Unbiased Information and Reviews on Appliances, Solar and Saving Electricity

Best ACs in India ( Split , Inverter & Window ) in 2024 Buyer's Guide

By on April 23, 2023

For all the households using air conditioners, a major component of the electricity bill is contributed by the air conditioners. If you are someone who is worried about high electricity bills due to air conditioners then buying energy-efficient air conditioner makes much more sense to you. There are multiple types and brands of air conditioners available in the market today. Everyone wishes to be informed before making a buying decision of an air conditioner and wants to buy the best AC in India. People also want to decide if they should go for a split AC, inverter AC or a window AC. Most sources on the Internet provide details on features and reviews. Electricity consumption hardly becomes the deciding factor. To help people make electricity consumption a deciding factor, we at Bijli Bachao have decided to put up a list of the best air conditioners in India in 2024 by electricity consumption and size. We have also listed the top AC brands in India below.

Best Air Conditioner / AC brands in India in 2024

These are considered as premium brands for Air Conditioners in India. Out of these Hitachi, Daikin, Mitsubishi (Heavy and Electric) and General are Japanese brands while Blue Star is an Indian brand. These brands are known for their refrigeration technology and thus offer quite robust products. Hitachi, Daikin and Blue Star also offer great energy efficient models and typically rank high in our top rankings (based on BEE data). Other brands that are really good include LG AC, Samsung AC, Voltas AC, Godrej AC, Whirlpool AC, Carrier AC, Toshiba and Panasonic. This brand value mentioned over here is based on our perception of various brands available in India. Some people may have had good experience with other brands as well, but then their market presence is too small to make a judgment.

If you are looking for reviews of various brands, you can check our AC brand review section over here: Link. Or you can click on the specific brand name mentioned above. Before choosing a brand, you must also ensure that the brand is present in your city/locality and is able to provide good service for your purchased product.

Best Air Conditioner / AC in India in 2024

First and foremost, before deciding on any AC, please do a calculation of the size (or tonnage) that you need before looking at the best models. You can use the calculator below on this page to do the calculation.

To know more about BEE Star Rating of Inverter Air Conditioners check this page on our website: Understand What is ISEER and Star Labeling of Inverter Air Conditioners in India

Here are some popular models of air conditioners:

Top BEE 5 Star Rated Split Air Conditioners in India (as per BEE data)

1 Ton Models:

  • 1
    DAIKIN FTKF35UV16U
    Inverter: Yes
    Marketing_tonnage: 1.0 ton
    Annual Electricity Consumption: 418.52 kWh/year
    ISEER: 6.20
    Star Rating: 5
  • 2
    DAIKIN FTKF35UV16U
    Inverter: Yes
    Marketing_tonnage: 1.0 ton
    Annual Electricity Consumption: 418.52 kWh/year
    ISEER: 6.20
    Star Rating: 5
  • 3
    HITACHI RSOS512HCEAP
    Inverter: Yes
    Marketing_tonnage: 1.0 ton
    Annual Electricity Consumption: 454.60 kWh/year
    ISEER: 6.10
    Star Rating: 5
  • 4
    HITACHI RSOS512HCEAP
    Inverter: Yes
    Marketing_tonnage: 1.0 ton
    Annual Electricity Consumption: 454.60 kWh/year
    ISEER: 6.10
    Star Rating: 5
  • 5
    WHIRLPOOL SAI12B53DXD0
    Inverter: Yes
    Marketing_tonnage: 1.0 ton
    Annual Electricity Consumption: 450.71 kWh/year
    ISEER: 6.01
    Star Rating: 5
  • 6
    MITSUBISHI SRK13YVS-W6
    Inverter: Yes
    Marketing_tonnage: 1.0 ton
    Annual Electricity Consumption: 470.94 kWh/year
    ISEER: 5.94
    Star Rating: 5

