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Portable air conditioners compared on official U.S. Department of Energy Compliance Certification (CCMS) records. Capacity is seasonally adjusted cooling capacity (SACC) in Btu/h, not the higher ASHRAE figure printed on many boxes. Efficiency is the combined energy efficiency ratio (CEER). Dual-duct is scored as Yes only when the DOE record lists a dual-duct configuration used for testing. A variable-speed compressor is scored as Yes only when the DOE record marks that field as Yes; if the field is blank, we show that in the details and score the criterion as no. ENERGY STAR did not publish a certified portable air conditioner dataset in the catalog we used, so this category is not scored on an ENERGY STAR label.
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Top pick
C&
Cooper & Hunter CH-STLS-14AC
Score 9.8/10 · Check price
Why it wins: Official DOE SACC 12000 Btu/h, CEER 14.2, certified as dual-duct, variable-speed compressor. Official DOE CEER of 14.2. Highest official DOE SACC in this comparison (12000 Btu/h).
"Not listed" means the official ENERGY STAR, DOE or manufacturer record we used does not publish that figure. Prices show "Check price" until a retailer feed provides a current price.
Buying guide: how to choose the right portable air conditioner
Believe SACC, not the ASHRAE BTU on the box
Many portable ACs are advertised as 10,000 or 14,000 BTU using an ASHRAE test that does not represent a full cooling season as well as the federal number. The official capacity we score is DOE seasonally adjusted cooling capacity (SACC). It is usually lower than the box claim. A dual-duct inverter model in this set can certify at 10,000 or 12,000 Btu/h SACC with a CEER above 12; a single-duct unit advertised at 14,000 BTU may certify near 8,000–10,000 SACC with a CEER near 7–8.
Dual-duct and variable-speed change the official rating
DOE records list the duct configuration used for testing. Dual-duct models in this set often carry a much higher official CEER than single-duct models of similar SACC. A variable-speed compressor is scored only when the DOE record marks that field as Yes. If the field is blank, we say so in the details and score it as no.
Estimated watts are computed
When both SACC and CEER are published, we divide SACC by CEER to estimate cooling power in watts and label that figure computed. It is a rating-sheet conversion, not a measurement of the unit in your room.
Safety and installation
Portable ACs must exhaust heat through the maker's window kit or a listed opening; do not run one as a closed-room cooler without that exhaust. Use the correct household circuit and avoid undersized extension cords. Condensate must drain or evaporate as the maker directs. Refrigerant (often R-32) is in a sealed system — do not puncture it. Keep the unit on a level floor and keep hose length and bends within the manual. This is not a substitute for the product manual.
How this ranking is calculated
Score = weighted average of normalised specs, out of 10. Full method
DOE SACCOfficial DOE seasonally adjusted cooling capacity in Btu/h. Missing values take the category minimum. Scale: 5000 → 12000 Btu/h.
30%
DOE CEEROfficial DOE combined energy efficiency ratio in Btu/Wh. Higher is more efficient. Missing values take the category minimum. Scale: 6.1 → 14.7.
32%
Dual-duct certificationYes when the official DOE record lists a dual-duct configuration used for testing. Single-duct or unstated counts as no.
20%
Variable-speed compressorYes when the official DOE record marks a variable-speed compressor as Yes. Unstated counts as no.
10%
Heating functionYes when the official DOE record lists a heating function. Unstated counts as no.
Why is the BTU number lower than the one on the Amazon title?
We score official DOE seasonally adjusted cooling capacity (SACC), not the ASHRAE or marketing BTU still used in many listings. The DOE record is the federal certified rating for portable air conditioners sold in the United States. The CCMS public records we used were last loaded November 7, 2026, and we retrieved them on November 13, 2026.
Why isn't ENERGY STAR scored in this category?
The ENERGY STAR open-data catalog we used on November 13, 2026 includes certified dehumidifiers and certified room (window) air conditioners, but it did not include a certified portable air conditioner dataset. We therefore ranked portable ACs on DOE CCMS records only and did not score an ENERGY STAR label.
Did you test these portable ACs or list prices?
No. CoolPick ranks official DOE certified ratings only. We do not test units, and we do not show prices or customer ratings.
Why do some models say the variable-speed field was not listed?
Some DOE records leave the variable-speed field blank. We show that wording in the details. For scoring, an unstated yes/no feature counts as no, so an unpublished claim never outranks a published Yes.
Why aren't Honeywell, GE, Friedrich or DeLonghi portable ACs in this list?
A search of the current DOE CCMS portable air conditioner records for those brand names returned no certified models in the snapshot we used (public records last loaded November 7, 2026). We only ranked models that appear in that official database.