BTU/hr to Tons Converter
Type in either box — the other updates live. 1 ton of refrigeration = 12,000 BTU/hr, exactly: 12,000 BTU per ton of refrigeration. It also works as a tons to BTU calculator — type the tonnage and get BTU/hr instantly.
1
ton of refrigeration = 12,000 BTU/hr
3.52
kilowatts (kW)
3,517
watts (W)
4.72
horsepower (hp)
Common AC Sizes: BTU to Tons Chart
Every standard air conditioner size, in BTU/hr, tons of refrigeration, and kilowatts of cooling. Quick lookups: 12000 BTU to tons = 1 ton, 18000 BTU to tons = 1.5 tons, 24000 BTU to tons = 2 tons.
| BTU/hr | Tons | kW cooling | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6,000 | 0.5 | 1.76 | Small bedroom |
| 9,000 | 0.75 | 2.64 | Bedroom |
| 12,000 | 1 | 3.52 | Master bedroom |
| 15,000 | 1.25 | 4.40 | Large bedroom |
| 18,000 | 1.5 | 5.28 | Living room |
| 24,000 | 2 | 7.03 | Large living room |
| 30,000 | 2.5 | 8.79 | Open-plan area |
| 36,000 | 3 | 10.55 | Small office / flat |
| 42,000 | 3.5 | 12.31 | Large office |
| 48,000 | 4 | 14.07 | Commercial space |
| 60,000 | 5 | 17.58 | Light commercial |
Room Size Estimator: BTU per Square Foot
The HVAC rule of thumb is ≈ 20 BTU/hr per square foot. This BTU per square foot for AC sizing guideline is a starting estimate only — enter a room area below.
6,000 BTU/hr ≈ 0.50 tons
Rough estimate only. Ceiling height, insulation, windows, sun exposure, climate, and occupancy all change the right size. This is not a Manual J load calculation — ask an HVAC professional before buying.
Example: How Many BTU per Room Size?
Rule-of-thumb cooling needs for typical rooms (20 BTU/hr per sq ft). For example: how many BTU for a 300 sq ft room? About 6,000 BTU/hr (0.5 ton). What size AC for 600 sq ft? Roughly 12,000 BTU/hr — a 1 ton unit.
| Room | Area (sq ft) | BTU/hr | Tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small bedroom | 150 | 3,000 | 0.25 |
| Bedroom | 300 | 6,000 | 0.50 |
| Master bedroom | 450 | 9,000 | 0.75 |
| Living room | 600 | 12,000 | 1 |
| Large living room | 900 | 18,000 | 1.5 |
| Open-plan apartment | 1,200 | 24,000 | 2 |
| Small office | 1,800 | 36,000 | 3 |
What Is a Ton of Refrigeration?
A ton of refrigeration is a unit of cooling power — the rate at which heat is removed. It comes from 19th-century ice cooling: one ton of refrigeration was defined as the heat absorbed by melting one short ton (2,000 lb) of ice in 24 hours.
The math behind 12,000: melting 1 lb of ice absorbs 144 BTU (latent heat). One ton of ice = 2,000 lb → 2,000 × 144 = 288,000 BTU. Spread over 24 hours: 288,000 ÷ 24 = 12,000 BTU/hr. That is why 1 ton = 12,000 BTU/hr, exactly — it is a definition, not a rounded figure.
BTU vs BTU/hr vs Tons
BTU is energy — the heat to raise 1 lb of water by 1 °F.
BTU/hr is power — BTU moved per hour. AC capacity is always a rate.
Ton is shorthand for 12,000 BTU/hr of cooling power. It has nothing to do with the weight of the unit.
Converting tons of refrigeration to BTU: multiply the tonnage by 12,000 — e.g. 2.5 tons = 30,000 BTU/hr.
Comparing two air conditioners
Compare the BTU/hr numbers directly. A 2 ton AC (24,000 BTU/hr) delivers exactly one-third more cooling than a 1.5 ton AC (18,000 BTU/hr). Bigger is not automatically better: an oversized unit short-cycles, cools unevenly, and dehumidifies poorly.
