The ductless mini split air conditioners are perfect for cooling and heating bedrooms or studies. It is extremely energy efficient and easy to install.
While it may cost a bit more than window AC units at the beginning , it will save your bills in the long run.
To save you time, our top pick is the Senville SENL-12CD Mini Split Air Conditioner. You can also check the whole list and our mini split system reviews below.
Our Picks for Best Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioners:
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Top Ductless Mini Split AC Units Reviewed
1. Senville SENL-12CD Mini Split Air Conditioner—Best Overall
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This is our top-rated product mainly due to its space-friendly size, being super quiet and having one of the highest SEER ratings at 19.0. This means it’s highly energy-efficient and will save you money in the long run, even with prolonged use.
With a power capacity of 12,000BTUs, it can cool or heat a room up to 500 square feet. It’s also very quiet in comparison to others—just 28dB—so it won’t disrupt sleep or distract you when you’re trying to concentrate on tasks.
This ductless air conditioner also has a 4-in-1 design, consisting of cooling, heating, dehumidifying and a fan. No matter the weather, this product can help keep the environment optimal.
Note that installation can be complicated if you don’t know exactly how it works. You may need to bring in a professional to ensure it’s installed correctly.
Pros:
- Five-year limited warranty.
- Whisper-quiet operation at 28dB.
- Fan, dehumidifier and turbo functions.
- 19.0 SEER rating.
Cons:
- Difficult to install.
- You’ll have to purchase the ¼-inch x ⅜-inch line set kit separately as it’s not included.
2. Pioneer Wall Mounted Ductless Air Conditioner—Runner-Up
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The Pioneer is our runner-up best mini split system choice for its great features and friendly size. It comes in various sizes, but our focus is on the 9,000BTU as it is great for a room of 400 square feet.
It has a SEER rating of 19.0 and is also listed by AHRI as being energy-efficient, which means you won’t be spending a fortune.
You can also cool your room down in the summer with a temperature range of 62–90 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can use it every day, no matter the heat. On top of this, it has an unoccupied-vacation mode, which keeps the surroundings at a cool 46 degrees when you aren’t present. It includes heat pump for you to use it in the cold days.
It’s also quite quiet at 28dB. The outer unit can go up to 52dB, but if it’s sealed off properly to not cause disruption.
You’ll also get a full installation kit when you buy it, so you don’t need to get a professional to install it. Parts can also be hard to find, and this AC unit leaks if not installed properly.
Pros:
- Durable and reusable filters.
- Complete installation kit.
- Variable-speed inverter compressor.
- Handy vacation mode.
Cons:
- Air conditioner can leak if not installed correctly.
- Parts are hard to find.
3. CoVac Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioner—Quietest Model
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The mini split air conditioning are generally quiet. But, the 9,000BTUs CoVac Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioner is the quietest we found.
At 24dB, it’s an ultra-quiet indoor unit that’s unobtrusive and silent enough to sleep through with no problem. The outer unit generates 54db, which is equivalent to light rainfall, but it shouldn’t be enough to keep you up at night.
It’s just as energy-efficient as the others and is also AHRI-certified and ETL-listed, with a SEER rating of 19.0. This is great for an air conditioner that offers as many features as the CoVac does. It has a cooling setting, a heating setting and a dehumidifier that will work well in rooms up to 400 square feet.
A couple of additional points to note are the 1-year limited parts warranty, installation kit, pre-charged refrigerant and all installation accessories. Having said this, the user manual isn’t comprehensive, and you may need help from a professional to install it.
Pros:
- Installation kit and 16-foot copper line set included.
- Features a dehumidifier.
- Energy-efficient 19.0 SEER rating.
- AHRI-certified.
Cons:
- Although an installation kit is included, you may need professional help.
4. Della Ductless Mini Split Inverter System—Most User-Friendly
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An air conditioner should be easy to use, and the Della has several features that make it very simple.
It’s a pre-charged, automatic system, with useful features:
- Auto-defrost.
- Self-diagnosis and cleaning.
- Sleep mode.
- Energy-saving mode.
- Intelligent preheating.
Unlike others, the unit senses the temperature in the area where the remote control is, not where the unit is, and adjusts automatically for that. You don’t need to change anything; it thinks on its own and adjusts just for you. With a power output of 12,000BTUs, it will cool or heat a room of up to 750 square feet.
If you do need to use the remote for anything, it has a bright LED screen and large buttons that anybody can easily use.
In addition to being so user-friendly, it’s quite silent at 30–41dB and has a decent energy-efficiency rating of 17.0.
Note that it comes with a 10-ft line installation kit, which is lacking since most others come with 16-ft.
Pros:
- Automatic system.
- Smart comfort feature.
- Will work in temperatures down to -4 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remote control has a built-in proximity sensor.
Cons:
- It may be difficult to replace a part, should you need one.
- Sub-par installation kit.
5. DuctlessAire Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner—Most Energy-Efficient
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If you’re looking for the most energy-efficient ductless AC unit on the market, try this one. At 12,000BTUs, it can effectively cool down a room between 450 and 550 square feet.
It’s also Energy Star certified with an energy-efficiency rating of 21.5, so it will keep you cool and save electricity at the same time.
It’s slightly noisier than the others, at 30dB on the medium setting, but this shouldn’t keep you awake unless you’re very sensitive to noise.
It’s also convenient to use with a removable and washable HEPA filter. These filters are great for trapping dust, mold and pollen, relieving allergy symptoms.
You can also use the dehumidifier function on its own without the cooling if you just want to remove some moisture from the air.
Pros:
- Energy Star certified.
- Refrigerant leaks are automatically detected.
- Turbo mode.
- Reusable filters.
- Self-diagnosis and auto-protection mode.
Cons:
- Come with higher price tag.
6. Klimaire KSIV 19 SEER Ductless Mini-Split Inverter Air Conditioner & Heat Pump—Best Value
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This Klimaire model offers the best value for the ductless mini split. This is mainly for being affordable while having great features to efficiently cool and heat a room of up to 350 square feet with a power of 9,000BTUs.
Aside from being silent—at 25dB— it’s energy-efficient at a 19.0 SEER rating. Your electricity bill won’t be astronomical, no matter how long you let this air conditioner run.
Despite its efficient operation and its friendly price tag, it offers high-end features. These are the low-ambient heating, self-cleaning and customizable infrared remote controls.
Heating function may not work effectively in temperatures below 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pros:
- Whisper-quiet at 25dB.
- Auto-clean function.
- Automatic defrost function.
- Installation kit included.
Cons:
- Needs a professional to install it.
- Heating isn’t efficient below 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. Daikin 17 SEER Wall-Mounted Ductless Mini-Split Inverter AC & Heat Pump System—Worth a Mention
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This 9000BTU air conditioner has a 17.0 SEER rating and covers up to 400 square feet, so you can use it in rooms like bedrooms, garages, studies or basements.
It has some useful features that others don’t, like the Powerful Operation button, which gives you a 20-minute boost of either cold or heat.
As well as that, it has an ECO+ setting that adjusts the temperature automatically to keep the temperature perfect while conserving energy.
With a sound rating of 37dB, this is a great option for use in any room, although perhaps skip the bedroom since it’s one of the highest ratings on this list.
Pros:
- ECO+ Intelligent feature.
- Powerful Operation button to give an additional boost.
- Advanced filtration system.
- Indoor quiet operation.
- 10-year limited warranty.
Cons:
- Limited customer support.
What to Look for When Choosing A Mini Split Heating and Cooling System
When you’re looking for the mini split system, keep the following in mind:
Room Size
The US Department of Energy recommends 20BTUs for each foot of space, as a minimum.
But, it’s a good idea to measure your room yourself—length multiplied by width—to get your square footage.
