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Calculation Machine

Server Room Cooling Calculator

Cooling tonnage and airflow for IT load.

Reviewed by James Whitfield · How we check our maths

Your values

ⓘ Live results

Results
Cooling required
20,131 BTU/h
In tons
1.68
Total heat load
5,900 W
Airflow at 20 °F ΔT
932 CFM
Recommended unit
1.75 ton with N+1 redundancy

Quick answer

Server room cooling is dominated by IT load, where every watt drawn becomes a watt of heat.

The formula

BTU/h = (IT watts + other watts) x 3.412

Worked example

Worked example

Using the values the calculator loads with.

Inputs

  • IT equipment load5000 W
  • UPS and PDU losses10 %
  • People in room1
  • Lighting and other300 W

Result

  • Cooling required20,131 BTU/h
  • In tons1.68
  • Total heat load5,900 W
  • Airflow at 20 °F ΔT932 CFM
  • Recommended unit1.75 ton with N+1 redundancy

How to use the Server Room Cooling Calculator

  1. 1Enter the measured or nameplate IT load in watts.
  2. 2Add UPS losses, occupants and lighting.
  3. 3Choose a unit with capacity headroom and plan redundancy.

Frequently asked questions

Should I use nameplate wattage?

Nameplate is conservative; measured load at the PDU is usually 40–60% of it.

Do I need humidity control?

Yes for larger rooms — very dry air raises static discharge risk and very humid air risks condensation.

About this calculator