Get a quick estimate of the cooling capacity a room needs — and a suggested air-con size — from its area, occupants, equipment and sun exposure.
Rule-of-thumb estimate only. A proper cooling load calculation accounts for climate, insulation, glazing, orientation, ceiling height and infiltration — size critical jobs with a full method.
Quoting the install? traqR turns your sizing into a quote, job and invoice, with the unit and materials on the one job card.
Start free trialA base heat-load allowance per square metre, set by the room’s use, gives the bulk of the cooling load.
People and equipment each add heat. Occupants contribute around 120 W each, and appliances and lighting add their own load.
Rooms with lots of glass or direct sun need more cooling, so the total is scaled up for exposure before suggesting a unit size.
A quick estimate multiplies the floor area by a heat-load allowance per square metre for the room type, then adds heat from people and equipment and adjusts for sun exposure. For a typical 30 m² living room that lands around 5–6 kW. This is a starting point — proper sizing uses a full load calculation.
Cooling capacity is measured in kilowatts (kW) of heat removed. Air conditioner nameplates quote their cooling capacity in kW; matching that to your calculated cooling load is how you avoid an undersized or oversized unit.
An oversized unit cools the air quickly but short-cycles, so it doesn’t run long enough to remove humidity, leaving the space cold and clammy, and it wastes energy and wears faster. Right-sizing gives better comfort and efficiency than simply going large.
No. It’s a rule-of-thumb estimate for budgeting and sanity-checking. Detailed system design should use a recognised load-calculation method accounting for climate, building fabric, glazing and ventilation.
This calculator is a rule-of-thumb estimate for guidance only. Accurate cooling load and equipment selection require a full calculation accounting for climate, insulation, glazing, orientation and ventilation, carried out by a competent HVAC designer or installer.
traqR turns your sizing into a quote, job and invoice with the unit and materials on one job card. Try it free for 14 days.