How Much Does It Cost To Install Air Conditioning?

HVAC unit replacement cost by type

Before you can truly break down the costs and benefits of installing an AC unit you need to decide what type will work for your current project. With a variety of different AC units on the market, you have ample choices that will provide flexibility and help you meet your budget.

Below you'll find some of the most common types of air conditioning systems you can install to cool your home.

Room air conditioners

Often referred to as single-room air conditioners or window units, these are made to cool a single space effectively. Cost-effective and simple to install, almost anybody can tackle putting one of these in place in an afternoon.

Unit costs can vary from a few hundred dollars to closer to $1,000 for more powerful units designed to cool larger spaces like your living room. For open floor plan home designs, larger units may be essential. In a bedroom space, smaller, more inexpensive units may provide enough cooling power to keep you comfortable on even the hottest days.

Extra bells and whistles and improved performance can drive the price of single-room air conditioners up as well. A model that features extra-quiet operation and a remote control will usually cost more than a model with a touch-pad on the face of the unit.

Average Room Air Conditioners cost: $200 - $800

Split air conditioners

Split air conditioning systems offer more flexibility and provide more power than your average single-room unit. The main benefit of split air conditioners is that they don't require ductwork. This can keep building costs down when you're starting from the ground up.

Ductless systems also allow you to renovate or retrofit an existing home for air conditioning without the added expense of installing ductwork. This means that handy homeowners may be able to install split AC systems on their own as well. Depending on your needs, two main kinds of split AC systems can be utilized depending on your needs and budget.

Standard split systems connect a single outdoor unit to an indoor unit. This indoor can be installed in an unobtrusive space Standard split systems are often installed in an out of the way area, like above a window casing.

Multi-split systems allow you to connect multiple indoor units to one outdoor unit. This allows you to cool more rooms independently. Up to five indoor units can be connected with most multi-split systems.

With a standard split system, you'll have adequate cooling power for a single room and much more sophisticated controls than a window unit can typically provide. Multi-split systems offer more flexibility, and in smaller homes, they can cool almost every space adequately.

Average Split Air Conditioners Cost: $2,000 to $6,000

Heat pump split systems

Heat pump split systems work in a fashion that is very similar to a split air conditioner above. However, unlike a split air conditioner, these units provide both heating and cooling power much the same way a larger HVAC system would. Heat pump split systems don't need ductwork to operate however.

Heat pump-based split systems can also function in multiple rooms, and most setups allow you to have considerable control over the temperature in each space. Like a split AC system, you can install heat pump designs in areas where they won't be in your way throughout the house.

There are some concerns with heat pump systems in colder climates. While ratings vary, most users say they need supplemental systems if the temperature regularly drops below freezing. Supplemental systems like a gas furnace are most common.

Average Heat Pump Split Systems Cost: $3,500 to $8,000

Central air conditioning systems

Central air conditioner systems are considered the cream of the crop, best of the best option in most places. When the budget allows, these are typically your best bet if you're looking to cool your whole home throughout the year.

Central air conditioning systems are also serviceable and made to last, so they'll typically stay in your home much longer than AC window units. They tend to require less user maintenance as well.

Average Central Air Conditioning Cost: $2,800 to $8,000+

Keep reading below to learn more about the average new central AC unit cost for your home. We'll break down different ways you can set your budget based on the unit itself, installation costs, cost by ton and cost per square foot.

New central AC unit costs

Determining your overall air conditioning unit cost when trying to set a budget can be a little tricky. On average, homeowners spend between $2,000 and $4,000 for their air conditioning unit alone. This figure doesn't take installation and any other associated costs you may encounter into account.

In general, high-performance models that are extremely efficient tend to cost more than standard efficiency units. You can check the efficiency of a unit based on the SEER rating number provided by the manufacturer.

Standard models have a seer rating of between 13 and 15. High efficiency and very high efficiency models have a SEER rating of 15 to 18 and 18 to 21 respectively. Maximum efficiency, top-grade models typically have a SEER rating of 22 to 24.

Choosing the right AC unit brand

The name and logo on your air conditioner isn't particularly important, right? After all, you're not going to show it off to friends and family members like you might a new car. What you want is a reliable, solid unit that's properly sized and powered to fit your home.

