What Size AC Do I Need for 500 Square Feet?

Answer
12,000 BTU/h for 500 sq ft

By the Energy Star room AC sizing chart, a 500 ft² room needs about 12,000 BTU/h (3.52 kW, 1.00 ton). Make it 14,000 BTU if the room is very sunny or 11,000 BTU if it is heavily shaded; add 600 BTU per person above two and 4,000 BTU for a kitchen.

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Recommended AC capacity
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How we calculated this

    For estimating and educational purposes only. Results are approximate and are not a substitute for a licensed professional, the manufacturer's instructions or your local code. Disclaimer

    More questions like this

    BTU Chart by Room Size150 sq ft250 sq ft300 sq ft400 sq ft1,000 sq ftAll quick answers

    AC size for a 500 sq ft room

    SituationBTU/h
    Average room, 2 people12,000
    Very sunny (+10%)14,000
    Heavily shaded (−10%)11,000
    4 people14,000
    Kitchen (+4,000 BTU)16,000
    Poor insulation / top floor15,000

    Rule-of-thumb sizing for single rooms with 8 ft ceilings. Window units come in 5,000–24,000 BTU; mini-splits in 9,000–36,000 BTU.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is 12,000 BTU enough for 500 sq ft with a kitchen?

    Not quite: add 4,000 BTU for the kitchen, so about 16,000 BTU.

    How many tons is 12,000 BTU?

    1.00 ton. One ton of cooling is 12,000 BTU/h.

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