Mini Split for Small Room

How Cold Will a Mini Split Get a Room?

Most standard mini split units should have no problem cooling a room down to around 65 F. Higher capacity models, especially those with inverter technology, can often do even better - lowering the temperature to 60 F or below if needed. The actual temperature you'll achieve depends on factors like the size of your room, insulation, number of occupants, and outdoor temperatures. But in general, you can expect a modern mini split AC to provide very effective spot cooling for spaces up to 600 square feet or so.

Sizing a Mini Split to Make a Cold Room

Curious about the ideal mini split size for your space? Use our mini sizing calculator to determine the perfect fit. So when the summer sun turns your home into an oven, a mini split AC is up to the task. Stay cool and enjoy the refreshing blast of cold air! With the right unit, you'll be wondering why you didn't get a mini-split sooner.

Factors That Affect How Cold a Mini Split Can Cool a Room

The temperature a mini split can cool a room depends on several factors.

Size and Insulation of the Room

• The larger the room and the less insulation it has, the harder a mini-split has to work to cool it. Mini splits are best suited for small to medium-sized rooms up to 600 square feet. For larger spaces, you may need multiple units or a more powerful model. Proper insulation, weatherstripping, and sealing up any drafts will help your mini split cool the room more efficiently.

BTU Rating

• The higher the BTU rating, the more powerful the mini split and the colder it can make a room. For the best results, choose a mini split with a BTU rating that matches the size of your room. Too low of a BTU won't adequately cool the space while too high of a rating will reduce efficiency and energy usage.

Temperature Setting

• The lower you set the temperature on your mini split, the colder it will make the room. Most mini-splits can cool a room down to at least 65 F. Some models allow you to set the temperature as low as 32 F for maximum cooling.

Fan Speed

• Running your mini split's fan on the highest setting will enable it to circulate the cooled air more quickly and efficiently throughout the room. This can make the room feel up to 4 degrees colder than a lower fan speed.

Additional Features

• Mini splits with additional features like sleep mode, 24-hour timers, and multiple fan speeds give you more control over the temperature which can help maximize cooling power. Some higher-end models also have turbo cool and quick cool features to drop the temperature in your room quickly.

Typical Temperature Ranges for Mini Split Units

A mini split air conditioner can lower the temperature in a room quite significantly. How cold it can get depends on several factors, including the unit's specifications and the size of the space.

Typical Range

• Most mini-split units can lower a room's temperature somewhere between 16 to 22 degrees Fahrenheit lower than the outdoor temperature. So if it's 95 F outside, you can expect the room temperature to drop down to around 73-79 F or so, depending on the unit's BTU rating. The higher the BTU, the more cooling power it will have.

• For larger spaces, you'll want a unit with a higher BTU, like 18,000 to 36,000 BTU, to effectively cool the room. For a small to mid-size area of 200-600 square feet, a unit of 9,000 to 18,000 BTU should work well. The mini split sizing guides most brands provide can help determine the right BTU for your specific space.

Additional Factors

Other factors that affect how cold a mini split can make a room include:

1. Installation - A properly installed unit will cool more efficiently. Things like sealing and insulating the area around pipes and ensuring the outdoor unit has plenty of airflow can help.

2. Room conditions - The temperature and airflow in the room have an impact. Closing vents, windows, and doors in the room will allow the cold air to circulate better. Lots of windows or heat sources in the room may reduce cooling.

3. Outdoor temperature - Mini splits work by transferring heat from inside to outside, so the hotter it is outside, the harder the unit has to work to cool the room. This can reduce its overall cooling capability.

4. Energy efficiency - More energy-efficient units, like those with a higher SEER rating, can typically produce colder temperatures using less energy. So choose an Energy Star certified unit for maximum efficiency.

With the right-sized mini split for your space and optimal operating conditions, you can enjoy refreshingly cool comfort all summer long. 

Tips for Getting Your Room as Cold as Possible

To get your room as cold as possible with a mini-split, there are a few tips you can try:

Set the mini-split to the coldest temperature

• The simplest way to make your room colder is to turn the temperature setting on your mini-split down to the lowest possible level, typically somewhere between 62 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The lower the number, the colder the room will become.

Increase the fan speed

• Increasing the fan speed on your mini-split will make the room feel colder. The higher the fan speed, the more cold air will circulate throughout the room. Most mini splits offer multiple fan speed options from low to high. Select the highest setting for the coldest temperature.

Keep doors and windows closed

• For the mini split to efficiently cool your room, keep all doors, windows and any other openings closed. Open doors and windows will allow the cold air to escape and warmer air to enter, making it difficult for the mini-split to reach the set temperature. Seal up any cracks or gaps leading to adjacent rooms as well.

Consider a higher BTU mini-split

• If your current mini split doesn’t seem to be getting the room as cold as you’d like, even on the highest settings, it may not have enough power for the size of your room. The power of a mini split is measured in British Thermal Units or BTUs. A mini split with a higher BTU rating, e.g. 18,000 BTU vs 12,000 BTU, will have an easier time cooling larger rooms and achieving lower temperatures. You may need to upgrade to a more powerful unit.

Add a curtain or partition

• Separating your room into smaller areas can make it easier for the mini-split to reach lower temperatures. Add a heavy curtain, folding screen, or other partition to block off any unused or less-used parts of the room. The mini split can then focus on cooling only the space you occupy the most. Open the partition back up when the entire room needs to be cooled.

Consider zone control

• For larger rooms, multiple mini splits or a multi-zone system may be needed to provide separate temperature control for different areas. With zone control, you can set the mini split(s) in the part of the room you use the most to a lower temperature. The other units can maintain a higher setting for the rest of the space. This targeted cooling will allow at least one area of the room to become very cold.