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Summers in Canada can get extraordinarily hot, especially if you live in the more southern regions or dense cities. Humidity is a killer, right? Depending on where you live, you might not have a central air conditioning unit installed. And what about working in garages or in offices that scrimp on AC? You might need a different way to stay cool. Fans can only do so much, after all.
And that’s where portable air conditioners come into play. They’re compact enough that they can move from room to room, or house to office to garage (or wherever else you need them) without causing any trouble. They can be very effective at cooling down appropriately sized rooms, and many of them even double as dehumidifiers. And a rare few are even more functional than that. Sounds pretty sweet, right?
If you think a portable air conditioner is something you need for the warmer months of the year, we’re here to help you find the right one. They’ll vary in things like price, cooling power, timer settings, portability, coverage area, and more. And every feature will affect how well it gets on in your space.
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best portable air conditioners in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
Top Pick: SereneLife Compact Freestanding Portable Air Conditioner
Upgrade Pick: Midea Duo 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
Budget Pick: Costway 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
Runner-Up: Black+Decker BPACT10WT 10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
Eco-Friendly: De’Longhi EM370 Portable Air Conditioner
The SereneLife Compact Freestanding Portable Air Conditioner is a very well-rounded option, and that’s the main reason we love it so much. A reasonable price tag doesn’t hurt either! This unit can both cool and dehumidify your space without much effort, and it even has an automatic rotational airflow that makes sure every nook and cranny gets to enjoy its power.
This unit connects to a horizontal or vertical window with an included window kit, and setup isn’t that difficult or time-consuming! You’ll never have to think about dumping a water tank. Since it also comes with a remote and has a 24-hour timer, you can adjust settings and set schedules without ever needing to lay hands on the machine. Talk about convenience.
We only have one main concern with this one, and that’s the inconsistency with the cooling power. Although it’s rated at 10,000 BTU, it’s designed for rooms 300 square feet in size or smaller. Most 10,000 BTU machines can tackle larger spaces effectively, so that’s something to be aware of before you buy. It’s a bit deceiving at first glance, and we don’t want anybody unhappy with the cooling power.
Overall, the SereneLife Compact Freestanding Portable Air Conditioner is our favourite all-around option right now. It’s incredibly effective at cooling and dehumidifying your air, it’s easy to use from a distance, and it doesn’t need much maintenance at all. Pretty solid choice, eh?
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 4.5/5
Reviewers have a really great opinion of the SereneLife Compact Freestanding Portable Air Conditioner. It puts out a lot of cold air pretty quickly, so it’s perfectly suited to their small to medium rooms. It also didn’t take them long to get the window hookup installed. The included remote was easy for them to figure out, and the dehumidifier function works well. They have no problems with it at all.
Buy If…
You’re combatting humidity as well as high temperatures
You’d rather not worry about water dumping
It needs to circulate air without any input from you
You’d like to adjust settings from your couch/bed/office chair/etc.
Don’t Buy If…
You have a larger-than-average room to cool
Dimensions: 12.8” x 11.6” x 27.6”
Weight: 55 lbs
Colour: White
Cooling Power: 10,000 BTU
Coverage Area: 300 sq. ft
Timer: 24 hrs
Remote: Yes
Warranty: 1 year
The Midea Duo 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner has two main claims to fame. It’s the most powerful portable AC unit, so it’ll be able to effectively cool any space in no time at all. It’s also one of the only Wi-Fi-enabled options out there. Not only can you connect to its companion app on your smartphone to adjust settings, but you can also connect it to your home assistant. How fun!
We’re also really happy with the energy efficiency of this option. It uses 40% less energy than similar machines, so you won’t have to worry so much about wasting power or expensive energy bills. Since it’s also one of the quietest machines out there, it’s perfect for bedrooms, offices, and any other spaces that do better with low noise levels.
