5 Quietest Portable Air Conditioners

quiet portable air conditioner

It’s pretty safe to say that we all love the modern gadgets and appliances around us. And why not, they make our lives easier and more comfortable.

However, do you know what no one likes?

Noisy machines.

Big, bulky, noisy machines, such as an air conditioner, can be more of a hindrance than a blessing. Therefore, what you need is the compact and quietest portable air conditioner.

Now, don’t worry if you don’t know of any. We’re going to tell you all about the best quiet portable air conditioners and their buying guide.

ProductFeaturesPrice
Whynter Elite ARC-122DS
Whynter Elite ARC-122DS
Most-Efficient and Fasting CoolingCheck Price
BLACK+DECKER Portable AC
BLACK+DECKER
The Quietest OperationCheck Price
hOmeLabs Portable Air Conditioner
hOmeLabs Portable Air Conditioner
Best for Large SpacesCheck Price
Honeywell MN1CFS8
Honeywell
Best Energy Efficient Portable Air ConditionerCheck Price
Emerson Quiet Kool EAPC8RD1
Emerson Quiet Kool EAPC8RD1
Best for Small SpacesCheck Price

5 Best Quiet Portable Air Conditioner Reviews 2022


1. Whynter Elite ARC-122DS Portable Air Conditioner – Most-Efficient and Fasting Cooling

Whynter Elite ARC-122DS 12,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner, Dehumidifier, Fan with Activated Carbon Filter Plus Storage Bag for Rooms up to 400 sq ft, Multi

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The first product on our list comes from Whynter, a relatively new, but already a popular brand, operating from Santa Fe Springs, California. For an overall, all-rounder great portable air conditioner, this Whynter Elite ARC-122DS will be your best bet. The air conditioner measures 17 x 16 x 29.5 inches, which is just shorter than an average table. What’s more, this compact air conditioner weighs only sixty pounds.

Don’t let its size fool you, as the portable AC can cool a room of up to 400 sq. ft. Moreover, what many don’t know is that this air conditioner is not just an air conditioner, as it comes with three operational modes: air conditioner, fan, and a dehumidifier. You actually are buying a multi-purpose device.

There’s a manual as well as a continuous drain system that gets rid of the condensation instantly. Additionally, the Whynter ARC-122DS has a simple and straightforward installation. There’s a bright display right on the front of the air conditioner to see your settings. Other than that, it also comes with remote control and washable filters for easy maintenance. Best of all, it has a noise level of fewer than 52 decibels (dB).

Pros:

  • Automatic draining system
  • Quick assembly and installation
  • Easy to maintain
  • Activated carbon filter

Cons:

  • Display can be a bit too bright in the dark
  • Hard to move around without the rolling casters

You may also like our review of the Whynter ARC-14S 14,000 BTU dual hose portable air conditioner

2. Black+Decker Portable Air Conditioner With Remote – The Quietest Operation

BLACK+DECKER 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Remote Control, White

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The USA-based Black+Decker power tools and home appliances brand has been around since 1910. Simply put, you can’t really go wrong with any product from Black+Decker, and this Black+Decker air conditioning unit is no different. It measures 16.50 x 11.5 x 26 inches, which makes for quite a compact air conditioner. Moreover, weighing just over fifty pounds, the unit won’t be hard to move around either.

The quiet portable air conditioner can comfortably cool a room up to 150 sq. ft. Along with the cooling and fan mode, it has a dehumidifying mode as well, all in one machine. It has no bucket and is self-evaporating.

There’s a remote control and top-mounted LED display with a 24-hour timer, which allows you to control the temperature in your room at all times. Alternatively, it comes with remote control as well so that you can operate it from anywhere in the room. All in all, it’s great for placing in your bedroom as the AC is not very loud and produces some white noise to help you sleep better.

