Heating, Cooling & Ventilation calculator
AC Tonnage Calculator
Estimate room cooling load and express it in BTU/h, kW and refrigeration tons.
Estimate room cooling load and express it in BTU/h, kW and refrigeration tons. Enter the project measurements first, then replace any default material or performance value with data for the product you intend to use. Check the underlying cooling load carefully. One refrigeration ton is a capacity unit, not equipment weight. Use a proper cooling-load estimate before converting the result to tons.
What you need to enter
The AC Tonnage Calculator uses the following project information to calculate the result.
- Room length
- Room width
- Room height
- Insulation level
- External windows
- Climate adjustment
Calculator result
Estimated cooling load in BTU/h, kW and refrigeration tons
How the AC Tonnage Calculator works
The AC Tonnage Calculator estimates estimated cooling load in btu/h, kw and refrigeration tons from this relationship: rule-of-thumb estimator; not a substitute for professional heat-loss design. Because the page is designed for cooling capacity expressed in BTU/h and refrigeration tons, the calculation depends especially on the underlying cooling load. Metric and imperial entries are normalised before the arithmetic so equivalent measurements produce equivalent results.
AC Tonnage Calculator worked example
AC Tonnage Calculator example: Enter the real dimensions and condition of the room rather than choosing equipment by floor area alone. For cooling capacity expressed in BTU/h and refrigeration tons, the calculator combines room volume with insulation, glazing and climate adjustments to produce an indicative capacity that can be compared with equipment ratings. The important sense-check is the underlying cooling load, because that can move the real requirement away from the neat theoretical result.
Important calculation assumptions
For cooling capacity expressed in BTU/h and refrigeration tons, one refrigeration ton is a capacity unit, not equipment weight. Use a proper cooling-load estimate before converting the result to tons.
Frequently asked questions
What should I check on site before using the AC Tonnage Calculator?
Before calculating cooling capacity expressed in BTU/h and refrigeration tons, measure real room dimensions and choose the insulation, glazing and climate inputs that best describe the space. Avoid substituting an average value where the actual project figure is known.
Why should I check the underlying cooling load carefully in the AC Tonnage Calculator?
For the AC Tonnage Calculator, use project-specific values for the underlying cooling load. One refrigeration ton is a capacity unit, not equipment weight. Use a proper cooling-load estimate before converting the result to tons.
Can I select final equipment from the AC Tonnage Calculator result?
For the AC Tonnage Calculator, after calculating, use the cooling-load estimate to compare nominal AC tonnage, then have final equipment selected from a proper cooling-load calculation and manufacturer performance data.