BTU to Tons — Frequently Asked Questions
How many BTU are in one ton of refrigeration?
Exactly 12,000 BTU per hour. This is a definition, not a measurement: by convention, 1 ton of refrigeration = 12,000 BTU/hr. So a "1 ton AC" is an air conditioner that removes 12,000 BTU of heat per hour, a 1.5 ton AC removes 18,000 BTU/hr, and a 2 ton AC removes 24,000 BTU/hr. The converter above applies this exact factor in both directions. In short: how many BTU in a ton? 12,000 BTU/hr. And how many BTU is 1 ton of refrigeration? The same 12,000 — 1 ton of refrigeration equals how many BTU? Exactly 12,000, by definition.
What is the formula to convert BTU to tons?
Tons = BTU per hour ÷ 12,000. For example, 24,000 BTU/hr ÷ 12,000 = 2 tons, and 9,000 BTU/hr ÷ 12,000 = 0.75 tons. To go the other way: BTU/hr = tons × 12,000, so 2.5 tons × 12,000 = 30,000 BTU/hr. The math is exact because the ton is defined as 12,000 BTU/hr.
How do I convert tons of refrigeration back to BTU?
Multiply by 12,000. One ton of refrigeration equals 12,000 BTU/hr, so 1.5 tons = 18,000 BTU/hr, 3 tons = 36,000 BTU/hr, and 5 tons = 60,000 BTU/hr. Use the second input in the converter above — type the tonnage and the BTU/hr value updates instantly.
What is a "ton of refrigeration"?
It is a unit of cooling power with roots in 19th-century ice cooling. Before mechanical refrigeration, buildings were cooled with blocks of ice. One "ton of refrigeration" was defined as the heat absorbed by melting one short ton (2,000 lb) of ice in 24 hours — which works out to 12,000 BTU per hour. The name stuck, and today air conditioners, chillers, and heat pumps worldwide are still rated in tons (or BTU/hr, or kW).
How many BTU is a 1.5 ton AC? A 2 ton, 3 ton, or 5 ton AC?
Multiply the tonnage by 12,000 BTU/hr: a 1.5 ton AC = 18,000 BTU/hr, a 2 ton AC = 24,000 BTU/hr, a 3 ton AC = 36,000 BTU/hr, and a 5 ton AC = 60,000 BTU/hr. Common residential sizes are 1 ton (12,000), 1.5 ton (18,000), 2 ton (24,000), 2.5 ton (30,000), and 3 ton (36,000 BTU/hr). Searches like "1.5 ton AC BTU", "2 ton AC BTU", "3 ton AC BTU", or "5 ton AC BTU" all resolve with the same rule: tons × 12,000. The reference table above lists them all.
How many tons is 12,000 BTU? 18,000 BTU? 24,000 BTU?
12,000 BTU/hr = 1 ton, 18,000 BTU/hr = 1.5 tons, and 24,000 BTU/hr = 2 tons. Divide any BTU/hr rating by 12,000 to get tons: 9,000 BTU/hr = 0.75 ton, 6,000 BTU/hr = 0.5 ton, 36,000 BTU/hr = 3 tons. These are the standard sizes printed on window units, mini-splits, and central AC nameplates. To answer directly: how many tons is 12000 BTU? 1 ton. How many tons is 24000 BTU? 2 tons.
Does "ton" in AC refer to the weight of the unit?
No — this is the most common misconception. A "1 ton AC" does not weigh one ton. The ton here is a ton of refrigeration: the cooling power equivalent to melting one ton of ice in a day (12,000 BTU/hr). A 1 ton window unit typically weighs 25–35 kg; the "ton" describes how much heat it removes, not how heavy it is. So does ton in AC refer to weight? No — it always means cooling capacity.
How many kW is 1 ton of refrigeration?
About 3.517 kW of cooling. The exact conversion: 12,000 BTU/hr × 0.29307107 W per BTU/hr = 3,516.85 W, i.e. 3.5169 kW. So a 2 ton AC ≈ 7.03 kW and a 5 ton AC ≈ 17.58 kW of cooling capacity. Note this is cooling output, not electricity input — the electrical power drawn is lower, related by the unit's EER or COP rating.
