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CFM per Ton Airflow Calculator

Find required airflow (CFM) from cooling tonnage using the standard 400 CFM/ton rule, with dry and humid climate adjustments, plus a reverse mode.

About this tool

The CFM per Ton Airflow Calculator is a free, in-browser HVAC tool that converts a cooling capacity into the required system airflow, or works backward from a known airflow to an equivalent tonnage. It uses the industry rule of thumb that a cooling system moves about 400 cubic feet per minute of air per ton of refrigeration: required CFM = tons × CFM-per-ton factor.

Everything runs locally in your browser with nothing uploaded. The per-ton factor is adjustable for the load type: the standard 400 CFM/ton suits most comfort cooling, while humid climates with a high latent (moisture) load use a lower 350 CFM/ton to keep coils cold enough to dehumidify, and dry climates with a high sensible load use 450 CFM/ton. You can enter the capacity as tons or as BTU/hr (tons = BTU/hr ÷ 12,000), and a reverse mode divides a measured CFM by the factor to estimate the tonnage it can serve.

Results show the required airflow, the tons and factor used, and the acceptable 350–450 CFM/ton band so you can check a measured airflow against the target range. Real systems should still be verified by measuring external static pressure and actual delivered airflow, but this rule-of-thumb check is the standard first pass installers use to confirm a blower is moving enough air.

Frequently asked questions

How much CFM per ton does an AC need?
The standard rule is about 400 CFM per ton of cooling. Humid climates use around 350 CFM/ton to boost dehumidification, and dry climates up to 450 CFM/ton. The acceptable range is 350–450 CFM/ton.
How much airflow does a 3-ton unit need?
At 400 CFM/ton a 3-ton system needs about 1,200 CFM. The acceptable band is 3 × 350 to 3 × 450, or 1,050–1,350 CFM, depending on climate and coil type.
Why use 350 CFM/ton in humid climates?
Slower airflow keeps the evaporator coil colder, so more moisture condenses out of the air. That improves dehumidification (latent cooling) in humid regions, at the cost of slightly less sensible cooling capacity.
Can I find tonnage from a measured CFM?
Yes — switch to reverse mode. Tonnage = measured CFM ÷ the per-ton factor. For example 1,200 CFM ÷ 400 = 3 tons. This estimates the cooling capacity a given blower airflow can support.

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