1.5 Ton Models:

  • 1
    DAIKIN FTKF50UV16T
    Inverter: Yes
    Marketing_tonnage: 1.4 ton
    Annual Electricity Consumption: 667.36 kWh/year
    ISEER: 5.80
    Star Rating: 5
  • 2
    DAIKIN FTKF50UV16T
    Inverter: Yes
    Marketing_tonnage: 1.4 ton
    Annual Electricity Consumption: 667.36 kWh/year
    ISEER: 5.80
    Star Rating: 5
  • 3
    PANASONIC QU18XKY
    Inverter: Yes
    Marketing_tonnage: 1.5 ton
    Annual Electricity Consumption: 686.71 kWh/year
    ISEER: 5.75
    Star Rating: 5
  • 4
    PANASONIC QU18XKY
    Inverter: Yes
    Marketing_tonnage: 1.5 ton
    Annual Electricity Consumption: 686.71 kWh/year
    ISEER: 5.75
    Star Rating: 5
  • 5
    TOSHIBA RAS-18PKCV2G-IN
    Inverter: Yes
    Marketing_tonnage: 1.5 ton
    Annual Electricity Consumption: 704.35 kWh/year
    ISEER: 5.60
    Star Rating: 5
  • 6
    TOSHIBA RAS-18PKCV2G-IN
    Inverter: Yes
    Marketing_tonnage: 1.5 ton
    Annual Electricity Consumption: 704.35 kWh/year
    ISEER: 5.60
    Star Rating: 5

2 Ton Models:

  • 1
    INDCOOL IDCACS24K5I
    Inverter: Yes
    Marketing_tonnage: 2.0 ton
    Annual Electricity Consumption: 905.80 kWh/year
    ISEER: 5.90
    Star Rating: 5
  • 2
    MITSUBISHI SRK18YXS2-W6
    Inverter: Yes
    Marketing_tonnage: 1.7 ton
    Annual Electricity Consumption: 791.12 kWh/year
    ISEER: 5.70
    Star Rating: 5
  • 3
    MITSUBISHI SRK18YXS2-W6
    Inverter: Yes
    Marketing_tonnage: 1.7 ton
    Annual Electricity Consumption: 791.12 kWh/year
    ISEER: 5.70
    Star Rating: 5
  • 4
    GENERAL ASGG24CETA-B
    Inverter: Yes
    Marketing_tonnage: 2.0 ton
    Annual Electricity Consumption: 1043.16 kWh/year
    ISEER: 5.22
    Star Rating: 5
  • 5
    GENERAL ASGG24CETA-B
    Inverter: Yes
    Marketing_tonnage: 2.0 ton
    Annual Electricity Consumption: 1043.16 kWh/year
    ISEER: 5.22
    Star Rating: 5
  • 6
    DAIKIN FTKR60UV16U
    Inverter: Yes
    Marketing_tonnage: 1.8 ton
    Annual Electricity Consumption: 923.07 kWh/year
    ISEER: 5.20
    Star Rating: 5

Top BEE 5 Star Rated Window Air Conditioners in India (as per BEE data)

Popular BEE 5 Star Rated Split Air Conditioners in India (on Amazon)

1 Ton models:

1.5 Ton models:

2 Ton models:

Popular BEE 3 Star Rated Split Air Conditioners in India (on Amazon)

1 Ton models:

1.5 Ton models:

2 Ton models:

Popular BEE 5 Star Rated Window Air Conditioners in India (on Amazon)

1.5 Ton models:

If you are looking for AC within a specific budget check these pages on Bijli Bachao

Best Air Conditioner under Rs 50000

Best Air Conditioner under Rs 45000

Best Air Conditioner under Rs 40000

Best Air Conditioner under Rs 35000

Best Air Conditioner under Rs 30000

Some more articles on our website that can be helpful in your decision

Air Conditioners: Copper Coil vs Aluminium Coil

Air Conditioner’s Compressor: Reciprocating or Rotary? Which one is better?

Air Conditioner vs Air Purifier: Which is better for Air Purification?

What is Inverter AC and How it is Different from Non Inverter AC?

How Does an Air Conditioner Work – A layman’s explanation

Types of Inverter Compressors in Different Brands of Air Conditioners in India

Latest Air Conditioner Technologies in India

Convertible Technology: Why it makes sense in refrigerators, but not so much in Air Conditioners

Window Air Conditioners

Window Air Conditioners significantly lag behind in technology as compared to split air conditioners. Over the years manufacturers have significantly improved Split ACs that their energy efficiency has also improved much. As per latest star rating levels in in 2024, most window AC models with BEE 5 star rating would just be equivalent to BEE 2 star rated Split AC. And we at Bijli Bachao do not recommend going for such an Air Conditioner.

