SEER Savings Calculator
Estimate annual cooling energy and cost savings when upgrading from one SEER/SEER2 rating to a higher one.
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Currency: Amounts are calculated in the currency you select; this site does not convert between currencies and does not use live exchange rates.
What this tool does
Estimate annual cooling energy and cost savings when upgrading from one SEER/SEER2 rating to a higher one. Enter both ratings on the same scale (both SEER or both SEER2). Actual savings depend on sizing, ductwork and installation quality, not just the rating.
How to use the SEER Savings Calculator
- Enter or select cooling capacity (btu/h).
- Enter or select cooling run hours per year.
- Enter or select existing seer (or seer2).
- Enter or select new seer (or seer2).
- Enter or select electricity price per kwh.
- Read the calculated result; change any measurement to compare alternatives.
Formula
kWh = capacity × hours ÷ SEER ÷ 1000; saving = (old kWh − new kWh) × price per kWh
- capacity
- Cooling capacity (BTU/h)
- hours
- Cooling run hours per year
- oldSeer
- Existing SEER (or SEER2)
- newSeer
- New SEER (or SEER2)
- rate
- Electricity price per kWh
Enter both ratings on the same scale (both SEER or both SEER2). Actual savings depend on sizing, ductwork and installation quality, not just the rating.
Worked example
For seer savings calculator, the following measurements illustrate the exact method: Cooling capacity (BTU/h): 36000; Cooling run hours per year: 1200; Existing SEER (or SEER2): 10; New SEER (or SEER2): 18; Electricity price per kWh: 0.16.
Inputs
- Cooling capacity (BTU/h)36000
- Cooling run hours per year1200
- Existing SEER (or SEER2)10
- New SEER (or SEER2)18
- Electricity price per kWh0.16
Result
- Annual energy savings$307.20
- Existing unit energy (kWh/year)4,320
- New unit energy (kWh/year)2,400
- Energy saved (kWh/year)1,920
Results explained
- Annual energy savings
- Annual energy savings from the formula above. Enter both ratings on the same scale (both SEER or both SEER2). Actual savings depend on sizing, ductwork and installation quality, not just the rating.
- Existing unit energy (kWh/year)
- Existing unit energy (kWh/year) from the formula above. Enter both ratings on the same scale (both SEER or both SEER2). Actual savings depend on sizing, ductwork and installation quality, not just the rating.
- New unit energy (kWh/year)
- New unit energy (kWh/year) from the formula above. Enter both ratings on the same scale (both SEER or both SEER2). Actual savings depend on sizing, ductwork and installation quality, not just the rating.
- Energy saved (kWh/year)
- Energy saved (kWh/year) from the formula above. Enter both ratings on the same scale (both SEER or both SEER2). Actual savings depend on sizing, ductwork and installation quality, not just the rating.
Frequently asked questions
Seasonal energy = capacity (BTU/h) × run hours ÷ SEER, in watt-hours. A 36,000 BTU/h unit running 1,200 h uses 4,320 kWh at SEER 10 but only 2,400 kWh at SEER 18.
SEER2 is the newer US test procedure (from 2023) with higher external static pressure; SEER2 numbers run about 4–5% lower than SEER for the same equipment. Compare like with like — enter both ratings on the same scale.
Your cooling-season equivalent full-load hours: roughly 500–800 in the northern US, 1,200–2,000+ in the hot South. Your old unit's electricity bills give the best local estimate.
Not necessarily — divide the price premium by the annual saving here to get a simple payback, and weigh it against the equipment's expected life and your local climate.
No, SEER/SEER2 measures cooling only. Heat pump heating efficiency is rated with HSPF/HSPF2, and running cost with the Heat Pump Cost Calculator.