• /
    • Miscellaneous /
  • Box air conditioner: Best Window Air Conditioners 2023

Box air conditioner: Best Window Air Conditioners 2023

alexxlab

Window Air Conditioning Units at Ace Hardware

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison. Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison. Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison. Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

  • Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison.Compare

Showing 30 of 37

8 Best Window Air Conditioners 2023

8 Best Window Air Conditioners 2023 | The Strategist

Every product is independently selected by (obsessive) editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.

Best in Class

Skip article list

8 items in this article
4 items on sale!

8 items in this article
4 items on sale!

Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers

  • Best overall
  • Best smart
  • Best easy installation
  • Best with heater
  • Best small
  • Best large
  • Best to preserve the view

com/strategist/_components/clay-paragraph/instances/clj70ofaa000k0ii6yjnl0265@published” data-word-count=”90″>A sweltering home makes for a miserable summer. A window air conditioner can fix that, but shopping for one can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to figuring out what size and power you need for the room you’re cooling. To help you find the best window air conditioners for your space and budget, we spoke to several air-conditioner experts, who have years of experience in the AC business and have catered to everyone from homeowners to college students looking to cool dorm rooms. We also tried some units ourselves.

Jonathan Berkson, owner of SupeCoolNYC, which specializes in installing window conditioners for first-time buyers, says to always consider the size of your space and the power a potential unit will need to cool it properly, adding that performance is more important than operating cost. “The cost of operating window units has decreased dramatically over the past 20 years or so,” he says, adding: “And most all units from major brands on the market are very comparable as far as electricity usage.”

Jesse Mastro, owner of RentAnAc, a company offering air-conditioner rentals, sales, service, and installation — which also tests the newest ACs that hit the market each year — looks first to legacy brands like LG and Frigidaire that have stood the test of time. But Mastro is also a fan of several newer AC makers like Windmill, the brand behind one of the sleekest-looking window air conditioners on the market today.

Below, a breakdown of everything from BTUs to warranty length to unit size to operating options (which range from a simple dial to voice controls) so you can find the best window AC unit to cool things off.

The industry standard measurement of an air conditioner’s output of cooled air is actually a measurement of heat: the BTU, or British Thermal Unit. The higher the BTU rating of an AC unit, the larger a room it can effectively cool. Per White Mechanical Inc., to calculate a room’s AC needs specifically, first determine its square footage (length of room times width of room) then multiply that by 25, so a ten-foot-by-ten-foot or 100-square-foot room needs an AC unit rated at 2,500 BTUs or higher. Just keep in mind that halls, open doorways, and archways can all cause the effective size of the room to grow.

According to the CDC, prolonged exposure to noise levels over 70 decibels (dB) — which is equivalent to a washing machine’s operating noise — can put some people at risk for noise-induced hearing loss. And some of the louder window AC units do indeed exceed 70 dB (roughly the equivalent to the sound inside a car cruising down the highway at 60 MPH), though often improper installation or unfilled gaps around the units are to blame. Many great window AC units operate at much quieter levels, especially at lower power settings; some are able to run at below 50 dB, which is not much louder than the hum of a refrigerator.

Even the best window AC unit ever made is of little use if it stops working properly and is of no use if it breaks down. We factored in the many years of experience our experts have with various AC brands as well as the warranties offered by the companies themselves. And FYI, heavy use is no problem for a good unit — per PickHVAC: “A window air conditioner can run 24 hours a day, seven days a week without shortening its average lifespan. Running continuously will not cause overheating, excessive wear and tear to the unit, or any other damage that will shorten its life.”

Frigidaire FHWC104WB1 Window Air Conditioner, 1000 BTU

$389 now 11% off

$348

BTU rating: 10,000 / Noise level: 54 dB / Warranty: 1 Year

For spaces measuring up to 450 square feet, this is an ideal window unit that’s easy to install and operate — and will last many summers. Berkson of SuperCoolNYC says that over the years, he has found “Frigidaire window units have been the most reliable,” saying this “tried-and-true brand is good over the long run.” This model measures 14. 65 inches in height and is heavy but easy to install in single or double-hung windows with 18 inches of opening height and as narrow as 28 inches or as wide as 40.5 inches (no special tools needed). Control is pretty simple here too: You set the fan speed — of which there are three options — and desired temperature via remote control or on the unit itself, and there’s a timer function to use if you want the air conditioner to shut off after a given period of time. And the fan is never louder than the volume of a casual conversation, even at full power.

