What Size AC Unit For 2200 Square Feet House?
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Air conditioners are a lifesaver during the summer months as they keep the house cool without costing large maintenance charges.
However, all these benefits depend on choosing the right size AC unit for a certain size house.
So if you have a 2200 sq. ft. house and you must know what size AC unit for 2200 square feet house.
Otherwise picking the wrong size will bring lots of difficulties instead of comfort and a relaxed environment.
Following, we have described two different ways to calculate the size of an AC unit for a 2200 sq. ft. house and mentioned some deciding factors along with the impact of picking the wrong one.
What Size AC Unit For 2200 Square Feet House?
In general, a 3.5 to 4-ton AC unit will be good enough for a 2200 square foot house. However, picking the right size AC for a certain size house involves plenty of considerations.

Estimating AC Size Based On Room Size
You can estimate the right size AC unit for your certain size house based on the number of square feet. It’s a quick and basic way to find out the right size AC unit.
To estimate the AC unit, measure the number of square feet in the house, excluding its basement, attic, or garage.
However, you can add these if you have a plan to use them as a living area.
Then divide the measurement by 600 to get the desired size AC.
So, if you have a 2200-square-foot house, the AC unit you’ll need
2400/600= 3.66 or 3.5 ton AC.
Here is a thing to remember, you can opt for a 3.5 ton AC unit for your 2200 square foot house only if it is energy efficient and well insulated.
So if your 2200 square foot house is poorly insulated and it’s not energy efficient, you should consider a higher tonnage AC unit.
In this case, a 4 ton AC unit will be a good choice for a 2200 square foot house.
AC unit require based on room size
Room size (in square feet) | Size of AC unit |
---|---|
1500 | 2.5 tons |
1,800 | 3 tons |
2,100 | 3.5 tons |
2,200 | 4 tons |
Over 3,000 | 5 tons |
Estimating AC Size Based On BTUs

Apart from the size of the house, you can determine the AC unit size based on the BTU,s amount.
BTUs mean British Thermal Units. It’s the amount of energy needed to remove heat from a house.
Theoretically, the higher the BTU amount of an AC unit, the better it can cool a larger area. But it doesn’t suggest you should buy an AC with a higher BTU rating.
Despite this, you should realize that lots of factors impact this AC unit size calculation.
So without taking them into account, you won’t get the most accurate calculation.
The formula is: ((House sq.ft. x 25) / 12,000) – 0.5) = size of the AC unit
So, for a 2200 square foot house, the calculation will be:
((2,200 x 25) / 12,000) – 0.5) = 4.08
It means you should use a 4-ton AC unit for your 2200 square foot house.
But if you live in a hot area where the temperature remains high most of the year, you’ll need to change the formula to avoid getting undersized AC.
It means the toy has been added. .5 instead of subtracting.
For hot areas, the calculation will be:
((2,200 x 25) / 12,000) + 0.5) = 5.08
So you’ll require a 5-ton AC for your 2200 square foot house.
Note: the maximum size of the AC unit shouldn’t be over 15% of the need for BTUs to cool the house.
>> What Size AC Unit For 3000 Square Feet?
Factors That Impact choosing the right size AC Unit

As you know, a large number of factors affect the size of the AC unit required for your certain sized house. The size of the house is one of them.
The following are the other factors:
- The number of people living in the house is unknown.
- The number, age, direction, and quality of insulation of windows.
- The amount of sunshine the house gets.
- Number of skylights.
- Amount of shade from trees and bushes.
- Heat transfers between walls and through the slab.
- The area of sun-exposed exterior walls.
- Type and location of ducting.
>> What Size AC Unit For 1300 Square Foot House?
Reasons you shouldn’t install a wrong size AC unit

Many homeowners believe that getting a larger size AC won’t hurt. So they tend to buy 3 or 3.5 ton AC units, though the HVAC contractor recommended a 2.5 ton AC unit.
This idea was good 20 years ago when electricity was cheap and AC units consumed lots of energy.
But the recent models of AC units are energy efficient. These models run on the cycle to save energy and cool the house slowly and steadily.
>> What Size AC Unit For 2400 Square Feet? Ultimate Guide!
Following are some reasons why you shouldn’t install the wrong size AC in your house:
The downside of installing too big an AC
- It will cost you extra money.
- You’ll receive a higher electricity bill.
- It won’t remove humidity as effectively as a right-sized AC, especially during a hot climate.
- Due to the on and off cycles plenty of times throughout the day, the AC unit will cause wear and tear.
- It won’t cool the house evenly.
The downside of installing too small an AC
- It won’t keep the house cool during the hottest days
- Will consume lots of energy
- It will need to run all the time
- Increase the electricity bill due to running all the time.
Apart from the size of the AC unit, it’s essential to consider some handy features like a 1 vs. 2 cycle system, the SEER rating, and high-end brands.
Final words
Choosing the right size AC unit isn’t a simple task as it is related to plenty of factors. Following the two helpful methods, you will be able to determine the right size AC quite easily.
After determining the appropriate size AC unit for a 2200 square foot home, you should consider other factors such as the AC’s quality, durability, and price.
You can only enjoy a cooler environment with the least maintenance cost for a long time if you pick the right size AC with a combination of all the right factors.