As summer and the hotter weather of the camping season bears down, you might be looking for a portable RV air conditioner to help keep your RV cooler. And we’ve got just the thing! Well, 7, to be exact.
Whether you want a supplemental AC to help boost your RV air conditioner or if you don’t have one at all, a portable AC unit is a great idea.
In this article, we’ll provide 7 of the best portable RV air conditioners on the market.
After the in-depth explanation of each model, we’ve written a buyers’ guide to help you sift through the noise and make the best choice for your situation and your RV.
Here are the best portable air conditioners for campers in any kind of RV or trailer.
- Black & Decker BPACT10WT 10k BTU – Best Overall
- Whynter 12,000 BTU Portable RV AC – Runner up
- Shinco 8k BTU Portable AC
- Whynter 14k BTU Portable Air Conditioner and Dehumidifier – Best for large RVs and high humidity
- LG 10k BTU Portable AC w/Alexa and Google Voice
- Black & Decker 8,000 BTU Portable AC w/remote control – Best Budget pick
- Midea Duo 14k BTU Ultra quiet dual hose portable AC – best for large RVs
Table of Contents
7 Best Portable Air Conditioners for Campers
Let’s dive in with an in-depth look at what makes each of these top picks so great.
1. Best Overall Pick: Black & Decker 10,000 BTU BPACT10WT Portable AC
Black & Decker BPACT10WT
- 10,000 BTU
- Cools 250-400 square feet
- 3 settings: cool, fan, dehumidify
- Remote controlled
- Self evaporating
- Window kit included
We highly recommend the compact Black & Decker 10,000 BTU portable air conditioner for cooling spaces up to 250 square feet. This is an excellent choice for RVers because it delivers exceptional cooling power at an affordable price.
One of the best features of this portable RV air conditioner is its adjustable fan speed and Sleep Mode. The Sleep Mode allows for air circulation in the RV without the loud humming that can disrupt a good night’s sleep.
This unit has three separate modes: cool, fan, and dehumidifier. You can choose to just run the fan on days where you don’t need dehumidifying or an AC – and this greatly reduces energy consumption.
We love that this unit is powerful enough to cool down a decent-sized RV while also pulling moisture out of the air. And with a trusted name like Black & Decker, you know you’re getting a quality product.
Finally, what might be one of the best features of this air conditioner is the fact that you don’t have to constantly empty the water compartment.
This is because the unit comes with a hose adapter that installs on the back of the unit, allowing collected water to be drained out the window instead of accumulating in the unit itself.
Overall, this is a highly recommended portable air conditioner for RVers looking for an affordable and effective way to cool their space.
2. Runner Up: Whynter ARC-122DS 12,000 BTU Portable AC and Dehumidifier
Whynter ARC-122DS
- 12,000 BTU
- Cools up to 400 square feet
- 3 settings: cool, fan, dehumidify
- Remote Control & LCD Display
- Auto-drain function
- Window kit included
The Whynter ARC-122DS is the runner-up on our list – and it was a hard choice!
Whynter makes really high-quality cooling and refrigerating products and this portable air conditioner is no exception.
This portable AC can cool up to 400 square feet, making it a good choice for almost any size RV – unless your rig is larger than, say, 40 feet!
This portable air conditioner has dual hoses and auto-drain technology – it fully exhausts all the condensation, so you never have to worry about dumping a tray.
It’s powerful, efficient, and quiet… and did we mention that it’s eco-friendly too? It even comes with an activated carbon filter to keep your air clean.
3. Best for Smaller RVs: Shinco 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioning Unit for RVs
Shinco Portable Air Conditioning Unit
- 8,000 BTU
- Cools up to 200 square feet
- 3 settings: cool, fan, dehumidify
- Remote Control
- Self-evaporating
- Window kit included
The Shinco 8,000 BTU portable air conditioner can cool air in spaces to 200 square feet – although you can find this same exact model in more powerful sizes.
This unit delivers fast and easy cooling for RVs and campers and has 3 modes: cooling, dehumidification, and fan.
