We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.
Ready to buy now? Shop the best:
Comfort is crucial. If you want the greatest control over how cold (or hot) each room of your house is, you might decide to forgo central air and consider a mini-split air-conditioning system instead. To get the best mini-split air conditioner for your situation, there are a few things you need to know.
That's where BestReviews comes in. We did the research and learned the important things, such as the difference between a single-zone system and a multi-zone system and how much power a mini-split unit needs. We evaluated the importance of mini-split bells and whistles and considered over 30 air conditioners when compiling our list of top choices.
Our favorite is the MRCOOL Ductless Inverter Mini-Split Air Conditioner. This 18,000-Btu unit features heating and cooling capabilities that will keep you comfortable all year long, regardless of the temperature outside.
Editors’ Favorite
Indoor noise level: 46 dB | Dimensions: 40" W x 10" D x 14" H | Cooling capacity: 18,000 Btu | Heating capacity: 18,000 Btu | Wi-Fi/Smart connectivity: Yes
The MRCOOL Ductless Inverter Mini-Split Air Conditioner delivers 18,000 Btus of cooling and heating power, keeping the temperature comfortable year-round in areas up to 800 square feet. It has a sleek, compact design in a neutral color, so it easily blends into any room. It’s ideal for bedrooms, too, because its internal component operates at just 46 decibels, which is below the 60 to 70 decibels typical of normal conversation.
This mini-split AC is also a perfect choice for DIYers. Installation is straightforward and doesn’t require any special tools or training, thanks to the precharged Quick Connect line sets. The process takes only a few hours, too, so you can have it done quickly.
The system is designed for efficient operation, so you can keep your home comfortable without running up your energy bill. It’s also Wi-Fi-connected and compatible with smart-home assistants, like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, letting you adjust the settings from anywhere via your smart device to ensure your home is at a comfortable temperature when you return.
Great Value
Indoor noise level: 34 to 46 dB | Dimensions: 26" W x 10.43" D x 21.26" H | Cooling capacity: 120,000 Btu | Heating capacity: 120,000 Btu | Wi-Fi/Smart connectivity: Yes
Whatever you hope to get out of a mini-split air-conditioning system, Senville is the answer. The Senville LETO Series Mini Split Air Conditioner is a four-in-one model suitable for year-round use. It offers heating, cooling, air circulation and dehumidification. It has an energy-efficient design and a turbofan for accelerated performance.
As far as convenience, this model can be controlled in any way you prefer. It comes with a handy remote, functions with an app and is compatible with Alexa. You can automate it to match your daily routine, saving energy and money. For the environmentally conscious, it arrives preloaded with ozone-kind R-410A refrigerant.
We think this is an excellent option for people looking to cool or heat large spaces. While it comes with everything you need, the system requires professional installation — it’s not a DIY project. The five-year warranty offers peace of mind.
Most Reliable
Indoor noise level: 31 dB | Dimensions: 9.68" W x 30.31" D x 11.33" H | Cooling capacity: 12,000 Btu | Heating capacity: 11,300 Btu | Wi-Fi/Smart connectivity: No
You can count on the Daikin 12,000-Btu 18 SEER2 Entra R32 Series Mini-Split Air Conditioner to keep your home comfortable year-round. Offering 12,000 Btus of cooling power, it can efficiently cool your home from 50 to 115 degrees, while its 11,300 Btus of heating power can warm your home between 5 and 65 degrees. It can cover up to 550 square feet and is ideal for spaces where traditional AC units or ductwork aren’t feasible, including basements, attics and garages.
The wall-mounted unit also lets you adjust the airflow and direction, so it doesn’t blow directly onto people in the room. It also offers special features, including an ECO+ mode for energy efficiency and an air-purifying filter to keep your home’s air clean.
This Daikin mini-split AC features a curved-contour design that blends seamlessly into any room. It’s also one of the quietest models on our list, operating at just 31 decibels inside your home, or about the level of a whisper.
Best for Small Rooms
Indoor noise level: 42 dB | Dimensions: 9" W x 44.5" D x 13" H | Cooling capacity: 12,000 Btu | Heating capacity: 12,000 Btu | Wi-Fi/Smart connectivity: No
With 12,000 Btus of cooling and heating power, the Costway 12,000-Btu Mini-Split Air Conditioner can keep rooms up to 750 square feet comfortable no matter the season. It’s one of the more versatile models on our list, offering five modes: auto, cool, dry, heat and fan. It also boasts four fan speeds, a sleep mode, an energy-saving mode and a turbo mode for more extreme heating and cooling situations.
It comes with a remote that lets you easily adjust its settings from the sofa or your bed. It also features a 0.5- to 24-hour timer and operates at just 42 decibels, so your sleep isn’t disturbed. The digital display automatically turns off when you don’t touch it for 10 seconds, too, preventing the light from keeping you up.
This Costway model will be a favorite of homeowners who prefer as little maintenance as possible. It has a self-cleaning feature to keep it working properly and your home’s air clean. It also offers an auto-defrost setting to boost its energy efficiency and prevent damage to the system.
