After years of sticky summers in small city apartments, my childhood memories of air-conditioned houses started to feel more and more distant. Living in buildings with small, oddly-shaped windows or even no exterior ventilation to hold a traditional box-shaped window unit had tarnished my dream of ever having my own AC. Then I learned about portable stand-alone units. They’re air conditioners that you don’t put in your window, so they’re perfect for apartments, basements, attics, hallways and any other place that gets too freakin’ hot.
There are two main types of stand-alone air conditioners. One is a portable unit that typically sits on the floor and is equipped with a hose that ventilates hot air out of a window or opening, similar to a traditional window AC. Units of this type often also function as dehumidifiers, pulling heat and moisture from the air, compressing it with the internal motor, and then recirculating cooler, drier air into the space. They’re better suited for humid climates, and tend to cost around $300-500.
The other main type is evaporative. These units are lined with moisture-soaked membranes that add humidity to the surrounding air. They use an internal fan and tank of cold water and ice to send cold, moist air into a room. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, they work best in dryer areas with lower humidity and higher heat, namely the West, Southwest and Pacific Northwest. These tend to be cheaper than portable hose-vented units, generally ranging from $40-$120.
To help you find the best home cooling for you, we’ve rounded up the best vent-hose and evaporative portable stand-alone AC units in a variety of styles and sizes. May your home become the fancy cool-air house of your dreams this summer.
This portable AC on wheels with a built-in dehumidifier and fan
For small rooms and larger spaces like garages or basements, this compact portable AC packs a punch. With over 12,000 positive reviews, this 8,000-BTU machine is said to cool off large rooms and enclosed smaller spaces quickly. It comes with a remote control to help you switch between the cooling, dehumidifying and fan modes. It comes in six model options, including ones that also work as heaters. While the unit sits on the ground, it comes with an exhaust hose to be placed in your window. (There’s only one BTU rating listed for this machine, and it’s not totally clear whether it’s SACC or ASHRAE.)
Promising review: "Cools off a room amazingly well. I was surprised and excited by the remote control and the feature that swings the vent covers up and down (swing setting). It pushes air around well and makes my third-floor Louisiana apartment not so miserable this summer. Glad to have this and very pleased with the quality so far." — Jon and Brittany Mohon
A sleek portable AC with over 30,000 5-star reviews
With tens of thousands of 5-star reviews, this standing air conditioner from Black + Decker is a bestseller in the portable AC unit category on Amazon. It comes with a handy remote control so you can adjust the temperature from across the room and it offers dehumidifying and ventilation in addition to air cooling. This 5,800-BTU AC works better in smaller rooms and offices and comes in seven models, some of which offer different BTUs and portable heating in addition to cooling. Note that while the unit itself does not go in a window, it does have a five-foot hose (and window adaptor) that does.
Promising review: "An absolute MUST for hot summer days. It's been 4 years since I've purchased this portable AC unit. I've been using it every day, when it's not summer I simply use the built-in fan for airflow when I'm working and white noise when I'm sleeping. When it's blazing hot during summer I have the unit blasting cool air in my home office while I'm working. This is an absolute must-buy if you're looking for some AC relief without breaking the bank. I will without a doubt buy a brand new one the moment this thing breaks down on me but it's been going strong for 4 years now and I still can't see it breaking anytime soon!" — sonny
A smart unit that can work with multiple window types and sizes
You may be familiar with other Dreo products like space heaters and fans, but they also make AC units like this one, which comes with universal window kits to secure it to any window between 17 and 53 inches, regardless of type. The smart unit can work with Alexa or Google Home and has its own app for operation. There are three operating modes, and the noise isolation system helps keep the noise as low as 46 dB. This one has a 12,000 BTU ASHRAE rating, and also comes in multiple colors so it doesn't have to be such an eyesore among your decor.
