Generally, the bigger the area you need to cool, the more BTUs you will need.
Take our advice: Don't buy an air conditioner that's too large. An oversized portable air conditioner is actually less effective as opposed to more cooling — and can waste valuable energy at the same time. That means a negative impact on the bottom line of your business.
Because portable air conditioners remove both heat and humidity from the air, an oversized unit may cool the room quickly, but only remove some of the humidity. This will leave your room with a damp, clammy feeling. A properly sized unit will effectively remove humidity as it cools. That means more comfort all around.
Size matters. First determine the square footage of the room or area you need to cool.
Determine the square footage of the area to be cooled with a portable air conditioner using the following formulas:
Once you have the square footage, refer to the chart below to determine the correct cooling capacity for your portable spot cooler:
| Area to Be Cooled (Square Feet) | Capacity Needed (BTUs per Hour) |
| 100 to 150 | 5,000 |
| 150 to 250 | 6,000 |
| 250 to 300 | 7,000 |
| 300 to 350 | 8,000 |
| 350 to 400 | 9,000 |
| 400 to 450 | 10,000 |
| 450 to 550 | 12,000 |
| 500 to 700 | 14,000 |
| 700 to 1,000 | 18,000 |
Make any adjustments for the following circumstances:
Still need advice? Talk to an indoor environmental solutions expert about any special cooling needs you have.