Evaporative coolers, also known as swamp coolers, are cooling appliances that quickly alleviate hot temperatures, especially in dry climates, using the natural process of evaporation. They are economical, portable, and powerful solutions for a variety of spaces.
Their design makes them an ideal solution for fast cooling in warehouses, garages, event spaces, and outdoor venues, as well as homes. Please can use these links to quickly access the information you need.
- Best Evaporative Coolers
- How Evaporative Coolers Work
- Swamp Cooler Sizing Chart
- Still Have Questions?
âHow did we decide on what makes the best evaporative cooler? It's fairly simple:
- Customer Reviews: Our customers provide consistent feedback on our products. These swamp coolers have the most and top ratings on our site.
- Trusted Brands: The brands included here are brands that are industry leaders and are known for quality construction and offering long-term solutions.
- Industry Knowledge: We have been in the air quality industry for more than 20 years. We know our products and feel confident in our product selections.
Best Evaporative Coolers
The following evaporative coolers are some of the highest-rated evaporative coolers by customers, and commonly used in a variety of residential and commercial areas.
Hessaire MC37M
A Sylvane customer favorite! Its recently upgraded design blends powerful cooling and portable use
- Ideal For: Medium-to-large patios, garages and other areas up to 950 square feet
- Dimensions: 37 x 17 x 25 in. (H x W x D)
- Max. CFM: 3,700
- Reviews: 4.7 Stars from 197 Reviews
Champion CP70 Ultracool
This is one of the most lightweight evaporative coolers and is common in small shops, garages and patios.
- Ideal For: Small decks and covered patios up to 350 sq. ft.
- Dimensions: 38.5 x 19.5 x 11.5 in. (H x W x D)
- Max. CFM: 700
- Reviews: 4.6 Stars from 20 Reviews
Big Ass Fans Cool Space 350
This compact model provides high CFM with a direct drive motor in a durable housing great on patios, workshops, warehouses, and repair shops.
- Ideal For: Indoor or outdoor spaces up to 2,300 sq. ft.
- Dimensions: 64 x 31 x 38 in. (H x W x D)
- Max. CFM: 3,400
- Reviews: New Model
Hessaire MC18M
An affordable option from a reliable brand, this compact cooler is an effective choice with simple set up.
- Ideal For: Small patios, pool decks and workshops up to 500 sq. ft.
- Dimensions: 28 x 22 x 12 in. (H x W x D)
- Max. CFM: 1,300
- Reviews: 4.5 Stars from 146 Reviews
AIRCARE RN35W Window Evaporative Cooler
This USA-made model is installed in a window similarly to a window AC. Effective in dry climates, this unit uses 75% less energy than AC's, operating with a continuous water source.
- Ideal For: Single rooms, home living spaces, and workshops up to 900 square feet.
- Dimensions: 30.5 x 31.5 x 21 in. (H x W x D)
Interior Dimensions: 11.7 x 21.375 x 14.5 in. (H x W x D)
- Max. CFM: 3,300
- Reviews: 5 Stars from 1 Review
Portacool 160
If you're looking for size and power, look no further than this monster cooling machine. It's one of the most powerful evaporative coolers available on the market.
- Ideal For: Large warehouses, event spaces, wedding venues, restaurants and more up to 2,100 square feet
- Dimensions: 68 x 51 x 28 in. (H x W x D)
- Max. CFM: 8,000
- Reviews: 4.5 Stars from 2 Reviews
How Evaporative Coolers Work
{{wistiaembed('co3mkile60')}}Using the process of evaporation, these unique machines pull in dry, stale air, moving it over a water-soaked cooling pad or rigid cooling media. As moist air is released into hot, dry air, its effect is like stepping out of a pool into a breeze, or standing next to a waterfall.
Most coolers provide two or three fan speeds for control of airflow, providing high CFM for maximum comfort. They are an affordable cooling solution with a daily operating cost of up to 75% lower than an air conditioner.
When being used indoors, it's important that your swamp cooler have access to a constant supply of fresh air like an open window or door. For additional information on how swamp coolers operate, please see this buying guide.
Evaporative Cooler Sizing
The key to choosing the right size swamp cooler is choosing one with the right CFM rating, or cubic feet per minute. This refers to the amount of air that passes through the cooler per minute.
As a rule of thumb, the higher a swamp cooler's CFM rating, the faster it cools the air with better coverage in your space.
Browse the recommended CFM below to see the approximate CFM you'll need for your square footage. For these recommendations, we assume your space has eight-foot ceilings.
Swamp Cooler Size Chart
| Swamp Cooler Sizing Chart | |
|---|---|
| Square Footage of Your Space | Recommended CFM |
| 0 to 250 sq. ft. | 200 to 750 CFM |
| 251 to 500 sq. ft. | 751 to 2,000 CFM |
| 501 to 1,000 sq. ft. | 2,001 to 4,000 CFM |
| 1,001 to 2,000 sq. ft. | 4,001 to 7,500 CFM |
| over 2,000 sq. ft. | 7,501 or more CFM |
Calculating Swamp Cooler CFM
Selecting the correct swamp cooler size for your space allows you to get the best results as well as keeping the appliance from having to work too hard, or creating a damp, clammy environment.
The CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) is the amount of fresh air cycled through your environment each minute. To find the CFM required, you can use this formula:
Calculate cubic feet of space by multiplying the square footage by ceiling height (in feet). Then divide this number by the 30 recommended air changes per hour.
For example, if your room is 450 square feet with 8-foot ceilings:
450 X 8 foot ceiling = 3,600 cu. ft.
3,600 x 30 air exchanges per hour = 108,000
108,000 / 60 minutes = 1,800 CFM
According to the equation, you would need a swamp cooler with a maximum airflow of at least 1,800 CFM.
Still Have Questions?
For more information on our evaporative coolers and other air treatment products that can help improve your indoor air quality, shop our products and visit our Knowledge Center.
Not sure what's best for you? We can take the guesswork out of decision-making. Contact our product experts toll-free at 1-800-934-9194. We want to help make your indoor environment healthy and comfortable.
