As summer hits, we’re all trying to survive the dreaded heatwave. An energy-efficient way to get the job done? Evaporative air coolers. These units differ from traditional air conditioning in that they chill air without the need for a compressor or exhaust vent. Instead, they take hot air in, chill it using water or ice, and then release it back into the space. There are three different evaporative air coolers you can choose from: portables, window units, or whole-house models.
When looking for the best evaporative air cooler, it’s helpful to keep certain features top of mind. “[I] recommend models with multiple fan speeds, an onboard humidifier function, and a large-capacity water tank—typically five to 10 gallons for household models, so that you don’t need to constantly refill it,” says Alex Atkinson, HVAC technician at Super Brothers. A remote control, digital thermostat, and timer are worth considering, too.
Reliability, convenience, and compatibility with your current cooling setup are also key. We vetted the market for the best evaporative air coolers based on these characteristics (and tested one ourselves!)—so that you can stay chill all year long.
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Offering powerful cooling effects and a smart design, the Uthfy 41″ Swamp Cooler stands out as our best overall pick. We love that it comes with four powerful CFM options—which stands for cubic feet per minute—indicating how much airflow passes through a space.
“A room of about 500 square feet would typically need at least a 2,000 CFM cooler to get reasonable cooling,” explains Atkinson. This one ranges from 3,500 to 8,900 CFM depending on what size you choose, so it’s great for small and large sized spaces alike.
We like that this evaporative air cooler has three speed settings, so you can personalize the fan’s output. It also has 110 degree side-to-side oscillation, so that cool air is evenly distributed.
The cooling pad and three ice boxes ensure fast, effective cooling that is still energy-efficient. The unit is even equipped with wheels, making it easily transportable from room to room. The quiet copper motor and 10 gallon tank are the cherry on top—ensuring you don’t have to refill it over and over. Our only note is that this cooler is quite bulky, which may not be ideal for tight spaces.
Dimensions: 23 x 16.7 x 40.6 inches | Air Volume: 3,531, 4,800, 5,297, or 8,979 CFM | Cooling Area: 1,200 square feet | Type: Freestanding
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The Feculs Portable 3-in-1 Air Cooler is a reliable, feature-packed option with plenty of added bells and whistles. We love that it has four modes, including cool, sleep, normal, and nature settings to set your ideal mood. There are also three speeds, similar to the Uthfy 41″ Swamp Cooler (our best overall pick).
Equipped with a cooling pad and two ice boxes, the cooling effect can last for up to eight hours, though there are six ice boxes total that you can use to get up to 25 hours of chilling time.
We also love that the unit has a smart timer, which auto shuts off after 12 hours so you can save energy and money. Plus, it oscillates, is whisper-quiet, and comes with an intuitive control panel so you can easily select the mode.
The only downside of this pick is that it is less powerful, with a two gallon tank and 1,800 CFM—so it’s better-suited for small to medium sized spaces rather than large ones.
Dimensions: 11.8 x 11 x 28.3 inches | Air Volume: 1,800 CFM | Cooling Area: 320 square feet | Type: Freestanding
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What We Like
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Slim, compact shape
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Remote control
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Quiet when operating
If you’re looking for an evaporative air cooler that won’t take up a lot of floor space, a tower version could be right up your alley. We like the Dreo Evaporative Air Cooler for this purpose, as it packs plenty of smart features into a modern package. We love that it is remote controlled. This way, you can select from one of the three modes and four fan speeds from the comfort of your seat.
We also appreciate that this cooler is quiet when operating. I have a Dreo air purifier and love that it actually doesn’t make noise when on quiet mode, so it’s safe to say this air cooler likely holds up to its quiet promise, too.
The oscillating feature is another stellar feature to ensure cool air is evenly distributed across your room. Plus, the unit is lightweight at just 13 pounds, so it’s easy to move from room to room. There’s even an easy-to-use touch screen that automatically shuts off at night for minimal disturbance.
Dimensions: 11.4 x 11.4 x 39.7 inches | Air Volume: 235 CFM | Cooling Area: 21.65 square feet | Type: Tower
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What We Like
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Effective at cooling large rooms
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Surfaces made from durable galvanized steel
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Straightforward installation
The Champion Cooler Window Evaporative Cooler is an easy-to-install option if you prefer to have your unit attached to a window rather than on the floor. We love that the unit has a powerful circulation of air up to 4,700 CFM, making it effective at cooling down medium to large size rooms.
The surfaces are also made from heavy-gauge galvanized so that the cooler won’t corrode when exposed to weather changes. We like that it is bolted for a seamless assembly and that the grill is convertible, whether you want to set up the unit horizontally or vertically.
The cooler can be controlled with a remote, which is always handy. Plus, you can choose from two speed levels to keep the air flowing comfortably. Our only note is that this cooler has a more dated appearance compared to modern-looking options like the Dreo Evaporative Air Cooler (our best tower pick).
Dimensions: 54.5 x 34.1 x 46.9 inches | Air Volume: 4,700 CFM | Cooling Area: 800 to 1,600 square feet | Type: Window
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What We Like
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Whisper quiet at 25 decibels
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Set on wheels for portability
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Sleep mode setting to minimize distractions
If you want cooling without distracting noises, the Vimlinc Portable Swamp Cooler is a reliable option. We love that it only produces 25 decibels of sound when operating. Plus, it comes with a handy sleep mode setting to create a peaceful environment to unwind in—while staying cool throughout the night.
There are two other modes—normal and natural—which you can also use during the day. With a roomy 6.8 gallon tank, we like that this cooler doesn’t require frequent refills to stay active. However, it automatically shuts off after 7.5 hours, which may be less than how many hours you actually spend in bed.
