bedrooms and is highly energy-efficient to cool you off without breaking your budget. The energy-saver function helps a lot, as does the 24-hour timer that automatically turns the machine on and off based on your cooling needs. If you live in an area where storms and brown-outs are a problem, the Auto Restart function on the LG Mounted 8,000 BTU AC is a significant benefit. It will power the unit back up after an outage so that if you return home after the storm, your room will still be cool as a cucumber.

2. Frigidaire Window-Mounted Room Air Conditioner, 5,000 BTU, in White – Best Value

If you’re looking for an affordable window air conditioning unit that still has plenty of features, the 5,000 BTU Frigidaire Window-Mounted Room Air Conditioner is the best window unit for the money. It features the patented Effortless Temperature Control for set-and-forget convenience. This AC unit also has adjustable side panels, so it fits in your window perfectly. Frigidaire also included a removable, washable filter to clean your air and keep your unit clean. An auto-restart feature restarts the unit after a power outage, which is a big plus. One last benefit is the unit’s extra-long cord, which makes searching for an extension cord a thing of the past.

3. Midea 12,000 BTU EasyCool Window Air Conditioner – Premium Choice

For true cooling power, very few window air conditioners beat the Midea 12,000 BTU EasyCool. It comes standard with several excellent features you won’t find on many other models, including EcoSave to lower your utility bills and SleepWell mode to reduce noise at night. Worried you’ll forget to clean the air filter? With this AC unit, there’s no need as it has a Clean Filter warning to remind you. The built-in EasyTimer gives you 24-hour temperature control, and the expandable panels ensure a perfect fit in your window. Plus, the Auto Restart feature turns your unit back on after a power outage or brownout, so you never come home to a hot house.

4. TOSOT 8,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner – Quietest Window Air Conditioner

Many might not know the TOSOT name, but they are actually the world’s largest manufacturer of residential air conditioners. What’s amazing about the TOSOT unit is how quiet it is at only 42 dB, which is whisper quiet. Customer reviews indicate that the TOSOT 8,000 BTU is very easy to install. The unit has slanted air louvers also so that you can put the cool wherever you like. The Energy-Star rating on this AC unit is also excellent, with an average cost of $65 per year to operate. The filter reminder function, sleep mode, and 24-hour timer make this an excellent AC unit that’s super-quiet and economical.

5. Soleus Air Exclusive 6,000 – Easiest To Install

One of the biggest drawbacks of a window air conditioner is the installation, which can be tricky and, in some cases, dangerous (AC units can be quite heavy). Plus, the typical window AC unit completely blocks the window where it’s mounted. However,the Soleus Air Exclusive 6,000 BTU does not have that problem. It’s the very first over-the-sill window air conditioner that eliminates installation problems and doesn’t block your window! All you do is place the unit over the windowsill and adjust it by hand; no tools of any kind are needed. Since it sits low, the unit never blocks your view, which is a huge plus if you have few windows in your room. The Soleus Air Exclusive is also highly efficient and comes with sleep mode, auto-restart mode, and a 24-hour timer.

6. Windmill Air Conditioner: Smart Home AC

Another window air conditioner that’s easy to install, this Windmill unit comes pre-assembled and ready to go. It’s also very quiet, which is a must for those who are bothered by irritating noises. However, one of the nicest features is the auto-dimming display so that it doesn’t bother you while sleeping. Plus, the unit is voice-enabled with either Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. The Windmill offers an intuitive app for iPhone and Android, so you can turn it on or off from anywhere! We truly liked this AC unit because it uses R32 refrigerant, which has 68% less global warming potential.

7. hOmeLabs 5,000 BTU Window Mounted Air Conditioner

One aspect we like about hOmelabs is how easy they make it to fit your window air conditioner in practically any window. This excellent AC unit has a complete start-up kit with a bracket, window seal foam, side panel covers, and a user’s guide. The backflow drainage is a definite plus and drains water outside your home rather than inside, where it can damage rugs and floors. As with many AC units, this one comes with a removable, washable filter. It also features seven temperature settings, two-way air direction control, and high/low fan speeds to cool your room quickly. Do you need a small AC unit to fit a small window? The hOmeLabs 5,000 is perfect since it’s only 16 inches long!