$348

at Amazon

Buy

$348

at Amazon

Buy

Frigidaire 5,000 BTU 115-Volt Window Air Conditioner

$179 now 11% off

$160

BTU rating: 5,000 / Noise level: 52 dB / Warranty: 1 Year

com/strategist/_components/clay-paragraph/instances/clj71on8a007r3b6xqb4lec1y@published” data-word-count=”144″>There are two things about this Frigidaire unit that are small: the price tag, and the size of space it can cool down (about 150 square feet). But if you are only concerned about one smaller room — a bedroom or office, perhaps — then this thing is just impossible to beat in terms of value. And I say that by factoring in price and reliability. “Frigidaire has stood the test of time as having the most well-built machines,” says Mastro of RentAnAc, and this one is backed by a year-long warranty from Frigidaire. You won’t find a much simpler air conditioner, as it features just two dials, one that controls fan speed (and turns it off) and one that controls the temperature. It couldn’t be easier to use, just as long as you make sure to rinse off the filter now and then.

$160

at Amazon

Buy

LG 10,000 BTU Dual Inverter Smart Window Air Conditioner

$449

com/strategist/_components/clay-paragraph/instances/clj71uj5600813b6xha6qjkv9@published” data-word-count=”12″>BTU rating: 10,000 / Noise level: 58 dB / Warranty: 1 Year

This smart AC unit, which can be connected to your home’s wifi, is ideal for 450 square feet spaces. It runs at a pleasantly quiet 58 dB, but when it’s in “sleep mode” it goes down to 44 — about the amount of noise you’ll hear in a quiet library. RentAnAC’s Jess Mastro says: “LG makes air conditioners with excellent efficiency and noise control.” That’s thanks to dual inverter technology that uses twin rotors to blow out compressed air instead of a single fan. You can control the unit via an app (or with your voice when it’s paired with a smart-home device). It has four fan speed settings, and the dual inverter technology also helps it waste less energy.

$449

at Amazon

Buy

$449

at Amazon

Buy

Midea U Shaped Window Air Conditioner

$399

BTU rating: 8,000 / Noise level: 42 dB / Warranty: 1 Year (5 years for compressor)

Energy-efficient yet powerful, this Midea AC can create an air current you can feel even up to 20 feet away. Almost literally whisper quiet at 33 decibels at a lower setting, you’ll hardly notice the Midea as it runs — save for the fact that up to 350 square feet of your home are a lot cooler. And even at its high setting, this air conditioner merely hums at 42 decibels. But, according to Robert at Lowe’s Home Improvement in Garden City, New York (who asked his full name not be used), there are two factors above all else that sell these units. First, he said they are “just so easy to install. You just snap it to the bracket and it’s set, and you can still even open the window when you want.” Second, he reported a high level of reliability based on the fact that so few units were ever returned or needed service.

$399

at Amazon

Buy

$399

at Amazon

Buy

LG 7,500 BTU Window Air Conditioner with Cool and Heat

$532

$532

BTU rating: 7,500 / Noise level: 49 dB / Warranty: 1 Year

This unit not only cools your 320-square-foot space; it can warm it as well. The four-way directional air circulation spreads air or heat quickly, and at a 49-decibel operating volume, it does so quietly. This air conditioner–heater can be fit into a window opening measuring 22 inches across and just 14 inches tall, making it a great choice for apartment dwellers or for use in a bedroom or office with small windows. Do note it’s pretty heavy for a smaller unit at 66 pounds. But it’s also durable and reliable. SuperCoolNYC’s Berkson trusts LG because the brand “has invested in research and development with their units” and because “the customer service is excellent.”

