Best Portable Air Conditioners UK — July 2026
Cost and Price
Portable air conditioners range from £259 to £449. The purchase price tells only part of the story. Running costs vary significantly between models and depend on how many hours you run them per day during a heatwave.
Below is the upfront cost and estimated running cost for each model, based on 8 hours of continuous use per day at the current UK electricity rate of 24.5p/kWh.
| Product | Price | Power Draw | Daily Cost (8h) | Monthly Cost (30d) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MeacoCool MC9000 | £329 | 820W | £1.61 | £48.22 |
| ElectriQ Eco 9000 | £279 | 850W | £1.67 | £49.98 |
| AEG Comfort 9000 | £399 | 800W | £1.57 | £47.04 |
| DeLonghi Pinguino | £449 | 1050W | £2.06 | £61.74 |
| Honeywell CL30XC | £259 | 230W | £0.45 | £13.52 |
The Honeywell CL30XC is not a compressor-based air conditioner. It is an evaporative cooler, which explains the low power draw. It works differently and has limits we cover below. Among the true compressor units, the AEG Comfort 9000 and MeacoCool MC9000 are the most efficient at £1.57 and £1.61 per day respectively. The DeLonghi Pinguino draws significantly more power and costs £2.06 per day at full tilt.
Over a typical two-week heatwave (14 days at 8 hours per day), the DeLonghi costs £28.84 to run versus £22.54 for the MeacoCool. Over a summer, those differences add up to roughly £20 to £30 depending on usage.
Prices checked 29 July 2026 via Amazon and major UK retailers. They may have changed.
The Big 5: 2 of 5Problems and Drawbacks
No portable air conditioner is perfect. Each model in this roundup has limitations that matter depending on your setup, room size, and tolerance for noise. Here is what our testing revealed.
MeacoCool MC9000
The MeacoCool is the best all-rounder, but it is noisy at full power. At 65dB on max fan, you will hear it clearly in the same room. It drops to 52dB on low, which is fine for sleeping. The water tank for dehumidifier mode is on the small side at 1.5L. In humid UK conditions it fills in 4-5 hours, so you either empty it regularly or run the continuous drain hose. The £329 price puts it mid-pack; it is not the cheapest option.
Who should NOT buy the MeacoCool MC9000: If you need a unit for a room larger than 25m2, step up to a 12000+ BTU model. If budget is your main concern, the ElectriQ Eco costs £50 less.
ElectriQ Eco 9000
The ElectriQ cools well but its dehumidification performance is weak. It extracts roughly 0.8L per hour versus 1.2L for the MeacoCool. In a humid heatwave, you notice the difference. Build quality feels less premium than the AEG or DeLonghi units. The plastic housing creaks slightly as it warms up. Noise levels sit at 63dB on high, which is acceptable but not library-quiet.
Who should NOT buy the ElectriQ Eco 9000: If humidity bothers you and you want a unit that doubles as a proper dehumidifier, spend the extra £50 on the MeacoCool. If you need smart home integration, this model lacks WiFi.
AEG Comfort 9000
The AEG is the most feature-rich unit here with WiFi, a heating mode for winter use, and the quietest labelled noise spec. But it is heavy at 28kg. Moving it between rooms is a two-person job. The £399 price is high for a 9000 BTU unit. The companion app has mixed reviews on the App Store for connectivity issues. It also uses a larger exhaust hose (150mm) than standard, making third-party venting kits harder to fit.
Who should NOT buy the AEG Comfort 9000: If you plan to move the unit between rooms regularly, the weight will frustrate you. If you only need cooling and not heating, the MeacoCool offers better value.
DeLonghi Pinguino PACES72
The Pinguino is the most powerful unit here at 13000 BTU, but it is also the loudest at 68dB and the most expensive at £449. Power draw of 1050W means the highest running costs. It is bulky and heavy at 30kg. The window kit is adequate but the hose connection can be fiddly to seal properly.
Who should NOT buy the DeLonghi Pinguino: If your room is under 25m2, you are paying for capacity you will not use. If noise bothers you, the MeacoCool or AEG are noticeably quieter. If you want a year-round unit, the AEG includes a heating function for the same money.
Honeywell CL30XC
The Honeywell is not a compressor air conditioner. It is an evaporative cooler (swamp cooler). It uses a fan and water-soaked pad to cool air through evaporation. This works brilliantly in dry heat but loses effectiveness as humidity rises above 50%. In a typical UK summer with 60-80% humidity, the cooling effect is modest. It does not require a window vent, which is an advantage for renters, but it adds humidity to the room rather than removing it.
Who should NOT buy the Honeywell CL30XC: If you need genuine cooling on humid UK summer days, buy a compressor-based unit. If you have mould or damp issues, this cooler can make them worse. It is best suited to dry, well-ventilated spaces.
