AC tonnage, a ballpark first.
A rough planning range from square footage and climate. A Manual J load calculation decides the real size.
One ton of cooling is 12,000 BTU per hour. Square-foot rules of thumb give only a rough starting range; the right size comes from an ACCA Manual J load calculation that accounts for insulation, windows, orientation and climate.
How many tons of AC does a house need?
One ton of cooling is 12,000 BTU per hour. A square-foot rule of thumb gives a rough planning range only. The real size comes from an ACCA Manual J load calculation, which counts insulation, windows, orientation, air leakage and local design temperatures.
- Use this for a first conversation, never to order equipment
- Oversizing short-cycles and leaves the house humid
- Size with Manual J, select equipment with Manual S
AC tonnage estimator
A rough planning range. Manual J decides.
Rule of thumb only: roughly 400 to 700 square feet per ton, rounded to the nearest half ton. Run a Manual J before you quote.
Equipment options side by side, with monthly financing.
Build good, better and best options from your pricebook and send a proposal homeowners can sign on their phone.
What shops ask before they switch.
How many square feet does one ton cool?
Rules of thumb run from roughly 400 to 700 square feet per ton depending on climate and the house, which is why they are only a starting point. A Manual J load calculation decides the size.
Is a bigger AC better?
No. An oversized system short-cycles, removes less humidity and wears faster. Size to the Manual J load and select equipment with Manual S.
You shouldn't pay for software you don't use. So every team gets a quote built for it.
What happens next
- 1A written quote in one business day
Sized to your team, locations and what you turn on.
- 2A walkthrough on your own data
See your jobs and pricebook on the board, not a demo account.
- 3We move you over
Customers, jobs and pricebook imported, office and crews trained. Guided setup always included.