Although there aren’t any flaws per se, there are a few features that just might not work for you. Unlike many other portable air conditioners, this one doesn’t have a dehumidifier mode. If you’re battling a lot of humidity indoors, you might want to keep looking. It’s also missing a timer. The only other potential red flag is the price—it won’t be a reasonable option for everybody.
Overall, the Midea Duo 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner is pretty spectacular. It’s the single most effective portable AC unit money can buy right now. It might not have the same claim to multifunctionality that many others do, but we bet you won’t mind that very much.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 3/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers are blown away by the performance of the Midea Duo 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner. It cools down even their larger rooms in only 20 minutes. They appreciate that it comes with a remote, and they absolutely love the Wi-Fi integration—they can use home assistants or the companion app to adjust settings, and it could not be more convenient. They all agree this one is worth the price.
Buy If…
You’d like it to be Wi-Fi-enabled
An ultra-quiet machine sounds like a perfect fit
Quick and efficient cooling is a priority
You’d prefer an energy-efficient machine
Don’t Buy If…
You need something budget-friendly
A timer is important to you
You want it to dehumidify as well as cool
Dimensions: 16.7” x 19.5” x 32.5”
Weight: 45.2 lbs
Colour: Black
Cooling Power: 14,000 BTU
Coverage Area: 550 sq. ft
Timer: No
Remote: Yes
Warranty: 1 year
The Costway 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner has quite a few things working in its favour. And they’re things that add a lot of value to a very affordable machine. With a 24-hour timer and a fully functional remote included, you’ll be able to set schedules and adjust settings without much effort. And with handles and four wheels, it can easily follow you around the house. Convenient, right?
We also like that two drainage options are provided. You’ll be able to empty the collection tank manually if it needs to be portable, but you can also hook it up with a window kit (included!) to have it self-drain continuously. With its compact footprint, this thing is perfect for smaller spaces with limited floor space. We promise it won’t become a tripping hazard.
There are a couple of types of people who won’t get along with this machine. The first type is people with large rooms—this machine simply won’t be able to keep up in a larger space. The second group is people who need it to work in the background while they’re concentrating on something or trying to sleep. It’s just too loud for that.
All in all, the Costway 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner is our top budget-friendly pick for Canadians this year. It isn’t perfect, but it sure beats a lot of the competition at this price point. If you’re only concerned with a small space, you really can’t do better than this one.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
Reviewers have mostly great things to say about the Costway 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner. Some of them find the machine even louder than the more powerful ones they’ve used before, and they can’t use it as a bedroom AC unit as a result. But they’re really happy with how well it cools down a room, and the timer and remote are super convenient.
Buy If…
You don’t have a lot of free floor space
You appreciate multiple draining options
You’d prefer to set it and forget it
You want it to follow you from room to room
Don’t Buy If…
You need to cool a medium or large space
You need it for a quiet space
Dimensions: 13.5” x 12” x 27.5”
Weight: 44 lbs
Colour: White
Cooling Power: 8000 BTU
Coverage Area: 250 sq. ft
Timer: 24 hrs
Remote: Yes
Warranty: 3 months
We like a lot of things about the Black+Decker BPACT10WT 10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner. First of all, it’s incredibly easy to maintain. It comes with a washable filter, so you just need to give it a quick rinse under running water occasionally—easy peasy, right? It also comes with a window kit for self-draining, and it can automatically evaporate the water it collects. Pretty cool, huh?
All of that effort-free water management means this thing can run constantly without any need for you to get involved. And with the included remote, you don’t even need to get up to adjust settings. Yay for near-autonomous machines. And we’re not even done yet—this thing functions as an air conditioner, fan, and dehumidifier, so you won’t need any other machines to get your air feeling great.
The only flaw we see with this one is how much noise it makes on the higher fan settings—it’s pretty disruptive, and won’t be ideal for a bedroom overnight or a quiet work area. Otherwise, we just want you to be aware that this one is meant for larger rooms, and if you have a small space, you might find yourself turning it on and off a lot when the space gets too cold too quickly.
