Central air conditioner replacement cost in Nashville, TN
Installed, 3 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil)
A typical central AC (3 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil)) costs about $4,650 installed in the Nashville area, about the same as the national figure, because HVAC technicians here earn a median $29 an hour against $29 nationally.
Prices by size in Nashville
| Size | Low | Typical | High | National typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil) | $3,150 | $3,500 | $4,500 | $3,500 |
| 3 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil) | $4,100 | $4,650 | $6,000 | $4,650 |
| 4 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil) | $5,450 | $5,950 | $7,550 | $6,000 |
| 5 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil) | $6,700 | $7,400 | $8,700 | $7,400 |
Local labor: what HVAC technicians earn here
| Hourly wage | Nashville metro | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $23 | $23 |
| Median | $29 | $29 |
| 75th percentile | $34 | $37 |
The Nashville market
Metro Nashville's Department of Codes and Building Safety prices a hot water heater under both plumbing permits ($43) and gas/mechanical permits ($21), with a $75 minimum per permit. Furnaces, AC units and package units are gas/mechanical appliances, with each residential appliance beyond the first at $11 and a charge of $32 per 100,000 Btuh. Reinspections cost $50. Licensed contractors apply online; anyone else applies in person, and the owner-occupant self-permit affidavit covers building work only, with separate plumbing and gas/mechanical permits still required. Electricity dominates in Tennessee: EIA's 2020 survey found 60% of homes heat with electricity and 35% with a central heat pump, 86% have central air, and 74% heat water electrically. TVA's EnergyRight program offers equipment rebates through its Quality Contractor Network.
Because so many Nashville homes already have heat pumps, check whether your outdoor unit is AC-only or a heat pump before comparing quotes. Replacing a heat pump with an AC-only unit loses your heat. Ask for a load calculation and a matched coil. EnergyRight offers central AC rebates through its contractor network, so ask whether your bidder participates. Get the SEER2 rating in writing.
Permits in Nashville
| Permit for this job | Yes (gas/mechanical trade permit; furnace, AC, package unit each counted as an appliance in the fee schedule) (source) |
|---|---|
| Fee | Plumbing: minimum $75 per permit; hot water heater $43. Gas/mechanical: minimum $75 per permit; hot water heater $21; each residential appliance beyond the first $11; HVAC also charged 'at the rate of thirty-two dollars ($32.00) per one hundred thousand Btuh or fraction thereof'; reinspection $50. |
| Who can pull it | Unclear for homeowners; licensed contractors apply online, others apply in person |
| Inspection | Yes (reinspection fees and inspection requests apply to plumbing and gas/mechanical permits) |
Rebates in Tennessee
HEAR: announced, not open yet. HOMES: announced, not open yet. Source: TDEC Office of Energy Programs, checked October 13, 2026.
- TVA EnergyRight rebates: Heat pump $500-$800, central AC $200-$400, HPWH $900 via Quality Contractor Network
What these programs cover, and other states
Other systems in Nashville
- Gas tank water heater
- Gas tankless water heater
- Gas furnace
- Heat pump (ducted, outdoor unit + air handler)
Central air conditioner cost in other metros
Sources
- Nashville, TN permit source (water heater permit)
- Nashville, TN permit source (who can pull)
- Nashville, TN permit source (notable local rule)
- Nashville, TN permit source: Lists Metro Mechanical, Gas and Appliance and Plumbing exam
- TVA EnergyRight: residential rebates
- Tennessee Dept. of Environment and Conservation: IRA home energy rebates
- EIA RECS 2020: Highlights for space heating fuel in U.S. homes by state
- EIA RECS 2020: Highlights for space heating in U.S. homes by state
- EIA RECS 2020: Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state
- EIA RECS 2020: Highlights for water heating in U.S. homes by state
- BLS OEWS May 2025, Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN (49-9021 HVAC mechanics and installers)
- DOE Residential CAC & Heat Pumps Direct Final Rule TSD (Dec 2016), Table 8.2.30, split AC coil-only (2015$; 4-ton interpolated)