Need to size the air conditioning for a restaurant? Restaurant dining areas run hot: kitchen heat spills into the space, diners and staff add body heat, and doors open constantly. That pushes the cooling factor to about 35 BTU/sq ft — well above a normal room — so restaurant AC has to be sized generously to keep guests comfortable during a busy service. The calculator below is pre-set to a restaurant at 1,000 sq ft — a restaurant that size typically needs about a 4 Ton AC (42,350 BTU/hr, 12.4 kW) in a moderate climate. Enter your own area for an instant answer.
🧊 Find the Right AC Size for Your Room — in Tons & BTU
Convert room size (sq ft or m²) to the exact AC tonnage you need — 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 Ton and up. ACCA Manual-J inspired, in tons, BTU/hr and kW, for the US, UK, Europe, India, UAE, Saudi Arabia & Australia.
🌍 Prefer metric? Switch units here
🏠1. Space Type
📐2. Floor Area & Ceiling
Range: 50 – 10,000 sq ft
Range: 7 – 20 ft
Range: 0 – 50 people
🌍3. Country / Climate
The base factor assumes a 30 °C / 86 °F design day. Change the chip above to match your region.
🧱4. Insulation
☀️5. Sun Exposure
🪟6. Windows / Glazing
➕Advanced loads (kitchen, appliances, exhaust) — optional
Wattage × 3.4 = BTU/hr. e.g. 500 W ≈ 1,700 BTU/hr
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Restaurant AC Size by Floor Area
Typical AC tonnage for a restaurant with an 8-foot ceiling and average conditions. Heavy equipment, high occupancy, or a hot climate will push these up — adjust those in the calculator:
| Restaurant Size | Recommended AC | Approx. BTU/hr |
|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | 2 Ton | 21,175 BTU/hr |
| 800 sq ft | 3 Ton | 33,880 BTU/hr |
| 1,000 sq ft | 4 Ton | 42,350 BTU/hr |
| 1,500 sq ft | 5 Ton | 63,525 BTU/hr |
| 2,000 sq ft | 5 Ton | 84,700 BTU/hr |
Sizing AC for a Restaurant — What to Consider
Keep the kitchen on its own exhaust and make-up air system, separate from the dining-area AC. Account for peak occupancy (people add ~600 BTU/hr each above the base) using the occupants field, and plan for the door-traffic heat gain in high-footfall venues. The calculator applies the restaurant heat-gain factor automatically; use the advanced fields (occupants, equipment, appliances, ventilation) to match your exact space, and remember an oversized unit short-cycles and dehumidifies poorly — right-sizing gives better comfort and lower running cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size AC do I need for a restaurant? A 1,000 sq ft restaurant typically needs about a 4 Ton AC (42,350 BTU/hr) in a moderate climate; scale up or down with your floor area per the chart above.
How do you size AC for a restaurant? Size the dining area at roughly 35 BTU/sq ft plus occupant load, and keep the kitchen on separate exhaust and make-up air. A 1,000 sq ft dining room typically needs about 4 tons.
How many BTU per square foot for a restaurant? Roughly 35 BTU/sq ft as a starting factor, before adjusting for climate, ceiling height, occupancy, and equipment heat.
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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.