This small-yet-powerful portable air conditioner has a daily dehumidifying capacity of 19.2 liters and comes with self-evaporating operation – no worrying about dumping condensation with this one.
Although this unit doesn’t have a “quiet” function, you can put it on the lowest setting once your space is cooled down if you prefer a more quiet atmosphere in your RV.
4. Best for High Humidity: Whynter ARC-14S 14,000 BTU Portable AC & Dehumidifier
Whynter ARC-14S
- 14,000 BTU
- Cools up to 500 square feet
- 3 settings: cool, fan, dehumidify
- Dehumidifies up to 101 pints of water per day
- Remote Control
- Auto-drain feature
- Window kit included
If you’re on the hunt for a portable air conditioner that can keep your RV cool, dehumidify your space, or just provide a nice breeze, then the Whynter ARC-14S portable A/C unit is definitely worth checking out.
This little guy is particularly great for those of you with RVs longer than 40 feet, since it can cool and dehumidify spaces up to 500 square feet in size.
And let us tell you, it’s a real moisture-sucking champion! The ARC-14S can remove up to 101 pints of water from your RV’s air per day, which is pretty darn impressive.
The ARC-14S comes with an installation kit that can accommodate windows with lengths from 20 to 47 inches. And if you need a little extra hose length, the kit includes an exhaust and intake hose that can extend up to 60 inches.
Oh, and did we mention the eco-friendly features? The ARC-14S uses an activated carbon filter to clean the air as it passes through, which is a nice touch for those of us who care about air quality. Plus, it’s got chlorofluorocarbon-free refrigerant, which means you can keep your RV cool without damaging the planet. Win-win!
5. Best Middle-of-the-Road Pick: LG 10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner w/Smart Technology
LG Portable Air Conditioner
- 10,000 BTU
- Cools up to 450 square feet
- 3 settings: cool, fan, dehumidify
- Heat feature optional
- LCD Display & Remote Control
- Window kit included
The LG 10,000 BTU portable AC comes in different sizes and different capabilities – you can even get one that has an additional heat setting and get use of this unit year-round.
This particular unit can cool up to 400 square feet which is perfect for larger RV campers and fifth wheels.
Plus, this portable air conditioner works with Alexa and Hey Google which is pretty cool!
Depending on the model you choose, this unit has either a 4-in-1 or 3-in-1 operation: heat/cool/dehumidify/fan or cool/dehumidify/fan.
6. Best Budget Pick: Black & Decker 8,000 BTU Portable AC w/Remote Control
Black & Decker 8,000 BTU AC
- 8,0000 BTU
- Cools up to 200 Square feet
- 3 settings: cool, fan, dehumidify
- Remote control
- Self evaporating
- Window kit included
Our budget pick portable RV air conditioner option is the Black & Decker 8,000 BTU portable AC with remote control. This is the lowest priced option on our list, yet it’s from a well-known brand and is the perfect size for many RVs.
Whether you have a motorhome, fifth wheel, travel trailer, or pop up camper,
this portable air conditioner is a great choice.
This AC provides effective cooling for spaces up to 150 square feet and it can cool the air to 61 degrees at it’s coolest setting.
This air conditioner has 3 settings: cool, dehumidify, and fan. And it also has a self-evaporative option, so there’s no need to worry about dumping water with this model either.
7. Best Multi-Purpose Large RV Pick: Midea Duo 14,000 BTU Ultra Quiet Portable Air Conditioner
Midea Duo Portable Air Conditioner
- 14,000 BTU
- Cools up to 550 square feet
- Heat, Cool, Dehumidify, and Fan
- Remote control
- Auto-drain feature
- Window kit included
If you have a large RV, are in a humid area, or want a triple-function portable AC, heater, and dehumidifier, this is the one for you.
The Midea Duo is the luxury pick on our list – it’s called duo because of the duo hose design that enables the unit to intake and exhaust air all outdoors.
This portable air conditioner has a heat setting, too, so it can truly be used all year long.
The Midea Duo is extremely quiet, too – most other units on this list operate at decibels over 50db, yet this unit runs at 42db when cooling.
