Tons to BTU: Turn a Contractor Quote into BTU per Hour
Classic AmericaNov 13th 20265 min read
The short answer
- Tons to BTU: multiply tons by 12,000. One ton is 12,000 BTU/h, two tons is 24,000 BTU/h, and three tons is 36,000 BTU/h.
- Going the other way, from BTU to tons? Check out the BTU to tons guide. Same rule, just read from the box instead of the bid.
- In our lineup, 2 tons is the 23,000 BTU mini split on 208/230V, rated 17 SEER2.
- 1.5 tons is DUET: 18,000 BTU across two heads, 24 SEER2 non-ducted. One ton, on the 19 SEER2 model, covers up to about 550 square feet.
- Once you've done the math, match your room in the Size Finder.
Multiply tons by 12,000
Contractors still write cooling loads in tons, while mini splits are sold in BTU per hour. To get BTU per hour, multiply tons × 12,000. So a bid that says “you need two tons” is asking for 24,000 BTU/h of cooling capacity, and the closest system we offer is our 23,000 BTU model. A bid that says “a ton and a half” means 18,000 BTU/h. Our BTU to tons hub explains why both labels exist. Think of this page as a worksheet for the bid in your hand.
- Find the tonnage on your quote. If heating is listed separately, use the cooling figure.
- Multiply it by 12,000. The answer is BTU per hour.
- Look for that BTU/h on a box, or the closest published system if the quote is bigger than what we sell.
- Check your room. A tonnage label doesn't know about your sun, ceiling, or insulation.
Tons to BTU chart
| Quote in tons | BTU/h | Where it lands here |
|---|---|---|
| 0.75 | 9,000 | 9,000 BTU mini split · 23 SEER2 · 115V · up to 400 sq ft |
| 1 | 12,000 | 19 SEER2 model · 115V · up to about 550 sq ft |
| Just under 1 | 11,500 | 17 SEER2 model in the 12,000 BTU class · up to 550 sq ft |
| 1.5 | 18,000 | DUET · two 9,000 BTU heads · 24 SEER2 non-ducted · 208/230V |
| about 1.9 | 23,000 | 23,000 BTU mini split · about 1.9 tons · 17 SEER2 · 208/230V · up to 1,400 sq ft |
| 3 | 36,000 | Not a head in this catalog. See the 36,000 BTU page. |
For more detail on specific sizes, see 18,000 BTU to tons, 24,000 BTU to tons, 36,000 BTU to tons, and how many BTU are in a 2-ton air conditioner.
A 2-ton quote is the commercial case
Lots of people converting tons to BTU are holding a contractor's number and trying to buy equipment. Two tons is 24,000 BTU/h. In our catalog, the 2 ton class system is the 23,000 BTU mini split, model MSCR32-23CHSA2, at about 1.9 tons. Its published coverage goes up to 1,400 square feet, since shade and sun change the load. It runs on 208/230V and is rated 17 SEER2. We don't sell a 24,000 BTU head.
From the spec sheet
- 23,000 BTU/h cooling · 1.92 tons
- 17 SEER2
- 208/230V
- Up to 1,400 sq ft
- Heating nameplate 22,400 BTU/h
If your quote says one ton, take a look at the 12,000 BTU hub. The 19 SEER2 system delivers a full 12,000 BTU/h and covers up to about 550 square feet. The 17 SEER2 system in that class publishes 11,500 BTU, just under a ton, and covers up to about 550 square feet. For three-quarters of a ton, head to the 9,000 BTU hub: 23 SEER2, 115V, covering up to about 400 square feet.
From the spec sheet
- 12,000 BTU/h cooling · 1 ton
- 19 SEER2
- 115V
- Up to 550 sq ft
- Heating nameplate 12,200 BTU/h
From the spec sheet
- 9,000 BTU/h cooling · 0.75 ton
- 23 SEER2
- 115V
- Up to 400 sq ft
- Heating nameplate 9,500 BTU/h
The multiplication is done. The free Size Finder checks whether that tonnage fits the room, then the BTU to tons guide holds the rest of the chart.
A ton and a half is two heads here
Eighteen thousand BTU/h is 1.5 tons. DUET delivers that capacity as one outdoor unit with two 9,000 BTU indoor heads, rated 24 SEER2 non-ducted, on 208/230V, and it serves two rooms. You'll find it on the dual-zone hub. Coverage is 2 rooms, up to 400 sq ft each.
From the spec sheet
- 18,000 BTU/h cooling · 1.5 tons
- 24 SEER2, non-ducted
- 208/230V
- Two 9,000 BTU indoor heads on one outdoor unit
- Heating nameplate 20,000 BTU/h
Three tons is real math and a different machine
Three tons is 36,000 BTU/h. The math is solid, but we don't sell a 36,000 BTU mini split. Our 36,000 BTU to tons page explains what to do with a 3-ton quote: keep it if you're buying central equipment sized in tons, and come back to 2 tons or two smaller heads if you're buying a ductless system from us. Please don't add a 23,000 BTU head and a 12,000 BTU head together on paper and call it a 3-ton system. They're separate circuits and separate rooms, unless a load calculation says otherwise.
The conversion is for cooling capacity
- Heating output on these heat pumps has its own nameplate, and it drops as it gets colder outside.
- The 17 SEER2 model is sold in the 12,000 BTU class and publishes 11,500 BTU of cooling.
- DUET’s 1.5 tons comes from two indoor heads, with a non-ducted rating of 24 SEER2.
- The 23,000 BTU spec sheet is rated 17 SEER2.
Use the number, then size the room
Do the multiplication, then run the Size Finder with your sun, ceiling height, insulation, and climate. Browse mini splits or line them up in Compare. If your bid is really an install price, convert the equipment first, then check our installation cost guide for the labor side. Voltage goes with the size: our 9,000 and 12,000 BTU single-zone systems are 115V, and you'll find them on the 110V hub. You're covered for 5 years on the compressor and 1 year on parts, and the refrigerant work and dedicated circuit are jobs for licensed pros.
FAQ
Common questions
How do you convert tons to BTU?
Multiply tons by 12,000. One ton is 12,000 BTU per hour, two tons is 24,000 BTU/h, a ton and a half is 18,000 BTU/h, and three tons is 36,000 BTU/h. The BTU to tons guide divides instead of multiplying.
Is a 2-ton mini split 24,000 BTU?
Two tons of cooling is 24,000 BTU/h. The system we sell in that class is the 23,000 BTU mini split: about 1.9 tons, 17 SEER2, 208/230V, with coverage up to 1,400 square feet. We don't sell a 24,000 BTU head.
What is 1.5 tons in BTU?
1.5 tons is 18,000 BTU/h. In our lineup, that's DUET: two 9,000 BTU heads, 24 SEER2 non-ducted, on 208/230V.
Do you sell a 3-ton mini split?
No. 3 tons is 36,000 BTU/h, and our single-head systems top out at 23,000 BTU/h. Read 36,000 BTU to tons before treating a 3-ton quote as a ductless purchase.
Is the ton the weight of the condenser?
No. In air conditioning, a ton is a rate of cooling: 12,000 BTU removed per hour. The outdoor unit’s shipping weight is a separate number on the spec sheet.
