Image via WikipediaBest small air conditioners (5,000 to 8,000 BTU)Smaller air conditioners tend to be less expensive than their larger counterparts, but while a low price is tempting, it's easy to underestimate your cooling needs. See the sizing chart on our What to Look For page to avoid getting a too-small unit that might not do the job. The smallest, least expensive 5,000 and 6,000 BTU window air conditioner units are appropriate only for small rooms of about 100 to 250 square feet -- about a 10-by-12-foot bedroom. Also be aware that some of the smallest air conditioner units aren't Energy Star-rated, which means they'll cost you more than an Energy Star AC unit on your electric bill.
Related SearchesIf you need a quiet air conditioner for a small bedroom, one standout is the 6,000-BTU Friedrich CP06F10
(*Est. $270). Faring extremely well in lab tests for cooling ability, noise level and ease of use, this small AC also seems well-loved by its owners. The most universal complaint is that installation is tricky. And while nearly every reviewer points out how quiet the unit is, a single Amazon.com user review states that it "rattles like a freight train." Two owners of the Friedrich air conditioner report that it cools a much larger space than expected, with one claiming that it cooled a 600-square-foot apartment. Another compliments its looks by stating that it's "not ugly!" and still another owner sums up the CP06F10 with the statement "Super quiet, lots of cold air." The Friedrich AC will come back on in the event of a brownout or power outage, a nice feature if your area suffers from occasional power blips in the summer. One caveat: In tests, this model wasn't very good at blowing air to the right or to the left -- it worked better blowing straight out.
(*Est. $270). Faring extremely well in lab tests for cooling ability, noise level and ease of use, this small AC also seems well-loved by its owners. The most universal complaint is that installation is tricky. And while nearly every reviewer points out how quiet the unit is, a single Amazon.com user review states that it "rattles like a freight train." Two owners of the Friedrich air conditioner report that it cools a much larger space than expected, with one claiming that it cooled a 600-square-foot apartment. Another compliments its looks by stating that it's "not ugly!" and still another owner sums up the CP06F10 with the statement "Super quiet, lots of cold air." The Friedrich AC will come back on in the event of a brownout or power outage, a nice feature if your area suffers from occasional power blips in the summer. One caveat: In tests, this model wasn't very good at blowing air to the right or to the left -- it worked better blowing straight out.If you don't want to spend so much for a small AC unit, we found good reviews forthe 5,200-BTU Kenmore 70051 (*Est. $150). In one comparison review, this low-priced window unit performs on par with similar models costing twice as much or more and even has most of the upgraded features like an energy-saving timer. Its user reviews at Sears.com are mainly good. One owner especially likes being able to change the temperature in one-degree intervals. The biggest complaint -- although most say it's a reasonably quiet air conditioner -- is that changing a setting or adjusting the temperature causes the unit to beep very loudly (one owner describes it as "ear-piercing"). Another quibble in reviews is airflow to the right, a possible deal-breaker depending on its intended location. Still, if you can deal with the loud beeps, the Kenmore air conditioner looks like a good bet. This AC unit will also come back on in the event of temporary power loss.
If you need a larger window air conditioner, reviews say the 8,000-BTU LG LW8011ER (*Est. $200) is a quality model for those needing to cool a 350-square-foot room for a relatively low price. Its efficiency tested very well in comparative reviews, and a dozen owners give this air conditioner an average rating of 4.5 stars on Home Depot's website. One owner states that it "blows ice cubes." Another says she has bought the same LG air conditioner on two occasions and wouldn't trust anything else. The only complaint we saw was that it was noisier than some would like, even though they still rate it much better than other units they've owned. But even most of those complainants said the LG's positive qualities and numerous features (such as a timer, auto restart for power outages and remote control) far outweighed their noise concerns.
(*Est. $200) is a quality model for those needing to cool a 350-square-foot room for a relatively low price. Its efficiency tested very well in comparative reviews, and a dozen owners give this air conditioner an average rating of 4.5 stars on Home Depot's website. One owner states that it "blows ice cubes." Another says she has bought the same LG air conditioner on two occasions and wouldn't trust anything else. The only complaint we saw was that it was noisier than some would like, even though they still rate it much better than other units they've owned. But even most of those complainants said the LG's positive qualities and numerous features (such as a timer, auto restart for power outages and remote control) far outweighed their noise concerns.If noise is a bigger factor to you than money, one comparison review cites the 7,900-BTU Friedrich Kuhl SS08M10 (*Est. $800) as the quietest air conditioner. The user reviews for this model, while complimentary about how quickly and quietly it cools and moves air, are few in number, so we couldn't find a groundswell of support for this pricey unit.
(*Est. $800) as the quietest air conditioner. The user reviews for this model, while complimentary about how quickly and quietly it cools and moves air, are few in number, so we couldn't find a groundswell of support for this pricey unit.A second runner-up in this size range is the Frigidaire FRA086AT7 (*Est. $230), also sold at Lowe's as the LG LRA087AT7. This AC unit receives exceptionally positive reviews from owners on Walmart.com and Lowes.com. It did not, however, perform well in the areas of noise, ease of use and balanced left/right airflow in one professional evaluation. You may want to check it out if you give more credence to user reviews than lab-testing, but the LG LW8011ER looks like the best value for the money based on a combination of in-depth comparative testing and owner satisfaction.
(*Est. $230), also sold at Lowe's as the LG LRA087AT7. This AC unit receives exceptionally positive reviews from owners on Walmart.com and Lowes.com. It did not, however, perform well in the areas of noise, ease of use and balanced left/right airflow in one professional evaluation. You may want to check it out if you give more credence to user reviews than lab-testing, but the LG LW8011ER looks like the best value for the money based on a combination of in-depth comparative testing and owner satisfaction.
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