{Top 7} Quietest Portable Air Conditioner for 2023

Having a portable ac unit is a win-win situation. You can move the unit from room to room without any efforts. It doesn’t need any kind of installation and deinstallation.

But the problem with this type of air conditioner is that they are noisy. And because so many units available in the market, it can be really hard to choose one that is best for your needs.

So to help you find a good quality, energy efficient and a quiet portable ac unit, I am present here with a list of top 7 quietest portable air conditioners for 2023.

But we jump in the list, I want to be aware of the factors to look for when hunting for a quiet portable ac.

Factors to consider when choosing a quiet portable air conditioner

1. Check the noise level

When it comes to selecting a quiet air conditioner, the noise level takes center stage. It’s crucial to consider your preferences and check the unit’s noise rating to ensure it operates at an acceptable sound level.

According to Ecocostavings.com, portable units typically fall within a noise range of 44 dB to 64 dB. As a general rule, the lower the noise level, the quieter the unit will be. I will recommend looking for an unit that operates under 60 dB.

2. Choose a unit that best suits your room size

Choose the right size unit for your room is more important that anything else. The cooling capacity of the air conditioner depends on its BTU rating.

If the air conditioner is too small, it won’t effectively cool the room. On the other hand, an oversized unit will consume more energy and may produce more noise than necessary.

Ideally, an air conditioner should have at least 20 BTUs per square foot of space. However, it is advisable to select a unit slightly larger than your calculation.

For instance, if your room is 200 square feet, a 4000 BTU unit may suffice. But for more effective and quieter cooling, opting for a 5000 or 6000 BTU air conditioner is recommended.

Here is the size chart:

3. Check what features it offers

Most portable ACs have a range of features, from the ability to adjust temperature, remote control and fan speed to timers and dehumidification options as well.

Some models also comes with a built-in air purification system, which helps reduce allergens and other particles in the air. If you want extra features like an integrated heater, it’s worth looking for models that offer them.

Some features you should look out is: 

• Remote control
• Adjustable fan speeds
• Adjustable wind direction
• Sleep Mode
• Energy saving mode

4. Go with a pocket-friendly Unit

When finding a quiet portable AC unit, it is important to take your budget into account as well. Luckily, there are many great options on the market that are super affordable.

Look for units that are energy-efficient, as they can help lower your energy costs over time. Aim for an EER rating of at least 8.

While pricier units may offer extra features like dehumidification, you may not necessarily require them. Basic models can be equally effective and cost-efficient.

5. Positive review

One of the best way to be sure you are getting the right product for your needs is to read reviews. Reviews provide valuable insight about a product’s performance, what it offers and how well it works.

When looking for a quiet portable ac unit, take the time to read reviews from people who have used the product. Additionally, check the product’s online ratings to see what other people think about it.

Now let’s see what are those 7 quietest portable air conditioners are.

Top 7 Quietest Portable Air Conditioners (Overview)

#	Portable Unit's Image	Portable Unit's Name	Max. Noise level	SEER	Power consumption	Cooling Power	Coverage	Overall Rating	Check Price link
#1		Whynter Elite-ARC-122DS	53.9 dB	13	1200 W	12000 BTU	400 Sq. Ft.	9.4/10	Price?
#2 Editor's Choice!		Midea Duo MAP12S1TBL	55.7 dB	12.3	115 Volts	12000 BTU	450 Sq. Ft	9.6/10	Price?
#3		LG LP1419IVSM	56 dB	-	115 Volts	10000 BTU	500 sq. ft.	8.9/10	Price?
#4		Whynter ARC-14SH	56.2 dB	11.2	1300 W	14,000 BTU	500 sq. ft.	8.7/10	Price?
#5		BLACK+DECKER BPACT08WT	62 dB	-	115 Volts	8,000 BTU	350 sq. ft.	8.2/10	Price?
#6		SereneLife SLPAC8	63 dB	-	120 Volts	8,000 BTU	215+ sq. ft.	8.5/10	Price?
#7		De’Longhi PACEX390LVY	53 dB	-	115 volts	14,000 BTUs	700 sq. ft.	8.7/10	Price?

Quietest Portable AC Units Review

#1 Whynter Elite-ARC-122DS

9.4

Top Picks!

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Pros:

• Perfect choice for large sized rooms up to 400 sq. ft.
• Operates quietly under 53.9 dB
• The design is awesome
• Comes with multiple settings options
• Super affordable

Cons:

• It is using about 20% more power than mentioned.

If you are looking for the best, quietest portable air conditioner, then this Whynter Elite-ARC-122DS is the best option for you. It is a solid choice for mid-to-large sized rooms as it has a cooling capacity of 12,000 BTU, which is capable for cooling a 450 sq. ft. space.