Windmill 250-sq ft Window Air Conditioner (115-Volt; 6000-BTU) Wi-Fi enabled

$365 now 12% off

$320

BTU rating: 6,000 /Noise level: 56 dB / Warranty: 1 Year

com/strategist/_components/clay-paragraph/instances/clj7prold00143b6xhqamci5l@published” data-word-count=”171″>If you’re looking to cool a smaller space — think about 250 square feet — and want a unit you can control with an app or smart-home device, look to this energy-efficient unit from Windmill that Berkson calls “a solid choice.” That’s true for multiple reasons, the first being an affordable price tag. Second, it comes pre-assembled and ready for quick and easy installation — it can be fitted into windows with a mere 22-inch width and 13-inch opening height. And third, with three fan speeds, it can operate as quietly as 49 dB. Also, you can control the air conditioner from anywhere via its app, and it can be set to cool to a certain temperature, then shut off to save energy. If you’re the impatient type who wants a device that’s ready to use right out of the box and easy to control, too, then this is the window AC unit for you. (It’s also available in a slightly larger size, which we recommend in our Strategist Home Catalogue. )

$320

at Amazon

Buy

$319

at Lowe’s

Buy

Whirlpool Energy Star 24,000 BTU Window AC

$850

$850

BTU rating: 24,000 / Noise level: 67 dB / Warranty: 1 Year 

I used an older version of this Whirlpool air conditioner for five years when my wife and I shared our first home, and it kept most of the four-room apartment quite cool without ever experiencing a single issue. It works well for the 1,500 square feet of cooling it’s rated for, provided the area is well sealed and you keep doors open (we ended up needing a second, smaller unit for the bedroom, since we shut the door at night). It’s a large piece of machinery requiring a window opening at least 30 inches wide and 19.5 inches in height, and it gets pretty noisy at 67 dB when at full crank. But it has a cooling capacity that might trick you into believing you have central air, and you can always set the fan speed lower. It’s the most expensive unit featured here today, but it’s also far and away the most powerful.

$850

at Walmart

Buy

Soleus Air Exclusive

$630

BTU rating: 8,000 / Noise level: 49 dB / Warranty: 1 Year

The Soleus Air Exclusive is one of only a few units using a new design of window air conditioner that preserves most of the view and light you enjoy from your window. By bridging the sill in an upside-down U shape, with the controls and cool air vents hanging inside your home and the condenser portion of the unit hanging down outside, you only lose a few inches of the window opening, yet you gain an air conditioner that can pump chilled air in as well as any other window air conditioner. That is, provided the Over the Sill Air Conditioner will work for your space, as not all windows are the same thickness — if your sill is more than 11 inches deep, in our experience, this (and other comparable over-sill options) will not fit. Likewise, some window sills are too narrow or are uneven, mounting this air conditioner may not be possible, either. If you can get it secured in place, you’ll appreciate the remote-control options, which include a 24-hour timer and a quiet sleep mode.

$630

at Amazon

Buy

$630

at Amazon

Buy

• Jonathan Berkson, owner of the AC installation company SuperCoolNYC
• Jesse Mastro, founder of RentAnAC
• Steven John, founder of Dad Gear Review

get the strategist newsletter

Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

The Very Best Window Air Conditioners

com/strategist/_components/disclaimer-text/instances/cjsnrn89w001b3g64hl41l9cs@published”>Every product is independently selected by (obsessive) editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.

Today’s Top Clicked

Trtl Pillow

Buy
at Amazon

Amazon Basics Hardside Carry-on Spinner Suitcase

Buy
at Amazon

Avène Thermal Spring Water

From
$11

$11
$14

20% off

Buy
at Amazon

Comlife Neck Fan

$22

$22
$50

55% off

Buy
at Amazon

reMarkable 2 with Marker Plus

Which circuit breaker to put on the air conditioner: comparing and choosing the right one

After purchasing an air conditioner or split system, you have to think about how to connect it. The structure includes fans and a compressor. These electrical appliances, when switched on, have high starting currents, which can cause overloads in the electrical network and adversely affect other electrical appliances included in the same electrical network.

Why does the air conditioner need a separate machine?

The first thing to do after purchase is to look at the instructions, in particular the section on connecting to the mains. If the instructions clearly state the need to power the device from a separate line, then this is what needs to be done. If you have problems with the air conditioner and if you have not fulfilled the connection conditions, then this will be a reason for the seller to refuse warranty repairs.

