Central AC cost calculator
Pick your AC size and your state. See your price range and your SEER2 rule.
Quick answer
Most new AC jobs cost $3,887 to $8,073[1].
Pick a size, a state and your duct plan below. Your state moves the labor part of the price.
Price your AC in three steps
Your result
$2,300 to $7,100
That is the range for the parts you picked. For a size check, see the typical U.S. range in the chart.
Typical whole AC job (U.S.)
Low $3,887Middle $5,980High $8,073
Your answers
Low $2,300Middle $4,700High $7,100
See how it adds up
| AC unit, 3 tons | $2,000 to $5,500 | Price of the unit |
|---|---|---|
| Labor to put it in | $300 to $1,600 | U.S. range, ducts already in place |
Pay score: U.S. average (no state picked).
Not in this total
- A new furnace or air handler inside
- New wires or a bigger breaker
- Moving the outdoor unit
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How the math works
- We take the unit price range for the size you pick.
- We add labor for a swap with ducts in place.
- We move the labor by your state's HVAC pay.
- We add duct work if you need it.
- We show the SEER2 rule for your region.
Unit = price range for your size Labor = $300 to $1,600 × pay score Pay score = state median HVAC pay ÷ $29.33/hr Ducts = 0, or repairs ($200 to $1,000) or new ($1,000 to $5,000) Total = unit + labor + ducts
Example: the starting answer
The page opens on a 3-ton unit, U.S. average pay, and ducts that are fine. Here is how that adds up.
| AC unit, 3 tons | $2,000 to $5,500 |
|---|---|
| Labor to put it in | $300 to $1,600 |
| Total | $2,300 to $7,100 |
The 3-ton unit is $2,000 to $5,500[1]. Labor adds $300 to $1,600[1].
Pick the right size
- Start with your old unit. The label lists its size, often in BTUs. One ton is about 12,000[1].
- Ask for a load check. A good pro looks at your home's size, windows and shade.
- Do not just go bigger. Too big can leave the air damp and cost more.
- Check the ducts. They can last 60 to 100 years[4][4], but leaks waste cool air.
What it can't tell you
This tool gives a range, not a quote. It cannot see your home.
It leaves out a new furnace or air handler, new wires, and moving the unit. Each can add a lot. A full HVAC check costs about $150 to $200[1] and can spot those needs early.
Use your range to judge quotes. If one quote is far above it, ask what is in it.
How to use your answer
Think of your range as a ruler for quotes. It shows you what is normal.
- Find your size on the sticker of the outside unit.
- Run the calculator with that size and your state.
- Ask three HVAC pros for written quotes.
- Check each quote for the same size and parts.
- Ask about any quote far outside your range.
The biggest swing is ducts. If a quote adds new ducts, it can add $1,000 to $5,000[1]. Ask if the old ducts can be fixed for $200 to $1,000[1] instead.
Expert sources we relied on
These are public building codes, laws, license boards, and trade and maker guides. We used them for the rules on this page. None of these groups has looked at or backed Home Repair Report. We just point to what they published.
- Government, law or building code 2023 Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps: FAQ (U.S. Department of Energy, Oct 5, 2022 (standards in effect Jan 1, 2023); checked ; source [3])
What it supports here: the SEER2 minimum shown for your state's region - Government, law or building code Construction Industry Licensing Board: license types (Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Web page, as checked; checked ; source [5])
What it supports here: how to look up a Florida air conditioning contractor's license
Questions people ask
Where do the prices come from?
Unit prices by size and the labor range come from HomeAdvisor. Labor runs $300[1] to $1,600[1] in the U.S. State pay comes from the BLS.
Why does my state change the price?
We move the labor part by how much HVAC pros earn in your state. The U.S. middle is $29.33/hr[2].
What is the SEER2 note?
It shows the lowest score a new split AC can have in your region. In the North, it is 13[3]. In the South, most units need 14[3].
Does it include a furnace?
No. It covers the outdoor AC unit, labor and ducts. All new ducts add $1,000[1] to $5,000[1].
How do I find my AC's size?
Look at the sticker on the outside unit. The model number often hides the size. One ton is about 12,000[1] BTUs.
How we made this page
A computer helper (AI) found the public data. It also wrote the first draft.
Then we checked each number against its source. Each number links to that source.
The AI did not make up any number. We did not make up any person or quote.
We do not show experts or reviewers. We show the math, so you can check it.
Read how we check numbers, our rules for writing and how we fix mistakes. See a mistake? Tell us.
Sources & how we calculated this
How we calculated this
The calculator adds HomeAdvisor's unit price range for the size you pick and HomeAdvisor's labor range. It moves labor by your state's pay score (state median HVAC pay divided by the U.S. median, from BLS). It adds duct repair or new duct ranges if you pick them. The SEER2 note uses the DOE region lists.
The full method is on our methodology page. See a mistake? Read our corrections policy.
Every figure on this page (17), with its source and the date we checked it
| Figure | Value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC unit installed, typical range, low | $3,887 | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| AC unit installed, typical range, high | $8,073 | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| AC installation labor, low (4 to 8 hours) | $300 | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| AC installation labor, high (4 to 8 hours) | $1,600 | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| HVAC mechanics and installers, national median hourly wage | $29.33/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Duct repairs, low | $200 | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Duct repairs, high | $1,000 | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| New ductwork, low | $1,000 | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| New ductwork, high | $5,000 | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| 3-ton AC unit, average unit price, low | $2,000 | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| 3-ton AC unit, average unit price, high | $5,500 | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| BTUs in one ton of cooling (about) | 12,000 | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Typical life expectancy (InterNACHI): ducting | 60 to 100 years | InterNACHI (International Association of Certified Home Inspectors) | |
| Full HVAC inspection, low | $150 | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Full HVAC inspection, high | $200 | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Lowest SEER2 for a new split central AC in the North (from Jan 1, 2023) | 13 | U.S. Department of Energy | |
| Lowest SEER2 for a new split central AC under 45,000 BTU/hr in the Southeast and Southwest | 14 | U.S. Department of Energy |
Sources
- HomeAdvisor (Angi). How Much Does an AC Unit Cost?. Sample/coverage: HomeAdvisor says it surveyed over 10,000 customers about their project costs (site-wide statement on the page).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025: plumbers (47-2152), HVAC mechanics (49-9021), electricians (47-2111), carpenters (47-2031) and floor layers (47-2042), national and state. Sample/coverage: BLS employer survey; the May 2025 estimates combine six semiannual panels from a sample of about 1.1 million establishments across all occupations. Median hourly wage by state, pulled through the free BLS Public Data API (v1). Wages are what workers are paid, not what a company bills. BLS does not publish floor layer pay for 7 states.
- U.S. Department of Energy. 2023 Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps: FAQ.
- InterNACHI (International Association of Certified Home Inspectors). InterNACHI's Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart for Homes. Planning estimates under normal conditions, not warranties. InterNACHI notes hot climates sharply shorten asphalt shingle life.
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Construction Industry Licensing Board: license types.