Knowing the average price of AC unit brands can help you when you're comparison shopping or in the early stages of planning your home build or renovation. Here's a list broken down by brand based on their average unit cost, starting from most expensive to most cost-effective:

• Carrier -- $3,895 average unit cost.
• Lennox - $3,795 average unit cost.
• American Standard -- $3,656 average unit cost.
• Trane -- $3,220 average unit cost.
• HEIL -- $3,400 average unit cost.
• Amana -- $2,935 average unit cost.
• Goodman -- $2,488 average unit cost.
• York -- $2,354 average unit cost.

Note that these prices are simply averages that include both top of the line and more economic products made by these brands. SEER ratings can also vary from unit to unit. For this reason, price isn't always a one-to-one indicator of quality, power or durability, making it only one factor you'll need to consider when considering your new AC unit cost.

AC unit installation cost

Many homeowners are rightly concerned about what their total AC installation cost is going to be. While the units themselves can cost a few thousand dollars, installation typically runs between $2,500 and $4,000. A labor-intensive job that requires expert skill, a proper installation is a must, and this is work that should only be done by professionals.

Air conditioning installation cost by ton

An average air conditioning unit can cool roughly 400 square feet of your home with a single ton of cooling power. This basic guide can help you determine how much you'll need to spend and what size air conditioner you'll need to get.

For example, a 1,600 square foot home would require an AC unit with a minimum 4-ton cooling capacity for maximum efficiency. Use this 1-ton per 400 square foot formula to determine the right air conditioner for your space.

Here's a chart of average prices by ton to help you evaluate your AC unit costs now:

• 2 Ton: $2,600 to $2,800.
• 3 Ton: $2,900 to $3,100.
• 4 Ton: $3,600 to $3,800.
• 5 Ton: $3,600 to $3,800.

Note that half-ton AC models do exist, and in many cases, choosing a slightly more powerful model than you need can improve efficiency. That's because an AC model that provides just barely enough cooling capacity for your home may be put under great stress during the hottest parts of the year.

AC unit cost per square foot

Another way to break down your potential AC unit cost is to use the square footage of your home. Simply divide the number of square feet you want to cool and divide by 400, which is the amount of cooling that a one-ton capacity unit can provide. This will tell you the cooling capacity in tons that you'll need for that given area.

Here's an example with a small 1,000 square foot home:

1,000 % 400=2.5 tons. That means you'll need an AC unit with a cooling capacity of 2.5 tons or more for your space.

New AC installation costs

A new AC unit can be costly, but there's more to figuring out how much you'll need to spend than you might think. In some cases, there are hidden costs you'll need to be aware of before you plan your installation. Here are a few common things to consider when installing a new AC unit:

• Will I need to alter the construction of my home in any way to make room for an AC unit?
• Do I need a permit for the installation? Will I need to pay for an inspection to make sure the unit is up to code in my city?
• Do you live in an older home where lead paint or other potentially problematic materials may need to be dealt with before installing a new AC unit is safe?

HVAC unit replacement cost

Replacing an aging or failing AC unit with a more modern, up-to-date and efficient model can be a worthwhile investment for your home. It's also typically less expensive than installing a brand new system as long as your ductwork is up to par.

In general, your AC replacement cost can vary between about $3,000 to $6,500 or more for extremely efficient models with a very high SEER rating. Costs will be slightly higher if you have to replace other parts of your system like the air handler during your upgrade.

What about AC unit repairs?

Over time, your AC unit is likely to need repairs along with regular maintenance to keep it running in tip-top shape. Here are some of the average costs associated with home air conditioners:

• General maintenance. $75 to $300 per year if no repairs or replacement parts are needed. This includes seasonal tune ups that ensure your AC unit is working properly. Budget approximately $20 to $100 per year for replacement filters on average.
• AC compressor. $200 to $800 for parts. AC compressor costs will likely double once you include installation, bringing the total AC compressor replacement cost to between $500 and $1,500 depending on your area.
• AC capacitor. The average AC capacitor cost is between $20 and $100 depending on the AC unit you have. Installation should only take an hour or two of a qualified tech's time, bringing your whole total to anywhere from $100 to $300 in most cases.

How long do AC units last?

Air conditioning systems typically last 10 to 15 years, with complete HVAC systems providing roughly 15 to 20 years of quality performance on average. Of course, these numbers can vary based on the long-term durability of the unit you choose for your home.

Regular maintenance is also a factor when it comes to how long your AC unit is going to last. While maintenance can seem expensive at the time, your average air duct cleaning cost is far less than what you'll spend replacing a unit that didn't last as long as it should have.