How much does it cost to replace a central air conditioner?

This guide uses two sets of federal installed-cost figures for central air conditioners. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) built one set for its 2017 efficiency rule, in 2015 dollars. A March 2023 study prepared for the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) by Guidehouse and Leidos gives the other set, in 2022 dollars. Both are federal modeling inputs, not 2026 price quotes. We did not adjust either set for inflation, and we show each one separately with the system it describes.

What DOE's installed cost includes

DOE's 2017 direct final rule for central air conditioners and heat pumps lists the inputs to its cost analysis. They include "the installed cost to the consumer (purchase price, including sales tax where appropriate, plus installation cost)." The rule's technical support document, dated December 2016, says installation cost is "the price to the consumer of labor and materials (other than the actual equipment) associated with the installation of a new central air conditioner or heat pump in a home."

DOE's figures are averages from its cost model. The support document says manufacturer selling prices, markups and sales taxes "can take on a variety of values, depending on location," so the total installed cost "will not be a single-point value, but rather a distribution of values." It also says, "DOE expresses all costs in 2015$." The model assumed the product is bought in 2021, "the assumed effective date of energy conservation standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps." The published rule set compliance with the amended standards "starting on January 1, 2023," if no adverse comments were received.

DOE's 2016 tables rate efficiency in SEER. EIA's 2023 tables list both SEER and SEER2 values for the same units, and the two numbers differ. Our SEER2 guide covers the newer rating and the current federal minimums.

DOE installed cost for a split-system AC by size and SEER

DOE prices coil-only systems separately from blower-coil systems. Its support document says, "Coil-only units utilize the blower from an existing furnace." The table shows DOE's average total installed cost for each type and size, from 13 to 15 SEER.

SEER	2-ton coil-only (2015$)	3-ton coil-only (2015$)	5-ton coil-only (2015$)	2-ton blower-coil (2015$)	3-ton blower-coil (2015$)	5-ton blower-coil (2015$)
13.0	$2,703	$3,456	$5,815	$3,116	$3,935	$6,417
13.5	$2,737	$3,523	$5,998	$3,126	$3,989	$6,522
14.0	$2,754	$3,540	$6,175	$3,165	$4,002	$6,529
14.5	$2,797	$3,625	$6,350	$3,190	$4,070	$6,629
15.0	$2,893	$3,896	$6,473	$3,225	$4,134	$6,885

Source: DOE technical support document (December 2016), Tables 8.2.31 and 8.2.33. Model averages in 2015 dollars, not 2026 prices.

How much DOE counts for installation labor and materials

The same document lists installation cost on its own, without the equipment. For a 3-ton single-speed AC, DOE's installation cost is $1,339 for a coil-only system and $1,425 for a blower-coil system, in 2015 dollars.

System (2015$)	2-ton	3-ton	5-ton
Coil-only, single-speed	$853	$1,339	$2,923
Coil-only, two-speed	$911	$1,398	$2,982
Blower-coil, single-speed	$920	$1,425	$3,031
Blower-coil, two-speed	$979	$1,483	$3,090

Source: DOE technical support document (December 2016), Table 8.2.30. Installation cost only, in 2015 dollars.

DOE says it "added $59 to the installation costs of units with a two speed compressor and ECM indoor fan." It left routine maintenance out of these comparisons. It says, "The annual maintenance cost does not change by efficiency level so DOE did not include it in the lifecycle cost calculation as it would have no impact on the results." Our HVAC repair cost guide covers the maintenance and repair figures that DOE and EIA do publish.

DOE averages by region and for packaged units

The rule's summary tables give one average installed cost for each region and efficiency level. DOE reports regions, not states or cities. A note to the table says each level's results assume that all consumers use products at that efficiency level.

DOE table row	System	DOE region	SEER	Average installed cost (2015$)
Baseline	Split-system AC	North	13	$3,966
Baseline	Split-system AC	Hot-Dry	14	$4,392
Baseline	Split-system AC	Hot-Humid	14	$4,011
Recommended	Split-system AC	North	14	$4,092
Baseline	Packaged AC	National	14	$4,779

Source: DOE direct final rule, 82 FR 1786 (January 6, 2017), Tables V-2 and V-6. Model averages in 2015 dollars. These tables do not state a size or a coil-only or blower-coil split.

EIA's 2022-dollar estimates for a 3-ton coil-only AC

The EIA study says, "All costs are shown in 2022 dollars (2022$)." Its central AC tables cover split-system units in the 3-ton size class, with costs for coil-only systems. EIA gives a North table and a South table, and labels the South table Hot-Dry and Hot-Humid.

EIA level	North: rating	North: total installed (2022$)	South: rating	South: total installed (2022$)
2022 current standard	13.0 SEER	$5,250	14.0 SEER	$5,310
2022 typical	14.1 SEER	$5,320	14.6 SEER	$5,390
2023 new standard	13.4 SEER2	$5,310	14.3 SEER2	$5,520
2023 ENERGY STAR v6.1	15.2 SEER2	$5,880	15.2 SEER2	$5,880
2023 high	16.2 SEER2	$5,980	16.2 SEER2	$5,980

Source: EIA, Updated Buildings Sector Appliance and Equipment Costs and Efficiencies, Appendix A (March 2023). Estimates in 2022 dollars, not 2026 prices.

EIA lists the retail equipment cost separately. At the 2023 new-standard level it lists $2,680 in the North and $3,110 in the South, in 2022 dollars. EIA's figures come from a different study and dollar year from DOE's, so we do not compare or combine the two sets.

Producer prices for AC equipment in 2026

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes a producer price index for air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, series WPU1148. It was 313.729 in January 2026 and 325.649 in August 2026, and BLS marks the May through August values as preliminary. BLS says its Producer Price Index measures "the average change over time in the selling prices received by domestic producers for their output." It does not measure installed prices. Our guide to 2026 HVAC equipment prices explains what the index measures and covers selected 2025–2026 tariff actions.

SRP rebates for Phoenix-area homes

As of October 2026, Salt River Project (SRP), a Phoenix-area public power utility, listed Cool Cash rebates per ton for ACs at 15.2 SEER2 or higher. It listed $75 for single-stage, $150 for multi-stage and $225 for variable-capacity compressors. The page shows no date. It says the system must be installed by a contractor licensed in Arizona before April 30, 2027, and the rebate must be submitted within 6 months of installation. On split central systems, both the indoor air handler and the condensing unit must be replaced. A rebate lowers what you pay, but it is not a price. Programs change, confirm with your utility. Our rebate finder covers other programs.

Installed-cost data we could not find

We found no government source that publishes 2026 installed prices for central air conditioners. On October 4, 2026, we checked pages from SRP, Austin Energy, PSE, Tacoma Power, Seattle City Light and the Washington State Department of Commerce. None published an installed cost or a cost per ton. We did not check utilities in Jacksonville or Columbus for this figure.

For heat pump figures, see our heat pump cost guide. Our ductwork cost guide covers what federal sources say about ducts. Our central air guide covers how these systems work, and our guide to how long an AC lasts in Arizona covers DOE's lifetime estimates.

For an overview of all our cost guides, see what federal sources say about HVAC replacement costs.