Still, we like that this unit can be operated with a remote from up to 16 feet away. There’s a touch panel for intuitive operation. Meanwhile, the three fan speeds and wheels allow you to customize your ideal environment.
Dimensions: 17.3 x 13.4 x 31.9 inches | Air Volume: 2,500 CFM | Cooling Area: 1,000 square feet | Type: Freestanding
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What We Like
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Compact size is easy to travel with
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Built-in handle for easy installation
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Effective in small spaces
We tested the Evapolar Evachill at home over two weeks of daily use, and loved how petite yet powerful it was. The size is extremely compact, making it ideal for small spaces, in cars, or when traveling. We used the unit in a converted closet office and found that it was best for personal use with the fan pointing directly at the individual, rather than full room cooling.
There are four different speed settings you can choose from. In testing, we found that the first two were quiet but the third and fourth highest speeds produced a lot of noise, which can be distracting when working or on a call.
Still, we appreciate how tiny this piece is for portability. Part of the top even pops up into a handle to easily prop on level surfaces. Just beware that due to the small size, the cooler can only be used for 4.5 hours at a time.
Dimensions: 7 x 7 x 7 inches | Air Volume: 49.1 CFM | Cooling Area: 26.9 square feet | Type: Portable
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Credit: The Spruce
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Credit: The Spruce
Final Verdict
Our best overall pick is the Uthfy 41″ Swamp Cooler, a powerful option that can effectively cool down both small and large size rooms. It goes up to 8,900 CFM for strong airflow and has three speed settings. We also love the Feculs Portable 3-in-1 Air Cooler for its feature-packed design, which includes a smart timer, oscillating base, and whisper-quiet operation.
How We Picked the Evaporative Air Coolers
We shortlisted these evaporative air coolers based on their reliability, convenience, cooling capabilities, and compatibility with modern homes. Many were selected for their effective operation, whether through high CFM ratings, several fan speed settings, or long running times. Others have special features like oscillating bases, night modes, quiet motors, or sleek designs that make them versatile for different spaces and lifestyles. We also looked at our tested portable air conditioners and selected the Evapolar Evachill as one of our favorites after hours of testing in our own home.
What to Look for in an Evaporative Air Cooler
Research the CFM Rating and Cooling Area
An evaporative coolers’s CFM indicates how much air the unit will push in a minute, which equates directly to the square footage it will cool.
Generally speaking, you can get an estimate of the cooling capacity by multiplying the CFM by two, then dividing by the height of the ceiling, says Atkinson. “For example, a unit rated at 3,000 CFM is usually suitable for an area of 750 to 1,000 square feet with standard 8-foot ceilings.”
Some even go beyond that number, like the Uthfy 41″ Swamp Cooler (our best overall pick), which has a rating of up to 8,900 CFM. Still, CFM alone is not enough to ensure effective cooling. Proper ventilation is also key.
Because these coolers add moisture to the air, you need to have good cross-ventilation, such as open windows or vents, to let the humid air be pushed out and pull in dry air for continued evaporation, Atkinson explains. “If there’s no airflow, even a high-CFM unit won’t cool efficiently and may simply leave the room humid.”
A Closer Look at Our Favorites
Prepare for DIY Installation
Installation of a cooler is dependent on whether it’s portable, window-mounted, or for the whole house. All of the options in our roundup are either portable or window-mounted.
For portables, installation is simple: fill the tank with clean water, plug it in, and place it near an open window or door for airflow, Atkinson says.
For window units like the Champion Cooler Window Evaporative Cooler (our best window pick), the process is slightly more involved.
Installation of a window model requires mounting the unit in the window using brackets or supports, sealing around it with weatherproof foam or flashing, and possibly connecting a continuous water supply via a hose and float valve, Atkinson says.
Think About Noise Level
If you want a quiet machine, it’s important to look for coolers that are specifically designed with low-noise motors. Many coolers even list the decibel amount they produce so you can get an exact idea of how much noise they make. For example, the Vimlinc Portable Swamp Cooler (our best quiet pick), only produces 25 decibels of sound.
Many models also have sleep modes, where the fan becomes quiet and the display turns off to minimize distractions—as seen in the Feculs Portable 3-in-1 Air Cooler (our best value pick).
Standout Features
Many of our top evaporative air cooler picks share common features that make them stand out, including the following:
- Oscillation: This refers to the cooler moving back and forth at a regular speed. Oscillation helps distribute cool air evenly across a room.
- Large water tank: A capacity of five to 10 gallons is ideal so that you don’t have to constantly refill the tank.
- Remote control: This allows you to select your ideal fan speed and setting from the comfort of your seat—making for seamless operation.
- Digital thermostat: Some coolers display the temperature of the room on a display, so you know exactly how cool your space is getting.
- Timer: Smart timers will automatically turn off the air cooler after running for a certain amount of time—usually seven to 12 hours—to help preserve energy and money.
One More Thing
To ensure your evaporative air cooler remains effective, it’s important to regularly clean and upkeep its parts, especially if you live in an area with hard water or high dust levels.
“I recommend cleaning the water tank every other week at maximum use—this will prevent algae, mildew, and mineral buildup,” Atkinson says. The cooling pads should be inspected monthly and replaced every three to six months, depending on use and water quality, he says.
You’ll also want to drain water lines and pumps at least once a season to remove calcium deposits.
“[Calcium deposits] will plug up the pump and reduce efficiency,” Atkinson explains. Before fall storage, it’s also necessary to drain and dry the unit thoroughly to avoid corrosion and mold, he says.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This roundup was written by Shagun Khare, a freelance home and lifestyle writer specializing in topics like appliances and cleaning. She used her expertise to determine the best picks that are durable, convenient, effective, and cooling—while also researching top brands and vetting shopper reviews.