However, in 2018 LG introduced inverter technology compressor in window AC as well. IN in 2024 they have BEE 5 star rated as well as BEE 3 star rated window AC models (1 ton, 1.5 ton and 2 ton) that have inverter technology compressor. The 5 star models have efficiency similar to a BEE 3 star rated Split AC. So if you want to go for a window AC then our recommendation would be to go for such an air conditioner.

Calculator for Sizing Air Conditioners / AC in India

Select your city, dimensions of room, usage hours and sunlight checkboxes to get our recommendations. The inputs are on the left size and our recommendations on the right side. Also please note that these calculations are for a regular room in a house. If the room size is more than 400 sq ft then it would be better to call an engineer to do the evaluation.

 

Air Conditioner Sizing Calculator for India

(Note: This calculator is for a residential setup. It assumes a regular room with some furniture, basic appliances and 4 people in the room. Please do not use the numbers for a commercial setup.)

Inputs:
Check this if the ceiling of the room gets direct sunlight from top during the day.
Check this if West, South or South West walls of the room get direct sunlight during the day.
Outputs:
Please select a city
Size of Air Conditioner that you need:

Note:

Yearly Units Consumption Yearly Electricity Costs Approx Cost of Buying
BEE 1 Star
BEE 2 Star
BEE 3 Star
BEE 4 Star
BEE 5 Star

 

FAQs for AC buying in India

Click on the questions below to check the answers.

  • 1) What is the size of AC that I should buy for my room?

    Size of an AC is a very important aspect that one should evaluate before buying an AC. In case of Non Inverter ACs oversized AC can significantly increase electricity consumption while undersized may not cool properly. In case of Inverter ACs an undersized AC may not give desired electricity saving benefits because it will always run at peak capacity at which its efficiency is the lowest. You can use the calculator given on the bottom of this page to evaluate your needs: AC Calculator Link

  • 2) Which star rating would be good for me?

    The choice of star rating depends on the hours that you use your AC for and the electricity tariffs in your area. Typically we do not recommend going for anything less than BEE 3 star rating. However your exact need can be evaluated using the calculator given on the bottom of this page: AC Calculator Link. You can input your daily and yearly consumption values and the calculator will suggest you the right star rating based on your use. It will also provide you approximate amount of money that you will pay for electricity if you choose a particular star rated AC. This can help you evaluate the benefit of a specific star rating.

    We typically suggest people to go for BEE 3 star rated AC if usage is less than 1600 hrs/year. BEE 4 star if usage is between 1600-2000 hrs/year and BEE 5 star if the usage is more than 2000 hrs/year. If you are in Mumbai then these numbers will reduce a bit because tariffs are really high in Mumbai.

  • 3) What are Inverter ACs?

    Inverter AC is the latest energy efficient (electricity saving) technology which is available in the market. It has the potential to save 30-60% electricity depending on your choice of the model. You can read more about Inverter ACs on this link: What is Inverter AC and How it is Different from Non Inverter AC?

  • 4) I have less use of AC, is Inverter AC still be better for me?

    It all depends on your usage of AC and tariffs. If your usage is high and tariff is also high, then it will be much better to go for inverter AC. For e.g. in places like Mumbai where tariff is already Rs 11-12 per unit for last slab, even a decent nightly use for 3 summer months would be better off with an inverter AC than a regular AC. But then it depends on your usage and tariff.

    As mentioned above, we typically suggest people to go for BEE 3 star rated AC if usage is less than 1600 hrs/year. BEE 4 star if usage is between 1600-2000 hrs/year and BEE 5 star if the usage is more than 2000 hrs/year. If your usage is less than 1000 hrs/year, you may think of going for non-inverter AC

  • 5) My dealer tells me to buy a 3 star non-Inverter AC as Inverter AC is good only if I use it for 18 hours daily throughout the year. Is it true?

