Window Air Conditioner Size Calculator What size window air conditioner unit do you need? This estimator will help you assess the right model for your room. Cubic area of room to be cooled: Direction the room faces (choose one) Condition of your insulation (choose one) Number of BTUs recommended: Please note: For your convenience, this calculation has been rounded up slightly.Important reminder: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this calculation. But before purchasing materials for any project, please check amounts with your suppliers or contractors. When choosing a window air conditioner, don't assume that buying the most powerful model is the best choice. An air conditioner that is too powerful for the room will not remove enough humidity, because it cools too quickly. And of course, a model that is too weak will fail to make a room comfortable. The cooling power of an air conditioner is calculated in British Thermal Units (BTUs).

(One BTU is enough energy to heat one pound of water by 1 degree F.)A few tips: If you need to install a unit that delivers 12,000 BTUs or more, have an electrician install a 240-volt receptacle. Smaller units can be plugged into a standard 120-volt receptacle, but make sure that by doing so you will not overload the circuit (see our Circuit Load estimator).Other factors to consider: If the room is directly above a room with no air conditioning; if more than three people typically inhabit the room; or if the room's door will often be opened and closed, buy a model approximately 1,000 BTUs stronger than indicated by this calculator.Edit ArticleHow to Buy a Window Air Conditioner For many people without central heating and air, the solution to staying cool in the heat of summer is to buy a window air conditioner. But which one to buy? This article can help you determine the answer to this question. Decide which window is the best window for the installation. It should be a double-hung window located near the center of the wall rather than to one side.

You’ll also want to figure the distance to the nearest electrical outlet and determine whether other items share the same circuit. Consider whether the room is self-contained with a door that closes or part of a larger area. Window air conditioners work better for small areas. If you need to cool a large area that makes up your living room, dining area and kitchen, make sure you consider the entire space, as well as the height of the ceiling. Measure the square footage of the room. If it’s a simple rectangular room, this is easy. Measure the long wall and the wall adjacent to it. Multiply the two measurements to get the square footage. For a more complicated area, draw a rough diagram. Divide the area into squares and rectangles. Measure the sides of these and multiply to determine the size of each. Add each section to get the total. Determine the BTU rating you'll need. A small 8 x 8 foot room would need a window air conditioner rated at 5,000 BTUs.

A room that measures 250 to 300 square feet needs one with a rating of 7,000 BTUs. A large area measuring 500 to 600 square feet should have an air conditioner rated at 12,000 to 14,000 BTUs.average price of new ac unitKeep the measurements with you when you go to the store to make sure you don't buy one that won't fit in your window.how to wire up an ac unit Learn about energy efficiency.top 10 ac unitSome models offer different features that you may want. Before you buy a window air conditioner, you may want to consider whether this style is the best ones for your needs. Models with a thermostat allow you to adjust the level of cooling, which can make the unit more effective. A fan speed can help you adjusting the speed of the air.

If you want to consider an option with a fan, also look to see whether you can adjust the louvers directing the flow of air. Filters can help clean the air pulled in by the window unit. You may want to find out where the filter is and determine how easy it will be to clean. If possible, determine the noise produced by the unit during operation. Get information on warranties. Think about unit installation and delivery. Look at product ratings online. Consumer websites test and rate appliances such as window air conditioners. Español: comprar un aire acondicionado de ventana Send fan mail to authors Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 18,796 times.Click Here for Details Air Conditioner BTU Calculation Chart and GuideEspecially when choosing the correct BTU size for an air conditioner. Choose too small a unit, you could end up with a room that's not cool enough, or with an air conditioning unit that overheats. On the other hand, too large a unit for the space, will not remove the necessary moisture from the room, making it feel clammy and uncomfortable.

The chart below is a great starting point. These BTU calculations are based on a standard room with 8 foot ceilings, 2 windows and one door. If the room has more windows, doors or higher ceilings, adjust the BTU's upward. Other factors in determining the BTU size would be the rooms usage. Kitchens, normally have more heat, and rooms with heat emitting devices, like computers and other electronics give off extra heat and would require a larger unit. Want a more accurate calculation? Use our BTU calculator to get a more accurate result. All calculations provided are estimates based on the information you provide. This calculator is only designed to determine the needs for a single room, not an entire home or commercial business. If you are trying to determine the size for a multi-zone mini split be sure to calculate each room indvidually then add them together. Have a more complicated space or need help using this tool? We are here to help. Call us at 877-847-0050.With the dog days of summer just around the corner, the perfect time to shop for a new air conditioner is now.

There are numerous factors to consider when you’re shopping for an air conditioner, including whether your home can accommodate a ductless mini-split system, a built-in wall assembly, a window unit, or a portable model. But all air conditioners have one thing in common: They must be sized properly in order to effectively lower the temperature and remove excess moisture from the air, resulting in a comfortable, cool indoor environment. When you’re shopping for an appropriately sized air conditioner, a number of factors come into play, including the general climate and average summer temperatures in your region of the country; the square footage of the room or rooms to be cooled; the installation location in the wall, window, or ceiling; the number of people typically occupying a room; and the amount of insulation in the home. An air conditioner that is too small for a given area will not be able to cool the space efficiently, while an air conditioner that is too large will tend to cycle on and off too rapidly, wasting energy and impairing the unit’s ability to remove humidity from the room.

Air conditioners are rated by their seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER), and their capacity is expressed in British thermal units (BTUs). The BTU rating gives an indication of how quickly and effectively a particular unit can cool the room where it is located. Most home air conditioners sold in the United States range from around 5,000 BTUs to more than 20,000 BTUs.“Since we measure all of our heating and air-conditioning units in BTUs, it’s important to know how many BTUs your living space requires so you don’t buy a unit that is too large or too small. Another common measurement that heating and air-conditioning units are assigned is ‘tonnage.’ But don’t let this confuse you—one ton is just 12,000 BTUs!” Correctly sizing an air conditioner for a given room requires a tape measure and a few simple calculations. The first step is to determine the size of the room where the unit will be installed. offers a handy sizing calculator to determine the correct amount of BTUs needed for a given room or set of rooms.

The calculator requires the dimensions of a room, in length and width; the type of room, such as kitchen or bedroom; the number of people typically in the room; and finally, the exposure of the room—whether it is very sunny or shaded. Once you plug in the appropriate information, the calculator will determine the correct size air conditioner in BTUs. If you are cooling two adjacent areas, or if your room is odd-shaped, determine the square footage of each space as if it were a separate room, and then add the two measurements together to get a total amount of BTUs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, another rating that homeowners should consider when purchasing a new room air conditioner is the Energy Efficiency Rating, or EER, which represents the cooling capacity of a unit in BTUs per hour divided by the watts of power consumed at a specific outdoor temperature (usually 95 degrees Fahrenheit). The EER rating is found on the yellow Energy Guide label on the air conditioner, and it typically ranges from 8 to 11.5.