HVAC tools & calculators.
Run the numbers before any contractor walks in the door. Every tool here is free, no sign-up, no email gate. Built for homeowners who want to verify quotes — not generate leads against you.
Four calculators, zero sign-up.
Install Cost Calculator
30-second estimate by system type, home size, efficiency tier, climate zone.
Open tool ↓BTU & Tonnage Sizing
Square-footage to BTU/ton lookup. Confirms your contractor's Manual-J calc.
Open tool ↓Rebate Finder
Enter your ZIP — we list every federal, state, and utility incentive you qualify for.
Open tool ↓Payback & Savings
Project monthly energy savings + payback period for high-efficiency upgrades.
Open tool ↓HVAC cost calculator — estimate in 30 seconds.
Tell us a bit about your home and we'll estimate your install range based on 12 months of network quote data. Not a binding quote — matched contractors confirm after an in-home assessment.
Estimate range based on 12-month aggregate network quote data. Matched contractor confirms after in-home Manual-J load calc.
BTU & tonnage by square footage.
Every reputable contractor performs a Manual-J load calculation before quoting. Use this table to sanity-check their answer — if a contractor's recommendation falls way outside this range without explaining why, ask for the calc.
| Home size (sq ft) | Cooling capacity (BTU/hr) | System size (tons) |
|---|---|---|
| 500 - 700 | 10,000 - 14,000 | 0.83 - 1.17 |
| 700 - 1,000 | 14,000 - 18,000 | 1.17 - 1.50 |
| 1,000 - 1,200 | 18,000 - 21,000 | 1.50 - 1.75 |
| 1,200 - 1,400 | 21,000 - 24,000 | 1.75 - 2.00 |
| 1,400 - 1,500 | 24,000 - 30,000 | 2.00 - 2.50 |
| 1,500 - 2,000 | 30,000 - 34,000 | 2.50 - 2.83 |
| 2,000 - 2,500 | 34,000 - 42,000 | 2.83 - 3.50 |
| 2,500 - 3,000 | 42,000 - 48,000 | 3.50 - 4.00 |
| 3,000 - 3,500 | 48,000 - 54,000 | 4.00 - 4.50 |
| 3,500 - 4,000 | 54,000 - 60,000 | 4.50 - 5.00 |
Reference values for moderate climates. Hot-humid (South), hot-dry (SW), and high-elevation locations require adjustment. Insulation, window glazing, ceiling height, and shade exposure all change the answer — Manual-J accounts for them, square footage alone does not.
Rebate finder — enter your ZIP.
We'll pull every federal, state, and utility incentive you qualify for — tax credits, point-of-sale rebates, and contractor financing pass-throughs. Most homeowners leave $1,500+ on the table.
Payback & savings — is the upgrade worth it?
High-efficiency systems cost more upfront but save monthly. Estimate your payback window based on current bill + efficiency jump.
Estimate uses average national electric/gas rates and assumes constant usage. Real savings vary by climate, fuel mix, and behavior.
The tools contractors don't want you to use.
If a contractor's quote is wildly outside what these tools predict — way bigger system, way higher price, way longer payback — you have a starting point for the conversation. That is the entire point of these calculators. Not a substitute for a Manual-J load calc, not a replacement for an in-home assessment. A check on the work.
Numbers look reasonable? Get matched to a vetted pro.
Free match · 90 seconds · Licensed contractors only