Portable Air Conditioners You Can Actually Buy Right Now (UK Heatwave 2026)

Portable Air Conditioners You Can Actually Buy Right Now (UK Heatwave 2026)

If you've spent the last few days refreshing Amazon and Currys only to see "currently unavailable" on every decent air conditioner, you're not imagining it. Currys' own CEO said cooling products were "flying off the shelves" during June's record heat — fan sales jumped nearly 3,000% in a single weekend, and portable air conditioner sales were up 330%. One AC installer reported 900 enquiries in a week versus a normal 30. With another heatwave building through this week, stock of the popular models (Meaco, De'Longhi) is genuinely tight across UK retailers right now.

So instead of pointing you at units that are sold out the moment you click through, here's what's actually orderable today — plus what to do tonight if even these run out before you get there.

🥇 Best Available Right Now: DREO 12,000 BTU

🏆 STILL IN STOCK✅ WE RECOMMEND

We Recommend: 5/5 — the most powerful option that's genuinely available for order

While Meaco and De'Longhi's most popular units have sold out brand-wide, DREO's 12,000 BTU unit has stayed orderable throughout the rush — handling larger bedrooms and open-plan living rooms up to around 28-30m². Drainage-free design means no water tank to empty, and it's quiet enough for overnight use. Note: lead times have stretched from next-day to a few days as demand holds, so order sooner rather than later if you want it before the weekend heat.

🥈 Worth Checking First: MeacoCool Pro Series

🔍 CHECK STOCK — SELLS OUT FAST

We Recommend: 5/5 if in stock — our genuine top pick when available

Meaco is a British brand and the MeacoCool Pro range is consistently the best-reviewed portable AC for UK homes — quiet running (51-55dB), WiFi app control so you can pre-cool a room before you get home, and a proper 3-year warranty. The catch right now is availability: these have been in and out of stock daily during the rush. Worth a quick check even if it shows unavailable today — restocks have been happening, just unpredictably.

🥉 Best Budget Option: NETTA 8,000 BTU

💰 BEST VALUE

We Recommend: 4/5 — solid cooling for a smaller bedroom without the premium price

If you just need to survive the next fortnight rather than invest in a decade-long unit, an 8,000 BTU budget model suits smaller bedrooms under 15m². Not as quiet as the premium options, but genuinely functional, and has held stock better than the big-name brands throughout the rush since it's less of a target for panic buying.

What It Actually Costs to Run

Under Ofgem's current rate, a typical 9,000 BTU portable AC uses around 0.9 kWh per hour — roughly 22p an hour to run. Used for 4 hours a day over a hot fortnight, that's about £12-15 total, not the fortune people sometimes assume. Worth knowing: the Energy Saving Trust notes a portable AC can cost around 20 times more to run than a standard fan, so if you're just after "cooler, not cold," a fan plus closed curtains during the day genuinely gets you most of the way there for a fraction of the running cost.

Everything Sold Out? Do This Tonight

If every AC option above is showing unavailable by the time you read this, a good fan plus a few free tricks gets you through: close curtains/blinds during the day to block direct sun, open windows at both ends of the house after dark to create a through-draught, and point a fan at a bowl of ice or a frozen wet towel for a rough evaporative cooling effect. Our full fan buying guide covers what's still in stock if you go that route instead.

Sorting the rest of your living room while you're at it? A preloved sofa from us delivers within 48 hours across Staffordshire and the West Midlands — unlike most AC orders this week.

Browse Preloved Sofas from £280 →

Looking for more? See our full Home Living Guide for every buying guide on the blog.

Also on the blog: Best Fans UK 2026 · Best Dehumidifier UK 2026 · Best Blackout Curtains UK 2026

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Stock and prices change fast during heatwave demand — always check the live listing. Read our full affiliate disclosure.