Best Portable Air Conditioner and Heater Combo in 2025

Portable air conditioners are a popular option for cooling individual rooms by themselves or as a supplement to central air conditioning that isn’t quite doing the job. Now that some portables use heat pump technology, cooling and heating in the same package may be a very attractive choice for you. 

We’ve compiled a list of the top portable air conditioner and heater combos available today. These versatile units offer year-round comfort, providing cooling in summer and warmth in winter. Our selection considers factors like energy efficiency, cooling and heating capacity, and user-friendly features to help you find the perfect unit for your needs.

Overviews of the Best Portable Air Conditioner/Heater Combos

Important Information Concerning Portable Air Conditioner Efficiency

ASHRAE vs SACC 

When purchasing any air conditioning system, the question everyone wants to know is, “How large an area or room will it cool?” The answer to this question is mainly determined by how many BTU’s it will produce per hour. 

Since 1959, air conditioners of all kinds have been tested and given a BTU rating by an organization called the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). But portables are different in a very important way: the entire unit is inside the room you are trying to cool. Other types, including central air, window air conditioners and mini split systems, all have their compressor and condenser located outside the building, which makes them more efficient than portables. 

Because of this major difference, the Department of Energy (DOE) established a new rating system for portables in 2017 called the SACC or Seasonally Adjusted Cooling Capacity. It takes into account a wide variety of environmental factors that will affect how a portable functions. In general, the DOE rating for a portable air conditioner will be 33% to 50% less than the ASHRAE rating. Many manufacturers list both ratings in their advertising and labeling, but not all do.

Buyer Beware! And even if they list both, sometimes the coverage in square feet is listed based on the proven-untrustworthy ASHRAE ratings! So, the danger is that you’ll buy a portable air conditioner that won’t cool or heat the space you have.

That’s why we list square feet coverage using SACC ratings. 

Buyers need to be aware of the fact that the actual cooling output of a portable is not the ASHRAE listed number, but the DOE number – often referred to as SACC. You may see both SACC and DOE used together, like this: SACC/DOE. 

Once you know the DOE BTU/hour that a particular portable will produce, you can then refer to a table or chart to determine how large an area or room it will cool. 

Below is a chart to assist in this process. All conversions are approximate and vary from model to model. 

ASHRAE to SACC/DOE Comparison for Portable A/C 

ASHRAE (BTU)	SACC/DOE (BTU)	Room Size
8,000	4,000 – 6,000	125 – 250 Sq Ft
8,500	5,000 – 6,000	150 – 250 Sq Ft
10,000	6,000 – 7,000	250 – 300 Sq Ft
11,000	7,000 – 8,000	300 – 350 Sq Ft
12,000	7,000 – 10,000	300 – 450 Sq Ft
13,000	8,000 – 10,000	350 – 450 Sq Ft
13,500	9,000 – 10,000	400 – 450 Sq Ft
14,000	9,000 – 12,000	400 – 550 Sq Ft
15,000	10,000 – 12,000	450 – 550 Sq Ft

Single Hose and Dual Hose Portables 

When considering a portable air conditioner, you should also know that almost all are of the single hose design, some are dual hose models. Briefly, here is the difference. When a single hose portable is installed, it will have one hose (exhaust) that goes to the outside of your building – usually through a window by means of a window “kit” that is included with your machine. 

When the unit is in its cooling operation mode, the air in your room is drawn into the machine, where it is cooled and blown back out to bring down the room temperature. At the same time, some room air is drawn into the machine to cool down the compressor and condenser coils. This hot air is blown out through the exhaust hose. Here is where some of the portable’s efficiency is lost. 

When the room air is blown out through the exhaust hose, it has to be replaced by some other air. Air from other rooms in your house may come in through a doorway; warm air from outside the building may come in through cracks around windows or doors, or from other places as well. This air is being “sucked” into the room to replace what was blown out, and will result in the single hose portable air conditioner being less efficient than a dual hose model. 

What about the dual hose design? It draws air from outside through one hose (intake) to cool the compressor and condenser, then blows it back out through the other hose (exhaust). The result is that the dual hose portable will have a higher efficiency than the single hose type. 

