If you live in a home or apartment without air conditioning, the Australian summer can quickly become unbearable. Even if you have aircon or powerful fans, there can be areas that don’t get the benefit of them (e.g. bedrooms far away from the main area). A portable air conditioner is one way to address this.
“Portable air conditioners are a great solution for anyone who can’t install a split system,” Appliances Online category expert Adam Duggan tells Better Homes & Gardens Australia, adding that they’re also worth considering “if a fan isn’t enough to get through the summer.”
So whether you’re renting, just need to cool one room or you’re not quite ready to pay for a ducted or energy efficient air conditioner, we’ve researched the market to find the best portable air conditioners in Australia based on features including cooling capacity, fan speeds and portability, as well as customer reviews when relevant.
2025’s top portable air conditioners
- Best for quieter cooling: DeLonghi Pinguino 2.6kW Portable Air Conditioner, from $899, The Good Guys
- Best for using in one room: Kogan SmarterHome 2.0kW portable air conditioner, from $229, Kogan
- Best for powerful cooling: Rinnai 4.1kW Portable Air Conditioner, from $851 (RRP $1113), Appliances Online
- Best for air conditioning and dehumidifying: Dimplex 3.5kW portable air conditioner, from $899, The Good Guys
- Best portable window air conditioner: Devanti window air-conditioner 2.7kW, from $595.95, Big W Market
The best portable air conditioners in Australia
01
DeLonghi Pinguino 2.6kW Portable Air Conditioner
from $899, The Good Guys
Best for: quieter cooling
This DeLonghi portable air conditioner is designed for quieter operation, with noise levels of 50-60dB or around the same as normal conversation based on noise level examples from Safe Environments. In comparison, some other models have noise levels around 65dB or higher. This one also has a dehumidifier setting and cooling capacity for medium to large rooms of up to 90m3.
“I really enjoy my air conditioner. I loved the quiet feature as I can still watch television while running the unit. It’s enough to cool lounge room adequately,” one customer shared in a detailed 5-star review on The Good Guys. They also noted “the window vent is bulky but I expected that when buying it. Definitely a great unit to have and I recommend it over others that I tried.”
Key features:
- Cooling capacity of 2.6kW or 10,500 BTU/h (British Thermal Units per hour)
- Three fan speeds and a silent mode
- Dehumidifier function with capacity to extract up to 50L per day
- LED display, remote control and 24-hour timer
- Includes window kit
- Size: 425 W x 345 H x 700mm D
Also available at:
02
Kogan SmarterHome 2.0kW portable air conditioner
from $229, Kogan
Best for: single-room cooling
This Kogan SmarterHome portable air conditioner has a 2.0kW cooling capacity suited to rooms of up to 15 square metres – around the size of a typical master bedroom. It also has three modes – air conditioner, fan and dehumidifier – and can be controlled by the remote, control panel or the Kogan SmarterHome App. Plus it works with Google Home and Amazon Alexa.
“Easy set-up, no fuss with the water drainage, great size and cools the room quickly. Different settings for water-cooled fan or compressor aircon. Stoked…saving me from the QLD summer,” one customer shared in a 5-star review on Kogan, where it has a 4.7 average from over 75 customer ratings.
Key features:
- Cooling capacity of 2.0kW cooling capacity or 7000 BTU, for rooms up to 15m2
- Cooling temperature 16 – 30°C
- Modes: air conditioner, fan and dehumidifier, with two fan speeds
- Dehumidifying capacity of 0.5L per hour
- Castor wheels for portability
- Smart app control, as well as remote control
- Size: 305 x 290 x 665mm
03
Rinnai 4.1kW Portable Air Conditioner
from $851 (RRP $1113), Appliances Online
Best for: powerful cooling
With 4.1kW of power, this Rinnai portable air conditioner can cool larger bedrooms, home offices and open plan areas. It has three fan modes, a timer, sleep mode and can be controlled by the touch screen, remote or app.
“Very happy with this purchase. It cools quite well and works fast. The only drawback is the noise it creates when running, but to keep cool it’s a small complaint,” one customer shared in a 5-star review on Appliances Online, where it has a 4.4-star average from over 10 customers.
Another happy customer who wrote a detailed review also addressed the noise levels but said: ” I’m watching the cricket at normal volume and the aircon doesn’t bother me. As to cooling power and dehumidifier function WOW! For a medium size master bedroom it’s great. I had a 3.1kw and it’s a huge difference. On 23 deg Celsius it cools the room in about 15 minutes.”
