Editor's pick
WindowENERGY STAR
LG Dual Inverter LW1022IVSM
Cooling
10,000 BTU
Covers
450 ft²
Efficiency
15 CEER
Noise
44 dB
$429 est.
typical retail price Mixed / Temperate · ~24¢/kWh · 4-month season
Air conditioning in New York: sizing, costs & the right units
New York runs from the dense, heat-island summers of New York City — where humid 90°F stretches feel hotter trapped between the buildings — to the cooler, shorter seasons upstate and in the Adirondacks. The downstate metro carries the cooling load: long, muggy July–August spells when AC is essential in apartments and brownstones alike.
Updated June 2026
What to look for in New York
City buyers fight two constraints — narrow windows and 15-amp circuits in older buildings — so measure the opening and check the breaker before a 12K+ unit. Humidity rewards inverter units that run long and dry, and in a tight NYC bedroom a quiet unit matters as much as a cold one. Steep downstate power rates make efficiency a real saver over a sticky season.
What cooling costs in New York
Estimated at New York's average residential rate (~24¢/kWh, approximate) and 8 hours/day. "Per season" assumes 4 cooling months. Your utility rate and usage will vary.
| Unit | Efficiency | Est. / month | Est. / season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senville LETO SENL-12CD Mini-split | 21.2 SEER2 | $37 | $148 |
| LG Dual Inverter LW1022IVSM Window | 15 CEER | $38 | $152 |
| BLACK+DECKER BPACT14WT Portable | 6.1 CEER | $132 | $528 |
Climate-matched
All 49 units Units that fit New York's climate
WindowENERGY STAR
Midea Smart MAW08HV1CWT
Cooling
8,000 BTU
Covers
350 ft²
Efficiency
14.5 CEER
Noise
50 dB
$379 est.
typical retail price
Best portable
Portable
Midea Duo MAP12S1TBL
Cooling
12,000 BTU
Covers
450 ft²
Efficiency
9 CEER
Noise
53 dB
$499 est.
typical retail priceNew York AC questions, answered
How many BTU do I need for a New York City apartment?
Most NYC bedrooms (120–220 ft²) need 5,000–7,000 BTU; a sunny top-floor or open studio can reach 8,000. Use the Mixed/Temperate zone and your real square footage — oversizing a small NYC room leaves it cold but clammy.
What type of AC works best in a NYC apartment?
A compact inverter window unit for most rooms — quiet and efficient — or a U-shaped/saddle unit if you want to keep the window operable. Confirm it fits your exact window opening; NYC windows are often unusually narrow.
What does AC cost to run in New York?
At downstate rates (~24¢/kWh) and 8 hours a day, an efficient 8–10K unit runs about $30–42/month; lower upstate rates trim that. An old fixed-speed unit can cost half again as much over a humid summer.
Electricity rates are approximate state averages; check your utility bill for your exact rate.