<p>This study investigates the performance of a compact regenerative evaporative cooler (REC). Compactness and cooling performance are important factors for practical REC applications. To improve compactness, an REC prototype with reduced length was designed and fabricated by inserting fins into both the dry and wet channels. The prototype performance was evaluated under various operating conditions. A numerical model was developed to analyze the axial conduction effect through the solid part of the REC, wettability on the wet water channel surface, and thermal capacity of the evaporating water stream. The model was validated by comparing the predicted results with the experimental data. Through a numerical simulation based on the model, the performance of the REC was analyzed, and methods were suggested to improve its cooling performance. Finally, the performance of the proposed REC was compared with the results of previous experimental studies. The proposed REC prototype was the most compact and achieved the best cooling performance.</p>