AC Cooling Conversion: 1 Ton = 12,000 BTU/h | Essential for HVAC sizing and cooling capacity calculations
Accurate conversion between BTU (British Thermal Units) and tons of refrigeration for HVAC system sizing, air conditioning capacity, and cooling load calculations.
Conversion Factor
1 Ton = 12,000 BTU/h (BTU per hour) | 1 BTU/h = 8.33333×10⁻⁵ Tons
Precision: 2 Decimal Places | Formula: Tons = BTU/h ÷ 12000
Understanding these essential units for HVAC system sizing, air conditioning capacity, and cooling load calculations.
BTU to Ton Conversion
1 Ton = 12,000 BTU/h (British Thermal Units per hour)
1 BTU/h = 1/12000 Tons ≈ 8.33333×10⁻⁵ Tons
Tons = BTU/h ÷ 12,000
BTU/h = Tons × 12,000
Convert 24,000 BTU/h to tons:
Tons = BTU/h ÷ 12000
Tons = 24000 ÷ 12000
Tons = 2 (with 0 decimal places)
Convert 1.5 tons to BTU/h:
BTU/h = Tons × 12000
BTU/h = 1.5 × 12000
BTU/h = 18000 (with 0 decimal places)
Note: These conversions are standard for residential and commercial HVAC systems (US customary units)
A unit of power that measures the rate of heat transfer or cooling capacity. One BTU is the amount of heat needed to raise 1 pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit.
Common Equivalents:
Note: AC units are often rated by BTU/h (e.g., 1.5 ton = 18,000 BTU/h)
A unit of cooling capacity that represents the amount of heat needed to melt 1 ton (2,000 pounds) of ice in 24 hours, equivalent to 12,000 BTU per hour.
Common Equivalents:
Note: Residential AC units typically range from 0.5 to 5 tons
| Tons | BTU/h | Kilowatts (kW) | Typical Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 6,000 | 1.76 | Small window AC (1 room) |
| 1.0 | 12,000 | 3.52 | Studio apartment AC |
| 1.5 | 18,000 | 5.27 | 1-bedroom apartment AC |
| 2.0 | 24,000 | 7.03 | 2-bedroom house AC |
| 2.5 | 30,000 | 8.79 | 3-bedroom house AC |
| 3.0 | 36,000 | 10.55 | 4-bedroom house AC |
| 5.0 | 60,000 | 17.58 | Large home / Small office |
Common questions about BTU, tons of refrigeration, and HVAC cooling capacity.
There are 12,000 BTU per hour (BTU/h) in one ton of air conditioning (refrigeration). This is a standard industry conversion that represents the cooling capacity needed to melt 1 ton (2,000 pounds) of ice over a 24-hour period. The relationship can be expressed in multiple ways:
1 Ton = 12,000 BTU/h (British Thermal Units per hour)
1 BTU/h = 1/12000 Tons ≈ 8.33333×10⁻⁵ Tons
BTU to Tons: Tons = BTU/h ÷ 12,000
Tons to BTU: BTU/h = Tons × 12,000
This conversion is critical for sizing the correct AC unit for a home or commercial space to ensure efficient cooling.
The key difference lies in whether the measurement is a static amount of heat or a rate of heat transfer:
This converter uses BTU/h (the industry standard for cooling capacity) for all conversions to tons.
Choosing the correct tonnage (BTU/h) depends on several factors related to your home's size and environment:
For accurate sizing, it's recommended to get a Manual J load calculation from a licensed HVAC contractor, which accounts for all specific factors of your home.
No, a higher tonnage AC than needed (oversizing) can be just as problematic as an undersized unit. Here's why:
This converter helps you verify the correct tonnage for a given BTU rating to avoid sizing mistakes.
These units all measure cooling capacity or power, with standard conversion factors between them:
1 Ton = 12,000 BTU/h ≈ 3.517 Kilowatts (kW)
1 BTU/h ≈ 0.293 Watts (W) = 0.000293 kW
1 kW ≈ 3,412 BTU/h ≈ 0.284 Tons
Kilowatts are the metric unit of power, while tons and BTU/h are US customary units commonly used in the HVAC industry in North America.
Common HVAC cooling capacities for residential and commercial air conditioning systems.
| BTU/h | Tons | Kilowatts (kW) | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6,000 | 0.5 | 1.76 | Small window AC, portable AC |
| 9,000 | 0.75 | 2.64 | Medium window AC, small mini-split |
| 12,000 | 1.0 | 3.52 | Studio apartment, large window AC |
| 18,000 | 1.5 | 5.27 | 1-bedroom apartment, small home |
| 24,000 | 2.0 | 7.03 | 2-bedroom house, townhome |
| 30,000 | 2.5 | 8.79 | 3-bedroom house, medium home |
| 36,000 | 3.0 | 10.55 | 4-bedroom house, large home |
| 42,000 | 3.5 | 12.31 | 5-bedroom house, small office |
| 48,000 | 4.0 | 14.07 | Large home, small commercial space |
| 60,000 | 5.0 | 17.58 | Large commercial space, retail store |
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