Window Air Conditioner Size Calculator

How to Calculate the Window AC Unit Size You Need

There are many window air conditioner models and sizes available on the market to help cool your home, but choosing one can be quite confusing if you don’t know what size you need to cool your space.

Air conditioners are sized in a few different ways. Large air conditioners are sized by the ton, while smaller air conditioners may be sized by the number of square feet they are designed to cool or by the BTU.

BTUs stand for British Thermal Units and are the measure of energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. Choosing the right size air conditioner for your room is very important.

If the air conditioner is too small, then the unit will run all day and will not be able to comfortably cool the room on warm days.

If the air conditioner is too big, then the unit will move too much air, causing it to cycle on and off too frequently. This may cause discomfort due to frequent blasts of cool air, then warm air. Frequent on/off cycles will also shorten the lifespan of the unit.

In either case, an incorrectly sized unit will also use more energy. This will mean that your energy bills are higher than they could be with a correctly sized unit while you stay more comfortable at the same time.

Factors to Consider When Sizing an Air Conditioner

There are many factors to consider when sizing a window air conditioner. The main factor is the size of the room.

Room Size

The size of the room is the main factor in choosing a window air conditioner size. A larger room will naturally require more energy to cool and more airflow in CFM than a smaller room.