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Summer heat waves are completely exhausting, and they become almost unbearable if you don’t have a great HVAC system in your home/apartment. And you might not get any relief at work, either, if they’re stingy on the cooling costs. So, what are you supposed to do to beat the heat and keep yourself together on the hottest of days?
Buy a window air conditioner, of course! They can be used in most standard sliding/hanging windows, and they’re incredibly effective at cooling off entire rooms without too long of a wait. Many of them will also double as dehumidifiers to combat the icky heaviness of the hot air. There are options to suit rooms and budgets of all kinds.
If you think a window air conditioner is the best way to feel more comfortable in the summer months, that’s great! And we’re here to help you find the best possible match. Window air conditioners will vary in things like price, cooling power, fan settings, dehumidifying capabilities, temperature settings, intended room size, and more! And every feature matters.
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best window air conditioners in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
There are so many things to admire about the Midea 10,000 BTU U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner. Believe it or not, you’ll actually still be able to open your window fully even with the air conditioner mounted in. Hello, fresh air! Anytime you want it. Plus, it’s energy-efficient. And we're talking 35% better than competitors. You can do your part for the environment and save money!
Its cooling performance is nothing to scoff at either. Although it’s very quiet, it’s also very effective. You’ll be able to crank this thing up to maximum power while still being able to enjoy a book, TV show, or family dinner. It takes only minutes to cool a large room, and the airflow can travel as far as 20 feet! The best part is you can change settings with voice assistants, a remote, or the buttons on the machine. Talk about convenience.
One of the only things that doesn’t quite meet expectations with this option is the quality of the companion app. It isn’t very user-friendly and it has some serious privacy concerns. Best to stick with the voice assistants or traditional controls with this one. Otherwise, the high price tag is the only other thing that might sway you in a different direction.
Overall, the Midea 10,000 BTU U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner is a pretty fantastic choice as long as you don’t mind spending a little extra money. You won’t run into any problems with cooling performance, noise (or light) pollution, or longevity! This is one of the really, really good ones.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 3/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have a very high opinion of the Midea 10,000 BTU U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner. They like that they can still open the window for fresh air when it isn’t hot enough for AC, and on scorching days, this machine cools down their large rooms in no time at all. The voice assistant control works very well, and they have no issues with noise levels being too high.
Buy If…
You’d love an energy-efficient machine
Voice assistant compatibility is a must-have
You’d like your window to still be usable
You need a machine that’s exceptionally quiet
Don’t Buy If…
Budget-friendliness is important
You look forward to using the companion app
Dimensions: 19” x 13.75” x 22-36”
Weight: 67 lbs
Cooling Power: 10,000 BTU
Maximum Room Size: 450 sq. ft
Fan Speeds: 3
Remote Control: Yes
Warranty: 1 year
There are lots of things to admire about the Danby DAC120B6WDB-6 12,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner. One of the features we’re most excited to share with you is the power failure reboot. If your power ever goes out while you’re away, this air conditioner will kick back in with the Auto Restart as soon as it has power again. You’ll never come home to a hot house or wake up sweating because of a power outage.
The display on this air conditioner is also incredibly easy to navigate, and it looks seamless—no cluttered displays or busy control panels to navigate. A remote control and companion app give you two options for adjusting settings from your comfy place on the couch (or even at work), and the 24-hour timer gives you tons of flexibility in its power usage. How convenient is that?
Fortunately, we don’t have any quality or performance issues to mention with this one. The temperature range bottoms out at 17˚C, though, so if you feel your best in a super cold space (14˚C to 16˚C), you’ll be out of luck with this one. The price is also double that of the most affordable window air conditioners, so your budget might push you in another direction.
All in all, the Danby DAC120B6WDB-6 12,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner quickly became a favourite for us, and we think it’ll be a big hit with you, too. Whether you’re after precise temperature control, remote control, or multiple modes, this air conditioner will be a great fit.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have a very high opinion of the Danby DAC120B6WDB-6 12,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner. It cools down fairly large spaces very quickly, and the sleep mode and energy-saving mode make sure they don’t over-cool a bedroom or use more power than they need to maintain their target temperature. They appreciate the remote, too.
