Central air conditioner installation cost
Prices checked
Typical installed cost
$6,000
Sourced installed range, not a quote
$5,000 to $10,500
Central air conditioner installation cost on existing ductwork has a typical figure of $6,000, within a sourced range of $5,000 to $10,500. The installation scope differs by source: HomeGuide prices a basic installation, Fixr describes materials and labor, and Angi is inconsistent about whether its totals include installation. HomeGuide runs higher than Angi and Fixr. Use the figure as a starting budget, not a quote. Unit size and new ductwork change the total.
Central AC starting range
This row assumes your home already has ductwork that can be reused. HomeGuide's figures run higher than Angi's and Fixr's. Angi's average is its overall AC replacement average, so it is not specific to central systems.
| System | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central AC, existing ductwork | $5,000 | $6,000 | $10,500 |
Installed cost on existing ductwork. The median rule combines the supplied ranges, and typical is the median of the source midpoints.
See each source's figures
Central AC, existing ductwork
- Angi: $3,500 to $7,000; stated average $5,978. Updated July 20, 2026; accessed October 21, 2026. Avg is Angi's overall AC replacement average, not specific to central AC. The page is inconsistent about whether its totals include installation, and it lists ductwork, electrical work and old-unit removal as extra.
- HomeGuide: $5,300 to $10,500. Updated July 25, 2025; accessed October 21, 2026. Installed figures for basic installation, not including ductwork changes.
- Fixr: $5,000 to $12,000; stated average $6,000. Updated January 28, 2026; accessed October 21, 2026. Described as materials and labor for a 3-ton central unit. Old-unit haul-away is not always included.
By unit size
The size table spreads widely, because HomeGuide's figures sit well above Angi's at every size. A 1.5 ton unit is $1,800 to $6,500 and a 5 ton unit is $3,300 to $9,300. In the estimator, a size replaces the starting row.
| Unit size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 ton | $1,800 | $4,400 | $6,500 |
| 2 ton | $2,000 | $4,800 | $6,800 |
| 3 ton | $2,500 | $5,250 | $7,800 |
| 4 ton | $3,100 | $5,900 | $8,700 |
| 5 ton | $3,300 | $6,300 | $9,300 |
Unit sizes in tons. In the estimator they replace the starting row.
See each source's figures
1.5 ton
- Angi: $1,300 to $4,000. Updated July 20, 2026; accessed October 21, 2026. The page is inconsistent about whether its totals include installation, and it lists ductwork, electrical work and old-unit removal as extra.
- HomeGuide: $4,700 to $6,500. Updated July 25, 2025; accessed October 21, 2026. Installed figures for basic installation, not including ductwork changes.
- Fixr: $1,800 to $7,000. Updated January 28, 2026; accessed October 21, 2026. Described as materials and labor for a 3-ton central unit. Old-unit haul-away is not always included.
2 ton
- Angi: $1,500 to $5,000. Updated July 20, 2026; accessed October 21, 2026. The page is inconsistent about whether its totals include installation, and it lists ductwork, electrical work and old-unit removal as extra.
- HomeGuide: $5,000 to $6,800. Updated July 25, 2025; accessed October 21, 2026. Installed figures for basic installation, not including ductwork changes.
- Fixr: $2,000 to $7,600. Updated January 28, 2026; accessed October 21, 2026. Described as materials and labor for a 3-ton central unit. Old-unit haul-away is not always included.
3 ton
- Angi: $2,000 to $5,500. Updated July 20, 2026; accessed October 21, 2026. The page is inconsistent about whether its totals include installation, and it lists ductwork, electrical work and old-unit removal as extra.
- HomeGuide: $5,800 to $7,800. Updated July 25, 2025; accessed October 21, 2026. Installed figures for basic installation, not including ductwork changes.
- Fixr: $2,500 to $8,000. Updated January 28, 2026; accessed October 21, 2026. Described as materials and labor for a 3-ton central unit. Old-unit haul-away is not always included.
4 ton
- Angi: $2,600 to $6,200. Updated July 20, 2026; accessed October 21, 2026. The page is inconsistent about whether its totals include installation, and it lists ductwork, electrical work and old-unit removal as extra.
- HomeGuide: $6,500 to $8,800. Updated July 25, 2025; accessed October 21, 2026. Installed figures for basic installation, not including ductwork changes.
- Fixr: $3,100 to $8,700. Updated January 28, 2026; accessed October 21, 2026. Described as materials and labor for a 3-ton central unit. Old-unit haul-away is not always included.
5 ton
- Angi: $2,800 to $6,800. Updated July 20, 2026; accessed October 21, 2026. The page is inconsistent about whether its totals include installation, and it lists ductwork, electrical work and old-unit removal as extra.
- HomeGuide: $7,000 to $9,500. Updated July 25, 2025; accessed October 21, 2026. Installed figures for basic installation, not including ductwork changes.
