SEER Savings Calculator
See how much a higher SEER air conditioner could trim from your summer power bill. Enter the cooling capacity in BTU per hour, how many hours it runs each year, and your electricity price, then set the old and new SEER ratings. The calculator estimates the yearly cost at each efficiency level and the difference between them.
How to estimate SEER savings
- Enter the cooling capacity in BTU per hour, for example 36000 for a 3 ton unit.
- Set how many hours the system cools each year in the Hours / year box.
- Type your electricity price in dollars per kWh, such as 0.15.
- Enter the Current SEER of your existing system.
- Enter the New SEER you are comparing against.
- Read the headline yearly savings, then the current and new annual cost tiles, and copy the summary.
Examples
3 ton unit, SEER 10 to SEER 16
36,000 BTU, 1,000 hrs/yr, $0.15 per kWh, SEER 10 vs 16
$540.00 now vs $337.50 new, saving $202.50 a year
4 ton unit, SEER 12 to SEER 18
48,000 BTU, 1,200 hrs/yr, $0.12 per kWh, SEER 12 vs 18
$576.00 now vs $384.00 new, saving $192.00 a year
2 ton unit in a hot climate, SEER 13 to SEER 20
24,000 BTU, 1,500 hrs/yr, $0.20 per kWh, SEER 13 vs 20
$553.85 now vs $360.00 new, saving $193.85 a year
Frequently asked questions
What does SEER mean?
SEER is the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio: the cooling output in BTU divided by the watt-hours of electricity used across a cooling season. A higher SEER delivers the same cooling for less power, which is what drives the savings shown here.
How is the annual cost calculated?
The tool takes the BTU capacity, divides by the SEER to get watt-hours per hour of run time, multiplies by the yearly run hours, and divides by 1,000 to reach kWh. Multiplying that by your price per kWh gives the annual cost, which it computes for both SEER ratings.
Where do I find my BTU capacity and SEER?
Both are printed on the yellow EnergyGuide label or the metal nameplate on the outdoor condenser. Capacity is often listed in tons, and one ton equals 12,000 BTU per hour, so a 3 ton unit is 36,000 BTU.
How many run hours should I enter?
Cooling hours swing widely by climate, from a few hundred in a mild region to well over 2,000 where summers are long and hot. Use a figure that fits your local season, or check a past summer's bills to estimate it.
Why might my real savings differ from the estimate?
SEER is a seasonal average measured under standard test conditions. Actual weather, thermostat habits, humidity, duct leakage, and how well the unit is sized all shift the true bill, so treat the number as a planning guide rather than a guarantee.
Should I use SEER or the newer SEER2 rating?
Newer units may be labelled SEER2, which uses a tougher test and reads a little lower than the old SEER for the same equipment. For a fair comparison, enter both systems using the same standard rather than mixing SEER and SEER2.
Does this include heating or just cooling?
It covers cooling only, since SEER is a cooling metric. If your unit is a heat pump, its winter efficiency is measured separately by HSPF, which this calculator does not model.
Does a higher SEER always pay off?
Not always. The yearly savings must offset the higher purchase price over the unit's life. More run hours and pricier electricity shorten the payback, while a mild climate or cheap power can stretch it beyond the equipment's lifespan.
Is anything sent to a server?
No. The calculation runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device and nothing is uploaded.
Learn more
- SEER payback period: is the higher rating worth it?
How to turn yearly SEER savings into a payback period, which factors speed it up, and when a mid-range unit beats the top tier.
Related tools
BTU Calculator
Calculate the air conditioner BTU size for a room. Enter the room size and adjust for sun, occupants and a kitchen to find the right cooling capacity.
Heat Load Calculator
Estimate the cooling heat load and air conditioner BTU for a room. Adjust for square footage, occupants, sun and a kitchen to find the right size.
Appliance Energy Calculator
Find what an appliance costs to run from its wattage. Enter watts, hours per day and your rate to see kWh and cost per day, month and year.
Aquarium Volume Calculator
Calculate your fish tank volume in gallons and liters from inside dimensions in inches. Set a fill level to estimate the actual water it holds.
Baseboard Calculator
Estimate linear feet and pieces of baseboard or trim for a room. Enter length and width, subtract doorways, set piece length and add waste.
Battery Bank Calculator
Size an off-grid battery bank from your daily load. Enter watt-hours per day, days of autonomy, voltage, depth of discharge and efficiency.