gif-icon
search-icon mic-icon
location-marker

Enter your pincode

Explore product availability and delivery choices

10 Dec, 2025

How to Choose the Right AC for Your Room Size

How-To Tutorials AC
right ac for room size

Air conditioners are no longer a luxury they have become a necessity in most households, particularly in countries with long, hot summers, such as India. But buying an AC isn’t just about picking the latest model or the most stylish design. One of the most important factors is choosing the right AC according to the room size. If your AC is too small, it will constantly struggle to cool the room, wasting electricity in the process.

On the other hand, an oversized unit will cool too quickly without properly removing humidity, leaving the space cold but clammy. Hence, understanding how to select an AC according to the room size is crucial before investing. Let us walk you through the science behind choosing the right AC for your room size, provide formulas for calculating cooling capacity, offer a handy AC room size chart, and share some practical tips to make your decision easier.

 

Why Buy AC as Per Room Size?

 

When people ask how to choose air conditioner for a room, the simple answer is this: the AC must match the cooling needs of the space. Suppose you install a unit that is too small. In that case, it will continue to run continuously without achieving the desired temperature, resulting in higher bills and a reduced lifespan for the appliance. If it’s too big, it will shut down quickly after blasting cold air, but without properly dehumidifying the room.

 

So, the right AC for room size is not just about comfort; it is also about saving energy, protecting your appliance, and maintaining a healthier indoor environment. Hence, experts and manufacturers always stress how to select split AC for room size or window ACs carefully.

 

How to Choose the Right AC Size for Your Room?

 

To determine the ideal size air conditioner for a bedroom or living room, the starting point is the area of your space. The larger the room size, the higher the cooling capacity (measured in BTU or Tons) you need. But area is not the only factor. You also need to consider:

 

  • The height of the ceiling

     

  • Number of people usually occupying the room

     

  • Number of windows and whether they face direct sunlight

     

  • Local climate (humid vs. dry, coastal vs. inland)

     

  • Presence of appliances that generate heat (like ovens or computers)

     

By combining these, you get a more accurate idea of how to select AC as per room size.

 

Measure the Size of Your Space

 

The very first step is to measure the length and width of your room in feet. Multiply them to get the total area in square feet. For instance, if your room is 12 feet wide and 15 feet long:

 

12×15=180 sq.ft.

 

This room measures 180 square feet. Once you know the square footage, you can proceed to the tonnage calculation.

 

How to Calculate the Tonnage

 

BTUs (British Thermal Units) are used to express the cooling capacity per hour or in Tons (1 Ton = 12,000 BTUs). There are two simple ways to calculate this:

 

1. Area Method

 

The thumb rule is that you need about 120 BTUs per square foot of area. BTU Requirement=Area×120

 

 

2. Volume Method

 

Sometimes, the ceiling height varies, so you can also calculate it by volume. Simply multiply the length, width, and height of your room to get cubic feet, then divide by 1000.

 

Tonnage=Length×Width×Height/1000​

 

AC Room Size Chart

 

Here’s a quick reference chart to understand how to choose AC according to room size without doing math every time:

 

 

 

Room Size (Sq. Ft.)

 

 

 

 

Required Capacity (BTU)

 

 

 

 

Recommended AC Size (Ton)

 

 

 

 

80 – 120

 

 

 

 

12,000

 

 

 

 

1.0 Ton

 

 

 

 

140 – 160

 

 

 

 

18,000

 

 

 

 

1.5 Ton

 

 

 

 

180 – 200

 

 

 

 

22,000

 

 

 

 

1.8 Ton

 

 

 

 

240 – 260

 

 

 

 

30,000

 

 

 

 

2.5 Ton

 

 

 

 

290 – 310

 

 

 

 

36,000

 

 

 

 

3.0 Ton

 

 

 

So, if you’re wondering what size air conditioner is good for a bedroom, you see that for a medium-sized bedroom (120–150 sq.ft.), a 1 Ton AC usually works perfectly.

 

Simple Ways to Select the Right AC Size

 

Choosing the right AC for room size may feel technical, but it becomes easy once you break it down. Start by measuring your space, apply the BTU formula, and then check the AC room size chart. Consider additional factors such as ceiling height, sunlight, and the number of occupants.

 

When in doubt, remember this: smaller rooms like bedrooms (up to 120 sq ft..) usually work well with 1 Ton ACs, medium-sized rooms (150–200 sq.ft) need 1.5–1.8 Ton ACs, while larger living rooms (250–300 sq. Ft.) will require 2–3 Ton ACs. If you have been wondering how to select split AC for room size, these same rules apply split ACs just offer quieter and more efficient performance compared to window units. 

 

In the end, the key to how to choose AC according to room size lies in balancing comfort, efficiency, and cost. A properly sized AC not only cools your space efficiently but also saves money on electricity bills and extends the appliance's lifespan.

Frequently Asked Questions

faq1

faqsQuestions
What size room is a 1.5-ton AC for?
faqsAnswer

A 1.5 Ton AC is suitable for rooms measuring around 140–160 sq ft, making it ideal for medium-sized bedrooms or small living rooms.

faq2

faqsQuestions
Is a 1-ton AC unit enough for a 12x12 room?
faqsAnswer

Yes, a 1 Ton AC is usually enough for a 12x12 ft room (144 sq.ft.), provided the ceiling height is standard and there is no excessive heat load from sunlight or appliances.

faq3

faqsQuestions
What size room will a 12000 BTU AC cool?
faqsAnswer

A 12,000 BTU unit, equivalent to 1 Ton, is designed to cool spaces of about 100–120 sq.ft., depending on climate and insulation.

faq4

faqsQuestions
How do I calculate AC for my room?
faqsAnswer

You can calculate by multiplying the area (length × width) in sq.ft. With 120 BTU to get the cooling capacity required, and then convert it into Tons (1 Ton = 12,000 BTU).

faq5

faqsQuestions
How much area is covered by 2 2-ton AC?
faqsAnswer

A 2 Ton AC, with about 24,000 BTU capacity, can comfortably cool an area of 240–260 sq.ft., making it suitable for large bedrooms or small halls.