Bedroom
A quiet air conditioner for the bedroom: which decibels to look for
In the bedroom the unit runs while you sleep and every decibel counts. The difference between a quiet and a noisy model is large and visible in the data sheet before you buy.
4 min readUpdated
What the decibels mean
Makers quote the indoor unit at 1 m in quiet/low/high mode. For a bedroom the lowest value matters: 19–21 dB(A) is below breathing, 22–25 dB a whisper, 26–30 dB audible in silence, above 32 dB a living-room model. The scale is logarithmic: +10 dB feels twice as loud.
The quietest series we offer
Quiet-mode indoor values per the manufacturers:
- Daikin Perfera, Stylish, Emura: 19 dB
- Mitsubishi Electric MSZ-LN and MSZ-EF: 19 dB; MSZ-AP: 19–21 dB
- Toshiba Daiseikai and Shorai Edge: 19–20 dB
- Fujitsu General KETA/KGTB: 20–21 dB; KM: 21–22 dB
- Mitsubishi Heavy SRK-ZSX: 19 dB
- Gree Amber/Fairy and Kaisai Eco: 20–22 dB
Sizing and installation matter too
A correctly sized 9000 BTU unit settles to minimum speed and is quiet; an undersized one runs flat out. A unit on an unbraced plasterboard wall or an outdoor unit without rubber mounts adds up to 5 dB. Tell us where the bedroom is before we pick the spot, and never mount the unit directly above or facing the bed.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the quietest bedroom air conditioner?
The 19 dB models: Daikin Perfera/Stylish/Emura, Mitsubishi Electric MSZ-LN and MSZ-EF, Toshiba Daiseikai, Mitsubishi Heavy ZSX. The differences are below audibility.
Does the outdoor unit disturb sleep?
Outdoor units run at 45–55 dB at 1 m; behind a closed PVC window they are barely audible. Use the quiet night mode and rubber mounts if a bedroom is nearby.
Useful links