Where to buy an air conditioner in the UK
By Dale @ ukaircontracker · facts checked
Quick answer
You can buy a portable air conditioner in the UK online from Amazon and eBay, or from retailers such as Argos, Currys, B&Q, Screwfix and AO, which offer store collection, next-day delivery or both when the unit is in stock. In a heatwave shops sell out within days, so check stock before you travel. Fitted air conditioning is bought through an F-gas certified installer.
| Route | How soon you can have it | Good for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collect in store (Argos, Currys, B&Q, Screwfix) | The same day, if your branch has it | A heatwave, when you need it today | Stock is held per branch: reserve online before travelling |
| Next-day delivery (Amazon, AO, Currys, Argos) | The next day, on eligible in-stock units | A heavy unit you would rather not carry | The order cut-off and any charge depend on the retailer and your postcode |
| Standard delivery (any retailer, eBay sellers) | A few days | Buying ahead of summer | Slots fill and stock thins once a hot spell starts |
| Fitted split system (F-gas installer) | Days to weeks: a survey, then the fitting | Permanent, quiet cooling that usually heats too | Not an off-the-shelf purchase you can fit yourself |
Collection and delivery terms are set by each retailer and change through the year. Confirm them on the product page or at checkout. Routes checked 10 November 2026.
MeacoCool MC Series Pro 9,000 BTU
Photographed listing — tagged buy buttons go to the retailer, not another article.
Buying an air conditioner near you today
Store collection is the quickest way to get a portable air conditioner. Retailers with branches, such as Argos, Currys, B&Q and Screwfix, show stock for each branch on the product page and let you reserve or pay online, then collect.
Check the branch before you set off. Stock is held branch by branch, so a unit shown as available online may not be in the store nearest you. Portable air conditioners are also heavy and come in a large box, so plan to collect by car.
Getting an air conditioner with next-day delivery
Amazon, AO, Currys and Argos all offer next-day delivery on eligible items that are in stock. The time you must order by, the delivery window and any charge differ between retailers and by postcode, and each retailer shows them at checkout.
During a heatwave the limit is usually stock, not delivery. A unit that is in stock in the morning can be gone by the afternoon, so order as soon as you have checked the size is right for your room.
What to do when everything is sold out
UK demand for cooling arrives in a few hot weeks, and retailers hold limited stock. When the main shops show nothing:
- Check eBay, where UK sellers list new and refurbished units after the big retailers run out
- Look at a different size: a slightly larger or smaller unit is often still available
- Set a restock alert, so you hear when a sold-out model returns
- Use a fan or evaporative cooler as a stopgap, knowing it moves or dampens air but does not chill a room the way an air conditioner does
Buying fitted air conditioning
A fitted split system is not bought like a portable unit. Connecting and commissioning the refrigerant pipework must be done by an F-gas certified engineer, so most people buy the unit and the installation together from an installer, after a survey.
A single-room split system typically costs £1,500–£2,500 fitted. Ask for the unit model, its capacity in kW, the pipe-run length included and the F-gas certificate number of the installer, so quotes can be compared like for like.
What to check before you pay
Whichever route you use, check these on the product page first:
- The cooling capacity in BTU suits the size of your room
- A window kit and exhaust hose are included, and the hose reaches your window
- The noise level in decibels, if it is for a bedroom
- The returns terms: for most online orders you have 14 days after delivery to cancel
Look at the kit — then buy it
MeacoCool MC Series Pro 9,000 BTU
Pro Breeze 12,000 BTU 4-in-1 Smart AC
AuraHome Portable AC 9,000 BTU — 4-in-1 Cool/Dehumidify/Fan
We earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. As an eBay Partner Network affiliate and an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Links we earn from are marked “affiliate link”. Used and refurbished eBay listings are labelled as such. Full disclosure.
Common questions
- Where can I buy an air conditioner near me today?
- Retailers with store collection, such as Argos, Currys, B&Q and Screwfix, are the quickest route. Check the stock for your branch online and reserve the unit before you travel, because stock differs from branch to branch.
- Can I get an air conditioner delivered the next day?
- Yes, when the unit is in stock. Amazon, AO, Currys and Argos all offer next-day delivery on eligible items. The order cut-off and any charge depend on the retailer and your postcode, and are shown at checkout.
- Why are air conditioners sold out in the UK?
- UK demand arrives in a few hot weeks and retailers hold limited stock, so popular models can sell out within days of a heatwave forecast. Stock usually returns in batches, which is what restock alerts are for.
- Can I buy a split air conditioner and fit it myself?
- You can buy the unit, but the refrigerant pipework must be connected and commissioned by an F-gas certified engineer. In practice most people buy the unit and the installation together from an installer.
- When is the best time to buy an air conditioner?
- Before the first hot spell. The range in stock is widest in spring and thins quickly once temperatures rise.