Seetting up the unit was easy and took me about 30 minutes. When I turned it on for the first time, my apartment was like a sauna, but after 10 minutes, the room was noticeably cooler. An hour later, and I feel I am in a cool paradise. In simple terms, its cooling performance is pretty darn good!

Now, talking about that dual-hose design. It’s marketed as being super efficient with a power consumption of 10.5A and 1200W. However, during my testing, I noticed it often exceeded this, sometimes hitting 13A. That’s about 20% more power than what they claim, which is a letdown and not quite what they promise.

I also noticed that its hoses are a bit large. They actually go a long way between the window and the unit. When it comes to noise, our testing shows that this unit operates under the noise level of 53.9 decibels, which is really low. It also comes with a self-evaporating system which basically helps in reducing the moisture level, thereby reducing the need for manual drainage which is a good thing.

Overall, the Winter Elite-ARC-122DS has some strong points as well as some drawbacks. It has a rating of 4.2 out of 5.0 with 61% of reviewers giving it 5 stars, but 8% of reviewers also given it a poor rating of 1 star. So, if this air conditioner aligns with your needs, you should absolutely go for it!

#2 Midea Duo MAP12S1TBL

9.6

Leading choice, highly recommended!

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Pros:

• Operates at super low noise
• Can operate with Alexa and Google Assistant
• Its design is super classy and attractive
• Highly energy efficient

Cons:

• Pretty heavy

It is one of the quietest portable AC units models in the market with a noise rating of just 48 decibels but when I run it on high settings its noise level reaches 55.7 which is even higher than the noise level of Whynter Elite-ARC-122DS.

While I was testing this unit, I noticed that it cooled my 180 square foot room very quickly. Initially, the room temperature was 83°F and after only 27 minutes of running the room’s temperature comes down to 67°F, nice!

Furthermore, it is equipped with 3 fan speeds, so you can choose to run it between low, medium and high, depending on how quickly you want to cool down your space.

But, there’s a bit of a downside here. This AC unit is quite heavy, weighing in at 72.8 pounds. Not exactly what you’d expect from a “portable” unit, right?

What’s interesting is its use of variable-speed inverter technology. This little innovation can save you more than 40% on energy compared to some other models.

Overall, the unit is excellent and give a luxury feel slightly. You can definitely buy it if you find it suitable. It has earned a rating of 4.2 from over 4,214 critics, and 63% of them have given it a 5 star rating, which says a lot about its performance.

#3 LG LP1419IVSM

8.9

Ideal for large room!

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Pros:

• Can cool up to 500 square feet of space
• Dual inverter compressor
• Its appearance is highly attractive
• Alexa and Google Assistant enabled

Cons:

• It has a high price tag

This LG LP1419IVSM operates between a noise level of 45-56 db. While testing, I ran it on high setting and checked its noise level and it was 56.1dB, well it is not super quiet, but it is quiet enough to help you sleep comfortably.

Its dual duct design helps reduce energy loss and improve efficiency. On top of that, it comes with a built-in dehumidifier.

Its efficiency is pretty nice as according to a study of 56 most popular portable air conditioners by ecoostavings.com, the average power consumption is 1.176 kWh, but the LG LP1419IVSM average power consumption is 0.67 kWh, which is comparatively pretty low.

All in all, the LG LP1419IVSM is a fantastic choice if you need a quiet portable air conditioner for a larger room.

#4 Whynter ARC-14SH

8.7

Recommended to buy!

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Pros:

• Highly rated product
• Crazy design
• CFC free GREEN R32 refrigerant
• It has advanced auto drain technology

Cons:

• It is quite heavy
• A bit expensive

The Whynter ARC-14SH operates at a noise level of 56.2 decibels. We tested this unit and compared it to 8 other portable air conditioners, including the Whynter ARC-122DS Elite, the Midea 3-in-1, and the SereneLife SLPAC10. Out of them, theis Whynter ARC-14SH recorded the lowest noise level, while the Midea 3-in-1 and SereneLife SLPAC10 noise level was over 60 db.

Apart from this, this unit also has CFC free GREEN R32 refrigerant which is counted among the best refrigerants. We tested its efficiency by running it for 10 days, each day we run this unit for 12 hours, 10 hours on low mode and 2 hours on high settings.

And after 10 days, we calculate that it costs $17.7 for 10 days. In comparison, when we did the same with the SereneLife SLPAC10, it only cost $12.9, significantly less than the Whynter ARC-14SH.

Talking about its potential downsides. First, it is heavy. Additionally, it is a bit more expensive than some other models on the market, its price is currently $659.00 which may not be feasible for some consumers.

However, the unit does offer a range of convenient features and efficient cooling capabilities that may make it worth the investment for those who prioritize quality and performance.

#5 BLACK+DECKER BPACT08WT

8.2

Ideal for compact spaces!

