Supply Air Temperature Calculator

Sensible heat equation — solve for SAT, room temp, CFM, or load
Solve For
Supply Air Temp
°F
ΔT (Room − SAT)
°F
Sens. Factor (1.08 adj)
altitude-corrected
Formula
Q = 1.08 × CFM × ΔT  (sea level)

Where:
 · Q = sensible heat (BTU/hr)
 · 1.08 = 0.244 BTU/lb·°F × 0.075 lb/ft³ × 60 min/hr
 · CFM = supply airflow
 · ΔT = Room Temp − Supply Air Temp (°F)

At elevation, 1.08 is reduced proportionally to air density. At 5,000 ft ≈ 0.90.
Run this for your whole project — free →
Start a free 14-day trial. No credit card.
About This Calculator

This supply air temperature calculator works the sensible heat equation in any direction. Pick what you want to solve for — supply air temperature (SAT), room temperature, airflow, or sensible load — enter the other three quantities, and the tool returns the answer along with the room-to-supply temperature difference and the altitude-corrected sensible factor.

It is useful for checking a design supply air temperature, finding the airflow a coil must deliver to meet a sensible load, or back-calculating a room temperature from measured conditions. An elevation input corrects the sensible factor for air density so results stay valid above sea level.

Formula & Method
Sensible heatQ (BTU/hr) = 1.08 × CFM × ΔT
Supply air tempSAT = Room − Q ÷ (1.08 × CFM)
Required airflowCFM = Q ÷ (1.08 × ΔT)
Sensible factor1.08 = 0.244 · 0.075 · 60  (sea level)

The sensible heat equation is the standard airside relationship in ASHRAE Fundamentals. The constant 1.08 is the specific heat of air (≈0.244 BTU/lb·°F) × standard density (0.075 lb/ft³) × 60 min/hr, and ΔT is room dry-bulb minus supply dry-bulb. At elevation the factor is scaled by the barometric pressure ratio (1 − 6.8754×10⁻⁶·ft)⁵⋅²⁵⁵⁹, falling to about 0.90 near 5,000 ft.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is a typical supply air temperature for cooling?
Most commercial cooling systems supply air around 52 to 58 degrees F, with 55 degrees F a common design point. Supplying much colder than about 48 degrees F risks condensation on diffusers and drafts; supplying warmer than about 60 degrees F usually means more airflow is needed to meet the load. This tool flags supply temperatures outside the typical comfort band.
What does the constant 1.08 represent?
The 1.08 in Q = 1.08 times CFM times delta-T is the product of the specific heat of air (about 0.244 BTU per pound per degree F), standard air density (0.075 pounds per cubic foot), and 60 minutes per hour. It applies to sea-level standard air; at altitude the value drops in proportion to air density, which this calculator corrects for using site elevation.
How do I size CFM from a known load and delta-T?
Rearrange the sensible heat equation: CFM = Q divided by (1.08 times delta-T), where delta-T is room temperature minus supply air temperature. For example, a 43,200 BTU/hr sensible load with a 20 degree F delta-T needs about 2,000 CFM at sea level. Select the CFM solve mode and the tool does this for you, including altitude correction.
Why does altitude reduce cooling and heating capacity per CFM?
Air gets less dense as elevation rises, so each cubic foot per minute carries less mass and less heat. The sensible factor falls from 1.08 at sea level to roughly 0.90 at 5,000 feet. If you ignore this, a system sized at sea-level assumptions will move too little heat at altitude, so the elevation input scales the factor by the barometric pressure ratio.
Related Tools
CFM / Tons / BTU Sensible vs Latent Split Mixed Air Temp Heating BTU Calculator Quick Load Estimator VAV Box Sizing
Free 14-Day Trial  ·  No Credit Card

Do the full calculation in AIM Works

This calculator handles one step. AIM Works runs the complete MEP design workflow — thermal load calculations, duct & pipe networks, equipment selection, code compliance, and an AI design assistant — in one tool.

  • ✓  ASHRAE 62.1 ventilation + CLTD/CLF/RTS load methods
  • ✓  Darcy-Weisbach pipe & duct network solvers
  • ✓  ASHRAE 90.1 / IMC / NFPA advisory compliance checks
  • ✓  20 free AI design messages included in trial
Try It Free for 14 Days →
No credit card  ·  Cancel anytime
See plans & pricing →

Results are design estimates for preliminary sizing. Verify final designs against applicable codes and standards — engineering judgment and a licensed professional engineer’s review are required.