As a rule of thumb, you need 30,000 BTU for 1,500 square feet. So, you need a 2.5 Tons air conditioner for a 1,500 square feet room. If your room is below 1,500 square feet but more than 1,200 square feet, you can use a 2 Tons air conditioner.
| ZONE 1 | ZONE 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 Tons | 600 - 900 sf | 700 - 1100 sf |
| 2 Tons | 901 - 1200 sf | 1101 - 1400 sf |
| 2.5 Tons | 1201 - 1500 sf | 1401 - 1650 sf |
| 3 Tons | 1501 - 1800 sf | 1651 - 2100 sf |
How much AC do I need for 600 sq ft?
AC Capacity = 600 sq ft * 0.0016 tons/sq ft = 1 Ton In general, for every 600 sq ft, you need 1 ton of AC.
How do you calculate AC capacity per square foot?
AC Capacity (Tonnage) = (INSERT AREA IN SQ FT) * 0.0016 tons/sq ft You can insert the area and calculate how many tons of AC you need per certain square footage.
What size central AC do I need for my home?
The most popular central AC size that works for the majority of residential homes is either 2 or 2.5 ton unit. If you want to get a sense of how much AC tonnage your home needs, take a look at this heat zone map and ac sizing chart. First locate the zone that your state is in, based on color:
How much air conditioning power do I need to cool a room?
When looking for the quick answer to how much air-conditioning power you'll need to adequately cool a 1,300 square foot space, the answer is 23,000 BTUs per hour of air conditioning power.
What size AC do I need for 1200 sq ft?
What Size AC Unit Do I Require For 1200 Square Feet? In general, a unit that's 1.75 to 2 Ton or 21,000 to 24,000 BTU should be adequate for a room that's 1200 square feet.
How much is an AC unit for an 1100 square-foot house?
Cost of central air for 800 – 3,000 sq ft houseHouse Size (sq ft)Central Air Equipment CostCentral Air Installed Cost900 sq ft$2,400 - $4,250$3,550 - $5,9751,000 sq ft$2,400 - $5,100$3,550 - $7,7501,100 sq ft$2,400 - $6,000$3,550 - $8,6001,200 sq ft$2,950 - $6,000$4,300 - $8,6007 more rows•Jun 2, 2022
How many BTUs do I need to cool 1100 square feet?
Size and Ceiling HeightArea To Be Cooled (square feet)Capacity Needed (BTUs per hour)700 to 1,00018,0001,000 to 1,20021,0001,200 to 1,40023,0001,400 to 1,50024,00010 more rows
What size AC do I need for a 1000 sq ft house?
Step 5: Match your square footage to an HVAC size chartHome Sq FootageAir Conditioner Size (tons)600 - 1,000 square feet1.5 tons1,000 – 1,500 square feet2 tons1,500 – 2,000 square feet3 tons2,000 – 2,500 square feet4 tons1 more row
How do you cool a 1000 square foot house?
Nonetheless, for smaller 1,000 sq ft houses, they do have enough cooling power. You can get 2 portable units, or 2 window units, or 1 big 2-ton window unit, and you have sufficient cooling output to adequately cool a 1,000 sq ft house.
Which AC is best for 1000 square feet?
How to Calculate SizeAir Conditioning Sizing Chart:450 to 550 sq ft12,000 BTUs550 to 700 sq ft14,000 BTUs700 to 1,000 sq ft18,000 BTUs1,000 to 1,200 sq ft21,000 BTUs7 more rows•May 27, 2022
What size furnace do I need for a 1200 sq ft house?
between 35,000 and 75,000 BTUsA 1,200-square-foot home will require between 35,000 and 75,000 BTUs. A 1,500-square-foot home will require between 45,000 to 90,000 BTUs. A 1,800-square-foot home will require between 55,000 to 110,000 BTUs. A 2,100-square-foot home will require between 65,000 to 125,000 BTUs.
What size room will a 12000 BTU air conditioner cool?
