This online converter swiftly transforms cooling capacity from tons to kilowatts (kW). It is designed for HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) calculations, where “kW” denotes kilowatts – the standard SI unit of power – and “tons” refer to the cooling capacity unit often used in the industry.

Ton to Kilowatt (kW) Cooling Capacity Converter

Enter the cooling capacity in tons, then press "Convert".

Cooling Capacity (Tons)

Result in Kilowatts (kW)

Swap
Calculation process will appear here.
Decimal Places

Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these steps to use the converter:

  1. Input Cooling Capacity: Enter the value in tons (e.g., 3) in the designated input field.
  2. Set Decimal Precision: Adjust the number of decimal places to control the precision of your result.
  3. Convert: Click the “Convert” button. The tool multiplies the entered ton value by 3.51685 to compute the equivalent kilowatts, and displays the calculation process below the result field.
  4. Copy Result: Click the “Copy Result” button to copy the output to your clipboard for easy sharing or documentation.
  5. Reset: Click “Clear All” to reset all fields if you wish to start a new conversion.
  6. Swap Conversion: Use the “Swap” link to switch to the reverse conversion (from kilowatts to tons) if needed.

Measurement Units Explained

Ton (t): In the context of cooling capacity, a ton is a unit that represents the ability to remove a specific amount of heat. It is commonly used in HVAC to quantify cooling performance. One ton is conventionally defined in this application as equivalent to 3.51685 kilowatts.

Kilowatt (kW): The kilowatt is the SI unit of power and is equal to 1,000 watts. It measures the rate of energy conversion or transfer. In HVAC, kilowatts are used to represent the cooling or heating output of equipment.

To summarize, the conversion factor is: 1 ton = 3.51685 kW. Multiply the value in tons by 3.51685 to get the result in kilowatts, or divide the kilowatt value by 3.51685 to convert back to tons.

Conversion Formula

The conversion from tons to kilowatts is done using the following formula:

1 ton = 3.51685 kW

Source: Engineering Toolbox – Ton Refrigeration

To convert tons to kilowatts, multiply the value in tons by 3.51685. To convert kilowatts to tons, divide the kilowatt value by 3.51685.

Conversion Table

Tons (t) Kilowatts (kW)
0.5 1.76
1.0 3.52
1.5 5.28
2.0 7.03
2.5 8.79
3.0 10.55
3.5 12.31
4.0 14.07
4.5 15.83
5.0 17.58

Cooling conversion icon

Real World Examples

  • A residential central air conditioner rated at 2 tons delivers approximately 7.03 kW of cooling power.
  • A window air conditioner with a capacity of 1 ton provides about 3.52 kW of cooling output.
  • A commercial rooftop unit rated at 3 tons offers roughly 10.55 kW of cooling capacity.
  • An industrial chiller with a capacity of 5 tons operates at about 17.58 kW.
  • A portable AC unit rated at 1.5 tons delivers approximately 5.28 kW of cooling power.

What is your specific scenario for using this converter? If you have suggestions for additional features, please let us know in the comments.