Promising review: "I'm always skeptical of online reviews. But this unit earns and deserves its high ratings. Easy to set up, easy to operate. The app has worked flawlessly. The unit quickly cools the hot upstairs hallway and bedroom with ease. The dehumidify function works great, too. It's pretty humid here (ranging from 65-85%), and this thing makes a noticeable difference you can feel. As for noise, it's not bad at all. It is definitely quieter than a box fan, but a little more so than a white noise generator. But I typically have it on the highest fan speed. Lower speeds are quieter, of course. I also monitor our daily electric usage. We're in the middle of an unpleasant heat wave, so this is running quite a lot. I was surprised that it really hasn't added much to the electric usage. If you're on the fence about spending the money on a portable unit, this is worth the price. I'm pleased with it and would recommend it!" — Steven P.
A stand-alone unit with two vent hoses that's ideal for humid areas
Forget expensive serums and overly fruity bath bombs; real self-care is combating humidity. This stand-alone AC with two vent hoses functions not only as a super cooling air conditioner but also as a powerhouse dehumidifier, removing up to 71 pints of water in a day. Its SACC BTU rating is 9,500.
Promising review: "I've been using this unit for about a year and a half now and I still love it. I sleep with it running right next to my bed. Writing a review today because it's over 90 degrees outside, the sun directly hits a large window and wall in my bedroom all day, and this AC unit has kept my room a cool 70 degrees all day. This AC unit goes down to 61 degrees so I could absolutely make it even colder on this very hot day." — Jason
This vent-hose unit that's a "total game changer"
Right after the Black + Decker in the bestselling portable AC unit category on Amazon is this Shinco model, which has 4,550 BTUs, a manually adjustable air outlet grille and works with both horizontal and vertical sliding windows. Like other models, this one has a 24-hour timer, sleep mode and built-in dehumidifier and fan. It can cool up to 200 square feet. One reviewer called it a "total game changer" for living in the Florida heat.
Promising review: "We’ve had this portable AC for over a year now, and it’s been a great solution for our basement, which doesn’t have a window—just a large sliding door and another exit. We had a contractor install it and vent it outside (not fully finished in the photo), and it’s worked perfectly since. It has 3 modes, 3 fan speeds, and adjustable swing direction, which makes it super versatile. Keeps the whole basement nice and cool during hot summer days. Highly recommend!" — SandyDHolder
A portable compact air conditioner with a dehumidifier
Lightweight and compact, this portable AC unit has wheels for extra movement and functions as a dehumidifier and fan in addition to an air conditioner. It provides maximum air circulation for smaller spaces with its automatic swing mode setting. You can use the buttons on the machine or control it with the remote from across the room.
Promising review: "EXCELLENT value, quality, and performance. It arrived on time and within an hour, it was up an running. I live in Florida and my central air conked out. I did a lot of research locally and online, and I am a pleased with this purchase as can be. I have 1,200 sq. ft. house with 8 foot ceilings and I was suffering with inside temps at 94 during the day and 90 throughout the night, at 86% humidity. I couldn't afford a larger unit, plus I was afraid it would be too large for me to handle and set up. I deduced that if I closed off the two bedrooms, I could at least cool the core of the home and take some of the brutal humidity out. It has been two days and this unit has save my life! It runs efficiently and quietly, (soft, white noise like a smoothly running fan), and continues to fill my 12 liter bucket with water from the air - just emptied the 6th bucket. The temp in my home has steady decreased to 78 degrees, (down from 94!), and still going." — Venise T.
A compact Frigidaire unit that's great for smaller spaces
This 5,500-BTU Frigidaire unit is great for smaller rooms, with its compact size and cooling area of 350 square feet. It offers whisper-quiet operation, two fan speeds, a dehumidifying dry mode and 24-hour timer. It's so great that it even swayed a reviewer who was "determined to hate it."
Promising review: "I bought this A/C unit to cool off my upstairs apartment because I didn't have A/C in the front room and it was just unbearable. Now that I purchased this Frigidaire portable A/C unit my apartment is so much nicer to relax in. The unit is very quiet and works well. I don't know how I got by without it." — Richard Davis