Central air conditioner replacement cost in Minneapolis, MN
Installed, 3 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil)
A typical central AC (3 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil)) costs about $4,950 installed in the Minneapolis area, 6% above the national figure, because HVAC technicians here earn a median $37 an hour against $29 nationally.
Prices by size in Minneapolis
| Size | Low | Typical | High | National typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil) | $3,300 | $3,700 | $4,800 | $3,500 |
| 3 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil) | $4,300 | $4,950 | $6,450 | $4,650 |
| 4 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil) | $5,750 | $6,400 | $8,250 | $6,000 |
| 5 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil) | $7,050 | $8,000 | $9,650 | $7,400 |
Local labor: what HVAC technicians earn here
| Hourly wage | Minneapolis metro | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $29 | $23 |
| Median | $37 | $29 |
| 75th percentile | $45 | $37 |
The Minneapolis market
Minneapolis requires a plumbing permit to replace or install a water heater, and the city says most heating, air conditioning, ventilation, refrigeration and gas piping work requires a mechanical permit. Plumbing permits go to licensed contractors or to owner-occupants of single-family homes under city ordinance 85.80, which requires owning and living in the dwelling. Who may pull mechanical permits is not stated; the city links a list of licensed mechanical contractors. Inspections are detailed: a rough-in inspection on concealed work, duct blaster test results and a heat test record (ORSAT test) with the installer's name and competency card number for new fuel-burning equipment. Fee tables could not be read, so ask the city. Winters dominate: EIA found furnaces heat 73% of Minnesota homes and boilers 15%. St. Paul, Bloomington and Wisconsin suburbs have separate offices.
Central air serves 68% of Minnesota homes, often as a coil on the furnace with a condenser outside. Humid summers count here too. EIA found 43% of Minnesota homes use a dehumidifier, among the highest shares in the survey. Ask whether a variable-speed system would pull more moisture out on muggy days. Ask for a matched coil and a load calculation, and get the SEER2 rating in writing.
Permits in Minneapolis
| Permit for this job | Yes (general: most heating/AC work requires a mechanical permit; residential bulletin covers complete system replacement) (source) |
|---|---|
| Fee | Unclear (fee schedules are embedded Smartsheet tables that could not be read) |
| Who can pull it | Plumbing: licensed contractor or owner-occupant of a single-family home under MCO 85.80; mechanical: applicant eligibility not stated (city links a list of licensed mechanical contractors) |
| Inspection | Yes (mechanical: rough-in on concealed work, duct test results, heat test record for new fuel-burning equipment) |
Rebates in Minnesota
HEAR: announced, not open yet. HOMES: announced, not open yet. Source: Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources, checked October 13, 2026.
What these programs cover, and other states
Other systems in Minneapolis
- Gas tank water heater
- Gas tankless water heater
- Gas furnace
- Heat pump (ducted, outdoor unit + air handler)
Central air conditioner cost in other metros
Sources
- Minneapolis: Plumbing permits
- Minneapolis: Mechanical and heating permits
- Minneapolis plumbing permit application
- Minneapolis residential mechanical permit process
- Minnesota Commerce: HEAR
- EIA, 2020 RECS: Highlights for space heating in U.S. homes by state
- EIA, 2020 RECS: Highlights for water heating in U.S. homes by state
- EIA, 2020 RECS: Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state
- https://www.minneapolismn.gov/business-services/licenses-permits-inspections/construction-permits/permits-overview/fees/existing-mechanical
- BLS OEWS May 2025, Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI (49-9021 HVAC mechanics and installers)
- DOE Residential CAC & Heat Pumps Direct Final Rule TSD (Dec 2016), Table 8.2.30, split AC coil-only (2015$; 4-ton interpolated)