Before you look at brands and prices, answer one question: what type of air conditioner do you need? That settles half the decision. A wall-mounted unit for the bedroom is one thing, a cassette unit for a shop is something else entirely, and if you are heating a whole house, you may not need a classic air conditioner at all — you may need a heat pump. Here we cover all the main types, which room each one suits and where the pitfalls are.
Already know the type? Skip straight to calculating the BTU you need by floor area, or browse models of air conditioners in Varna with installation included.
How Air Conditioners Are Classified
Two criteria are enough to find your way around. The first is the design and mounting method: wall-mounted, multi-split, ducted, cassette, floor-standing, floor/ceiling. The second is the purpose — whether the unit is residential, for the home, or commercial, for offices, shops and restaurants. Under each type below you will find what room it is for and when it is not a good idea.
Wall-Mounted (Split) Air Conditioners
This is the classic choice for the home. One indoor unit on the wall, one outdoor unit outside — hence the word split, meaning divided. Put it in a bedroom, living room or study and you are all set. Almost all modern models are inverter units, so they run quietly, cool quickly and won’t drain your electricity. Wide choice, reasonable price, easy installation.
One thing to note: one indoor unit serves only one room. For a three-room apartment, you either put one in each room or switch to a multi-split. Wall-mounted units easily handle areas of up to about 60 m². See the inverter wall-mounted air conditioners in our shop.
Multi-Split Systems
One outdoor unit powers several indoor units — two, three or more. This is the solution for people who want air conditioning throughout the apartment without a jungle of outdoor units on the facade. In new buildings with appearance requirements, it is often the only option allowed. Each room is controlled separately. The downsides are the higher upfront cost and a more complex installation, which you definitely want done by people who know what they are doing. Browse our multi-split systems.
Ducted Air Conditioners
The unit is hidden in a suspended ceiling and delivers air through ducts. All you see are the grilles — the machine itself is invisible. That is why it is a favorite for luxury homes, hotels and offices where aesthetics matter. It distributes air evenly and, if needed, can bring in fresh air from outside. In return, it requires a suspended ceiling, design work and a bigger budget. No ceiling — forget about this type. See the ducted air conditioners.
Cassette Air Conditioners
They are installed in the ceiling and blow in four directions, so they keep an even temperature across a large open space. The standard for shops, restaurants and open-plan offices. They require a suspended ceiling and professional installation — in other words, the same conditions as ducted units. Browse the cassette air conditioners.
Floor-Standing Air Conditioners
When you need a lot of power and have no ceiling to hide a unit in, the floor-standing unit steps in. It stands on the floor, looks impressive and quickly brings a large hall to temperature. Restaurants, lobbies, showrooms, areas from 40 to over 100 m². It costs more and takes up floor space, but installation is easy because it does not depend on a suspended ceiling. See the floor-standing air conditioners.
Floor/Ceiling Air Conditioners
The all-rounder. It can go high under the ceiling or low near the floor, whichever is more convenient. That flexibility makes it a good fit for oddly shaped rooms or places where there is simply no room for a regular wall unit. It is bulkier than a wall-mounted unit, but the powerful airflow is worth the trade-off. See the floor/ceiling systems.
Heat Pumps (Air-to-Water)
Strictly speaking, this is not an air conditioner but a complete heating system. An air-to-water heat pump heats, cools and makes hot water, replacing a gas or electric boiler. For a house you want to keep warm all winter, it is the most economical long-term solution, although the upfront investment is substantial and it requires a design. Browse the heat pumps and the other commercial systems.
Quick Comparison
| Type | Best for | Area | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wall-mounted (split) | home, single room | up to 60 m² | € |
| Multi-split | whole apartment or house | 2–5 rooms | €€ |
| Ducted | office, hotel, luxury home | large | €€€ |
| Cassette | shop, restaurant | large | €€€ |
| Floor-standing | halls, restaurants | 40–100+ m² | €€ |
| Floor/ceiling | non-standard rooms | medium, large | €€ |
| Heat pump | house heating and hot water | whole building | €€€€ |
Residential or Commercial
Residential air conditioners — wall-mounted and multi-split — are made for the home: quiet, compact and affordable. Commercial ones — ducted, cassette and floor-standing — are more powerful and can handle continuous operation in a commercial setting. In practice, the difference comes down to floor area and how many hours a day the unit will run. A shop that is open from morning to evening needs a different machine than a bedroom.
Which One to Choose for Your Room
A rough rule that works in most cases:
- One room in an apartment: inverter wall-mounted.
- Whole apartment: multi-split.
- Office or shop with a suspended ceiling: cassette or ducted.
- Large hall without a ceiling: floor-standing.
- Heating a whole house: air-to-water heat pump.
The type is half the job. The other half is capacity. Before you order, check how many BTU you need for your specific floor area, because an undersized unit struggles and eats electricity, while an oversized one is money thrown away.
What About the Brand?
Once you have chosen the type, it is time for the manufacturer. Daikin, Mitsubishi, Gree, AUX, Kaisai, LG — each has strengths and weaknesses and a different price range. A comparison of brands with current models and prices is on the page air conditioning equipment brands.
Not sure which type fits your room? Tell us the floor area and what you want to air-condition, and we will come for a free site survey. Book an air conditioner installation in Varna with a warranty and an official certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which type of air conditioner is the most economical?
For a single room, an A+++ inverter wall-mounted air conditioner. For heating a whole house, an air-to-water heat pump, which works out cheaper over a year than district heating or direct electric heating.
What is the difference between split and multi-split?
A split is one outdoor and one indoor unit for a single room. A multi-split connects several indoor units to one outdoor unit, so you can air-condition a whole home without mounting an outdoor unit for every room.
What air conditioner is right for a shop?
With a suspended ceiling, a cassette or ducted unit, for even air distribution. Without a ceiling, a floor-standing one.
Can an air conditioner heat in winter?
Yes. Inverter models heat efficiently even at minus 15 degrees and often work out cheaper than district heating. For whole-house heating, however, go with a heat pump.
👉 Browse specific models by brand: Gree air conditioners with installation included and a 2-year warranty.
👉 Browse air conditioners by brand: Toshiba, Kaisai, Daikin, Gree, Mitsubishi Heavy, Nippon, Hitachi — with installation and warranty in Varna.
