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The price of a new air conditioner depends mostly on the type of system, its size in kilowatts and how much work it takes to connect the indoor and outdoor parts. This guide covers what installers quoted on Service.com.au, what pushes a quote up, and how to choose between portable, split, evaporative and ducted systems.
How much does air conditioning installation cost?
These are the prices air conditioning installers and technicians quoted for common jobs through Service.com.au in the 12 months to October 2026:
| Job | Typical quote (median) | Most quotes fell between (middle half) |
|---|---|---|
| Split system up to 3.5 kW, supplied and installed | $1,500 | $1,100 to $2,100 |
| Air conditioner service or clean | $300 | $250 to $450 |
| Repair or fault-finding | $300 | $250 to $450 |
A quote given without a site visit can change once the installer sees where the units will go, so treat these figures as a starting point.
A portable unit may be around $600 to $800 to buy as an approximate product budget. Follow its venting and power-supply instructions; that purchase price is separate from the installed split-system quotes above. Evaporative, ducted and multi-head installations need a quote for the design, capacity, equipment and site rather than a generic whole-home allowance.
If you want the price of the unit itself rather than the installation, see our guide to how much air conditioning costs.
What pushes an installation quote up?
Most installers price a standard split system install on the assumption that the indoor unit and the outdoor unit sit on opposite sides of the same wall, close to the ground. Your quote rises as the job moves away from that.
- Pipe length. When the outdoor unit has to go further away, the installer runs longer refrigerant pipe and cable, and often covers it in ducting along the wall.
- Height and access. An outdoor unit on a second-storey wall or on the roof needs brackets, ladders or extra hands.
- Wall type. Drilling through double brick or concrete takes longer than drilling through weatherboard or plasterboard.
- Power supply. Larger units often need their own circuit, and an older switchboard may need work before it can take one.
- Removing the old unit. Taking out and disposing of an old system adds time.
- Size. A bigger unit costs more to buy and is heavier to mount.
Tip: Send each installer photos of the inside wall, the spot for the outdoor unit and your switchboard. You will get quotes that are closer to the final price and easier to compare.
What type of air conditioning is good for you?
Start with how many rooms you want to cool and how often. Ask the installer to size the system for the room dimensions, insulation, glazing and climate. Capacity alone is not a reliable guide to the rooms a unit will serve.
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Portable air conditioners
A portable unit sits on the floor, plugs into a power point and vents hot air through a hose out a window. It suits a renter or a single room you only use on the hottest days. It cools less than a split system and is noisier, because the compressor sits in the room with you.
Split systems
A split system has an indoor head on the wall and an outdoor unit holding the compressor and condenser, joined by refrigerant pipes. It suits a bedroom or living area, and reverse cycle models heat as well as cool. Size it to the room: installers will ask about floor area, ceiling height, windows and which way the room faces.
Multi-head split systems
A multi-head system runs two or more indoor heads from one outdoor unit. It saves wall space outside and suits a home where you want to cool a few rooms without ducting. Expect a larger outdoor unit and more pipe work, so it costs more than a single split.
Evaporative cooling
Evaporative coolers pass air over water-soaked pads and push it through the house. They work best in dry heat and need windows open to let the moist air out, so they do less in humid weather.
Ducted systems
A ducted system hides one large unit in the roof space and sends air through vents in the ceiling of each room. It cools or heats the whole home at once and can be zoned so you only run the rooms in use. Ductwork, zoning and access affect its installed price. A ceiling-based design needs enough suitable space for the unit and ducts; other layouts need their own design.
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How much do air conditioning technicians charge?
For work on a system you already have, technicians on Service.com.au typically quoted $300 for a service or clean and $300 for a repair or fault-finding visit in the 12 months to October 2026, with most quotes for each between $250 and $450.
For a new installation, these are the things a technician weighs up when pricing the job:
- the type and size of the unit, and whether it needs special handling;
- how many units are going in;
- how much refrigerant pipe and cable is needed to connect the indoor and outdoor units;
- for ducted systems, how much ducting has to be run through the roof;
- how easy it is to get to both the inside wall and the outdoor unit's spot.
Licences and electrical work
For work involving regulated refrigerant, check that the technician holds the appropriate ARC refrigerant handling licence. A restricted installation licence does not authorise every service or repair task. Confirm the licence scope for the equipment and work, and ask who will undertake the electrical connection under your state's electrical licensing rules. Refrigerant credentials alone do not establish electrical authorisation.
How to get accurate installation quotes
Installers price from what you tell them, so give each one the same details:
- The rooms you want to cool and their rough size.
- The brand and model if you have already bought the unit, or the size in kW you were advised.
- Where the outdoor unit can go, and how far that is from the indoor head.
- Whether an old unit needs to come out.
- Photos of the wall, the outdoor spot and the switchboard.
Ask each installer what the quote includes: the unit, brackets, pipe length, electrical work and removal of the old system. Ask which licences they hold for refrigerant handling and who will do the electrical connection. You can compare installers and request quotes from air conditioning installers on Service.com.au. Posting your job is free.