If there is no such item, then the problem of choice lies with you, but before deciding, you need to know the advantages of connecting via a separate line:

  • You can use powerful air conditioners even in apartments with old and even aluminum wiring.
  • The air conditioner will not adversely affect other devices in the house. Its compressor and fans have high starting currents and with old wiring, they can damage other appliances.
  • You can not install a socket for connecting the air conditioner, but connect it through the terminal box.

The greater the power of the split system, the more likely it is that a separate line will be required.

Of the shortcomings:

  • When laying the line, the finishing of the apartment can be damaged.
  • When mounted in a shield, there may not be enough space for another machine and the shield will have to be modified.

Automatic air conditioner selection

Professional electricians claim that, taking into account the functioning of air conditioners, the wire section is selected, and the automatic machine is selected according to the section. Power-consuming systems will require wires with a cross section of 1. 5 mm 2 , and if the power is higher, then use 2.5 mm 2 .

Please note that the initial currents can be 3-4 times higher than the rated ones. Protection manufacturers take this into account and, in addition to the numbers indicating the operation current, they also have a letter. In our case, it should be the letter “C”. The protection device with the letters “A” and “B” will not work. They will work on starting currents, as on a short circuit current.

The machine is selected according to the power of the climate system. For devices with a power of up to 1500 W, C16A machines are installed, they are designed for a current of 16A. For devices with a power of more than 1500 W, C25A is used. This is quite enough to withstand the high starting currents of the split system.

What to choose: RCD + automatic or differential automatic?

To answer this question, you need to understand how these devices work.

Characteristics of circuit breakers

RCD constantly measures the current that comes through the phase wire to the electrical equipment and the current that goes out through the neutral wire. If a leak occurs and the difference between these currents is greater than 30 mA. (this current is already dangerous for human life), then the RCD will turn off the network. There is no internal protection against short circuit current or simply high current in the RCD. But if a person grabs the wire and current starts flowing through it, then the RCD determines that the current that comes from the load through the neutral wire is less than the current that went to the load through the phase wire is more than 30 mA, and turns off the voltage.

Automatic (circuit breaker) contains two fuses in one:

  • Solenoid. In the event of a short circuit, a high current flows through the electromagnet coil, which is enough for the armature to be drawn into the coil and break the connection.
  • Thermal. A bimetallic strip that heats up and bends due to increased current. As a result, the circuit breaker release trips and the connection is broken.

From perfectly protects against high current in the load or against a short circuit, but does not protect you at all from electric shock.

Differential machine, more precisely, a residual current circuit breaker (RCBO), contains all devices at once:

  • RCD;
  • circuit breaker.

Subtleties of current circuit breaker selection

When connecting an air conditioner through a diffuser, space in the shield is saved. The second advantage is simple connection.

Professional electricians prefer to connect a combination of circuit breaker and RCD. Especially if there are several electrical appliances that need to be protected by an RCD and an automatic device. Then you can save. The cost of a RCBO is more than a circuit breaker. At the entrance, one machine is placed and in different directions for RCD for each.

First: cost savings – 1 machine + 3 RCDs cost less than 3 differential machines.

Secondly: only expensive RCBOs have a flag that indicates that the RCD has tripped. In cheaper ones, it’s impossible to understand why the short circuit protection device or the high leakage current worked.

In the case of 1 machine + 3 RCDs, if the RCD has tripped, then you can immediately see in which branch the malfunction is. If the machine has worked, then first turn off all the RCDs and turn on the machine. Then, in turn, connect the RCD. On which branch, when the RCD is connected, the machine will work and they are looking for a malfunction.

In the case of a separate connection of a split system, it will be more convenient to install one two-pole diffavtomat. A phase and neutral wire must pass through it in order for the RCD to work correctly.

Machine installation process

We first find out which line you need to connect the air conditioner to. If it is of low power and there are no special requirements in the passport, then it can be connected to an existing outlet. Provided that we immediately check the line from the shield to the outlet:

We check and tighten the bolted connections in the socket and the machine in the shield;

The connections in the branching block are not oxidized, if necessary, tighten and clean up at the joints.

Make sure that the plug of the air conditioner is firmly inserted into the socket and that a good contact is made.

If a separate line is suitable, then we look at the documentation for the air conditioning system. Usually it will indicate what currents the circuit breaker should be designed for. If not, then choose based on the power of the device.

