Central air conditioner replacement cost in Seattle, WA
Installed, 3 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil)
A typical central AC (3 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil)) costs about $4,950 installed in the Seattle area, 6% above the national figure, because HVAC technicians here earn a median $39 an hour against $29 nationally.
Prices by size in Seattle
| Size | Low | Typical | High | National typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil) | $3,300 | $3,700 | $4,900 | $3,500 |
| 3 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil) | $4,300 | $4,950 | $6,650 | $4,650 |
| 4 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil) | $5,800 | $6,450 | $8,550 | $6,000 |
| 5 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil) | $7,100 | $8,050 | $10,050 | $7,400 |
Local labor: what HVAC technicians earn here
| Hourly wage | Seattle metro | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $30 | $23 |
| Median | $39 | $29 |
| 75th percentile | $49 | $37 |
The Seattle market
Seattle splits permits between two agencies. The Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) requires a permit for any furnace replacement or alteration and a refrigeration permit for any split-system heat pump or air conditioner. Plumbing and gas permits come from Public Health Seattle and King County, and no page found says whether a straight water heater replacement needs one, so check with Public Health. Homeowners may pull furnace and plumbing permits, but refrigeration permits go only to licensed refrigeration contractors. HVAC jobs need a cover inspection and a final inspection. Fees for these items were not confirmed. Many homes were built without air conditioning: EIA found only 53% of Washington homes use any AC, while 62% heat water with electricity. Tacoma, Bellevue and King County suburbs issue their own permits.
Many Seattle homes were built without AC, and only 30% of Washington homes have central air. A heat pump uses the same kind of outdoor equipment and also heats, so ask for an AC-only quote and a heat pump quote side by side. For a house with no ducts, ask about ductless heads. Ask for a load calculation, since a first-time install has no old unit to size against.
Permits in Seattle
| Permit for this job | Yes (SDCI permit for any furnace replacement; refrigeration permit for split-system heat pumps and ACs) (source) |
|---|---|
| Fee | Unclear for these items. Context: PHSKC plumbing/gas permits issued on/after Jan 1, 2025 use a $132 base fee plus $26 per fixture (water heater counting not stated); SDCI 2026 base hourly rate $292/hr with 6.5% inflationary increase to most fees. |
| Who can pull it | Furnace/mechanical STFI: homeowner or contractor; refrigeration (heat pump/AC): licensed refrigeration contractor only; plumbing: homeowner permit or registered contractor via PHSKC |
| Inspection | Yes (HVAC: cover inspection and final inspection) |
Rebates in Washington
HEAR: announced, not open yet. HOMES: announced, not open yet. Source: Washington State Department of Commerce, Energy Division, checked October 13, 2026.
- Washington State HEAR (Climate Commitment Act): State-funded rebates via ~40 local administrators for heat pumps, HPWH, induction, panels; households <=150% AMI ($39.3M recently awarded)
What these programs cover, and other states
Other systems in Seattle
- Gas tank water heater
- Gas tankless water heater
- Gas furnace
- Heat pump (ducted, outdoor unit + air handler)
Central air conditioner cost in other metros
Sources
- SDCI: Furnace and heat pump permit infographic
- Public Health Seattle and King County: plumbing and gas piping permits
- King County: Installing a new water heater
- SDCI Building Connections: changes to plumbing and gas permit fees
- Washington Commerce: state HEAR program
- Washington Commerce: IRA home energy rebates
- EIA, 2020 RECS: Highlights for space heating in U.S. homes by state
- EIA, 2020 RECS: Highlights for water heating in U.S. homes by state
- EIA, 2020 RECS: Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state
- https://seattle.gov/documents/Departments/SDCI/Codes/2026FeeSummary.pdf
- BLS OEWS May 2025, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (49-9021 HVAC mechanics and installers)
- DOE Residential CAC & Heat Pumps Direct Final Rule TSD (Dec 2016), Table 8.2.30, split AC coil-only (2015$; 4-ton interpolated)