How Much Does Central AC Installation Cost?
Updated for 2026 — national average costs with state-by-state breakdowns
Low End
$3,500
Average
$6,500
High End
$12,000
per system
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What Does Central AC Installation Include?
Central air conditioning installation includes a condenser unit, evaporator coil, refrigerant lines, and thermostat. If you don't have existing ductwork, add $3,000-$7,000 for duct installation.
The national average cost for central ac installation is $6,500 per system. Most homeowners pay between $3,500 and $12,000, though costs can vary significantly based on your location, the scope of work, and other factors outlined below.
What Affects the Price?
System size
1.5-2 ton (1,000 sq ft): $3,500-$6,000. 3 ton (1,500 sq ft): $4,500-$8,000. 4-5 ton (2,500+ sq ft): $6,000-$12,000
Efficiency
14 SEER (standard): $3,500-$6,000. 16 SEER (mid-range): $5,000-$8,000. 20+ SEER (high-eff): $7,000-$12,000
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Key Cost Factors
- ✓Home size (tons)
- ✓SEER rating
- ✓Ductwork needs
- ✓Brand
- ✓Installation complexity
💡 Tips to Save Money
- 1.Install in fall/winter off-season for 10-20% savings
- 2.14-16 SEER units offer the best value for most climates
- 3.Federal tax credits cover 30% of high-efficiency systems (up to $2,000)
- 4.Get 3+ quotes — AC installation pricing varies widely
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📈 Central AC Installation Cost Trends (2020–2024)
Prices have increased +17.8% over the last 5 years
$5,520
2020
$5,752
2021
$6,126
2022
$6,298
2023
$6,500
2024
| Year | National Avg | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $5,520 | — |
| 2021 | $5,752 | +4.2% |
| 2022 | $6,126 | +6.5% |
| 2023 | $6,298 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $6,500 | +3.2% |
Based on national averages adjusted for annual inflation. Actual costs vary by location and project scope.
Central AC Installation Cost by State
Costs vary significantly by state due to labor rates, cost of living, and local market conditions. Click any state for a detailed breakdown.
| State | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $2,870 | $5,330 | $9,840 |
| Alaska | $4,480 | $8,320 | $15,360 |
| Arizona | $3,325 | $6,175 | $11,400 |
| Arkansas | $2,800 | $5,200 | $9,600 |
| California | $4,725 | $8,775 | $16,200 |
| Colorado | $3,780 | $7,020 | $12,960 |
| Connecticut | $4,270 | $7,930 | $14,640 |
| Delaware | $3,675 | $6,825 | $12,600 |
| Florida | $3,430 | $6,370 | $11,760 |
| Georgia | $3,150 | $5,850 | $10,800 |
| Hawaii | $4,970 | $9,230 | $17,040 |
| Idaho | $3,220 | $5,980 | $11,040 |
| Illinois | $3,675 | $6,825 | $12,600 |
| Indiana | $3,080 | $5,720 | $10,560 |
| Iowa | $3,010 | $5,590 | $10,320 |
| Kansas | $2,975 | $5,525 | $10,200 |
| Kentucky | $2,940 | $5,460 | $10,080 |
| Louisiana | $3,045 | $5,655 | $10,440 |
| Maine | $3,570 | $6,630 | $12,240 |
| Maryland | $4,025 | $7,475 | $13,800 |
| Massachusetts | $4,550 | $8,450 | $15,600 |
| Michigan | $3,220 | $5,980 | $11,040 |
| Minnesota | $3,570 | $6,630 | $12,240 |
| Mississippi | $2,730 | $5,070 | $9,360 |
| Missouri | $3,045 | $5,655 | $10,440 |
| Montana | $3,325 | $6,175 | $11,400 |
| Nebraska | $3,080 | $5,720 | $10,560 |
| Nevada | $3,570 | $6,630 | $12,240 |
| New Hampshire | $3,920 | $7,280 | $13,440 |
| New Jersey | $4,375 | $8,125 | $15,000 |
| New Mexico | $3,150 | $5,850 | $10,800 |
| New York | $4,620 | $8,580 | $15,840 |
| North Carolina | $3,150 | $5,850 | $10,800 |
| North Dakota | $3,150 | $5,850 | $10,800 |
| Ohio | $3,150 | $5,850 | $10,800 |
| Oklahoma | $2,905 | $5,395 | $9,960 |
| Oregon | $3,850 | $7,150 | $13,200 |
| Pennsylvania | $3,570 | $6,630 | $12,240 |
| Rhode Island | $4,025 | $7,475 | $13,800 |
| South Carolina | $3,045 | $5,655 | $10,440 |
| South Dakota | $2,975 | $5,525 | $10,200 |
| Tennessee | $3,010 | $5,590 | $10,320 |
| Texas | $3,255 | $6,045 | $11,160 |
| Utah | $3,325 | $6,175 | $11,400 |
| Vermont | $3,780 | $7,020 | $12,960 |
| Virginia | $3,675 | $6,825 | $12,600 |
| Washington | $4,025 | $7,475 | $13,800 |
| West Virginia | $2,800 | $5,200 | $9,600 |
| Wisconsin | $3,290 | $6,110 | $11,280 |
| Wyoming | $3,220 | $5,980 | $11,040 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does central AC last?
