ENERGY STAR Room AC Sizing
What Size Air Conditioner for 600 Square Feet?
A 600 sq ft room takes about 14,000 BTU of cooling. Here is the number, the tonnage, the unit that fits, and the adjustments that change it.
The Numbers for 600 Sq Ft
| Cooling capacity (ENERGY STAR) | 14,000 BTU/hr |
| Tonnage | 1.17 ton |
| Typical equipment | a 14,000 BTU mini split or through-the-wall unit |
From the ENERGY STAR room air conditioner sizing table. Adjust +10% for a sunny room, -10% for a heavily shaded one, and +4,000 BTU for a kitchen. This sizes a single room; a whole house is figured by climate.
Sizing a Whole House Instead?
If you are cooling a whole house rather than one room, size by climate zone, insulation, and windows here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size air conditioner do I need for 600 square feet?
A 600 sq ft room needs about 14,000 BTU per hour of cooling, which is 1.17 tons, per the ENERGY STAR room air conditioner sizing table. That is typically a 14,000 BTU mini split or through-the-wall unit. Adjust for the room: add 10% if it is very sunny, subtract 10% if it is heavily shaded, and add 4,000 BTU if it is a kitchen.
How many tons is 14,000 BTU?
14,000 BTU per hour is 1.17 tons of cooling, since one ton equals 12,000 BTU per hour. Window and portable units are rated in BTU; mini splits and central systems are usually rated in tons, so a 600 sq ft room maps to a 1.25-ton class unit.
Is a window unit or a mini split better for 600 sq ft?
Either works at this size. A window or portable unit is the cheapest and needs no installer, while a single-zone mini split is quieter, more efficient, and does not block a window, at a higher install cost. Both are sized to the same 14,000 BTU target; choose on budget, noise, and whether you can mount an outdoor unit.