    Most dealers are less equipped or trained on the technicalities and evaluation of ACs. Many a times they are not updated with latest information. Dealer training is one of the biggest challenges for energy efficiency. We would suggest that you use the calculator given on the bottom of this page to evaluate your needs: AC Calculator Link . You can see the numbers on right side of the calculator to see how much you will be paying for electricity if you go for a specific star rating. Non-Inverter ACs are good if your usage is less (less than 1000 hrs/year) or if your room size is big and you are undersizing your AC (especially applicable for open spaces.

  • 6) Is it beneficial to go for a bigger tonnage AC? Will it cool better?

    It depends. In case of inverter ACs, slight oversizing may turn out to be beneficial as the AC will cool faster and the electricity consumption will be less at the tonnage require for your room. But for non inverter ACs, oversizing is not good. A bigger non-inverter tonnage AC consumes much more electricity. And it will also overcool. So if you set temperature to 25 degrees in thermostat, it will make the room cooler than that (more on this link: Oversizing ACs). A right sized AC is a safer option.

  • 7) Can I go for a smaller sized AC from what the calculator suggests me? Will it save electricity for me?

    Inverter ACs should never be undersized as in that case they will always run at peak capacity and thus will consume more electricity. Non-Inverter ACs can be undersized to save electricity, but it may not sufficiently cool the room.

  • 8) I heard that Inverter ACs break down quickly and their maintenance costs are high?

    Inverter technology is pretty established technology. Many countries only have inverter technology air conditioners. However, the environment over there is pretty different and power quality is quite stable. Inverter ACs were new in India a few years back. And the PCBs were prone to failure in corrosive environment. Some ACs even failed in 2-3 years of use and the cost of replacement of PCB is really high. But in last 2 years, manufacturers have learnt their lessons and have improved PCBs. Now some brands even give warranties on PCB. Do look for PCB warranty.

  • 9) Which brand is good?

    This is the most common question we get which is most difficult to answer. We have tried to answer this on our link: Which is the best brand to buy?. A lot of it is perception based on experience. However these are the brands that you will most likely find in our recommendations: Daikin, Hitachi, Panasonic, General, Mitsubishi, Carrier, Blue Star, LG, Voltas, Samsung, Godrej. Not that other companies are bad, but these are top most. The only brands that we do not recommend to buy are the brands that used to be retailers and now have started selling ACs under their own brand names.

  • 10) Which brand gives best service in my area?

    This is again a very common question and extremely difficult to answer. Most of our analysis is purely technical based on the specifications of various models. Service levels depends on local service stations of various brands. It varies from city to city. Even within the city the service levels may vary. The best people to provide you suggestions regarding this are your local dealers and people who have used a particular brand.

  • 11) What is ISEER? How can I use ISEER to compare ACs?

    ISEER or Indian Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio is a measure to calculate energy efficiency of any AC. To calculate this, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (or BEE) has taken a typical average temperature profile in a typical city in India. Based on this temperature profile, they have created cooling capacity required for usage of AC for 1600 hrs in a year. The energy usage of various ACs are calculated at different cooling capacity load along with the power consumption. Total cooling is then divided by total power consumed to calculate the seasonal energy efficiency of every model.A better AC will have better ISEER. So if you are comparing two ACs look at cooling capacities and ISEER. A good AC should have higher cooling capacity and higher ISEER.

  • 12) I want to buy copper condenser but the model specification says it is pre-coated aluminium fins. Is it really copper?

    Most brands have completely shifted to Copper models these days. But still to explain this, first let us explain types of condensers that are available in the market:

    a) PFC (Parallel Flow Condenser) or Multi Jet which is all aluminium. It is highly energy efficient but if it fails it need to be replaced. Although they come with anti corrosion coatings, but still fixing the small multi channels in case of clogging is difficult. Manufacturers specifically mention PFC or Multi Jet. PFC will look like this: PFC

    b) Coil and Fin type condenser, where coils are copper and fins are aluminium. Even in this the one with anti corrosion coating (also known as blue fin/gold fin) is better. Most brands have such type of condenser. You can ask the dealer to open the outdoor and indoor unit for you and you can check if it looks blue or not. Blue fin is the best for corrosion protection. Blue fin will look like this: blue_fin_condenser

    Now it is not that copper cannot corrode. What is important is to select a condenser that has anti corrosion coating. So ask for a condenser with copper pipes and pre coated aluminium fin. Even if it is aluminium then it should be coated with corrosion protection. When an AC spec says that it has pre-coated aluminium fins it is a coil and fin type condenser which is copper.