12,000 BTUs will cover 400 sq. ft. (3,200 cubic feet)
How many BTUs do I need for 1000 square feet?
18,000 BTUsCalculating the number of BTUs needed to heat an area For example, a 300 square foot room typically requires 7,000 BTUs to maintain a comfortable temperature, while a 1,000 square foot room requires 18,000 BTUs.
What size house will a 2.5 ton AC unit cool?
For example, a 30,000 BTU, 2.5-ton air conditioner is made to effectively cool a home between 1,200 and 1,500 square feet. A slightly larger 3,600, 3-ton unit, is designed for homes that are 1,500 to 1,800 square feet.
How many tons is 1200 square feet?
2 TonsTonnage TableArea (Square Feet):BTUTonnage600 sq ft12,000 BTU1 Ton900 sq ft18,000 BTU1.5 Tons1,200 sq ft24,000 BTU2 Tons1,500 sq ft30,000 BTU2.5 Tons7 more rows
How much is a 2.5 ton AC?
Average cost: $3,200 - $7,800 For a 1,300 to 1,600 square ft home you would want a 2.5 ton AC unit and the average installation cost would be around $3,570 with the unit alone costing around $1,285. Read more about these cost factors below.
What Does Central Air Conditioner Sizing Mean?
The term “size” of a central AC unit does NOT refer to the physical dimensions. Rather, AC unit size is a measure of its capacity to generate cool...
Manual J: Professional AC Unit Size Calculation
To get a truly accurate size of a central air conditioning unit that will work most efficiently in your house, you need to get a professional load...
Factors That Impact How Big of An AC Unit You Need
As you may have already guessed there are a number of important variables that will effect the size of a central air unit your house requires. Tota...
Why It’S A Bad Idea to Install The Wrong Size Central Air
It is important to understand exactly why it is not advisable to install the wrong size central air, whether too big or too small.
Types of air conditioning systems
Before sizing your air conditioner to your home’s needs, determine what type of system you want to install. There are a variety of cooling systems available, but we’ll cover the three primary styles below. (Looking for how to properly size a window AC ?)
How many BTU per square foot?
A BTU, or British Thermal Unit, is a rating that measures the energy your AC uses in one hour to remove heat from your indoor air. The BTU of your HVAC system should be based on the square footage of your home, insulation quality, climate zone, and ductwork.
Manual J calculation
A Manual J calculation is like an energy audit of your home. Who performs the Manual J calculation can vary depending on your region. In some instances, the HVAC company will complete the audit. It’s also possible for a general contractor or energy consultant to complete the work.
AC climate zones
While the square footage and makeup of your home will give you great direction on sizing your HVAC unit, we can’t forget climate.
Best HVAC size for your home
Choosing the right size air conditioning system for your home doesn’t have to be complicated.
Proper System Sizing
In order to scientifically calculate the right central air conditioner size, you can perform a Residential Load Calculation.
Insulation Variables
Variables such as your insulation, type and number of windows, number of stories, construction type, etc. will greatly affect the required Btu's per square for both heating and cooling.
Contact Us for More Info
If you're still unsure which system size is right for you, or if you're having difficulty downloading the Air Conditioner Size Calculator, please e-mail us or call our toll free number at 1-855-634-5588. An experienced design technician will be happy to assist you.
What Size Air Conditioner Do I Need?
Using an air conditioner on a hot day can make the temperatures more bearable, but only if the air conditioner is big enough to cool the area you want it to. On the other hand, purchasing an air conditioner that is too large for the space may mean you’re spending more money, both on the unit and on the energy it requires to run.
Determining Your BTUs
Air conditioners are sized by the number of BTUs they put out. BTUs stand for British Thermal Units and refer to the amount of energy your air conditioner is using per hour.
Selecting Your Unit
Air conditioners are clearly labeled with the amount of BTUs they need. Consult the following chart to see where your square footage lands in relation to the amount of BTUs. Purchase the unit that best corresponds to the amount of square footage you have.
