What This Calculator Does
A ‘ton’ of refrigeration is a traditional unit of cooling power still widely used for air conditioners and chillers. It originally meant the rate of heat absorption needed to melt one ton of ice in 24 hours. This calculator converts that figure into the metric kilowatt (kW) unit and the common BTU/hr unit.
The Formula
One ton of refrigeration equals exactly 12,000 BTU per hour, which converts to approximately 3.5168525 kilowatts. So kW = tons × 3.5168525, and BTU/hr = tons × 12,000. Since 1 kW is about 1.341 horsepower, the equivalent shaft power figure is included as a rough reference.
Note: This is a straightforward unit conversion for general planning and educational purposes. Actual electrical power drawn by an air conditioning unit depends on its efficiency (EER/SEER/COP rating), not just its rated cooling capacity.