Room Air Conditioners - What are BTUs for Air Conditioners?

Applies to

• Room Air Conditioners

Solution

BTU stands for British Thermal Unit. In simple terms, it measures an air conditioner’s cooling capacity—how much heat the unit can remove from a space in one hour. (Air conditioners cool by pulling heat out of the air, not by adding cold.) A higher BTU rating means the AC can cool the room to your desired temperature more quickly.

For those who enjoy the science behind it: one BTU is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.

Use the guide below to help you choose the right BTU level for your space and get the best performance from your air conditioner.

BTU Guide