Air Conditioner Size Calculator
What Air Conditioner Size Do
You Need?
For an air conditioner to effectively control and
treat the heat load of the air in a given space, it is
important to calculate the correct air conditioner
size of the unit needed for that environment. It is
better to have a qualified air conditioner installer
do a precise on-site assessment as there are a
number of different factors to consider. The
following information will however give you an
approximate guide to the air conditioner capacity
required for a particular area.
How To Calculate The Heat
Load
Here follows a guide only. For offices, homes and
your average area requiring air conditioning
always keeps the following factors in mind:
BTU
The power of an air conditioner is measured in
BTUs (British Thermal Units).
To convert BTUs into Kw: BTU x 0.0002928 = kW
For Additional Heat Loads To
BTU, The Following
Calculation/s Could Be Used:
Number Of People In The Area
& Level Of Activity:
An office with one person and an office of the same
size with eight people is different. A person seated
at an office desk gives off less heat than someone
who is more active like in an office reception area
or a restaurant filled with people eating and
drinking. Add 400-600 BTU / person (average)
depending on activity.
Curtains & Blinds:
A room area or office space with blinds or glazed
windows for direct sunlight protection, the heat gain
is reduced.
Open Doors & Windows:
If outside air is added to an area, this air will be
warmer than the air in the given area and will need
to pass through the refrigeration cycle to lower its
temperature thereby causing the air conditioner to
work at a greater load, thus the capacity is affected.
Electrical Equipment In Use:
The heat load in an empty office in a building with
no people in it might not be much compared to the

People Add 400-600 BTU / person (average)
depending on activity
Electrical Equipment Wattage x 3.4 = BTU
(e.g. a 100W light = 100 x 3.4 = 340 BTU)
heat generated by the equipment in a computer
room. This extra generated heat will increase the
heat load, affecting the capacity. An excessive
number of lights will have a similar effect. Should
the area being calculated be considered a standard
heat load, then the following average heat load
calculation could be used: 600 BTU / m.

Exposure To Direct Sunlight: Type Of Building Construction:

Take into account excessive heat gain from large A construction of bricks will generally be cooler
or multiple windows or a non-insulated roof. than timber or metal.

Size Of The Area (m):

To determine the BTU size of the unit, the size of the area to be treated must be calculated:

Length of room x width = m

If the height of the ceiling is over 3m, then add on the increased percentage of the area.

Please use the table below to help calculate the size of your room by multiplying the length of your room
by the width.

For a room of approximately: Air conditioner size required:

10 to 15 m 9 000 BTU

16 to 20 m 12 000 BTU

21 to 30 m 18 000 BTU

31 to 40 m 24 000 BTU

41 to 50 m 30 000 BTU

Air Conditioner Size Power Supply:

The following air conditioning units do not need a separate power supply and can be plugged into a wall
socket:

Room size of up to 15m = 9 000 BTU (2.6Kw)

 Room size 18m 20m = 12 000 BTU (3.5Kw)

Room size 24m 30m = 18 000 BTU (5.3Kw)

The Following Air Conditioning Units Need A Separate Power

Supply To Be Installed To Which The Unit Must Be Connected
Directly:
Room size 31m 40m = 24 000 BTU (7.0Kw)

Room size 41m 50m = 30 000 BTU (8.8Kw)

Room size 51m 60m = 36 000 BTU (10.55Kw)