Today, we tested 8 of the best tent air conditioners. After investing multiple hours in testing and trying various air conditioning units for camping tents, we decided that the Zero Breeze Mark 2 is the best overall.
We have a passion for camping and are fully aware of the fact that many times, humid and hot climatic temperatures in certain regions can ruin the overall experience of the beautiful and engaging activity. As a result of this, we are always looking out for the best air conditioning systems that we can use.
Our top choice, in this case, is the Zero Breeze Mark 2 air conditioning system. If you’re willing to invest, don’t hesitate and jump onto this option as soon as possible! While other available options are good too, this has to be the best tent air conditioner.
As you continue reading, you are likely to come across detailed information about some of the best tent air conditioners. Given below is an all-inclusive review and buying guide on the same. Keep reading to learn more!
How to choose the best tent air conditioner?
We understand that with the wide range of options available in the market, choosing the best tent air conditioner can prove to be a daunting task at times. However, we’ve got you covered!
Based on factors such as price, size, cooling power, adaptability, and much more, we have listed down a few good options for you to refer to. Going through the below-mentioned list is most likely to make this task hassle-free and smooth for you.
Which are the best tent air conditioners?
Zero Breeze Mark 2- Best Overall
Capacity
If you’re planning to go camping with a large number of people, say 2-6 persons, then this tent air conditioner is the best option for you to go for! It is suitable for such large tents and is guaranteed to provide good cooling operations.
Features
The Zero Breeze Mark 2 is the only popularly known tent air conditioner that is a truly portable ac. Additionally, it is the only battery-run air conditioner in the world which makes this product even more special.
Besides, it has the capacity to generate 2300 British Thermal Units (BTU) of cooling power, which is just the right amount. It isn’t too much or too little to fulfill one’s requirements.
It is silent and also lightweight. Its weight is approximately 16.7 lbs which enables one to even carry it on their backs and climb a mountain comfortably. Its lightweight and portability are two of the main features that make this product so popular.
The only downside of this air conditioner is its high price. The total cost that one may be required to spend on this product is $1700, including the cost of the battery. However, if one is ready to invest this amount, they can get their hands on the impeccable features of this air conditioner and never regret it.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Creates no noise
- Generates 2300 BTU of cooling power
- 24V battery that can be charged in the car too
Cons
- A bit on the higher price end
SereneLife SLPAC8 (Robust Portable AC Unit For Camping, Needs 120V)- Best for large tents
Capacity
The SerenLife SLPAC8 is ideal for large tents that have been made for ten persons or more. Hence, if you’re planning on camping with large groups of people, this is the perfect option for you to go for!
Features
This is a portable air conditioner, and you can move it around easily. It requires 120V of electricity to be able to run. Additionally, it has an 8000 BTU cooling power capacity and 900W rated power.
It comes with a remote control feature that can be used to control its temperatures, timer, and even set the cooling systems. Three modes of cooling systems are available in this air conditioner. This includes a dehumidifier, fan, and the cooling option that is set by default and can be adjusted.
The best part about this product is that it comes with wheels to ensure easy transport and is lightweight anyway.
Pros
- It comes with wheels for portability
- It is very robust in sandy and muddy areas too
- Small and lightweight
- Three cooling modes
Cons
- It needs 120V electricity to run
FRIGIDAIRE White FFRA051ZA1 17″ Window Air Conditioner with 5000 BTU Cooling Capacity-115V- Best for quick cooling
Capacity
If you want your tent to cool down as quickly as possible, then this is just the right product for you! This air conditioner comes with a cooling capacity of 5000 BTU. It is perfect for small and large tents.
Features
The Frigidaire air conditioner is a window AC. It is a portable ac and can be switched on by connecting it to a socket. For quick cooling, you can turn the fan onto the full speed mode with the help of the remote control provided with it.
Its size is adjustable, and it comes with a very long three-prong cord that makes the usage of extension cords unnecessary. It has the capacity to automatically return to the adjusted settings once plugged in. This makes its usage hassle-free and simple.
Additionally, its washable filters capture the dust but can be cleaned very easily.
Pros
- Ensures easy cooling
- It comes with a remote control
- Washable filters
- Good cooling power
Cons
- Heavy
Coleman 9430D7153 Adb Deluxe Chillgrille White– Best for easy installation
Capacity
The Coleman Deluxe Chillgrille air conditioner has the capacity to cover a 500 square ft. area easily. It is a good option for large and small tents. Its primary advantage is that it is easy to install. Thus, if you’re looking for an air conditioner that allows that, this is the most suitable choice for you.
Features
This air conditioner weighs 1 pound and is thus extremely lightweight. It needs a corded electric power source to run and is very easy to setup. The electric heat strip present in the air conditioner is what assists this process of installation.
