The best wall mounted air conditioner for most UK homes is a split system from an established manufacturer such as Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Panasonic or Samsung, sized properly for the room and installed by an F-gas certified engineer. A good split unit cools quietly in summer, heats efficiently in spring and autumn, and costs far less to run than a portable unit.

What counts as a wall mounted air conditioner

There are three kinds of wall mounted unit, and they are very different to live with.

• Split system: an indoor unit high on the wall and an outdoor unit outside, connected by insulated refrigerant pipes, a condensate drain and a cable through a small hole in the wall. The noisy compressor is outside, so the room stays quiet. This is what most people mean by wall mounted air conditioning.
• Multi-split: one outdoor unit serving several indoor units in different rooms. Some ranges, such as the Daikin Perfera, allow up to five indoor units on one outdoor unit. Useful when there is only space for one outdoor unit.
• Through-wall unit without an outdoor unit: everything sits in one box on the inside wall with two vents through to the outside. It avoids an outdoor unit, which can help on some flats and listed buildings, but because the compressor is in the room it is louder and generally less efficient than a split.

Portable units that vent a hose through a window are not wall mounted at all. They are the cheapest to buy but the least efficient and the noisiest, and they are best treated as a temporary fix.

If you want a split system fitted, our air conditioning installation service covers the survey, sizing and installation, with a Refcom F-Gas registered team (REF1024550).

The best wall mounted air conditioners in 2026

These are ranges we rate for homes, based on manufacturer specifications and how they perform in real houses. We service all the major brands, including every one listed here.

Range	Why choose it	Smart control	Worth knowing
Daikin Perfera	All-rounder with very quiet low speed and air purification	Onecta app, Alexa and Google Home	Motion sensor steers air away from people and saves energy in empty rooms
Daikin Emura	Design-led, for living rooms and open-plan spaces	Onecta app	Available in black, silver and white
Mitsubishi Electric MSZ-LN	Premium build, good filtration	MELCloud app via a Wi-Fi interface	Washable air filter plus air cleaning filter, with an optional silver-ionised filter
Panasonic Etherea	Air quality focus	Comfort Cloud app	nanoe X technology aimed at odours and airborne allergens
Samsung WindFree Comfort S2 and Avant S2	Cooling without a cold draught	SmartThings app	WindFree mode spreads air gently rather than blowing it at you
Daikin Sensira or Comfora	Good value, discreet	Check the model for app control	Simpler features, still a proper inverter split system

Daikin Perfera

The Perfera is the one we recommend most often for bedrooms and home offices. Daikin quotes seasonal efficiency up to A+++ for both cooling and heating, and an indoor sound level as low as 19 dBA on its quietest setting. It includes Daikin’s Flash Streamer air purification and a silver allergen removal filter, dual flaps for even airflow, and a motion sensor. The Onecta app lets you control it remotely and link it to Alexa or Google Home.

Daikin Emura

The Emura is for rooms where the look matters. It uses the same kind of inverter technology as Daikin’s other ranges, in a slimmer, more sculpted indoor unit available in black, silver or white. It is a good choice for living rooms and kitchen diners where the unit is on show.

Mitsubishi Electric MSZ-LN

The MSZ-LN is Mitsubishi Electric’s premium wall mounted range and is known for its build quality. According to Mitsubishi Electric’s operating instructions, it uses a washable air filter plus a separate air cleaning filter, with an optional silver-ionised air purifier filter, which suits allergy sufferers who keep on top of cleaning. It also has Mitsubishi Electric’s i-see sensor, which controls the room based on how warm it actually feels, and it links to the MELCloud app through a Wi-Fi interface.

Panasonic Etherea

The Etherea is Panasonic’s flagship wall unit. It uses Panasonic’s nanoe X technology, which the manufacturer says helps with odours, bacteria, mould and allergens, and it is controlled through the Panasonic Comfort Cloud app.

Samsung WindFree

Samsung’s WindFree Comfort S2 and Avant S2 are built around cooling without a cold draught. Once the room is at temperature, WindFree mode lets air out gently instead of blowing it across the room. Control is through Samsung’s SmartThings app, which is handy if you already use other Samsung devices.

How to choose the right unit

1. Size it properly. The right capacity depends on the room size, windows, which way it faces, insulation and how many people and computers are in it. Too small and it runs flat out. Too big and it cycles on and off. A proper survey works this out.
2. Compare seasonal efficiency. Look at SEER for cooling and SCOP for heating, and the energy label (A+++ down to D). Higher is cheaper to run. Our page on air conditioning running costs explains what to expect.
3. Check the noise figures. Look at the indoor sound level on low speed for bedrooms, and the outdoor unit’s sound level if it will sit near a neighbour’s window or your patio.
4. Use it for heating too. Modern split systems heat as well as cool, and do so efficiently in mild weather. Many people use them to take the chill off a room in spring and autumn without firing up the whole central heating.
5. Look at filters and maintenance. Some ranges have extra purification filters that need cleaning or replacing. Check what the manufacturer asks for and how often.
6. Plan the outdoor unit position. It needs airflow, a solid wall bracket or base, access for servicing and a route for the pipes and drain.

For a checklist of what a good installer should put in writing, read what an air conditioning quote should include. Our guide to choosing an air conditioning installer in Hertfordshire covers the checks to make on the company itself.

What the installation involves

A single split system is usually fitted in a day. The engineer mounts the indoor unit, drills a core hole through the wall, runs the refrigerant pipes, drain and cable to the outdoor unit, and fits the outdoor unit on a bracket or base. The system is then pressure tested, evacuated to remove air and moisture, and commissioned. It usually needs its own electrical supply from the consumer unit, which must meet the wiring regulations.

How we price it

Installations are quoted as a fixed price after a free survey, so the price you agree is the price you pay. You can start with our online air conditioning quote. Our servicing and repair rates are published on our prices page, so you know what you will pay for aftercare too.

Frequently asked questions

Are wall mounted air conditioners any good?

Yes, a wall mounted split system is the most efficient and quietest way to cool a room in a UK home. It is far more efficient than a portable unit and, because it runs in reverse, it can also heat the room efficiently in mild weather.

Does a wall mounted air conditioner need an outdoor unit?

A split system does. Through-wall units without an outdoor unit exist, but everything, including the compressor, sits inside the room. They are generally louder and less efficient, so they are best kept for rooms where an outdoor unit is not possible.

Can a wall mounted air conditioner heat a room?

Most modern split systems are reversible, so they heat as well as cool. They work well in spring and autumn and are often used to heat home offices and conservatories without running the whole central heating system.

Do I need planning permission for air conditioning?

Many homes can fit an outdoor unit without a formal application, but the rules are less clear-cut than for some other home improvements. Listed buildings, conservation areas and flats need extra care, so check with your local council or freeholder first.

How often should air conditioning be serviced?

Clean the filters regularly yourself, as the manufacturer’s instructions describe, and have the system professionally serviced every year. See our air conditioning servicing page for what a service includes.

Air conditioning installation in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire

If you are choosing a wall mounted air conditioner, our F-gas certified engineers can survey the room, size the system properly and fit it neatly. Visit our air conditioning installation page or call 01462 506374, answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.