Mini split air conditioners are an efficient means to cool and heat your home without the expense of ductwork.
Moreover, they operate quietly.
The best budget mini split units cool and heat as well as any more expensive unit, serving with distinction single rooms, small homes and garage.
They take up very little space in indoor rooms and can be mounted on walls in a room.
Here is a fast side-by-side comparison of our prime selections, all of which are single-zone ductless heat pump systems ideal for DIY installation.
| Mini Split System | Capacity (BTU) | Efficiency (SEER2) | Coverage Area | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senville LETO Series 12000 BTU | 12,000 BTU (1 Ton) | 20.8 SEER2 | Up to 550 sq ft | Wi-Fi/Alexa Enabled, -15°C/5°F Heating, Quiet Inverter |
| Pioneer Diamante 12000 BTU | 12,000 BTU (1 Ton) | ~18 SEER2 (19 SEER) | 400–600 sq ft | Whisper-Quiet, Heat Pump, 16 ft Install Kit, Reliable Brand |
| MRCOOL DIY 3rd Gen 12000 BTU | 12,000 BTU (1 Ton) | 22 SEER (≈20 SEER2) | Up to 500 sq ft | Pre-Charged DIY Install, Wi-Fi Smart Control, Energy Star |
| DELLA Motto 12000 BTU | 12,000 BTU (1 Ton) | 20 SEER2 | Up to 550 sq ft | 115V Operation, Wi-Fi + Alexa, Turbo Cooling, Sleep Mode |
| Cooper & Hunter MIA 12000 BTU | 12,000 BTU (1 Ton) | 20.8 SEER2 | Up to 550 sq ft | Ultra-Quiet 26 dB, App/WiFi Control, UL/AHRI Certified, 5°F Heat |
| ROVSUN 12000 BTU Inverter Mini Split | 12,000 BTU (1 Ton) | 21 SEER2 | Up to 550 sq ft | Budget-Friendly, Wi-Fi Enabled, Multi-Mode, 24h Timer |
#1 Senville LETO Series 12000 BTU Mini Split Heat Pump
The Senville LETO Series 12000 BTU is a popular, budget-friendly ductless system offering a blend of performance and value. This 1-ton mini split delivers powerful cooling for medium-sized rooms and, unlike many of its peers, includes a heat pump to render the unit useful year-round.
With a high 20 SEER2 efficiency (approximately 19 SEER old rating), it keeps energy bills down while performing much better than average. Its inverter compressor adjusts not only to different ambient conditions, but also to the very different loads that occur when a room is first being cooled (the box cools quickly, but quietly).
This system comes with a complete installation kit (communication cable, line set, drain hose), but pro install is recommended unless you have HVAC experience.
Overall, the Senville LETO 12,000 BTU offers a compelling mix of strong, reliable cooling/heating performance with good smart features and solid reliability for the price.
#2 Pioneer Diamante Series 12000 BTU Ductless Mini Split
The Diamante Series 12000 BTU mini split from Pioneer is uncommonly regarded as the “best bang for the buck” in ductless ACs.
Its efficiency is solid, and its durability is proven (this isn’t a brand with a bad reputation when it comes to service after the sale).
This 1.0-ton (12k BTU), wall-mounted unit that can be placed at different heights (such as above the glass of a picture window) cools and heats spaces up to about 600 sf, comfortably reaching that midsize territory.
It boasts around an SEER2 efficiency of 18 (last year’s rating was 19 SEER with ~9.5 HSPF for heating).
Now, that ain’t the high-effing high end of the mini split market’s efficiency offerings, and it ain’t the lowest end either. What it is, is reliable as hell at getting to comfy room temps while saving electrical energy and doing not much else out of the ordinary. Maybe whispering. Its indoor unit and outdoor unit are as quiet as your average person trying to keep cool in a nice, air-conditioned space.
#3 MRCOOL DIY 12k BTU 22 SEER Ductless Mini Split (3rd Generation)
The MRCOOL DIY 12,000 BTU mini split stands as the best budget pick for a do-it-yourself setup.
MRCOOL’s DIY series is designed for simple installation that a homeowner with basic skills can finish without needing a licensed HVAC technician.
It comes pre-charged with refrigerant and uses special Quick Connect lines—a 25-foot pre-flared, sealed refrigerant line set with threaded connectors—which means you don’t have to vacuum the lines or handle refrigerant. Instead, just mount the indoor air handler and outdoor condenser, run the line set, and tighten the connections to have a functioning system.
Despite the focus on do-it-yourself setups, however, the MRCOOL 3rd Gen has performance chops. It delivers a very high 22 SEER (approx 20 SEER2) efficiency rating to earn it an Energy Star badge for low operating costs.
The 12k BTU system is rated for rooms up to ~500 sq ft and is also a heat pump with reported capability of warming spaces in winter (even many MRCOOL users report it keeps freezably cold spaces warm). Sound-wise, the indoor air handler is very quiet with noise levels in the low 40 dB range or better on its quiet mode, which is nice for home spaces.
