Is a 12000 BTU air conditioner too big for bedroom?
A 12,000 Btu air conditioner can cool between 450 and 550 square feet of floor space. A 12,000 Btu unit could cool a room 25 feet long by 20 feet wide that has 500 square feet of floor area.
As a guide, consider 5,000-BTU models for rooms 150 square feet or smaller, 8,000 BTUs for medium-size rooms (340 square feet), and 12,000 to 14,000-BTU models for rooms with square footage from 550 to 800. Having the correct power is imperative.
However, as an estimate based on size alone, ACs need 20 BTUs per one square foot and an average ceiling height (according to the recommendation of the US Department of Energy). That's to say, if you want to cool a 600 sq/ft space with 8 ft ceiling, you will need a 12000 BTU air conditioner.
In our experience, a 12,000 BTU portable can work well in a bedroom up to about 200 square feet, and a 14,000 BTU unit will make some difference up to 400 square feet if you can tolerate the noise.
For a small bedroom, home office, or guest room, ranging from 100 to 250 square feet, look for an air conditioner with a capacity of 5,000 to 6,500 Btu. You'll want one with good scores for comfort and noise.
If your air conditioner has a bigger BTU rating than the room size needs, it will cycle off too quickly, waste energy, and will not adequately dehumidify the space. So a higher BTU than needed is definitely not recommended.
A unit with too many BTU's, will cool the room fast, but leave the room humid. Too few BTU's will never cool the room down and the unit will run incessantly. To be sure you're making the right decision, call us to get answers about air conditioner sizes and efficiency.
And when it comes to air conditioners, bigger isn't always better. In fact, having a unit that's too big for your home could end up causing you costly problems. Air conditioners that are too big consume more energy, endure more wear and tear, and simply don't work as well or as long as an appropriately sized unit.
As a general rule we advise you to buy an Air Conditioner with a minimum 7,000BTUs as this is the minimum required to cool a small room (18sq/m) on a hot day. Medium rooms (24sq/m) need around 10,000BTUs and larger rooms and office spaces (36sq/m) require around 15,000BTUs.
How much does it cost to run a 12,000 BTU air conditioner 24/7? Assuming the air conditioner has an Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) of 10, the daily consumption is 28.8 kWh. With an average electricity cost of $0.15 per kWh, the daily cost is $4.32. The monthly cost (30 days) would be approximately $112.20.
What size air conditioner do I need for a 12x15 room?
Measure Your Space
This value is then multiplied by 25 to estimate the proper air conditioner size in British Thermal Units (BTUs). Using this example, a 12 x 15 foot room is 180 square feet; multiplied by 25 this yields 4,500 BTU of required cooling capacity.
10,000 BTUs will cover 300 sq. ft. (2,400 cubic feet) 12,000 BTUs will cover 400 sq.
12000 BTU air conditioners are considered the second most powerful wall and window air conditioners that are available in the market. Further, they have been designed in a way that they can offer fast cooling and energy-efficient performance for very large kitchens, rooms, and spaces having high ceilings.
The 12,000 BTU unit is ideal for a space between 200 and 400 sqft. We recommend using this capacity size for master bedrooms, small living rooms, and kitchen areas. The 18,000 BTU unit is ideal for a space between 400 and 700 sqft. We recommend using this capacity size for larger living spaces (kitchen + living).
The general rule of thumb is that you need 20 BTU for each square foot of your apartment. So, for a 200 sq. feet apartment, you would need a 4000 BTU air conditioner, and for a 500 sq. feet apartment, a 10,000 BTU unit works best.
More BTUs produced per hour will generally cost more in the terms of electricity usage compared to a device with lower BTU output.
While an AC's capacity typically matches its energy usage, an undersized air conditioner will use more power simply because it is likely to run continuously, barely stopping for breath.
If an air conditioner is too big for a given space, it will cool that space down with lightning speed. Some people choose an oversized air conditioner on purpose, thinking that this is a good thing -- but they're wrong. When an air conditioner cools a room too quickly, it will cycle on and off more frequently.
Short AC lifespan – An oversized air conditioner is an overworked air conditioner. Even though the cycles are shorter, the increased frequency of cycling by an oversized air conditioner puts the unit at high risk of premature deterioration.
BTUs measure the energy output of your AC system. It takes about 20 to 35 BTUs to cool each square foot of space. Higher BTUs cool a room faster, but boost humidity and wear your unit down. EERs measure the energy efficiency of an AC unit.