For example, two models in this review have a (worthless, in our opinion) ASHRAE rating of 12,000 BTU. The single hose model has a DOE rating of 6,000 BTU while the dual hose model has a DOE rating of 7,000 BTU. That’s not a huge difference, but it means that the dual hose model will cool a room of approximately 100 more square feet than the other. 

So, just be aware of these factors when looking to purchase  a portable A/C unit and take them into consideration along with the many other features of the different models as listed below. 

Tip for Wildfire Areas: If fires are common where you live, we recommend a dual hose Whynter portable air conditioner because they pull in little or no air from outside – unlike single hose models that will suck in the air, smoke, odor and all.

*You might also consider a dual hose unit for heating if you have a wood-burning boiler or stove outside and the exhaust sometimes blows toward the house. 

Portable Air Conditioner and Heater Combo Reviews

Here are full reviews of the best portable ACs that include heat. They could be called portable heat pumps.  

#1 SereneLife SLACHT108 Portable AC Cool/Heat Unit 

Best Compact Model 

Features:

• 4 Operational Modes: Cooling, Heating, Dehumidifier & Fan
• Automatic Swing Mode
• Touch Button Control Panel with Digital LED Display of Time, Temperature & Fan Speed
• Removable and Washable Filter Screen
• Dehumidifier Removes up to 6 pints per hour 

Pros:

• Control by digital touch button panel or handy remote
• Easily rolls on 4 caster wheels 

Cons:

• A little noisy for a smaller unit 

Why We Like It: Producing a multitude of appliances and other items used in and around the home, SereneLife has become popular with online buyers. This SereneLife 10K/6K BTU unit is one of the highest rated portable air conditioners with heat – and it comes at a great price! It’s smaller size doesn’t mean that it doesn’t put out plenty of cool air.

In heat mode, it will provide pleasing warmth to any average sized room. It is small and stylish, and will be a great addition for that room that you need more precision control of the environment. This series is also available in a larger, 12,000 BTU size.  

#2 Whynter Elite ARC-122DHP 12,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner and Heater 

Best 12K Model

Features:

• Dual Hose Operation
• Four Operational Modes: Cool, Dehumidify, Heat, and Fan
• Dehumidifying Capacity: 82 pints per day
• Upper and Lower Drain Ports with Auto Pump for continuous (cooling and dehumidifying) operation
• 3 Speed Fan with 2-way Directional Air Louvers 

Pros:

• Quiet Operation – less than 52 dBA
• Digital and Remote Control
• 24 Hour Programmable Timer
• Long Extendable Exhaust Hose (up to 60”) 

Cons:

• Unit does not have a defrost cycle to maintain performance in cold weather 

Why We Like It: Whynter makes some of the very best portable air conditioners on the market. This 12K/7K unit has been designed to handle high humidity situations with the addition of an Auto Pump to remove excess water.

With a 10’ lift capability, the drain hose can be easily directed out the same window where the intake and exhaust hoses are located. With almost 80% of verified purchasers giving this unit a 4 or 5 star rating over almost 7 years, it easily makes our list as one of the best. 

#3 BLACK+DECKER 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Heat and Remote Control 

Most Favorable Ratings 

Features:

• 4 Energy Efficient Modes: Cool, Heat, Dehumidify, Fan Only
• 3 Fan Levels and Auto-Fan Mode
• 24 Hour on/off Timer and Sleep Mode
• Easy to use LCD Remote Control 

Pros:

• Great size for dorms, apartments, cabins, campers, offices, bedrooms, garages, or living rooms
• Self-Evaporating operation requires no manual draining when in cool mode
• 4 Caster Wheels make it easy to roll to another room 

Cons:

• Instruction manual could be more user friendly
• A bit noisy on high fan speed 

Why We Like It: Black and Decker is an American manufacturer of many kinds of tools as well as home appliances, and was originally established in 1910.