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Pros:

• Has 40,885 ratings
• Extremely inexpensive
• A bit energy efficient
• Extremely light weight

Cons:

• Poor cooling performance
• Noises level crosses 60 dB on high settings

If you are on a tight-budget then the Black+Decker BPACT08WT can be your go-to solution. It is a 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner capable of cooling a room up to 350 sq. ft. (a medium-sized space). However, it is a little noisy, I noticed its noise level was 62 dB while operating it on high settings.

Speaking of performance, we ran it for an hour in our 180-square-foot test room. Initially, the room temperature was 70.7 degrees Fahrenheit and after running it continuously for 1 hour, the room temperature only drops to 6.7 degrees That’s a bit underwhelming.

On the other hand, we do the same with the Whynter ARC-14SH and it dropped 13.1 degrees Fahrenheit, which is almost twice the temperature dropped by this Black+Decker BPACT08WT.

By the way, one strong point is its efficiency, we tested its efficiency just like we did with the previous unit, the result, it only added $11.9 for 10 days. Great!

To sum up, the BLACK+DECKER BPACT08WT is a considerable option for anyone looking for a quiet portable ac unit because it’s extremely affordable.

#6 SereneLife SLPAC8

8.5

Affordable relaxation solution!

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Pros:

• It has a low price tag
• It has a low price tag
• Provides good cooling
• Slight efficient
• Has a rating of 4.4 out of 5.0

Cons:

• Noise level reaches to 63 dB

The SereneLife SLPAC8 is for those looking for efficient portable air conditioner. It has a 8,000 BTU of cooling power which can cool up to 215+ square feet of space.

And what I like most about this unit is its portability. It’s super portable as its weigh is just 46.3 pounds.

However, its noise level is slightly high, I noticed 63 dB on higher settings, but surprisingly, it recorded 54.3dB on low settings. Despite its a bit loud noise level, its efficiency is quite good.

I did the same test what I did with the previous units, and we calculated that it costs an average of $1.24 for each day, which rises to $12.4 for 10 days.

Plus, its cooling is slightly better than the pervious unit, I notice a temperature drop of 10.2 degrees Fahrenheit after running it for 60.

The standout feature here is its ratings and price. It boasts an impressive 21,473 ratings, with 87% of them giving it 4 stars and above.

#7 De’Longhi PACEX390LVYN WH

8.7

Great choice for larger rooms!

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Pros:

• Can cool up to 700 square feet of space.
• Low noise level
• Can save you up to 17% on energy costs.
• Bluetooth-enabled remote 

Cons:

• Extremely heavy
• More expensive than other portable air conditioners.
• Slightly poor cooling performance

If you are hunting for a quiet portable ac unit for larger space then this De’Longhi PACEX390LVYN WH is for you. It is a 14,000 BTUs ac unit, designed to handle rooms up to 700 square feet and it operates between noise level of 48-53 dB.

After running the De’Longhi PACEX390LVYN WH in a 180 square foot room with a starting temperature of 81 degrees Fahrenheit, we observed a temperature drop of 15 degrees Fahrenheit after 60 minutes. While is slightly poor as we look that it is has a cooling power of 14,000 BTUs.

However, the biggest plus point of this unit is that it is made with eco real feel technology and due to this it can save up to 30% power consumption.

Considering all aspects, the De’Longhi portable air conditioner is both quiet and efficient but its cooling performance in lacking.

Related post to read: How to make a portable ac quiet?

Advantages of having a Quiet Portable AC Unit

Having a quiet portable air conditioner can provide a lot of advantages, here are the advantages of having a portable quiet AC unit than having a traditional portable unit.

• The primary and biggest advantage of having a portable quiet AC unit is that- you won’t have to worry about being disturbed by loud noises that is coming from your ac unit.
• In addition to being more peaceful, a Quiet Portable AC unit is also slightly more energy efficient than a conventional model. Since they don’t need to generate as much electricity to cool a room, they use less electricity and, in turn, lower your energy costs. And if you plan to use your unit for long periods of time, you can rest assured knowing that it won’t add to your electricity bill.

Quietest Portable Air Conditioners: FAQs

In this FAQ section, all of your questions about portable air conditioners will be answered, so whether you’re just starting your research or have already narrowed down your options, this FAQ will help you make you decision easy. keep reading..

My Final Thought

Choosing the perfect quiet portable air conditioner for your needs can be a daunting task, as there are many things to look including size, cooling power, energy efficiency, and, of course, noise level.

In this post, we have reviewed 7 quietest portable air conditioners available in 2023. The Midea Duo MAP12S1TBL is a top choice for its powerful cooling capabilities and low noise level, while the BLACK+DECKER BPACT08WT is a great option for those looking for a compact and energy-efficient unit.

The Whynter Elite-ARC-122DS is another top pick, with its impressive cooling power and low noise level.