A portable air conditioner can legitimately list two different cooling-capacity figures: a SACC rating and an ASHRAE rating. Compare like-labeled figures across models, and keep both numbers attached to the exact model. Do not use a single percentage to convert every ASHRAE figure into SACC.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s portable air conditioner page identifies the product category and its test-procedure framework. SACC, or seasonally adjusted cooling capacity, is an adjusted test capacity. It is not simply a different unit for the same published ASHRAE number.
Two models, two different ratios
These are manufacturer-published specifications, not measured results from our own room tests.
| Exact model | Published SACC capacity | Published ASHRAE capacity | SACC divided by ASHRAE |
|---|---|---|---|
| LG LP0623WSR | 6,000 BTU | 9,700 BTU | About 61.9% |
| LG LP1021BHSM | 10,000 BTU | 14,000 BTU | About 71.4% |
The figures come from LG’s LP0623WSR page and LP1021BHSM page , checked October 11, 2026. The pages label capacity in BTU; for cooling-capacity comparisons, this refers to a rate of heat removal, conventionally expressed in BTU per hour.
The calculations are 6,000 ÷ 9,700 and 10,000 ÷ 14,000. Their different results show why converting all models at, say, 65% would fail even for these two examples. The ratios are comparisons between published ratings. They do not describe a temperature drop, an electrical-efficiency percentage or the proportion of cooling that disappears in your room.
Compare the label before comparing the number
Suppose one listing prominently shows 10,000 BTU and another shows 9,700 BTU. Those numbers alone cannot establish which has the higher comparable capacity. First find out whether each headline is quoting SACC or ASHRAE, then open the exact model’s specification page.
A useful comparison record has four fields:
| Field | Why it belongs in the record |
|---|---|
| Exact model number | Similar product names can conceal different specifications |
| SACC figure | Gives a consistently labeled adjusted-capacity field |
| ASHRAE figure | Explains a second number used in the listing |
| Installation and room guidance | Connects the product to the conditions the manufacturer specifies |
Cooling capacity and electrical input are separate quantities. A capacity figure in BTU per hour is not a power-consumption figure in watts. Do not infer running cost from either capacity label alone.
A rating does not replace installation guidance
Use the exact manufacturer’s guidance for room conditions, exhaust arrangement and operating limits. A headline square-foot recommendation cannot describe every combination of room layout and installation. This guide supplies no universal room-size formula or prediction of cooling time.
The portable air conditioner shortlist addresses model selection. Keep the same-model rating labels from this guide in any comparison you make from it.
Method and limits
We reconciled DOE’s category and test framework with two LG specification pages and calculated the displayed ratios. We did not run either air conditioner, measure noise or room temperatures, or establish current availability. When a retailer and manufacturer show different numbers, resolve the model and rating label before using the listing to make a decision.