HVAC Cooling Load Calculator

Summary

Enter room dimensions, insulation quality, occupancy, and climate zone to estimate the cooling load in BTU/hr, tons of refrigeration, and kW.

How it works

1. Enter the room area in square feet.
2. Enter the ceiling height in feet (standard is 8 ft).
3. Select the insulation quality: Poor, Average, or Good.
4. Enter the number of occupants regularly in the space.
5. Select the climate zone: Cool, Moderate, Hot, or Very Hot.
6. Click Calculate to see the cooling load in BTU/hr, tons, and kW.
7. Use the Reset button to clear all fields and start over.

Use cases

• Sizing a new window or split air conditioner for a bedroom or living room.
• Estimating the tonnage of a central AC system for a whole home.
• Checking whether an existing AC unit is undersized for a commercial office.
• Comparing energy requirements across different insulation upgrade scenarios.
• Preparing a preliminary HVAC budget for a renovation project.
• Teaching students how cooling load calculations factor in climate and occupancy.

Frequently Asked Questions