Sizing and cost
Air Conditioner Cost by Home Size
Square footage is an important starting point, but insulation, windows, climate, sun exposure, and layout also affect the cooling capacity your home needs.
Smaller homes
Compact homes often use 1.5- to 2-ton equipment, though exposure, ductwork, and installation complexity still matter.
Larger homes
Larger or multi-story homes may need 3.5- to 5-ton equipment and can benefit from staged or variable-capacity cooling.
Professional sizing
Final equipment sizing should be confirmed with a Manual J cooling-load calculation before installation.

