Central Air Conditioning Installation Cost (2026)
Updated October 2026 · Prices checked 2026-10-25 — sources cited below.
Installing or replacing central air conditioning runs $3,750–$18,000 installed, with the typical replacement landing near $5,978 once ducts are reusable. Publisher bands: Fixr $5,800–$14,400 typical project band · Angi $3,900–$8,500 (avg $5,978) · HomeAdvisor $3,882–$7,903. Efficiency tier, tonnage, ductwork scope, and whether the furnace is swapped in the same visit move the number more than brand does.
What drives the cost
- Efficiency tier (SEER2). Standard tier $3,750–$9,150 (Angi 13.4–14.3 SEER2 $3,800–$5,500; Fixr 3-ton change-out from $3,750). High efficiency $4,800–$14,000 (Angi 16 SEER2 $4,800–$7,500; 17–21+ SEER2 $7,500–$14,000+; HomeAdvisor high-eff inside its $5,000–$11,000 existing-ducts band) — sources publish a +20–50% premium over standard.
- Tonnage / home size. Fixr's fetched table: 1.5-ton $3,650–$6,250 · 2-ton $4,250–$7,500 · 2.5-ton $4,500–$8,000 · 3-ton $5,000–$9,150 · 3.5-ton $5,450–$9,700 · 4-ton $6,950–$11,600 · 5-ton $7,800–$14,000. Angi's bands: 1.5–2-ton $3,500–$6,000 · 2.5–3-ton $4,500–$8,000 · 3.5–4-ton $6,000–$10,500 · 5-ton $8,000–$13,000+.
- Ductwork scope. Reusing existing ducts is the cheapest job (Fixr change-out floor $3,750). Adding or replacing ducts: Fixr +$965–$2,325 on top of labor; Angi ductwork replacement $3,000–$7,500; HomeAdvisor existing ducts $5,000–$11,000 vs new ducts $7,000–$15,000+. Fixr prices an old house needing 180–300 ft of ducts at $8,650–$22,000.
- Labor. Fixr $1,250–$3,000 with existing ducts (lines + pad included); Angi $1,500–$4,000+ (40–50% of the quote); HomeAdvisor $300–$1,600 at $75–$250/hr. Bands kept separate — each publisher scopes labor differently.
- Permits and removal. Angi AC permits $250–$400 (HomeAdvisor up to $1,500 where complex); old-unit removal/disposal $150–$250 (Fixr).
- Line set and electrical. The three core guides fold refrigerant lines into labor; the flagged industry publisher HVACR Pipe prices a new line set within an install at +$500–$1,200 (materials $8–$12/ft, installed $15–$35+/ft). Panel/wiring upgrades for modern condensers run $500–$2,000 (Angi).
Band by band, by publisher
These figures come from different publishers with different scopes — Fixr was fetched live; Angi and HomeAdvisor are search-served captures partially confirmed by Wayback snapshots. Bands are never averaged across publishers.
- Fixr (fetched live): national average $8,750 — specifically a 3-ton, 16-SEER install with new ductwork; project band $5,800–$14,400; change-out floor $3,750; ceiling $18,000.
- Angi: replacement average $5,978, typical $3,900–$8,500; full system $5,000–$12,500, up to $22,000+ with ductwork and premium equipment. SEER2 tiers: 13.4–14.3 $3,800–$5,500 · 15.0–16.5 $4,800–$7,500 · 17.0–21+ $7,500–$14,000+.
- HomeAdvisor: average $5,860–$5,958, typical $3,882–$7,903; existing ducts $5,000–$11,000, new ducts $7,000–$15,000+.
Replace the furnace and AC together?
If the furnace is also near end-of-life, bundling saves real money. Angi prices the furnace + AC bundle at $5,000–$12,500 (average ~$7,500–$8,500) versus $6,800–$12,100+ for the same systems installed on separate visits — a $500–$2,000+ (one mobilization, shared blower/air-handler hookup calibrated once, single permit, equipment bundle discounts) saving through one mobilization, a single permit, a shared blower/air-handler hookup calibrated once, and equipment bundle discounts.
DIY vs professional
A central AC install is not a DIY project: it requires EPA-certified refrigerant handling, a 240V circuit, permit inspections, and a matched condenser/coil pair — mismatched components void efficiency ratings and warranties. All three publishers price this as professional work, with labor at 40–50% of the quote (Angi). The homeowner's levers are efficiency tier, off-season scheduling, and bundling with a furnace replacement — not self-install.
FAQs
How much does it cost to install central air conditioning?