Key features:
- Cooling capacity 4.1kW with adjustable temperature control
- 24 hour timer and touch controls for easy operation
- Multi-speed fan
- Wi-Fi control and smart home compatible
- Ventilation kit included
- 2-year warranty
- Size: 802 x 415 x 493mm
04
Dimplex 3.5kW portable air conditioner
from $899, The Good Guys
Best for: portable aircon with dehumidifying power
Dimplex has designed this portable air conditioner for cooling efficiency, with 3.5kW cooling power and the ability to remove up to 1.2L of moisture per hour – ideal on hot and humid days. It’s also made from 25% recycled plastic, can be set for temperatures as low as 16°C and has a choice of app, remote or manual controls.
“This product works really well, it’s easy to move around and very simple to install. Was very happy with this purchase,” one customer said in a review on The Good Guys, where it had 5-stars from the handful of customers who had given reviews when we checked.
Key features:
- 3.5kW cooling capacity suitable for rooms up to 23m2
- Two fan speeds
- Dehumidifier extraction capacity of 1.2L per hour
- 24 hour timer
- Touch controls, remote control and app for easy operation
- Window kit for sliding windows
- 2-year warranty
- Size: 270 x 330 x 698mm
Also available at:
05
Devanti window air-conditioner 2.7kW
from $595.95, Big W Market
Best for: a portable window air conditioner
The Devanti portable window air conditioner offers efficient cooling with a 2.7kW capacity. It’s easily controlled through the LED panel or the included remote, it features 3-speed cooling, auto swing, sleep mode and a 24-hour timer.
“Excellent product. Great Cooling,” one customer shared in a 5-star review on Big W, where it has a 4.8-star average from over 20 customers. Another happy customer said it “exceeded my expectations. Great price for what it is.”
Key features:
- 2.7kW cooling capacity
- LED control panel
- 3-speed: Low, medium, high
- 2 modes: Cooling, fan
- Auto swing function
- Sleep mode
- 24-hour timer
Available at:
06
Evapolar evaLIGHT plus personal air cooler and humidifier
$239 at Amazon
Best for: camping and personal use
This evaporative cooler is small but mighty in the right setting. It’s designed to keep you cool, rather than cooling a whole room, with a removable water tank and adjustable fan speeds. It could also be handy for camping with its bright, full-spectrum LED light – and can be powered by USB from power banks, laptops or a car power outlet (of at least 2A 5V).
“Purchased this for my gaming/WFH spouse to use on warm days. Cools the immediate area and makes a difference to comfort levels. Sound level is also great,” one Australian customer said in a 5-star review on Amazon, where it has a 4-star average rating from over 50 customers.
Key features:
- 3 in 1 cooling
- Natural personal cooling, using evaporative technology
- Cost efficient as it only consumes 10W
- USB-powered
- Full-spectrum LED light
- Size: 258 x 210 x 210 cm
Also available at:
What to consider when choosing a portable air conditioner
Just like any appliance, there are lots of different features to consider when you’re looking at portable air conditioners. This includes both the price and the features, which Appliances Online category expert Adam Duggan tells us can be related.
“Entry-level models simply cool the air, while higher-end units often include reverse cycle heating, dehumidification, and air purification,” he says, explaining that “prices typically range from around $350 to $1500.”
“High humidity is often what makes hot days feel so uncomfortable, so having a unit that removes moisture from the air as it cools is far more effective and efficient – you’ll notice a greater temperature drop in a shorter amount of time, making the space feel instantly cooler,” he said.
Running costs
Most portable air conditioners are not very energy efficient, but it’s worth checking the details for different models so you can find one that suits your space.
“A 2.4kW unit, for example, may use up to 2.4kW per hour, depending on the temperature you set and the ambient heat. The hotter the room, the harder the unit has to work to reach the set temperature, which means it will use more energy,” Adam says.
“You can estimate the running cost by multiplying the kilowatt rating by your electricity rate.”
Focusing on one room, and keeping it as insulated as possible, can help keep running costs to a minimum when you’re using a portable air conditioner.
“To get the best results, treat your air conditioner like a heater in winter,” Adam says.
“Seal gaps under doors and windows to trap cool air, and use fans to circulate it, particularly in larger or open-plan spaces. Smart features like remote control and energy monitoring can make a difference, allowing you to pre-cool your home efficiently rather than blasting the unit at full power when you arrive. While these features may make the unit more expensive upfront, they can save money in the long run.”
Different types of portable air conditioners
There are two main types of portable air conditioners: refrigerated air conditioners, which are the most common, and evaporative coolers.
Refrigerated portable air conditioners operate in a similar way reverse cycle aircon – pulling in hot and humid air, using a refrigerant to cool it, then sending it back out into the space. The heat needs to be vented, so these portable air conditioners typically come with a venting kit suitable for sliding windows.
Evaporative coolers use water and air to cool and are are usually cheaper to buy and run. They can be effective for personal cooling, but are more suited to hot, dry climates as the cooling process adds moisture (or humidity) to the space. In humid climates, refrigerated air conditioners are the best choice, as they remove moisture from the air as they cool.
