Brace yourselves: we're heading for another heatwave. If you're wondering if it's time to invest in some portable air conditioning, I'd suggest getting on it sooner rather than later. Units start selling out every time the temperatures begin to rise, and stocks have barely had time to replenish after the last heatwave a few weeks ago. Below, I've rounded up the models that are currently available to buy. I've stuck to trusted appliance brands — there are more options available at Amazon from brands I haven't heard of, and if you want to risk it with those, that's on you.
A few housekeeping notes before we dive in. I've split these picks into 10,000 BTU and above, and less than 10,000 BTU. This stands for British Thermal Units, and is how we measure air con capacity. The higher the number, the larger the room the unit can cool. We suggest opting for a minimum of 10,000 BTU — and if you have a large room to cool, you'll want to go higher.
Your air con unit needs somewhere to live, and it needs to be near a plug socket and a window.. Said window is where the duct will hang out, expelling the warm air, and you'll need to block off that window when the unit is in place; most models come with some kind of kit to help you do this. Also remember that air conditioner units can get very heavy, so have a plan for navigating any stairs — some retailers offer an unpacking service. Further to that, don't expect to be regularly moving your AC from room to room once you've set it up.
10,000+ BTU
Under 10,000 BTU
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