As far as space goes, this air conditioner works best in spaces up to 550 square feet, which makes it a great choice for larger motorhomes or fifth wheels. Or for anyone who wants a unit that can truly do it all!
Tips for Finding the Best Portable AC Unit for Your RV
One look at Amazon or literally any other marketplace and you’ll see dozens of portable air conditioner units… so how do you choose the best one for your RV?
It’s not an easy choice and it’s not exactly an inexpensive appliance either… So here are a few pointers on selecting the best portable RV air conditioner.
RV Size and Square Footage
The first thing to think about when picking out a portable RV air conditioner is the size of the RV that you need to cool. If you get an AC unit that’s too small, it won’t be effective and you’ll end up hot and frustrated.
On the other hand, you don’t need to spend money on the biggest unit if you have a small RV! Portable air conditioners are a popular choice for pop up camper air conditioning, and you don’t need a huge one for such a small camper.
In fact, in our list of the best ACs for pop up campers, it’s all portable units.
To find the square footage of the interior of your RV, you can get a rough estimate by multiplying the length of your RV by the width of your RV.
Most RVs are either 8 ft or 10 ft wide. So an 8ft wide 30 ft long RV would be about 240 square feet. Try the equation with your RV to see how big your space is to find out what size AC you need.
Venting
There are ventless portable air conditioners, but if you want actual cooling or dehumidifying, you will need to get a vented AC.
Vented portable RV air conditioners come with a big long hose that needs to be vented outside somehow, typically through a window.
When looking at portable air conditioners for your RV, be sure to look at how they are vented and if they come with an installation kit. Many of the portable RV air conditioners on this list come with an easy installation kit that can be installed in any of your RV windows.
Another thing you have to consider is which window you will use… not all RV windows will work, so this is a big factor!
We used a portable air conditioner unit in our camper van and we vented it our the passenger cab window with a makeshift window cover. It wasn’t pretty, but it worked so well!
Types of Portable Air Conditioners
When you do your shopping you will come across two types of portable air conditioners: actual air conditioners and evaporative air coolers.
If you want actual cooling and dehumidifying, you need an actual air conditioner.
Air conditioners use refrigerants to cool the air and a dehumidifier to suck excess moisture and humidity out of the air. We all know that excess humidity makes it feel hotter than it really is, so a dehumidfying feature is essential.
If you look online, you will come across several portable air conditioners and “personal air conditioners” that are much less expensive and claim to work just as well but be careful. Most, if not all of these are evaporative air coolers. They’re also marketed as small portable air conditioners – and many can sit on a desktop.
These devices work by blowing hot air over ice, water, or some type of wet cloth. These may provide cooling, but they don’t work in humid climates and they do not provide the same kind of cooling as an AC unit does. Plus, they add more humidity to the air.
An evaporative cooler can cool air for a time, but they don’t keep the air cool and they also don’t dehumidify.
How to Vent and Use a Portable Air Conditioner in Your RV
A portable RV air conditioner is portable – which means you can take it anywhere… so the installation process isn’t very in-depth. All you need to get set up is a place to vent your new AC and a place to plug it in!
Most portable air conditioners on this list come with installation kits – but not all of these kits will work with all RV windows. You may have to get creative with how and where you vent your portable RV air conditioner in order to keep the cool air inside.
To install your portable AC vents, you will need access to an open RV window without a screen. To make it work efficiently and keep heat and bugs out, you will need to use a barrier to cover the rest of the open portion of the window.
As we said before, many portable ACs come with some kind of window kit. You may be able to cut the installation kit to fit your RV, or you can use another method like cardboard, reflectix, etc. Here’s a helpful video on installing a portable AC in an RV.
Beat the Heat with These Portable RV Air Conditioners
Summer might be bearing down on you, but you don’t have to sweat it! Whether you want to get a portable RV air conditioner because your regular RV AC isn’t cooling properly or efficiently… Or if you just want to add one to a camper that doesn’t have one, all of these are great choices! Stay cool and happy camping 🙂