Mini split units come in all shapes and sizes, including small units that only need to cool a small room or space.
A room from 150 to 500 square feet doesn’t need a big unit with many small units available.
For example, an addition that is less than 500 Sq ft can have a small mini split installed that can both heat and cool the space.
Using a mini split is ideal since they are quiet and very efficient units that bring down operating costs.
How to Size a Mini Split for a Small Room
A mini split unit is sized to the square feet of space that needs to be cooled or heated.
To get the square feet of a room, measure the width by the length and multiply them together.
For example, a room twelve feet wide by ten feet long is 12 X 10 = 120 square feet.
An HVAC unit’s cooling capacity is rated by BTU (British Thermal Units).
BTU Sizing Chart for a Small Mini Split
When sizing a unit, also take into account extreme weather and how well installed the room is.
A space that is not well insulted sometimes needs a bigger unit to maintain the temperature.
Below are our picks for the best small mini split air conditioners heat pump units.
As always, be sure to read the reviews on Amazon, forums, here, or elsewhere to be sure a unit is a good fit for you.
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Our Picks for Best Small Mini Split
- Mitsubishi 6k BTU H2i Plus
- Pioneer DIY Mini Split Kit 9K BTU
- Mr Cool Advantage 9K Mini Split
Mitsubishi makes many good mini split and is one of the top HVAC manufacturers of units.
The M-Series H2i plus is a 6,000 BTU unit that can heat and cool a space of 150 to 250 Sq Ft.
This makes it ideal for a very small room that needs heating and cooling.
It also has a rating of 33 Seer, which is one of the most efficient units currently available.
The only downside to Mitsubishi units is they are not as DIY friendly as many other manufacturers.
They dont come in a kit and often need other components such as the line set and communication wires ordered separately.
If you have installed a mini split before and are experienced, it may be a good option for you; otherwise, another option may be better for DIY type of person.
Pioneer is a well-known mini split manufacturer that sells installation kits for DIY-type individuals.
They have kits that range from 9000-36000 BTU with a 9K unit able to heat and cool space from 350 to 400 Sq Ft.
The units also have a good 19-23 Seer rating which is good.
While the 19-23 Seer is average for a mini split is still very much better than a traditional HVAC system or a window AC unit.
While a company can be hired to install the unit, there are many YouTube videos and online tutorials for the handy type of individual to install the unit.
Of course, an HVAC installation company can also be used to install the unit.
Mr. Cool has quickly become another popular mini split manufacturer for DIY individuals.
A 9000 BTU unit will be able to heat and cool space from 350 to 400 Sq Ft.
One thing that makes Mr. Cool different is the line set comes in a vacuum that is only broken when bolted onto the outside condenser.
These types of units are called quick connect and make it easier when installing.
This makes it ideal for those who don’t want to vacuum down the system like most other mini split kits.
While pumping down a system into a vacuum is not difficult Mr. Cool units do make the installation easier since this strep can be skipped.
Summary
If you are looking to heat and cool a small room or space mini split units are a good option.
They are very quiet and efficient, which brings down the cost of operating a unit.
There are also DIY kits that can be bought for a handy type of person that wants to save on installation costs.
Sizing an HVAC system can be difficult at times, but the units are rated by BTU to cool a measured space which can be matched to a chart.
While there is a rated cooling capacity, be sure to take in extreme e weather and how well insulated a room is when sizing a unit.
Have you installed a small mini split in a small room or space? Let us know your thoughts below.