Is 12000 BTU a lot?
A 12,000 Btu air conditioner can cool between 450 and 550 square feet of floor space. A 12,000 Btu unit could cool a room 25 feet long by 20 feet wide that has 500 square feet of floor area. Manufacturers give their own ratings as to how much room area they believe their units can cool.
A 12,000 BTU air conditioner uses roughly 900 watts per hour, assuming a minimum SEER rating of 13. You can achieve much more efficient performance with a better rating.
- High Humidity. Oversized units don't run long enough to dehumidify indoor air. ...
- Short Cycling. Because it's so large, an oversized AC meets your home's cooling load in ten minutes or less and then cycles off. ...
- Hot and Cold Spots. ...
- Shorter Lifespan and Higher Utility Bills.
A space of 100 to 120 square feet can be effectively cooled with a one-tonne air conditioner's 12000 BTU rating. Hence, a 1 ton AC must be enough to cool the area without using more electricity than is essential. If you're working with a room of an equal size.
An “oversized” air conditioner will cool your house quicker, but it will use more electricity and will not remove humidity adequately. Contrary to popular belief – and intuition – long AC system run cycles are far more desirable and energy efficient than short-run cycles.
| Cooling Capacity (BTU): | Room Size: | Examples: |
|---|---|---|
| 12,000 BTU | 450 - 550 sq. ft. | 22x22 room, 22x24 room |
| 13,000 BTU | 550 - 650 sq. ft. | 25x25 room, apartment w/ open floor plan |
| 14,000 BTU | 650 - 700 sq. ft. | 2 rooms, small apartment |
| 15,000 BTU | 700 - 800 sq. ft. | 25x30 room, larger apartment |
Obviously, the problem arises when you have a tiny 12×12 room, for example. According to the US Department of Energy directive, an air conditioner's most appropriate size would be 2,880 BTU unit.
10,000 BTUs is enough to cool a room that is 300-400 square feet in size, but it might not be enough if the bedroom is larger. It all boils down to how well insulated the bedroom is and your personal comfort levels.
Our Verdict on Window Air Conditioners vs Central Air Conditioners. It all comes down to use and how much you're willing to invest in your HVAC system. For several rooms or even a whole building, it's cheaper and more efficient to go for a central air conditioner. For a single room, a window unit is just fine.
A 220-volt supply can transmit the power more cheaply because a smaller current is needed, and so you can use thinner cables and/or lose less energy through heat generated in the cables.
Is it cheaper to run the AC all day?
The short answer is yes, it is cheaper to leave your air conditioner on all day. But this does not mean that you should leave it on full blast, keeping your home so cold that you need a sweater or jacket to be comfortable.
| Area To Be Cooled (square feet) | Capacity Needed (BTUs per hour) |
|---|---|
| 100 to 150 | 5,000 |
| 150 to 250 | 6,000 |
| 250 to 300 | 7,000 |
| 300 to 350 | 8,000 |
To calculate the size, simply multiply the length times the width of the room or area to be cooled. Then, as a practical number, multiply that total times 25 BTU. This allows ample cooling, whether it is a rainy, moist day or a hot, sunny, humid day.
So a room that is 20 feet wide and 10 feet long is 200 square feet, which requires an output of between 6,000 and 7,500 Btu per hour. Increase the number of Btu by 10 percent if the room is in direct sunlight, and reduce it by the same amount if the room is well shaded.
Instead of having you do the math, here is a recommended amount of BTU for specific sized rooms: Small room (50 to 250 square feet) – 5,000 to 6,500 BTU. Mid-size room (250 to 350 square feet) – 7,000 to 8,500 BTU. Large room (350 to 650 square feet) – 9,500 to 12,500 BTU.
What size air conditioner do I need for a 1,500 square foot house? A 2.5 ton air conditioner is best because about 30,000 BTU is needed for a house that's 1,500 square feet.
Ductless 'mini split' systems like Mitsubishi home air conditioning systems are the quietest air conditioners on the market today. With an average noise level of 32 decibels, ductless systems are not only whisper quiet, they offer some of the highest SEER ratings and most efficient performance on the market.
| Room Type | Room Size | Recommended BTU |
|---|---|---|
| 14 x 16 room | 224 sq ft | 6,000 BTU |
| 16 x 13 room | 208 sq ft | 6,000 BTU |
| 20 x 20 room | 400 sq ft | 9,000 BTU |
| 30 x 15 room | 450 sq ft | 10,000 BTU |
What is the average master bedroom size? The average master bedroom size is 15′ by 15′ (225 square feet), but they can range from as little as 125 square feet to as large as 400 square feet depending on the home's floor plan and other factors.
