🗓 Updated July 9, 2026 · EcoBack editorial team
Installed air conditioning in much of Europe costs over €1,000 and comes with weeks-long waitlists during a heatwave — and if you rent, you often can't install it at all. Here are the cheapest no-installation ways to cool down, from €30 up, with what each is actually good for.
The one number every purchase hangs on — it is already worked out below. Adjust the room size if it is off.
Compiled from public tests & customer reviews — not tested by us. Prices vary; check the current price on Amazon. Illustrations, not product photos. One thing first: without a sealed window every portable AC loses most of its effect — hot air gets pulled straight back in. Amazon.de ships to most EU countries, with site and checkout available in English.
De'Longhi Pinguino PAC EX105
Strong cooling, often in the test-winner line.
✓ Strong cooling, good efficiency
✕ Big & heavy
Comfee MPPH-09CRN7
Affordable for small bedrooms & offices — but clearly audible.
✓ Cheap, compact
✕ Clearly audible (~63 dB)
AEG ChillFlex Pro
Comfortable in the bedroom, well equipped.
✓ Very quiet, well equipped
✕ Higher price
De'Longhi PAC N90 ECO Silent
Monoblock test winner at Stiftung Warentest, silent mode, R290 refrigerant.
✓ Quietest monoblock in its group
✕ Pricier than the value pick
Klarstein Kraftwerk Smart 12K
Strongest cooling of its group in public comparisons.
✓ Strongest cooling of its group
✕ Audibly loud
It draws in warm room air, cools it and returns it — the waste heat leaves through the window hose. Real cooling, not just moving air around.
1. Tower & pedestal fans — from ~€30
The cheapest relief. A fan won't lower the room temperature, but moving air over your skin makes a big difference, especially at night. A quiet tower fan is the single best value if your budget is tight.
2. Evaporative air cooler — from ~€60
An air cooler evaporates water to chill the air it blows out. It works best in dry heat and needs no window kit — just fill the tank. Cheaper to run than an AC and totally renter-friendly, though it adds humidity, so it's less effective in already-muggy flats.
See air coolers on Amazon.de →
3. Dehumidifier — from ~€120
If your flat feels muggy rather than just hot, humidity is the culprit. Drying the air can make 28°C feel noticeably cooler and helps you sleep — often for less electricity than an AC. Great for damp ground-floor flats.
See dehumidifiers on Amazon.de →
4. Portable air conditioner — from ~€250
The only no-installation option that genuinely lowers the temperature. It vents hot air out a window via an included hose kit. More expensive and needs a ventable window, but nothing else truly cools a hot bedroom. Match the BTU to your room size.
See portable air conditioners on Amazon.de → · full portable AC buying guide →
No usable window in the room? See the 5 real venting routes without a window →
Quick recommendation
- Under €60: a good tower fan — best value for pure airflow.
- Dry heat, no window venting possible: an air cooler.
- Muggy flat: a dehumidifier, sometimes alongside a fan.
- You need to actually drop the temperature to sleep: a portable AC, no way around it.
Find the right unit — honestly recommended
Specific models with a role, compiled from public reviews (not tested by us) — plus free calculators for the right size.
See the top picks →