What HP Aircond Does Your Room Need? (2026 Sizing Guide)

How to Choose the Right Aircond HP for Your Room

One of the most common mistakes when buying an air conditioner is picking the wrong horsepower. Undersize it and the unit can never cool the room properly — the compressor runs flat out and the bill climbs. Oversize it and you have simply paid for capacity you will never use.

HP by Room Size

Room Size (sq ft)	Recommended HP	Typical Room
100 - 200 sqft	1.0 HP	Small bedroom, study
200 - 350 sqft	1.5 HP	Master bedroom, standard bedroom
350 - 500 sqft	2.0 HP	Small to medium living room, studio apartment
500 - 650 sqft	2.5 HP	Large living room, open-plan kitchen and dining
650 - 850 sqft	3.0 HP	Large hall, office, small shop

* Based on a standard 9-10ft ceiling. Higher ceilings need more capacity.

Other Factors That Change the Answer

1. Which floor are you on?

Upper floors and rooms exposed to direct sun need more capacity. Heat gain through the roof and walls can add 20-30% to the cooling load.

2. How many people use the room?

Each person radiates roughly 100W of body heat. A meeting room that regularly holds six to eight people needs more capacity than a bedroom of the same size holding one or two.

3. What equipment is in there?

Computers, televisions and lighting all generate heat. An office full of machines usually needs 0.5-1.0 HP above the table figure.

4. How much glazing?

Large windows facing the sun raise heat gain sharply. A room with lots of glass and no heavy curtains should size up.

5. How well is the room insulated?

Thin walls and poor sealing let cold air escape faster. This is common in older flats and apartments.

How to Measure Your Room

If you do not know the floor area, it is simple arithmetic:

Length (ft) × Width (ft) = Area (sq ft)

Example: a 12ft × 14ft bedroom is 168 sqft, so 1.0 HP is enough.

Example: a 20ft × 18ft living room is 360 sqft, which calls for 2.0 HP.

When in Doubt, Size Up

If your room falls between two sizes — say 340 sqft, between 1.5HP and 2.0HP — take the larger one. Here is why:

• The unit never has to run flat out, which is actually more efficient
• The room reaches temperature faster
• The compressor is under less stress and lasts longer
• The price difference is only RM300-500

Prices by HP

For Daikin pricing at each horsepower, see the full 2026 price list here.