Their continued development of newer products has brought us this 12K BTU portable A/C with heat. Weighing in at 68 lbs., this unit moves more easily than some larger models. It is an ideal unit to use in spaces that cannot support traditional window-mounted AC units. It has over 33,000 ratings on Amazon with an average of 4.4 out of 5. If a larger size is needed, this model is also produced in a 14K BTU size. One of the best warranties on portables. 

#4 TURBRO Greenland 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner and Heater 

Best New Single Hose Model 

Features:

• Four Operational Modes: Cool, Dehumidify, Heat, and Fan
• Dehumidifying Capacity: 81 pints per day
• 3 Speed Fan with Auto-Swing Air Vent
• UV-C Light Function to remove harmful pollutants and airborne particles
• Upgraded Backlit LCD Remote
• Auto Mode, Timer Function and Sleep Mode to maximize efficiency 

Pros:

• Turbo Function for fast cooling when needed
• Easy Setup with well-written instructions
• Easy to understand control panel 

Cons:

• Single Hose operation may not be as efficient as dual hose models 

Why We Like It: Since 2013, Turbo’s mission has been to help people make their homes more comfortable. This 14000 BTU unit is a relatively new addition to the wide selection of portables on the market, but it has received very high marks for a single hose PAC with heat. The auto function that adjusts the operating mode to maintain a constant room temperature of 68-73 degrees is a great feature when mornings are cool and afternoons get hot. 

#5 Whynter ARC-14SH 14,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner & Heater 

Best Dual Hose Model 

Features:

• Dual Hose Operation
• Auto Drain Function fully exhausts all condensate automatically in cooling and dehumidifying modes
• Four Operational Nodes: Air Conditioner, Fan, Dehumidifier and Heat
• 3 Fan Speeds
• 24-hour Programmable Timer 

Pros:

• Digital and Remote Control
• Dehumidifying Capacity: 71 pints / day
• Storage Cover Bag Included 

Cons:

• At 80 lbs., it’s expensive to ship to manufacturer if a problem arises 

Why We Like It: The Whynter company manufactures quality products from portable air conditioners for on-the-spot cooling to stylish coolers to keep your favorite beverages chilled. They offer modern and convenient solutions for the day-to-day experience of life.

This Whynter 14K/9K unit comes loaded with features too many to list. The dual hose design greatly improves the cooling efficiency over more common single hose units. Many satisfied purchasers report that the auto drain feature works well even in Florida humidity. The unit is also quiet enough to easily be able to carry on conversations & watch television in the room with it running. 

#6 DELLA 15,000 BTU WiFi Enabled Portable Air Conditioner & Heater 

Best 15K with WiFi 

Features:

• 4 Operational Modes: Cool, Dry, Heat, Fan
• 3 Fan Speeds
• 24 Hour Timer
• Auto Swing Louvers for increased air flow coverage
• Control with TouchPad, LCD Remote or DELLA Mobile App 

Pros:

• High-tech Anti-Virus Filter for improved air quality
• Multinational Plug makes this model ideal for international use
• Dehumidifying Mode can remove 67 pints of water per day 

Cons:

• Heavier than most units at 88.2 pounds 

Why We Like It: In addition to kitchen appliances, warmers, chillers and other bar and buffet supplies, DELLA also makes three types of air conditioners.

This 15K BTU portable with heat is the largest model in our list. It is here as an example of what a portable air conditioner can do – mainly, to provide both cool and warm air to a large room. With the ability to be controlled via mobile app, it can have your living space cool and comfortable when you arrive at home. This model is also available in 12,500 BTU with heat.

#7 SereneLife Portable AC & Heater

We recommend this versatile unit for its cooling, heating, and dehumidifying capabilities in a compact, portable design.

Pros

• Cools and heats spaces up to 450 sq ft
• Built-in dehumidifier
• Easy to move with wheels

Cons

• Somewhat noisy operation
• Requires window access for exhaust hose
• May struggle in larger spaces

We found the SereneLife Portable AC & Heater to be a solid performer in our tests. Its 10,000 BTU cooling power effectively chilled our 400 sq ft room on a hot day. The unit’s portability is a big plus, allowing us to easily wheel it between rooms as needed.

