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Best Window AC Units of 2024 [CNET]
Our Experts
Laboratory Technical Project Manager Gianmarco Chumbe has been part of the CNET Home team since 2018. He is in charge of developing and carrying out testing procedures for a wide variety of home appliances and smart devices including robot vacuums, smoke/CO detectors and air conditioning units. He takes a data-driven and creative approach to every project he is involved in, honoring his background in Science and Engineering.
Jon Reed is a senior editor overseeing coverage for CNET’s home, energy and utilities category. Jon has over a decade of experience of writing and reporting as a statehouse reporter in Columbus, Ohio, a crime reporter in Birmingham, Alabama, and as an mortgage and housing market editor for TIME’s former personal finance brand, NextAdvisor. Jon now leads coverage and strategy on CNET’s Energy category and aims to help readers take charge of their home’s energy usage and costs. Jon has first-hand experience testing home energy products such as portable power stations, home battery solutions and smart thermostats. Jon has showcased his expertise live on TV for news networks and his written work is often cited in major publications such as This Week in CleanTech, NASDAQ and MorningBrew’s newsletter. When not asking people questions about energy, he can usually be found half asleep trying to read a long history book while surrounded by multiple cats. You can reach Jon at joreed@cnet.com
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Summer keeps getting hotter and while split or portable air conditioners often steal the spotlight because of their design and whisper-quiet performance, window air conditioners have a charm of their own. Being more affordable than a full central air conditioning system, they are still a great option for urban dwellers, renters, or anyone in need of a straightforward cooling solution. If you have limited space or are looking for a hassle-free way to combat the summer heat, window air conditioners are an excellent choice.
As 2024 brings rising temperatures, how do you choose the best window AC unit for your needs? We’ve put window air conditioning units to the test. CNET’s Testing Lab challenged six units to see which was best at comfortable temperatures.
Here are our favorite window AC units.
Read more: Window Air Conditioners vs. Portable Air Conditioners: Find Out Which One Is Best for You
Overall, the GE Profile AHTT08BC impressed us with its performance and value. For less than $500, you can have a unit that consistently cools a medium-sized space and also works with the SmartHQ app so you can manage it remotely from your phone.
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The GE Profile AHTT08BC stood out the most during our testing. We’ll delve more into performance below, but this window AC unit dominated. It both maintained a set temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit for the longest period and maintained its lowest temperature for the longest period among the models we tested.
This window air conditioner has 8,300 BTUs and costs less than $500. It’s designed to cool up to a 350-square-foot space, so it’s best suited for small- to medium-size rooms. Take a look at the table below for direct comparisons between this unit and the others we tested.
Overall, the GE Profile AHTT08BC impressed us with its performance and value. For less than $500, you can have a unit that consistently cools a medium-sized space and also works with the SmartHQ app so you can manage it remotely from your phone.
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We tested six window air conditioners: the GE AHEC05AC, the GE Profile AHTT08BC, the Frigidaire FHWW103WBE, the Toshiba RAC-WK1212ESCWR, the FREO FHCW061AUQ and the Keystone KSTAW15CE. We’ll compare each unit side-by-side in the table below:
Window air conditioners
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| Price | Area it covers (in square feet) | Btu | Weight (pounds) | Dimensions (HxWxD, in inches) | Special features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GE AHEC05AC | $189 | 150 | 5,000 | 36 | 12.6 x 16.4 x 15 | N/A |
| GE Profile AHTT08BC | $432 | 350 | 8,300 | 71 | 12.8 x 19.6 x 28 | App-enabled, works with Alexa, Google Assistant and HomeKit |
| Frigidaire FHWW103WBE | $396.86 | 450 | 10,000 | 57.3 | 14.5 x 19 x 21.5 | App-enabled, works with Alexa and Google Assistant, remote control |
| Toshiba RAC-WK1212ESCWR | $419 | 550 | 12,000 | 78.5 | 14.6 x 19 x 22.2 | App-enabled, works with Alexa, remote control |
| Keystone KSTAW15CE | $426 | 700 | 15,000 | 102.3 | 17.9 x 23.6 x 25.4 | Remote control |
| FREO FHCW061AUQ | $300 | 250 | 6000 | 53.57 | 21.4 x 18.9 x 13.39 | Remote control |
The models we tested cover a range of prices, Btus, recommended room sizes and features. Costs vary from $159 to over $500. Similarly, BTU ratings range from 5,000 to 15,000. Some models have apps and work with voice commands, while others are more basic, offering only a remote control or no extra options at all (like the GE AHEC05AC).
