Central AC replacement cost

What does a new central air conditioner cost? Here are the public numbers, in plain words.

Quick answer

About $5,978^[1] for a new AC, put in.

That is the U.S. average. Most jobs cost $3,887 to $8,073^[1]. Bigger homes need bigger units. New ducts add more.

A hot house is no fun. When the AC quits in summer, you want it fixed fast. Fast can mean you overpay.

This guide helps you know the going rate before you call. Each number links to where it came from.

We start with unit prices by size. Then labor, ducts, the new SEER2 rules, and pay in your state.

What each AC size costs

AC size is counted in tons. A ton is not about weight here. It means about 12,000^[1] BTUs of cooling each hour^[1]. Big homes need more tons.

Bigger is not always better. A unit that is too big turns on and off a lot. That can leave the air damp. Ask your pro to size the unit to your home.

Central, ductless or window?

Source: HomeAdvisor^[1]. Ductless prices span one small head up to a whole house.

Labor and ducts

Labor for a new AC runs $300 to $1,600^[1] when the ducts are already there. HVAC pros charge $75.00/hr^[1] to $200.00/hr^[1]. The job takes about 4 to 8^[1] hours.

Ducts are the tubes that carry cool air to each room. They last a long time, often 60 to 100 years^[6][6]. Fixing leaky ducts costs $200 to $1,000^[1]. All new ducts run $1,000 to $5,000^[1], about $2,000^[1] on average.

The SEER2 rules

SEER2 is a score. It shows how much cool air an AC makes from each bit of power. Higher is better.

Since January 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy sets the lowest score a new AC can have. It depends on where you live^[4].

• North: a new split AC must be at least SEER2 13^[4].
• Southeast and Southwest: at least SEER2 14^[4] for most home units. Very big units need 14^[4].
• Southwest means Arizona, California, Nevada and New Mexico.
• Southeast includes Florida, Texas, Georgia, the Carolinas and many other warm states.

The DOE says it is against the law for a contractor to put in a unit below the rule in the Southeast and Southwest^[4].

What HVAC pros earn in every state

The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks HVAC pay in every state^[2]. The U.S. middle was $29.33/hr^[2] in May 2025. The table also lists home power prices from July 2026^[3]. The U.S. average was 18.31¢/kWh^[3].

Example: a 3-ton AC in Florida

Say you live in Florida. Your ducts are fine. You need a new 3-ton unit. Here is the math.

Florida is in the Southeast. So the new unit must meet SEER2 14 or better. Florida power cost 15.03¢/kWh^[3] in July 2026.

Ways to pay less

• Get three written quotes. Ask each pro to list the unit, the labor and any duct work on its own line.
• Ask for a sizing check. A unit that is too big costs more and may not dry the air well.
• Keep good ducts. If the ducts are sound, a fix costs far less than new ones.
• Shop before summer. A slow season gives you time to compare.
• Get a yearly tune-up. A basic one costs about $100^[1]. It can catch small problems early.

Fix it or replace it?

A common AC repair costs about $400^[1]. The average new AC costs about 15 times that. So a young unit is usually worth fixing.

Central AC tends to last 7 to 15 years^[6][6]. A DOE guide lists a new outdoor unit as an option once the system is over 15 years^[5] old^[5]. See our fix or replace guide for central AC.

What makes the price go up or down

• Size. A 2-ton unit runs $1,500 to $5,000^[1]. A 5-ton unit runs $2,800 to $6,800^[1].
• Ducts. Good ducts keep the cost down. New ones add $1,000 to $5,000^[1].
• Hours of work. Labor runs $300 to $1,600^[1] for a normal swap.
• The rules. New units must meet SEER2 rules^[4]. Higher scores often cost more up front.
• Your state. HVAC pay is not the same in every state. See the map above.

Central, ductless or window?

Pick the kind that fits your home, not the one with the best ad.

• You already have ducts. A central unit is often the simple choice. It costs $2,900 to $9,000^[1].
• No ducts, or one hot room. A ductless split puts a small unit on the wall of each room.
• One room, small budget. A window unit costs $200 to $550^[1]. It cools one room only.

The right size matters too. Too small and it runs all day. Too big and it turns on and off a lot. Ask the pro how they picked the size.

Questions to ask an HVAC pro

• How did you figure out the size for my home?
• Are you swapping the outside unit only, or the inside coil too?
• What is the SEER2 score of the unit you quoted?
• What does the warranty cover? Parts warranties often run 5 to 10 years^[1].
• Is the permit in the price?

What you can do yourself

Putting in a central AC is a job for a pro. It uses high power and a special cooling liquid that pros handle. But some small jobs are yours.

• Change the air filter on the schedule the maker gives.
• Keep plants and junk a few steps away from the outside box.
• Make sure the vents in each room are open and not blocked.