Central Air Conditioner Reviews and Prices 2024

Note: This article only talks about the central air conditioner. If you are looking for a window AC or mini-split AC, you can read our Best Window Air Conditioners or Best Mini-split AC Guide.

How much does a central air conditioner cost installed? We answer that question in detail in this central AC price guide. The comprehensive discussion covers 4 important factors:

Each factor affects the price. When you read elsewhere that “the average central air conditioner costs $5,000 installed,” that information alone doesn’t tell you enough. For that cost, the unit could be a cheap, large and inefficient AC suitable for a large home in the North, or it could be a medium-sized, high-efficiency and high-quality model suitable for small homes in hot climates.

Here are the topics addressed in this Central Air Conditioner Price and Review Guide:

Factors Affecting AC Unit Price

Let’s consider those 4 important keys to central air conditioner cost. This input will allow you to determine the ac unit that is right for your home.

1. Quality

Not all air conditioner brands offer similar quality. Here are the top companies divided by their place in the market. We’ve put brands together in parenthesis that have the same parent company and essentially the same product lineup:

• Budget brands – (lowest cost, 12 to 16-year durability): Examples are Payne, Aire-Flo, Airtemp, Goodman and Ameristar.
• Standard brands – (moderate cost, 15 to 18-year durability): Examples are (Heil, Arcoaire, ComfortMaker, KeepRite and Tempstar), (Armstrong and Ducane), (Rheem and Ruud), (Daikin and Amana), (Luxaire, York and Coleman), (Maytag, Broan, Westinghouse, Tappan, Frigidaire, Nordyne and NuTone), Bosch
• Premium brands – (highest cost, 18 to 25-year durability): Examples are Lennox, (American Standard and Trane), (Carrier, Bryant and Day & Night)

Many sister brands make air conditioners that are identical except for the name. These air conditioner lists from Heil and Tempstar demonstrate the point.

Interestingly, all the brands in that group are owned by United Technology Corporation, the parent company of Carrier and Bryant in the premium category. This shows that UTC is seeking to capture consumers in various segments of the market. Lennox does the same thing with its Ducane and Aire-Flo brands.

2. Performance

Regardless of the quality niche they’re in, all brands make units in one or more of these performance categories:

• Basic performance: These are single-stage central air conditioners with a SEER efficiency rating of 13-15. They are loud and might produce temperature fluctuations or cold spots in your home. All brands make “Basic” ACs.
• Better performance: These are two-stage central air conditioners with SEER ratings of 16-19. They run on low, which is about 65 percent capacity, most of the time, so are quieter than single-stage units and cool more evenly. They’re more effective at dehumidifying your home too. Most brands make “Better” performance air conditioners.
• Best performance: These are variable-capacity central air conditioners, called modulating or variable-speed by some brands. These units have compressors that modulate by very small degrees between 25 percent and 100 percent capacity with the result that the units are the quietest, most efficient, best at removing humidity and produce the most balanced temperatures. Variable-capacity ACs have SEER ratings as high as 26. These “Best” units are made by Standard and Premium brands.

3. Efficiency

The term SEER stands Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. Like gas mileage ratings, SEER is a rating of how many Btu’s of cooling the unit can produce for the electricity it uses. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the unit is.

Choosing the right efficiency rating for your purposes is discussed below.

You can also use our SEER Savings Calculator to compare yearly savings for different SEER units.

4. Size (Ton)

Each residential AC model is produced in a range of sizes. Some start at 18,000 Btu while others start at 24,000 Btu. This is a measurement of the amount of heat per hour the units remove from your home. Most central air conditioner models increase incrementally by 6,000 to 12,000 Btu. The largest residential units are 60,000 Btu.

Within the industry, sizes are also spoken of in “tons”, a term that dates to using tons of ice to cool buildings. One ton of air conditioning capacity is equivalent to 12,000 Btu’s of cooling.

Our simple AC Sizing Calculator can help you get a more accurate AC size for your house in a minute.

2023 Central Air Conditioner Prices

(Updated on Feb 7th, 2023)

Air conditioner prices are rising for a range of reasons including higher manufacturing costs, tariffs and the fact that today’s ACs are more efficient than ever before.

Because of that, we’ve updated pricing, so here are 2023 central air conditioner prices for all brands and ACs by size from 1.5 ton/18,000 BTUs to 5 ton/60,000 BTU.

What’s In These 2024 Air Conditioner Price Quotes?

The prices in the tables include everything – a complete system.

We’ve priced them in separate columns for:

1). Just the equipment

2). The whole system installed.

Most brands including the top names like Trane, Carrier and Lennox, are sold as a package: The equipment plus installation. You can only get them from local brand dealers and HVAC installers.

We itemize equipment and installation to see where your money will be going.

What’s in a Central Air Conditioning System?

A central air conditioner system is more than just the condensing unit – the outdoor unit usually referred to as the air conditioner.

If you sign a contract for a new air conditioning system, it will (at least should) include the following.

• Condensing unit – outdoor unit
• Indoor coil – housed in or near the furnace or air handler
• Refrigerant line set to connect the coil in the condensing unit to the indoor coil
• Refrigerant to fill the system, if the unit is not pre-filled or if the refrigerant line set is longer than usual.

Central AC Prices Table – AC + Installation

The prices in these table include all the equipment and materials plus AC installation labor cost.

Note: The price ranges are very broad for 2 reasons.

1). They cover all sizes, from 1.5 to 5.0 tons

2). They cover all series from basic to better to best, plus the lowest efficiency to the highest efficiency.

For example, Carrier makes Comfort (basic – up to 16 SEER), Performance (better – Up to 17 SEER) and Infinity (Best – Up to 21 SEER). Most brands make a similar range.

For a more detailed breakdown of costs, see our Brand Reviews and Price Guides for major air conditioner brands.

Brand	Equipment Only	Installed Cost
Aire-Flo*	$1,900 - $4,270	$2,920 - $5,730
Amana	$1,920 - $5,290	$3,630 - $8,560
American Standard	$2,470 - $7,000	$4,300 - $10,620
Armstrong/Air Ease	$2,300 - $5,660	$4,070 - $9,750
Bryant	$3,200 - $7,190	$4,300 - $9,940
Carrier	$3,420 - $7,680	$4,620 - $10,860
Coleman	$2,560 - $5,610	$4,410 - $9,310
Comfortmaker	$2,070 - $5,170	$4,130 - $9,020
Daikin	$2,320 - $5,540	$3,820 - $9,900
Day & Night	$2,310 - $5,090	$3,760 - $9,070
Ducane*	$2,110 - $3,950	$3,410 - $7,050
Frigidaire	$2,500 - $5,630	$4,170 - $9,260
Gibson*	$2,390 - $3,930	$4,000 - $6,110
Goodman	$1,590 - $4,080	$2,850 - $6,920
Heil	$2,090 - $5,300	$3,730 - $8,990
Janitrol	Discontinued	Discontinued
Keeprite	$2,090 - $5,240	$3,650 - $6,700
Lennox	$3,160 - $7,230	$4,750 - $10,780
Luxaire	$2,610 - $6,020	$4,590 - $9,580
Maytag	$2,310 - $5,580	$4,490 - $10,070
Nordyne	Discontinued	Discontinued
Payne*	$1,950 - $3,920	$3,910 - $6,770
Rheem	$3,460 - $6,660	$4,730 - $9,410
Ruud	$3,460 - $6,590	$4,700 - $9,300
Tempstar	$2,130 - $5,240	$3,590 - $6,820
Trane	$3,370 - $7,440	$4,360 - $10,520
York	$2,590 - $5,980	$4,440 - $9,620

*Aire Flo, Ducane, Gibson, Payne and a few other brands make a limited range of basic ACs.

Prices might vary slightly from page to page on Pick HVAC. This is because we consistently monitor and update AC prices to give you the most accurate numbers available.

Central AC Prices by Unit Size

If you know what size unit you have or need, this chart will help you narrow your cost.

We’ve included a rough idea of home size, but you cannot be sure of the size AC unit you need without a pro technician doing a load calculation, such as a Manual J, that measures 10+ factors including home size, style, construction materials, door/windows, climate and more.

Here are central air conditioner prices by size.

AC Unit Size	Home Size	Equipment Cost	Installed Cost
1.5 tons	600 - 1000 sf	$1,880 - $3,460	$2,840 - $4,620
2.0 tons	1001 - 1300 sf	$2,260 - $4,290	$3,410 - $5,740
2.5 tons	1301 - 1600 sf	$2,700 - $5,090	$3,610 - $6,700
3.0 tons	1601 - 1900 sf	$3,050 - $5,830	$4,590 - $7,930
3.5 tons	1901 - 2200 sf	$3,400 - $6,560	$4,860 - $8,970
4.0 tons	2201 - 2600 sf	$3,470 - $7,020	$5,060 - $9,360
5.0 tons	2601 - 3200 sf	$3,820 - $7,590	$5,750 - $11,170

Central AC Installation Cost and Extras

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

$1,400 – $3,500 | Central Air Conditioner Installation Cost for Labor

This cost is based on many factors including:

• Brand name – Carrier and Bryant cost more than Heil and Day & Night even thought the equipment is nearly identical and all brands are owned by United Technologies Corporation (UTC)
• Difficulty of the installation
• Distance from the condensing unit (outdoor unit) to the indoor coil
• Size of the AC unit and coil – more refrigerant is needed for larger systems, and refrigerant is expensive
• Who you hire (general AC installer or brand-certified installer)
• Size of the installation company (smaller companies with less overhead sometimes charge lower rates)
• Where you live – Cost of living in your area will affect AC installation cost

This price includes everything – removing old AC equipment, if needed, setting the new condensing unit, installing the new indoor coil, replacement of the refrigerant lines and topping off the system with refrigerant if necessary.

Itemized AC Installation Costs

Here’s a breakdown of costs associated with the installation of a new or replacement central air conditioner. As noted, refrigerant line, refrigerant and indoor coil are included in the above costs.

The prices below show where your money is going – or where you might need to spend extra money for system components like a condensing unit pad, ductwork, thermostat or zoning controls.

Brand New Ductwork: If your house has never been installed with an HVAC system before, you need to pay extra money for it.

$2,000-$4,000 | Quality R-6 insulated ductwork

Related Article: HVAC Ductwork Cost Guide

Condensing unit pad: Most installers won’t put a condensing unit directly on the ground, so a pre-fab pad can be used or a concrete slab can be poured.

$20-$150 | Condensing unit pad

Refrigerant lineset: There are two lines. One carries refrigerant from the coil in the condensing unit to the indoor coil; the second returns the refrigerant to the outdoor coil. Linesets from 20 to 50 feet are produced; length affects cost.

$120-$400 | Refrigerant lineset

Evaporator coil: This indoor coil can be a cased coil that installs on top of your furnace or an uncased coil that installs in the furnace cabinet. The indoor coil, known as the evaporator coil, collects heat from the air circulating over the coil. The heat transfers into the refrigerant, and it is carried to the outdoor coil where it is released. As heat is removed from the air, the indoor coil gets cold enough to condense moisture. Drier air in summer is more comfortable. The condensed moisture is collected in a drain pan. The evaporator coil must be sized to the capacity of the central air conditioning system.

$175-$500 | Uncased evaporator coil

$225-$575 | Cased evaporator coil

Thermostat: If your new central air conditioner or complete HVAC system has features the old one didn’t, you’ll probably need to replace your thermostat. You might want to do this anyway if you currently don’t have a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat that allows you to monitor and control your heating and cooling using your smartphone and an app.

$12-$100 | Non-programmable thermostat

$15-$124 | Basic programmable thermostat

$135-$500 | Wi-Fi programmable thermostat

HVAC Zoning Controls:

The cost of zoning system is typically around $2,000 to $3,500 depending on the number of zones. For more information, read our HVAC Zoning System Cost Guide.

Other HVAC Optional Add-ons: There are a couple of optional add-ons you may have heard of. Those of you, who are interested in them, can take a look at:

• Do I Need HVAC UV Lights?
• Dehumidifier for HVAC System? Is That Worth the Money?
• Do I Need an Air Purifier Add-on for HVAC System? Is it Worth the Money?
• Best Air Conditioner and Furnace Filters

What Size Air Conditioner Do I Need?

Getting the right size ac unit is essential to your indoor comfort and to the durability of the system. An AC unit that is too small will work too hard and might not cool the space effectively. This will also lead to premature mechanical failure. A unit too large will over-cool your home, creating temperature swings. The unit might also short-cycle, a malfunction that can destroy an AC compressor in the condensing unit.

Before having a Manual-J calculation made, you can get a pretty accurate estimate of the size unit you’ll need with the following information.  First, find your location on this US Climate Zone map below.

Image Source: basc.pnnl.gov

The hotter your climate is, the more cooling power you’ll need per square foot of your home. This is a quick reference:

• Zones 1 & 2 (hot): 22-30 Btu/sq. ft.
• Zone 3 (warm): 20-24 Btu/sq. ft.
• Zone 4 (moderate): 18-22 Btu/sq. ft.
• Zone 5 (cool): 16-20 Btu/sq. ft.
• Zone 6 (cold): 14-18 Btu/sq. ft.
• Zone 7 (very cold): 12-16 Btu/sq. ft.

To give you an idea of how these numbers might translate into your home, let’s turn them into central AC unit sizes for an average house of 2,000 square feet in each of the climate zones:

• Zones 1 & 2 (hot): 2,000 x 24-30 = a 44,000 to 60,000 Btu (4.0-5.0 ton)
• Zone 3 (warm): 2,000 x 20-24 = a 40,000 to 48,000 Btu (3.5-4.0 ton)
• Zone 4 (moderate): 2,000 x 18-22 = a 36,000 to 44,000 Btu (3.0-3.5 ton)
• Zone 5 (cool): 2,000 x 16-20 = a 32,000 to 40,000 Btu (2.5-3.5 ton)
• Zone 6 (cold): 2,000 x 14-18 = a 28,000 to 36,000 Btu (2.0-3.0 ton)
• Zone 7 (very cold): 2,000 x 12-16 = a 24,000 to 32,000 Btu (2.0-2.5 ton)

The range in sizes is the result of factors related to your home’s construction. In short, homes with more insulation, energy-efficient windows and doors and light-colored roofing need fewer Btu’s of cooling.

Summarizing the sizing of a central air conditioner, keep in mind:

• A home in a cool climate requires a smaller central air conditioner than the same home would need in a hot climate
• A replacement AC should be smaller if the home’s insulation has been upgraded or other energy-efficiency modifications have been made
• A replacement AC should be larger if additional space, such as a finished basement or converted garage, is to be air conditioned

What Efficiency (SEER) is Right for You?

How efficient should your central AC be? If eco-friendly heating and cooling is the highest priority, then buy the most efficient system you can afford. Since the most efficient ACs are also the best performers, the answer is the same if superior indoor climate control and comfort is your goal.

When cost-efficient air conditioning of your home is what you want, finding the right balance between equipment cost and energy cost is the key. Referring to the Climate Zone chart again:

• Zones 1 & 2 (hot): 18 SEER and up
• Zone 3 (very warm): 17-18 SEER
• Zone 4 (warm): 16-18 SEER
• Zone 5 (moderate): 15-16 SEER
• Zone 6 (cool): 15-16 SEER
• Zone 7 (cool): Up to 15 SEER

The above SEERs are roughly estimated. We also developed a SEER Savings Calculator to help find a better balance between equipment cost and electricity cost.

There are a few more factors to consider.

Moist air is harder to cool, so if high humidity is common in your area, then getting a more efficient AC Units will reduce energy costs and make your home more comfortable.

The longer you intend to live in your current home, the more cost-effective a very efficient central air conditioner will be because its higher cost will be recouped when spread over more years.

If you plan to sell soon, you won’t get the long-term energy cost savings of an efficient air conditioner. However, keep in mind that some potential buyers will want to know how efficient your AC is, especially in warm and/or humid parts of the country.

Best Central Air Conditioner Reviews by Brands

Related Article: Best Central Air Conditioner Brands 2023

• Most Efficient Central AC 2023
• Trane Central Air Conditioning Reviews
• Carrier Air Conditioner Reviews
• Goodman Air Conditioner Reviews
• Lennox Air Conditioner Reviews
• Bryant Air Conditioner Reviews 
• Armstrong Air Conditioner Reviews
• Amana Central Air Conditioner Reviews
• Ruud Air Conditioner Reviews
• Rheem Air Conditioner Reviews
• York AC Units Reviews
• American Standard AC Units Reviews
• Payne Central AC Units Reviews
• Comfortmaker/Tempstar AC Units Reviews
• Frigidaire/Maytag Air Conditioner Reviews
• Luxaire/Coleman Air Conditioner Reviews

Note: Before you dive into brands/companies reviews, we strongly recommend you spend 70% of your research time on finding a qualified contractor. HVAC system is not a traditional appliance and most brands are reliable.

You may be also interested in the brand’s comparison posts:

• Trane vs Carrier vs Lennox Air Conditioner Review
• Carrier vs Bryant vs Day & Night Air Conditioner

Checking Contractor’s Background

Actually, 80% of repair problems are caused by bad installation instead of bad brands or units. Checking a contractor’s background is essential to ensure skill, experience, good reputation and certification.

Start by checking whether the contractor is certified by a trade organization such as the HVAC Excellence or North American Technician Excellence. To check their reputation, the Consumer Affairs Office and the Better Business Bureau are good sources of information such as complaints. For more information, you can read 6 Hacks Of Choosing an HVAC Contractor

