Portable units are more convenient and cheaper than permanent split systems, but they’re also noisier, less effective and less efficient
The noise results we share are based on the highest setting – results vary dramatically on different settings
Unfortunately, the quietest portable air conditioners in our review are also some of the worst performing
Clank, whoosh, beep, shudder! Portable air-conditioning units can be quite loud and distracting, especially if they’re on full blast while you’re working from home, watching TV or on the phone.
They also aren’t hugely energy-efficient, but the reality is they’re a good cooling option if:
you can’t install air conditioning because you rent or you’re in a strata complex that requires approval
you need an immediate cooling fix and can’t wait for installation
you don’t have the budget for a fixed option.
But if the thought of a whooshing unit that keeps you up at night gives you nightmares, we can help.
Read on to find out which portable air conditioners were the quietest in our latest review. But be warned: you’ll be sacrificing performance.
Quietest portable air cons – the good and bad news
Let’s start with the positives.
In our comparison, there are a few units that rate in the “quieter” or “much quieter” categories, so they might be of interest if you’re looking for a model that’ll keep the peace in your home.
The catch? They didn’t score that well for actual cooling performance (the one thing you’re buying them to do), and none are recommended by our experts.
Most portable air conditioners tend to be fairly noisy, regardless of their efficiency and performance
Chris Barnes, CHOICE air conditioning expert
“Unfortunately, the comparatively quiet models named here happen to be fairly mediocre performers.
“Quietness is clearly no guarantee of good performance or efficiency for portable air conditioners.”
Here’s how we categorise the different levels of noise when we review portable air conditioners.
For context, a typical conversation reaches about 60dBA, a very noisy dishwasher might sit at around 50dBA, and a running shower might clock in at about 70dBA.
How we rate noise levels
Description
Noise level (dBa)
Much quieter
50–54.9
Quieter
55–59.9
Noisy
60–64.9
Very noisy
65+
Keep in mind that an air con’s noisiness can vary notably depending on the room it’s in. Carpets and soft furnishings will absorb some noise; hard floors and tiles can amplify it.
Still, if noise is a key factor for your choice (you might have a sleeping baby, do lots of video conferences, or you’re sensitive to sound, for instance), here are the quietest models to look out for.
This Aldi Stirling portable air con is the cheapest and quietest we’ve seen in recent times, but certainly not the “coolest”.
Aldi Stirling PA09W1
Fan noise on high: 54.9dBA (Much quieter)
Cooling score: 51%
RRP: $229
Running costs: $49*
This is an Aldi Special Buy that isn’t currently available. But if you’re looking for a portable air con that’s quiet, affordable and cheap to run, then you might be keeping an eye out for this in the Aldi catalogue as the weather starts to heat up.
However, if performance is more important to you than noise, you should probably think twice about this model.
At just $229, it’s the cheapest portable air con in our review. However, it also sits towards the bottom of the leaderboard, with a CHOICE Expert Rating of 56%. (This overall score is based on each unit’s cooling performance and energy efficiency.)
So it’ll have minimal impact on your wallet (at least for upfront cost) and your ears – but also on the room temperature.
If performance is more important to you than noise, you should probably think twice about this model
We’ve also reviewed a $249 Aldi Stirling portable air conditioner, but despite its slightly higher price, it actually delivers performance that’s lower than the $229 model. And it definitely doesn’t deliver lower noise: at 63.1dBA, it’s rated as “Noisy”.
If you’re trying to beat the heat on a tight budget, you might be better off looking at a pedestal fan: a number of the models recommended by our experts come in at well under $100. Check our pedestal and tower fan reviews to see which ones will lower the mercury but not your bank balance.
*Summer running costs are the approximate cost of operating the unit at maximum capacity for four hours per day for three months in hot weather, based on an energy cost of 40c/kWh.
This 2.7kW unit was one of the quietest in our review.
Unfortunately, it also seriously under-delivers on actually cooling, managing a lowly mark of just 54%. So you’ll hear it less, but probably be sweating more.
Having said that, it did receive the highest cooling score of the models rated as “quieter”, so if you absolutely must have the quietest unit possible, this one is the way to go – but just bear in mind that you’ll be sacrificing performance.
If you have this kind of money to spend on a portable air conditioner, you can definitely do better
If you have this kind of money to spend on a portable air conditioner, you can definitely do better: the top rated unit from our tests costs only a little more. You can always try adding a rug underneath to help dampen the sound.
Pru Engel is the Audience and Engagement editor at CHOICE. Her job is to ensure as many Australians as possible know about the great work we do at CHOICE.
She works closely with our testers and experts to find the gems of information in our data and research that will resonate with Australian consumers and help them make the best decisions, whether they're purchasing an air fryer, looking for a new mattress or trying to find the cheapest car insurance. She also helps to drive meaningful change for consumers by collaborating with our Campaigns team on content covering issues such as grocery pricing, product safety and scams.
Prior to CHOICE, Pru worked as an editor at many of Australia's leading food and lifestyle titles.
Pru has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Journalism) from the University of Technology, Sydney.
LinkedIn
Pru Engel is the Audience and Engagement editor at CHOICE. Her job is to ensure as many Australians as possible know about the great work we do at CHOICE.
She works closely with our testers and experts to find the gems of information in our data and research that will resonate with Australian consumers and help them make the best decisions, whether they're purchasing an air fryer, looking for a new mattress or trying to find the cheapest car insurance. She also helps to drive meaningful change for consumers by collaborating with our Campaigns team on content covering issues such as grocery pricing, product safety and scams.
Prior to CHOICE, Pru worked as an editor at many of Australia's leading food and lifestyle titles.
Pru has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Journalism) from the University of Technology, Sydney.
LinkedIn
Alice Richard is a Content creator and marketer. Alice writes on a range of topics, from health insurance to heaters and BBQs to bargain-hunting, always with the aim to help consumers find the best products to buy, and which to avoid.
Alice can take vast amounts of data from CHOICE product tests and turn it into content that is easily digestible and fun for readers.
Alice has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland.
Alice Richard is a Content creator and marketer. Alice writes on a range of topics, from health insurance to heaters and BBQs to bargain-hunting, always with the aim to help consumers find the best products to buy, and which to avoid.
Alice can take vast amounts of data from CHOICE product tests and turn it into content that is easily digestible and fun for readers.
Alice has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland.
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