BRITAIN is melting right now as the July heatwave intensifies, with the Met Office recording the highest temperatures of 2025 so far across the UK
Portable air conditioners have rapidly shifted from luxury purchases to essential summer items as temperatures continue to soar above 30°C in many parts of the country.
Portable air conditioners have quickly gone from luxury purchases to absolute summer essentials as temperatures soar beyond 30°C across much of the UK this week.
With Met Office forecasters comparing this blistering July heat to previous record-breaking summers and warning it could last for weeks, these cooling lifesavers are flying off the shelves faster than ice cream on a beach day.
For the millions of British homes without built-in cooling (that’s most of us!), portable air conditioners provide an instant solution during these increasingly tropical UK summers.
These brilliant units can be wheeled from room to room, dramatically dropping temperatures by several degrees within minutes and transforming unbearably stuffy spaces into blissful cooling havens when you need them most.
Our team has rigorously tested the market’s top portable air conditioners during this current scorcher, bringing you a definitive guide to the units that genuinely deliver, with options to suit every space and budget.
Deal alert: Save £210 on the Honeywell portable air conditioner
We’re in a heatwave in the UK, so it’s no surprise that retailers have started dropping prices on their air conditioners.
Best air conditioners at a glance:
How we tested portable air conditioners
Our team of heat-weary reviewers put these portable air conditioners through their paces in UK homes during last year’s record-breaking heatwave.
Our expert testers evaluated multiple crucial factors: cooling performance (how quickly rooms cooled from sweltering to comfortable), ease of operation (both manual controls and remotes), energy efficiency, and, perhaps most importantly, for light sleepers, noise levels during operation.
This rigorous testing approach is something we take pride in across all our summer cooling reviews.
Whether we’re testing the best home fans for those sticky days, investigating which cooling mattresses actually deliver a sweat-free night or determining if those trendy Oodie pyjamas live up to their cooling claims, we never just take a manufacturer’s word for it.
Best portable air conditioners for 2025
1. AEG Comfort 6000
5
AEG Comfort 6000, £679.99
Pros: Lightning-fast cooling, idiot-proof setup, game-changing app control
Cons: Price tag will make your eyes water, heavy
Rating: 5/5
When summer turns your home into Satan’s sauna, this option from AEG delivers the goods faster than you can say “I’m melting!”
We unleashed it in a sweltering London flat, where temperatures rarely dip below 25°C and watched in amazement as it transformed our 26°C living room into a blissful 21°C haven in just 20 minutes.
Setting up couldn’t be simpler – once you’ve lugged its hefty 33.5kg frame upstairs (definitely rope in a mate for this bit).
Simply attach the extractor hose, point it out a window, and you’re good to go!
The absolute star feature is a brilliant smartphone app that lets you control everything remotely.
Want to cool your bedroom before heading upstairs? Done! Want to check if you’ve turned it off while at the pub? Easy peasy!
It’s not just about cooling; the powerful fan and dehumidifier modes make this a year-round appliance rather than a one-season wonder.
Yes, the price tag might make your credit card wince, but when you’re sleeping comfortably while your neighbours are melting into their mattresses, you’ll know it was money well spent!
Weight: 33.5kg Power: 3.4kW Noise level: 64dB Dimensions: 70.5×47.2×38.3cm Warranty: Two years
2. MeacoCool 7000BTU Portable Air Conditioner
5
MeacoCool 7000BTU Portable Air Conditioner
£309.99
Pros: Whisper-quiet sleep mode, surprisingly lightweight, brilliant for flats
Cons: Not powerful enough for larger spaces, can be a bit noisy on full blast
Rating: 4.5/5
If you’re living in a flat or struggling with a sweltering box room, this compact cooling hero delivers a significant chill factor without hogging precious floor space!
At just 20.5kg, the MeacoCool is significantly lighter than most portable aircons we’ve tested, making it an absolute doddle to wheel between your bedroom and living room when the heat follows you around.
What really impressed us was the genius sleep mode, which drops noise levels from the standard (somewhat rowdy) 65dB down to a bedroom-friendly 53dB – perfect for light sleepers who don’t want their sleep disturbed by what sounds like a small aircraft taking off.
The WiFi capability is not just for tech’s sake but rather a helpful feature, allowing you to cool your bedroom before heading upstairs or adjust settings without leaving your sofa.
And with temperatures adjustable between 17°C and 35°C, you’re in complete control.
We love that Meaco includes two different window kits straight out of the box – they’ve clearly thought about real British homes with their variety of window styles, unlike some competitors who leave you having to put together your own solutions.
