An air conditioner to prevent fingers from being jammed therein during a closing operation of an opening and a method of controlling the same are provided. The air conditioner includes a housing in which an opening is formed, a door unit provided to be movable around the opening to open or close the opening, and at least one configured to control the door unit to stop at a position spaced a preset first distance from the opening during a closing operation of the door unit and control the closing operation of the door unit.