10 Easy Pieces: Window Air Conditioner Units

In this week’s Summer Throwback issue, we’re going way back to some reader-favorite stories from summers past, like this one:

If you’re looking for a temporary A/C that packs a punch, the window-mount unit is your best bet. Here’s the thing: If you’re going to block a window in the summer, it has to work well and look decent. In the past, we’ve rounded up portable air conditioners (both standing and window units), and since then, a few newer models have emerged that are designed to function well and keep a low profile. Here are our 10 favorite non-garish window-mount A/C units, many energy efficient and with Wifi capabilities.

Above: The Windmill AC is a newer model designed as an “elegant, efficient, and quiet AC that blends right into your space” as they say. It’s designed with an inverter technology that, they claim, is “9X quieter and 35-percent more efficient than legacy, non-inverter ACs.” It’s $369 at Windmill. Above: The Frigidaire Quiet Temp Room Air Conditioner (GHWQ083WC1) is simple, with a perforated front panel and an Apple-like display; $449 on Amazon. Above: From Hammacher Schlemmer, the Over the Sill Low Profile Air Conditioner slips over the windowsill only requiring a small 4-inch gap in the window for set up and allowing more light through. The AC also purifies the air with an integrated filter; $549.95. Above: Another newish offering, the Della Miri Series 8000 BTU Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner promises ultra quiet; it’s $389.96 from Della. Above: At the high end, we like the Friedrich 5,700 BTU Kühl Window Air Conditioner (KCQ06A10A) for $899 at D&S Appliances. Above: The super simple LG 12,000 BTU DUAL Inverter Smart Wi-Fi Enabled Window Air Conditioner is $529 from Lowe’s. Above: The new July Air Conditioner is available in two sizes and seven matte colors/finishes. While cooling the air, the July AC also purifies the air with an additional air filter to “capture pollen, pet dander, wildfire smoke, and other pollutants from the air,” as they say. It’s $399 at July. Above: With a perforated front panel, the Midea U-Shaped Window Air Conditioner is simple and unobtrusive with a u-shaped design in the center to allow for a closed window which blocks the noise of the compressor while inside. It’s $469 at Costco. Above: The straightforward Danby 8,000 BTU 115V Window Air Conditioner advertises up to 35 percent energy savings with inverter compressor technology and can be controlled from your phone; it’s $299.99 from Home Depot. Above: And the Frigidaire Gallery 8000 BTU Inverter Window Room Air Conditioner with Wifi starts at $469.

For more related products see our posts:

• Expert Advice: Hacks for Staying Cool Without AC, Courtesy of a Catskills Summer Bungalow
• 10 Easy Pieces: Good-Looking (and Effective) Air Purifiers
• Remodeling 101: Smart Air Purifiers

N.B.: This story originally ran on June 14, 2023 and has been updated with additional products and updated links and pricing.