Variations and Variables
While this chart is used as a general rule of thumb for selecting air conditioner size, variations can occur depending on several variables you need to consider.
Shade and Sun
If the room or house you are cooling is heavily shaded, you may need 10 percent fewer BTUs to cool it. If the house or room is very sunny, however, add 10 percent more BTUs.
Room Occupancy
The more people that use the area you are cooling, the higher the BTUs need to be to compete with body heat. As a general rule of thumb, for every person over an initial 2 people, add 600 BTUs.
Hot Appliances
If the room you are planning on installing an air conditioner in is the kitchen, you need to factor in additional BTUs for the stove, oven, and microwave. Add about 4,000 BTUs to the unit size to cover this.
Table of Contents
An air conditioner’s primary purpose is to cool down your home. However, using one that doesn’t match the square footage of your home will struggle to keep a room at a comfortable temperature. The right-sized air conditioner will give you the best results in comfort, performance and energy efficiency.
Air Conditioner Ratings
Air conditioners are typically rated in two ways: cooling capacity and energy efficiency.
Variables That Might Impact the Size of Air Conditioner
The main factor for choosing the right sized air conditioning system is the square footage of your home. However, there are some other variables that come into play which can affect how efficiently your system can cool.
How to Calculate Size
To calculate the size of the unit you will need, you will need to know the square footage of the room or house. To find the square footage, multiply the length times the width of the rooms in your home, then add them together. Once you have the square footage, multiply it by 25 to get the BTUhs needed to cool your space.
Existing Ductwork
The size of your air conditioning unit must be compatible with your ductwork. The wrong sized ducts will cause similar problems to having an improperly sized AC unit for your square footage. Improperly-sized ductwork puts too much pressure on your unit.
HVAC Pros
Although it’s important to understand how to pick the right size air conditioner for your home, an HVAC professional will perform all the calculations necessary for maximum efficiency.
STEP 1: Determine how many BTUs of heating and tons of AC you need
The best way to determine the perfect HVAC unit size is to have a Manual J calculation done for your house. The Manual J calculation is the most precise measurement available because it considers factors like:
STEP 2: Decide which unit to buy
Now it’s time to work with an HVAC dealer to learn more about the heating and cooling products they offer. Sometimes the dealer may not have your exact BTU size — but don’t worry. If your BTU requirement is between sizes, simply go with the bigger unit. For example, the Manual J calculation may say you need 25,000 BTUs for cooling.
How much power does an air conditioner need?
When looking for the quick answer to how much air-conditioning power you'll need to adequately cool a 1,300 square foot space , the answer is 23,000 BTUs per hour of air conditioning power. According to the government's Energy Star website, this is the base capacity needed for a 1,200 to 1,400 square feet house. You should also look for a unit that has at least an 11.6 Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio that determines how efficient your system is in the hottest weather. Manufacturers only produce air conditioners with a SEER rating of 13 or higher today, so new units exceed this minimum requirement.
What is a BTU?
British Thermal Units. The size of a central cooling unit has little to do with its physical dimensions. Instead, the size refers to British Thermal Unit it produces. BTUs are the standard by which air conditioners and their cooling capacity are measured. The amount of energy in one BTU is the same amount needed to raise the temperature ...
Does square footage matter when choosing a central air system?
The square footage in your home is not the only factor that matters when choosing a central air system. Consider other variables that could make your home tougher or easier to cool. A heavily shaded home may require 10 percent less energy to cool. On the other hand, lots of windows, little shade and a sunny climate may have the opposite effect. If a kitchen is used regularly for cooking, then it can also significantly increase the energy needs for cooling.
Is it bad to have a central air conditioner?
But having an improperly sized central air conditioner has negative effects regardless of whether it has too much or too little capacity. Too little capacity means the air conditioner will have to run constantly to cool the house and will cause higher electric bills and potentially a home that is too warm. If the central air unit is too large it will cool too fast, run short cycles and not remove the humidity from the air, which is a significant part of the air conditioning process.