#4 DELLA Motto Series 12000 BTU WiFi Mini Split AC/Heater
The Motto Series 12000 BTU mini split from DELLA is a cooling and heating system that is packed with features and has become a favorite among budget-conscious homeowners.
This 1 ton unit is rated at 20 SEER2 efficiency, which is pretty good energy efficiency for its price and type. Uniquely, this mini split operates on a standard 115V circuit (most 12k units are 230V), which makes it easier to install in homes where a 230V line isn’t available (you can plug it into a dedicated 115V/20A circuit). The Della Motto is also fully Wi-Fi enabled and works with Alexa, which allows for voice control and with the free Della app for smartphone scheduling of your AC.
Performance-wise, this 12,000 BTU cooling and heating beast can handle rooms around 450-550 sq ft, giving them both summer and winter comfort. It comes pre-charged with environmentally friendly R32 refrigerant and includes a 16.4 ft installation kit (flare line set and wiring).
Users appreciate its ability to blast you with (cool) air. A Turbo mode is available for ramping up the (cool or warm) air to reach your set temperature faster.
#5 Cooper & Hunter MIA Series 12000 BTU (115V) Mini Split
Cooper & Hunter (C&H) is a reputable brand in the HVAC world, and their MIA Series 12000 BTU mini split brings a touch of high-end performance to the budget category. This model is a 115V, 1 ton ductless system with an excellent efficiency rating of 20.8 SEER2 (about 20 SEER old rating), meaning it’s very cost-effective to run.
The MIA series is known for its ultra-quiet operation. The indoor air handler can operate at sound levels down to roughly 26 dB on its quietest setting, which is virtually silent (ideal for bedrooms or home offices where you need peace and quiet).
It’s also designed to perform well in extreme temperatures, capable of heating even when outdoor temps drop to about 5°F, so it’s a viable year-round solution.
This Cooper & Hunter unit comes Wi-Fi ready. It includes a smart port adapter that lets you connect the system to the C&H smartphone app for full remote control and monitoring. You can power it on/off, adjust temperature, set modes, and even change fan speeds from your phone or integrate with voice assistants, making it very convenient.
The system arrives with all necessary installation components, including a 16 ft pre-flared copper line set, control cable, and drain hose.
Note that while it’s feature-rich, the C&H MIA is not marketed as DIY – professional installation is required (and to uphold its warranty). Once installed, owners frequently mention the stable, consistent climate it maintains and the quality build of the equipment.
#6 ROVSUN 12000 BTU Inverter Mini Split Air Conditioner & Heater
If you’re on a tight budget, the ROVSUN 12,000 BTU mini split is among the most affordable options that still deliver all the essential features of a ductless AC.
Despite its low price point, this system offers a competitive 21 SEER2 efficiency rating, thanks to its advanced inverter compressor that in real time adjusts to the cooling demand (saving you energy and money you should notice on your electric bills).
It comfortably handles an area around 500-600 sq ft for cooling and heating.
Users are often surprised by the range of functions ROVSUN includes: the unit supports cooling, heating, dehumidify (dry mode), and fan only mode, which is essentially covering every season. It has a 24-hour timer, an Eco mode, and a Sleep mode for incremental adjustments at night, which are features you might not expect in a budget model.
ROVSUN’s mini split is a Wi-Fi-enabled unit with app control and voice control capabilities (works with Alexa/Google Assistant). This means that you can operate the system using your smart device or command it using your voice when you have an Amazon Echo or Google Home smart speaker.
You could have this unit set to pre-cool your space and ready it for your arrival at home. Its power (it cools a space of up to 600 square feet) and quiet operation when in use are standard among modern mini splits, but particularly commendable for one in this price range.
Buying Guide: Choosing the Right Mini Split on a Budget
Selecting the perfect budget mini split for your home requires a little bit of understanding about several key factors.
Below, we delineate the most consequential considerations—which are just a part of the larger whole; this is not rocket science—so you can make an easy, breezy, and mostly informed decision.
BTU Sizing and Coverage
The proper sizing (in BTUs) of the mini split to your room or whole house is crucial for comfort and efficiency. BTU (British Thermal Unit) is a measure of cooling/heating capacity per hour. If a unit is undersized for the space, it will struggle to reach the set temperature, and if oversized, it may short-cycle (turn on and off frequently), leading to uneven cooling and higher humidity.
As a general rule of thumb, you want about 20 to 25 BTUs per square foot of space for cooling.
For example, a 12,000 BTU (1 ton) mini split can typically cover around 450 to 600 sq ft of area; a smaller 9,000 BTU unit is suited for roughly 300 to 450 sq ft; and an 18,000 BTU (1.5 ton) unit can handle an area of about 700 to 1,000 sq ft.