Best for Large Rooms
Indoor noise level: 35 dB | Dimensions: 33.27" W x 14.29" D x 27.64" H | Cooling capacity: 24,000 Btu | Heating capacity: 24,000 Btu | Wi-Fi/Smart connectivity: Yes
If you need a mini-split air conditioner that can comfortably cool and heat a large space, the Cooper & Hunter 18 SEER2 Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioner is an ideal option. It delivers 24,000 Btus of heating and cooling power, which allows it to cover areas up to 1,500 square feet, including open floor plans, offices and garages. It’s powerful enough for commercial applications as well, making it an excellent choice for retail spaces and server rooms.
We love that it features an advanced inverter compressor that ensures energy-efficient heating and cooling. This technology provides precise temperature control, so you don’t use more energy than necessary to keep the room comfortable year-round. It also has a compatible app that lets you control the unit from anywhere on your phone or tablet. It includes a remote control, too, so you can adjust its settings without getting off the couch.
This mini-split AC requires professional installation, but it comes with an installation kit to help ensure you don’t incur additional costs. It includes a 16-foot copper line set, a 16-foot communication cable, a 16-foot drainage extension and other accessories to help the setup go as smoothly as possible.
To find the best split-system air conditioner, BestReviews considered 35 models. The review team also evaluated the customer experience of over 100 split-system users. Our research team then created a knowledge base detailing how these air conditioners work and the types of features included most often. We also considered how extra bells and whistles might impact the user experience. When the legwork was complete, we examined our data and created a list of eight top models.
Mini-split air-conditioner systems may be classified as one of two types: single-zone or multi-zone. The best choice for you depends on the layout of your home and a few other comfort factors. Let's take a quick look at the differences between the systems.
A single-zone system is comparable to a window air conditioner. It has one outdoor unit and one indoor unit. In other words, cool air and heat come from the same place. This system is best for homes with an addition or room that doesn't get as cold or hot as desired. It’s more economical than upgrading your central air and duct systems. A single-zone system is easier and more affordable to install than a multi-zone system.
A multi-zone system has only one outdoor unit, but there can be several indoor units — as many as eight indoor air handlers. This is best for homes with multiple floors and no central air. It’s also suitable for people who want precise control over the temperature of different zones in their homes. For example, Zone One could be set to 68 degrees, and Zone Two could be set to 72 degrees.
A multi-zone system is similar to central air, but each zone can have its own temperature. This is a cost-effective way to heat and cool a home because you’re not raising or lowering the temperature of the entire building.
A mini-split air conditioner utilizes the same sizing calculations as any other air conditioner. In short, you must match the British thermal units to the square footage of the space you want to cool.
To determine the square footage of a room, measure its length and width. Then, multiply these figures. If you have a multi-zone system, do this for every zone, and add the totals together. Multiply the total by 25 to get a rough estimate of Btu requirements.
For example, if your total area is 400 square feet, you would need at least 10,000 Btu because 400 x 25 = 10,000. Note, however, that 10,000 Btu is only an estimate. Why? Warmer climates, open doors, poorly insulated rooms, rooms with ceilings higher than 8 feet and south-facing rooms require more energy to cool or heat. Add 10% more for each factor to get your final results.
Here is a general guide on the amount of Btu required to cover a particular space:
Since a mini-split air conditioner can cool and heat, it has two ratings that express how efficiently it uses energy: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) and Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF).
Both ratios are obtained by dividing the Btu rating by the input wattage over a broad range of temperatures throughout the season. The higher the number, the more energy-efficient the unit.
A high-efficiency air conditioner has at least a 16 SEER. A heater needs a minimum of an 8.2 HSPF to earn an Energy Star certification. Even if you aren't concerned with performance, the higher these numbers are, the more money you can save each month on your energy bill. In some instances, it can be 40% or more.
If you are interested in an environmentally kind appliance, the energy ratio is only one aspect to consider. Some models have an eco-friendly setting that lets you operate the machine in an energy-saving mode, conserving energy and reducing your energy bill. Purchasing a model that uses environmentally friendly refrigerants helps protect the ozone layer for a reduced impact on global warming.
Unlike other indoor AC methods, mini-split systems are remarkably quiet. This is because the compressor is located outside, and there are no ducts for air to whoosh through.
While a portable air conditioner or window air conditioner may run at close to 60 decibels, most mini-split air conditioners run at less than 50 decibels, with many being closer to 40 — roughly the sound of a light rain. Some models run at 30 decibels in the low-speed setting, which is comparable to a whisper.
When you compare noise levels from one product to the next, remember that these systems can run at different speeds. A 32-decibel rating might sound like a wonderful option, but if that’s only at low speed — and you need to operate at high speed — the actual volume may be closer to 50 decibels.
A key aspect that makes modern mini-split air conditioners desirable is an abundance of convenience. Even the most basic models are usually programmable, allowing you to control when the unit turns on and off, even if you’re not home.
Wi-Fi connectivity offers real-time control of your unit no matter where you are, as long as you have access to the internet. You can easily adjust the unit’s performance when your schedule changes.
Another feature that provides effortless control is voice command. If your unit responds to voice commands, you don’t need to worry about what the buttons do. Simply tell the air conditioner to turn on and off. You can also adapt settings and parameters with your voice.
In 2018, Allen Foster joined BestReviews as a product writer. Before that, he was a product specialist at one of the country's largest home improvement retailers. As part of his training, Allen attended many seminars and workshops on home products, ranging from outdoor lawn equipment to indoor appliances and tools. He is a knowledgeable DIYer who worked in construction after college to learn how professionals get the job done.