On top of this, you should also consider:
- Ceiling height: The higher it is, the more power you need.
- Climate: Hotter areas will need a higher-powered unit.
- Sun exposure: The more sun the room gets, the more AC power you need.
- Windows: More windows equals more heat entering the space, so more power is necessary.
If you need more power based on the above factors, go up a size based on your room’s measurements.
Power
An split air conditioner’s power is measured in BTUs—British Thermal Units. The higher the BTU number, the greater the output.
Air conditioners vary in their cooling capacity, usually from 5,000 to 24,000 BTUs.
It’s important to note that the air conditioner’s cooling capacity depends on:
- Room size.
- Where you’ll mount it.
- Amount of sunlight the room receives.
These factors directly effect energy efficiency, and the higher the BTU number, the less energy efficient the unit is likely to be.
Energy Efficiency
A unit’s SEER number indicates how much energy the split ACs needs to cool or heat a room effectively. The higher the SEER number, the more energy-efficient the air conditioner is.
You also want to see if the air conditioner has an Energy Star, as this means it’s energy-efficient approved and will save you money in operating costs.
Despite a product having a rating, you can make it more efficient. One way to do this is to use the thermostat’s energy-saving temperatures, especially when no one’s home. We’re all guilty of changing settings so that we can try and cool the room down quicker. However, this can lead to using more energy than the pre-programmed setting.
Coverage
According to the Energy Star calculations, the smallest of air conditioners at 5,000BTUs can effectively cool or heat between 100 and 150 square feet. As the BTUs increase, so does the coverage area.
All of the ductless mini split ACs on our list have been between 9,000 and 12,000BTUs:
- 9000BTUs: Effective up to 400 square feet.
- 12000BTUs: Can be placed in a room of up to 550 square feet.
It’s important to remember that these are estimates. Some manufacturers may state that their unit can cool bigger areas according to their testing.
Noise
The human ear is quite sensitive, with audio ranges from 0 up to 150dB. The higher the decibel, the more it can hurt the ear. This is why you want to check the sound rating for the air conditioner when you get it.
Most of them are almost inaudible and have sound ratings as low as 24dB, which is perfect if you’re looking to have the unit in your bedroom. If you have it installed in your lounge, you won’t have to worry about talking louder when you have guests over. In general, it is quieter than a sliding window AC.
FAQs
How Do Mini-split Air Conditioners Work?
Mini-split air conditioners work in a very similar way to central air systems. The difference is that mini-split air conditioners don’t have ducts. Instead, the indoor unit passes air over evaporator coils that have a refrigerant running through them. These coils absorb heat from the air, which then travels to the outside to the condenser and dissipates. This allows the indoor unit to continue to blow cold air.
How Long Do Mini Split Air Conditioners Last For?
Split air conditioners can last for 12 to 15 years if you maintain them correctly. Make sure that you schedule maintenance regularly, as this will prevent any major damage.
Some US states are hotter and more humid, so you may need to leave your air conditioner on for most of the day. Even if you’re running it day and night for six months of the year, it should give you a good few years of use.
Are Mini Split Air Conditioners Effective?
Mini split system are very effective for cooling and heating a room if you have the right size AC for your space. The right amount of BTU—accounting for heat load and the number of people in the room—will ensure that the air conditioner works optimally.
Are Mini Split Air Conditioners Energy-Efficient?
Mini split air conditioners are energy-efficient as they combine different technologies. One of these is using an inverter-driven condenser. This helps to deliver the precise temperature needed to keep the room at a comfortable feel. At the same time, it reduces energy costs.
Conclusion
The Senville SENL-12CD Mini Split Air Conditioner is our top choice of the best mini split air conditioners. It’s small enough to mount in almost any room, is one of the most energy-efficient, has four different modes and is also very quiet.
If you’re looking for something more affordable, the Klimaire KSIV 19 SEER Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioner is another good choice. It offers some high-end features at a reasonable price.