SEER Ratings and Energy Efficiency
When comparing mini-split systems, the SEER rating is one of the most important efficiency metrics.
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, and it measures the cooling output divided by the energy input over an average cooling season.
In simple terms, a higher SEER means a more efficient air conditioner. For example, a 20 SEER unit uses roughly half the energy to produce the same cooling as a 10 SEER unit from decades past.
All the mini splits reviewed above have high SEER figures (many in the high teens or low 20s), which is why ductless systems are known for great efficiency.This translates to lower monthly utility bills, especially during peak summer months.
As of 2023, the industry introduced SEER2, a new testing standard with slightly adjusted ratings.
SEER2 numbers are a bit lower (due to more rigorous test conditions), but the relationship is the same—higher SEER2 equals better efficiency. For example, a unit rated 20 SEER2 might have been about 22 SEER under the old test.
When shopping, you might see both figures cited. Focus on the relative efficiency.
Noise Level (Indoor and Outdoor Units)
Mini splits are one of the quietest AC options available.
If you are moving from a window unit or portable AC, you will find the differential in sound is almost laughable. Not because window units are funny (though they can be if you think about their design), but because modern window units tend to run at around 60 decibels, which is just below the sound level of a vacuum cleaner, while a mini split at full power runs at about 60 decibels and even a bit higher.
At the lowest setting (if it has an ultralow speed setting), the mini split can go down to about 24 decibels. Therefore, it was funny that those two decibel levels were the same, 60 dB.
Factors to Consider When Installing a Mini Split
When equipping a space with a mini split, it’s necessary to consider the installation alongside the equipment cost. A ductless system is simpler to install than central air (no ducts to run), but it still requires specific skills and tools to set up correctly. A standard install involves three main components:
1. Mounting the indoor unit on an interior wall;
2. Drilling a hole in the wall for the line set (then installing the line set);
3. Placing the outdoor condenser on a pad or wall bracket (also necessary is ensuring proper routing of the service protocols for the outdoor unit).
These steps, followed by an evacuation of the line set and release of the factory charge into the system, are necessary to achieve full manufacturer warranty.
Electrical requirements are another consideration.
Small (9k–12k BTU) units may run on 115V, but many 12k+ BTU systems use 208/230V and will need a dedicated circuit from your breaker panel. If you don’t already have the appropriate outlet or disconnect box, an electrician will need to install one.
Mssting the indoor unit should be done on an exterior wall for easiest routing of the refrigerant line and service protocol line (though it’s possible to the indoor unit on an interior wall and drop lines through a crawlspace or attic).
The outdoor unit needs a stable base (a concrete pad or wall mounting bracket) and should be located to have the best airflow. Temperature readings near the outdoor unit should range as widely as possible to achieve the best results.
Inverter Technology and Compressor Type
Mini split systems are among the most efficient and effective means to cool and heat a space with an inverter technology key to that efficiency and effectiveness.
But what is inverter technology? It actually refers to the use of a variable speed compressor. Compressors used with old-school air conditioning (AC) systems were either 100% on or completely off. But in an inverter mini split, the compressor and thus the cooling/heating function is modulated at different (ideally 3) levels of operation.
After the system cools down a space, instead of shutting off, asmentioned above, the inverter will not just maintain but also increase comfort level stability and consistency by keeping the compressor at low speed (a power level incrementally just enough to keep the set temperature). The benefits of inverter technology in mini splits:
- Energy Savings. The variable speed compressor draws less power at lower speeds; and, starting from a stop, doesn’t pull 4-5 times more power than when it runs at a low speed.
- Better Comfort. The room temperature is kept at a constant level without big temperature shifts when the compressor changes modes. That’s important for comfort.
- Quiet Operation. Inverter compressors, fans and other components running at lower speeds produce less sound.
- Longevity. These systems run more efficiently and effective, but when it comes to their longevity, it’s the soft start and the low stress of the system that makes inverter systems last longer.
All modern mini-split systems—especially the budget models we discussed—use inverter technology. This is how they achieve those high SEER ratings. For example, the Senville, Pioneer, Della, etc., all have inverter compressors. In contrast, a typical window AC or older central AC unit might not be inverter-driven, though newer central ACs are catching up. The inverter is essentially the “brain” adjusting output to meet demand.
Some brands advertise it under proprietary names—like Gree’s G10 inverter or Mitsubishi’s Hyper Heating inverter—but the core idea is the same.
When evaluating mini-splits, you might also see terms like “DC inverter” or “twin rotary compressor.” Most units use a brushless DC inverter compressor, which is efficient and reliable. A twin rotary compressor is a type of compressor design that further smooths operation and is often used in higher-end models for even greater efficiency and low vibration.
While you don’t need to deep dive into compressor tech, just know that the presence of inverter technology is a must-have in any mini-split you buy today. If a unit didn’t have an inverter, it would likely be a very outdated design. All the best budget mini-splits featured here leverage inverter compressors to give you the best performance per dollar.
