Updated on Aug. 06, 2024
A ductless air conditioner, AKA a mini-split, is a hardworking, energy-efficient way to cool down your indoor spaces. Here are five of the best.
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Summer heat can be unforgiving, but equipping your home, workshop, office and/or other spaces with a complete air conditioning system can take a lot of time and cost a pretty penny. Simple solutions, like swamp coolers, are often inelegant, not particularly efficient for larger spaces and sometimes eye sores. Thankfully, there’s a middle ground to be found in ductless air conditioners (AKA mini-splits).
These devices are a hardworking, energy-efficient way to cool down your indoor spaces. They can also be more targeted and cost-efficient than traditional ducted systems, according to Brad Roberson, president of Aire Serv, an international provider of HVAC services with over 200 locations in the U.S. and Canada. He says they “avoid energy loss associated with ductwork” and even offer “long-term savings on energy bills [that] can offset the initial expense.” We’ve rounded up the five best ductless air conditioners for you to consider this summer and beyond.
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Gree, one of the largest air conditioner manufacturers in the world, is known for its exceptional units that work exceedingly well in almost any climate. The Gree Vireo is one of its more powerful, energy-efficient ductless air conditioners.
This unit carries a 22 SEER rating. It’s a sturdy, smart mini-split that promises to run with whisper-quiet operation and quickly cool down rooms for years to come.
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The Pioneer Diamante is a powerful mini-split for less than $800. The hard-working little unit carries ratings of 20 SEER and 10 HSPF with airflow up to 383 cubic feet per minute (CFM).
Pioneer uses inverter technology rather than a rotary type, which is the standard compressor for mini-splits. Pioneer offers units ranging from 9,000 to 36,000 Btu at a lower price than other manufacturers. The average price for a 36,000 Btu mini-split is around $3,000, while Pioneer’s Diamante runs around $2,200.
A single-zone ductless system is great for a single room or small area that needs some temperature control. It’s a better option than a large system that would take more effort to install and maintain.
With a SEER rating of 25, this quiet and compact mini-split is a beautiful cooling and heating beast that can handle a room up to 800 square feet. The LG Art Cool Premier has a 24-hour timer and sleep mode to keep the room cool or hot as you need it and not waste energy.
The LG’s four-way swing disperses air quickly in a wide area rather than straight down or in one central area, as other single-zone mini-split models do.
The remote is easy to use and has a clear display to operate the unit within the room. LG built an advanced dehumidifier into its mini-split that can take out 3.2 pints per hour in a small, humid room when in the AC mode. The extended piping — up to 164 feet compared to around 50 for most other systems — lets you install the indoor unit higher and farther away from the outdoor unit, which is ideal for smaller spaces.
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A multi-zone system can offer remote control heating and cooling throughout the entire home with only one outdoor unit that can generally handle up to eight indoor units.
The Senville Aura Series lets you control the temperature of each room or area with individual thermostats. It has four indoor air handlers with four installation kits to connect each unit in different rooms to the 36,000 Btu outdoor unit.
Each air handler has a dehumidifier, timer, ionizing air filter and turbo mode. The unit has the latest Follow Me feature that lets the remote act as the thermostat. When you activate the Follow Me mode via the remote, air is aimed directly to wherever the remote is in the room.
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While many mini-splits tout the DIY angle for installing, it’s not always easy to mount these 60-plus pound units and charge the refrigeration line. So the designers at Cooper and Hunter made it as simple as possible for the average DIYer to install their ductless air conditioner on the wall.
The Cooper and Hunter Sophia offers a modest 21.5 SEER rating on the 12,000 Btu 115-volt model and a 25 SEER on the 9,000 Btu unit (same price!) 115-volt model.
The DIY installation kit includes a 16-foot pre-flared and insulated copper line set, communication wires, a WiFi smart kit adapter and the indoor and outdoor units. The manual walks you through the simple connection instructions after you drill a hole in the wall for the wires and tubing.
“I was amazed at the quality of this unit,” writes one Amazon reviewer. “Super easy installation and great instructions.”
When shopping for a ductless air conditioner, consider the following:
The bigger the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) and HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) numbers, the better. Higher numbers mean better energy efficiency. The minimum SEER is 15, and HSPF is 7. For the most energy-efficient ductless air conditioner, look for a SEER of 20 or higher and an HSPF of 8 or higher.
Though not as significant a project as a ducted system, ductless air conditioners still require the right amount of space and the right energy consumption to function. Ensure you have the space first, then ensure that your home’s electrical system can support the necessary energy output to keep your AC running without shorting out or causing other (potentially dangerous) issues.
Typically, HVAC projects (yes, even ductless air conditioners) require professional assistance to install. This means they come with an added cost, but a simple installation can also be cheaper, so keep that in mind. While you may be able to install on your own, ensure you have the proper knowledge and skills before attempting one.
Because these systems move air through your home, they come with filters. Over time, these filters will accumulate dirt and grime. Before investing in one, ensure you know how hard it is to clean these systems (and replace the filters when necessary).
While not all systems offer smart features or smart home integration, some do. If you already have a smart home system or are considering installing one, check the compatibility of your ductless air conditioner before settling on which system and which air conditioner.
Some HVAC systems, especially high-efficiency ones, may be eligible for rebates from local utility companies and governments. That means more money back in your pocket. Check with these organizations to find out if you might qualify.
As ductless air conditioners are the middle ground between traditional ducted systems and less elegant portable options, we considered them as such. This included keeping an eye on their cost—including both their initial investment and the savings they offer down the line—and paying attention to their styling (nobody likes an eyesore), the difficulty of installation, their ease of use, popularity, user feedback and more. Then, we narrowed it down to a selection offering the best range of budgets (including power consumption) and features for the average homeowner.
I’m an award-winning journalist specializing in real estate and home improvements, so this category is the bread and butter of my expertise. It helps, too, that I am based in Las Vegas, where outdoor temperatures often rise well above 100 degrees. Furthermore, my work has been featured in numerous trustworthy publications, including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, People, Las Vegas Review-Journal, Today’s Parent and dozens of others.
In addition to my experience and expertise, I also consulted Brad Roberson, president of Aire Serv, a Neighborly company and a trusted name in heating and air conditioning installation, maintenance, and repair. He has been working as an expert in the home improvement space for the last seven years, including the last two as Aire Serv’s president.
While not as efficient as a traditional ducted system, ductless air conditioners excel at creating independent temperature zones. They offer an ideal alternative when a comprehensive ducted system isn’t an option, especially on a room-to-room basis. They’re especially good for smaller, independent spaces like offices, workshops, etc.
With proper care and regular maintenance, ductless air conditioners can last over 20 years, making them a superb value for the money.
While great for individual spaces, ductless systems suffer when expected to heat/cool multiple rooms at once, as they are highly centralized. They are also quite large and might not be the prettiest or sleekest equipment. Finally, they tend to have high installation costs (although their value greatly offsets this over time).
Anywhere air flow might be obstructed, like behind a wall or curtain, will not make an ideal location for one of these systems, as they rely on open space airflow to work properly. It’s also good to place them away from sources of high heat, like fireplaces or in a window with direct sunlight.
