Air conditioners

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What's behind our air conditioner Ratings?

Experts at our National Testing and Research Center tested 36 models in air conditioners to see which ones perform best.

We look for:

Overall score
This is based mainly on comfort, noise, and energy efficiency. The displayed score is out of a total of 100 points.
Comfort
This is how well temperature and humidity are controlled at the low-cool setting. The best performers held temperatures to within one-and-a-half degrees of the setpoint.
Indoor noise low
This judgment of indoor noise at the low-cool setting combines an objective measurement of noise level using a decibel meter with a subjective assessment of noise quality (how annoying or grating the particular sounds were).
Indoor noise high
This judgment of indoor noise at the high-cool setting combines an objective measurement of noise level using a decibel meter with a subjective assessment of noise quality (how annoying or grating the particular sounds were).
Brownout
Gauges the unit's ability to run and restart during extreme heat and low voltage.
Ease of use
This reflects control-panel layout, including the clarity of its markings, as well as how easy and intuitive the controls were to operate.
Airflow left
This shows how well the louvers can direct air to the left of the unit when the user is facing it. Most important if the air conditioner must be installed in the corner of a room.
Airflow right
This shows how well the louvers can direct air to the right of the unit when the user is facing it. Most important if the air conditioner must be installed in the corner of a room.

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Recommended air conditioners

Recommended air conditioners are standout choices with high scores. They include CR Best Buys, which offer exceptional value. When narrowing your choices, weigh features, price, and attributes that matter to you.

Recommended air conditioners

Air conditioner buying guide

To find the air conditioner that is right for you, read our expert advice on which features to consider and how to find the best value.

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Why shop here?

In addition to finding Ratings for the latest models, you can now shop online using an ad-free interface where you can buy air conditioners in a safe-shopping environment.

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Low prices and high efficiency make room air conditioners an inexpensive alternative to central air for cooling one or two rooms. Some 5,000- to 6,000-Btu units now cost less than $150. If you're looking for information about air conditioners, Consumer Reports is your best resource. Consumer Reports’ air conditioner reviews will give you honest buying advice that you can trust. Use our air conditioner buying guide to discover which features are most important to consider. We also provide unbiased Ratings and air conditioner reviews to help you choose the best air conditioner for your needs.

Ratings & recommended air conditioners

Air conditioners (36)

Fine cooling performance is a given. Top-scoring models are also energy efficient and relatively quiet. Remember that the more off-center your window, the more an air conditioner's air direction matters. Check the Airflow left and Airflow right columns in the Ratings for this information.

The Ratings rank models by overall performance within size groups.

Recently reviewed air conditioners

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Sharp AF-S85RX (Costco)

(Tested)

This 8,000-btu Sharp model features a digital display, built-in timer, auto-fan speed, energy saver mode, a remote control and up/down louver control.

Sharp AF-S85RX (Costco)

Friedrich CP10E10

Friedrich Chill CP06G10

Kenmore 70051

Air conditioner buying guide

All the air conditioners in our latest tests do an excellent job of cooling and come with such convenient features as a digital display, a built-in timer, a remote control, or touchpad controls. But some models are noisy and others struggled to cool during brownouts. Find out which to buy for your home.

All the models we tested meet the 9.7 Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) now required for small and medium-sized models below 8,000 British thermal units (Btu) per hour, and the 9.8 EER required for larger, 8,000- to 13,999-Btu models. Most also meet or exceed the 10.7 EER needed to qualify for Energy Star. And all now have electrical plugs that help prevent fires by shutting down if the power cord is damaged.

Find out whether replacing your air conditioner makes sense by using the savings calculator on the room air conditioners page at www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=roomac.pr_properly_sized. (Every 0.1 increase in EER translates into about a one percent drop in electricity use.) Also keep the following in mind:

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