How Much Space Does a 12000 BTU Air Conditioner Cool?

Square Feet

• The Btu output of an air conditioner is directly proportional to the total number of square feet the unit can cool. To find the square footage of a room, multiply that room's length in feet by its width in feet. Perform this task on any room you may want to cool with the 12,000 Btu air conditioner to determine if it's the proper size.

Number of People

• The number of people in a room affects an air conditioner's efficiency. If three people are using a particular room, for example, the air conditioner needs to work harder to cool the space than it would if only one person were there.

12,000 Btus

• A 12,000 Btu air conditioner is designed to cool a room from 450 to 550 square feet. If the square footage of your room is within these parameters, the unit will work acceptably. If your room is smaller the unit will use an unnecessary amount of energy and if the room is larger the unit will not be able to cool it.

Adjustments to your Estimation

• If your room is 500 square feet, a 12,000 Btu air conditioner should be able to cool it. However, three people regularly using the room would require a 14,000 Btu air conditioner. If the room gets constant sun throughout the day, or if the unit is to be used in a kitchen, this may increase the Btu requirement again.