Keep your home cool with the best air conditioner brands of 2024

The great paradox of summer is that many of us want to stay inside when the sun comes out. If you don’t have quality air conditioning in your home, you may wind up in a movie theater or taking your sweet time at the grocery store — anything to stay out of the heat for a while. But that’s much less sustainable than setting your home up with an AC system from one of the best air conditioner brands.

Shopping for an air conditioner — especially one that integrates with your HVAC system — can feel daunting. With so many brands on the market, types of units, energy efficiency considerations and cost considerations, finding the best air conditioner for your home can be a bit of a process.

Fortunately, the team at CNN Underscored has done the research and can help you narrow your search. These are our picks for the best air conditioner brands for 2024.

Why we picked York

Founded in 1874, York is one of America’s oldest heating and cooling companies. Today, it’s owned and operated by Johnson Controls, an acquisition that has led York to diversify into a range of smart-home products.

York air conditioners max out at a SEER rating of just 20, making them less efficient than competitor models. However, they make up for that with a lower upfront cost and outstanding warranties. York models start around $3,000 with installation and all air conditioners come with 10-year limited warranties on parts and a lifetime limited warranty on the compressor with no deductibles or repair limitations.

York’s Affinity Series pairs seamlessly with the company’s smart thermostats, simplifying climate control in your home.

Who should use York

Those looking for a budget-friendly way to switch to central air will find York’s product line among the most affordable, especially when you take advantage of current rebates. York’s air conditioners also run quietly, so if noise control is a priority, York is worth a look.

Pros and cons of York

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Cons

Why we picked Rheem

Rheem has one of the most diverse product lines of any air conditioning brand, with many central air and mini-split units available. That product diversity makes it an attractive choice for many customers, as it has many budget-friendly ductless options and higher-end central air systems. Rheem ACs are also affordable, costing anywhere from $3,000 to $7,600 to purchase and install.

Rheem’s standout products are its ductless mini-splits. More affordable and easier to install than ducted HVAC systems, Rheem’s mini-split air handler series can reach SEER ratings of 33, the highest number of any product we’ve reviewed. As such, not only can Rheem save you money upfront, but they’ll also be kind to your energy bill.

Who should use Rheem

If your home doesn’t have existing ductwork, central air installation will cost you a premium. Rheem’s ductless mini-splits are not only remarkably efficient but also less expensive to install, making them a good choice for smaller homes that don’t need comprehensive central systems.

Pros and cons of Rheem

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Why we picked Friedrich

Friedrich is the only company on this list that doesn’t offer central air conditioning systems. Nonetheless, its substantial collection of window units, through-the-wall air conditioners, portable units and ductless mini-split systems earn it a spot. Naturally, all of these unit types run more quietly than central AC units, but Friedrich stands out among the best AC brands when it comes to quiet operation and efficiency. (On a personal note, my local appliance store recommended a Friedrich window unit for my bedroom, and it’s been a quiet-operating dream.)

The wall-mounted Floating Air ductless system can reach an outstanding 28 SEER rating and comes with standard 7-year parts and a 10-year compressor warranty that raises to 10 years for both upon registration. Friedrich window units are as affordable as $250, while mini-splits range up to about $5,000. Most mini-splits are smart home compatible and feature multi-zone cooling and quiet operation.

Who should use Friedrich

If you live in an older home that will require extensive work to build ducts, Friedrich offers some compelling, affordable options. Likewise, Friedrich window units are a good choice if you’re just looking to cool down one or two rooms — like a bedroom to help you sleep during the summer.

Pros and cons of Friedrich

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Why we picked Lennox

Lennox has over a century of experience in the HVAC business and became the first company to manufacture packaged direct multi-zone rooftop units for both heating and cooling in 1965. In that time, the company has earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has garnered a reputation for efficient, reliable systems.*

Although Lennox systems are not the most affordable, ranging from $3,000 to $10,000 for a central air conditioning unit with installation, it offers models with SEER ratings up to 28.

Most Lennox air conditioning units come with a five-year parts and compressor warranty, but higher-end models like the Elite Series have a 10-year warranty. That said, at least one customer on Trustpilot took issue with the high cost of Lennox’s OEM (original equipment manufacturer) replacement parts, claiming to spend “about $12,000 in the first 11 years on repairs/replacements ABOVE what was covered in Lennon [sic] warranty.”

Lennox offers a variety of smart products to pair with air conditioning units to give you even greater climate control. Its website offers financing options, and units are sold at many home center retailers.