Buy If…
You’d appreciate a seamless design
You’ll want to adjust settings without getting up
You’d appreciate an air conditioner that can restart itself after a power failure
A 24-hour timer would be useful
Don’t Buy If…
You’re shopping on a tight budget
You like a really cold room
Dimensions: 14.6” x 22.4” x 18.9”
Weight: 69.7 lbs
Cooling Power: 12,000 BTU
Maximum Room Size: 550 sq. ft
Temperature Settings: 14 (17˚C to 30˚C)
Fan Speeds: 3
Remote Control: Yes
Warranty: 2 years
We like so many things about the Danby DAC145EB6WDB-6 14,500 BTU Window Air Conditioner, it’s hard to know where to start. One of our favourite features is the Wi-Fi connectivity. With it, you can control your air conditioner and check your home’s temperature from anywhere with your smartphone. It also has a remote for use at home, and it acts as a thermostat to make the air conditioner work even better in your space.
This option is incredibly powerful, so it’ll be a great fit for spaces as large as 700 square feet. It offers multiple modes to suit your needs, too. Two of our favourites are the energy-saving mode (turns the fan on and off as needed to save power) and sleep mode (to keep the room from getting too cold while you’re asleep). With a washable filter, you won’t ever have to worry about buying replacements, either. We love that for you.
There are only a couple of minor concerns that we want to mention before we wrap this up. The first is the price tag. It isn’t the most affordable option out there, so if you’re shopping on a tight budget or won’t make use of all the features, you can do better with a less expensive option. This air conditioner can also be quite loud, so if you like a low-noise home, this might not be the optimal choice.
All in all, the Danby DAC145EB6WDB-6 14,500 BTU Window Air Conditioner is one of our favourite window air conditioners of all time. No matter how large your space is or what settings you prefer to use, this option has everything you need to keep your home cool and comfortable.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers are very impressed by the Danby DAC145EB6WDB-6 14,500 BTU Window Air Conditioner. They love being able to use their phone to adjust the settings and monitor the temperature when they’re away from home, and the in-home remote control is incredibly useful thanks to its thermostat feature. However, some people find it a bit loud even at the lowest fan speed.
Buy If…
You need to cool a large space
You like to be strategic with your home’s cooling and energy usage
You’d love to control your air conditioner from anywhere
You don’t want to worry about buying new filters
Don’t Buy If…
You don’t want to spend much on a window air conditioner
You’re looking for something very quiet
Dimensions: 14.6” x 21.4” x 18.9”
Weight: 72.3 lbs
Cooling Power: 14,500 BTU
Maximum Room Size: 700 sq. ft
Fan Speeds: 3
Remote Control: Yes
Warranty: 2 years
The Midea 5,000 BTU EasyCool Window Air Conditioner was an easy choice for our small room pick this year. As long as you go in with reasonable expectations, you can’t help but admire this machine. It’ll start kicking out cold air as soon as you turn it on, and since it has two fan speeds, it can adapt to different demands. Plus, it has two fan speeds without cooling to replace your stand-up fan on more moderate days!
We’re big fans of the basic controls on this one, and we bet you will be too. It makes it so simple to use! Just turn one dial to adjust the temperature and another dial for the fan speed/mode. Easy peasy. It’s exactly as quiet as a small air conditioner should be, too. It won’t interrupt your sleep or interfere with your daily living. You just can’t beat the price, either.
Of course, as our small room pick, you won’t be happy with the cooling power of this one if you try to use it for medium-sized rooms (or larger). That’s not what it’s intended for, and you certainly won’t get the results you’re looking for. It just doesn’t have the power needed for big jobs. It’s also lacking some advanced features like a remote, a dehumidifier mode, and precise temperature settings. Just so you’re aware.
Overall, the Midea 5,000 BTU EasyCool Window Air Conditioner is as good as it gets for small spaces, and it sets a very high bar for its competitors. With easy-to-use controls, a budget-friendly price, and effective cooling power, you really can’t ask for much more. It’s a winner!
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
Reviewers have a great opinion of the Midea 5,000 BTU EasyCool Window Air Conditioner. They’ve used it in offices, bedrooms, and even outdoor sheds, and it performs flawlessly in every space. The simple controls make it very easy to use, but some would prefer being able to set an exact temperature. Installation was easy even for newbies, and the noise level is very low.
