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

Prices checked October 2026. Wages: BLS, May 2025.

Most of a new central AC is a box outside and a coil you never see. The estimate above prices both: a new outdoor condenser plus a matching indoor evaporator coil set on your existing furnace, from 2 to 5 tons. Equipment comes from current public listings of condensers at or near the federal minimum efficiency and the coils sold to match them. Installation is the Department of Energy's average for coil-only systems from its central air conditioner rule (the 4 ton figure is interpolated between DOE's 3 and 5 ton values), brought to today's dollars, with its labor half scaled to HVAC technician wages where you live.

Two federal changes shape what you can buy. Since 2023, the efficiency minimums are stated in SEER2 and differ by region. Since 2025, EPA's Technology Transitions rule has moved new home AC systems off R-410A to lower-impact refrigerants such as R-454B and R-32. A new outdoor unit needs an indoor coil built for the same refrigerant, so the estimate always includes one. The federal installation data predates the refrigerant change. Treat the installation part as a floor for systems that need new line sets or other updates.

Installed price by size, national

Size	Unit (list)	Low	Typical	High
2 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil)	$2,311	$3,150	$3,500	$4,600
3 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil)	$2,782	$4,100	$4,650	$6,150
4 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil)	$2,980	$5,450	$6,000	$7,700
5 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil)	$3,292	$6,700	$7,400	$8,950

Installation averages $1,892 nationally for the common size (DOE, inflated to August 2026); about 50% of that is labor, which we scale to local wages.

Extras that may be added

Item	Typical	Range
Condensate pump	$200	$160–$320

What moves the price

Tonnage

Bigger systems cost more for both equipment and labor. DOE's installation figure for 5 ton systems is more than double its 2 ton value. Size should come from a load calculation on the house. An oversized unit short-cycles and leaves the house clammy. An undersized one runs all afternoon and still loses ground on the hottest days.

Refrigerant transition

A manufacturer's regulatory guide sums up the EPA rule: a 700 global warming potential limit for new AC and heat pumps starting in 2025, with split-system equipment made before 2025 allowed to be installed only through January 1, 2026. The new A2L refrigerants are classed as mildly flammable. They come with updated installation standards that can affect the indoor coil, the line set and leak detection.

Regional efficiency minimums

In the North, the minimum for a split AC is 13.4 SEER2. In the Southeast and Southwest it is 14.3 SEER2 for systems under 45,000 BTU and 13.8 SEER2 above that, and the Southwest adds an EER2 requirement. Higher-efficiency and variable-speed units cost noticeably more; the estimate is based on systems near the minimum.

Line set and electrical

Reusing the copper lines between the outdoor unit and the coil saves money when they are the right size and in good shape and the manufacturer allows it. A new disconnect, whip or pad, or a longer run to a new location, is extra labor.

Furnace compatibility

ENERGY STAR notes that replacing an old furnace or air handler at the same time is the way to make sure a new AC reaches its rated efficiency, especially if the furnace is over 15 years old. That is a much bigger project and is priced on the furnace and heat pump pages.

Repair or replace?

Most AC service calls end with a small electrical part, a capacitor or a contactor, and those are always worth fixing. The hard call comes with a failed compressor, a leaking coil or a refrigerant leak on an older system. DOE's 2016 analysis put average AC life at about 24 years in the North and the hot-dry Southwest, and about 18 years in hot, humid climates. Put the money toward replacement when a compressor or coil fails on a system near those ages, or on an R-410A system out of warranty. R-410A will still be serviced from existing supply. A new unit has to use the new refrigerants, though. And when the furnace is old too, pricing both together usually saves labor.

Run the numbers for your unit.

What a complete quote lists

Outdoor unit and indoor coil model numbers, listed as a matched (AHRI-rated) combination
Tonnage and how it was chosen
SEER2 and EER2 ratings, and the refrigerant type
Removal of the old condenser and coil, and proper recovery of the old refrigerant
Line set: reuse with a flush and pressure test, or new copper lines
Electrical: disconnect, whip and breaker check
Condensate drain from the coil, plus a pump or overflow switch where needed
Pad or wall bracket, and any refrigerant leak detection the new system requires
Permit and inspection
Equipment parts and compressor warranty terms (including registration deadline) and the labor warranty

Paste your quote and we'll tick these off for you.

Central air conditioner prices by metro

Common questions

Can I just replace the outdoor unit?

Not on an older R-410A system. New units use different refrigerants, and the indoor coil has to match. The estimate assumes a new outdoor unit with a matching coil for that reason.

What SEER2 rating do I need?

At least 13.4 SEER2 in the northern region, and 14.3 SEER2 (or 13.8 for larger systems) in the Southeast and Southwest, per DOE's 2023 standards. Higher ratings cost more and save more in hot climates with long cooling seasons.

How long should a new central AC last?

DOE's 2016 analysis uses averages of about 24 to 25 years in northern and hot-dry climates and 18 years in hot-humid ones. Home inspection charts are far more conservative, some as short as 7 to 15 years for central AC.

Why does my quote include a new line set?

Old lines may be the wrong size, damaged, or not approved by the manufacturer for the new refrigerant. Some installers reuse lines after flushing and testing. Ask which they plan and why.

Is a heat pump worth considering instead?

If you are replacing the AC anyway, a heat pump costs a bit more and can also heat the house, either alone or alongside your furnace as a dual-fuel setup. See the heat pump page.