Ductless mini-split systems provide ductless heating and cooling of homes that lack ductwork, and prices can be highly variable. The cost to install a mini split AC (equipment and labor) is usually between approximately $2,000 and $14,500 nationally, with an average of approximately $3,000. The overall cost is determined by such factors as the number of zones (indoor units), the brand of the unit, and the size of the house. This article disaggregates the anticipated mini split prices and installation costs of 1-zone to 5-zone systems, compares the most popular brands, and examines costs by home size, based on the current national averages.
Mini Split Installation Cost by Number of Zones
A mini split zone is a single indoor air handler unit that is serving a space or room. Systems may be either single-zone (one indoor unit) or multi-zone (several indoor units connected to a single outdoor compressor). The more the zones in a system, the more expensive it is, as more indoor units and materials increase the cost. Every additional zone will normally cost an extra of $500 to $2,000 on the total cost of installation. The majority of residential mini split brands can accommodate 4 or 5 zones per outdoor unit, so one system can warm/cool multiple rooms.
The table below shows the average total prices (equipment + professional installation) of ductless mini split systems of one to five zones:
| Number Of Zones | 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+ |
As indicated, a simple 1-zone mini split to cover a single room may cost a few thousand dollars, but a large 5-zone system to cover multiple rooms may cost more than 10,000 dollars. Actually, the five-zone systems with high capacity have an average of approximately $18,000 on the higher side of the premium systems.
A portion of these totals is labor, which is about 300 to 1500 dollars on a one-zone installation, and 1500 to 5000+ on a multi-zone installation. The remaining cost is on the mini split equipment (outdoor compressor and indoor air handlers), the refrigerant line sets, the electrical wiring and the mounting materials. In general, the more zones, the more costly the equipment and labor, the greater the coverage area and the ability to control the temperature in the home individually.
Mini Split Cost by Brand
The price is greatly influenced by the brand of the mini split system. The more popular HVAC companies are likely to be more expensive, whereas the less known or do-it-yourself brands will be cheaper. As an example, Mitsubishi and Daikin are considered to be premium brands and their multi-zone systems can be the most expensive ones, but the brands such as Gree or MrCool can be more cost-effective. Having said that, every brand offers different models (single and multi-zone) in different BTU capacities. Comparisons of average installed cost ranges of some of the more popular mini split brands are shown below:
| Brand | Single-Zone System | Multi-Zone System |
|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi | $1,200 – $4,000 | $2,600 – $7,800 |
| Daikin | $900 – $4,700 | $2,500 – $7,600 |
| Fujitsu | $1,100 – $3,900 | $2,300 – $8,300 |
| LG | $900 – $4,200 | $2,000 – $7,600 |
| Panasonic | $950 – $2,900 | $2,200 – $6,000 |
| MrCool | $700 – $2,400 | $2,200 – $5,900 |
| Gree | $750 – $3,200 | $1,950 – $6,000 |
The table indicates that the high-end brands such as Mitsubishi are more expensive on multi-zone installations whereas the low-end brands such as MrCool are cheaper on single-room installations. Fujitsu and LG are mid-range brands that are somewhere in the middle. To give an example, a three-zone Mitsubishi install may cost on the upper end of the spectrum, and a comparable system in a low-end brand may be a couple of thousands of dollars cheaper. Reliability, efficiency, and warranty should also be considered by the homeowner, a high initial cost of a leading brand may be compensated by improved performance or life span.
Mini Split Installation Cost by Home Size
One of the largest factors that affect the cost of mini split is the size of the house (and the number of rooms that require cooling/heating). The bigger the house or the more separate rooms it has, the more zones or more powerful systems will be needed, which will make the price higher. Practically, a small studio apartment can be served with a single-zone mini split, and a 4-bedroom house can be served with 4 or 5-zone system to serve multiple bedrooms and living areas. The following are the average cost ranges according to the size of the home, given that it has the right multi-zone mini split installed in it:
| Home Size | Estimated Installed Cost |
|---|---|
| Studio (open floor plan, up to ~500 sq.ft.) | $2,500 – $5,000 |
| 1-Bedroom Home Or Apartment (600–800 sq.ft.) | $3,000 – $6,500 |
| 2-Bedroom Home (800–1200 sq.ft.) | $4,500 – $8,000 |
| 3-Bedroom Home (1200–1800 sq.ft.) | $6,000 – $10,000 |
| 4+ Bedroom Home (1800+ sq.ft.) | $8,000 – $15,000+ |
Generally, you should anticipate approximately $3,000 to 5,000 to put in a mini split in a small studio or a one-room apartment. Medium-sized houses (say 1,200-1600 sq.ft., or 3-bedroom) tend to be between 6-8K installed.
Equipping a large house with four or more bedrooms may cost as much as five figures ($10,000 and above), as it will probably be a 4-5 zone system with high BTU capacity. As an example, a 36,000 BTU (3-ton) mini split that would serve approximately 2,000 sq.ft. can be installed at a price of the order of 8,000-11,000 dollars.
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The more rooms or zones, the more expensive it becomes, and thus a house with a lot of individual rooms will cost more to install than an open-concept house of the same size. An HVAC expert should size the system accordingly to the layout of the home and its insulation; an undersized system will not cool or heat the area efficiently and an oversized system will be more expensive than it should be.
Conclusion:
The cost of mini split installation can vary between a few thousand dollars on a single-zone system in a single room to over 15,000 dollars and more on a large multi-zone system in a large house. A typical ductless mini split project will cost homeowners an average of 3000-10000 dollars. The price is determined by the number of zones required, the brand selected and the size/layout of the home. Knowing the cost breakdown by zones, brand comparison, and right-sizing the system to the home can assist homeowners to select the mini split solution that suits their comfort requirements and budget.
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.