Pros:

  • Compact and space-saving design
  • Produces some white noise

Cons:

  • Hard to access the bottom drain
  • Display on the top not very visible from far

3. hOmeLabs Portable Air Conditioner – Best for Large Spaces

hOmelabs Portable Air Conditioner - 10000 BTU Quiet AC with Removable Washable Filter (Previously 14000 BTU) - Cooling Fan with Remote Control, LED Control Panel, Indicator Lights and Wheels

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Founded by Nate Bellino, hOmeLabs offers a wide range of products, all of which are meant to create a smart and intuitive home experience. It promises modern-looking, affordable, and safe appliances that work to make your lives easier.

One of the best quiet portable air conditioners out there, the hOmeLabs is excellent for people who have slightly larger rooms to cool. It’s pretty compact, with dimensions 17.9 x 15 x 30.7 inches. Even though slightly heavier at 72.3 pounds, the wheels at the bottom allow you to move it around with ease.

More importantly, the 14000 BTU air conditioner can cool a room of 450 to 600 sq. ft. It can work as an air conditioner as well as a dehumidifier, which can remove up to 100 pints of water a day. There’s a digital control panel on the air conditioner, but you can also use the accompanying remote control.

Additionally, you can install the whole thing in less than ten minutes. The air conditioner is super quiet and won’t produce any sounds to disturb you. hOmeLabs also offers a two-year warranty and 30-day free return or exchange of the air conditioner.

Pros:

  • Very easy to install
  • Ideal for large rooms or spaces
  • Super quiet operation even on the highest speed
  • Automatic swing function

Cons:

  • No built-in reservoir tank for the water
  • Requires an additional fan sometimes for proper air circulation

4. Honeywell – Best Energy Efficient Portable Air Conditioner

11,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner, Dehumidifier and Fan

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With headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, Honeywell is a multinational conglomerate that is all about innovation and sustainability. Similarly, this Honeywell portable air conditioner is not only an ultra-quiet portable air conditioner but also very efficient. It measures 15.2 x 18.1 x 29.4 inches and weighs almost 64 pounds. The sleek and compact air conditioner can cool a space of 400 to 500 sq. ft.

You can either use the front-facing digital controls on the air conditioner or use the remote control to adjust settings from afar. Additionally, the Honeywell can also work as a dehumidifier, and remove almost 50 pints of water a day.

Furthermore, it has dual filters to protect the air conditioner and give it a long life. You can easily wash these filters as well for maintenance. Using the 24-hour energy-saving timer, you can save up on energy consumption as well as your electricity bill.

Pros:

  • Easy to maintain with washable filters
  • Dual dust filtration extends life and performance
  • Continuous draining system, nu buckets to empty
  • Thermal overload protection

Cons:

  • Remote control has a limited working range
  • Makes some noise when the compressor turns on

5. Emerson Quiet Kool EAPC8RD1 – Best for Small Spaces


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Founded way back in 1949, Emerson Quiet Kool is a well-known and well-established American brand that provides innovative and reliable products. If you’re looking for an air conditioner for a smaller room, the Emerson EAPC8RD1 will be a brilliant choice. It measures 17.3 x12.8 x 27.4 inches and weighs a little over fifty pounds, making it a lightweight and small quiet portable air conditioner. Along with the rolling casters, you can move it around anywhere.

The 8000 BTU air conditioner can cool a room of up to 300 sq. ft. It has 52 dB, making it a low noise air conditioner. When you want, you can even turn it into a dehumidifier. Moreover, the air conditioner also features an auto-evaporation technology, so you don’t have to bother draining it all the time.

It comes with a window kit and an instruction guide, which makes the whole thing easy to install. Furthermore, you get a remote control, 24-hour timer option, and washable filters as well. There’s also a five-year warranty on some of the parts.

Pros:

  • Compact and lightweight
  • Auto-evaporation technology
  • Quick assembly and installation
  • Auto swing fan feature for better circulation

Cons:

  • Remote control doesn’t have a display
  • Can be a little loud on high fan speed

Now that you’ve read reviews of the five best quiet portable air conditioners, it’s time to see the different advantages and features that make up an excellent portable air conditioner.