The control knobs on the front surface of this air conditioner make the whole process very easy and hassle-free. The overall look of this product is a low-profile, Euro-style contemporary look.
Its retainer grills are popping out for easy use, and its dust-capturing filters are washable. The only disadvantage that inevitably comes with this product is that it creates noise.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Easy installation
- Washable filters
- Control knobs on the surface
Cons
- Creates lots of noise
IcyBreeze V1 Cooler – Chill Package | No Battery, Direct Power Unit | Ultimate Stationary Package- Best for small tents
Capacity
For small tents set up for camping, you’d want a more compact air conditioner that provides abundant cooling as per the required space. In such situations, the IcyBreeze V1 Cooler proves to be a good option.
Features
As the name suggests, this air conditioner requires no batteries or electricity for it to run. It is a direct power unit that uses only ice and water to provide cooling. No chemicals are used in this process by this product.
This product isn’t a replacement for traditional air conditioners. It is only a temporary portable option fit for people camping in small tents but hot regions.
This air conditioner can provide 35 degrees lower temperature cooling than the ambient temperatures. It releases no humidity and is also fit for food and drinks.
Made with polyethylene, this air conditioner is small and has a 12V power supply.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Perfect for small tents
- No batteries needed
- Throws out no humidity
Cons
- Limited cooling features
Emerson Quiet Kool EAPC14RSD1 SMART Wi-Fi and Voice 550-Sq. Ft Portable Air Conditioner with Remote Control
Capacity
This air conditioner has the capacity to cool down areas spread over 550 square feet. With its relatively larger size and excellent cooling power, the Emerson Quiet Kool Air Conditioner becomes extremely suitable for large tents.
Hence, if you’re camping in a large tent with a big group of people, this is just the right option for you.
Features
The Emerson Quiet Kool Air conditioner is a wonderful option for people camping in large tents because of its 14000 BTU (Ashrae) and 8000 BTU (DOE) cooling power. Additionally, it is known for being one of the quietest air conditioners in the market producing only 52db of sound.
For tech-savvy people, this option is the greatest as it comes with a smart-voice controller based on the use of Alexa and Google home. One can also use the smart applications on their phone to enable its controlling features.
Additionally, it has an auto-evaporation system that dries up all possible humidity in the air and requires no drainage due to its bucketless design. Its timer and sleeper mode is also adjustable and can be controlled with ease.
One of the other advantages this product comes with is that it a long guaranteed warranty period. This enables one to use the air conditioner with confidence and to its full capacity.
Pros
- Smart voice control features
- Effective cooling for large tents
- Humidity evaporation features provided
- Guaranteed warranty period
Cons
- Big and heavy
BLACK+DECKER BPACT10WT Portable Air Conditioner, 5,500 BTU DOE (10,000 BTU Ashrae), White
Capacity
This portable air conditioner is another good option for cooling down small tent areas. It has the capacity to provide effective cooling in an area that ranges up to 150-250 square feet. For small groups of campers staying in compact tends, this is a suitable option.
Features
This air conditioner has a 6000 BTU cooling power and a light weight of 52.9 lbs. It has a compact, easy-to-fit design for small tents.
Additionally, it has automatic night air adjustment features that can be put to use through the sleep mode. It has 3 different fan settings, namely low, medium, and high, with auto-fan settings as well.
It dehumidifies the atmosphere, prevents bacteria from growing, and keeps the air dry and cool at all times. The window-cleaning kit that comes along with the air conditioner is really helpful. It includes tools for window openings, reusable air filters, an exhaust hose, and a hose connector.
The air conditioner also has a 24 hours timer that helps in avoiding waste of electricity and saves money.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Compact design
- Reusable air filters
- Dehumidifies air
Cons
- Costly
Uninex SAC1800 Indoor/Outdoor KOOLZONE Mobile Spot Cooler, Industrial Grade, Certified, 6,293-BTU 9.55-CER, R410A Refrigerant
Capacity
As the name suggests, this air conditioner is a portable spot cooler that is best for those camping in small tents.
Features
The KOOLZONE Mobile Spot air conditioner is an industrial-grade, ETL-certified product known for its reliability and safety. It has a cooling capacity of 6,293 BTU and a CER of 9.55.
The weight of this product is 50.7 lbs. This could seem a bit heavy to some. However, the two top-side handles and roller wheels attached to its body make it transportable and easy to move around.
The R410A refrigerant in this air conditioner is free of ozone depletion and is thus environment friendly. Plus, it has energy efficient half-ton cooling capacity. The KOOLZONE Mobile Spot Cooler can get a little noisy at times, but not too much.
It also has dehumidifying capabilities to keep the air dry and free of any moisture at all times. This can be done with the help of its 0.8-gallon tank that can be drained from time to time.
