Short answer: for a shop or a café with a suspended ceiling, choose a cassette air conditioner: only the panel is visible in the room and the air leaves in several directions. If there is no suspended ceiling, or the premises are rented and you do not want building work, a column air conditioner stands on the floor and is easier to install. As of 18.10.2026 a cassette air conditioner in stock in our catalogue starts from 940 €, a column one from 1 330 €.
A commercial space is harder to cool than a home of the same size. The door opens all the time, there are many people inside, shop windows let the sun in, and lighting and refrigerated cabinets add heat too. The air conditioner runs all day, often at weekends as well. That is why the choice starts with the ceiling and the floor area, and the brand comes later.
Column or cassette: what decides
Both types are split systems with an outdoor unit. The difference is where the indoor unit sits and how it distributes the air.
A column air conditioner is a tall unit standing on the floor, usually in a corner. The airflow is directed upwards and forwards, along the length of the room. It needs no work on the ceiling, so it suits rented premises or a concrete ceiling. The downside is that it takes floor space and stays in sight.
A cassette air conditioner is built into a suspended ceiling. Only a square panel remains below, the air leaves in several directions and spreads more evenly over tables or shelves. Walls and floor stay free for goods, displays and furniture. Without a suspended ceiling, however, it will not work: the unit hangs above it.
| Premises | Suitable type | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Shop with a suspended ceiling | cassette | walls and floor stay free for goods |
| Shop without a suspended ceiling, or rented | column | no work on the ceiling |
| Café or restaurant with tables across the room | cassette | the air spreads over the tables |
| Long hall, the unit can only go at one end | column | the airflow is directed along the hall |
| Small premises up to 35 m² | wall-mounted inverter | cheaper and easier to install |
| Renovation from scratch, no visible units wanted | ducted | only grilles remain in the room |
Models and prices by type: cassette air conditioners, column air conditioners, ducted air conditioners and wall-mounted inverter air conditioners.
What capacity a shop or a restaurant needs
The starting point is the table in the article how many BTU do I need: 24,000 BTU for 50 – 70 m² and 36,000 BTU for 70 – 100 m². For a shop or showroom of 50 to 100 m² it recommends 24,000 – 48,000 BTU, for a restaurant or café of 40 to 80 m² – 24,000 – 36,000 BTU.
In commercial premises the floor area is rarely the only factor. The capacity goes up when:
- there are many people inside: each person gives off about 100 W of heat;
- the shop windows face south or west;
- the ceiling is 3 m or higher;
- the room has refrigerated cabinets, an oven or strong lighting.
For premises over 100 m² the capacity is calculated on site. Sometimes two 24,000 BTU units at the two ends cool more evenly than one large unit.
One limitation of the column models: the smallest in stock is 24,000 BTU. For a 30 m² shop a column air conditioner would be too powerful, while cassette units start from 9,000 BTU. For such premises a 12,000 BTU wall-mounted unit is also enough. If the room is 50 – 70 m² and there is space for a wall unit, also see 24,000 BTU air conditioners.
Prices in stock by capacity
The prices are the lowest in stock in our catalogue as of 18.10.2026, without installation. Only models with a price that are in the warehouse are counted, not those “on request”.
| Capacity | Column | Cassette |
|---|---|---|
| 9,000 – 12,000 BTU | none in stock | from 940 € |
| 18,000 BTU | none in stock | from 1 050 € |
| 24,000 BTU | from 1 330 € | from 1 523 € |
| 34,000 – 36,000 BTU | none in stock | from 2 172 € |
| 45,000 – 48,000 BTU | from 2 000 € | from 2 556 € |
| 55,000 – 60,000 BTU | from 2 480 € | from 2 710 € |
At 24,000 BTU the column unit is cheaper. At 48,000 BTU it is the other way round: a cassette in stock starts from 2 556 €, a column from 2 802 €. The 2 000 € column in the table is a 45,000 BTU model.
Single-phase or three-phase supply
From 36,000 BTU upwards some models are three-phase. Two column and three cassette three-phase models are in stock at the moment. A three-phase air conditioner needs a three-phase supply in the premises. If you only have single-phase, choose a single-phase model: at 48,000 BTU both types have them.
Shop: where to place the unit
The entrance door is the biggest weak spot. When it stays open, warm air comes in all the time and no capacity will hold the temperature. Direct the air towards the sales floor and the till, not towards the door.
A column air conditioner needs free space in front of it. If a rack or goods are placed in front of it, the airflow stops there. A cassette is above people’s heads, so the layout of the room does not get in its way.
Café and restaurant
The air conditioner in the dining room is not meant for the kitchen. The kitchen has its own extraction, and greasy air from it soils the filters and the heat exchanger of the indoor unit. If the dining room and the kitchen are connected, the filters are cleaned more often than at home. What the service includes is on the page air conditioner maintenance in Varna.
With tables across the whole room, a cassette air conditioner is more convenient: the air spreads in several directions from above. A column unit in a corner blows along one axis, and the tables right in front of it may stay cooler than the rest.
Both types heat in winter. All column and cassette models in stock have a heating mode with the heating capacity stated on the product page.
Installing a column and a cassette air conditioner
The column is placed on the floor and fixed to the wall. The pipes and the drain run through the wall to the outdoor unit. With a cassette air conditioner the unit hangs above the suspended ceiling, the panel is fitted from below, and the pipes and drain run above the ceiling. That is why there must be free space above the ceiling for the unit.
The installation price for a column or a cassette air conditioner is set after a site visit: it depends on the length of the pipe run, the place of the outdoor unit and the ceiling. How the installation goes and what it includes is on the page air conditioner installation in Varna. For an office with separate rooms, the comparison with a wall split and a multi-split is in the article air conditioner for an office.
Frequently asked questions
Which air conditioner should we choose for a shop?
With a suspended ceiling – a cassette, because walls and floor stay free for goods. Without a suspended ceiling or in rented premises – a column. For a small shop up to 35 m² a wall-mounted inverter air conditioner is enough.
Column or cassette air conditioner for a café or restaurant?
With tables across the whole room, a cassette distributes the air more evenly because it blows in several directions from above. A column suits better when there is no suspended ceiling and the unit can only stand at one end of the room.
What capacity does a 60 m² shop need?
According to the table in “How many BTU do I need”, 50 – 70 m² calls for 24,000 BTU. With south-facing windows, a high ceiling or many people the capacity goes up, so for commercial premises it is safer to calculate it on site.
Is there a small column air conditioner?
In stock, column models start from 24,000 BTU, priced from 1 330 € as of 18.10.2026. For smaller premises cassette units start from 9,000 BTU, and 12,000 BTU ones start from 940 €.
Is a suspended ceiling needed for a cassette air conditioner?
Yes. The unit is mounted above the suspended ceiling, and only the panel remains below. If the ceiling is concrete and no suspended ceiling will be built, choose a column air conditioner.
How much does installing a column or cassette air conditioner cost?
The price is set after a site visit, because it depends on the pipe run, the place of the outdoor unit and the ceiling. Details are on the page about air conditioner installation in Varna.
