Camping in the heat can be a challenge. It isn’t helpful to hear advice such as, “Pitch your tent in the shade,” if there is none around. Thus, some folks get tent air conditioners in order to obtain some shut-eye. To help your search for the right model, we’ve rounded up eight of the best.
The best tent air conditioners are:
- SereneLife SLPAC8 Portable Air Conditioner – Best Overall
- BLACK+DECKER 8000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner – Most Durable
- TOSOT Portable Air Conditioner – Quietest AC
- LG 6,000 BTU Window Conditioner – Easiest Window Installation
- COSTWAY Portable Air Conditioner – 5 Star Energy Rating
- Amazon Basics Window-Mounted Air Conditioner – Best Value
- Honeywell Powerful Outdoor Portable Evaporative Cooler – Greenest Choice
- Frigidaire Window-Mounted Room Air Conditioner – Budget Buy
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Best Overall  | Most Durable  | Quietest AC  | Easiest Window Installation  | 5 Star Energy Rating  | Best Value  | Greenest Choice  | Budget Buy  | |
| Ranking | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th |
| Rating /5 | ||||||||
| Overall Versatility/Features | 4.2/5 | 4.8/5 | 4.8/5 | 3.8/5 | 4.6/5 | 3.6/5 | 3.8/5 | 3.6/5 |
| Sound Level | 4.4/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.8/5 | 4.6/5 | 4.3/5 | 4.1/5 | 4/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Energy Rating | 4.6/5 | 3.4/5 | 3.6/5 | 4.9/5 | 4.7/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Cooling Power | 4.9/5 | 4.9/5 | 4.9/5 | 4.3/5 | 4.2/5 | 4.2/5 | 3.8/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Weight/Portability | 4.6/5 | 4.3/5 | 4.2/5 | 4.7/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.8/5 | 4.9/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Durability | 4.4/5 | 4.8/5 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3.8/5 | 4.2/5 | 3/5 |
| Value for money | 4.4/5 | 4.6/5 | 4.1/5 | 4.3/5 | 4/5 | 4.4/5 | 4/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Review | SereneLife SLPAC8 Portable Air Conditioner is an excellent AC machine, dehumidifier, and fan. | BLACK+DECKER 8000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner is a brilliant buy. | TOSOT Portable Air Conditioner is the quietest AC on the list for freestanding and window mounted. | LG 6,000 BTU Window Conditioner is one of the easiest of the hard choices, as tents and window-mounted ACs are not a match made in heaven. | COSTWAY Portable Air Conditioner has the best energy rating of the freestanding portable ACs on the list. | Amazon Basics Window-Mounted Air Conditioner is the best value. For a very reasonable price, it does exactly what it claims: cools a room (tent) down. It has a range of 150 sq ft. | Honeywell Powerful Outdoor Portable Evaporative Cooler is for people who first try to cool their tents without electricity using alternative methods. | Frigidaire Window-Mounted Room Air Conditioner is an excellent budget buy. Sure, it won't cool a tent to artic levels in oven heat. |
Best Tent Air Conditioners Compared
SereneLife SLPAC8 Portable Air Conditioner
Pros
- Excellent dehumidifier
- 8000 BTU
- Good energy rating
- Lightweight for a non-window model
Cons
- Expensive
SereneLife SLPAC8 Portable Air Conditioner is an excellent AC machine, dehumidifier, and fan. The middle option is brilliant at combating mold and mildew in your tent. It can suck up 1.2 liters of water from the air per hour. It also acts as an air purifier, helping allergy sufferers out.
Unlike many models, its remote works reliably well. It also has some handy features, such as a timer. At just 47 lbs., it’s pretty lightweight for a freestanding, non-window model. It easily rolls around on its wheels when you want to reposition.
However, it is expensive and isn’t as durable as our no 2 ranked. But its noise level isn’t awful, and its energy rating is on the high side for a freestanding portable model.
BLACK+DECKER 8000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
Pros
- Durable
- 300 sq ft AC coverage
- Dehumidifier
- Also a heater
Cons
- Poor energy rating
BLACK+DECKER 8000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner is a brilliant buy. Its AC can blast over 300 sq ft, it also operates as a dehumidifier, fan, and in winter, a heater. It has other helpful features, such as a remote and a sleep mode for quieter operations. In addition, it is incredibly durable and well-priced.
