What size commercial AC do you need for a 5,000 sq ft Warehouse? A warehouse of this size carries a low internal heat load (large volume with light occupancy), so it typically needs about 9.5 tons of cooling — best installed as 2 × 5-Ton RTUs for redundancy — plus about 450 CFM of fresh air (ASHRAE 62.1). The calculator below is pre-set to this space.
Commercial Cooling Loads for a Warehouse
Sizing an air conditioning system for a Warehouse is drastically different from residential Manual J calculations. A Warehouse introduces specific, high-intensity internal heat gains—from specialized equipment, concentrated lighting, changing occupancy densities, and strict ventilation codes requiring fresh outside air. You cannot use a generic square-footage rule of thumb. Use the commercial calculator below to account for these heavy sensible and latent heat loads to ensure your facility maintains a comfortable, safe, and code-compliant environment.
🏢 Commercial Cooling Tonnage, RTU Staging & CFM
Size commercial HVAC for offices, retail, restaurants, server rooms and warehouses. Get the required cooling tonnage, a recommended rooftop unit (RTU) staging combination, and the fresh-air ventilation CFM — factoring business type, occupancy, internal heat loads, ceilings and climate.
🏢1. Building Type
Each building type carries a different internal heat load — a restaurant kitchen or server room runs far hotter than an office or warehouse.
📐2. Floor Area & Ceiling
Range: 500 – 50,000 sq ft
👥3. Occupancy & Internal Loads
Auto-set from building type & area — adjust to your peak headcount.
🌍4. Climate & Unit Staging
Multiple staged RTUs give redundancy (if one fails, the building stays partly cooled) and better part-load efficiency — the commercial standard.
5,000 Sq Ft Warehouse Cooling Load by Climate
The same 5,000 sq ft Warehouse needs more cooling in a hotter climate. Recommended tonnage and RTU staging:
| Climate | Cooling Load | Recommended RTUs |
|---|---|---|
| Northern / Mild | 9.5 tons | 2 × 5-Ton RTUs |
| Humid South | 10.5 tons | 2 × 6-Ton RTUs |
| Sunbelt / Desert | 11.0 tons | 2 × 6-Ton RTUs |
Why a 5,000 Sq Ft Warehouse Needs 9.5 Tons
Commercial cooling load comes from four sources: the building envelope (5,000 sq ft × a per-square-foot factor × ceiling height), occupancy (about 10 people here at 400 BTU/hr each), equipment & lighting, and sun/climate. For a warehouse, the low internal load from large volume with light occupancy is the deciding factor — which is why it needs far less cooling than an office of the same size. Commercial installs almost always use staged rooftop units (2 × 5-Ton RTUs) so the building stays partly cooled if one unit fails. Fresh-air ventilation adds 450 CFM (ASHRAE 62.1), and total supply airflow is about 3,816 CFM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size AC does a 5,000 sq ft Warehouse need? About 9.5 tons of cooling in a moderate climate — roughly 524 sq ft per ton — typically installed as 2 × 5-Ton RTUs. Hotter climates push this higher.
How many rooftop units for a 5,000 sq ft Warehouse? We recommend 2 × 5-Ton RTUs (10 tons installed). Multiple staged RTUs give redundancy and better part-load efficiency than one large unit.
How much fresh air (CFM) does a 5,000 sq ft Warehouse need? About 450 CFM of outdoor air under ASHRAE 62.1, based on ~10 occupants plus floor area. Total supply airflow is around 3,816 CFM.
Scaling up beyond packaged units? Read industrial refrigeration fundamentals.
Estimates vary by contractor. Compare free quotes from licensed local pros before you commit. Request a quote →
High-efficiency systems may qualify for utility rebates and federal or state incentives. Find current programs at ENERGY STAR & DSIRE.
Figures are reviewed by the Refcon HVAC engineering team using U.S. DOE, ENERGY STAR & ACCA Manual J data. Estimates only — confirm with a licensed pro.