Manual J vs Manual S vs Manual D.
Manual J calculates the loads, Manual S selects the equipment, Manual D sizes the ducts. How the three ACCA manuals work together and when you need each.
- J + S + D for $100
- Permit-ready PDF
- 2–3 business days
- No subscription
Free quote confirmation, no account needed. You pay per house, no subscription.
Manual J: how much
Manual J calculates the heating and cooling loads of the house, room by room. It answers: how many Btu per hour does each room need on a design day?
Manual S: which equipment
Manual S takes the Manual J loads and checks real equipment against them, using the manufacturer’s performance data at the local design conditions. It answers: does this heat pump, AC or furnace cover the load without being oversized?
Manual D: how the air gets there
Manual D designs the duct system for the equipment chosen in Manual S: the airflow per room, the supply and return sizes, the friction rate and the available static pressure of the blower. It answers: will each room actually receive its air?
Why the order matters
Each manual uses the result of the one before. If the Manual J changes, Manual S and Manual D change too. That is why ordering them together, matched to the same plans, saves corrections in plan review.
What codes ask for
The IRC references Manual J and Manual S for equipment sizing (M1401.3) and Manual D for duct systems (M1601.1). Which reports your building department wants with the permit varies; new construction often needs all three.
Last reviewed November 2026. Code sections refer to the International Residential Code and International Energy Conservation Code; local amendments may apply.
J, S & D for $100. All three.
One price for every builder and every contractor, from the first house. No subscription, no software license, no minimum order.
Manual J + S + D
All three reports for one house, matched to each other, in one PDF package.
Order for $100Manual J
Room-by-room heating and cooling loads (sensible and latent) to ACCA Manual J 8th Edition.
Manual S
Checks the furnace, heat pump or AC you plan against the Manual J loads and manufacturer data.
Manual D
Duct sizing per room: airflow (CFM), supply and return sizes, friction rate and static pressure.
$100 per dwelling unit for all three reports, also if you need only one of them. Confirmed before we start. Unusual projects (very large custom homes, more than two systems) are quoted first.
A report your plan reviewer recognizes.
Every report is built from your actual plans, and delivered as one PDF you can upload with the permit application.
Example screen with sample numbers (heating / cooling Btu/h per room). Your report uses your plans.
Manual J vs Manual S vs Manual D: answered.
Do I always need all three?
No. A replacement of like-for-like equipment often needs only Manual J and S. New construction usually needs J, S and D. Ask your building department or send us the permit checklist.
What does J, S and D cost here?
$100 for all three together, per house.
How much does a Manual J cost?
$100 per house for Manual J, Manual S and Manual D together. No subscription and no minimum order.
How fast do I get the report?
Usually 2–3 business days after we receive complete plans and specs.
Will the building department accept it?
Reports follow ACCA Manual J 8th Edition, Manual S and Manual D and use the plans you send. Acceptance is up to your building department; if plan review asks for corrections to our report, we revise it at no charge.
Manual J in your city.
- New York, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Houston, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- Philadelphia, PA
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Dallas, TX
- Jacksonville, FL
- Fort Worth, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Austin, TX
- Charlotte, NC
- Columbus, OH
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Denver, CO
- Oklahoma, OK
- El Paso, TX
- Las Vegas, NV
- Boston, MA
- Detroit, MI
- Portland, OR
What Is a Manual J? · Manual J Permit Requirements · How Much Does a Manual J Cost?