Installed, a central AC system runs $3,750 (Fixr's 3-ton, 14-SEER change-out floor with existing ducts) to $18,000 at Fixr's full-project ceiling. Publisher bands: Angi $3,900–$8,500 typical with a $5,978 average; HomeAdvisor $3,882–$7,903 typical; Fixr's typical project band is $5,800–$14,400.
How much does a 3-ton central AC unit cost installed?
Fixr's fetched size table puts a 3-ton install at $5,000–$9,150 (2.5-ton $4,500–$8,000; 4-ton $6,950–$11,600; 5-ton $7,800–$14,000). Angi's own tonnage bands: 2.5–3-ton $4,500–$8,000 and 5-ton $8,000–$13,000+.
Does higher SEER2 efficiency cost more?
Yes. Angi prices 13.4–14.3 SEER2 (federal minimum) at $3,800–$5,500 installed, 16 SEER2 at $4,800–$7,500, and 17–21+ SEER2 at $7,500–$14,000+ — a +20–50% premium over standard per the captured guides. Note that Fixr's $8,750 national average is specifically a 3-ton, 16-SEER install with new ductwork, so it isn't directly comparable to existing-ducts bands.
What does HVAC labor cost on an AC install?
Per publisher: Fixr $1,250–$3,000 with existing ducts (refrigerant lines and pad included); Angi $1,500–$4,000+, which it notes is 40–50% of the quote; HomeAdvisor $300–$1,600 at $75–$250/hr. The bands differ because each publisher scopes labor differently — they're never merged.
Is it cheaper to replace the furnace and AC together?
Usually, yes. Angi prices the furnace + AC bundle at $5,000–$12,500 (average ~$7,500–$8,500) versus $6,800–$12,100+ for separate installs — saving $500–$2,000+ through one mobilization, one permit, a shared blower hookup calibrated once, and equipment bundle discounts.
What hidden costs should I watch for?
Permits ($250–$400 per Angi; up to $1,500 per HomeAdvisor where complex), old-unit removal and disposal ($150–$250 per Fixr), ductwork modifications ($1,000–$2,700 mods; $3,000–$7,500 for new runs per Angi), and electrical panel/wiring upgrades ($500–$2,000 per Angi) for modern condensers.
At a glance: installation bands by source
| Scope | Published band | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Overall install/replace, installed | $5,800–$14,400 typical project band; $3,750 low (3-ton 14-SEER change-out, existing ducts); $18,000 high end | Fixr |
| Overall install/replace, installed | $3,900–$8,500 replacement typical; $5,978 average; full system $5,000–$12,500 (to $22,000+ with ductwork + premium equipment) | Angi |
| Overall install/replace, installed | $3,882–$7,903 typical; $5,860–$5,958 average | HomeAdvisor |
| Installation labor | $1,250–$3,000 with existing ducts (refrigerant lines + pad included) | Fixr |
| Installation labor | $1,500–$4,000+ (40–50% of the quote) | Angi |
| Installation labor | $300–$1,600 at $75–$250/hr | HomeAdvisor |
| Ductwork scope | labor with existing ducts $1,250–$3,000, plus $965–$2,325 when new ducts are added; old house with 180–300 ft of ducts $8,650–$22,000 | Fixr |
| Ductwork scope | ductwork replacement/addition $3,000–$7,500 | Angi |
| Ductwork scope | existing ducts $5,000–$11,000; new ducts $7,000–$15,000+ (ductwork adds $3,000–$7,500) | HomeAdvisor |
| Refrigerant line set (alternate publisher) | new line set within an AC install +$500–$1,200; materials $8–$12/ft; installed $15–$35+/ft; standard replacement $600–$1,200; complex (finished walls/attics) $1,200–$2,500+; recharge $200–$600 | HVACR Pipe (industry, flagged alternate) |
Sources
- Fixr - Cost to Install Central Air (updated Aug 29, 2025)
- Angi - How Much Does Installing a New AC Cost? (insider price guide)
- HomeAdvisor - Heating & Cooling cost guides (furnace / gas furnace / electric furnace / AC installation)
- Angi - Save Money Replacing Your Furnace and AC at the Same Time
- HVACR Pipe (industry) - Cost to Replace AC Line Set (alternate publisher)
Fixr figures were fetched live 2026-09-25; Angi and HomeAdvisor figures are search-served captures partially confirmed via Wayback snapshots, per the shared pricing-data provenance notes. Publisher bands are kept separate and never averaged.
Related on MSRPGuide
Compare the full furnace & central AC replacement guide, the HVAC hub, and the HVAC cost calculator. This page covers split central AC only — ductless mini-splits and heat pumps are priced separately.