BTU to Tons of Refrigeration Converter

Your details

Choose which unit you are converting from.
Enter the cooling capacity in the unit selected above. Typical window AC units are 5,000-18,000 BTU/hr (0.4-1.5 RT).
Tons of refrigerationResidential central AC
2RT

Cooling capacity in refrigeration tons (1 RT = 12,000 BTU/hr)

BTU per hour24,000BTU/hr
kBTU per hour24kBTU/hr
Watts7,033.71W
Kilowatts7.0337kW
2 RT
Portable<0.5Window / room AC0.5-2Residential central2-5Light commercial5-20Commercial / industrial20+

2.0000 tons of refrigeration (RT)

  • 2.00 RT sits in the residential range. Most central home AC systems run between 1.5 and 5 tons.
  • That equals 24,000 BTU/hr or 7.034 kW of heat-removal capacity.
  • A rough HVAC rule of thumb: 20 BTU/hr per square foot. At this capacity that covers roughly 1,200 sq ft (actual sizing depends on climate, insulation, and occupancy).
  • Refrigeration tons measure heat-removal rate, not electrical consumption. An HVAC unit rated at 1 RT does not necessarily draw 1.17 kW of electricity - actual power draw depends on the system's COP (coefficient of performance).

Next stepFor full HVAC sizing, consult ACCA Manual J which accounts for climate zone, building envelope, window area, and occupancy - a rough BTU rule of thumb can be off by 20-30%.

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