AC Compressor Prices and Installed Cost (By Ton and By Brand) 2025

The cost of replacing a central AC compressor in the U.S. is usually between 800 dollars and 2,300 dollars which includes the cost of the compressor unit and the cost of professional installation.

Most home owners spend an average of 1,200 dollars on the installation of a new compressor. It is also priced depending on the size (tonnage) of the AC unit and the brand of the compressor among others.

To illustrate, a low-end compressor of 1.5-ton can be at the bottom of the scale, but a superior brand compressor of 5-tons replacement can be at or above 2,500 dollars.

The prices of the AC compressor units and the price of replacement by tonnage and the most popular brands, including Trane, Carrier, Lennox, Goodman, and Rheem, using the latest data of 2024-2025 on the central air conditioning systems are separated.

Central AC Compressor Replacement Cost Overview

The average cost of replacing a central air conditioner compressor (the pump that is outside the house) is $1000 to $2500 of the entire job, which consists of approximately 50 percent of the cost of the compressor and 50 percent of the cost of labor and materials. Real prices fall in this range depending on a number of important factors:

• AC Size (Tonnage) – The larger the compressor (the higher the tonnage) the more expensive it is. The compressor of a 5-ton unit can almost be twice the cost of the compressor of a 2-ton unit.
• Brand – Premium brands such as Trane, Carrier or Lennox are more likely to charge a higher price on replacement compressors as compared to budget brands such as Goodman. Brand-name compressors may differ by several hundred dollars on similar capacity compressors.
• Compressor Type – The high-efficiency two-stage or variable-speed compressors are costly compared to the standard single-stage compressors. As an example, a high-tech variable-speed compressor may cost 1,500-2,800 dollars only in the part, which is much more than a simple single-stage one
• Warranty Status – In case the failed compressor is still under warranty of the manufacturer, you might only have to pay the labor fees ($600-$1200). Out-of-warranty replacements imply that you foot the bill on the part and labor, which amounts to about 1,300 to 2,500 dollars.
• Labor & Additional Materials – Professional installation is about 4-6 hours at 75-150 dollars per hour. This involves evacuation and recharging of refrigerant (usually an additional cost of 100-350 dollars on refrigerant) and replacement of associated parts such as the filter-drier or capacitors. Such steps are required, which increases the total cost of installation.

The difference in cost is huge when an AC compressor is under warranty as compared to when it is out of warranty. The chart above indicates low-end costs and high-end costs of each scenario using blue bars and orange bars respectively. With warranty, it may cost approximately between $600 (low) to $1200 (high) to replace the entire unit because the compressor component is mostly covered. Beyond the warranty, the homeowner will be on the hook to pay the entire amount, which is about $1,300 on the low side and $2,500 on the high side to replace a central AC compressor.

AC Compressor Prices by Tonnage (Capacity)

A central AC is rated in terms of cooling capacity in units called “tons”, with 1 ton of cooling capacity being 12,000 BTU/hr of cooling.

The residential central air systems have a range of 1.5 to 5 tons. The larger the AC (the higher the tonnage), the more costly the compressor will become. The following are the average prices of compressor replacement by tonnage, according to the latest cost guides (2025 data) of central AC units:

AC Capacity	Compressor Unit Only	Installed Replacement Cost
1.5 Ton	$400 – $800	$700 – $1,300
2 Ton	$500 – $900	$800 –$1,400
2.5 Ton	$600 – $1,000	$900 – $1,600
3 Ton	$700 – $1,200	$1,000 – $2,100
3.5 Ton	$800 – $1,300	$1,100 – $2,200
4 Ton	$900 – $1,400	$1,200 – $2,100
5 Ton	$1,200 – $1,800	$1,800 –$2,600

A small 1.5-ton AC compressor replacement may cost as little as $700 at the low end (with a low-end brand and little labor), but a large 5-ton can cost up to $2,500 or more installed.

The prices increase disproportionately to size, with medium-sized 3 to 3.5 ton systems tending to be near the average ($1,500), and 5-ton systems being at the high end because of not only larger compressors, but also frequently more complex, high-capacity systems.

Remember these are based on the assumption that the rest of the AC system (ducts, indoor coil, etc.) is staying in place and you are simply replacing the compressor/condenser unit. Costs may be more in the event that other parts require replacement or in the event that the system uses an older refrigerant (such as R-22).

AC Compressor Prices by Brand

Cost is also influenced by the brand of the air conditioner and compressor. HVAC manufacturers charge different prices on their parts and compatibility is usually a factor that makes it prudent to use the same brand compressor as the rest of your AC unit. Overall, the premium brands are more expensive in terms of compressors whereas the value brands sell at a cheaper price.

We examine below some of the major brands, Trane, Carrier, Lennox, Goodman and Rheem and compare their costs of replacing compressors.

Note: Most brands have sister brands that are identical in parts; e.g. American Standard is basically the same as Trane, and Amana is the same as Goodman.) When this is the case, prices are comparable between the matched brands.)

Trane AC Compressor Cost

Trane is a premium HVAC brand, and its compressors are usually one of the most expensive. Trane (and its sister brand American Standard) frequently employ proprietary Climatuff compressors and other high technology. The approximate cost of a Trane AC compressor unit is about 450 dollars at the lower end up to 2200 dollars at the highest or most sophisticated units (parts only).

