Converter
BTU to Tons
1 ton = 12,000 BTU/h. Divide BTU/h by 12,000 to get tons of refrigeration, or convert in either direction below.
24,000 BTU/h = 2 tons
Tons ↔ BTU chart
| Tons | BTU/h | kW cooling |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 6,000 | 1.76 |
| 0.75 | 9,000 | 2.64 |
| 1 | 12,000 | 3.52 |
| 1.5 | 18,000 | 5.28 |
| 2 | 24,000 | 7.04 |
| 2.5 | 30,000 | 8.8 |
| 3 | 36,000 | 10.56 |
| 3.5 | 42,000 | 12.32 |
| 4 | 48,000 | 14.08 |
| 5 | 60,000 | 17.6 |
Find the tonnage your room actually needs with the AC tonnage calculator, or convert to kilowatts with BTU to kW.
FAQ
- How many BTU is a ton of air conditioning?
- Exactly 12,000 BTU/h. The unit comes from ice-age refrigeration: melting one short ton of ice over 24 hours absorbs heat at 12,000 BTU per hour.
- How many tons is 24,000 BTU?
- 24,000 BTU/h equals 2 tons. Divide any BTU/h rating by 12,000 to get tons: 18,000 BTU is 1.5 tons, 36,000 BTU is 3 tons.
- What tonnage do most homes need?
- Single rooms run 0.75–2 tons, whole homes typically 2–5 tons depending on size, climate, and insulation. Use a room-by-room load calculation rather than guessing from floor area alone.