10 Best Lightweight Window Air Conditioner 2024 in the United States

Most people take vacations during the summertime, and use them as an opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. But summer is three months long (and can feel even longer, depending on where you live). And you’ll have to be home at least part of the summer months. For those who don’t have central air conditioning in their homes, a lightweight window air conditioner can be an inexpensive initial investment, which conserves energy as well. A window air conditioner can cool an entire room--and, unlike central air conditioning, you can cool only specific rooms at any one time. 

Another advantage to a window air conditioner is the simple “installation”. Installing central air conditioning or a mini-split air conditioner, which you mount on the wall with a lot of drilling for the air ducts, is a major hassle. Window air conditioners usually come with a kit that allows you to fit the air conditioner unit to the width of your window for an airtight seal. And you can easily bring it back into the house when the summer’s over. 

To make an informed decision when buying a lightweight window air conditioner, you should get familiar with some common features that they share, and which brands stand out from the rest. We’ve composed this buyer’s guide to help you make the right decision when selecting a lightweight window air conditioner. It'll help you:

• Choose the right type of lightweight window air conditioner,

• See useful tips about that type of lightweight window air conditioner,

• Read reviews of different lightweight window air conditioners, and what customers are saying, 

• Select the right brand of the best lightweight window air conditioner, and 

• Compare prices and find the best deals.

• Efficiency compared to other air conditioning methods: Window air conditioners are estimated to be the least expensive of all air conditioning methods for your home, as shown in this infographic from the Department of Energy.

Comparison of different air conditioning methods

Central air conditioning is efficient only if you already have ductwork in your home, and it’s just a matter of hooking up a central unit. And ductless mini-split AC will usually be 30% more than central air conditioning. All told, a room air conditioner is the cheapest option. The only negative aspects are 1) avoiding air leakage due to improper installation, and 2) the fact that a window air conditioner will only treat the air in one room at a time. 

• Noise level: You’ll want your window air conditioner to be quiet. The LG 8000 BTU Energy Star Air Conditioner operates at three different cooling speeds, at 54 decibels at the lowest speed, and 60 dB at the highest speed. The LG 6000 BTU model uses less energy, and is even quieter, operating at 52 dB.

• Take note of the size of the room: Window air conditioners will be limited by the size of the room that they can cool. The Frigidaire 10000 BTU Window Air Conditioner (Model No. FFRE1033U1) is one of the strongest air conditioners, being able to cool a room that is 450 square feet in extent. Another Frigidaire model, Model No. FFRA0511R1E, is good for a space of 150 square feet. The number of BTUs (British Thermal Units) that the device consumes will be a good indicator of its cooling ability.

• Window mounting kit: A window-mounted air conditioner will require a kit to properly fit the width of your window. It is estimated that you can lose 10% of efficiency due to air leakage if your window unit is not installed properly. That will make the air conditioner suitable for a range of widths. Take note if the air conditioner that you buy includes such a window mounting kit. It will consist of a few spacers that you place between the window sill and the bottom of the unit, as well as a bracket that attaches to the wall of the building, for more support. There should also be a wall sleeve to fit the width of your window perfectly.

• Considerations when mounting the air conditioner: An important determinant when mounting the air conditioner is where most of the weight of the unit is located. If it’s in the middle of the air conditioner, then it should be positioned with the window sill supporting the middle of the air conditioner. Mounting kits, if bought separately, will be rated by their weight capacity--for example, the Jeacent Universal Window Air Conditioner Support Bracket can support a unit of up to 85 pounds. Some brackets are rated for supporting up to 160 pounds!

Jeacent Universal Window Air Conditioner Support Bracket

The Jeacent Bracket supporting an AC unit. Note the spacers between the window sill and the AC unit

• Remote control: Most, if not all, lightweight window air conditioners feature a remote control in addition to the on-board controls. But there are also air conditioners that go one better than that, and offer Wi-Fi control. An example is the LG 8000 BTU Window Air Conditioner (Model No. LW8017ERSM-P). It uses the LG SmartThinQ app, that is compatible with both the iOS and Android operating systems. This way, you can control the room temperature, mode, and fan speed. You’ll also be able to program exactly when the air conditioner will go on.

• Energy Efficiency Ratio: You’ll see air conditioners assigned an Energy Efficiency Ratio (= EER). This is the ratio of the air conditioner’s output per hour in BTUs, to the input in watts. Thus, if the LG 6000 BTU unit has an output of 6000 BTUs and an input of 520 Watts, its Energy Efficiency Ratio is 6000/520 = 11.5. The higher the EER, the more efficient the air conditioner. The Frigidaire (Model No. FFRA0511R1) Air Conditioner is estimated to cost on $41 per year to operate! It also has a low power start-up that conserves energy and saves you money.

• Easy to clean the filter: Many window air conditioners will have a feature that gives you easy access to the air filter. Frigidaire air conditioners will have a side slide-out filter, which you can wash easily and put back in place. Some units will even have a filter indicator to tell you when you should change or clean the filter, as in the Frigidaire 5000 BTU window air conditioner unit. Cleaning frequently will reduce the risk of bacteria, odors, and foreign particles being ejected into the air.

• Restart feature: Many window air conditioners will have a restart feature, that saves your previous settings in the event of a power outage. If you programmed the air conditioner to cool to a certain temperature at a certain time, it will return to those settings automatically when power is resumed.

• Frigidaire is a manufacturer of home appliances since 1918. They presently have their headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina. Their original product was refrigerators, but they expanded to freezers, air conditioners, washers and dryers, ovens--it’s possible to equip your entire kitchen with Frigidaire products!

• LG was founded by Koo In-hwoi in 1947 in Seoul, South Korea, as a maker of consumer electronics. They make mobile phones, TVs, computers, as well as products for the kitchen and other home appliances. They make portable air conditioners, window air conditioners, and through-the-wall AC units. 

• Emerson Quiet Kool was founded in 1949, and is a maker of air conditioner products. They make window air conditioners, through-the-wall air conditioners, portable and mini-split air conditioners, and dehumidifiers.