Cooling · Room sizing
What size AC for a 300 sq ft room?
A 300 sq ft room with 8 ft ceilings needs about 33,980 BTU/h (2.8 tons) of cooling in a hot climate — buy a 36,000 BTU unit, or 48,000 BTU if the room gets direct sun.
By ceiling height
| Ceiling | BTU/h (shaded) | BTU/h (sunny) | Tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 ft | 33,980 | 40,776 | 2.8 |
| 9 ft | 38,228 | 45,873 | 3.2 |
| 10 ft | 42,475 | 50,970 | 3.5 |
Hot-climate volumetric method (500–600 BTU/h per m³) — the same formula as our BTU calculator, where you can enter exact dimensions. In mild climates use the room-size chart's 20–25 BTU/sq ft column instead.
FAQ
- How many BTU for 300 sq ft?
- In a hot climate with 8 ft ceilings: about 33,980 BTU/h shaded, or 40,776 BTU/h with direct sun. In a mild climate the 20–25 BTU/sq ft rule gives 6,000–7,500 BTU/h — use that as the floor for insulated rooms.
- How many tons is that?
- 33,980 BTU/h equals 2.8 tons of cooling (1 ton = 12,000 BTU/h) — about 10 kW.