Who should use Lennox

Lennox is a high-end brand that strives for efficiency. If you have a large home to cool and can afford a higher upfront cost (or monthly financing bill) in exchange for long-term energy cost savings, Lennox is the best AC brand for you.

Pros and cons of Lennox

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Cons

*BBB ratings are accurate as of October 2024.

Why we picked Samsung

Not all homes are designed for central air conditioning, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to have a comfortable home. Samsung ranked well on our list for its affordable, efficient ductless air conditioning systems. Unlike central AC units that need extensive ductwork to cool your home, ductless AC systems are installed in each room.

Whereas most air conditioning units operate between 60 and 70 dB, Samsung’s units run as quietly as 20 dB, as quiet as leaves rustling in the wind.

Who should use Samsung

Samsung only makes heat pumps and ductless units, so this provider is the way to go if you don’t have central air infrastructure in your home.

Pros and cons of Samsung

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Cons

Why we picked Carrier

Carrier has one of the most comprehensive product offerings of any air conditioning company, a credit to its innovation over its over 100-year history. While Carrier won’t win any prizes for affordability, it offers various products at different price points, with an expected cost after installation of $3,000 to $15,000.

One cool thing about Carrier is that all dealers and installers have to earn the designation of Carrier Authorized Dealer, meaning there’s less likelihood of installation issues as anyone who works with Carrier ACs has been rigorously trained on Carrier products.

Unlike some other manufacturers, Carrier gives you an option of warranty, which we mark as both a pro and a con. On the one hand, the choice is nice; if you want to avoid compounding an expensive air conditioning purchase with a 10-year warranty that covers parts only, you have the option for five-year parts and a three-year labor-limited warranty. However, choosing between longer coverage for parts or shorter coverage for labor expenses isn’t appealing, especially when other providers offer better warranties.

Who should use Carrier

Those with a larger budget should look at Carrier for reliable, high-quality air conditioning unit installation.

Pros and cons of Carrier

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Cons

Why we picked Trane

Trane is one of the biggest names in HVAC systems and one of the most trusted. For 10 consecutive years, it has been rated the most trusted HVAC brand by American consumers, as surveyed by Lifestory Research.

Trane’s five-year base and 10-year registered limited warranty is good, but its 12-year registered limited warranty offered on some ductless and central units is the longest among the best air conditioner brands. Combined with its reputation for reliability, Trane is a safe choice, even if its SEER ratings — ranging from 14 to 21 in central AC units — aren’t the strongest.

The biggest knock on Trane’s product is price. Unit and installation costs for its premium line start at $8,800 and can exceed $20,000. You can expect to pay at least $5,000 even for more basic models.

Who should use Trane

Trane is a truly premium brand that’s only a realistic choice for people with major budgets and major cooling needs. With mediocre SEER ratings, Trane products won’t save you much on energy costs in the long run, but the warranty and reliable reputation should at least cut down on maintenance costs.

Pros and cons of Trane

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Our picks at a glance

What didn’t make the cut

Air conditioner efficiency

In the hottest months, you’ll likely run your air conditioner almost the entire day. That will likely make it the most energy-consuming device in your home. Naturally, you don’t want sticker shock when the electric bill comes due. That’s where efficiency comes into play.

Energy efficiency terms to know: SEER rating and Energy Star

We’ve used the SEER rating as an essential metric to gauge the efficiency of different brands’ products. The SEER rating is the cooling output of a system over an average cooling season, divided by the total energy used.

A good SEER rating is typically over 21, but the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) requires a minimum 13.4 SEER2 rating for Northern States and 14.3 SEER2 for Southern States.

Another crucial efficiency term is Energy Star. This government-backed label indicates that a product, home, building or manufacturing plant meets the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) standards for high efficiency. The EPA oversees the certification process to verify that all products with the Energy Star label are highly efficient.

Do you need the most efficient AC unit?

One key cost factor in air conditioning units is efficiency. More efficient units are typically expensive upfront because they’ll save you more money than a less efficient unit in the long run. Whether it’s worth it to pay for efficiency depends on your situation.

Generally speaking, paying a little extra upfront for a more efficient unit makes sense, especially if financing is available. Electricity prices rose in 33 states in 2023, and these increases are predicted to continue due to increased demand. That’s a strong incentive to get a more efficient unit now to help offset increasing electricity prices.

That said, if you live in a smaller, well-insulated home and take measures like using blackout curtains on large windows to keep your home cool, you may not need the most efficient unit. If you can keep your home cool by running your AC for a few hours daily, efficiency becomes less critical.

