14,000 BTU is one of the largest window units that still runs on 115 V, and a common top-end portable rating. As a window unit in an average room it cools up to about 700 sq ft, with a best fit of 600 to 700 sq ft. That suits a large living room, a finished attic, or a small apartment cooled from one spot with the doors open.
A shaded, well insulated room stretches to about 860 sq ft; a sunny, poorly insulated one stops around 550; a 10 ft ceiling brings it to 560.
Portables fall well short of their label at this size. A 14,000 BTU (ASHRAE) portable is often 9,000 to 10,000 BTU SACC, which cools about 450 to 500 sq ft, not 700. Dual-hose portables lose less to outside air leaking in and come closer to their rating.
As heat, 14,000 BTU covers about 350 sq ft in a moderate climate, 460 in a hot one and 250 in a cold one. A 14,000 BTU window unit draws about 1,270 W, 11.1 A at 115 V. That is close to the 12 A continuous limit of a 15 A circuit, so give it an outlet with nothing else on it. Converted, it is 4.10 kW or 1.17 tons.
How many square feet a 14,000 BTU air conditioner cools
Largest room the unit keeps up with, rounded down to the nearest 10 sq ft. Two occupants, 8 ft ceiling and moderate climate unless the row says otherwise.
| Room | Cools up to |
|---|---|
| Shaded, good insulation | 860 sq ft |
| Average room (baseline) | 700 sq ft |
| Very sunny, poor insulation | 550 sq ft |
| Hot climate, very sunny | 570 sq ft |
| 10 ft ceiling | 560 sq ft |
| 4 people instead of 2 | 640 sq ft |
| Kitchen in the space | 500 sq ft |
How many square feet 14,000 BTU of heat covers
By climate and insulation. For a gas heater, use its output rating (input × efficiency).
| Climate | Poor insulation | Average insulation | Good insulation |
|---|---|---|---|
| hot | 380 sq ft | 460 sq ft | 540 sq ft |
| moderate | 290 sq ft | 350 sq ft | 410 sq ft |
| cold | 210 sq ft | 250 sq ft | 290 sq ft |
14,000 BTU in kW, watts and tons
| Kilowatts | 4.10 kW |
| Watts | 4,103 W |
| Tons of cooling | 1.17 tons |
| Power an AC this size draws (EER 11) | about 1,273 W, 11.1 A at 115 V |
| Power an electric heater needs for this output | 4,103 W, 17.1 A at 240 V |
kW and watts here are heat output, the number on the box. An air conditioner moves that much heat while drawing far less electricity; an electric heater draws exactly as much as it puts out.
14,000 BTU questions
How many square feet does a 14,000 BTU air conditioner cool?
About 700 sq ft in an average room for a window unit, with a best fit of 600 to 700. Shaded and well insulated, up to about 860; sunny and poorly insulated, about 550.
Will a 14,000 BTU portable AC cool 700 square feet?
Usually not. Most 14,000 BTU portables are rated around 9,000 to 10,000 BTU SACC, which covers about 450 to 500 sq ft. Check the SACC number on the box.
What is 14,000 BTU in tons?
1.17 tons. Divide by 12,000: 14,000 ÷ 12,000 = 1.17.