15-20 years with regular maintenance. Systems in hot climates (Florida, Arizona) may last 12-15 years due to higher usage. Annual maintenance ($75-$200) extends lifespan significantly.
🏙️ Central AC Installation Cost by City
Compare central ac installation costs in the most popular US cities:
New York City
NY
$9,425
Los Angeles
CA
$8,970
Chicago
IL
$7,475
Houston
TX
$6,175
Phoenix
AZ
$6,370
Philadelphia
PA
$7,280
San Antonio
TX
$5,720
San Diego
CA
$8,580
Dallas
TX
$6,630
San Jose
CA
$9,880
Austin
TX
$6,825
Jacksonville
FL
$5,980
Fort Worth
TX
$6,175
Columbus
OH
$5,850
Charlotte
NC
$6,175
Indianapolis
IN
$5,720
View all 219 cities →
San Francisco, CA
$10,075
Seattle, WA
$8,450
Denver, CO
$7,475
Washington D.C., DC
$8,775
Nashville, TN
$6,500
Oklahoma City, OK
$5,330
El Paso, TX
$5,330
Boston, MA
$9,100
Portland, OR
$7,670
Las Vegas, NV
$6,630
Memphis, TN
$5,330
Louisville, KY
$5,525
Baltimore, MD
$7,150
Milwaukee, WI
$5,980
Albuquerque, NM
$5,720
Tucson, AZ
$5,720
Fresno, CA
$6,825
Sacramento, CA
$7,670
Mesa, AZ
$6,175
Kansas City, MO
$5,850
Atlanta, GA
$6,825
Omaha, NE
$5,720
Colorado Springs, CO
$6,630
Raleigh, NC
$6,370
Long Beach, CA
$8,775
Virginia Beach, VA
$6,825
Miami, FL
$7,800
Oakland, CA
$9,425
Minneapolis, MN
$7,020
Tampa, FL
$6,630
Tulsa, OK
$5,330
Arlington, TX
$6,175
New Orleans, LA
$6,175
Pittsburgh, PA
$6,175
St. Louis, MO
$5,720
Bakersfield, CA
$6,630
Anaheim, CA
$8,775
Honolulu, HI
$9,750
Santa Ana, CA
$8,580
Riverside, CA
$7,475
Corpus Christi, TX
$5,525
Lexington, KY
$5,720
Stockton, CA
$7,150
Henderson, NV
$6,630
St. Paul, MN
$6,825
Cincinnati, OH
$5,720
Anchorage, AK
$8,320
Greensboro, NC
$5,720
Plano, TX
$6,825
Newark, NJ
$8,125
Lincoln, NE
$5,525
Orlando, FL
$6,630
Irvine, CA
$9,100
Durham, NC
$6,175
Chula Vista, CA
$8,320
Toledo, OH
$5,330
Fort Wayne, IN
$5,330
Jersey City, NJ
$8,775
St. Petersburg, FL
$6,630
Laredo, TX
$5,200
Madison, WI
$6,370
Chandler, AZ
$6,370
Buffalo, NY
$5,980
Lubbock, TX
$5,330
Scottsdale, AZ
$7,280
Reno, NV
$6,825
Glendale, AZ
$6,175
Gilbert, AZ
$6,630
Winston-Salem, NC
$5,525
North Las Vegas, NV
$6,370
Norfolk, VA
$6,370
Chesapeake, VA
$6,630
Irving, TX
$6,500
Fremont, CA
$9,425
Richmond, VA
$6,370
Boise, ID
$6,370
San Bernardino, CA
$7,020
Spokane, WA
$6,175
Des Moines, IA
$5,525
Tacoma, WA
$7,475
Modesto, CA
$6,825
Fontana, CA
$7,150
Moreno Valley, CA
$7,020
Fayetteville, NC
$5,525
Birmingham, AL
$5,330
Rochester, NY
$5,980
Salt Lake City, UT
$6,825
Oxnard, CA
$7,930
Knoxville, TN
$5,525
Worcester, MA
$7,475
Brownsville, TX
$5,070
Grand Rapids, MI
$5,850
Newport News, VA
$6,175
Huntsville, AL
$5,525
Amarillo, TX
$5,330
Little Rock, AR
