“Ton” tells you how much heat an AC can pull out of a room. On the energy label, the same thing is shown as “rated cooling capacity” in watts, and that is the number the government checks. One ton is roughly 3,500 watts of cooling.[R1]
There is no official government chart linking room size to tonnage. The chart below is a common shop rule of thumb, so use it to shortlist, not as a final answer.
Room size to AC tonnage chart
| Room floor area | Typical room | Suggested AC size |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 100 sq ft | Small study or kids’ room | 0.75 ton |
| 100–150 sq ft | Standard bedroom | 1 ton |
| 150–200 sq ft | Master bedroom | 1.5 ton |
| 200–300 sq ft | Living room or hall | 2 ton |
| Above 300 sq ft | Open-plan or large hall | Two ACs or ask an installer |
Step-by-step: work out your tonnage
| Room condition | Why it matters | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Top floor or roof above | The roof soaks up sun all day | Go up about half a ton |
| West or south-facing windows | Strong afternoon sun heats the room | Add roughly 0.5 ton |
| Large glass windows | Glass lets in a lot of heat | Use curtains or go up a size |
| More than 2–3 people often | Each person adds body heat | Go up a size for living rooms |
| Kitchen nearby or many gadgets | TVs, PCs and cooking add heat | Go up a size if the room feels stuffy |
Read the star label before you buy
Every room AC sold in India must show a BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency) star label. The label must be visible on the product page online as well as in the shop.[R2]
| Label item | What it tells you | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling capacity (watts) | Real cooling power | Two “1.5 ton” ACs can differ, so compare watts |
| Energy efficiency figure | Cooling per unit of electricity over a season | Higher is better |
| Star level | Quick efficiency grade, 1 to 5 | Compare stars only between the same AC type |
| Label year / validity | Which star rules it was rated under | Newer is stricter |
For example, this 1 ton 3-star convertible inverter split AC suits a standard bedroom. A 1.5 ton 5-star inverter window AC suits a larger or sunnier room.
- A bigger AC is not always better: an oversized unit switches on and off often and wastes power.
- Inverter ACs adjust their speed, so they handle a slightly larger room more smoothly.
- New ACs start at 24°C by default to save power; you can change it.[R4]
Compare ACs on JioMart
On any JioMart product page, tap Compare on the product photo. Open a second product and do the same. Then tap Compare in the bar at the bottom to see them side by side.
- Kelvinator 1.5 ton 3 star inverter split AC — medium rooms
- Carrier 1.5 ton 5 star inverter split AC — medium rooms, lower power bills
- Hisense 1 ton 3 star inverter split AC — small rooms
- General 2 ton 5 star inverter split AC — large rooms and halls
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 1 ton enough for a 150 sq ft room?
Does ceiling height change the size I need?
Can one AC cool two connected rooms?
Should I pick a split or window AC?
References
JioMart is a Reliance Retail platform. Products linked are examples, not recommendations. Prices and availability may change.