8. GE AHY08LZ Window Air Conditioner

GE is the #1 window air conditioner brand in the US, and it’s no surprise one of their units made today’s list. This unit also has three cooling speeds and three fan speeds to give you maximum cooling flexibility. GE’s SmartHQ app gives you ultimate control over your AC from anywhere at any time for the most convenience. It also comes with their EZ Mount window installation kit to make installing the unit a cinch. It features a power interruption restart in case there’s an outage and a 24-hour timer to give you even more control over how cool you stay. Lastly, the removable, washable filter saves you money on filters and keeps your air cleaner.

9. Haier Window Air Conditioner 5000 BTU

The 5,000 BTU Haier Window Air Conditioner is an excellent choice for cooling smaller rooms. The AC unit will work like a dream and cool things off quickly in a dorm room, guest bedroom, or studio apartment. It’s also got low-noise operation so it won’t interrupt your sleep, and two cooling and fan settings for extra convenience. The 10 temperature settings also add to the convenience factor, as does the included EZ Mount installation kit. The filter is designed to come out easily (it slides out) and is washable, and the mechanical controls allow you to set your perfect temperature.

10. Frigidaire Connected Window-Mounted Room Air Conditioner, 10,000 BTU

The last window air conditioner on our 2022 list is another Frigidaire model: the 10,000 BTU Connected. They call it “connected” because of its Wi-Fi connection to the excellent Frigidaire App, which gives you complete control over all of its functions. It also works with Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s Assistant for convenient home control at the sound of your voice. This AC unit won’t slap your utility budget in the face since it’s Energy-Star certified, and the washable filter keeps it working efficiently even in the hottest of temperatures. Lastly, this BTU beast will easily cool a 450 sq ft room and do it quickly.

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Small Window Air Conditioner

Do you need some extra help deciding which window air conditioner to buy this year? If so, the buyer’s guide below will be beneficial to your search.

Important Factors To Consider

One of the most critical aspects of buying a window air conditioner is ensuring it’s robust enough to cool the room where you install it. For example, a 3,000 BTU window air conditioner will be perfect in a dorm room but won’t be adequate to cool down a large dining room. Conversely, a 10,000 BTU window air conditioner will be far too big for a dorm room and likely waste a lot of your money on electricity bills.

Another aspect to consider is the convenience level. Many window AC units come with Apps and voice control, making them much easier to control, set, and forget. However, the more features, connectivity, and convenience you get, the higher your price will be. Speaking of price, to keep your utility bills low, you should look for a window air conditioner that’s Energy-Star rated so that it uses the least amount of electricity.

One last factor is how easy or difficult it is to install your window air conditioner. Many of the top AC window units come with installation kits to make this heavy task much easier, and some don’t. If an easy installation that you can perform quickly is your goal, look for a model with an installation kit.

What Makes a Good Product Within This Category?

Maintenance is a critical factor, and a removal, washable filter is a must. A high Energy-Star rating is also essential, and the best window air conditioners all have a very good rating.

One last factor that separates the good window air conditioners from the best is how quiet they are. If quiet operation is important to you, look for a window air conditioner that stays lower than 40 decibels.

Conclusion

As we’ve seen, several excellent window air conditioners are on the market, all of which will make it easy and convenient to cool any room in your home or apartment. The LG Mounted 8000 BTU Window Air Conditioner was our Best Overall, with excellent reviews and a range of valuable features and benefits. The Frigidaire Window-Mounted Room Air Conditioner was our choice for best value due to its price and feature combination. Our premium choice window air conditioner is the Midea 12,000 BTU EasyCool Window Air Conditioner, which comes with a wide variety of excellent features, is super quiet, and has a Most Efficient rating from EnergyStar.

All three of these models will do an excellent job cooling the room of your choice and make it easy to set a precise temperature, restart after a power outage and save you money on your electric bill. We hope today’s reviews of the best small window air conditioners for this year have given you the information you need to make the best choice, and we wish you a very cool and comfortable day!

Featured Image Credit: jon-tyson, Unsplash