The best air coolers, compared.
Top pick: Midea MCF23XRWUK – Highest score at 75, with 4.1 from 180 reviews, six speeds, and a 7 litre tank if you can place 10 kg without wheels. Best value: LEENON ATF-026L – 4.1 from 166 reviews at about £119.99, two points under the Midea and about £21 cheaper. Updated 20 October 2026.
An air cooler is a floor-standing evaporative unit. A fan pulls room air through a wet pad or honeycomb, so the stream feels cooler and the air takes on more moisture. It is not a refrigerant air conditioner, it has no window hose, and it is not a USB desk mister. You might buy one when a rented room or a conservatory cannot take a split system and you want something cheaper to run than a portable air conditioner. What matters is an honest mechanism, a tank you can fill, a fitted UK plug, and reviews that describe the stream rather than a claimed drop in room temperature. What to check first is in the [air cooler buying guide](/hub/cooling/air-cooler/sub/air-cooler-buying-guide).
An air cooler is a floor-standing evaporative unit. A fan pulls room air through a wet pad or honeycomb, so the stream feels cooler and the air takes on more moisture.
22 products checked · 58 hrs invested · +18,400 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Do you want a tower or a low box?
The Midea MCF23XRWUK is a 60 W tower, about 106.2 cm and 10 kg, with a 7 litre tank, six speeds, and five modes including Baby and Sleep, listed at £140.92. Across 180 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.1, and the first 50 UK texts often call baby mode quiet and the fan strong before you add water. Ice and cold water make the stream cooler, and some buyers report about a couple of degrees off the room, which is their impression rather than a lab figure. The bullet claims 2000 m³/h while the spec table prints 1170 cubic feet per minute, so both figures stay on the page and are not converted. A review says this model has no wheels, which matters at 10 kg, and one buyer heard oscillation become noisy after a few weeks. Another mentions an algae smell when the water sits near the minimum, and the panel buttons do not light up at night. The noise claim is 28 dB, oscillation is 75°, a remote and a 12-hour timer are included, voltage is listed as 220 V, and a UK plug is not stated.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the most complete tower in this set and you can place a 10 kg unit that does not roll.
Less suitable: You need wheels, a price under £120, or one airflow number that the bullet and the table share.
Specifications
Common questions
Which airflow figure is on the Midea listing?
The bullet says 2000 m³/h and 7.2 m/s. The spec table says 1170 cubic feet per minute. Both are listing figures, not a lab measurement.
Does the Midea MCF23XRWUK have wheels?
Wheels are not in the spec table. A review says this model has no wheels. The bullet mentions a built-in handle. The listed weight is 10 kg.
How many speeds does it have?
Six speeds and five modes: Natural, Vapour, Baby, Sleep, and AI. A remote is included. The noise claim is 28 dB, and oscillation is 75°.
Across 166 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.1, the LEENON ATF-026L is a 38 inch tower, about 97.3 cm and 5.9 kg, that reviewers often describe as a stronger breeze than a normal fan. The listing is 60 W, a 3 litre tank, a claimed 300 m³/h, two ice boxes, and a noise line of 35 dB, at £119.99 on 19 October 2026. Some people sleep with it on a high speed, while others find little extra once the water is on and did not want the humidity. The bullet says the tank is fully removable, but reviewers fill from a jug because it will not come out, and cleaning means unclipping the pump. One buyer found the water had turned brown when it was left sitting. The remote and the 1–12 hour timer are straightforward, and the display switches off after 10 minutes. A seller line claims it cools like an air conditioner and saves over 80% energy; that is not a measured result in this file, and a UK plug is not stated.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a tower with a large review file at £119.99, and you will refill a 3 litre tank from a jug.
Less suitable: You want a lift-out tank you can wash at the sink, or a seller claim of air-conditioning performance.
Specifications
Common questions
How loud is the LEENON ATF-026L?
The spec table says 35 dB, and the title says as low as 35 dB. Reviews split: some people sleep with it on a high speed, others describe it as an ordinary fan.
How do you fill the tank?
The bullet says the 3 litre tank is fully removable, with two ice boxes and a rear handle. Reviews say filling is awkward, and some people use a jug because the tank will not come out.
Is it an air conditioner?
The listing is a corded evaporative tower with a water tank. It does not state a refrigerant or a hose. A bullet claims it cools like an air conditioner and saves over 80% energy. That is a seller claim.
The Air Pro APH6 is an 80 W low box with an 8 litre tank the bullet calls removable, a claimed 350 m³/h, 60° oscillation, and four casters, at £89.99. amazon.co.uk shows 4.0 from one review, dated 20 August 2026, which says delivery was good, the unit works, and the size is compact, and it names no fault. One review is not a pattern you can shop on, which is why the score sits at 51 after a deduction for review volume. The spec table prints 58.5 × 26.5 × 27.8 cm while the bullet says 27 × 28 × 58 cm, and the listed weight is 3.6 kg. Assembly is described as tool-free, with a remote, a 12-hour timer, and two ice packs. Voltage and plug type are not on the page, so you still have to check the plug in the box before you rely on a UK socket.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want an 8 litre low box on casters and you will judge it in the room, not from one star.