  • 13) Should I go for a window AC?

    Window ACs have efficiency levels 3 level lower than split ACs. So a BEE 5 star rated window AC is equivalent in efficiency to BEE 2 star rated split AC. The reason for the same is that manufacturers have started reducing number of window AC models and have started solely focussing on split ACs. Most of the new technology is available only in split ACs. In fact only BEE 5 star rating is available only in 1.5 ton window ACs. 1 and 2 ton window ACs do not have BEE 5 star rated options. And even the 5 star rated 1.5 ton window ACs are equivalent to BEE 2 star rated split ACs. There are a few Inverter Compressor Window ACs, but they are also at best equal to entry level non-inverter BEE 3 star split ACs in efficiency. So our recommendation is to go for a split AC. However, if you are really tight on budget and you need 1.5 ton AC then you can go for BEE 5 star rated inverter tech window AC. But if you need 1 or 2 ton AC then better go with split AC.

  • 14) What features should I look for while buying an AC?

    While buying an AC here are the few important things that you should look for:

    1. Right tonnage (you can use the calculator on this page)
    2. Good Brand.
    3. Right star rating based on the rule that we have mentioned above in FAQ 2.
    4. High Cooling capacity and ISEER in that star rating.
    5. Copper Condenser.
    6. Corrosion protection if you live in corrosive area.
    7. PCB Warranty if you are buying an Inverter AC.

    Rest everything is additional. You may or may not have good air filters in your AC (you can always manage that with an air purifier).You may or may not have performance optimization sensors as most people do not remember to use them. If you want to understand about the latest features in ACs in India then you can check this link: Latest Air Conditioner Technologies in India

  • 15) Which refrigerant is environment friendly?

    R410A, R32 & R290 are the most environment friendly refrigerants in ACs. R410A is non flammable, R32 is mildly flammable and R290 is highly flammable refrigerant. If you are planning to buy an AC with refrigerant that is flammable then we would recommend you to go for a good brand as better brands do take care of safety related issues with the refrigerants. For safe choice you can go with R410A. R32 is the most common refrigerant available in ACs these days.

  • 16) Should I buy an AC online?

    Depends a lot on who is the seller. These days online websites are marketplaces which means they are not the direct sellers. One of the biggest issue with online buying is to get right warranty and support from the brand. If the seller is an authorised seller, you will get warranty as well as support. If seller is not authorised then the same becomes extremely difficult. Although portals do claim to sell original products, but it is extremely important to check seller reviews and confirm if you will get warranty on product or not. Good thing with online portals is that they have a return policy. When you get your product, make sure that you immediately call the manufacturer to register the warranty. If you do not get a warranty, return it immediately.

  • 17) Do you have any specific suggestion for me based on my budget?

    Our suggestions are mostly based on energy efficiency of the model and the top brands (as listed in FAQ 9). We do not recommend any specific brand because everyone has a different experience with a brand. Also the service levels of various brands differs at various locations (as stated in FAQ 10). In fact many people who visit review websites like mouthshut get negative reviews of almost every brand. The reason for the same is that it is practically impossible for any brand to satisfy each and every consumer. The best thing that we can suggest you is to look at the list of top brands above, choose the brand that you like (or get a good feedback on from local dealers), then select the most efficient model of your tonnage and star rating requirement.

  • 18) Your calculator tells me a certain size for my room, is it correct?

    The calculation by the calculator is absolutely correct as per our knowledge. We have put in all the knowledge that we have about AC sizing in this calculator. We will provide you the same number even if you ask us personally.

  • 19) Is stabiliser required for my AC?

