Carrier Model Number Lookup
A Carrier model number tells you what the unit is and how big it is. Enter the model from the rating plate and we'll find the size code, so 24ACC636A003 reads as a 3-ton air conditioner. It works for Bryant and Payne too.
Model number size lookup
Where to find the Carrier model number
The model number is on the same rating plate as the serial number. On outdoor units the plate is usually on the side panel over the electrical connections; on furnaces it’s inside the blower door. The line is labeled Model, Model No. or M/N and comes before the serial.
A Carrier model number is longer than the serial and mixes letters and digits, for example 24ACC636A003 or 59SC5A080S17. The serial number is ten characters, starting with four digits, and gives the age. The model gives the product family and size.
How Carrier model numbers show the size
Air conditioners and heat pumps
Current Carrier outdoor units follow this pattern:
| Part | Example (24ACC636A003) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | 24 | Product type: 24 = air conditioner, 25 = heat pump |
| 3–5 | ACC | Product series and line |
| 6 | 6 | Series / generation digit |
| 7–8 | 36 | Nominal capacity in thousands of BTU/h |
| rest | A003 | Voltage, revision and factory options |
So 24ACC636A003 is a 36,000 BTU/h (3-ton) air conditioner, and 25HCB348A003 is a 4-ton heat pump.
| Model number | Size | Layout |
|---|---|---|
| 24ACC6 36 A003 | 3 tons (36,000 BTU/h) | Series (2 digits + 3 letters) + efficiency digit + capacity (2 digits) |
| 25HCB3 48 A003 | 4 tons (48,000 BTU/h) | Series (2 digits + 3 letters) + efficiency digit + capacity (2 digits) |
| 24ABB3 60 A003 | 5 tons (60,000 BTU/h) | Series (2 digits + 3 letters) + efficiency digit + capacity (2 digits) |
| 38TXA0 36 300 | 3 tons (36,000 BTU/h) | Series (2 digits + 3 letters) + efficiency digit + capacity (2 digits) |
| 113ANA 036 000 | 3 tons (36,000 BTU/h) | Series (3 digits + 3 letters) + capacity (3 digits) |
| PA13NA 024 000 | 2 tons (24,000 BTU/h) | PA/PH + SEER (2 digits) + 2 letters + capacity (3 digits) |
Bryant uses three-digit series numbers (113 and 180 for air conditioners, for example) followed by three letters and a three-digit size: 113ANA036 is 3 tons. Payne models start with PA (air conditioner) or PH (heat pump), then the SEER rating, two letters and the size: PA13NA024 is a 2-ton, 13 SEER AC.
Furnaces
Carrier furnace model numbers start with 58 (non-condensing, around 80% efficiency) or 59 (condensing, 90%+). The three-digit group after the series letters is the input in thousands of BTU/h:
| Model number | Size | Layout |
|---|---|---|
| 59SC5A 080 S17 | 80,000 BTU/h input (furnace) | Series + input in thousands of BTU (3 digits) |
| 59TP6B 060 V17 | 60,000 BTU/h input (furnace) | Series + input in thousands of BTU (3 digits) |
| 58STA 090 | 90,000 BTU/h input (furnace) | Series + input in thousands of BTU (3 digits) |
| 315AAV036 090 | 90,000 BTU/h input (furnace) | Series + airflow (3 digits) + input (3 digits) |
| PG95ESA36 060 | 60,000 BTU/h input (furnace) | Series + airflow (3 digits) + input (3 digits) |
Bryant and Payne furnaces often list two numbers: the airflow size (the largest air conditioner the blower is matched for, such as 036 = 3 tons) and then the input (090 = 90,000 BTU/h). The tool reads the input.
Input vs output: what furnace BTU really means
The furnace number is how much gas it burns per hour, not how much heat reaches the house. Multiply by the efficiency (AFUE) to get the output:
| Input (model) | 80% furnace output | 96% furnace output |
|---|---|---|
| 60,000 BTU/h | about 48,000 | about 57,600 |
| 80,000 BTU/h | about 64,000 | about 76,800 |
| 100,000 BTU/h | about 80,000 | about 96,000 |
The exact output is printed on the rating plate and in the product data.
Why the size matters
- Replacing equipment: a contractor will usually start from the existing size, but houses change (new windows, insulation, additions). A proper load calculation (Manual J) can show the old unit was oversized, which is common.
- Matching indoor and outdoor units: the outdoor unit, indoor coil and furnace blower must be sized to work together. A 3-ton outdoor unit generally needs a coil and a blower rated for 3 tons of airflow.
- Buying filters, parts and refrigerant: the size helps a parts counter find the right components.
Indoor coils and fan coils use their own size codes (for example a fan coil ending in 003), so read the outdoor unit when you want the system’s cooling capacity.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell the tonnage of a Carrier AC from the model number?
On current Carrier outdoor units, the two digits after the series digit are the size in thousands of BTU. In 24ACC636A003 those digits are 36, which is 36,000 BTU per hour, or 3 tons. Divide by 12 to get tons.
What do 24 and 25 mean at the start of a Carrier model number?
They identify the product type. 24 is a central air conditioner and 25 is a heat pump. Older Carrier condensing units often start with 38.
How do I find the BTU of a Carrier furnace?
Look for the three-digit group in the middle of the model, such as 080 in 59SC5A080S17. That is the input in thousands of BTU per hour, so 80,000 BTU/h. Heat output is input multiplied by the furnace efficiency.
Does the model number tell me how old my Carrier unit is?
No. The age is in the serial number, where the first four digits are the week and year. Use our Carrier serial number lookup for that.
Are Bryant and Payne model numbers the same as Carrier's?
The size codes work the same way, but the series prefixes differ. Bryant uses three-digit series such as 113 or 180 for AC; Payne uses PA for air conditioners and PH for heat pumps.