Whether the air conditioner is cooling only or reverse cycle. Reverse-cycle models can heat as well as cool.

We recommend currently available portable air conditioners with a CHOICE Expert Rating of 70% or above.

The CHOICE Expert Rating is made up of cooling performance (50%) and energy efficiency (50%).

Our cooling score is based on a comparative analysis of the rated annualised energy efficiency ratio (AEER), which includes standby energy.

We take the amount of power used and the amount of cooling energy produced as a measure of how well the product utilises energy to produce cooling.

These results are comparative only and measured in dBA (Decibel A Scale) raw figures. What you actually hear depends on the environment.

How noisy this model is compared to the others in the test.

Shop Ethical rates the environmental and social impact of the company (not the product) using independent sources. This rating is not included in our total score. The rating ranks from A (highest) to F (lowest); N/A means there is no rating for that company.

Where the product was assembled.

The stated manufacturer warranty in years. Portable air conditioners should last at least 6 years so we rate a 1-year warranty as poor, and a 3-year warranty as reasonable. ACL refers to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law.

A few manufacturers show more confidence in their product by having a longer compressor and motor warranty than others. Most don't have one at all.

'Tested model' refers to portable air conditioners that are currently available in shops and online. 'Discontinued model' refers to portable air conditioners that are no longer available in shops, but may be available second-hand.

Typical retail price as of December 2024. Prices can fluctuate depending on the time of year (especially as the weather warms up).

The approximate cost of operating the unit at maximum capacity for four hours per day for three months in hot weather, based on 40c/kWh.

Castors can help you wheel a portable air conditioner from room to room, though bear in mind some units weigh up to 40kg, which may hinder this.

The manufacturer's recommended room size for this model to deliver its most efficient cooling.

You can use this number to calculate a rough room size. Each 1-1.5kW of cooling will give you 10m2 of room cooling. Note: This is not comparable between portable and built-in air conditioners.

Not all systems have a heating function.

These units are not designed to be carried. They come with wheels for transporting from room to room.

The power cord should be long enough to let the unit reach the window. Extension cables are not recommended for portable air conditioners as they may overload.

The hose that directs air from the unit to the window.

How much water the portable air conditioner extracts from the air each day, measured in litres.

The type of refrigerant used by the product to cool the surrounding area.

Some portable air conditioners can connect to your home network and be controlled via a Wi-Fi app.

Whether the unit has a heating mode as well as cooling (which is quite rare).

Whether the unit can run with only a fan, without using energy for cooling or heating.

Whether the unit has a function that only activates the dehumidifier.

How many fan speeds the unit has. This can help depending on the weather you experience in your locality, and adjust the noise.

Whether you set the unit to switch off at a certain time or run for a set amount of time.

Models with automatically swinging vents, whether horizontal or vertical, may help spread the air around a room.