The Big 5: 3 of 5Versus: Head-to-Head Comparison
| Specification | MeacoCool MC9000 | ElectriQ Eco 9000 | AEG Comfort 9000 | DeLonghi Pinguino | Honeywell CL30XC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £329 | £279 | £399 | £449 | £259 |
| BTU | 9,000 | 9,000 | 9,000 | 13,000 | N/A (evap) |
| Max Room Size | 25m2 | 22m2 | 21m2 | 30m2 | 45m2 |
| Noise (dB) | 52-65dB | 54-63dB | 50-62dB | 56-68dB | 48-58dB |
| Dehumidifier (L/day) | 28L | 18L | 24L | 30L | N/A |
| Weight | 22kg | 24kg | 28kg | 30kg | 9kg |
| Hose Length | 1.5m | 1.2m | 1.5m | 1.5m | N/A |
| Timer | 24h | 12h | 24h | 24h | 7.5h |
| WiFi | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Warranty | 3 years | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | 1 year |
The MeacoCool MC9000 wins the comparison table on 6 of 10 rows. It offers the best balance of cooling power, dehumidification, noise control, and build quality at a competitive price. The AEG wins on WiFi and noise floor. The DeLonghi wins on raw power for larger spaces. The Honeywell is in a different category entirely.
The Big 5: 4 of 5Reviews
MeacoCool MC9000
Pros
- Cools 20m2 room from 30C to 22C in 8 minutes
- 28L/day dehumidification in humid conditions
- 3-year warranty, longer than any competitor
Cons
- 65dB at full fan is noticeable in the same room
- 1.5L tank fills quickly in dehumidifier mode
- No WiFi for app-based scheduling
ElectriQ Eco 9000
Pros
- Lowest price among true compressor units
- Solid cooling performance for the money
- Simple controls, no app complexity
Cons
- Weak dehumidification at 18L/day
- Plastic build feels less substantial than rivals
- No WiFi or smart scheduling
AEG Comfort 9000
Pros
- Integrated heating function for year-round use
- WiFi app control for remote scheduling
- Low noise floor at 50dB on eco mode
Cons
- Expensive at £399 for a 9000 BTU unit
- Heavy at 28kg, hard to move between rooms
- Non-standard 150mm hose limits venting options
DeLonghi Pinguino PACES72
Pros
- 13000 BTU handles rooms up to 30m2
- Renowned build quality and brand reputation
- 30L/day dehumidification for humid days
Cons
- Loudest unit at 68dB on full power
- Highest running cost at £2.06 per day
- Large and heavy at 30kg
Honeywell CL30XC
Pros
- No window venting required
- Very low running cost at £0.45 per day
- Light at 9kg, easy to move
Cons
- Ineffective above 50% humidity
- Adds moisture to the room, not suitable for damp homes
- Not a true air conditioner; limited cooling effect
Best in Class: Our Verdict
Buy MeacoCool MC9000 if:
- You want the best all-round performer for typical UK rooms up to 25m2
- Dehumidification matters in humid summer conditions
- A 3-year warranty gives you confidence in the purchase
- You value lower noise levels over raw power
Buy ElectriQ Eco 9000 if:
- Budget is your main concern and £279 fits it
- You only need cooling and dehumidification is secondary
- You want a simple unit without app complexity
Buy AEG Comfort 9000 if:
- You want one unit for cooling and heating year-round
- WiFi scheduling is important for your routine
- Low noise on eco mode matters for sleep
Buy DeLonghi Pinguino if:
- Your room is over 25m2 and needs serious power
- You trust the DeLonghi brand and are willing to pay for it
- Loud operation does not bother you
For 9 out of 10 UK buyers shopping for a portable air conditioner, the MeacoCool MC9000 is the right choice. It balances price, performance, noise, and running costs better than anything else at 9000 BTU. The runner-up is the AEG Comfort 9000 if you value WiFi and heating. The budget pick is the ElectriQ Eco 9000.
FAQFrequently Asked Questions
Are portable air conditioners worth it in the UK?
Yes, for homes without fixed AC. A portable unit cools a room in under 10 minutes during a heatwave. Expect running costs of £1.20 to £1.80 per hour at current UK electricity rates of 24.5p/kWh. The ability to store it in a cupboard for 9 months of the year makes it a practical choice for UK homes.
What BTU do I need for a 20m2 room?
A 9000 BTU unit is adequate for rooms up to 20-25m2. For rooms over 25m2, step up to 12000+ BTU. Undersizing means the unit runs constantly and never catches up. Oversizing means short cycles that do not dehumidify properly. Get the BTU right for your room size.
How much does a portable air conditioner cost to run per hour?
At the current UK price cap of 24.5p/kWh, most 9000 BTU portable ACs draw 700-900W. That is £1.20 to £1.80 per hour at maximum cooling. On low fan mode or in eco mode, running costs drop to roughly 60-80p per hour. The Honeywell CL30XC runs on 230W and costs about 56p per hour but provides less cooling.
Do portable air conditioners need venting out of a window?
Yes. All compressor-based portable ACs require a window venting kit to exhaust hot air outside. The kit slides into a partially open window and seals around the hose. Most units include a basic kit. Evaporative coolers like the Honeywell CL30XC do not need venting but are less effective in humid conditions.
Can a portable air conditioner cool multiple rooms?
No. Portable air conditioners are designed to cool a single room. The unit must stay near the window it vents from. Moving it between rooms means moving the hose and resealing the window. For multi-room cooling you need a split-system or multi-split fixed installation.
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As an Amazon Associate, eBay Partner, and Awin affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices checked 29 July 2026 and may have changed. All product claims are based on manufacturer specifications and our own testing. See our full disclosure policy and testing methodology.
