Best Window Air Conditioners of 2023

Top choices for small, midsized, and large rooms from Consumer Reports' tests

By Mary H.J. Farrell

Updated June 10, 2023

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LG LW6023IVSM Air Conditioner Frigidaire Gallery GHWQ083WC1 Air Conditioner, Midea MAW12V1QWT u-shaped Air Conditioner — Window air conditioners from (left to right) LG, Frigidaire, and Midea are among the models that landed at the top of their size categories in CR's ratings.

All of the window air conditioners in Consumer Reports’ latest tests do a good enough job of keeping you cool. What distinguishes one from another is how quickly and quietly it cools a room—and how easy it is to operate.

And you don’t have to pay a lot to get relief from the heat. Our top-rated models in all three size categories are priced at less than $500. While prices generally rise with increased size and capacity (Btu), more than half of the 76 window air conditioners we’ve tested cost less than $400. Overall, prices for the units we tested range from $140 to $1,349.

To help a window unit run more efficiently, look for a model equipped with insulating panels. “Most new window ACs come with panels you place over the plastic adjustable side panels to boost efficiency,” says Chris Regan, CR’s senior test engineer for air conditioners. Adding weather stripping around the perimeter will also prevent air from leaking in or out.

For Small Rooms (100 to 250 Sq. Ft.)

For Midsized Rooms (250 to 350 Sq. Ft.)

For Large Rooms (350 to 550 Sq. Ft.)

Mary H.J. Farrell

Mary H.J. Farrell is a senior editor at Consumer Reports whose real passion is for cooking and all that entails. She has expanded CR’s cookware category to include not only more pots and pans but also other essentials like stand mixer attachments, sheet pans, and vacuum sealers. Mary also covers vacuums but finds cooking way more fun than cleaning. Since the mid-1990s, Mary has held senior positions at People.com, MSNBC, and Ladies’ Home Journal. One of her earliest jobs was at Good Housekeeping.