- Fixr: $3,300 to $9,300. Updated January 28, 2026; accessed October 21, 2026. Described as materials and labor for a 3-ton central unit. Old-unit haul-away is not always included.
What adds to the price
Angi and Fixr price new ductwork separately. A typical figure is $4,500, within $2,200 to $6,750. It is added in full when selected; skip it if your existing ducts can be reused.
| Additional work | Typical | Range | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|
| New ductwork, if needed | $4,500 | $2,200 to $6,750 | Central AC, existing ductwork |
Ductwork is added once when selected.
See each source's figures
New ductwork, if needed
- Angi: $3,000 to $7,500. Updated July 20, 2026; accessed October 21, 2026. The page is inconsistent about whether its totals include installation, and it lists ductwork, electrical work and old-unit removal as extra.
- Fixr: $1,400 to $6,000. Updated January 28, 2026; accessed October 21, 2026. Described as materials and labor for a 3-ton central unit. Old-unit haul-away is not always included.
Labor, efficiency and ductwork
Fixr gives its own labor figure, and HomeGuide also prices central AC by efficiency tier and with new ductwork. These stay separate from the combined ranges.
Labor
This is Fixr's own labor figure, shown for context. It is not added, because the installed ranges already include labor.
- Labor for a central system
- $500 to $2,500, or $75 to $250 per hour
- Source: Fixr
Efficiency tiers and ductwork
These figures come from HomeGuide alone. They are shown as published and are not combined with the other sources.
- Installed cost by efficiency tier, July 2025
- $5,000 to $8,300 entry-level, $8,300 to $12,500 mid-range, $12,500 to $14,000 or more high-end
- Source: HomeGuide
- Central AC with ductwork, installed
- $9,000 to $16,000
- Source: HomeGuide
Estimate your installation
Choose a unit size if you know it, and whether you need new ductwork. Area level picks a part of the sourced range; it is not a local price. For other systems, see the heat pump and furnace guides.
Typical estimate
$6,000
Estimated range, not a quote
$5,500 to $8,250
Assumptions
- Installed base: Central AC, existing ductwork, no size selected.
- Average area level uses low-to-typical and typical-to-high midpoints as bounds, with the sourced typical unchanged.
- No applicable extras included.
- Extras are added in full, and sourced installed ranges are treated as not including them.
- Labor rows are informational only and are not added to installed costs.
Where these numbers come from
Angi, HomeGuide and Fixr supply the published figures. Their dates and scope notes are shown below. The checked date records when the dataset was reviewed, not a promise that prices are unchanged.
Angi
How Much Does It Cost to Install a New AC Unit?Updated: July 20, 2026. Accessed: October 21, 2026.
The page is inconsistent about whether its totals include installation, and it lists ductwork, electrical work and old-unit removal as extra
HomeGuide
How Much Does It Cost to Install an AC Unit?Updated: July 25, 2025. Accessed: October 21, 2026.
Installed figures for basic installation, not including ductwork changes
Fixr
Air Conditioner Installation CostUpdated: January 28, 2026. Accessed: October 21, 2026.
Described as materials and labor for a 3-ton central unit. Old-unit haul-away is not always included
The low and high are the medians of the published bounds. For an even set, the median is the mean of the central pair. Typical is the median of the source midpoints. Derived figures round to twenty-five-dollar steps below a thousand dollars and fifty-dollar steps at or above it, with exact halves rounded up. The estimator selects its base bounds, adds selected ductwork in full and rounds the final totals.
How we calculateQuestions people ask
What is a typical central air conditioner installation cost?
- On existing ductwork, the typical figure is $6,000, within $5,000 to $10,500. New ductwork, if needed, adds $2,200 to $6,750.
How does unit size change the price?
- Larger units cost more in every source, but the spread is wide. A 2 ton unit is $2,000 to $6,800, a 3 ton unit is $2,500 to $7,800 and a 4 ton unit is $3,100 to $8,700.
Why are HomeGuide's figures higher?
- The sources price different scopes. HomeGuide gives installed figures for a basic installation, while Angi is inconsistent about whether its totals include installation. HomeGuide runs higher than Angi and Fixr at every size.
Does a high-efficiency unit cost more?
- HomeGuide prices efficiency tiers separately: $5,000 to $8,300 entry-level, $8,300 to $12,500 mid-range, $12,500 to $14,000 or more high-end. These figures come from one source and are not combined with the others.
Should I compare central AC with a heat pump?
- A heat pump can cool and heat, so it may replace both an air conditioner and a furnace. See the heat pump and furnace guides on this site for their own sourced ranges.
Compare written quotes for the same unit size and scope, rather than judging a quote against the typical figure alone. Ask whether ductwork, electrical work and old-unit removal are included, and keep the source dates beside the comparison.