Benefits of a Quiet Portable Air Conditioner

Quiet portable air conditioners are an excellent investment for your home. More importantly, when you find the right one, it will become your favorite appliance in the house.

Here are some reasons why:

  • Portability: Most of these quiet portable air conditioners are compact and lightweight, which makes them easy to move around. Some even have wheels and rolling casters to make it even easier to take them from one place to another. Since they are compact, they don’t take up a lot of space in your room.
  • Installation: Unlike a window or split air conditioner, a portable air conditioner is much easier to install. It usually has just one exhaust hose, which you need to connect through a window. Most of the time, there is a window in every room of our house, so you can quickly set up this air conditioner anywhere. It is not fixed in one place.
  • Efficiency: Since you can move this air conditioner anywhere, it is more efficient as you only use it where you need it. You don’t have to buy a big, expensive air conditioner for the whole room or multiple ones for many places.

The Quietest Portable Air Conditioner Buying Guide

These are the main components and features you need to look at when choosing a quiet portable air conditioner for yourself.

# Size and Weight

No one wants a big bulky machine occupying a chunk of their already small room. Therefore, according to how big your room is or how furnished it is, you’ll want to look for an appropriately sized air conditioner.

Moreover, if you’re living alone and will have to move it around yourself, you’ll need to consider the weight of the air conditioner as well.

# Power

Another thing to look for is the power or capacity of the air conditioner. You can generally determine this by looking at the BTU number. The higher the BTU means, the larger the room size it can cool and cover.

Related: What are BTUs on Air Conditioners?

# Decibel Rating

For the quiet part of the air conditioner, you need to consider its decibel rating, which is a unit used to measure sounds. Ideally, for a truly quiet air conditioner, the decibel rating should be between 40 and 60 dB.

Anything more than that will be too noisy. For comparison, a ticking clock or a soft whisper is around 20 or 30 dB.

# Modes and Speeds

Many air conditioners come with multiple operation modes and speeds. This is totally up to you and your preference, but an air conditioner that doubles as a dehumidifier can be handy to have. Especially if you live in a humid place, the dehumidifier can help get rid of the excess moisture in the air.

Moreover, you’ll also want the air conditioner to have several fan speed options so that you can run it more efficiently.

# Convenience

After you’ve considered all the main components of the air conditioner, you can then look at some of the extra features. These additional features can help enhance your air conditioner experience and make it much more convenient to use.

For instance, a remote control that will help you control the air conditioner from anywhere in the room. Washable filters make it easy to maintain the air conditioner and prolong its life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions.

How many decibels is a quiet air conditioner?

Typically, most of quiet air conditioners have a noise level of around 50 decibels. Ideally, it shouldn’t go over 60 decibels as that is quite loud.

Furthermore, usually, the noise level changes according to fan speed as well. A higher fan speed will produce more noise than a lower speed.

What is the difference between a single hose and dual hose air conditioners?

An air conditioner works by taking in hot air, cooling it down, and then blowing it out. If there’s just one hose, all the work happens in that one hose, and that slows down the cooling process. With two hoses, the work is divided, so the process is faster and more efficient.

Is a quiet portable air conditioner more expensive?

It depends on the power or capacity of the air conditioner. If it has a higher BTU or is equipped to cool a larger room, it will be more expensive than a standard portable air conditioner.

How difficult is it to install the window kit ourselves?

Most air conditioning units come with a complete window installation kit and user guide that makes it easy for anyone to install it. However, if your window does not fit the required measurements, it can get a little tricky at times.

Conclusion

While there are a lot of amazing quiet portable air conditioners out there, you need to pick the one that best suits your needs. Hopefully, reading the reviews, buying guide, and the FAQs would have made it clear what your needs are.

Once you’ve analyzed that, it’ll be easy to decide on the best air conditioner for yourself. However, if you still face some trouble with it, you can consider trying our favorite air conditioner: the Whynter Elite ARC-122DS.

Related article: How Long Can You Run A Portable Air Conditioner