Best Portable Air Conditioners UK — Live Stock & Prices (August 2026)
Which portable AC is actually in stock in 2026? We track prices across Amazon & eBay UK, live. Compare BTU, noise and running costs to find the right one.
163 of 567 in stock · 2 retailers tracked · updated 15:31
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How to pick the right portable air conditioner
Portable air conditioners pull warm air from the room, cool it, and vent hot exhaust through a window hose. The most important number is BTU — too low and the unit runs continuously without cooling the room. As a rough guide, a standard UK room needs about 340 BTU per square metre. Use our free BTU calculator before buying. Larger units (12,000+ BTU) can cool open-plan spaces up to 38m². For 2026, look for units with inverter compressors — they're quieter and up to 30% cheaper to run over a summer.
What to expect at each price point in 2026
Under £300: basic 7,000–9,000 BTU units — cools a single bedroom fine, expect 60–65 dB noise. £300–£500 is the sweet spot: 10,000–12,000 BTU units with Wi-Fi, heat pump modes for winter heating, and quieter operation at 58–62 dB. Above £500: large-room 14,000–16,000 BTU inverter units that cool open-plan spaces and heat in winter too — essentially dual-season appliances. At current (2026) UK electricity prices a typical 9,000 BTU unit costs roughly 24p–30p per hour to run.
Running costs — how much will it actually add to your bill?
At ~24p/kWh, a 7,000 BTU portable AC costs about 19p/hour and a 12,000 BTU unit about 32p/hour — or £1.50–£2.60 for a full night of cooling. Because the compressor cycles rather than runs constantly, real usage is typically 60–80% of rated power. Running one 8 hours a night for 30 days adds roughly £45–£78 to your month. See the full breakdown, night-by-night, in our portable AC running-costs guide.
Amazon vs eBay — where should you buy?
Amazon offers Prime next-day delivery on most units and the widest range. eBay often has independent sellers with stock when Amazon sells out — and sometimes at lower prices. We check stock and prices multiple times per day across both platforms. The table below shows the true in-stock picture right now. Units marked sold-out are genuinely unavailable — set a restock alert and we'll email you when they return.
All portable air conditioners— stock & price
567 of 567 products
![Meaco 7000R PRO Home Portable Air Conditioner - White [Missing Drainage Hose]](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/230AAeSwk8ZqYjlF/s-l320.jpg)
These units sell out fast whenever demand spikes. Set a restock alert and we’ll email you the moment a sold-out unit is back.
Buying guide FAQ
- What's the best portable air conditioners to buy right now?
- Right now, 163 of 567 units we track are in stock. The cheapest in-stock option is the Portable Air Conditioner, Cool Air Conditioner, USB Powered Cooling Fan - 6 humi at £13.99 from Amazon. Prices and stock change throughout the day — the table below is live.
- How often are these prices updated?
- We check every retailer multiple times per day. The table shows the most recent check time for each offer. During hot weather we increase the check frequency as stock moves fastest then. Last full sweep: 18 August 2026 at 15:31.
- Are these affiliate links?
- Yes — when you click through and buy from a retailer, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This is how the site stays free and ad-free. We also link to our own products (contract templates, childminder policies) where relevant — those go directly to our Stripe checkout. Full details on our disclosure page.
- Do I need planning permission for a portable air conditioner?
- No — portable air conditioners don't require planning permission in the UK. They vent through a window kit (included with most units) rather than being permanently installed. The only exception is if you're in a listed building or conservation area — check with your local council.