What is the size of a small bedroom? A small bedroom can also be considered the "minimum size bedroom." Legally, in order to be called a bedroom, a room must measure 7' x 10'. Anything smaller and sellers cannot call it a bedroom.
Is a 12x12 bedroom small?
A 12-by-12 bedroom's small, boxy footprint seems even more awkward and tighter when you consider standard furniture sizes; a queen-sized bed, for instance, measures 60-by-80 inches or 5-by-6.7 feet, consuming a big chunk of floor space.
In our experience, a 12,000 BTU portable can work well in a bedroom up to about 200 square feet, and a 14,000 BTU unit will make some difference up to 400 square feet if you can tolerate the noise.
450 – 550 sq. feet: 12,000 BTUs. 550 – 700 sq. feet: 14,000 BTUs.
The larger the size of the room, the higher the BTU of the air-conditioner should be. Small rooms (150 square feet or below) will require a unit with around 6,000 BTUs. This is generally appropriate for a single bedroom. For larger rooms (up to 350 square feet), you will need a unit with around 9,000 BTUs.
A measure of an air conditioner's power is its BTU rating. BTUs are the energy used to remove heat from a room. Therefore, the more BTUs an air conditioner unit has, the better equipped it is to cool a larger space.
The short answer is that an 8000 BTU window air conditioner can cool a room of up to 350 square feet under typical cooling conditions.
12,000 BTU – ~550 sq. ft to ~800 sq. ft. 15,000 BTU – ~750 sq.
| Cooling Capacity (BTU): | Room Size: | Examples: |
|---|---|---|
| 2,000 BTU | 50 sq. ft. | tiny room, tent |
| 5,000 BTU | 100 - 150 sq. ft. | 10x10 room, 12x10 room, 12x12 room |
| 6,000 BTU | 150 - 250 sq. ft. | 12x20 room |
| 7,000 BTU | 250 - 300 sq. ft. | 16x16 room, 12x24 room |
Then refer to our chart to the right to see how many BTU's your air conditioner needs in order to cool the room(s) properly. Example 1: You want to cool just one room that is 10' long and 12' wide. By looking at our chart you would need an air conditioner with 5,000 BTU's to cool this room of 120 sq. ft.
| Room/Area Size | Heating Capacity(BTU) | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 400 sq ft | 18,000-22,000 BTU | 20x20 room or garage |
| 500 sq ft | 22,000-27,000 BTU | Studio/1-bedroom apartment, Tiny house |
| 600 sq ft | 27,000-33,000 BTU | 20x30 room, 24x24 garage |
| 700 sq ft | 31,000-38,000 BTU | 24x30 garage, 1 or 2-bedroom townhouse |
How many BTU is needed to cool and heat 2000 square foot?
| Room/Area Size | BTU Capacity | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | 45,000-55,000 BTU | Up to Three Bedroom Apartment |
| 1,500 sq ft | 68,000-82,000 BTU | Average Home |
| 2,000 sq ft | 90,000-110,000 BTU | Guest House |
| 2,500 sq ft | 113,000-137,000 BTU | Large Home |
12,000 BTUs will cover 400 sq. ft. (3,200 cubic feet)
As a general rule, an air conditioner needs 20 Btu for each square foot of living space. But other considerations, such as the ceiling height and the size of your windows and doorways, might call for more cooling power.
Air conditioners rated at 15,000 Btu should be enough to cool most rooms up to about 875 sq. ft.
Too Hot or Too Cold Air
An oversized HVAC unit can make your home's inside temperature uncomfortable. An HVAC system with excess capacity can heat or cool your home faster, but that speed often results in a couple of other issues. First, your home won't benefit from gradual, even heating and cooling.
As previously mentioned, air conditioners absorb heat and humidity from your home. If your unit is too small for the square footage, it won't absorb all of it. This means you'll be sitting in a room that feels just as hot as outside, completely undoing all of the good work of paying to run an AC unit.
If your AC is too small for the size of your home, it'll keep working to reach that temperature, but to no avail because it lacks the capacity to cool such a large space. As a result, it never completes a cycle and runs continuously.
