October 29, 2021 / RefrigeratorPro Team
Its that time of the year when Indians become serious about purchasing an air cooler or AC for our homes. There is no shortage of different types of ACs in the market. But before we make a decision on purchase of an AC, it’s important to figure out the ideal tonnage for your home.
One of the most common ACs in India are 1 ton and 1.5-ton air conditioners. Often, customers are confused between the two. After all, there is only a difference of 0.5 between that two 🙂
We understand this, hence we bring you detailed analysis on 1 ton vs 1.5-ton ACs. First let’s quickly go through the differences, and then we will discuss what is tonnage, tips on deciding the right tonnage and frequently asked questions in the end.
So, without further delay, let’s dive in.
Table of Contents
1 Ton vs 1.5 Ton AC
| 1 Ton AC | 1.5 Ton AC | |
| Room Size | 120 – 180 square feet | 180 – 250 square feet |
| Window AC Price | Starts from Rs 19,000 | Starts from Rs 24,000 |
| Split AC Price | Starts from Rs 22,000 | Starts from Rs 25,000 |
| Lowest Power Consumption | 557 units / year | 815 units / year |
| Cooling Capacity | Decent capacity | 50% more cooling Capacity |
| Time to Cool* | ~1 hour | ~40 minutes |
| Electricity Bill** | Rs 3500 – 5300 / year | Rs 5200 – 7900 / year |
*Under ideal test conditions **As per BEE data. (Bureau of Energy Efficiency assumes 1600 hours of running time for annual power consumption data). Rs 6.4 / unit assumed.
This table answers one of the key questions- Does 1.5-ton AC consume 50% more power? Answer is yes. Also, 50% more power also means 50% higher electricity bills.
In short, 1.5-ton AC will consume 50% more power and give 50% faster cooling when compared to 1 ton AC.
What is Ton in an AC?
We agree that the unit ‘ton’ is misleading. What does ton have to do with cooling? The answer lies in the history of cooling. Back in the olden days, most widespread method of refrigeration / cooing was though ice.
Its was during this period the unit ‘ton’ was invented. According to one definition, it is the amount of heat needed to melt 1 ton of ice in 24 hours. However, this definition is difficult to understand.
A better way to explain this is with the help of BTUs. BTU or British Thermal Unit is the unit of heat. Tonnage is a measure of amount of heat the AC can remove in an hour.
1 ton AC can remove 12,000 BTUs of heat in an hour and 1.5-ton AC can remove 18,000 BTUs of heat in the same time period.
12000 BTU is roughly around 3.5 kWh. This is the reason why cooling capacity of 1-ton ACs is usually labelled 3500 watts. This also means that if it runs for 1 hour, then it will consume 3.5 units of power.
Well, these numbers are just to give you more knowledge into how tonnage is calculated. Now let’s see how you can decide the best tonnage for your home.
1 Ton vs 1.5 Ton: How to Decide the Right Tonnage for You?
One of the biggest considerations for choosing ideal tonnage for your home is the size of your room and power consumption.
As a rule of thumb, 1 ton AC is sufficient for a room that covers less than 180 square feet in area. While 1.5-ton AC is sufficient for a room with less than 250 square feet area.
It is important to note that these idea room sized are considering 1 or 2 people in the room. You should increase the tonnage by 0.5 tons in following cases:
- If the room gets direct sunlight (for example if you have windows in north and west directions, room can be warmer than usual)
- If more people will be in the room
- If there is no room on top of your room
- If room is situated near kitchen
Another important point to consider is the annual power consumption. Power consumption depends on not only tonnage, but also on the star rating and inverter technology in ACs. Here is the chart that will give you a fair idea about the power consumption of different types of 1 ton and 1.5-ton ACs.
| 0.75 Ton | 1 Ton | 1.5 Ton | 2 Ton | |
| 3 Star Non Inverter | 627 | 828 | 1235 | 1548 |
| 3 Star Inverter AC | 550 | 726 | 1077 | 1344 |
| 4 Star Inverter AC | 499 | 658 | 972 | 1208 |
| 5 Star Non Inverter AC | 576 | 760 | 1130 | 1412 |
| 5 Star Inverter AC | 421 | 557 | 815 | 1005 |
Its clear from the table that irrespective of the technology or star rating, 1.5-ton AC will use 50% more power as compared to 1 ton AC. The question is, how much money you will need to spend on purchase and electricity bills annually if you buy a 1.5-ton AC?
1.5-ton ACs are at least Rs 3,000 – 5000 costlier than 1-ton ACs. As far as power consumption is concerned, 1.5-ton ACs will result in Rs 1,700 – 2,600 higher power bills on an annual basis.
As you see, there is good amount of difference between both types of ACs in terms of pricing. Hence, budget is an important criterion.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I install 1 ton AC in larger room?
Installing 1 ton AC in a room with area more than 180 square feet will lead to your AC working harder to cool the room. This will not only result in higher power bills, but it will also decrease the lifespan of your AC.
What happens if I install 1.5-ton AC in smaller room?
Installing higher capacity AC in a smaller room can result in overcooling of the room. Not to mentions, you will be wasting your money by underutilizing the AC capacity.
I want an AC for smaller room but I might want to use it to larger room in future. What should I do?
You can consider Inverter ACs with variable capacity. Also called convertible ACs, these air conditioners can run in different capacities. For example, LG’s 5-in-1 Split AC can run in capacities ranging from 0.6 ton to 1.6 ton depending upon the number of people in the room.
Which are the most popular 1.5-ton and 1 ton AC in India?
LG 1.5 Ton 5 Star AC and Voltas 1 ton 3 star window AC are most popular 1.5 ton and 1 ton ACs in India.
Read: Room Size for 1 Ton, 1.5 Ton & 2 Ton ACs
Conclusion
1 ton AC is perfect for you if your room size is smaller and number of occupants will not be more than 2. If the room area is greater than 180 square feet, then it makes sense to increase the tonnage to 1.5 tons. This will not only ensure efficient cooling, but will also result in long-life of your AC. Also, since heat in the room depends on factors such as direct sunlight, number of people and location of the room, its always a good idea to go for higher ton AC if any of these higher than usual.
That being said, if you are not sure which AC will be best suited for you, then it’s a good idea to purchase a convertible AC. Such ACs can run in low are well as high capacity depending upon your needs and preferences.
That’s about it. Hope this post helped you in deciding the right AC capacity for your home. If you still have any questions, feel free to ask us by commenting. We will be happy to help. Happy shopping!
Reading Suggestion: