Our top pick, the Hessaire MC37M Portable Evaporative Cooler, is compact, energy-efficient, and suitable for indoor or outdoor use. Here are the best evaporative coolers. Keep cool easier with this functional and well-equipped evaporative cooler from Hessaire. The MC37M is sized to cool down spaces up to 950 square feet and has powerful airflow—up to 3,100 CFM. Cooling media surrounds three sides of the unit, while an automatic oscillation feature better distributes the air. This model can be used for both indoor and outdoor areas, adding to its versatility. Keep in mind that when operated in enclosed areas, like your living room, you’ll need to have an open door or window to prevent rising humidity levels. While the Hessaire MC37M is larger and heavier than some other indoor or portable evaporative coolers, the four heavy-duty caster wheels make it easier to move the unit from one location to another. The larger size also allows for an increased water tank capacity of 10.3 gallons, which translates into about 4 hours of runtime. Another option is to use a garden hose and the included float valve for continuous fill. Keep in mind that you might need to perform periodic maintenance for your swamp cooler, such as using a de-scaler to keep cooling pads free of mineral build-up that can impair performance. Price at time of publish: $371 Resembling an oscillating fan, this model is equipped with cyclone circulation to efficiently propel chilled air around rooms up to 250 square feet in size. The water tank has a limited capacity of 1.45 gallons, but it’s detachable for easier fill-ups. Use the two included icepacks to improve the unit’s cooling ability. Price at time of publish: $199 Capable of producing air movement up to 1,300 CFM, you can use adjust the louvered opening on the front of the unit to direct air where you need it most. The ABS plastic housing gives this model a durable finish that will stand up to light outdoor use or garage duty. Price at time of publish: $150 The Bonaire Durango has a 2-speed motor and provides air movement up to 5,000 CFM—enough to cool houses up to 2,000 square feet in size. This model also stands out for being constructed using an all-plastic enclosure. Whole-house evaporative coolers are typically made of steel and often plagued by rust, but that’s not a concern with the Bonaire Durango. In addition, the housing disassembles into 6 sections, making it easier to hoist up to your roof for assembly. An axial fan instead of a standard centrifugal fan lowers the height of the housing, giving this model a shorter vertical height than other whole-house evaporative coolers. Take note that existing roof jacks may require some modification to fit the legs of the Bonaire Durango. Remember that permanently installed swamp coolers will need winterization if you live in a climate where temperatures dip below freezing. Failing to do so can lead to damage from condensation and rust. Price at time of publish: $828 Unlike outdoor misting fans that spritz your patio furniture and party guests with water, an outdoor evaporative cooler like this Honeywell model distributes cool, dry air up to 9.4 yards from the unit. Adjustable louvers help you aim the cool air where you need it most, while a three-speed fan lets you choose the level of airflow that is comfortable for your environment. Price at time of publish: $350 Price at time of publish: $160 The RWC35 model from Champion Cooler is equipped to cool up to 900 square feet in the driest and arid of climates, but will realistically cool 500 to 700 square feet in more moderately dry conditions. It has 2 fan speed settings and provides air movement up to 3,300 CFM. There is an 8-gallon water tank that you’ll need to keep filled for operation. If you leave the unit in the window all year long, remember to winterize and de-winterize your swamp cooler as you transition between seasons. Price at time of publish: $764 Position the MC61V anywhere in your workspace to enjoy cool air moving at speeds up to 5,300 CFM. An axial fan blade and oscillating louvers pair together to distribute the air in spaces as large as 1,600 square feet. Keep in mind that you’ll need ventilation for the evaporative cooler to work properly in your garage or shop, so crack a door or window. Price at time of publish: $629
Cooling Area
Consider whether you want to cool an area inside or outside. Most evaporative coolers can be used indoors with ventilation, but for an outdoor evaporative cooler, you should look for one equipped with a GFCI plug and a continuous fill option that can be used with a garden hose. Another consideration is the square footage of the room or space you want to cool. Swamp coolers are recommended for square footage areas based on their ability to move air, measured in CFM. If you choose a unit that is too small for the space you want to cool, you’re less likely to feel the benefit of the evaporative cooler.
Water Connection
Every evaporative cooler has a water tank ranging in size from under 2 gallons to 10 gallons or more. This tank must have water in it for the cooling media to stay saturated and effective. While you can manually fill the tank, many evaporative coolers are equipped with a continuous fill option. This allows you to connect a garden hose to the tank. An internal float ensures that the tank stops filling when full. However, you shouldn’t use the continuous fill option for indoor evaporative coolers to eliminate any possibility of flooding due to an overflow.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Erica Puisis, a freelance home writer who has been contributing to The Spruce since 2017. She specializes in home appliances and products that are innovative and essential. When researching the best evaporative coolers on the market, she evaluated each model based on the type of cooler, how many square feet it can cool, and its air volume (measured in CFM). Other functional features that were considered were water tank size, a continuous fill option, and whether or not a model was portable. Every model included in our recommendations moves air at 1,300 CFM or more, except for the two smallest models included for indoor use. Portable evaporative coolers require no installation—just plug them into your living space, garage, or shed to enjoy a cool, refreshing breeze. Rooftop or whole-house evaporative coolers do require more installation, but the requirements are usually minimal compared to the installation of a central air system.