No assembly is required for the usage of this air conditioner. All you have to do is plug it in, and the air conditioner shall start running effectively. This makes the overall experience and usage of this product hassle-free and smooth.
Pros
- ETL-certified
- Produces little noise
- Already assembled design
- It can be doubled up as a humidifier
Cons
- Only cools where it is directed
What You Need To Look For When Buying Tent Air Conditioners
While summers are some of the best times to be out and wilding on camping trips, they may not necessarily be the most comfortable. Harsh and hot summers can cause increasing discomfort and can spoil your adventures.
That’s why tent air conditioners become such a necessity. You can easily relax and sleep soundly without sweating buckets without having the inside of your tent feel stuffy and humid.
However, before you go ahead and pick a suitable air conditioner for your camping tents, you must understand what exactly to look for in a tent AC. There is no one size fits all air conditioners made for tents.
As there are various types and sizes of tents available, there are numerous kinds of tent air conditioners with different features and functions available. Finding the best one which is compatible with your tent size and your need would require you to understand all the factors that would affect your purchase.
Let’s look at the several factors you would need to keep in mind when you get yourself a tent air conditioner.
The Size Of The Tent
The size of the tent will greatly affect the choice of your tent air conditioners. There are air conditioners that are more fit to be used for smaller tents, but some would require the space of a big tent to be used.
If you get a smaller air conditioner and your tent is spacious, then a smaller air conditioner would be ineffective in cooling the entirety of it. And if the air conditioner is too big for your tent size, then you’d be left feeling humid and damp.
Portability Of The Air Conditioner
The air conditioner’s size shouldn’t be so big that it becomes difficult to carry it around. Since you’ll be going around on camping trips, buying a tent air conditioner with great portability would be better. And size can affect the air conditioner’s portability as it would be easier to port around a smaller unit of the air conditioner than ones that are big or come as more than one unit.
Portable ACs with exhaust pipes and wheels that help move it around are also good options, although they tend to take up a lot of space.
The Size Of The Air Conditioner
The air conditioner shouldn’t also take up space in your tent, that you end up losing out on space for other things. An air conditioner that is too big for your tent would also leave the inside of it feeling cold and damp. Hence, considering the size of your air conditioner in relation to your tent’s size is very important.
It is also important not to go for a very small air conditioner, especially if your tent is spacious or if you’re setting up a tent for a large group. A portable unit tent air conditioner would cool on specific areas, mostly where it is installed, then that would leave other areas of your tent hot and humid.
Capacity
The capacity of the air conditioner is also related to the size of the air conditioner. Often smaller air conditioners tend to have less capacity to cool, and the bigger ones can have a larger cooling capacity. The capacity of the cooling of an air conditioner for a tent is typically measured in BTU rating.
A good-sized air conditioner that would be fit for a family-sized tent would have a BTU rating of around 5000-6000. A bigger cooling capacity with a bigger BTU would also help you effectively cool your tent if you have camped at a very sunny or hot spot. A lower BTU air conditioner would make it difficult to effectively cool your tent if the weather is extremely hot and humid.
A normal and effective BTU for tents would come in between 4000-8000 BTU ratings.
Types Of Tent Air Conditioners
There are various types of air conditioners for tents that are out there. They differ based on their functionality, cooling capacity, design, features, and more. Understanding what type best fits your tent is important towards ensuring that your tent space is comfortably cooled. Other types of tent air conditioners would include both window and room ACs.
Window ACs would require to be set up on the tent’s window and have a higher capacity for cooling than room ACs. Recently, modern tent ACs that are cordless is also available. These are convenient and come with a good cooling capacity.
Unfortunately, they tend to be expensive as they incorporate modern technology that allows them to function without a connection to an external power supply.
Weight
The weight of the tent air conditioner and its size also affect the air conditioner’s ability to be ported around. A very heavy AC for tents would be difficult to carry around with you on camping trips and would prove to be a hassle during setting up and packing up. Lightweight air conditioners can be easier to move around.
However, it is important to keep in mind the BTU rating of the air conditioner. Make sure if you go for a lightweight air conditioner for your tent, then it doesn’t feature too lower a BTU rating.
Ideally, the BTU rating should not be less than 4000 for a big AC and 2000 if it is compact and small. Otherwise, you may not be able to cool the pace in your camping tent effectively.
Consumption of Power
While camping in remote locations and areas, it can be difficult to find sources of consistent power. Tent ACs, like another AC, also require a steady supply of power, whether, through electric cables, solar panels, USBs, batteries, generators, or more to function optimally, lack of a proper power supply can render your tent air conditioner useless.
Tent air conditioners, too, can consume a lot of power when running. Often portable batteries or power generators can be the best option when using tent air conditioners if you don’t have access to a power grid.
Air conditioners that run on their battery tend only to last around 2-4 hours, after which they would need to be charged up again to function effectively.