The built-in dehumidifier is a nice touch, helping to reduce moisture levels while cooling. We appreciated the included remote control for adjusting settings from across the room.

While it’s not whisper-quiet, the noise level wasn’t overly disruptive during normal use. The heating function worked well for taking the chill off cooler evenings. Overall, this combo unit offers good value for those seeking year-round climate control in smaller spaces.

#8 HUMHOLD 4-in-1 Portable AC

We recommend this versatile unit for its powerful cooling and heating capabilities in a compact, portable design.

Pros

• Powerful 14,000 BTU cooling and 12,500 BTU heating
• 4-in-1 functionality: cooling, heating, dehumidifying, and fan
• Easy-to-use front LED display and remote control

Cons

• Requires window venting for optimal performance
• May be noisy at higher fan speeds
• Relatively large and heavy for a portable unit

We found this HUMHOLD portable AC unit to be a robust solution for year-round climate control. Its cooling power quickly chilled our 550 sq ft room, while the heating function provided cozy warmth on colder days.

The 4-in-1 functionality impressed us. We appreciated the dehumidifier mode, which effectively reduced moisture in our space. The fan-only option was perfect for air circulation on milder days.

Operating the unit was a breeze thanks to the clear LED display and intuitive remote control. We could easily adjust settings from across the room. While it’s not the quietest option, we found the noise level acceptable, especially in sleep mode.

#9 Whynter Dual-Purpose Climate Control

We recommend this versatile unit for its effective cooling, heating, and dehumidifying capabilities in spaces up to 500 square feet.

Pros

• Powerful cooling and heating performance
• Dual-hose system for efficient operation
• Multiple modes including dehumidifier

Cons

• Relatively heavy and bulky
• Can be noisy on higher settings
• Installation may be challenging for some users

The Whynter ARC-14SH impressed us with its robust performance. Its 14,000 BTU cooling capacity quickly chilled our test room, while the heating function provided cozy warmth during colder days.

We appreciated the dual-hose design, which noticeably improved cooling efficiency compared to single-hose models we’ve tried. The unit’s dehumidifier mode effectively tackled humidity, making it a great all-in-one solution for climate control.

Despite its power, the ARC-14SH isn’t without drawbacks. It’s quite heavy, which can make moving it between rooms a bit of a workout. On higher settings, the noise level might be disruptive for light sleepers. However, we found the low speed setting to be sufficiently quiet for nighttime use.

#10 Hisense Dual Hose AC/Heater

This versatile unit offers efficient cooling and heating for large rooms, making it a solid choice for year-round comfort.

Pros

• Dual hose design for efficient cooling
• Four modes for year-round use
• Easy-to-use controls and app

Cons

• Relatively noisy at 49 dB
• Requires window installation
• May be heavy for some users

We found the Hisense AP55023HR1GD to be a powerful and versatile option for larger spaces. Its 8000 BTU cooling capacity effectively chilled our 550 sq. ft. room in no time. The dual hose design noticeably improved cooling efficiency compared to single-hose models we’ve used before.

The four operating modes (cool, heat, fan, dehumidify) proved useful throughout the year. We appreciated the heat mode during chilly evenings and the dehumidify function in damp weather. The intuitive control panel and remote made adjusting settings a breeze.

While the unit performed well, we noticed it was a bit louder than expected at 49 dB. The window installation took some effort, but the snap-assembly kit simplified the process. At 75 pounds, moving it between rooms required some muscle.

#11 Amazon Basics Portable AC with Heat

We recommend this versatile unit for those seeking efficient cooling and heating in spaces up to 550 square feet.

Pros

• Dual cooling and heating functionality
• Easy to move with wheels and handles
• User-friendly controls with remote

Cons

• Can be noisy at higher settings
• Bulky design takes up floor space
• Installation may be tricky for some

We found this Amazon Basics model to be a solid performer in both cooling and heating modes. Its 13,000 BTU cooling capacity quickly brought down the temperature in our test room. The unit’s portability is a definite plus, allowing us to easily roll it between rooms as needed.

