What is the best BTU for a house?
Generally, your temperature control system should have 20 BTU for every square foot of living space in the area you wish to heat or cool. For example, if your room or area is 400 square feet in size, then you should opt for a temperature control system with a capability of around 8,000 BTU.
| Area To Be Cooled (square feet) | Capacity Needed (BTUs per hour) |
|---|---|
| 400 to 450 | 10,000 |
| 450 to 550 | 12,000 |
| 550 to 700 | 14,000 |
| 700 to 1,000 | 18,000 |
Recommended BTU By Room Size
If your room is 10'x 20' (200 square feet), you'd need to look at a 6,000 BTU unit. Once you get into 340 and 400 square feet per room, you'd need an 8,000 or 9,000 BTU air conditioner, respectively.
For example, a 300 square foot room typically requires 7,000 BTUs to maintain a comfortable temperature, while a 1,000 square foot room requires 18,000 BTUs. A simple formula to determine your heating needs is: (desired temperature change) x (cubic feet of space) x . 133 = BTUs needed per hour.
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.
More is not better. 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.
A 2,000 square foot home is best served by air conditioning with around 40,000 BTU capacity, which would be 3.5 tons or 42,000 BTU, since there are 12000 BTU per ton: In other words, to convert 1 ton of cooling to BTU, multiply ton by 12000.
US households require anywhere from 20,000 BTU to 300,000 BTU of heating output in the winter.
For a 2,000 Sq. ft. home, you will need to install a 60,000 – 80,000 BTU furnace.
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.
Does 8000 BTU make a difference?
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.
One BTU is the amount of energy it takes to raise one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. The higher the BTUs, the more power the system has.
For a space of 800 to 900 square feet, such as a small home or two-bedroom townhouse, the recommendation is between 30,000 and 45,000 BTUs. An average 2,000-square foot home will need between 80,000 and 115,000 BTUs to heat efficiently.
Some manufacturers tout burners that are specially designed to direct all heat upward for more efficient heating. Stoves with high BTUs come with some trade-offs, including higher price tags, greater consumption of gas, higher ventilation requirements, and difficulty consistently generating low heat.
The general rule of thumb is that you want 40-45 BTUs of heat per square foot of your home. So, if your home is 3,000 square feet, you'll want a furnace that produces between 120,000 BTUs and 135,000 BTUs. The more BTUs, the more expensive the furnace.
- Switch to CFL or LED Bulbs. ...
- Hang Dry Clothes and Handwash Dishes. ...
- Limit Hot Meals. ...
- Invest in a Misting Fan. ...
- Shut Off Computers and Screens More Frequently. ...
- Switch to Insulated Curtains or Honeycomb Blinds. ...
- Create Natural Convection. ...
- Create a Cross Breeze.
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. This can cause higher utility bills, more repairs, and discomfort in your home.
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.
The greater the BTUs, the more heat that is put out and the larger area it will warm. Generally, 30,000 BTUs will warm a radius of 5 to 8 feet, 50,000 BTUs about 8 to 10 feet, and so on.
Takeaway: A good BTU for a fire pit is between 40,000 and 50,000 BTU for a small to medium space and up to 200,000 BTU for a large outdoor space.
Which is better 8000 BTU or 10000 BTU?
8,000 BTUs will cover 200 sq. ft. (1,600 cubic feet) 10,000 BTUs will cover 300 sq.
And if you want to cool a large, open L- or T-shaped space, you're better off with two smaller units rather than one large one. “The goal is to keep the cold air from pooling on the floor,” explains Hank Rutkowski, director of technical affairs for the Washington, D.C.-based Air Conditioning Contractors of America.
450 – 550 sq. feet: 12,000 BTUs.
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.
Up to 20,000 BTU's/hr heats up to 700 sq. ft.
If your home is 1000 square feet, you need 20000 BTUs. What if you just need to cool a small room with a window unit or ductless mini split? You do the same calculation. A 200 ft room would need a 4000 BTU air conditioning unit.
Overall, two-stage furnaces offer a number of benefits for homeowners, including energy efficiency, improved comfort, and potentially longer lifespans. If you're considering a new furnace for your home, a two-stage model is definitely worth considering.
1,800-square-foot home would take between 55,000 and 110,000 BTUs.
A well-maintained furnace can last at least 15 to 20 years, but completing annual maintenance and being diligent with repairs can extend its life even longer.
How do you tell if your AC is big enough for your house?
Use these guidelines to find the appropriate BTU/hour rating. You need approximately 6,000 BTUs to cool an area under 300 square feet, 10,000 BTUs for 301 to 549 sqft., 16,000 BTUs for 550 to 999 sqft., 22,000 BTUs for 1,000 to 1,199 sqft., 30,000 BTUs for 1,500 to 1,999 sqft.
Air conditioning capacity is measured in British Thermal Units, or BTUs. A good rule of thumb to follow is that you'll need approximately 20 BTU for every square foot of floor area.
In general, a 3-ton air conditioner will work well in an area of around 1,200 square feet. How many BTUs is a 3-ton heat pump? Given that HVAC systems are measured at 12,000 BTUs per ton, a 3-ton heat pump is rated at 36,000 BTUs per hour, meaning it can effectively heat or cool mid-sized areas.