$5,330
Montgomery, AL
$5,200
Akron, OH
$5,330
Augusta, GA
$5,330
Baton Rouge, LA
$5,525
Mobile, AL
$5,200
Shreveport, LA
$5,200
Tallahassee, FL
$5,850
Hartford, CT
$7,475
Providence, RI
$7,280
Charleston, SC
$6,370
Savannah, GA
$5,720
Columbia, SC
$5,525
Chattanooga, TN
$5,525
Fort Lauderdale, FL
$7,670
Dayton, OH
$5,330
Sioux Falls, SD
$5,525
Springfield, MO
$5,200
Jackson, MS
$5,070
Palm Bay, FL
$6,175
Lakeland, FL
$5,980
Cape Coral, FL
$6,370
Pensacola, FL
$5,720
Port St. Lucie, FL
$6,370
Naperville, IL
$7,475
Tempe, AZ
$6,500
Overland Park, KS
$6,175
McKinney, TX
$6,630
Frisco, TX
$6,825
Cary, NC
$6,630
Clarksville, TN
$5,525
Cedar Rapids, IA
$5,330
Peoria, AZ
$6,370
Surprise, AZ
$6,175
Denton, TX
$6,370
Roseville, CA
$7,475
Gainesville, FL
$5,720
Bellevue, WA
$9,100
Murfreesboro, TN
$5,980
Round Rock, TX
$6,630
Columbia, MD
$7,475
Boulder, CO
$8,125
Ann Arbor, MI
$7,150
Santa Fe, NM
$6,825
Wilmington, NC
$5,980
Greenville, SC
$5,720
Fargo, ND
$5,525
Provo, UT
$6,370
Duluth, MN
$5,720
Billings, MT
$5,980
Missoula, MT
$6,370
Cheyenne, WY
$5,720
Burlington, VT
$7,020
Portland, ME
$7,020
Concord, NH
$6,825
Bismarck, ND
$5,525
Rapid City, SD
$5,525
Casper, WY
$5,720
Bangor, ME
$6,175
Charleston, WV
$5,200
Dover, DE
$6,370
Manchester, NH
$7,020
Bridgeport, CT
$7,800
Stamford, CT
$8,775
Wichita, KS
$5,330
Topeka, KS
$5,200
Springfield, IL
$5,525
Rockford, IL
$5,525
Erie, PA
$5,330
Scranton, PA
$5,525
Flint, MI
$5,070
Lansing, MI
$5,525
Syracuse, NY
$5,720
Albany, NY
$6,175
Eugene, OR
$6,825
Salem, OR
$6,630
Fort Collins, CO
$7,150
Pueblo, CO
$5,525
Aurora, CO
$7,020
Santa Barbara, CA
$9,100
Santa Rosa, CA
$8,320
Pasadena, CA
$8,970
Visalia, CA
$6,500
Pomona, CA
$7,670
Myrtle Beach, SC
$5,720
Daytona Beach, FL
$5,980
Sarasota, FL
$6,825
Naples, FL
$7,670
Ocala, FL
$5,525
Athens, GA
$5,525
Macon, GA
$5,200
Lexington, SC
$5,525
Asheville, NC
$6,630
Flagstaff, AZ
$7,020
Rochester, NY
$5,980
New Haven, CT
$7,020
Manchester, NH
$6,825
Augusta, GA
$5,330
Fort Myers, FL
$6,370
Wilmington, NC
$6,175
Arlington, VA
$8,450
Green Bay, WI
$5,525
South Bend, IN
$5,330
Bend, OR
$7,280
Bellingham, WA
$7,150
Midland, TX
$6,175
Waco, TX
$5,330
Newark, NJ
$7,800
Related Cost Guides
💬 What Did You Pay?
Real costs reported by homeowners for Central AC Installation
$6,589
Avg Reported
$4,612
Lowest Reported
$9,554
Highest Reported
Recent Reports
$6,384
Dallas, TX · Jan 2024
★★★★★
$6,078
Chicago, IL · Feb 2024
★★★★★
$6,707
Phoenix, AZ · Mar 2024
★★★★★
$7,341
Denver, CO · Apr 2024
★★★☆☆
$5,408
Atlanta, GA · May 2024
★★★★★
$8,496
Seattle, WA · Jun 2024
★★★☆☆
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