    If there are huge voltage fluctuations in your area then you must go for a stabiliser for your AC. It is more important if you go for a fixed speed AC. Inverter ACs can handle voltage fluctuations much better, however they have electronics that are prone to damage in case there is power surge (sudden increase of current as it happens in case of short circuits). So Inverter ACs should be protected from surges. A surge guard should be good enough for inverter ACs. If you still feel that you should put a stabiliser for inverter AC then you should go for one with surge protection feature.

  • 20) What is Bluefin/Gold Fin Technology? Is it copper?

    As we have mentioned in FAQ 13 above, Blue Fin and Gold Fin both are copper. Please refer to that FAQ to understand more about technology. You can also refer to this link: Air Conditioners: Copper Coil vs Aluminium Coil

  • 21) Which Air Filters are necessary for my use?

    The reason air filters are required in an AC is because ACs are meant to cool closed spaces. ACs do not take air from outside (unlike air cooler), they just cool the indoor air and circulate it. If the room (where AC is installed) remains closed for a long time, the quality of air deteriorates. It can result in accumulation of bacteria. Air Filters help improve the quality of air. However, it is important only if the room remains closed for a long time. It may be helpful even if you use it for 8-10 hours at night. Various brands have different kind of filters. It is more of a safety feature. Not absolutely necessary but good to have. You can choose the one that you feel you need.

  • 22) Will it be fine if I go for an Aluminium Condenser?

    It is absolutely fine if you go for an aluminium condenser if your area is not hot and humid. Biggest problem with aluminium condenser is corrosion. If the environment is not corrosive then it will not fail. And in fact Aluminium Condensers have high energy efficiency as well. Brands like Samsung that have aluminium PFC condenser provide good enough corrosion protection for the condensers as well. In fact Samsung gives warranty on condenser too. People in many places have been using ACs with PFC condenser since quite some time and they have not failed. Their chance of failure is high only if the environment is corrosive, otherwise they can be a great choice.

  • 23) The models you have listed are not available in the stores. What do I do?

    Our data collection is based on data from BEE and models listed by brands on their website. We also try to check if the models are available in online stores. But it is possible that those models are not available in physical stores. Stores typically keep only those models that sell more (not necessarily energy efficient). You can try contacting authorised dealers of the brand and if you do not find any model with them, then the best bet is to go for the most energy efficient model that you get from your selected brands. We try updating our database every 2-3 months but it is possible that some of the models that we have collected are either very new or even discontinued ones.

  • 24) I have a shop/commercial establishment. Can you please help me buy an AC for that?

    Sizing an Air Conditioner involves taking a lot of environmental factors into consideration. A whole lot of things impact sizing as we have listed on our article Things that impact electricity consumption in air conditioners. As far as residential setups are concerned, things that are kept in a room and environment can be standardised (as we have done for the calculator) or can be assumed. But it is extremely difficult to assume or standardise a commercial setup or shop. A shop may be filled with a lot of products, or a commercial establishment can have a whole lot of people seated in it or equipments installed in it. Everything impacts electricity consumption. Thus it is very hard for us to evaluate or calculate requirement for a shop or commercial establishment. In fact the calculator that we have may not work perfectly for shop/commercial establishments. It is always better to get technical evaluation done by engineers from a reputed brand. If you want to install AC for your shop/commercial establishment, the best thing to do is to call a dealer of a brand that you want to go for and ask them to send an engineer to evaluate.

  • 25) How does Air Flow Rate (or Air Delivery) of AC impact cooling?

    Air Flow is an important aspect for cooling a room. High Air Flow can result in cooling a larger area and even faster cooling. Air Flow depends on fan speed. In general if you keep high fan speed the air circulation would be more and thus air will cool faster. Increase air circulation also results in a farther reach of cooling. So if you have a choice then of for AC with higher air flow rate.

Latest Technologies in Air Conditioners in India

If you want to learn about latest technologies in Air Conditioners in India then do check this link: here.

About the Author:
Abhishek Jain is an Alumnus of IIT Bombay with almost 10 years of experience in corporate before starting Bijli Bachao in 2012. His passion for solving problems moved him towards Energy Sector and he is keen to learn about customer behavior towards Energy and find ways to influence the same towards Sustainability. .

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