Less suitable: You are choosing from review volume, or you need the printed size lines to agree.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Air Pro APH6 need tools to assemble?
The listing says assembly is tool-free. It includes a remote and ice packs, and the bullet says four caster wheels.
How big is the tank and the unit?
The listing says an 8 litre removable tank and two ice packs. The bullet footprint is 27 x 28 x 58 cm. The spec table says 58.5 x 26.5 x 27.8 cm. Weight is 3.6 kg.
Is a UK plug stated?
No. The listing does not state voltage or plug type. There is one UK review, 4.0, and it does not mention the plug.
The Air Pro AP-H3 is a 42 inch tower, about 106 cm and 6 kg, with a 6 litre tank, four ice packs, 80 W, and a claimed 420 m³/h, listed at £119.99. The amazon.co.uk line is 3.5 from 113 reviews. Buyers who used it in a kitchen, conservatory, or small living room liked the breeze, and several say ice and cold water feel cooler for a couple of hours. One review puts the useful stream at about 6 ft on the highest speed, and others say the room does not fall below the starting temperature. The display stays bright in sleep mode, and covering it blocks the remote. Oscillation at 60° can squeak, the guide does not make the fill point clear, and reviews mention limescale if the tank is left. The title uses air-conditioning wording; the bullets describe a honeycomb pad, with no decibel figure and no stated UK plug.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a tall tower with four ice packs for a kitchen or conservatory, and you can live with a bright display.
Less suitable: You want a dim night display, or the stronger 4.1 review line at the same price.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Air Pro AP-H3 include a remote and a timer?
Yes. The listing includes a remote and a 12-hour timer, with touch controls as well. Oscillation is 60°.
How do you add water?
The bullet says a 6 litre removable tank and four ice packs. Reviews say the guide does not explain where to pour the water, and one buyer asks how to fill it.
Why does the title say air conditioning?
The title uses those words. The bullets describe a honeycomb evaporative pad, an 80 W fan, and ice packs, not a refrigerant circuit.
The BLACK+DECKER BXAC65014GB is a low box at 65 W, with a 6 litre tank, two ice packs, and a claimed 300 m³/h, listed at £87.29 on 19 October 2026. Across 288 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 2.9, and the first 50 UK texts often say the cooler air sits in front of the unit while a room thermometer stays put. People who cannot vent an air conditioner in an attic still describe it as better than a plain fan once the water setting and ice packs are on. Pulling the tank out means unclipping the pump, so reviewers fill it from a jug. The app, Alexa, and weekly timer are unique in this set, though reviews say there is no humidity sensor and a target temperature is not available. Sleep mode cycles on and off, full speed is noisy, and the listing does not state a BS 1363 plug.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a low box with an app for a small or medium room, and you will sit in the stream rather than watch a wall thermometer.
Less suitable: You need the room itself cooler, or a sleep mode that stays quiet instead of cycling.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the BLACK+DECKER BXAC65014GB cool a whole room?
The listing says it is for small or medium rooms and that no venting is required. Reviews say the cooler air is in front of the unit, and several buyers found the room thermometer unchanged.
Can you lift the water tank out?
The listing does not say the 6 litre tank lifts out. Reviews say pulling it out means unclipping the pump, so people fill it from a jug.
Does the app set a target temperature?
The bullet says the app can set temperatures and weekly schedules. Reviews say there is no humidity sensor and a target temperature is not available. A remote is in the box.
The Air Pro APH8 is the digital 8 litre box at 80 W and a claimed 350 m³/h, listed at £99.99 with 2.7 from 12 reviews. Nine UK texts in the saved listing describe airflow that some buyers compare with an ordinary fan, and one says ice only changes the stream for about 10 minutes. A reviewer who set it up quickly liked the swing and the flaps you aim by hand, and one called it quiet. Others report a creak when it oscillates, instructions that are hard to follow, and a flimsy feel. The bullet footprint is 27 × 28 × 58 cm and the spec table says 67.5 × 27.5 × 29.2 cm at 6 kg, so the two size lines do not agree. A remote, a 12-hour timer, and four casters are listed, and neither voltage nor a UK plug is stated.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already like this shape and will only buy it if a short trial in a box room is enough.
Less suitable: You want a stronger review base, or airflow that reviewers describe as more than a normal fan.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Air Pro APH8 work without water?
A customer question on the listing asks this. The saved listing does not answer it. The unit is sold with an 8 litre tank and two ice packs.
Which dimensions are on the listing?
The spec table says 67.5 x 27.5 x 29.2 cm and 6 kg. The bullet says 27 x 28 x 58 cm. Both figures are printed on the listing.
What do the reviews say about cooling?
The listing line is 2.7 from 12 reviews. Several say the airflow is no stronger than a fan, and one says ice only changes the stream for about 10 minutes.