What kept it from the number one spot was its energy rating, which is the worst on the list. Its weight also didn’t help. While 52.9 lbs. isn’t awful for a portable freestanding AC, it also isn’t brilliant. But its wheels are well made, allowing it to easily roll to a new position.
But if you are looking for a versatile AC that isn’t brushing the 300-dollar mark and is easy to maintain, this is the one to snag. Besides, you can use it in a mild winter, too.
TOSOT Portable Air Conditioner
Pros
- 49 dB
- 300 sq feet AC coverage
- Dehumidifier
- Child lock
Cons
- Expensive
- Poor energy rating
TOSOT Portable Air Conditioner is the quietest AC on the list for freestanding and window mounted. It also has 300 sq ft of AC coverage, which is fantastic for a portable. The dehumidifier is also a nice touch, able to pull out 1.1 liters an hour, so only a fraction less than our number 1 ranked.
It is low maintenance, with a reusable filter. It also has a silent fan mode to dry off the appliance after use to prevent drips.
On the not-so-brilliant side, it is our second most expensive, second worst energy rating, and the heaviest model. However, it is pretty reliable, moves about nicely on its wheels, has a sleep operating mod, and has a child lock. So if you want quiet operation for a family tent, this is the one to snag.
LG 6,000 BTU Window Conditioner
Pros
- Lightweight
- Good energy rating
- 3 speeds
Cons
- Using a window AC in a tent takes creativity and tenacity
LG 6,000 BTU Window Conditioner is one of the easiest of the hard choices, as tents and window-mounted ACs are not a match made in heaven. But window ACs are lighter, usually have much better energy ratings than a portable (this one definitely does), and despite this one only being 6,000 BTU, its coverage is over 200 sq ft.
It has three speeds for both its AC and fan function. The lowest will run at 52 dB, which is pretty good. It also has a remote, as most window-mounted ACs do.
So, if your heart is set on a window model, this one is certainly worth a look. It is easy to install if you are actually going to use it in a dwelling with a window rather than a tent. But if you’re not, the Black and Decker is only a handful of dollars more. Just saying.
COSTWAY Portable Air Conditioner
Pros
- 5-star energy rating
- Dehumidifier
- 47 lbs.
Cons
- Expensive
- Its official 53 dB seems much louder in person
COSTWAY Portable Air Conditioner has the best energy rating of the freestanding portable ACs on the list. Nor does it weigh that much for this kind of model, at only 47 lbs., and it has wheels to move it around.
The problem is you are paying up the tent pole for this energy rating. It is the most expensive freestanding model, its official noise rating seems to defy the loud reality, and its durability is satisfactory, but nothing to earn applause.
If energy ratings are accurate that much of a priority, the best is found in the window-mounted models. The other option is looking into evaporative fans. But to buy a freestanding AC just for its energy rating when there are cheaper and more durable options is a hard sell.
Amazon Basics Window-Mounted Air Conditioner
Pros
- Good energy rating
- 35 lbs.
- Straightforward to use
- Well-priced
Cons
- Doesn’t have fancy features such as dehumidifier
- Loudest window-mounted model on the list
Amazon Basics Window-Mounted Air Conditioner is the best value. For a very reasonable price, it does exactly what it claims: cools a room (tent) down. It has a range of 150 sq ft.
Like any window-mounted AC, it is more fiddly to use in a tent. Nor is this a very quiet model. But it is a lighter option than a freestanding, only 35 lbs., and its energy rating is excellent.
It doesn’t have the fancy bells and whistles of your freestanding models, so forget about a heater or dehumidifier. But if you are looking for an AC at a reasonable price, it’s a great buy.
Honeywell Powerful Outdoor Portable Evaporative Cooler
Pros
- Green technology
- 31 lb
- Excellent fan
Cons
- It isn’t an AC
- Expensive
Honeywell Powerful Outdoor Portable Evaporative Cooler is for people who first try to cool their tents without electricity using alternative methods. The evaporative technology, affectionally known as a swamp cooler, still requires power (sorry), but it is greener than AC.