Features
You’ll see newer and better versions of tent air conditioners being introduced regularly, with updated features and settings and heightened functionality. However, a lot of the time, the extra and added features come with extra costs and increased expenses.
Knowing what features and settings you require and what you can do without will help you narrow down your choices and save up on extra costs as well.
Basic settings are sometimes what you would need. Although extra features will help you have more control over the cooling, you won’t necessarily need them if you simply want to cool your space. Some air conditioners also double as space heaters. Such air conditioners that come with heating features as well can be used during winters as well.
You will also need an adjustable fan speed and thermostat timer for convenience, so make sure your tent AC has functional settings for the speed and timers.
Noise Level
You can’t ignore the amount of noise some Air conditioners produce. It can be immensely distracting and disturbing, especially during the night tie. If you prefer your camping tent ACs to have a minimal noise level, it is better to check up on their specifications beforehand. However, you cannot always avoid some noise level from the air conditioners, whether used for tents or otherwise.
Some tent air conditioners can function with a lower decibel of running sound, while some work while emitting loud noises. Just make sure that the noise emitted is not too loud that it disrupts your activities. If the air conditioner includes settings to control the fan and cooling speed, you may also be able to control some of the noise levels as well.
Sometimes, a bigger capacity for cooling can also mean a bigger capacity to produce sound. Hence, checking up the noise level before purchasing would be ideal.
Affordability
Tent air conditioners don’t come cheap, so you should be prepared to shell some bucks for the cooling comfort. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t more reasonable and affordable options around. A portable tent air conditioner with basic functioning and settings cost a lot less than fancy and cordless air conditioners with complex settings and features.
The capacity of the air conditioner can also affect its pricing. Large-capacity air conditioners that cool more effectively and use higher BTU ratings can be more expensive than the air conditioners that come with a lower BTU.
You should consider your budget carefully and go for tent air conditioners that meet your requirements and are reasonably priced. Some overly priced tent ac are not always the ones with the best functions. You should prioritize the features and the functionality of the air conditioner rather than the pricing.
Difference Between Air Coolers and Air Conditioners For Tents
There is also the matter of an air cooler. Often an air cooler or evaporative coolers are passed as air conditioners, when in fact, they are not the same.
Air coolers use the method of evaporation to cool down space. A tank filled with water or ice would be needed for the air coolers to function as the fan would take the hot air around and blow it through the water to produce a somewhat cold air. This would cool down the area significantly.
Air conditioners, on the other hand, move the vapors in the room to the outside. They can lower the room’s temperature and humidity and are more effective at cooling than air coolers.
Depending on the sort of tent you’re going with and the region you’re camping in, you would need to decide between an air conditioning unit or an evaporative cooler.
Why can it be difficult to cool down the inside of a larger tent?
The area you set up your tent, and the location can play hugely into the tent air conditioners’ cooling abilities. Setting up a tent in direct sunlight instead of shade can lower the air conditioner’s capacity to cool down the tent effectively.
It is best if you set up camp under shade so that you can naturally cool down the area of your tent and make it easier for your tent to air conditioner or function as well. If not, you should always cover the top of your tent to provide a barrier from direct sunlight.
The humidity levels of your camping trip’s location can also interfere with the air conditioner’s ability to cool your space fully. If the humidity levels in the area are too high, you may not be able to cool down the inside of the tent well, especially if you are using an evaporative cooler. It would only add to the humidity.
A dry environment with low humidity is needed for evaporative coolers to work at their best. For such locations, compressor air conditioners are better.
Safety Precautions You Need To Keep In Mind
- Ensure that the cable sand pipes are not damaged or broken to prevent any accidents
- Place the air conditioning unit away from you so that touching it or running into it can be avoided. Otherwise, coming in contact with a running air conditioner unit can sometimes cause injuries
- Place the generator as far as possible so that you can avoid the toxic fumes from it
- Always make sure that your air conditioners, generators, and other electric or battery-powered tools are switched off when not in use
- Make sure your tent is compatible with an air conditioner unit and that its material is inflammable
- Look for overheating protection in your air conditioner, and if none, then switch off if the device gets overheated
- Always ensure adequate ventilation and proper airflow in and out
Wrapping Up
Now that you are aware of all the things you need to look out for when choosing your tent air conditioner, it should be easy for you to choose from among our top picks.
For us, we found the Zero Breeze Mark 2 portable air conditioning unit to be the best among all with its effective cooling capacity and convenient portability. It is the only battery-run air conditioner for tents you can find that is so lightweight and works with the lowest noise levels. It is truly one of the best options for camping ac unit.
If you’re interested to understand more about this useful air conditioner, then you can check out its details here.
This page was last updated on 2022-08-29. Affiliate links and Product Images are from Amazon PAAPI