For smaller spaces between 12-22m², you simply won’t find a better value – and the three-year warranty gives you proper peace of mind that this summer investment will see you through many heatwaves to come.
Read our full Meaco air conditioner review
Weight: 20.5kg Power: 780W Noise level: 65dB max Dimensions: 701x350x348 mm Warranty: Three years
3. Honeywell 9000 BTU 3 in 1 Portable Air Conditioner
5
Honeywell 9000 BTU 3 in 1 Portable Air Conditioner, £499.99
Pros: Smart features without the faff, sleek enough for any room, 3-in-1 functionality
Cons: Initial weird smell (thankfully temporary!), hefty weight needs a helping hand
Rating: 4/5
This budget-friendly Honeywell is the perfect no-nonsense cooling solution that won’t leave your bank account in a meltdown!
First impressions count and this sleek little number certainly makes a good one – it’s surprisingly stylish for something that’s essentially a white box that blows cold air.
Getting it up and running couldn’t be easier – just slide it out, plug it in, and you’re away (though at 28kg, you might want to rope in your other half when lugging it upstairs).
The LCD display is properly idiot-proof, and the included remote means you can crank up the cool factor without abandoning your sofa spot. Perfect for those truly lazy summer days!
What we love most is the 3-in-1 functionality – cooling when you’re melting, fan mode when you just need a breeze, and a dehumidifier that’s brilliant for drying laundry.
We did notice a slightly fishy whiff when first firing it up, but it vanished just as quickly as ice cream in a heatwave.
For under £300, this multi-talented machine delivers serious bang for your buck without skimping on features or performance.
Weight: 28kg Power: 1kW Noise Level: 65db Dimensions: 36 x 71.5 x 44cm
4. Devola Master 10000 BTU
5
Devola Master 10000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
£348.95
Pros: Brilliant multi-season functionality, super-simple controls, impressively powerful for its size
Cons: Window kit setup will test your patience, positioning options limited by design
Rating: 3/5
Why spend money on a cooling gadget that sits gathering dust for nine months of the year?
This clever Devola is the Swiss Army knife of temperature control – cooling you through summer heatwaves AND warming you during those bone-chilling winter months.
Getting started isn’t quite as straightforward as we’d hoped – the instructions for assembling the exhaust hose and window kit left us scratching our heads, and some windows in our tester’s home simply wouldn’t cooperate with the setup.
Finding the perfect spot proved to be tricky as well. You’ll need to position it near a window but away from heating sources or anything that blocks the airflow – not always easy in cosy British homes with limited space.
However, once you’ve overcome the setup process, this little powerhouse is an absolute dream to use.
The LED display and remote control make switching between modes (cooling, heating, fan, and dehumidifier) incredibly simple – perfect for those lazy days when getting off the sofa feels like climbing Mount Everest!
Despite its compact size, it packs a proper punch – instantly transforming our tester’s sweltering living room into a comfortable haven, while the dehumidifier function worked wonders drying laundry on those damp British days.
Weight: 25kg Power: 1.1kW Noise level: 65dB Dimensions: 701x350x348 mm Warranty: Two years
Best portable air conditioners FAQs
Navigate the FAQs here:
Where can I buy a portable air conditioner?
Looking to beat the heat before the next heatwave strikes?
These retailers have got you covered with brilliant portable air conditioners for every budget.
Remember – don’t wait until we’re in the middle of a scorcher, as these cooling lifesavers sell out lightning-fast when the mercury rises.
Are portable air conditioners any good?
Portable air conditioners are effective at cooling a room and are a lot cheaper than installing a permanent air conditioning system in your home.
The rate at which an air conditioner cools the ambient temperature depends on its power and the size of the room where it is being used.
Retailers specify the maximum room size for any given product. A larger space will require a more powerful machine, so measure the room before buying and select accordingly.
How do portable air conditioners work?
Portable air conditioners suck in warm air from the space they’re in and then cool this air within the unit before releasing it back into the room.
The warm air passes over evaporator coils containing refrigerant, which cool the air; this cooled air is then blown back into the room, reducing the temperature.
The heated refrigerant is then cooled, and the resulting hot air from this process is expelled outside through a hose. This is why portable air conditioners must always be vented through a window or patio door.
As the warm air cools, moisture is also removed, and this collects in a reservoir, which the user then empties. A plastic tube may also be supplied with the unit for this purpose.
With some portable air conditioner units you can position the exhaust hose out of an open window, with others you need to attach a kit to the window frame. This may be supplied with the appliance or purchased separately.
Which air conditioner is best?
In the UK, where the weather only warrants air conditioning for a small part of the year, purchasing a portable air conditioner is more cost-effective than installing a full air conditioning system.
