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BTU Calculator: What Size AC Does Your Room Need?

Enter your room size and we'll work out the cooling capacity you need in BTU and tons, sized for Saudi summers above 45 °C, then show the air conditioners in our store that fit the room.

AC size chart by room size

For a 3 m ceiling and average insulation in inland areas. A sunny or top-floor room needs more capacity, so the same AC covers a smaller area.

AC capacity Normal room Sunny / top floor Typical room
1 ton · 12,000 BTUup to 12 m²up to 10 m²Small bedroom (3 × 4 m)
1.5 ton · 18,000 BTU13–18 m²11–15 m²Bedroom (4 × 4.5 m)
2 ton · 24,000 BTU19–24 m²16–20 m²Master bedroom or office (4 × 6 m)
2.5 ton · 30,000 BTU25–30 m²21–25 m²Living room (5 × 6 m)
3 ton · 36,000 BTU31–36 m²26–30 m²Majlis (6 × 6 m)
Over 3 tonsover 36 m²over 30 m²Two units or a concealed ducted system

Good to know: many units sold as "2 ton" in Saudi Arabia are rated 21,000–24,000 BTU, and "3 ton" units 30,000–32,000 BTU. Compare the BTU figure in the specs, not just the ton label.

How the calculator works

  1. Floor area: length × width × 900 BTU per m², a baseline suited to Saudi heat.
  2. Ceiling height: compared with 2.7 m; a higher ceiling means more air to cool (−15% to +25%).
  3. Insulation: poor +15%, average no change, good −10%.
  4. Region: humid coastal cities +5%, southern highlands −15%.
  5. Room conditions: +10% each for direct sun, top floor and large windows, plus 600 BTU for each person beyond two.
  6. The result is rounded to the nearest 500 BTU, and we list the units in stock that cover it without being far too big.

What is a BTU, and what is a ton?

A BTU (British Thermal Unit) measures how much heat an air conditioner can remove from a room per hour. 1 ton of cooling = 12,000 BTU, so an 18,000 BTU unit is 1.5 tons and a 24,000 BTU unit is 2 tons.

An AC that is too small runs non-stop and still can't hold the temperature on a summer afternoon. One that is too big switches on and off in short cycles and doesn't run long enough to remove humidity, so the room feels damp while using more power and costing more to buy. The right size matters more than the biggest size.

Shop air conditioners by capacity

AC sizing questions

How many BTU per square metre do I need in Saudi Arabia?

About 1,000 BTU per m² for a room with a 3 m ceiling and average insulation. Sunny or top-floor rooms need 10–20% more, and humid coastal cities about 5% more.

What room size does an 18,000 BTU (1.5 ton) AC cover?

About 15 to 18 m²: up to 18 m² for a normal room and around 15 m² if the room is sunny or on the top floor.

What room size does a 24,000 BTU (2 ton) AC cover?

About 20 to 24 m². Note that some units sold as 2 ton are only 21,000–22,000 BTU, which covers about 18–21 m².

How many BTU is 1 ton of air conditioning?

1 ton = 12,000 BTU per hour. 1.5 tons = 18,000, 2 tons = 24,000, 2.5 tons = 30,000 and 3 tons = 36,000 BTU.

Is it better to buy a bigger AC than I need?

No. An oversized AC cycles on and off, removes less humidity and costs more to buy and run. Choose the nearest capacity that covers the room's need.

What if my space is over 36 m² or several rooms?

Two units or a concealed ducted system will cool it more evenly. Send us your floor plan and our team will prepare an AC layout for you.

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