The Best Costco Air Conditioners, According To Customer Reviews

When warmer weather approaches, keeping your home cool (while keeping power bills low) becomes a priority. But with the price of household appliances drastically on the rise, it's important to get your money's worth when shopping for a new air conditioner. Retail giants like Costco continue to grow in popularity and offer competitive prices, thanks to a membership-based business model, convenient locations around the country, and bulk sourcing. Along with staples like paper products and kitchen supplies, air conditioners are one of the many household items that can save you money at Costco.

Costco's selection of heating and cooling appliances includes member-exclusive products and free shipping for its loyal members. Whether you're shopping for an affordable window unit or a smart-controlled mini split, the store's diverse selection can accommodate a wide variety of individual needs. Here are some of the best air conditioners available at Costco, according to firsthand reviews and experiences from buyers. 

One of the most highly rated and affordable cooling systems available at Costco is the Midea U 12,000 BTU Smart Inverter window unit. This unit is energy efficient and priced at only $299.99 for Costco members. A comparable Midea 12,000 BTU Smart unit is listed for about $140 more on Amazon. It's rated a near-perfect 4.6 out of 5 stars on the Costco website. 

Reviewers report this unit cools as efficiently as central air conditioning, and they like the affordable price. One reviewer says, "Very impressive unit and a great deal from Costco. The set up instructions are very good and it seems to be a very effective unit for the price. It really took the bite out of the heat in our very warm upstairs room." Another buyer was pleased with Costco's customer service when they had issues with their unit, and shared, "The unit itself is so very quiet and cools our bedroom wonderfully. We also had reason to call Costco who put us through to Midea for help with registering the unit. They provided service and support!"

MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 12K BTU Ductless Mini Split is a top rated, members-only item available on the Costco website. This product is rated 4.4 out of 5 stars and can efficiently cool areas up to 550 square feet. This air conditioner has accumulated 491 5-star ratings from happy members who say the unit is easy to install and reliable. One homeowner shared, "This unit appealed because I trust Costco to stand behind it and I could do it myself for 1/3 of what the AC guy wanted. The unit went in pretty easy, and looks very good. It is VERY quiet, and works very well. Very happy all around." 

Other buyers appreciate how quiet the unit is. "When I turned it on I had to check to see if it was running because it was so quiet. Both the inside and outside units are whisper quiet." The MRCOOL mini split also comes with a seven-year compressor and five-year parts warranty when purchased from the Costco website. 

The Windmill 8,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner with WhisperTech is another popular option available at Costco. Customers report this window unit is easy to install, aesthetically pleasing, and well designed. "I LOVE everything about this state of the art air conditioner. It doesn't look like any other AC anywhere. It's completely redesigned not only to be more efficient it's BEAUTIFUL and REALLY quiet. It makes the room cold quickly! No more pulling off the cover to see if the screen is dirty because it is a magnet, it is simple and couldn't be easier!" one reviewer shared.

One downside to the Windmill window unit, however, is some reviewers find it disruptively noisy. Multiple reviews say that the air conditioner is "extremely loud," and that "it will eventually make a very loud and annoying rattling sound and will not stop." It is also slightly more expensive than Costco's Midea U 12,000 BTU unit, and is currently priced at $379.99. 

If a window unit is not an option for your home, Midea also makes the Midea 12,000 BTU DUO Portable Air Conditioner. This low noise, and energy efficient portable unit impresses buyers with its smartphone compatibility and cooling power. One buyer shared, "We got this machine for our bedroom at night and it works great. It's quiet, pleasant sounding, and cools down the room quickly, keeping it the right temperature (not too hot, not too cold) throughout the night. I also really like the Matter integration; I can automate it through Apple Home and Siri without using their app. I plan to buy another for our loft bedroom." 

It is priced at $479.99, which is competitive compared to other major retailers selling similar units. Another reviewer reports that "this is by far the best portable AC unit I have owned and for a cheaper price then [sic] the competition." Other customers revealed that when issues did arise with their Midea portable unit, Costco's customer service was helpful in replacing and resolving the situation.