Cooling · Room sizing
What size AC for a 500 sq ft room?
A 500 sq ft room with 8 ft ceilings needs about 56,634 BTU/h (4.7 tons) of cooling in a hot climate — buy a 60,000 BTU unit, or 60,000 BTU if the room gets direct sun.
By ceiling height
| Ceiling | BTU/h (shaded) | BTU/h (sunny) | Tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 ft | 56,634 | 67,960 | 4.7 |
| 9 ft | 63,713 | 76,456 | 5.3 |
| 10 ft | 70,792 | 84,951 | 5.9 |
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 500 sq ft?
- In a hot climate with 8 ft ceilings: about 56,634 BTU/h shaded, or 67,960 BTU/h with direct sun. In a mild climate the 20–25 BTU/sq ft rule gives 10,000–12,500 BTU/h — use that as the floor for insulated rooms.
- How many tons is that?
- 56,634 BTU/h equals 4.7 tons of cooling (1 ton = 12,000 BTU/h) — about 16.6 kW.