We choose a place for the differential machine. According to the rules for installing electrical equipment, the circuit breaker must be installed at the branch point of the protected line from the fed line. The best place is an apartment or floor shield, or a shield with a meter and electrical protection devices at the input of the power line to the house (clause 3.1.16). If there is no space in the indicated places, then it is allowed to install separately, but the distance from the shield should not be more than 6 meters, and installation is carried out in an additional shield in a place inaccessible to children.

The cross section of the supply wires from the main panel to the auxiliary must be no less than the cross section of the wires suitable for the air conditioner.

The nominal value of the machine on the main line must be greater than the nominal value on the auxiliary line.

Making connection:

The machine is mounted on a DIN rail.

The phase wire (it is white, red, pink, gray or brown) is connected to the upper terminal of the new machine and the lower contact of the input. We connect the phase wire leading to the split system to the lower terminal of the new machine. We carry out the same operation with a neutral wire (it is usually blue or black). In order not to be mistaken, the phase is usually checked with a special indicator. The third wire (usually yellow-green) should be attached to the ground bar or ground bolt in the shield.

All connection work is best done by a professional electrician in compliance with safety regulations.

Typical errors when installing the machine

When choosing and installing the machine, the following mistakes are often made:

Overcharging air conditioning system. This is justified if the machine is installed in a room with a high temperature. In this case, the thermal release will operate at lower loads. In other cases, it can happen, as electricians joke: “I put a crowbar in – it burned out, but the fuse survived.” That is, an overestimated trip current can lead to a delay in disconnecting the line and failure of an expensive device.

Poor wire connection (insufficient tightening or wire in the terminal space). This leads to poor contact of the wires with the terminals, and during operation, the wires will begin to overheat, melt and burn the insulation.

Wrong choice of location location of the machine. If an additional shield with a circuit breaker is installed near the split system itself, and not near the introductory circuit breaker, then it will not perform its function – to protect the line from the device to the shield.

What is included in the air conditioner kit (split system) upon purchase

Many users do not know what is included in the air conditioner upon purchase. They believe that when purchasing a split system, all that remains is to pay the installer. In fact, spending will be more than planned.

What is included in the air conditioner kit

After ordering the split system, you will receive:

  • Two air conditioner units (external and internal).
  • Remote without batteries.
  • Filters declared in the description.
  • Data sheet and warranty card.
  • Copper gas pipe (not available on all models).

Unfortunately, this is all that is included in the air conditioner kit (split systems). But this is not enough to install the device.

Why did the manufacturers not take care of the complete set? But because the conditions for installing the air conditioner for each consumer are different: you need a different length of the route, drainage hose, electric cable, etc.

More details

Installation of an air conditioner in Moscow

Price from 4,500 ₽

Get a consultation:

What you will need to buy:

  • less than 2.5 mm2 and plug. The length of the cable depends on the distance between the units and to the outlet.
  • Copper gas pipe of correct length with flare nuts if not supplied.
  • Drain hose.
  • Thermal insulation sleeves.
  • Brackets for outdoor unit.

Optional accessories for split systems

Drain pump

Improves drainage performance. When the tank is higher and the drain tube is lower, the condensate drains naturally. If it is impossible to organize a gravitational flow, a drainage pump is needed. In expensive air conditioners, it is by default.

Protective visor

It is a 2 mm steel sheet. Serves to protect the outdoor unit from falling icicles and snow from the roof. The distance between the canopy and the unit must be at least 20 cm to allow normal maintenance access.

Anti-vandal cover

Mounted on outdoor units hanging on the ground floor, roof or attic. Provides protection against icicles and theft. Can optionally come with a protective visor.

Often, a winter kit is bought together with the air conditioner, which allows the system to be used in cold weather.

What is included in the winter kit for the air conditioner

As the temperature drops, the split systems begin to work with a large load and lose their efficiency. The danger of winter use is that the condensate in the tube freezes and the indoor unit starts to leak. The oil that lubricates the compressor also thickens, and it runs almost dry. The outdoor unit is covered with a fur coat that interferes with normal operation.

The winter kit serves as a protection against these troubles when the air conditioner is forced to work in the cold. Includes:

  • Compressor crankcase heater to keep the oil from thickening.
  • Drain hose heater – keeps condensate from freezing.