Budget pick
If you’re okay with installing some hardware, this model is the best of the brackets that require drilling.
If you don’t mind drilling into your windowsill, you can save some money by getting the Frost King ACB80H. Of all the brackets we tested that required drilling, this model came with the most comprehensive instructions and the highest-quality materials.
Its simple but versatile design works with a wide range of windows. The Frost King bracket has a pivoting adjustable leg that helps lock the air conditioner shelf into place in a level position. We tested several other air conditioner brackets with similar designs, but none of them felt as sturdy as the Frost King model. It still requires mounting on the outside of your home, but the blockers and spacers that assist you in mounting the bracket are all made from a more resilient material than you get with the competition, so it should be able to withstand the elements (and the weight) a little better than those other AC brackets. The rubber-padded feet help protect the siding, too, although you may need to add an extra screw to secure them into place.
It supports air conditioners up to 80 pounds. That’s enough for this bracket to handle an AC as big as 12,000 Btu from most of the top brands, including all of our window AC picks. An AC of that capacity can cool a room as large as 550 square feet, so you’re very unlikely to need anything bigger. If that is the case, however, Frost King makes an even larger version of the bracket that works with ACs weighing up to 160 pounds.
Frost King’s instructions are straightforward and easy to follow. They include a useful parts checklist and detailed diagrams accompanying each step, along with written directions in both English (PDF) and Spanish (PDF). We tested some similar AC brackets, such as the Jeacent PC01A-1, that had the exact same language as this bracket in their instruction manuals but formatted things in confusing ways and presented clunky drawings that made the steps difficult to follow. If you find yourself struggling to install the Frost King bracket, we recommend consulting this how-to video from the manufacturer or this DIY perspective from an installer.
This model costs less than half as much as our top pick. The Frost King bracket typically retails for about a third of the average price of our pick from Top Shelf. The larger, heavy-duty version of the Frost King bracket doesn’t cost much more on average.
You need tools to install it. Putting in the Frost King bracket is a far cry from the simple installation process of our top pick. But installation is still easier than for most of the other, similar AC brackets that require drilling. The hardware is included, but tools are not. Here’s what we recommend:
