Ductless mini-split air conditioners provide versatile cooling to homes that lack ductwork, though the prices may be all over the map.
The average total cost of most residential ductless AC installations in the U.S. is between approximately 2,000 and 15,000 dollars, with a majority of projects falling somewhere between 3,000-5,000 dollars.
The cost is based on the cooling capacity of the unit (BTUs), area to be cooled, amount of indoor zones and the brand of the system. An example is that a one-room single-zone mini-split may cost between 2,000 and 6,000 dollars to install, whereas a multi-zone system to cover an entire house may cost up to 10,000 dollars. We are going to deconstruct the prices of ductless ACs by BTU, square footage, zone count, and brand below.
Ductless AC Unit-Only Vs Installed Cost
When budgeting a ductless AC, one should make a difference between the unit-only cost and the installed cost. Unit-only cost is the price of just the mini-split equipment (outdoor condenser + indoor air handler), but the installed cost adds the unit and any professional installation labor and any other materials or electrical work.
The cost of a ductless mini-split unit is usually a few hundred dollars of small units to about 6,000-8,000 dollars of high-capacity or multi-zone units. It is also costly to employ an HVAC expert to install it. A ductless AC usually requires additional professional installation labor of $500 to $2,000 (per zone) and even more with multi-zone systems.
As a breakdown of costs indicates, there are a number of components in installing a mini-split:
- Ductless AC system (equipment): $1,500 – $8,000 (multi-zone systems; single-zone units are frequently $700-$3,000)
- Installation labor: $500 – $2000 (per system, depending on complexity and location)
- Electrical circuit & wiring: $150 – $800 (in case a new 110-240V circuit must be installed to the unit)
- Carpentry (drilling holes in the walls): $200 – $400 (to drill holes to put refrigerant lines and fix the units) Refrigerant line set: $70 – $400 (copper lines, insulation and fittings to the refrigerant)
- Old AC removal (optional): $80 – $150 (to remove and dispose of any existing equipment, should there be any)
- Permits: 250-400 dollars (average permit fees to install HVAC equipment)
This is the total installed price which is determined by all these factors. The mini-split unit itself can be only half the total cost in many cases with the rest being labor and materials. Basically, the system works well with the convenience of a professional installation, which, however, adds quite a large portion to the final cost.
Ductless AC Cost By BTU (Cooling Capacity)
The BTUs (British Thermal Units) of a ductless AC is the measure of its cooling capacity.
Typical single-zone mini-split systems are available in sizes of about 6,000 BTU (0.5 ton) to cool a small room to 36,000 BTU (3 ton) to cool a large open space. Generally, the more BTU units are expensive.
Ductless systems are priced at about 1,500 to 2,000 dollars a ton (12,000 BTU) of cooling capacity, and thus the higher the BTUs, the higher the price. As an example, a mini-split with a 9,000 BTU (~3/4 ton) capacity may cost between about $600 and $2,300 just to get the unit, and a large 36,000 BTU unit may cost between about $1,800 and $6,000 just to get the unit.
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Labor to install is the same whether it is a small or a large unit (assuming one indoor zone) but the total installed cost is still higher on a larger unit due to the cost of the equipment.
| Cooling Capacity | Unit Price (No Install) | Installed Cost (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 6,000 BTU (0.5 ton) | $450 – $1,600 | $1,500 – $3,000 |
| 9,000 BTU (0.75 ton) | $600 – $2,300 | $2,000 – $4,000 |
| 12,000 BTU (1 ton) | $700 – $3,200 | $2,200 – $5,000 |
| 18,000 BTU (1.5 ton) | $1,000 – $4,200 | $2,500 –$6,000 |
| 24,000 BTU (2 ton) | $1,100 – $5,200 | $3,000 – $7,000 |
| 30,000 BTU (2.5 ton) | $1,600 – $5,700 | $3,500 – $8,000 |
| 36,000 BTU (3 ton) | $1,800 – $6,000 | $4,000 – $8,800 |
As the table indicates, a small 6,000 BTU unit can be much less than 1000 dollars (equipment cost) but a large 3-ton unit can be several thousand dollars.
To take an example, a 12,000 BTU (1 ton) mini-split costs approximately 700-3200 on the unit alone. That could cost about 2,500 to 5,000 dollars altogether with a normal installation.
Conversely, the largest-capacity single-zone systems (36,000 BTU) are usually on the high end, usually around $7,000-8,000 installed on a high-end model. You should select a BTU rating that is suitable to your area so that you do not end up paying more capacity that is not necessary or an undersized unit.
Ductless AC Cost By Square Footage
The other method of estimating ductless AC cost is based on the size of the area (square footage) which you want to cool.
In most cases, the bigger the space, the higher the BTU (and the more costly) unit is needed.
An approximate rule of thumb that HVAC contractors commonly apply in estimating cooling loads is 20 to 30 BTUs per square foot. As an example, cooling ~500 sq ft (a studio apartment or a large living room) will usually need a 12,000 BTU mini-split that will cost approximately $700-3200 just for the unit (installation not included).
Naturally, the precise sizing can be adjusted by such factors as the height of the ceiling, insulation, windows, and climate, but square footage provides a decent starting point.
| Area (Square Feet) | Recommended Capacity | Unit Price |
|---|---|---|
| 150 – 250 sq ft | 6,000 BTU (0.5 ton) | $450 – $1,600 |
| 300 – 400 sq ft | 9,000 BTU (0.75 ton) | $600 – $2,300 |
| 450 – 550 sq ft | 12,000 BTU (1 ton) | $700 – $3,200 |
| 600 – 1,000 sq ft | 18,000 BTU (1.5 ton) | $1,000 –$4,200 |
| 1,200 – 1,600 sq ft | 24,000 BTU (2 ton) | $1,100 – $5,200 |
| 1,600 – 1,900 sq ft | 30,000 BTU (2.5 ton) | $1,600 – $5,700 |
| 1,900 – 2,500 sq ft | 36,000 BTU (3 ton) | $1,800 – $6,000 |
| 2,500 – 3,000 sq ft | 42,000 BTU (3.5 ton) | $3,000 – $8,000 |
| > 3,000 sq ft | 48,000 – 60,000 BTU (4–5 ton) | $3,500 – $10,000 |
With the help of the above chart, it is possible to estimate the size of the unit required depending on the size of the room or home and the cost range can be observed. As an example, a 300-400 sq ft bedroom can be served by a 9,000 BTU unit whose hardware can cost approximately $600-$2300. A small house or a few rooms (1,500 sq ft) may need about 30,000 BTUs of cooling, and the mini-split system costs about 1,600-5,700 dollars. When there are several separate rooms that require cooling, then more than one unit or a multi-zone system might be required.
Ductless AC Cost By Number Of Zones
The number of indoor units (rooms or areas) that a ductless system can cool is called “zones”. A single-zone mini-split is a single air handler (indoor) and serves one room/zone.
Multi-zone mini-split systems have 2 to 5 indoor units, which are linked to a single outdoor compressor, and it is possible to cool several rooms. Of course, the multi-zone systems are more expensive than the single-zone ones. Every extra zone (indoor air handler) costs about 500-2000 dollars to the overall mini-split price. A residential system can usually have 4 or 5 zones per one outdoor unit.
| Zones (Indoor Units) | Average Installed Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 (single-zone) | $2,000 – $6,000 |
| 2 zones | $2,500 – $8,000 |
| 3 zones | $3,200 – $10,500 |
| 4 zones | $4,000 – $11,500 |
| 5 zones | $5,500–$13,000+ |
The increase in cost with the addition of zones is obvious. A ductless AC may be a single-zone at $2k to 6k installed and a five-zone whole-home system can be in the low teens (>$10k).
Practically, a 2-zone mini-split (e.g. one living room unit and one bedroom unit) would be about 2500-8000 dollars installed. A 3-zone system would cost approximately 3,000 to 10,000 dollars and up. These bands presuppose every indoor
Ductless AC Cost By Brand
The brand name of ductless mini-split may make a significant difference in cost.
Brands such as Mitsubishi, Daikin, and Fujitsu (and their U.S. partners like Trane or Rheem) are well-established and are known to be of good quality and reliable but are usually expensive.
Mid-range brands such as LG or Panasonic provide a compromise of price and functionality. In the meantime, the brands that are budget- or DIY-friendly, like Pioneer or MRCOOL, are likely to be cheaper in terms of initial cost of similar capacity units.
As an example, a one zone Mitsubishi 12,000 BTU system may be over $1,200 just to purchase the unit, but a similar MRCOOL or Pioneer unit may be considerably less than $1,000. The higher prices of premium brands are frequently associated with superior warranties, greater efficiency ratings or extra features (e.g. hyper-heating in cold climates). On the contrary, low-end brands compete primarily on price. The table below shows a comparison of the normal price ranges (equipment only) of the popular brands of ductless AC:
| Brand | Single-Zone Unit | Multi-Zone System |
|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi (Trane) | $1,200 – $4,000 | $2,600 – $7,800 |
| Fujitsu (Rheem) | $1,100 – $3,900 | $2,300 – $8,300 |
| Daikin | $900 – $4,700 | $2,500 – $7,600 |
| LG | $900 – $4,200 | $2,000–$7,600 |
| MRCOOL | $700 – $2,400 | $2,200 – $5,900 |
| Pioneer | $700 – $1,500 | $1,800 – $5,000 |
It is obvious that Mitsubishi and Fujitsu (and their rebranded analogs such as Trane/Rheem) are at the upper end of the price range, whereas such brands as MRCOOL and Pioneer are at the lower end.
There are budget mini-split brands that sell small systems 9,000 BTU under 1,000 dollars, and the high-end brands usually begin at 1,200+ dollars on the same capacity.
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The brand selection can be reduced to a budget versus features: more expensive brands may be more efficient (SEER ratings) or have longer warranties, which may save money in the long term even though they cost more to buy. Some brands, e.g. MRCOOL, sell DIY installation kits that are already charged with refrigerant and contain line sets, so that handy homeowners might conceivably install without a professional. Most of the high-end brands however need to be professionally installed by a certified HVAC contractor to make the warranty valid which is an aspect of comparison that should be taken into consideration when comparing the costs.
To conclude, the range of prices of ductless mini-split AC is broad. Knowing the price per BTU capacity, the area that will be cooled, the number of zones, and the brand, it will be simpler to determine the total budget. A modest single-room system of a low-end brand may be installed at a few thousands of dollars, and a whole-home, multi-zone system of a leading brand may cost more than 10,000 dollars.
To determine a precise cost, it is necessary to assess particular cooling requirements and receive several offers of qualified installers.
How to Get the Best HVAC Prices
- Firstly, keep in mind that installation quality is always the most important thing for residential HVAC project. So never sacrifice contractor quality for a lower price.
- Secondly, remember to look up the latest rebates as we talked above.
- Thirdly, ask for at least 3 bids before you make the decision. You can click here to get 3 free estimates from your local contractors, and this estimate already takes rebates and tax credit into consideration and filter unqualified contractors automatically.
Lastly, once you chose the right contractor, remember to use the tactics from this guide: Homeowners Tactics When Negotiating with HVAC Dealer to get the final best price.