How many watts is 12,000 BTU?
3,516.85 watts of cooling power. One BTU per hour equals 0.29307107 watts, so 12,000 × 0.29307107 = 3,516.85 W (≈3.52 kW). The converter above shows the watt, kilowatt, and horsepower equivalents for every value you type. Put differently: how many watts is 12000 BTU? 3,516.85 W.
What does BTU/hr mean, and is it different from BTU?
BTU is a unit of energy (the heat needed to raise one pound of water by 1°F); BTU/hr is a unit of power — energy per hour. Air conditioner capacity is always a rate, so nameplates say "12,000 BTU/hr" (often shortened to "12,000 BTU"). The "per hour" matters: 12,000 BTU/hr means the unit moves 12,000 BTU of heat every hour it runs.
How many BTU per square foot do I need to size an air conditioner?
The common rule of thumb is about 20 BTU/hr per square foot of living space: a 300 sq ft room ≈ 6,000 BTU/hr (≈0.5 ton), 600 sq ft ≈ 12,000 BTU/hr (1 ton), and 1,200 sq ft ≈ 24,000 BTU/hr (2 tons). This is a rough starting estimate only — ceiling height, insulation, windows, sun exposure, climate, and occupancy all shift it. For an accurate size, a Manual J load calculation by an HVAC professional is the proper method; this converter is not a substitute for it.
Why is 1 ton 12000 BTU?
Because of the latent heat of ice. Melting one pound of ice absorbs 144 BTU. A short ton is 2,000 lb, so melting a ton of ice absorbs 288,000 BTU. Spread over 24 hours: 288,000 ÷ 24 = 12,000 BTU/hr. That 19th-century ice-melting rate became the definition of cooling capacity, and it is still exact today.
1 ton AC berapa BTU? Berapa watt dan berapa PK?
1 ton AC = 12,000 BTU/hr = sekitar 3,517 watt daya pendinginan. Jadi 1 ton AC berapa watt? Sekitar 3.517 watt kapasitas pendinginan. 1 ton AC berapa PK? Kira-kira 1,3 PK, karena di Indonesia "1 PK" AC biasanya ≈ 9,000 BTU/hr. Perlu diingat: angka watt di sini adalah kapasitas pendinginan, bukan konsumsi listrik — konsumsi listrik tergantung EER/COP unit tersebut.
Is there a BTU to tons conversion chart?
Yes — the reference table in this tool is exactly that: 6,000 BTU/hr = 0.5 ton, 9,000 = 0.75, 12,000 = 1, 15,000 = 1.25, 18,000 = 1.5, 24,000 = 2, 30,000 = 2.5, 36,000 = 3, 42,000 = 3.5, 48,000 = 4, 60,000 = 5 tons. These cover virtually every residential and light-commercial AC sold. For values between the rows, the converter gives the exact figure.
Can I use this to compare two air conditioners, like 1.5 ton vs 2 ton?
Yes. A 2 ton AC (24,000 BTU/hr) delivers exactly one-third more cooling than a 1.5 ton AC (18,000 BTU/hr) — the ratio is 24,000 ÷ 18,000 = 1.333. In general, compare the BTU/hr numbers directly; the ton rating is just shorthand. Bigger is not automatically better, though: an oversized AC short-cycles, cools unevenly, and dehumidifies poorly, which is why matching capacity to the room matters more than maximizing it. To compare 1.5 ton vs 2 ton AC units specifically: 24,000 ÷ 18,000 = 1.33, so the 2 ton unit delivers exactly one-third more cooling.
What does this converter NOT do?
Three honest limits. (1) It converts capacity units — it does not perform a real cooling-load calculation; the room-size estimator is a 20 BTU/sq ft rule of thumb, not a Manual J analysis, so get a professional load calc before buying. (2) It does not account for climate, insulation, window area, or ceiling height, which all change the right size. (3) Electrical consumption is not capacity — running cost depends on EER/SEER/COP and local tariffs, which this tool does not estimate.