A portable unit with wheels means you can move it easily between rooms.
If you plan to use the air conditioner upstairs, such as in the bedroom, overnight, then the most lightweight model you can find will be best.
Alternatively, look for a model with a remote control, eliminating the need to get out of bed to switch it off.
You also need to consider the size of the room you will be cooling, as buying a cheaper model designed for a smaller room will be a false economy in the long run.
Individual models typically specify the maximum size of the room or conservatory for which they are intended.
Brands like Meaco, De’Longhi, and AEG are all well-known for delivering excellent cooling results and hold significant authority in the appliance world.
Lesser-known companies and specific air-con specialists can also produce great results at an affordable price, just do your research before parting with your cash.
Are air conditioners safe?
Modern portable air conditioners are generally safe for home use, but ignoring the basic setup instructions could result in more than just a warm room.
First and foremost, ALWAYS ensure proper ventilation. That exhaust hose isn’t just an annoying appendage – it’s crucial for expelling hot air outside.
Failing to vent correctly not only reduces efficiency but can also potentially cause overheating issues.
Placement matters enormously. Keep your unit on a flat, stable surface with plenty of clearance around it – at least 50cm from walls and furniture.
Never position near heat sources, curtains, or anywhere water could splash onto electrical components.
For those midnight cooling sessions, most quality units feature sleep modes specifically designed for safe overnight operation.
However, if your model feels ancient or makes concerning noises, it’s smarter to cool your bedroom before sleep and switch it off overnight.
Many models now come with built-in safety features, such as thermal cut-offs and tip-over protection – brilliant additions that shut everything down if something goes wrong.
What size air conditioner do I need?
Getting this wrong is the fastest way to waste your hard-earned cash on a portable air con that’s either completely useless or costs a fortune to run!
The magic number you need to know is BTU (British Thermal Unit), which tells you how powerful your cooling machine actually is.
For tiny box rooms (up to 150 sq ft), you’ll want around 5,000-6,000 BTUs – anything bigger is just burning electricity for no reason.
Average bedrooms (150-250 sq ft) require something in the 7,000-8,000 BTU range, such as our MeacoCool pick above.
For proper family living rooms (250-350 sq ft), you’ll need at least 9,000 BTUs to make a noticeable difference – the Honeywell or De’Longhi models would be ideal.
And those lucky enough to have massive open-plan spaces (400+ sq ft)? You’re looking at 12,000+ BTUs minimum – go for the Devola 10000 BTU and thank us later!
Remember, an undersized unit will run constantly without properly cooling, while an oversized one will cycle on and off constantly, wasting energy and failing to dehumidify properly.
How much does it cost to run a portable air conditioner in the UK?
With energy prices still eye-wateringly high for 2025, knowing the running costs of your cooling saviour is essential.
The bigger the BTU rating, the more you’ll pay – that’s the simple maths.
A smaller 7,000 BTU model, like the MeacoCool, costs around 22p per hour to run, while beefier 10,000 BTU units consume around 30p per hour of electricity.
Room temperature also plays a significant role – the hotter your space, the harder (and longer) your air conditioner needs to work to cool it down.
The current electricity price cap stands at 27.03p per kWh, meaning a typical 9,000 BTU model costs approximately 27p per hour to run.
For perspective, cooling your bedroom for 8 hours each night during a heatwave week would set you back roughly £15.
Modern units are significantly more efficient than older models, so if yours dates back several summers, upgrading could save you money in the long run!
Remember – running costs are painful, but heat exhaustion and sleepless nights come with their price tag, too!
How do you clean a portable air conditioner?
A portable air conditioner contains filters that collect dust as warm air is sucked into the machine, so these must be removed and cleaned regularly.
The frequency of cleaning will be specified in the user manual for your particular unit, but you should clean the filters every couple of weeks if you use your air conditioner regularly.
Use a vacuum cleaner to remove loose dust, or wash the filters in warm water and leave them to dry naturally.
Some models have disposable filters that need to be replaced; however, a damp cloth should be sufficient to clean fingerprints or marks on the machine.
You should check the drainage tank regularly, as water collects there, and empty it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
On some air conditioners, the collected water evaporates, eliminating the need for manual drainage.
Do portable air conditioners require venting?
In short, yes. You need some way to expel the heat buildup in the air conditioner caused by the cooling process.
If this is not vented outside, it will affect the unit’s performance, and the air in the room will not be cooled to the desired temperature.
The machine will also consume more energy to reach the set temperature, resulting in higher costs.
Not venting your air conditioner could also damage it or cause it to overheat.
Venting through a window, French or sliding doors are the usual ways of expelling hot air from an air conditioner.
