AC Tonnage Calculator by Sun Exposure
Result
Estimate air-conditioner cooling capacity from area, assumed cooling load and sun exposure.
Formula
- Estimate preliminary AC cooling capacity using room area and explicitly chosen cooling-load and sun-exposure assumptions. Actual equipment selection requires a qualified HVAC load calculation.
- The main inputs are Floor area, Assumed base cooling load, Sun exposure multiplier. Enter them in the units and format shown in the calculator.
- Use the units, labels and assumptions shown beside each input so the formula is applied consistently.
- Changing any input above recalculates the result with the same calculation engine used by this page.
Example: AC Tonnage Calculator by Sun Exposure
- Floor area: 600 ft²
- Assumed base cooling load: 20 BTU/h/ft²
- Sun exposure multiplier: 1.1
600 ft² × 20 BTU/h/ft² × 1.10 = 13,200 BTU/h = 1.10 refrigeration tons.
Sample result: Calculating…
Frequently asked questions
What does the AC Tonnage Calculator by Sun Exposure calculate?
This is a planning estimate, not an HVAC load calculation. Climate, insulation, windows, occupancy, ventilation and equipment design can materially change required capacity.
Which values should I enter?
Enter Floor area, Assumed base cooling load, Sun exposure multiplier using the units and format shown beside each field.
What formula does this calculator use?
The calculator uses the following relationship: Planning estimate: adjusted cooling load (BTU/h) = floor area (ft²) × user-specified base load (BTU/h/ft²) × sun-exposure multiplier; estimated refrigeration tons = adjusted load / 12,000. The base rate is an assumption, not a universal sizing standard..
Why might my result differ from another source?
Results can differ when another source uses different units, rounding rules, conventions or assumptions. Compare the inputs and definitions before comparing results.
Does the result update automatically?
Yes. Changing an input updates the result using the same calculation engine shown on this page.