Portable air conditioners (UK)

What's worth buying and what to avoid.

Most products labelled "portable air conditioner" in the UK are actually evaporative coolers — they use water evaporation to drop the temperature 3–5°C at close range. They work best in dry heat and near an open window. They are not the same as true compressor-based air conditioning, which requires venting hot air outside.

True portable AC units exist (e.g. De'Longhi Pinguino range) but need a window vent kit and are loud. Evaporative coolers are smaller, cheaper and work well for desks or bedsides. Know which you're buying.

When a fan beats a cooler

If the room is very humid, evaporative coolers lose effectiveness — humid air can't absorb as much moisture. In that case, a quiet fan (particularly one moving air across skin) does more than an air cooler. The UK is often humid enough during heatwaves that this matters.

If you want serious cooling for a room, the best option remains finding somewhere air-conditioned during peak hours. The map has 629 confirmed venues.

Affiliate links above. We may earn a commission at no cost to you. Disclosure