All in all, the Black+Decker BPACT10WT 10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner is nearly unbeatable. It’s a bit oversized for small rooms and a bit loud for some people to tolerate, but it will perform flawlessly in almost every room, and it could not be easier to use or maintain.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
Reviewers are quite happy with their Black+Decker BPACT10WT 10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioners. The only complaint they really have is that it’s pretty loud when working on the higher fan settings. Otherwise, they love it. The remote and LED display are easy to navigate, and it cools their space down incredibly quickly. They love the ability to set a timer, too.
Buy If…
A washable filter is ideal
You’d like your air conditioner to be multifunctional
You want to adjust settings at a distance
It needs to run continuously
Don’t Buy If…
You have a small space
You need it to work quietly
Dimensions: 15.3” x 14” x 24.8”
Weight: 47.3 lbs
Colour: White
Cooling Power: 10,000 BTU
Coverage Area: 450 sq. ft
Timer: 24 hrs
Remote: Yes
Warranty: 1 year
The De'Longhi EM370 Portable Air Conditioner is a pretty great option. Of course it is, it’s in our top five. But we’ll still tell you why. Thanks to an eco-friendly composition and an energy-efficient system, you won’t have to worry about its environmental impact at any stage of its life. Plus, it has a washable filter, so you won’t have the waste (or expense) associated with replaceable ones.
We’re also big fans of the quiet mode—at its lower settings, this air conditioner won’t disrupt your sleep, work time, or zen-like relaxation hours. And it does more than cool your air. It can also dehumidify it, and it simultaneously acts like a fan to blow the cooler, dryer air around the space. Perfect, right? We sure think so.
Although we like a lot of things about this air conditioner (obviously), it isn’t going to be a perfect match for everyone. For example, if you have a smaller space to cool or a tighter budget, you won’t need to invest in this higher-powered option. Also, the fan mode shuts off once the room reaches your set temperature, so you’ll need to look elsewhere if you’d like it to stay on without the compressor.
All in all, the De'Longhi EM370 Portable Air Conditioner is our favourite option right now for environmentally-conscious cooling. Its user-friendliness and high-powered 3-in-1 functionality sure don’t hurt, though. We bet you’ll love it as much as we do.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have tons of good things to say about the De'Longhi EM370 Portable Air Conditioner. It cools even large rooms down very effectively, and the remote makes it super easy to adjust settings without needing to put your hands on the machine itself. The self-draining hookup for the window isn’t difficult to install either. Some people would prefer that the fan stays on even after the compressor shuts off, though.
Buy If…
Energy efficiency is important to you
A 3-in-1 machine is ideal for your space
You’d like to use it while sleeping or focusing on tasks
You’d rather not deal with replacement filters
Don’t Buy If…
You have a small space
You don’t want to spend a lot of money
You’d prefer the fan to run even after the compressor has turned off
Dimensions: 13.6” x 27.5” x 16.7”
Weight: 63 lbs
Colour: White
Cooling Power: 11,500 BTU
Coverage Area: 500 sq. ft
Timer: 24 hrs
Remote: Yes
Warranty: 2 years
Some portable air conditioners can be found for less than $300, others cost well over $800. The average price for a well-rounded unit is $400-600. More expensive options will usually have better cooling performance and potentially also some advanced Wi-Fi connectivity for smartphone apps and home assistants.
The cooling power of a portable air conditioner is measured in BTU and will usually range between 6,000 and 14,000. The higher the BTUs, the faster the machine will be able to cool down your space. Generally, the price goes up as the cooling power goes up, so it’s all about striking a balance.
Coverage area is directly linked to the cooling power of a portable air conditioner. The higher the BTU rating, the larger the space the portable air conditioner will be suited to. The square footage range is typically between 250 and 550.
Many portable air conditioners will also function as fans and/or dehumidifiers. If you’re combatting high humidity along with high temperatures, there’s nothing more convenient than a 3-in-1 machine—you won’t need two additional units taking up space and costing you money.
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.