Replacing a Trane compressor is usually on the high side of typical price ranges, in terms of installed cost, usually between about $1,500 and $2,500 total, for a typical central AC, and possibly up to $3,000, in the case of a high-end 5-ton or variable-speed system. As a matter of fact, Trane observes that the cost of replacing a compressor that is out of warranty may range between 900 dollars to almost 2,900 dollars depending on the circumstances. Home owners pay a premium to have the name and quality of Trane but can count on a long lasting repair.

Carrier AC Compressor Cost

Another high-end HVAC manufacturer is Carrier, together with its affiliates Bryant and Payne.

The cost of replacing the carrier compressor is close to that of Trane in most instances. The actual compressor unit (part) will cost approximately between 450 to 2000 dollars depending on the capacity and model. As an example, a 2-ton Carrier compressor may cost less than 1,000 dollars in the part, but a big 5-ton two-stage Carrier compressor may cost 1,500 dollars or more. Installation costs will bring the overall expense of replacing a Carrier AC compressor to ~$1,400 to 2,300 on average on most residential systems.

Replacement costs may be as much as $2,500 or more in the case of high-capacity or flagship Carrier models (in the 4-5 ton range or those with Greenspeed variable technology). All in all, Carrier is slightly more expensive, but there are plenty of parts and technicians are very knowledgeable about these units.

Lennox AC Compressor Cost

Lennox is efficient and innovative, and it also has proprietary parts that are costly.

Lennox AC compressors range in price between approximately 600 and 2300 dollars just on the part itself, with smaller single stage compressors to large high efficiency two stage or variable compressors. The upper end of this range (up to 2300 dollars on the compressor) is among the highest in the industry, which indicates the expensive special parts of Lennox. Consequently, a complete Lennox compressor replacement installation can be as much as 1,500 to 2,700 dollars. In other instances where the Lennox system has a high capacity, the bill may reach up to 3000 dollars once the labor, refrigerant and other materials are added.

Homeowners who have Lennox systems ought to know about these increased part prices it is usually advised to use Lennox OEM parts to guarantee compatibility and efficiency, although there are generic compressors available on some models.

Goodman AC Compressor Cost

Goodman is a popular low-cost brand, and the prices of its compressors are usually low.

Goodman also has a twin brand (Amana) that sells the same hardware under a different nameplate.) The cost of a Goodman/Amana compressor unit is about 350 to 1200 dollars in the cost of the compressor unit itself, which makes it one of the cheapest brands of compressor units.

The cost of replacing Goodman compressors installed is usually about 1,000 to 1,800 dollars depending on the tonnage. As an example, a 3-ton Goodman AC compressor may cost approximately 1400 all-in, and a bigger 5-ton may cost approximately 2000. Its low price is one of the biggest selling points of Goodman, as homeowners can save money on the parts, but Goodman units might not last as long and/or be covered by the same warranty as some high-end brands. One cost guide says that Goodman/Amana compressors cost about $1,200 (installed), on average, on a typical job, a few hundred dollars less than premium-brand models.

Rheem AC Compressor Cost

Rheem (and its sister brand Ruud) is a middle-range HVAC manufacturer.

Rheem compressors are fairly priced, not as low as Goodman, but in many cases a little less than Trane or Lennox. The Rheem/Ruud compressor unit will cost about 600 dollars to 1400 dollars just on the part. In practice, it may cost approximately 1,200 to 2,000 dollars to replace a Rheem AC compressor with the installation depending on the size of the unit. A lot of regular 3-ton Rheem compressors, as an example, are in the middle of the price range (maybe $1,500-$1,700 all in all).

Rheem and Ruud units are very common and parts are easily available and this makes their repair cost affordable.

The cost of replacing the compressor of Rheem is relatively competitive, although it is not the cheapest.

Repair vs. Replace: Is a Compressor Replacement Worth It?

When faced with a failed AC compressor, homeowners should consider the age and condition of the overall HVAC system.

Replacing just the compressor is most cost-effective if the rest of the AC unit is in good shape and not too old. A new compressor can restore cooling at a fraction of the cost of a whole new AC system. For example, replacing a compressor out-of-warranty might cost $1,500–$2,500, whereas installing a brand new central AC unit (condenser, coil, etc.) can cost $2,500 to $7,500 or more. If your AC is relatively young (say under 10–12 years old) and otherwise functional, a compressor swap is usually worth it.

On the other hand, if the system is older (15+ years) or has other issues, it may be wiser to put the money toward a new AC. Spending $2,000 on a compressor for an aging unit that might fail in other ways could be throwing good money after bad.

HVAC experts often use the “$5,000 rule” (multiply the repair cost by the unit’s age, and if that exceeds 5,000, consider replacement). Additionally, if the old system uses outdated refrigerant (R-22 Freon), a compressor failure is a good opportunity to upgrade to a new unit since R-22 is being phased out.

In summary, a compressor replacement is a worthwhile investment for an otherwise sound central AC system, but for an old inefficient AC, upgrading to a whole new unit could be more cost-effective in the long run. Either way, comparing the compressor repair quote to the price of a new system can help in making the right decision.

How to Avoid Being Ripped Off and Get a Fair Repair Price

Finding the right AC compressor repair expert can be tricky—some companies offer rock-bottom prices because they’re inexperienced or have poor reputations, while others charge far too much for the same work. That’s why the smartest way to get quality repairs at a fair price is to compare estimates from top-rated local pros. Meet with each, learn about their history and the experience of the technicians that will do the work. Choose an experienced AC compressor repair contractor with reasonable rates. You can expedite this process by using our Free Local Estimates service.

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