If you live in a very hot or very cold region, you may want a system with a higher BTU rating to quickly respond to changes in the weather. In areas where the weather is more temperate, you can go with a smaller more energy-efficient unit.
In a heat pump or furnace, the BTU number refers to the heat output of the particular unit. The higher the number the more heat the unit can produce.
For a small bedroom, a 5,000 BTU window unit should only use 450 watts. A mid-size 8,000 BTU AC should use fewer than 715 watts. A big 14,000 BTU air conditioner should only use 1,250 watts.
To start, accurately measure the square footage of your home, room, or space you intend to cool. Multiplying the length of a room by its width gives you its square footage, or area, in square feet (ft2). This value is then multiplied by 25 to estimate the proper air conditioner size in British Thermal Units (BTUs).
An 8000 BTU air conditioner may need about 715 watts, and 1250 watts are required for a 14000 BTU air conditioner.
| Size | BTUs | Cost Per Hour |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ton | 12,000 BTU | $0.16/hr |
| 2 Ton | 24,000 BTU | $0.32/hr |
| 3 Ton | 36,000 BTU | $0.48/hr |
| Detached House square footage * | Furnace Output [BTU/hr] |
|---|---|
| 1700 to 2500 sq ft | 55,000 BTU/hr |
| 2500 to 3500 sq ft | up to 65,000 BTU/hr |
| 3500 to 4500 sq ft | up to 80,000 BTU/hr |
| *The above square footages do not include the area of the basement | |
Is 100000 BTU enough?
A 1,200-square-foot home will require between 35,000 and 75,000 BTUs. A 1,500-square-foot home will require between 45,000 to 90,000 BTUs. A 1,800-square-foot home will require between 55,000 to 110,000 BTUs. A 2,100-square-foot home will require between 65,000 to 125,000 BTUs.
However, there are basic “rule-of-thumb” estimations to help select the proper size for your home. In colder climates, you'll want a furnace that generates 40 to 45 BTUs per square foot. At this amount, you'll need 100,000-112,500 BTU furnace to heat a home of 2,500 square feet.
The rule of thumb when choosing a gas grill based on the BTU rating (regardless of the size of the cooking area) is that the above calculation should not yield a figure that's below 80 BTUs. Anything between 80 and 100 BTUs per square inch is good enough.
Generally, your temperature control system should have 20 BTU for every square foot of living space in the area you wish to heat or cool. For example, if your room or area is 400 square feet in size, then you should opt for a temperature control system with a capability of around 8,000 BTU.
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.
Common BTU ratings
Most furnaces fall somewhere in the 80,000 to 100,000 range. By looking at the technical specifications, you'll find the input BTU rating, which indicates how much energy the furnace uses to heat a home.
Common furnace sizes include 80,000 BTUH, 100,000 BTUH and 120,000 BTUH. Furnace sizes are always going to be in 20,000 BTUH increments.
Typical residential gas furnaces will be available in various sizes between 44,000 BTU/h and up to 120,000 BTU/h.
A 50,000 BTU fire table would be a more appropriate choice for an outside space with less shelter, but a 40,000 BTU version would make more sense for a smaller or well-sheltered outdoor space. A 50,000 BTU fire table would have a higher running cost than its 40,000 BTU counterpart.
We tested them in a bedroom, great room, and at our open-floor-plan office. 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.
How many square feet will 30000 BTU cool?
1,500 – 2,000 sq. feet: 30,000 BTUs.
| Room/Area Size | BTU Capacity | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 400 sq ft | 18,000-22,000 BTU | 20×20 Garage or Room |
| 700 sq ft | 31,000-38,000 BTU | Up to Two Bedroom Townhouse |
| 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 |
An undersized furnace will work harder – and longer – to keep your home warm. In fact, a furnace that is too-small may run almost constantly, especially in colder weather. In the worst cases, an undersized furnace may not be able to reach the temperature you've set on your thermostat.
1,500-square-foot home would take between 45,000 and 90,000 BTUs. 1,800-square-foot home would take between 55,000 and 110,000 BTUs. 2,100-square-foot home would take between 65,000 and 125,000 BTUs. 2,400-square-foot homes would take between 75,000 and 145,000 BTUs.
This system has a cooling and heating capacity of 48,000 BTUs, ideal for 5 rooms up to 2,250 square feet (300 square feet each).
The best outdoor patio heaters, for example, have about 90% propane-burning efficiency. For such 50,000 BTU heaters, a 20 lb propane tank will last between 7 and 8 hours.
| Detached House square footage * | Furnace Output [BTU/hr] | |
|---|---|---|
| up to 1300 sq ft | 40,000 BTU/hr | 50,000 BTU/hr |
| 1300 to 1700 sq ft | 45,000 BTU/hr | up to 55,000 BTU/hr |
| 1700 to 2500 sq ft | 55,000 BTU/hr | up to 65,000 BTU/hr |
| 2500 to 3500 sq ft | up to 65,000 BTU/hr | up to 80,000 BTU/hr |
A 2,000 square foot home is best served by air conditioning with around 40,000 BTU capacity, which would be 3.5 tons or 42,000 BTU, since there are 12000 BTU per ton: In other words, to convert 1 ton of cooling to BTU, multiply ton by 12000. A 2-ton AC = 24,000 BTU, and so forth.
14,000 BTUs will cover 500 sq. ft. (4,000 cubic feet)