By testing a variety of different models, we were able to identify strong-performing window AC units that suit different needs. Whether you’re looking for a window AC unit on a budget, for large rooms or for small-to-medium rooms, we have a pick for you.
Now, let’s talk testing. The process of testing window air conditioners is identical to how we tested portable AC units. First, we heated a climate-controlled room to 92 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, we turned off the heat and turned on the window air conditioner to cool mode with an auto or medium fan speed (depending on the options available) and a temperature set point of 68 F.
We let the unit run for 2 hours and 30 minutes and repeated these steps twice to confirm our results. With the data we gathered, we looked at two main things: how consistently the AC unit maintained a temperature within 5% of 68 Fahrenheit and how consistently it kept the room within 5% of the AC unit’s lowest temperature (which may or may not be 68 F).
We then used this information to determine which units held both a 68-degree set point and their lowest temperature the longest. The second test — which window air conditioners kept their lowest temperature the longest — is useful if a model doesn’t get to 68 F in the 2-hour, 30-minute test window. That way, we can still assess how consistently it maintained whatever lowest temperature it did reach. A higher percentage means better performance.
Watch this: Easy Ways to Lower Your Utility Bills and Save Money
Keep in mind that we didn’t directly compare the performance results of the small and large units, such as the 5,000-Btu GE AHEC05AC against the 15,000-Btu Keystone KSTAW15CE. Instead, we assessed them in two categories — the small models against one another (the FREO FHCW061AUQ, the GE AHEC05AC and the GE Profile AHTT08BC) and the three larger ones against one another (the Frigidaire FHWW103WBE, the Toshiba RAC-WK1212ESCWR and the Keystone KSTAW15CE).
In addition to performance, we also looked at other factors when arriving at our list of favorites. These included a model’s features, price and other options that might add value — or otherwise make them stand out — beyond the test results alone.
We put together some performance charts to make it easier to see exactly how each unit held up to our testing. In the graphic below, you’ll see different charts for larger and smaller units.
The Keystone unit came in first for the larger units, maintaining a set point of 68 F for 54.3% of its run time, followed by the Toshiba unit with 35.1% and finally Frigidaire unit with 26.5%.
The GE Profile AHTT08BC dominated this test, coming in first among the smaller units with an impressive 94.7%, while the other GE unit maintained 68 degrees F for 32.5% of its run time. We aren’t directly comparing the performance of the larger and smaller units, but it’s worth noting that the AHTT08BC came in first overall, blowing away all of the other units with its ability to maintain a set temperature of 68 F.
In the second test — how well each unit maintained its lowest temperature — the results were much closer together. Among the larger units, the Frigidaire came in first with 58.9%, followed by the Keystone with 54.3% and the Toshiba with 43.7%.
The GE Profile AHTT08BC maintained its lowest temperature 61.6% of the time, while the GE AHEC05AC maintained its lowest temperature 53.6% of its runtime.
For the next set of charts, we looked at each unit’s temperature changes over time.
Among the larger units, the Frigidaire, Toshiba and Keystone units followed very similar patterns as they worked toward the 68-degree set temperature.
The chart of the smaller units is more interesting, showing the GE Profile AHTT08BC getting cooler much more quickly than the AHEC05AC. The AHTT08BC got cooler faster, but it had more dramatic temperature changes. The AHEC05AC cooled more slowly but showed less overall variation.
How long do window air conditioners last?
Expect about 10 years, but it also really depends on how much you use it and how well you take care of it. If it smells, if it’s putting out poor-quality air or if you hear odd noises, it might be time to get a new one. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to make it last longer, namely cleaning it.
How much does it cost to run a window AC unit?
It really depends on the size of the air conditioner and the size of the room you’re trying to keep cool. The Energy Star Most Efficient units at 8000 Btu — about enough to cool a 300-350-square-foot room — use about 400 kilowatt-hours a year. That cost will vary based on how much you pay for electricity, but at the average American electric rate, that’s about $70 a year. Less-efficient units and those used to cool larger rooms will cost more.
How do you install a window AC unit?
The important answer to this question is to follow the directions for your air conditioner. Call a professional if you need help, as every window is a little different, as is every AC unit.
What’s the difference between a window AC unit and a portable AC unit?
The big difference is that a window AC unit is mounted in the window, making it much more difficult to move. Both types of units are vented out the window, but a portable air conditioner does that through a hose, allowing you to move it from room to room much more easily.
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