Editorial scores for the six amazon.co.uk listings kept on 19 October 2026. This is not a lab test. We did not measure airflow, noise, or a room-temperature drop. The score is 100 points before deductions: Amazon stars 40, review count 20, equipment 25, and price in this set 15. Fewer than 20 reviews costs 12 points. A repeated pattern that the unit does not cool the room costs 6. Fill or tank complaints cost 3. A UK plug that is not stated costs 2, and that applies to all six.
Amazon stars
40%Star points are the listing line divided by 5, then multiplied by 40. A 4.1 line scores more than a 2.9 line. A 4.0 from one review does not win an award.
Review count
20%250 or more reviews score 20 points, 150–249 score 16, 100–149 score 14, 10–99 score 8, and under 10 score 2. Fewer than 20 reviews also takes a separate 12-point deduction.
Equipment
25%Points cover a remote, a timer, a tank of 6 litres or more, ice packs, stated oscillation, a printed decibel figure, stated wheels, and an app or an extra speed and mode set. Missing wheels score 0 of the 3 wheel points and are not deducted twice.
Price in this set
15%The three listings under £100 score 12, the two at £119.99 score 9, and the listing at £140.92 scores 6. A further 4 points come off if the star line is under 3.5.
Start with the air in the room, then the mechanism, then the tank you will actually fill. A listing title that says air conditioning is not a refrigerant circuit. Airflow figures in m³/h are claims, not a BTU rating. Ice packs change the stream for a short time. Only the LEENON and the Midea print a decibel figure, 35 dB and 28 dB. Reviews still call some full speeds loud. Only the BLACK+DECKER BXAC65014GB has an app, with Alexa and Google Home. A 4.0 from one review is not a pattern.
An air cooler in this comparison is a floor-standing evaporative unit. A fan pulls room air through a wet pad or honeycomb, so the stream feels cooler and the air gets more humid. It is not a refrigerant air conditioner, it has no window hose, and it is not a USB desk mister. People buy one on amazon.co.uk when a rented room or a conservatory cannot take a split system and they want something cheaper to run than a portable air conditioner.
These listings are fans over a water tank. They do not state a refrigerant or a window hose. A seller line that it cools like an air conditioner, or saves over 80% energy, is not a measured result in this file.
Evaporation needs air that can still take moisture. Energy Saving Trust says these units add moisture and cool the air near the machine. A sealed humid bedroom is the weak case. Sleep modes slow the fan. They do not dry the air.
One LEENON buyer found brown water after it was left sitting. A Midea review mentions an algae smell near the minimum, and Air Pro reviews mention limescale. Empty and dry the tank. HSE cooling-tower rules are for dutyholders, not a domestic tank.
Evaporation works when the room air can still take moisture. Energy Saving Trust says these units add moisture and cool the air near the machine, so a sealed humid bedroom is the weak case. Keep a water tank and a pad. Reject a plain tower fan, and reject a refrigerant portable that only uses the word cooler in the title. Ice packs are a short boost to the stream, not air conditioning. Airflow claims in this set run from 300 m³/h to a claimed 420 m³/h on the Air Pro AP-H3.
Litres buy time between refills. The tanks here are 3 litres on the LEENON, 6 litres on the BLACK+DECKER and the Air Pro AP-H3, 7 litres on the Midea, and 8 litres on the Air Pro APH6 and APH8. Check whether the tank lifts out. A LEENON review says that model is filled with a jug, and BLACK+DECKER reviews say pulling the tank out unclips the pump. A 2.9 from 288 reviews outweighs a 4.0 from one review.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You cannot fit a split and you will accept cooler air in the stream on a dry afternoon. The Midea MCF23XRWUK is the top pick: 4.1 from 180 reviews, a 7 litre tank, and six speeds. A review says this model has no wheels, and the listed weight is 10 kg.
You want a tower with a large review file under the Midea price. The LEENON ATF-026L is the best value: 4.1 from 166 reviews at about £119.99. The bullet says the 3 litre tank lifts out. Reviewers fill it from a jug.
You want a low box, casters, and the only app in this set, with Alexa and Google Home. The BLACK+DECKER BXAC65014GB is about £87.29. The listing line is 2.9 from 288 reviews, and several buyers found the room thermometer unchanged.
The Midea MCF23XRWUK is the top pick. It has the highest score, 75, with 4.1 from 180 reviews, six speeds, and a 7 litre tank, if you can place a listed 10 kg without wheels. The LEENON ATF-026L is the best value: 4.1 from 166 reviews at about £119.99, two points behind the Midea and about £21 cheaper, if you will refill a 3 litre tank from a jug. A 4.0 from one review does not win either award. None of these six is a refrigerant air conditioner.
Midea MCF23XRWUK
Highest score at 75, with 4.1 from 180 reviews, six speeds, and a 7 litre tank if you can place 10 kg without wheels.
LEENON ATF-026L
4.1 from 166 reviews at about £119.99, two points under the Midea and about £21 cheaper.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources from the digest, plus the amazon.co.uk listings for these six ASINs, checked on 19 October 2026.
Expert source (DIY & tools): Charlie White (Charlie DIYte) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk with the tag pcuk26-21. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are the UK listing lines checked on 19 October 2026. We did not run a lab test.
