Best Portable Air Conditioners for Caravans, Static Caravans & Outbuildings (UK 2025)
🔥 Struggling to Sleep in the Heat?
If you’ve spent even one night this summer in a caravan, static caravan, or garden outbuilding, you’ll know the pain:
Sticky bedsheets
Airless, stuffy nights
Fans just pushing warm air around
We’ve all tried the usual tricks—opening every vent, setting up noisy fans, or just praying for a breeze. But when it’s 30°C or more, none of it cuts it.
The good news?
Portable air conditioners are now more affordable, compact, and energy-efficient than ever.
You can now get a unit powerful enough to cool a caravan or outbuilding from just £189, with plug-and-play simplicity.
Notice: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, offgridwifi.co.uk may earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
Why portable air con unites are Better Than a Fans for cooling you caravan, motorhome or outbuilding
Fans just move warm air. Portable AC units actively cool the air.
Humidity control: Reduces risk of mould, condensation, and musty smells
Multi-use: Cool your caravan now, your bedroom later
Portable & plug-in: Works anywhere with a standard 240V socket
These cameras all use a single app and one 4G/5G connection to stream securely to your phone — whether you’re in the next town or abroad.
💸 Why Not Just Install a Full Air Conditioning System?
You might be wondering: “Why not just get a proper installed air con unit?”
Here’s why most caravan and outbuilding owners don’t.
⚙️ Installed AC Systems:
Cost: £1,200–£2,500+ for supply and fitting
Lead Time: 2–6 weeks (qualified installer needed)
Installation: Drilling walls, mounting external condensers
Flexibility: Permanently fixed — can’t move it or repurpose it
Smart Use: May require hard-wired WiFi connection
Use Elsewhere: Stays in one place — not usable in the home or other rooms
✅ Portable AC Units:
Cost: From just £189 (no installation needed)
Lead Time: Next-day delivery via Amazon
Installation: Plug into 240V socket, connect window vent
Flexibility: Move between caravan, outbuilding, and house as needed
Smart Use: Easily pair with a mobile 4G/5G WiFi router
Use Elsewhere: Perfect for cooling your bedroom or home office too
Bottom Line:
Installed AC is pricey, permanent, and often takes weeks to arrange.
You can’t move it into your home on hot nights, or use it during the winter in other rooms.
A portable air conditioner is affordable, flexible, and perfect for multi-purpose cooling where and when you need it most.
How Much Do Portable AC Units Cost?
In 2025, portable air conditioners under 9000 BTU typically cost:
From £189 (budget)
To £700+ (premium, smart-enabled)
👉 Not as expensive as you thought, right?
They’re cheaper than permanent AC units, and you can use them in multiple spaces—your caravan in summer, and your bedroom at home the rest of the year.
What Does BTU Mean?
BTU = British Thermal Unit
It’s a measurement of cooling power. In simple terms:
BTU & Cooling Guidance:
Energy Saving Trust – BTU guide & room cooling tips
➤ https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/air-conditioning/
How Fast Do They Cool?
On average, a 9000 BTU unit can drop the temperature by 10°C in:
Touring caravan (10–12 m²): ~25–30 mins
Static caravan (18–22 m²): ~40–60 mins
Outbuilding / Home office (~15 m²): ~35 mins
They also remove moisture and humidity, which helps prevent mould, odours, and damp damage—especially useful when your van is stored for winter.
The 6 Best Portable Air Conditioners for caravans and motorhomes
We have picked out our best choice of air conditioner units to keep your caravan, camper, motohome or out building suepr cool for the summer.
check out our reviews below
1. CUQOO Portable Air Conditioner 9000 BTU
💷 ~£189.99 | ✅ Energy Class A | 🛒 Available on Amazon & B&Q
Best for: Budget buyers needing full cooling + dehumidifying features.
Cools rooms up to 26 m²
4-in-1: AC / Fan / Dehumidifier / Sleep mode
LED display, remote, 24h timer
Light and compact with wheels for easy moving
Why it’s #1:
This is the cheapest proper 9000 BTU unit on the UK market. It punches well above its price tag and does everything most caravanners need—including reducing humidity and stale smells.
🔌 Estimated running cost: ~25p/hour
2. Inventor Chilly 9000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
💷 £289.99 | ✅ Energy Class A | 🛒 Amazon UK
Best for: All-round performance and build quality
Powerful 9000 BTU – suitable for up to 20 m²
Built-in dehumidifier & fan mode
24h timer, remote control, and easy drain
Sleek and modern design
Why it’s great:
A step up in polish and performance. Quiet and efficient for regular use in a caravan or home.
🔌 Estimated running cost: 25–30p/hour
Pro Breeze 9000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
💷 £319.99 | ✅ Energy Class A | 🛒 Amazon UK
Best for: Reliability from a UK brand
Cool, fan, and dehumidify modes
Large cooling area: up to 22 m²
1.5L/hour dehumidifying – ideal for damp caravans
Remote & 24h timer included
Why it stands out:
One of the best-reviewed UK AC units for portability, with excellent post-sale support.
🔌 Estimated running cost: 25–30p/hour
4. BLACK+DECKER BXAC40008GB 7000 BTU
💷 £279.00 | ✅ Energy Class A | 🛒 Amazon UK
Best for: Compact caravans or smaller spaces
7000 BTU – cools up to 15 m²
Remote control, LED screen, timer, dehumidifier
Lightweight & low noise
Why it stands out:
Ideal for touring vans or glamping tents, where space and noise are concerns.
🔌 Estimated running cost: 20–25p/hour
5. De’Longhi Pinguino PAC EL98 ECO Real Feel (Smart AC)
💷 £699.99 | ✅ Energy Class A++ | 🛒 Amazon UK
Best for: Smart homes and ultimate energy savings
Smart-enabled (Alexa / Google Assistant)
Eco Real Feel tech adjusts cooling + humidity
Super quiet and A++ efficiency
Ideal for long-term use in static vans or garden offices
Why it’s worth the premium:
If you want the best and can connect to WiFi, this is unbeatable for smart living and running costs.
🔌 Estimated running cost: ~18–24p/hour
🛠️ Setup Tips
Plug into a standard 240V socket—ideal for campsites, home gardens, or static vans with mains access
Use the included window venting kit to exhaust hot air properly
Place it near a window or side hatch for best airflow
Use sleep/timer mode at night to reduce energy use while you rest
Pair smart-enabled units (like the De’Longhi) with an OffGrid WiFi system to control your air con from anywhere using your phone—even if you’re out walking the dog or down at the beach! (all about smart connectivity)
Move the unit easily into your home bedroom or office during cooler seasons
🧠 Smart tip: A portable 4G/5G WiFi router and a reliable SIM setup let you control smart air conditioners remotely, ideal if you’re leaving the caravan but want it cool when you return.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to suffer through another boiling summer night in your caravan, motorhome, or shed.
With portable air con units now available from £189, there’s no reason to put up with the heat.
They’re:
Affordable
Easy to use
Quiet
Moveable between caravan and home
Shop our full range of off-grid WiFi kits at OffGridWiFi.co.uk, or get started with a £25 signal survey to find out what coverage you can expect at your location.
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