The Best Through-the-Wall Air Conditioners of 2024
Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about The Best Through-the-Wall Air Conditioners of 2024 and hope the blog can help you.
These top-rated wall air conditioners are an excellent alternative to a window air conditioner for cooling a warm room.
Through-the-wall air conditioners offer a viable alternative to traditional air-conditioning units that sacrifice a window—and the view that comes with it. These units function similarly to window air conditioners, but they fit into a hole in the wall, preserving the view and aesthetics of the room’s windows.
A through-the-wall air conditioner can produce up to 15,000 British thermal units (BTUs), making this type of air conditioner suitable for cooling rooms up to 700 square feet. Some models also include heating elements that supplement a home’s main heat source in the wintertime. We chose the LG LT1216CER Through-the-Wall Air Conditioner as our top pick due to its intense cooling power, energy efficiency, and adjustable louvers.
Our guide examines the crucial factors to consider when shopping for the best through-the-wall air conditioner and lists more of our recommendations for some of the best options on the market.
- BEST OVERALL: LG LT1216CER Through-the-Wall Air Conditioner
↓ Jump to Review - RUNNER-UP: Koldfront WTC12002WCO115V Air Conditioner
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Koldfront WTC8002WCO 8,000 BTU Air Conditioner
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR LARGE ROOMS: Frigidaire FHTC142WA2 Built-In Room Air Conditioner
↓ Jump to Review - BEST WITH HEAT: Koldfront WTC12001W Air Conditioner With Heater
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR SMALL ROOMS: Keystone KSTAT10-2C Air Conditioner With Remote
↓ Jump to Review - ALSO CONSIDER: Emerson Quiet Kool Through-the-Wall Air Conditioner
↓ Jump to Review
How We Chose the Best Through-the-Wall Air Conditioners
Lots of factors went into selecting the best through-the-wall air conditioners for this guide. We spent time looking at current technologies and products from all of the leading brands.
Cooling capability is obviously a key element, but performance is only one consideration. It was important to us to offer a wide variety of choices, so we included high-output models as well as smaller devices for those with more modest spaces to cool. Efficiency is another key factor and has a big impact on running costs. Noise levels were a key consideration. Plus, ease of installation played a part in our decisions, as did reliability and durability.
In addition to our own research, we collated information from other expert sources and from buyers who gave feedback on what these wall unit air conditioners are like to live with day-to-day.
Our Top Picks
The list below narrows the field to some of the best air conditioners on the market by coverage area. These products range from 8,000 BTU models for small rooms to 15,000 BTU behemoths for large spaces. They feature multiple operating modes and Energy Star certification.
Best Overall
LG LT1216CER Through-the-Wall Air Conditioner
Photo: Amazon
Product Specs
- BTUs: 11,800
- Area: 530 square feet
- Energy efficiency ratio (EER): 10.6
What We Like
- 3 fan speeds for rapid cooling; user-friendly remote control
- 3 modes, including dry mode, that can remove up to 3.9 pints of moisture per hour
- Energy Star certified; has a 24-hour timer to maximize efficient use
What We Don’t Like
- Although usually reliable, quality control may be inconsistent
A powerful output coupled with Energy Star certification make this model one of the best all-around through-the-wall air conditioners available. It produces 11,800 BTUs of energy, which is enough to cool up to 530 square feet. A robust set of operating functions allows you to select between optimal cooling power or energy efficiency with three cooling speeds and three operating modes: a turbo mode for quickly cooling a warm room, an energy-saver mode that cycles the compressor on and off, and a dry mode that removes humidity from the air. Adjustable louvers that blow in four different directions enable you to direct the airflow.
This air conditioner measures 14.41 inches high by 24 inches wide by 20.1 inches deep and includes a trim kit that creates a clean and finished look between the wall and air conditioner. It plugs into a standard 115-volt outlet.
Get the LG through-the-wall air conditioner at Amazon or Lowe’s.
Runner-Up
Koldfront WTC12002WCO115V Air Conditioner
Photo: Amazon
Product Specs
- BTUs: 12,000
- Area: 550 square feet
- EER: 10.5
What We Like
- Good output and decent cooling area
- Multiple fan speeds and temperatures; dehumidification and timer
- Remote includes sleep and energy-saver functions
What We Don’t Like
- A few owners reported that their units stopped cooling within 12 months
Cooling a larger living area in midsummer requires an air conditioner with some oomph. With an ample 12,000 BTUs of energy output, this model from Koldfront is well equipped to cool an area up to 550 square feet. It also includes a broad set of operational modes that allow you to fine-tune its performance, whether the goal is to save energy, maximize cooling power, reduce humidity, or create a comfortable environment for sleeping.
Keeping a large room cool when not in use just isn’t practical, which makes this model’s 24-hour auto-off timer so convenient. It allows you to set a time for the air conditioner to kick on so it’s cool before the occupants arrive home. A remote control makes it easy to cycle through the air conditioner’s modes, adjust fan speed, or change the temperature setting, while a cleanable filter removes impurities from the air. This air conditioner plugs into a 115-volt outlet.
Get the Koldfront WTC12002WCO115V through-the-wall air conditioner at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Walmart.