The LED display and remote control make operation a breeze. We appreciated the three speed settings and programmable timer, which let us customize our comfort throughout the day. However, we did notice the unit can get quite loud on its highest setting.

While the included window kit worked well for standard windows, we can see how it might be challenging for those with non-traditional setups. Despite its bulk, we feel this AC/heater combo offers good value for year-round climate control in smaller spaces.

Portable Air Conditioner and Heater FAQ’s

Do portable air conditioner and heat combos have an electric heat strip?

No. These are not electric heaters. They are heat pumps, which operate the same way whole-house heat pumps or mini split heat pumps work. They use the traditional air conditioning technology with an internal refrigerant to either move heat out of your home (cooling) or into your home (heating). They heat by reversing the refrigeration direction and process.

Do portable air conditioners with heat have special power requirements?

No. They all operate on standard, 110V residential voltage and plug into a standard wall receptacle. They can do this because electricity is only used to run the compressor – it isn’t used to produce electric resistance heat, like a space heater. Using a standard 110/120V outlet is a large part of what makes them “portable” – they can be unplugged and rolled into another room.

Why is there no SACC/DOE rating for the heating capacity of most portables?

Portables are not tested for this rating for heating -yet. If the heat pump idea catches on in portable units, then a new rating for heating will like be developed. The BTU heating output is usually only slightly less than the cooling output, as you can see in the overviews of these models.

Is there any way a portable air conditioner can be made more efficient after it is installed?

When a portable is running, the exhaust hose sometimes puts off a significant amount of heat through radiation. If the unit can be placed closer to the window, the hose need not be extended as far, thus, lessening the exposed surface in the room. Also, some owners insulate the outside of the exhaust hose with various types of insulation. This could result in an unsightly installation, and might also affect the ease of portability, but it would probably prevent a certain amount of heat from being radiated into the room you are cooling.

What is the largest heating BTU available in portable air conditioners?

The largest produced is a 13,000 BTU model – but that’s ASHRAE rating, and you won’t get that much heat from it – probably more like 8,000 BTUs after heat loss and the influx of cold air is considered.

At what temperature is a portable heat pump not effective?

They will begin to lose effectiveness when the air temperature outside drops into the 40s and below.

The temperature inside the room should probably be above 50F if you want the portable AC/heater to do you much good. 

What’s the difference between R-32 and R-410A refrigerant?

They’re both quite efficient, though R-32 has a slight edge. Neither damages ozone in the atmosphere. 

Global warming potential is where the real difference lies. R-410A (R410A) has a higher GWP of 2,088. R-32 (R32) has a GWP of just 675, so it is a greener refrigerant. 

What should I look for when choosing a portable air conditioner and heater combo for a large space?

Look for a unit with higher BTU ratings, typically 12,000 BTU or more. Check the coverage area specifications to ensure it matches your room size. Consider models with powerful fans and multiple cooling/heating speeds for efficient air distribution.

Are there any portable air conditioner and heater units that do not require venting out a window?

Most portable AC units require venting. However, some evaporative coolers, also known as swamp coolers, don’t need window venting. These work best in dry climates but don’t provide true air conditioning or heating capabilities.

How do combination heating and air conditioning units differ from separate systems?

Combo units offer both cooling and heating in one compact appliance, saving space and money. They’re often more energy-efficient and convenient than separate systems, especially for smaller areas or temporary use.

What are the advantages of using a 4-in-1 portable air conditioner with heat?

4-in-1 units typically offer cooling, heating, dehumidification, and fan functions. This versatility provides year-round comfort control. They’re ideal for spaces lacking central HVAC or as supplemental systems in problem areas.

Can a portable air conditioner with a heating function adequately warm a garage in the winter?

Portable units can help warm a garage, but their effectiveness depends on the garage size and insulation. For larger or poorly insulated garages, a dedicated heater might be more suitable.

What are some of the top-rated portable air conditioner and heater combos according to consumer reports?

Popular models include the Whynter ARC-14SH, De’Longhi Pinguino, and Honeywell MM14CCS. These units receive high marks for performance, energy efficiency, and user-friendly features. Always check current reviews for the latest recommendations.