AC Tonnage Calculator
Convert between BTU/hr and AC tons at 12,000 BTU per ton, or estimate tonnage from floor area.
Processed locally in your browser — nothing is uploaded.
Results
- Tonnage
- 2 tons
- BTU/hr
- 24,000
- Nearest common unit size
- 2 tons
12,000 BTU/hr per ton of cooling
Residential units come in half-ton steps (1.5, 2, 2.5, …)
Area-based sizing is a rough guide; insulation, climate, and windows change the real load.
About AC Tonnage Calculator
One "ton" of air conditioning moves 12,000 BTU per hour. This converter goes both directions and includes an area mode that estimates tonnage from floor area at 20 BTU per square foot, then suggests the nearest half-ton unit size.
Common uses
- Decode a model number's BTU rating into tons
- Ballpark the tonnage for a 1,600 sq ft house before getting quotes
Example
Input
24,000 BTU/hr
Output
2.0 tons
Limitations
- Area-based estimates ignore climate, insulation, and windows — use the BTU calculator or a Manual J for sizing