What size AC do I need for a 2,000 sq ft home?

For a 2,000 sq ft home, the size of the AC system you need depends on Florida’s hot, humid climate, your home’s insulation, and sun exposure. A good rule of thumb is:

• 1 ton of cooling (12,000 BTUs) per 500–600 sq ft in Florida.

👉 That means:

• 2,000 sq ft ÷ 500 = ~4 tons of cooling capacity
• 2,000 sq ft ÷ 600 = ~3.5 tons (if insulation is excellent and shading helps)

✅ Most 2,000 sq ft Florida homes need:

• 3.5 to 4 tons (42,000–48,000 BTUs)

⚠️ Important Considerations:

• If you have high ceilings, lots of windows, or poor insulation, lean toward 4 tons.
• If your home is well-insulated with energy-efficient windows, 3.5 tons may be enough.
• Oversizing can cause short-cycling (less efficiency, more humidity).
• A Manual J load calculation from an HVAC professional gives the most accurate sizing.

Here’s a quick Florida AC sizing chart by square footage using a common rule of thumb (1 ton per 500–600 sq ft). This is a starting point—a Manual J load calc is the gold standard.

Home size (sq ft)	Estimated tons*	BTUs (approx)	Typical range (tons)
1,000	2.0	24,000	1.7–2.0
1,200	2.0	24,000	2.0–2.4
1,400	2.5	30,000	2.3–2.8
1,500	2.5	30,000	2.5–3.0
1,600	3.0	36,000	2.7–3.2
1,800	3.5	42,000	3.0–3.6
2,000	3.5	42,000	3.3–4.0
2,200	4.0	48,000	3.7–4.4
2,400	4.5	54,000	4.0–4.8
2,500	4.5	54,000	4.2–5.0
2,600	4.5	54,000	4.3–5.2
2,800	5.0	60,000	4.7–5.6
3,000	5.5†	66,000	5.0–6.0