Submitted AC Unit Cost and Reviews

ModelPriceHome LocationHome Size
Trane XL18, 5 ton$11,500Eatonton, GA2100 sq ft
New larger return, remove manufactured home system & block, new thermostat, new wiring and breaker. 0% financing and military discount.
Trane XR16$5,475Stuart, Florida1935 sq ft
Air handler and ac outside replacement 3.5 ton outside unit and variable speed air handler
Trane XV18, Trane XC80$21,400Allen, TX4600 sq ft
2 systems. XV18 5 ton variable speed a/c. XC80 2 stage 100000 BTU 5 ton variable speed furnace. Trane 5 ton cased coil. Trane ComfortLink II XL 1050 thermostat. Includes: emergency drain pan, drain switch, thermostat, A/C pad, driers, acid scavenger. New plenum and combo box with Honeywell media filter. 2 additional 12x10 returns. Standard Trane Warranty. Dealer's free 5 year bi-annual maintenance. 10 hour, 2 crew attic installation. Removed old systems.
Carrier comfort series 24AAA5$13,000(Include Ductwork)Chatsworth, CA2350 sq ft
LA County must have Ultra low NOX furnaces. This includes new ducting in the attic and they will wrap the metal fiberglass wrapped ducting in the garage to make it look nicer. Also includes the iwave R air purifier. I had 5 estimates with LENNOX topping out at 18k. Only one company was slightly lower but they quoted me on an 80k BTU furnace and I currently have 100k. The company I went with is a family owned company that appears to be very professional. Install is scheduled next week. Everything is Carrier including the thermostat. They originally quoted 14188 but I offered 13k and they agreed. My current LENNOX unit is 41 years old and still blows cold but every summer we cross our fingers that it does not go out and finally decided its time. If this new one lasts 20 years I will be happy and 81 years old.
Carrier Performance 14 Compact 24AHA4$7,500San Diego2017 sq ft
The price including the following items: Condenser Carrier 24AHA448 Left wing of the house Condensing unit, slim line, up to 15 SEER 4 ton Furnace Carrier 58SB1A090E2116 Garage Comfort 80% , Single Stage Heating , ECM Blower Motor Evaporative Coil Carrier CNPVP4821ALA Garage Evaporative coil, high efficiency
Lennox ML14XC1-041$4,139Boca Raton, FL1600 sq ft
Original cost was $4,987. Instant rebate of $698 for payment in cash. Utility rebate $150. Although the salesperson indicated that the water pump was included, it was not included in the sales contract. However, there were issues and delays during the installation and we got the water pump "for free". The condenser was damaged. Lennox did not have the replacement part or another condenser. We got the condenser the following day.
Lennox XC20$15,534Mesa AZ1753 sq ft
4 ton Lennox Xc20 and furnace SL280 with s30 thermostat and one new duct to master bedroom
Amana ASX16-048-1F$4100 Installed w/ evap coreMississauga, Ontario3500 sq ft
19 year old Amana RCC42A2B 12 SEER condenser had broken down. The cost of repair (replacement of cracked and now discontinued condenser coil) was quoted to be 3 week lead special order at 50% of the newer and 20-22% more efficient 16 SEER unit. Evaporator core in the airhandler (furnace) had to be replaced because the old system was running on R-22 refrigerant and all new ones run on R-410A. Looked at perfectly matching Lennox unit EL16XC1 (and it came in at 5.3% cheaper), however, based on existing relationship with local Amana dealer decided to stay with the brand and it's newer product line for their post sales customer support and fast emergency service response times.
American Standard Silver 15$4690.00 PLUS TAXPORT TOWNSEND, WA.1530 sq ft
Included air handler, american standard model tem6aob30
Armstrong 4SCU14$5150 installed with separate gas heat unitGardendale, AL1700 sq ft two story (850 sq ft per floor)
Replaced a 30y/o Rudd unit on 6/1/19 with this Armstrong unit based on Consumer Reports reliability ratings and local HVAC guys recommendation. Already have had to replace the inside coil due to Dirty Sock syndrome (caused by using recycled aluminum to build the coil cheaper-bacteria builds up on the coil easier due to the porous nature of it) and then the compressor fan failed about a month ago. So two warranty issues in less than a year. It does cool well but is somewhat noisy compared to my Rheem unit that I still have for 2nd floor. Now looking to replace my Rheem unit due to age but probably going to spend the extra and go Trane.
Daikin 3-ton 16 seer (DX16SA0371)$11,000.00Norwalk CA1200 sq ft
First time install for this house without any HVAC before. Full install.
Day & Night FEM4x4800BL$11,000(Include Ductwork)Costa Mesa2000 sq ft
2 phase. Current house at 958 sq feet to then expand when we finish remodel to 2000 sq feet. includes all new duct work and brand new installation (no old unit). they are replacing a Split. Also, the attic is short which make install difficult. 9000 for phase 1 and 2000 more when they come back in 1-2 years to get the rest of the new build of house
Goodman GSX14$8,200(Include Ductwork)Slidell2330 Lower + 2500 Upper
New Construction of a 2 unit duplex, upper and lower. Seperate systems and ductwork.
Payne PA15NC 4-ton$4,500Brentwood,CA1810 sq ft
This is to replace my 18 years old Trane XL14i outdoor condenser unit only.I kept the old American Standard evaporator coil and Trane furnace, because dealers charge $2000+ for a new coil and another $2000-3000 for furnace replacement.The technician came to cut the old unit off and haul it away, install new unit, braze the 2 lines, do linesets flush and Nitrogen pressure check, vacuum the air out from the system, release the factory pre charged N410A into the coil and add more according to the line length.It runs quietly,much smaller than my old one, so far so good, I don't expect this could last for 18 years, 12-15 years would be appreciated.
York PHE4824$6,900Pioneertown2000
Unit is on the roof. Need a crane to replace the existing one (25-28 years old)

This table is based on local customers feedback and online submitted information, we will update this table every 3-6 months to keep this up to date. Last Update: Jan 2021

How to Get the Best Air Conditioner 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.

Are you in the market for a complete HVAC system? See our Heating and AC Unit Combo Prices or Gas Furnace Cost for complete information on heating.