If your home is 2000 square feet, you can calculate your HVAC needs the same as you would for a 1600 square foot home. Assuming one ton of cooling capacity can cool 400 square feet of your home, you'll need about 5.0 tons of air conditioning capacity. Multiply this by 12,000 BTUs, and you'll get 60,000 BTUs.
Average AC Unit Prices by Size or Capacity
| Central AC Unit Size | AC & Coil | AC & Coil Installed Cost |
|---|
| 1.5 Tons, 18,000 btu | $940 | $1,895 |
| 2 Tons, 24,000 btu | $1,490 | $2,690 |
| 2.5 Tons, 30,000 btu | $1,525 | $2,695 |
| 3 Tons, 36,000 btu | $1,650 | $2,990 |
1,201 to 1,500 square feet homes should use 2.5 tons. If your home size is higher than the number above but is less not more than 1,800 square feet, you can go for a three-ton A/C. Choose a unit that is 3.5 tons if your home measures more than 1,800 but not more 2,100 square feet.
1 ton of cooling is equal to 400 cubic feet of air per minute. 2 ton of cooling is 800 cfm and so on.
3. If a Room sq ft is above 201-300 sq ft, then go for 1.25 or 1.5 Ton AC. 4. If a Room is big say above 301-500 sq ft, then better go for 1.5 Ton AC.
A 1.5 ton AC will be adequate for a room size ranging from 120 to 190 square feet and you may need a 2 ton air conditioner for a room size ranging from 190 to 300 square feet.
Average cost: $2,800 - $7,770For 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. Cost by Home Sq.
How to Determine the Size of HVAC You Need
- First, determine square footage: Find out the floor space in your home.
- Second, determine the base BTU: The unit used to measure energy used for heating and cooling is the British Thermal Unit, or BTU.
- Third, account for high ceilings: If your home's ceiling is over 8 feet, multiply the base BTU amount by 1.25, or 25%.
STEP 1: Determine how many BTUs of heating and tons of AC you need
| House Square Footage | BTUs Needed |
|---|
| 1,000 – 1,200 | 21,000 |
| 1,200 – 1,400 | 23,000 |
| 1,400 – 1,500 | 24,000 |
| 1,500 – 2,000 | 30,000 |
A higher SEER rating provides greater energy efficiency in certain conditions. A 13 or 14 SEER rating doesn't necessarily mean a unit is inefficient. Most older A/C systems are rated at around 8 or 9, so even the lowest available SEER rated system you buy today will be much more energy efficient.
The generally accepted BTU per square foot heating rule of thumb ranges from 30 BTU per square foot to 60 BTU per square foot.
Size and Ceiling Height
| Area To Be Cooled (square feet) | Capacity Needed (BTUs per hour) |
|---|
| 1,200 to 1,400 | 23,000 |
| 1,400 to 1,500 | 24,000 |
| 1,500 to 2,000 | 30,000 |
| 2,000 to 2,500 | 34,000 |
BTU Charts
| Bungalow Area [sq ft]* | Furnace Output [BTU/hr] | Air Conditioner size [ton] |
|---|
| 1200 to 1500 sq ft | 50,000 BTU/hr | 2 ton |
| 1500 to 1800 sq ft | 55,000 BTU/hr | up to 2.5 ton |
| 1800 to 2500 sq ft | 65,000 BTU/hr | 2.5 to 3 ton |
| 2500 to 3500 sq ft | 80,000 to 90,000 BTU/hr | 3.5 to 4 ton |
As a rule of thumb, an air conditioner needs 20 Btu for each square foot of living space. But other considerations, such as the ceiling height and the size of your windows and doorways, might call for more cooling power. To measure your room, multiply the length by the width.
To estimate your AC tonnage needs, multiply the number of square feet you're cooling times 25. This equals the total number of BTUs you need to adequately cool your space. Next, divide that number by 12,000 to determine the tonnage capability you need in your new air conditioning unit.
If you want to properly cool down a 300 square foot area (or room), you need a 6,000 BTU air conditioner. Obviously, the problem arises when you have a tiny 12×12 room, for example. According to the US Department of Energy directive, an air conditioner's most appropriate size would be 2,880 BTU unit.
What Size Air Conditioner Do You Need?
| Semi-detached House square footage * | Furnace Output [BTU/hr] | Air Conditioner size [ton] |
|---|
| up to 1500 sq ft | 40,000 BTU/hr | up to 2 ton |
| 1500 to 1800 sq ft | 50,000 BTU/hr | 2 ton |
| 1800 to 2200 sq ft | 55,000 BTU/hr | up to 2.5 ton |
| 2200 to 3000 sq ft | 60,000 BTU/hr | 2.5 to 3 ton |
A 2-ton AC at this SEER rating is approximately 15 amps; 3-tons is 18 amps; 4-tons is 21 amps. Next, calculate the wattage consumed. A typical whole-home air conditioner uses a 240-volt power outlet. Multiply the amps by 240 watts, which equals 4,320 watts.