It works by combining a fan, resulting in a cooling mist. It is excellent for temperate climates and places with dry heat. However, despite its nickname, it is not suitable for humid swamps. For sticky and damp conditions, you’ll need a proper AC to gain any benefit.
The Honeywell is excellent at what it does. The reason it is so far down the list is that it isn’t an AC and, thus, does not offer the cooling power of one. Also, like most fans, it is loud. But it is a solid alternative if using AC in a tent is too far from your earth-loving comfort zone.
Frigidaire Window-Mounted Room Air Conditioner
Pros
- Affordable
- Good energy rating
- Programmable timer
- 3 speeds
Cons
- Limited temperature range
Frigidaire Window-Mounted Room Air Conditioner is an excellent budget buy. Sure, it won’t cool a tent to artic levels in oven heat. The high energy rating seems to suck some of the cool out of its breath. But it will undoubtedly cut the heat down and get a tent into a comfortable range. At this price, that’s really all that can be asked.
It has three fan speeds, although the differences are not massive. Its lowest setting is pretty quiet, 51 dB. At 41 lbs., it is neither the heaviest nor the lightest. But yes, you are dealing with a window-mounted model, which is fiddly for a tent. But if you are in a camper van, this could be perfect, so long as it is snug.
It technically can dehumidify. But like the cooling, it isn’t spectacular. Then again, it is better than none at all. Really, given the price, it’s doing a lot. It simply depends if it will do what you need. If you are trying to cool a family-sized tent, forget it. But for cozy spaces, it makes life much more comfortable.
Tent Air Conditioner Rating Criteria
How we rated the air conditioners
Versatility And Features
Air conditioners are not just air conditioners anymore: they dehumidify, cool, and can be plain old fans. In addition, many have remotes, programming, and some have quieter sleep modes. Thus, if you like the bells and whistles, your best bets are the SereneLife and the Black & Decker.
The two are virtually equal in this category. The SereneLife will do the job with less energy and weighs less, but it costs more. Black & Decker is slightly quieter, more durable, and cheaper, but its energy rating leaves much to be desired.
Sound Level
AC and fans can be loud. Even more annoying is the decibel rating is decided in optimal conditions in specific settings that may be impossible to replicate at home. Thus, in addition to looking at the official rating, we considered real-life experience.
The TOSOT is the quietest to operate but be warned; it is still an AC and far from silent.
Energy Rating
AC units are notorious for munching on electricity. The issue might not bother you much if you pay a flat rate, but it is different if you are hooked up to a meter.
Your most environmentally friendly option is the Honeywell, which isn’t an AC and is worthless in high humidity. For your true ACs, the window-mounted units suck the least e-juice: Amazon Basics and Frigidaire.
Cooling Power
Cooling power is what an AC is all about. It’s a difficult one to judge as there are a few parameters:
- How much cooling can it emit
- How far is its cooling range
A large tent requires 8 0000 BTU, whereas a two-person tent can get by with 5,000. The 8,000 units on this list are the SereneLife, COSTWAY, Black & Decker, and TOSOT.
However, they make different claims about how many square feet they can cover, respectively 225 (SereneLife), 240 (COSTWay), 300 (Black & Decker), and 300 (TOSOT).
Weight & Portability
No matter how big the rig, there is only so much that can be carried; thus, weight and portability matter. When it comes to pounds, the Honeywell is the lightest, followed by Amazon Basics. However, window ACs are not easy to move around the actual tent, where Honeywell has wheels.
Durability
ACs are notorious for breaking. It’s all those different components getting rattled by the fan. But Black & Decker knows how to build something that will last.
Value For Money
The best AC for your money is Amazon Basics. It is the second cheapest, one of the lightest, pretty durable, and best of all, it does the job it claims to do. It’s the no-nonsense option for people that want something that works.
Final Verdict
Our favorite is the Black & Decker, despite SereneLife technically being the better overall buy. The lower price and the durability of Black & Decker out weight its negatives for us. But if we were going for a window-mounted AC, we’d take the Amazon Basics. It does exactly what it claims without obliterating the bank account.