Defaults reflect this space type. Same engine as the main calculator.
| Cooling load | — |
A two-car garage (~440 sq ft) carries loads a same-size bedroom never sees: the envelope is usually uninsulated, there are no conditioned rooms buffering it, and the big metal door works as a solar collector all afternoon. That's why the calculation below defaults to poor insulation and sunny exposure — change them only if your garage is genuinely finished.
A ductless mini-split is the standard answer: building codes prohibit extending the home's ductwork into a garage (carbon monoxide and fume migration), and window units rarely fit sectional-door walls. Insulate the door (foam panel kits) before buying — it can knock a half ton off the requirement. Size with the mini-split calculator.
A typical garage (~440 sq ft) needs about 13,469 BTU/hr — a 1.5 ton unit in moderate US conditions; hot climates run 15–25% higher.
Plan on roughly 13,469 BTU/hr for a typical ~440 sq ft garage in a moderate climate, with the space-specific factors described on this page already included. Hot climates (Zone 1–2) add 15–25%.
No — code prohibits connecting garage spaces to the home's duct system because fumes and carbon monoxide can migrate into living areas. Use an independent mini-split or a packaged unit.
Garage Gym Bedroom Living Room Kitchen Sunroom Attic Room / Loft Conversion Basement Home Office Server Room / IT Closet Retail Shop Restaurant Dining Area Salon / Parlour Gym / Fitness Studio Classroom / Coaching Centre Mobile / Manufactured Home Conservatory Study / Small Room
Go deeper: Mini-split calculator · all guides.