Buy If…
You’d like to use it as a regular fan in addition to an air conditioner
Simple controls appeal to you
You’ll be using it in a room that demands quiet (bedroom, office, etc.)
Budget-friendliness is a priority
Don’t Buy If…
You’re looking for advanced features
Its intended workspace is a medium+ room
Dimensions: 12” x 13” x 23-36”
Weight: 40.8 lbs
Cooling Power: 5000 BTU
Maximum Room Size: 150 sq. ft
Temperature Settings: 7
Fan Speeds: 2
Remote Control: No
Warranty: 1 year
The Senville 5,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner and Fan is surprisingly well-rounded for such an affordable option. You won’t be surprised to hear that the affordable price tag is its biggest selling point, but it’s not the only one! One of the things we appreciate is its ability to double as a fan—if you need some air flow without any cooling, this air conditioner has you covered.
This option is also really simple and user-friendly, so it’s great for people who prefer low-tech additions to their lives. It runs on two dials, one for temperature (seven options) and one for fan speed (two with cooling power, two without). You’ll never get confused about which controls do what. You’ll also be really happy with the noise level of this one. It’s supremely quiet and won’t disrupt you while you’re sleeping or working.
One of the main shortcomings of this window air conditioner is its cooling power. At only 5,000 BTU, it’s on the lower end for cooling performance, and that means its compatible room size is quite small—150 square feet at most. It also doesn’t come with a remote, so you’ll have to manually adjust the settings. Not ideal, we know.
All in all, the Senville 5,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner and Fan is a great option for folks shopping on a budget and looking for a cooler sleep. It can’t keep up with the demands of a larger space, but for single rooms, it’s exactly what you need.
Performance: 4/5
Usability: 4/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
Reviewers have mixed opinions about the Senville 5,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner and Fan. It’s really easy to install, and the dials make it easy to adjust settings. They’re also happy with how quiet it is, even at higher speeds. It takes a long time to cool a room, though, and it can’t keep up with spaces larger than the average bedroom.
Buy If…
Simplicity is your ideal
A low-noise air conditioner is what you’re looking for
Affordability is your priority
You want a window air conditioner that can double as an ordinary fan
Don’t Buy If…
You’re cooling a larger space
You don’t want to interact with the AC unit in order to change settings
You only want to run your air conditioner at certain times of day
Dimensions: 13.2” x 12” x 23-36”
Cooling Power: 5,000 BTU
Maximum Room Size: 150 sq. ft
Temperature Settings: 7
Fan Speeds: 2
Remote Control: No
At Shopping Trends, every product we review goes through rigorous hands-on testing to ensure we’re recommending only the best for Canadian households. With over a decade of experience in product evaluation and consumer reporting, I personally oversee each test and comparison.
Our process is transparent, methodical, and grounded in real-world usage. Whether it’s a cordless vacuum, a 4K TV, or a hammock for your next camping trip, we evaluate items the way you’d use them at home. When needed, we also consult Canadian industry experts to offer context and help readers make confident, informed decisions. Every “top pick” featured in our guides has earned its spot through careful analysis, not sponsorship.
The price of a window air conditioner will generally fall between $200 and $800. Typically, more expensive options will have better cooling performance, will excel in larger spaces, will offer better longevity, and will have advanced features such as precise temperature settings, Wi-Fi connectivity, and more.
The cooling power of a window air conditioner is measured in BTU and can range between 5000 and 24,000. Most people won’t need a machine higher than 12,000 BTU for the home, though. For small rooms, 5000 BTU will be enough, and for extra-large spaces, you’ll want at least 10,000 BTU.
Every window air conditioner will have a maximum room size that is linked to its cooling power. Smaller units will land around 150 square feet, but some models will be effective in spaces larger than 1000 square feet. Make sure you match the intended room size of the machine to the space in your home for best results.
Almost all window air conditioners will offer additional functionality in the form of a fan mode (purely for air circulation). Many of them, however, can also act as dehumidifiers to keep excess moisture out of the air and make your living space even more comfortable in the summer.
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.