What capacity do I need?
Selecting the right portable air conditioner
Selecting the right portable air conditioner is essential. A portable air conditioner that’s too big will be a poor investment, one that’s too small will struggle to cool your room.
BTUs/kWh
The capacity of an air conditioner to cool is measured in BTUs or kWh (kilo Watt hours). Bigger rooms need a portable air conditioner with a greater BTU rating.
As a general rule, look at these room sizes:
18 metres square 4.24 x 4.24 metres (approx. 14 feet x 14 feet)
You’ll need an air conditioner with a rating of at least 7,000 BTUs to cool this room on a very warm summer day.
24 metres square (approx. 16 feet x 16 feet) or approx. 4.9 metres x 4.9 metres
You’ll need an air conditioner with a rating of 9,000 BTUs to cool this room on a very warm summer day.
36 metres square (approx. 20 feet x 20 feet) or approximately 6 metres x 6 metres
You’ll need an air conditioner with a rating of 12,000 BTUs to cool this room on a very warm summer day.
We've conveniently organised our air conditioners/coolers by size and application:
Don’t forget!
You’ll need to increase the capacity of the air conditioner you buy if:- The room gets very hot, e.g. a conservatory
- Lots of people use the room at once e.g. a busy office
- You have multiple computer or heat generating equipment, e.g. a server room, offices
- You have very high ceilings
Also, any air conditioner will work most efficiently if it’s vented correctly - with no gaps around the hose.
Need help? Call us our friendly customer support team and we’ll help you select the best air conditioner for your room.