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A window air conditioner that cools a room well but runs loud at night may cost more in sleep quality than it saves on the electric bill. Noise levels at low settings matter especially at night, when the gap between a quiet inverter model and a cycling compressor is most noticeable. Two design innovations — the U-shaped frame, which positions a pane of glass between the sleeper and the compressor, and the inverter compressor, which modulates speed continuously instead of switching fully on and off — now account for most of the top scorers.
Consumer Reports used a sound meter to measure noise at both high and low settings across every model it tested, alongside cooling performance and member reliability surveys covering more than 6,000 owners, to identify the six quietest window ACs it recommends.
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Credit: Walmart
Priced at $380, this 6,000-BTU unit is sized for rooms of 100 to 250 square feet. On its lowest fan setting, Consumer Reports testers rate it the quietest model in the ratings. CR also scores the LW6023IVSM at the top for cooling accuracy. It hits the set point quickly, holds the temperature steady, and recovers from brownouts without issue. LG window ACs earn top marks for predicted reliability and very good marks for owner satisfaction in CR's member surveys.
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Credit: Amazon
At $480, the WS3-06E-201 is a 6,000-BTU model for rooms of 100 to 250 square feet. Consumer Reports says it's the only unit in the small-room class to use a U-shaped frame — a design that normally appears in larger models — placing a window pane between the room and the compressor. CR rates it at the top for noise on the low setting and strong on high, and it handles brownouts without an inverter compressor. CR doesn't yet have enough member survey data to rate the Soleus Air brand for reliability or satisfaction.
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Credit: Lowe's
Among midsized-room models, the $530 Frigidaire Gallery GHWQ085WD1 is the only unit that Consumer Reports rates at the top for noise on both the high and low settings. CR says the U-shaped frame and inverter compressor together produce results few competitors in this class match. The unit also scores at the top for cooling comfort and brownout recovery. The model was, however, subject to a safety recall last June due to mold exposure risk.
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Credit: Midea
The MAW08V1QWT is priced at $540 and rated for rooms of 250 to 350 square feet, putting out 8,000 Btu. Consumer Reports calls it one of the standout values in its ratings. Its U-shaped design keeps the window operable when the unit is installed, and noise on the low setting scores at CR's top mark. Midea earns top brand-level marks for both predicted reliability and owner satisfaction in CR's latest member surveys.
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Credit: Midea
Rated 93 overall by Consumer Reports, the Midea MAW12V1QWT costs $551 and is sized for rooms of 350 to 550 square feet. CR awards it top marks for noise on the low setting, cooling comfort, brownout recovery, and ease of use, plus a strong noise rating on high, with the U-shaped design contributing across all of those categories. The model was, however, subject to a safety recall last June for mold exposure risk.
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Credit: Frigidaire
The Frigidaire Gallery GHWQ103WC1 costs $529 and is designed for rooms of 350 to 550 square feet. Consumer Reports rates it at the top for noise on its low setting and strong on high, and it also scores at the top for cooling comfort and brownout recovery. CR notes the controls are clearly labeled, making it among the easier large-room models to operate. Frigidaire's brand reliability scores are strong in CR's member surveys, though owner satisfaction runs lower than the category leaders.
