What Size Mini Split for 1000 Sq Ft?

If you have a 1,000 sq ft room or house, you might be thinking of using a mini split for heating and cooling. But, how many BTU do you need for a 1,000 sq ft mini split?

Generally, a 24,000 BTU mini split is able to handle 1,000 sq ft depending on the cooling load. If the cooling load is high, a mini split with more BTUs may be required and vice versa.

A 1,000 sq ft space can be used for various applications and different applications require different BTUs of mini splits. Understanding the sizing of mini splits will give you a better idea.

Can a Mini Split Cool 1000 Sq Ft?

As the name suggests, mini splits are mini air conditioners. They are usually used to cool small rooms. So, can a mini split cool 1,000 sq ft?

The answer is a mini split can cool 1,000 sq ft. A single unit of 24,000 BTU mini split is able to handle a 1000 sq ft space adequately. However, if there is a lot of heat in the space, more mini splits may be required.

It is generally recommended to use a 24,000 BTU mini split to cool a 1,000 sq ft space. Depending on what the 1,000 sq ft space is, a bigger mini split may be needed.

For example, if you have a 1,000 sq ft bedroom, a 24,000 BTU mini split is enough. But, if it is a 1,000 sq ft garage, you’ll need two 18,000 BTU mini splits because the cooling load is higher. Furthermore, if you have a 1000 sq ft house, you may need three to four 9,000 BTU mini splits, one in each room.

What Size Mini Split for 1000 Sq Ft?

Mini splits come in several sizes. Using the correct mini split size is crucial. So, how big of a mini split do you need for 1,000 sq ft?

Generally, you need a 24,000 BTU mini split for 1,000 sq ft based on a rule of thumb of 20-30 BTU per square foot. The size of a mini split can vary depending on the space cooling load.

Sizing a mini split is not just based on the rule of thumb. We need to consider what’s in the room and how much heat is present in the room, and here’s how.

The rule of thumb of 20-30 BTU per square foot is meant for typical applications such as bedrooms, living rooms and study rooms in typical weather conditions. For other applications, you need to either increase or decrease the BTU of the mini split. And, if you’re living in the southern region, you’ll need to increase the BTU as well.

By the way, if you want to learn more about mini split especially how to design it for your house, consider my Mini Split (eBook). You’ll learn what is Mini Split, how to choose and more importantly, spark more design ideas to improve the energy efficient of your house. But, if you need a second opinion or want someone to help you design, then you can consider my consultation service.

Mini Split for 1000 Sq Ft Garage

Garages are not considered typical applications. The amount of heat present in a garage is more than a bedroom or a living room, not to mention the uninsulated garage door.

So, a 1,000 sq ft garage requires one 36,000 BTU mini split or two 18,000 BTU mini splits. More BTUs are needed to overcome the heat from the cars, lightings and machineries. If the garage door is not insulated, you need more BTUs (eg: 24,000 BTU x 2 units).

However, it is not necessary that you must use two 18,000 BTU mini splits for a 1,000 sq ft garage. If the garage is well insulated and the lightings and machineries are similar to a living room, then a 24,000 BTU mini split is sufficient.

Mini Split for 1000 Sq Ft House

A 1,000 sq ft house is not the same as a 1,000 sq ft room. Previously, HVAC systems are sized based on the total square footage of the house. But, mini splits are sized on a room-by-room basis.

For example, a 1,000 sq ft house has one living room (300 sq ft) and three bedrooms (150 sq ft each). The mini split size needed for the living room and the bedroom is 9000 BTU and 6000 BTU respectively. Since there are 3 bedrooms, the total mini split BTUs is 27,000 BTU.

Mini splits come in standardized sizes. So, even though the bedroom needs only 3,750 BTU (based on 25 BTU per square foot), the smallest mini split size available is 6,000 BTU.

It is fine to use a 6,000 BTU mini split for a room that only needs 3,750 BTU because mini splits use inverter compressors which their BTU can be reduced when not needed.

What Happen If You Oversize a Mini Split?

Although you can use a mini split with slightly more BTU than the room needs, be careful not to oversize it because it can lead to overcooling and high humidity problems.

As a general rule, it is safe to upsize a mini split by one standard size. Meaning, if you need a 12,000 BTU mini split, using a 15,000 BTU will likely be fine. However, you need to check the BTU per square foot and make sure it is within the acceptable range.

For example, you may use 20 BTU per square foot to calculate the BTU needed for a 1,000 sq ft room. The resulting BTU is 20,000 BTU. So, a 24,000 BTU mini split is sufficient. However, if you use a 30,000 BTU mini split, the sizing is based on 30 BTU per square foot which is fine as well. But, if you already calculate it based on 30 BTU per square foot and you upsize it to 36,000 BTU, the mini split is oversized because the sizing is now based on 36 BTU per square foot.

Nonetheless, it still needs to be based on how much heat is present in the room and size the mini split accordingly.

How Many Mini Split for 1000 Sq Ft?

A 1,000 sq ft room can use several mini split combinations. For example, you can use one 24,000 BTU mini split or two 12,000 BTU mini splits. Although one mini split is sufficient for 1000 sq ft, it is recommended to use two mini splits for better air circulation.

Mini splits rely on their onboard temperature sensor for operation control. If a mini split is installed at a corner, the other end of the room may be undercooled.

Needless to say, it is more expensive to have more mini splits. Hence, depending on the room’s layout and your budget, you may use one big-capacity mini split or two small-capacity mini splits.

Best Mini Split for 1000 Sq Ft

For a 1,000 sq ft room, there are several 24,000 BTU mini splits you can choose from. It is important that you choose a reliable mini split with good energy efficiency. Here are my top 3 best mini splits for 1,000 sq ft:

• From my preferred brand: DAIKIN 24,000 BTU 19 SEER Ductless Mini Split A/C Heat Pump System
• For DIY installation: MRCOOL DIY 24k BTU 20.5 SEER Ductless Mini Split AC & Heat Pump 4th Generation
• Low cost option: Senville LETO Series Mini Split Air Conditioner Heat Pump, 24000 BTU

Lastly, consider my Mini Split (eBook) if you want to know how can you use Mini Split in your house. If you still have doubt or not feeling confident enough, feel free to consult me.

If you have anything to add (or ask) about this topic, leave a comment down below!