When it comes to comfort and energy efficiency, choosing the right-sized MRCOOL mini-split is critical. Whether you’re cooling a single bedroom or a full two-story home, MRCOOL offers a wide range of DIY-friendly systems designed to match your exact space and comfort needs.
🛠️ Why Sizing Matters
Installing a system that's too small won't keep your space comfortable. Go too large, and you'll waste energy and shorten the system’s lifespan due to short cycling. The key is to match your BTU (British Thermal Unit) capacity to your home’s square footage and insulation quality.
📏 BTU Guidelines by Room Size
| Room Size (Sq Ft) | Recommended BTU Capacity | Suggested MRCOOL Unit |
|---|---|---|
| 150 – 300 sq ft | 9,000 BTU | 9k DIY Single Zone |
| 300 – 500 sq ft | 12,000 BTU | 12k DIY or Advantage |
| 500 – 750 sq ft | 18,000 BTU | 18k DIY 5th Gen |
| 750 – 1,000 sq ft | 24,000 BTU | 24k DIY 5th Gen |
| 1,000 – 1,500 sq ft | 30,000 BTU | 30k DIY 5th Gen |
| 1,500 – 2,000 sq ft | 36,000 BTU | 36k DIY or Universal |
👉 Pro Tip: If you’re adding a mini-split to a garage, sunroom, or space with poor insulation, you may need to size up.
🧱 Consider Your Layout
Is your space one large open area or several rooms? A single-zone system is perfect for open layouts or studios. For multiple rooms or floors, consider a multi-zone MRCOOL DIY system, where you can mix and match air handlers (9k, 12k, 18k) with one outdoor condenser.
❓ What Else to Consider
Ceiling Height: Taller ceilings mean more air to cool or heat.
Sun Exposure: Rooms with lots of sunlight may need more BTUs.
Insulation Quality: Older homes may need higher-capacity systems.
💡 Need Help Deciding?
At MRCOOL DIY Direct, our experts can help you configure the perfect system. We offer free sizing consultations and a DIY multi-zone configuration tool to make it easy.
🎯 Still not sure? Contact us or try our free MRCOOL sizing tool to match the right system to your home layout.
