When you buy a window air conditioner, determining the correct size of the AC is important. If you purchase a small AC, it will take too much time to cool a room. If you buy a big AC, it will cool the room but will not remove enough humidity, and that can be uncomfortable. Besides, choosing the perfect size can save you time as well as optimize electricity consumption.
There are different sizes of window ACs available. Depending on the cooling capacity of the window AC, the dimensions of the AC vary accordingly. For any given cooling capacity, there are minimum window dimensions and maximum window dimensions possible. Depending on the dimensions of the window, you can decide on the window AC that you can fit in perfectly. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about window AC size before you purchase a window AC.
How Can I Measure a Window for an AC?
The first thing you need to do when you want to purchase a window AC is the measure the dimensions of the window where you want to install the AC. Depending on the dimensions of the window, you can decide on the window AC that can be installed in the window. You have to measure the height, width and depth though depth is not a major factor for window AC. Here are the steps to measure a window for an AC.
- Step 1: Open your window completely. Take a measuring tape.
- Step 2: Measure the width of the window from side to side.
- Step 3: Measure the height of the window from the bottom to the top. This means you should measure from the sash to the sill.
Once you have the measurements, you have to purchase a window AC that has dimensions slightly smaller than those of the window for perfect fitting.
What are the Minimum and Maximum Dimensions of Window AC?
The dimensions of the window AC vary according to the cooling capacity. The 5000 BTU cooling capacity window AC has the minimum dimensions, while the 35000 BTU window AC has the maximum dimensions.
- Width: The minimum width of a window AC is 14 inches, and you can find it in 5000BTU to 10000BTU window ACs. The maximum width can be 28 inches, which you can find in 35000 BTU window AC.
- Height: The minimum height of a window AC is 7 inches, and you can find it in 5000 BTU window AC. The maximum height can be 27 inches, which you can find in 25000BTU to 35000BTU window AC.
- Depth: The minimum depth of a window AC is 12 inches, and you can find it in 5000BTU to 8000BTU window AC. The maximum depth can be 36 inches, which you can find in 23000BTU – 35000BTU window AC.
Why Do You Need a Perfect Size of Window AC?
When installing an air conditioner, we always want optimal cooling in our room. This means the cooling should be faster, but the humidity level is also taken care of properly. Going for a bigger window AC usually means the AC will have a higher cooling capacity. However, if your room is not large, the cooling is going to be superfast, but the humidity level will be high, which is not always desirable.
On the contrary, a small window AC will take forever to cool your room to a desired temperature. That is why you have to determine the perfect size of window AC you need in terms of room area as well as the window size of your room so that the cooling is absolutely optimal. Here is a correlation between room area and BTU requirement for your understanding.
| Room Size(Square Feet) | Cooling Capacity Needed(BTU) |
| 100-250 | 5000-7500 |
| 250-400 | 7500-10000 |
| 400-550 | 10000-14000 |
| 550-750 | 14000-20000 |
| 750+ | 20000+ |
What are the Different Sizes of Window ACs According to the BTU?
Window air conditioners are differentiated in terms of BTU cooling capacity, which eventually determines the dimensions of the ACs. There are broadly two different categories of sizes for window ACs.
A. Biggest Window AC
This category of windows ACs has a cooling capacity of over 12000 BTU, and there is no upper ceiling as it can go as high as 25000 BTU. Here are some examples of the biggest window ACs, along with their dimensions.
1. LG Window Ac
This is one of the biggest window air conditions for bigger rooms, preferably with over 750 square feet of room area. The company claims that it can cool up to 1560 square feet. When the cooling capacity is high, the dimensions are large. This air conditioner has dimensions of 26 D x 28.13 W x 17.7 H in inches. It can adjust the fan speed for optimal cooling per the room’s temperature.
2. Emerson Window Ac
This falls in the category of the biggest window AC with 15000 BTU, and it can cover up to 750 square feet of room. The dimensions stand at 23.6 D x 25.4 W x 17.9 H in inches. It is one of the quietest window ACs you will encounter. It adjusts the temperature smartly and ensures optimal cooling all the time. Instead of the usual one exhaust vent, this one has two air exhaust vents.
3. Koldfront Window Ac
Even though it belongs to the biggest window AC category, it actually belongs to medium-sized air conditioners if there could have been one such category. The 12000 BTU window AC has dimensions of 22.63 D x 23 W x 16.13 H in inches. It is suitable for cooling a room of size 450 to 550 square feet.
B. Smallest Window AC
This category of windows ACs has a cooling capacity in the range of 5000 BTU to 10000 BTU. Here are some examples of the smallest window ACs and their dimensions.
1. Haier Window Ac
This 10000BTU window AC belongs to the smallest category, and it is suitable for a room size of 450 square feet. The dimensions are 19.81 D x 19 W x 14.5 H in inches. Since it is a smart AC and it has 5-star energy rating, it consumes less power and automatically adjusts speed. The smart AC is compatible with voice assistants, and a special eco mode saves energy.
2. GE Window Ac
This is one of the smallest window air conditioners with 6000 BTU, and it is suitable for a room size of up to 250 square feet. The dimensions of the air conditioner are 15 D x 16.44 W x 12.56 H in inches. Naturally, it consumes less power, and the noise level is low as well. There are different fan speeds available for optimized cooling.
3. Frigidaire Window Ac
This is the smallest window AC with 5000 BTU that is suitable for a room size of 150 square feet. The dimensions of the air conditions are 15.25 D x 16 W x 12 H in inches. Since it is relatively small, it comes with side panels to fit the window dimensions. The air conditioner has half the voltage rating of the biggest window air conditioners.
| Window AC | Depth(inches) | Width(inches) | Height(Inches) | Room Size(Square Feet) | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG Window Ac | 26 | 28.13 | 17.7 | 1560 | Check On Amazon |
| Emerson Window Ac | 23.6 | 25.4 | 17.9 | 750 | Check On Amazon |
| Koldfront Window Ac | 22.63 | 23 | 16.13 | 550 | Check On Amazon |
| Haier Window Ac | 19.81 | 19 | 14.5 | 450 | Check On Amazon |
| GE Window Ac | 15 | 16.44 | 12.56 | 250 | Check On Amazon |
| Frigidaire Window Ac | 15.25 | 16 | 12 | 150 | Check On Amazon |
Conclusion
The first thing you need to do is get the area of the room where you want to install the window AC so that you can determine the cooling capacity of the AC that you need. Therefore, you need to determine the window’s dimensions where you will install the window AC.
Then you need to check the dimensions of the ACs as per your determined cooling capacity and find out if the dimensions of the AC can fit into the window. You can slightly compromise on the cooling capacity to fit an AC into your window perfectly.