Best Bang For The Buck
Koldfront WTC8002WCO 8,000-BTU Air Conditioner
Photo: Amazon
Product Specs
- BTUs: 8,000
- Area: 350 square feet
- EER: 10.6
What We Like
- High-quality construction ensures warm exhaust air does not reenter room
- 3 fan speeds with remote control, plus dehumidifying
- Energy Star certification, competitive EER, and timer function
What We Don’t Like
- Faults are rare, but a few owners have found the unit to be loud
With its 8,000 BTU output, this through-the-wall air conditioner from Koldfront can cool up to 350 square feet, making it ideal for bedrooms, offices, and other small rooms. A convenient remote allows you to control all of the air conditioner’s settings, adjust temperature, and turn the unit on and off from across the room.
Despite its smaller capacity, this is a versatile air conditioner with numerous settings and functions, including a dehumidifier setting that reduces the humidity in the room, a sleep mode for quieter operation, and a 24-hour timer. This air conditioner measures 14.5 inches high by 24.25 inches wide by 20.375 inches deep and uses a 115-volt outlet for power, eliminating the need for complicated hard wiring.
Get the Koldfront WTC8002WCO through-the-wall air conditioner at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Walmart.
Best For Large Rooms
Frigidaire FHTC142WA2 Built-In Room Air Conditioner
Photo: Homedepot
Product Specs
- BTUs: 14,000
- Area: 700 square feet
- EER: 9.5
What We Like
- Provides the high performance needed for large rooms
- Precise thermometer control
- Programmable timer plus sleep and eco modes help reduce energy consumption
- Built-in ionizer and easy-clean washable filter
What We Don’t Like
- A premium-priced model that does not have Energy Star certification
With its 14,000 BTU energy output, this air conditioner from Frigidaire can cool up to 700 square feet. It includes other useful add-ons such as a thermostat in the remote control (a must for evenly cooling larger spaces) and standard features like a programmable timer, multiple fan speeds, a sleep mode, and an energy-saver mode. At 14.5 inches high by 24 inches wide by 21.5 inches deep, Frigidaire’s through-the-wall air conditioner is similar in size to other models.
Get the Frigidaire through-the-wall air conditioner at Amazon or Walmart.
Best With Heat
Koldfront WTC12001W Air Conditioner With Heater
Photo: Amazon
Product Specs
- BTUs: 12,000
- Area: 550 square feet
- EER: 9.5
What We Like
- Effective cooling plus a powerful 10,600 BTU heater
- Easy-to-read digital display with touch controls
- Programmable timer
- Eco-friendly coolant has no bromine or chlorine; will not harm the ozone layer
What We Don’t Like
- This unit requires a 230-volt supply, which complicates installation
- No Energy Star certification
If a room is warmer in the summertime than the rest of the house, then chances are it’s also colder in the wintertime. With its built-in heating function, this through-the-wall air conditioner from Koldfront can warm a chilly room during colder periods while keeping the space cool in the summer. Its 12,000 BTU cooling output and 10,600 BTU heater make it capable of cooling or warming rooms up to 550 square feet.
Useful operating modes such as energy saver, sleep, and dehumidifier add versatility to this air conditioner. Intuitive controls, which include a digital display on the unit and remote control, allow you to cycle through its modes, set the thermostat, or program on and off times with its 24-hour timer. This air conditioner measures 14.5 inches high by 25 inches wide by 21 inches deep and requires 230-volt power.
Get the Koldfront WTC12001W through-the-wall air conditioner at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Walmart.
Best For Small Rooms
Keystone KSTAT10-2C Air Conditioner With Remote
Photo: Walmart
Product Specs
- BTUs: 10,000
- Area: 450 square feet
- EER: 10.6
What We Like
- Includes energy-saver mode
- Easy-clean mesh filter; Check Filter alert on unit
- Safety listing with Underwriters Laboratories
- LED display and electronic controls
What We Don’t Like
- Requires a 230-volt outlet, not a standard 115 volt
If you’re searching for an air conditioner wall unit that can cool a small apartment, dorm room, or shed, be sure to check out the 10,000 BTU Keystone air conditioner. It accommodates rooms up to 450 square feet. This model not only cools but can also dehumidify up to 2.3 pints per hour. The unit features adjustable four-way airflow, three cooling speeds, three fans speeds, plus an Auto Cool function.
Perhaps the best part of this wall-mounted AC unit is its remote control. It has a built-in thermostat that can register the temperature of where users are located in the room and then adjust cooling power as needed. You can also program the 24-hour on/off timer to align with your schedule and, ultimately, save energy. The only drawback is that the unit requires a special 230-volt/20 amp electrical outlet, which may complicate installation.
Get the Keystone through-the-wall air conditioner at The Home Depot or Walmart.
Best Quiet
Emerson Quiet Kool Through-the-Wall Air Conditioner
Photo: Amazon
Product Specs
- BTUs: 15,000
- Area: 700 square feet
- EER: 11.9
What We Like
- Energy Star rating; energy-efficient air conditioner
- Runs at only 52 decibels
- Includes remote control
- Intelligent Sleep Mode adjusts cooling output throughout the night
What We Don’t Like
- Requires assembly, which can be a bit tricky for some
Air conditioning is a welcome luxury in the summertime—unless you and your guests have to raise your voices over the noise a particular unit is making. The Emerson Quiet Kool solves that problem. Not only does it boast 15,000 BTUs, but it runs at a quiet 52 decibels (a normal conversation clocks in at about 60 decibels).
Two air exhaust fans (as opposed to the typical one) work with three fan speeds to allow users to direct airflow in eight different directions. This wall-mounted air conditioner can remove up to 3.5 pints of moisture per hour to keep bedrooms, living rooms, or any other space within 700 square feet comfortable and cool. And if there’s ever a power outage, the Auto Restart triggers the unit to resume operation at its previous