Costco air conditioners in Canada (2026): portable, window and mini split prices, sizing and when they go on sale

A Costco air conditioner in Canada costs $299.99 to $599.99 for a portable, $389.99 for a 12,000 BTU window unit and $999.99 for an 18,000 BTU mini split, and almost every one is a Danby. They arrive as early as February, take $50 to $150 off in summer, and the leftovers clear from mid-August. Prices below were photographed in Canadian warehouses by the Costco West and Costco East fan blogs.

Which air conditioners does Costco Canada sell?

Every unit photographed in Canadian warehouses since September 2024, West meaning BC to Manitoba and East meaning Ontario and Atlantic Canada. Prices vary by region:

Portables are the biggest group: Danby in three sizes, a Hisense tower and a Frigidaire in the East. The one window unit is a Danby 12,000 BTU. The Morphy Richards ductless unit has no hose to the window; hose-free units like it are made to cool the space right around them, not a whole room. Costco also carried two 50-pint dehumidifiers with pumps in the East, the Danby at $249.99 and the Midea at $214.99 ($199.99 in June 2026).

What size air conditioner do you need?

Natural Resources Canada's rule of thumb is 200 BTU an hour per square metre of living space, cut 10% for a heavily shaded room, add 10% for a very sunny one, add 600 BTU for each regular occupant after two, and add 4,000 BTU for a kitchen (NRCan). Bigger isn't better: an oversized unit is less effective and wastes energy (NRCan), and it can cool the room before it removes the humidity, leaving it damp and clammy (NRCan).

Read the right BTU number. Portables carry two ratings: the older ASHRAE number and the lower SACC (seasonally adjusted cooling capacity), from the US Department of Energy test that counts the warm air a portable pulls into the room (DOE). Most Danby tags at Costco print the SACC number, and the Danby 8,000 BTU SACC tag also gives 12,000 BTU on the ASHRAE scale (Costco East); other tags don't say. Check which rating you're reading, and compare SACC with SACC.

Portable, window or mini split: which should you buy?

• Portable ($299.99 to $599.99): no installation, and it moves between rooms, but it loses some cooling to the warm air it pulls into the room, which is why its SACC rating is lower, and the hose has to reach a window.
• Window ($389.99): more cooling for the money and quieter inside, but it blocks the window and has to come out before winter in most of Canada.
• Mini split ($999.99): a permanent install with refrigerant lines, and Danby's 18,000 BTU mini split heats as well as cools (Danby). Costco's comes in two boxes (Costco East).

When do Costco air conditioners go on sale?

• February to April: portables arrive at full price (the Danby 12,000 BTU on February 20, 2026 in the West), and the mini split in mid-April.
• May to August: one long $50 instant savings on the Danby portable in the West, between May 1 and August 21, 2026 (Costco West), and shorter, deeper cuts in the East: $90 off the window unit in July 2025, $150 off the Hisense tower in a sale that ended July 12, 2026.
• Mid-August to September: clearance at .97 prices, like the Hisense tower at $399.97 in August 2026 (Costco East) and the small Danby at $149.97 on September 11, 2026.

In a heat wave, the warehouse can sell out: stock is ordered months ahead, so buy before the first hot weekend. If the price drops within 30 days of buying, ask for the difference while the new price runs; see Costco price adjustments.

Does a Costco air conditioner need installation?

A portable doesn't: fit the window kit and plug it in. A window unit is a do-it-yourself job for two people, or $100 to $200 for a professional, and a mini split costs $1,500 to $5,000 to install, according to Best Buy Canada's 2026 cost guide (Best Buy). The mini split needs a licensed trade: in Ontario, working on refrigeration equipment takes a certificate of qualification, such as refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic, not just a refrigerant-handling card (Ontario). An independent local helper can bring a window or portable unit home from Costco, carry it upstairs and fit it, or take it out for winter: see appliance installation.

Are there rebates for air conditioners in Canada?

Not for portable or window units. The federal Canada Greener Homes Grant has closed, the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program has closed in several provinces, and the program that remains is for income-qualified homes (NRCan). Ontario's appliance rebates cover heat pump clothes dryers, induction ranges, washers, fridges, freezers and dishwashers, not room air conditioners (Home Renovation Savings). A mini split is a heat pump, so it may qualify for a provincial or utility heat pump rebate, usually only when a participating contractor installs a model on the qualified list. Check before you buy.

Can you return an air conditioner to Costco?

Usually yes, but don't count on unlimited time. Costco limits major appliances and listed electronics to 90 days and doesn't say whether a portable or window air conditioner counts, so treat 90 days as your deadline and keep the receipt. Try it in the first hot week, while the box is still around, and see the Costco return policy for how returns work.