Written by Angela Reviewed by Daniel

Is 9000 BTU Good Enough For Portable ACs?

If you’re sweltering under the latest heatwave, and can’t get any relief from the high temperatures and high humidity, it might be time to consider air conditioning.

The main reason UK residents don’t automatically think of air conditioning is the expense. Added to the cost is the upheaval of getting a full air conditioning system fitted into the home.

A great alternative is a portable air conditioner. With a portable air conditioner you can reap the benefits of a cool home without too much expense and no building work whatsoever.

But what size portable A/C do you need? In this article we look at 9000 BTU portable A/Cs and answer all of the most commonly asked questions.

Table of Contents

What Does 9000 BTU Mean?

A 9000 BTU portable A/C has the cooling power of 9000 BTUs, which means nothing to most people. So, let’s explain it in an easy to understand way:

British Thermal Units (BTU) is the standard unit of measuring the heat content of fuels and heat sources. In cooling devices like portable A/Cs it measures the cooling power.

1 BTU is the amount of energy needed to raise 1 pound of liquid by 1 degree Fahrenheit. To put it into context, 1 BTU is equivalent to the heat produced by 1 burning match.

Which means a 9000 BTU portable A/C has the cooling power to remove the equivalent heat of 9000 burning matches per hour.

What Size Area Is A 9000 BTU Portable A/C Enough For?

According to the American Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you should have 20 BTUs of cooling power for each square foot of room.

Which means a 9000 BTU portable A/C has sufficient power to cool a room with an area of up to 450 square feet. Which means little to most people unless you’re particularly mathematically oriented.

But it’s quite easy to calculate which size portable A/C you need. All you need to do is measure the length, width and height of the room. Then use this equation to work out the BTU requirement of your room.

L x W x H x 5 = BTUs where L=Length, W=Width and H=Height.

Let’s say your room is 16 ft long, 16 ft wide with a ceiling height of 7 ft. That would mean your initial BTU requirement would be 9000 BTU. That’s because:

16^ft X 16^ft X 7^ft X 5 = 8960 BTU

If your room has similar dimensions to this, then a 9000 BTU portable A/C will be the perfect size.

Is 9000 BTU Enough For A Small Room?

Yes it is enough for a small room, in fact, a 9000 BTU portable A/C could possibly be too powerful for a small room if used incorrectly. This is because if the room cools down too fast, it can remain humid.

That humidity can lead to the room becoming damp bringing all of the associated problems with it. Plus, as the BTU rating increases on a portable A/C so does the power consumption.

Which means the higher the BTU rating, the more electricity it will use and the higher your bills become.

Is 9000 BTU Enough For A Large Room?

Yes we would have to say that a 9000 BTU portable A/C is enough for a large room. Well, at least a room with an area of between 350 to 450 square feet, which we would consider to be large.

However, there are other factors that need to be considered which will increase the level of BTUs needed to successfully cool the room without allowing the unit to work too hard. These include;

Direct Sunlight
If the room gets direct sunlight, you need to add 10% to your total BTU count.
The Number Of People In The Room
If there are more than 2 people using the room, you need to add 1000 BTU per person over and above 2 people.
Electrical Appliances
All electrical appliances, including PCs, TVs, and even lamps all produce heat. This heat can range anywhere between 50 to 500 watts and will need to be included in your final tally.

What Happens If You Use A Portable A/C With Too Few BTUs?

If you were to install a portable A/C which wasn’t powerful enough for the room, it would mean the motor would struggle to meet the demands placed on it. This would lead to a shorter lifespan for the unit and increased maintenance costs.

As well as higher than average electricity bills because the unit would be running continuously.

Is 9000 BTU Enough For A Living Room?

Yes a 9000 BTU portable A/C is enough for a living room as long as you’ve measured the room, and done the calculation. As well as accounting for sunlight, the number of people using the room and electrical appliances.

As long as the living room has an area of less than 450 square feet and all of the other factors have been accounted for, we would recommend getting a 9000 BTU portable A/C.

Is 9000 BTU Enough For A Bedroom?

A 9000 BTU is easily enough for a bedroom, in fact, it is very likely that a 9000 BTU portable A/C will be bigger than you need for a bedroom.

Generally, bedrooms are smaller rooms than living rooms. Plus they are not usually packed with electrical appliances and there is no daylight to take into account.

This all adds up to a smaller portable A/C being a better choice for a bedroom.

However, this all changes if you live in a bedsit or a houseshare and you spend a lot of time in the bedroom watching TV or using a PC.

Is 9000 BTU Too Much For A Bedroom?

As we said above, in most cases, a 9000 BTU portable A/C will be too much for a bedroom. Using a portable A/C with too much power can cause problems with damp if used incorrectly.

This is why we always recommend buying the correct size portable A/C for the dimensions of the room.

How Many Watts Is 9000 BTU?

The power consumption of a 9000 BTU portable A/C is between 800 to 900 watts. You can get an approximate wattage by dividing the BTU by 10.

How Much Will It Cost To Run A 9000 BTU Portable A/C?

It costs around 30.5p per hour to run a 9000 BTU portable A/C at current UK electricity prices of 34p per unit. We calculated this by multiplying the kilowatt value of 9000 BTU by the rate of electricity.

Energy Saving Advice

To save energy and money, look for a model with “eco-settings”. “Eco-settings” help to maintain a cool temperature without using too much energy.

You should also position the A/C away from any sources of heat. This includes;

TVs
PCs
Lamps
And so on

The A/C will continue to operate trying to cool the heat source which will of course, be constantly producing heat.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How big of a room can a 9000 BTU portable air conditioner cool?

A 9000 BTU portable A/C can cool a room with an area of up to 450 square feet.

Is 9000 BTU enough for a bedroom?

A 9000 BTU portable A/C is often too much for a bedroom. It all depends on the area of the bedroom. If the bedroom is small and you install a portable A/C with 9000 BTU power rating, it could cool the room too fast and cause damp. A 9000 BTU portable A/C is enough for a room with an area of up to 450 square feet.

How much does it cost to run a 9000 BTU portable air conditioner for 24 hours?

It costs around £7.35p per 24 hours to run a 9000 BTU portable A/C at current UK electricity prices of 34p per unit. However, the motor would cut out once the temperature has been achieved so the unit would not be running continuously for the whole 24 hours in most instances.

How many watts does a 9000 BTU portable air conditioner use?

A 9000 BTU portable air conditioner uses around 800 to 900 watts per hour.

How many BTUs do I need for a portable AC in a room with an area of 380 square feet?

For a room with an area of 380 square feet you will need a 9000 BTU portable air conditioner. Assuming there are no more than two people usually using the room and there is no direct sunlight. As both of these factors contribute to the overall BTUs needed to efficiently cool the room.