Black & Decker 10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Remote Control

Why I brought this portable AC home

My upstairs bedroom turns into a heat trap every summer, and running the central air hard enough to fix that wastes energy on the rest of the house. I wanted a compact unit that could cool a single room well, pull out humidity on swampy days, and be painless to set up and move. The Black & Decker portable AC checked a lot of boxes on paper: 10,000 BTU SACC (the more realistic modern rating), a self-evaporating dehumidifier, a swinging air outlet, and a window kit in the box.

After several weeks of use across a 12-by-12 bedroom and a larger open living area, here’s how it really performs.

Setup and installation

Out of the box, the install is straightforward if you have a double-hung or sliding window. The included panel and foam seals are basic but effective, and the locking screws help secure the panel once you’ve sized it to your window opening. I appreciated that it doesn’t monopolize the entire window; on my double-hung window, the kit lives in the lower sash and I can still crack the upper sash for fresh air when the unit’s off.

A few practical notes:
- The exhaust hose is about 4.9 feet. That’s enough to reach most windows without stretching across the room, but it does mean the unit needs to live fairly close to the window.
- Keep the hose as short and as straight as possible. Sharp bends and extra length will cut cooling performance significantly.
- The power cord is roughly 70 inches, so plan for an outlet within about six feet. As with most portable ACs, avoid extension cords.

The unit rolls easily on four casters and has side handles. It’s surprisingly easy to maneuver for its size and didn’t gouge my hardwood floors. The top-mounted LED display is bright and readable, and the remote (two AAA batteries) mirrors the main controls.

One quirk worth calling out: there’s an intentional 3-minute compressor delay after you change modes or temperature. If it seems like it’s ignoring you, it’s just protecting the compressor—give it a moment.

Cooling performance

In the bedroom (roughly 144 sq. ft.), this AC is confident. Starting from 78–80°F, I was consistently at 72–73°F within 20–30 minutes with the door closed. The auto up/down swing helps distribute air without blasting one spot, and the three fan speeds (202 CFM on high, 178 on medium, 166 on low) give you good control over noise versus airflow.

In a larger open area around 350–400 sq. ft., it was able to hold the line on 90°F afternoons, bringing the temp down about 6–8°F from ambient after an hour and maintaining comfort afterward. That’s about what I expect from a 10,000 BTU SACC unit—SACC is the realistic measurement for portable ACs in real-world conditions, and this model behaves like a true 10k SACC machine.

Two factors make or break performance:
- Sun and heat load: west-facing windows and poor insulation will make any portable work harder. Draw the shades and reduce sources of heat where you can.
- Door discipline: leave doors closed to keep the zone small and manageable.

The unit cools down to 61°F if you want it Arctic, but I found 72–74°F setpoints with medium fan speed to be the sweet spot for comfort and noise.

Humidity control

The dehumidification mode is excellent. Black & Decker rates it up to 90 pints per day, and while I didn’t measure exact totals, the “sticky” feeling disappeared quickly in my test spaces. In cooling mode, the self-evaporating system handled moisture well—I never had to empty a bucket, and I didn’t see any water warnings or drips. For very humid climates, this feature alone can make a room feel dramatically more comfortable at a slightly higher temperature setting.

Noise

Portable ACs aren’t whisper quiet, and this one is no different. The brand cites 58 dBA for sleep/low, which tracks with my impression: on low, it’s a steady, unobtrusive whoosh with occasional compressor hum as it cycles. On high, it’s noticeable but not grating—more like a robust box fan with a softer tone than some units I’ve tested. I ended up sleeping fine with it on low or medium; if you’re extremely sensitive to noise, you’ll likely prefer low plus a slightly lower setpoint.

Controls and everyday use

The control scheme is simple and predictable:
- Cooling, fan, and dehumidify modes cover most needs without menu-diving.
- The 24-hour timer is handy for pre-cooling before bedtime or shutting down after you leave.
- The auto swing is a set-and-forget comfort booster, especially in small rooms.
- The remote is basic but responsive, and it mirrors front-panel options.

I also like the minimum fuss maintenance. The washable filter pops out from the back, and cleaning twice a month (as recommended) takes two minutes. Keeping that filter clean noticeably helps airflow and reduces noise.

Portability and build

Rolling this from room to room is easy thanks to the casters and handles. It doesn’t feel heavy when you need to reposition it, and the footprint is manageable for small spaces. The chassis panels are fairly standard for this category—lightweight plastic with some flex. It’s not fragile, but I wouldn’t want to bang the body or overtighten the window kit screws. The window panel is serviceable; adding a bit of weatherstripping foam around edges tightens the seal and reduces hot air intrusion, which I recommend anyway for efficiency.

Efficiency and refrigerant

This model uses R32 refrigerant, which has a lower global warming potential than older blends like R410A. It’s also ETL safety certified. In practical terms, the 10,000 BTU SACC rating keeps expectations honest—this is the rating that matters for portable units. If energy use is a concern, a few tips help:
- Pre-cool the room before the hottest part of the day.
- Draw blinds and close doors to minimize heat load.
- Keep the exhaust hose short and un-kinked.
- Clean the filter regularly.

Those steps let me run on medium fan instead of high, which saves power and reduces noise.

Where it fits best

This Black & Decker portable AC is at its best in:
- Bedrooms and home offices up to about 250–300 sq. ft. where fast cooldown and low/medium noise matter.
- Small living rooms or studios up to around 400–450 sq. ft. with moderate sun exposure.
- Spaces that need humidity control as much as temperature reduction.

It’s not a good fit for crank/casement windows (not supported) or very large, open-plan areas. If you’re trying to tame a big garage or a 700+ sq. ft. great room in a heat wave, you’ll want either multiple units, a higher-capacity system, or a different cooling strategy.

What could be better

• Window kit rigidity: It works, but it’s on the lighter side. Extra foam or a quick DIY brace can improve the seal.
• Hose length flexibility: The included hose is fine for most rooms, but there’s limited placement flexibility. Avoid aftermarket longer hoses—performance drops quickly.
• Compressor delay perception: The built-in 3-minute protection period can feel like lag if you aren’t expecting it. Once you know, it’s a non-issue.

The bottom line

In day-to-day use, this Black & Decker portable AC does exactly what I want from a 10k SACC unit: it cools a bedroom quickly, keeps a mid-size living space comfortable on hot afternoons, pulls out oppressive humidity, and doesn’t add maintenance headaches. The noise profile is a steady white noise on low/medium rather than an intrusive rattle, the auto-swing spreads comfort nicely, and the self-evaporating design avoids the bucket routine. Installation is beginner-friendly as long as you have a compatible window, and the R32 refrigerant and ETL certification are welcome touches.

Recommendation: I recommend this portable AC for small-to-mid rooms where you need targeted cooling and dehumidification without committing to a permanent install. It’s a solid performer with honest capacity, easy setup, and helpful quality-of-life features like auto swing, a 24-hour timer, and a washable filter. If you need to cool a very large space or require whisper-quiet operation on high, look elsewhere; otherwise, this unit strikes a practical balance of performance, convenience, and value.