Air conditioning buying guide: 8 factors you should consider

An air conditioner is a significant purchase, and you want to make the right choice. These are some of the most important factors when shopping for an AC unit.

Cooling stage

Two-stage cooling has become the most recent hot topic in air conditioning. This term refers to the type of compressor in the outside condensing unit that permits two levels of operation based on your cooling needs. On hot days, it can run at full capacity. On milder days, it can run at partial capacity. Effectively, two-stage cooling gives a unit even greater energy- and cost-saving potential than single-stage units.

Most AC brands offer at least one two-stage cooling unit, while Lennox, Ruud, Rheem and Samsung provide several options at different prices.

Cost

More efficient units tend to be more expensive. Still, that doesn’t mean you have to spend an arm and a leg upfront to get a quality AC. Samsung, Friedrich and Rheem offer more affordable central AC units, but if you have a good credit score, you may get suitable financing offers on higher-end units from Lennox.

Efficiency

The DOE has calculated that a central AC unit with a SEER rating of 28 can deliver $1,925 in lifetime savings. Even the most basic Energy Star model saves $394. An AC unit is a big purchase, but efficient models can keep a little more money in your pocket over time.

When it comes to efficiency, Carrier, Rheem and Lennox deliver the best options.

Maintenance

Upkeep for a major appliance like an AC unit can get expensive. While many companies offer warranties to help offset maintenance costs, most of us would prefer not to call maintenance often. To avoid major breakdowns, you should schedule a maintenance service appointment at least once a year (twice a year if you live in a hot climate where you use your AC in all seasons).

Brands like York and Ruud have solid reputations for cost-effective maintenance, while companies that sell their own parts, like Lennox, tend to be more expensive to maintain.

Noise range

Nobody wants to be woken up in the middle of the night by a noisy air conditioner, nor do you want to hear an annoying hum all day. You’ll never find a silent central AC unit, but they’re quieter today than ever.

The quietest central AC units you’ll find are in the 50 to 60 decibel (dB) range, which is about the volume of conversation you can expect at a restaurant. Wall-mounted mini-splits are typically quieter than central AC units, but even those operate around 40 to 50 dB.

In my research, I found Friedrich, Rheem and Samsung offered some of the quietest options across window, mini-split and central AC units.

Size

Every home has a limited footprint and specific layout. When you’re shopping for central AC units, you probably don’t want a giant, noisy box visible in your front yard. Likewise, you may not like it taking up an entire garden bed. Central AC units are always bigger than your average window unit, but companies like Rheem offer units with a smaller footprint if you have limited space to work with.

Warranty

Air conditioning systems should always come with a warranty. Typically, the best air conditioner brands offer both compressor and parts warranties, as well as a labor warranty. Companies tend to build the cost of warranties into the product price, and I noticed that cheaper models often carry weaker warranties. This isn’t true of all brands. For instance, LG has a somewhat non-competitive one-year warranty on all its air conditioners.

Warranties help reduce maintenance costs and protect you from the expenses of shoddy installation or manufacturing defects. If you live in an area with intense weather, your unit requires complicated installation or you run the AC year-round, investing in a unit with a longer warranty may be worth the upfront expense.

York offers particularly strong warranties on its air conditioners, with a 10-year parts limited warranty and lifetime compressor limited warranty with no deductibles.

How to save money on a new air conditioner

The good news about spending big bucks on a new air conditioner is that there are many rebates and ways to save.

First and foremost, as of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, many air conditioning models are eligible for federal tax credits. The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit (25C) is retroactive to January 1, 2022, extends through 2032 and offers up to $600 each for a qualified air conditioner, with a maximum credit of $1,200.

In addition to the federal tax credit, you may be eligible for several rebates depending on your location. Use the Energy Star Rebate Finder to find one of the more than 3,000 rebates currently available in the United States.

Savvy shoppers may think they can save money by installing air conditioning during the winter, but that’s not usually the case. HVAC pros who work on AC units are often busy working on heating systems during winter, so service demands are just as high, keeping costs up. Prices are historically lowest in the fall and spring when milder temperatures lead to less demand.

You should also consider updating your furnace when you install central AC. We estimate the average cost of installing a central AC and a furnace together to be $10,000, which is nothing to sneeze at. However, the cost of installing a furnace or central air conditioning alone could reach as high as $20,000 for either, depending on various factors. HVAC systems that support heating and cooling feature many components to perform opposite functions, making it more cost-effective to install the complete system at once rather than doing one at a time.

Methodology

Our list of the best air conditioner brands was derived from a data-based ranking system based on eight categories.

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