Free calculatorWorks with My Project

AC / BTU Calculator

Estimate cooling capacity from room size and project factors.

My ProjectNo saved space selectedSave a room once and reuse it here.
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Calculator inputs

Room cooling details

Ready to calculate

Room measurements

The sizing guide starts with floor area. A saved room can also provide ceiling height.

Room conditions

These adjustments follow common ENERGY STAR room-air-conditioner guidance for sun, occupants and kitchens.

Optional purchase estimate

If you already have a likely unit price, add it so the one-time AC purchase can be saved to My Project.

Planning estimate only. Actual HVAC sizing can depend on climate, insulation, glazing, air leakage and equipment type.
Your estimate

Ready when you are

Enter the room size and conditions to estimate a practical cooling-capacity target in BTU per hour.

Plan with confidence

How to use the AC / BTU Calculator

Estimate a practical room air-conditioner cooling-capacity target in BTU per hour using room size and common adjustment factors.

Step by step

What to enter

  1. Enter the room dimensions or load a saved space from My Project.
  2. Choose the room sun exposure and enter the usual number of occupants.
  3. Select kitchen mode if the AC will cool a kitchen.
  4. Optionally enter an expected AC purchase price to add the one-time unit cost to My Project.
Method

How the calculation works

PlanCalq starts with a room-area-based cooling-capacity baseline and then adjusts it for ceiling height, heavy shade or strong sun, additional occupants and kitchen use.

The result is rounded to a practical BTU/h target so it can be compared with the rated cooling capacity shown on actual air-conditioner specifications.

Calculation summaryArea-based BTU baseline × sun/shade factor × ceiling factor+ 600 BTU/h for each regular occupant beyond two+ 4,000 BTU/h when kitchen mode is selected
Common questions

AC / BTU Calculator FAQs

Is bigger AC capacity always better?

No. Oversized equipment can cycle too quickly and may control humidity poorly, while undersized equipment may struggle to reach the target temperature.

Why does a sunny room need more BTU?

Higher solar heat gain increases the cooling load. The calculator includes a simple adjustment for heavily shaded or very sunny rooms.

Is this enough for central HVAC design?

No. Whole-building and central-system sizing should use a proper heat-load calculation that accounts for the building envelope, climate and ventilation.