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What a portable AC costs to run, and how loud it is
Updated
Take the watts on the listing, multiply by the hours you run it, and divide by 1,000. That is kWh. Multiply by the rate on your own electric bill. The listed watts are close to the most the unit draws. The compressor cycles off once the room is cool, so real use is usually lower.
kWh at the listed wattage
| Model | Listed watts | kWh for 8 hours | kWh for 30 nights of 8 hours | kWh for 750 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midea Duo 12,000 BTU | 1,200 | 9.6 | 288.0 | 900 |
| Whynter ARC-14S | 1,300 | 10.4 | 312.0 | 975 |
| BLACK+DECKER BPACT14WT | 1,365 | 10.9 | 327.6 | 1,024 |
| Whynter ARC-122DS | 1,200 | 9.6 | 288.0 | 900 |
| BLACK+DECKER BPACT10WT | 1,220 | 9.8 | 292.8 | 915 |
| Frigidaire FHPC082AC1 | 970 | 7.8 | 232.8 | 728 |
| Midea 8,500 BTU | 830 | 6.6 | 199.2 | 622 |
Why 750 hours? That is the number of cooling hours per year the DOE test uses when it works out annual energy use for a portable AC. The Midea 8,500 BTU listing gives 615 kWh per year, close to the 622 kWh from its 830 watts over 750 hours.
- Midea Duo 12,000 BTU9.6 kWh
- Whynter ARC-14S10.4 kWh
- BLACK+DECKER BPACT14WT10.9 kWh
- Whynter ARC-122DS9.6 kWh
- BLACK+DECKER BPACT10WT9.8 kWh
- Frigidaire FHPC082AC17.8 kWh
- Midea 8,500 BTU6.6 kWh
Turn kWh into cost
- Find your rate on your bill. It is usually shown per kWh.
- Multiply it by the kWh in the table. For example, 30 nights on the Midea Duo is 288.0 kWh at most.
- Expect less. A unit sized right reaches the set temperature and cycles. An inverter unit like the Duo slows down instead of stopping, which Midea says uses less power than a non-inverter unit.
Sizing affects the bill
ENERGY STAR says an oversized unit cools the room too fast to pull out the humidity, which leaves it cold and clammy. An undersized unit runs flat out all day. Both cost more than a unit matched to the room. That is why the calculator sizes by SACC.
Noise
Whynter's FAQ says most portable units run between 50 and 60 dB, and that the level changes with fan speed and when the compressor kicks on. The listings do not say how far away the numbers were measured, and "as low as" means the quietest setting.
| Model | Noise on the listing |
|---|---|
| Midea Duo 12,000 BTU | As low as 42 dB (maker) |
| Whynter ARC-14S | 51 dBA on low (maker) |
| BLACK+DECKER BPACT14WT | 54 dB (listing) |
| Whynter ARC-122DS | 47 dBA on low (maker) |
| BLACK+DECKER BPACT10WT | 54 dB (listing) |
| Frigidaire FHPC082AC1 | 50 dB (listing) |
| Midea 8,500 BTU | 52.6 dB, 50 dB at minimum (listing) |
- A portable AC has the compressor in the room with you. That is the main noise, and a window unit keeps it outside. See portable vs window.
- A bigger unit on a low fan speed can be quieter than a small one running flat out.
- Owners are split on noise for most of the picks here. Treat maker numbers as a best case.
The outlet
Whynter says to plug a portable AC straight into a grounded wall outlet on a dedicated circuit, not shared with a fridge, a microwave or a power strip, and warns of tripped breakers, overheating and fire risk otherwise. The picks here draw 830 to 1,365 watts. If you are unsure what else is on that circuit, ask a licensed electrician.
Size your own room with the SACC calculator, or compare all seven picks on the roundup page.