This is a clean, ready-to-paste HTML article that answers the heat pump tonnage question with a direct comparison table and concise sizing guidance.
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One ton of heat pump capacity equals 12,000 BTU per hour, so sizing starts with a room-by-room load calculation rather than a square-footage guess.
For the full breakdown, see our best 1 Ton Heat Pump guide.
Two identical-looking houses on the same street can need different heat pumps, and the label on the outdoor unit will never explain why. A ton measures cooling output, not weight. One ton equals 12,000 BTU per hour, which makes a 1 ton heat pump a nominal 12,000 BTU/h machine. Square footage is only the starting point for determining heat pump tonnage, never the answer — homes the same size can differ by a full ton depending on insulation, glass, and local design temperatures.
What Does Heat Pump Tonnage Actually Measure?
Tonnage measures cooling capacity, nothing else. One ton equals 12,000 BTU per hour, and