Blog Buying Guide
What HP Aircond Do You Need? Room Size Guide for Malaysian Homes
1HP for a small bedroom, 1.5HP for a master bedroom, 2HP for most living rooms. Here's the full chart, how to measure your room, and when to go one size up.
Short answer: 1HP for rooms up to about 150 sq ft, 1.5HP for about 150 to 250 sq ft, 2HP for about 250 to 400 sq ft, and 2.5HP for about 400 to 550 sq ft. Go one size up if the room gets strong afternoon sun, has a high ceiling, sits on the top floor, or opens onto a kitchen.
Aircond size chart for Malaysian rooms
| Aircond size | Cooling capacity (approx.) | Room size | Typical room |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0HP | about 9,000 BTU/h | up to about 150 sq ft (14 m²) | Small bedroom, study |
| 1.5HP | about 12,000 BTU/h | about 150 to 250 sq ft (14 to 23 m²) | Master bedroom, large bedroom |
| 2.0HP | about 18,000 BTU/h | about 250 to 400 sq ft (23 to 37 m²) | Condo living room, small office |
| 2.5HP | about 22,000 to 24,000 BTU/h | about 400 to 550 sq ft (37 to 51 m²) | Large living and dining area |
"HP" on an aircond is a sales label for cooling size, not the actual horsepower of the motor. Check the BTU/h figure on the spec sheet if you want to compare models exactly.
How to measure your room
Measure the length and width in feet and multiply them. A 12 ft by 14 ft master bedroom is 168 sq ft. If you only know the size in metres, multiply length by width, then multiply by 10.76 to get square feet.
Some quick examples:
- 10 ft x 10 ft bedroom = 100 sq ft, so 1.0HP
- 12 ft x 14 ft master bedroom = 168 sq ft, so 1.5HP
- 15 ft x 20 ft condo living room = 300 sq ft, so 2.0HP
- 20 ft x 25 ft living and dining area = 500 sq ft, so 2.5HP, or two smaller units
When to go one size up
The chart assumes a normal room with a standard ceiling and some shade. In Malaysian homes, these make a room need more cooling:
- West-facing windows or big glass doors that take the afternoon sun
- Top-floor units or landed homes under a hot roof
- High ceilings, above about 10 ft
- Open kitchens joined to the living area
- Rooms with many people or lots of equipment, like a home office with computers
If two or more of these apply, pick the next size up. If your room is right on the boundary between two sizes, the bigger one is usually the safer choice in our climate.
Why the wrong size costs you money
Too small: the unit runs flat out all day and never reaches the set temperature. The room stays warm, the compressor wears faster, and your TNB bill goes up, not down. This is one of the most common reasons we hear "my aircond is not cold even though it's new". See aircond not cold: 10 causes.
Too big: the room cools quickly, then the unit keeps switching off and on. It doesn't run long enough to remove humidity, so the room can feel cold but damp, and you paid more for the unit than you needed to.
Inverter or non-inverter?
For rooms used more than about six to eight hours a day, like bedrooms used every night or a living room used all evening, an inverter unit is usually worth the higher price because it uses noticeably less electricity over time. For a guest room or a room used now and then, a non-inverter unit is the cheaper sensible choice.
Which brand?
Size matters more than brand. A correctly sized unit from a value brand, installed well, will cool better than an undersized premium one. If you're comparing brands, our guide on where aircond brands come from covers the differences in parts and service in Malaysia.
Installation matters as much as size
A correctly sized unit still won't perform if the copper pipe is the wrong size, the flare joints leak, the system isn't vacuumed, or the drain slope is wrong. Every aircond installation we do includes the bracket, copper pipe, insulation, drain pipe, wiring, vacuuming, gas pressure check and a full cooling test, so the unit performs as rated and the brand warranty stays valid.
Not sure what size you need?
WhatsApp Marvel your room's length and width, which way the windows face, and whether it's a top floor. We'll recommend a size before you buy, and we can supply and install, or install a unit you've bought yourself.