Cooling & AC · Sizing Tool
Guessing an AC size wastes money either way — too small and it never keeps up with the heat, too big and it short-cycles without dehumidifying. Enter your room dimensions below for a BTU and tonnage recommendation tuned for UAE conditions.
Recommended AC Size
How It Works
Most online AC calculators use a base of 15-18 BTU per square foot, a rule built for temperate climates. Dubai regularly sees ambient temperatures above 45°C and intense direct sun through glass, so AHM technicians size residential AC units closer to 20 BTU per square foot as a starting point, then adjust for the specifics of the room.
Room area × 20 BTU/sq ft gives the baseline cooling load for a standard 9 ft ceiling.
Ceiling height, sun exposure, occupant count and room type (kitchens run hotter) shift the load up.
The result is rounded up to the nearest AC size actually sold in the UAE: 9,000 / 12,000 / 18,000 / 24,000 / 30,000 / 36,000 BTU.
This tool gives a reliable planning estimate. For a final spec, AHM technicians also check insulation, glazing, duct routing and your existing electrical circuit during a site visit — especially important before buying a unit.
Common Questions
Most Dubai homes need around 20 BTU per square foot, higher than the 15-18 BTU/sq ft rule of thumb used in cooler climates. This accounts for high ambient heat, direct sun through glass, and long cooling seasons. Corner units, top-floor apartments and west-facing rooms often need more.
A 200 sq ft bedroom with standard ceiling height and moderate sun exposure typically needs around 4,000-4,600 BTU of cooling load, but bedrooms are usually fitted with the smallest widely available split unit, 9,000 BTU (0.75 ton), since anything smaller is rarely sold in the UAE.
No. An oversized AC cools the room quickly but shuts off before it removes enough humidity, leaving the room feeling clammy, and the frequent on/off cycling wears out the compressor faster. Matching BTU to the room, not rounding up "to be safe", gives better comfort and a longer unit life.
Yes. BTU calculators assume a standard ceiling height of around 9 feet (2.7m). Rooms with higher ceilings have more air volume to cool, so the required BTU increases roughly in proportion to the extra height.
Most 2-bedroom apartments in Dubai use a 1.5 ton (18,000 BTU) unit for the living/dining area and 1 ton (12,000 BTU) units for each bedroom, but this varies with room size, sun exposure and whether the kitchen is open-plan. Run each room through this calculator separately for an accurate spec.
Yes. This calculator gives a reliable estimate for sizing purposes, but a site visit accounts for insulation quality, window count, duct routing and existing electrical capacity, which can shift the recommended size. Use the estimate to shortlist units, then confirm with a technician before purchase.
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