Your home
Your estimate
Includes condenser, evaporator coil, line set, electrical, permit, and old-unit removal. Sizing is an estimate — insist on a Manual J load calculation before signing.
How much does AC installation cost in 2026?
A new central air conditioner costs $6,500 to $14,000 installed for most homes in mid-2026, replacing an existing system with the ductwork staying put. The two biggest levers are size — a 1,800 sq ft home in a moderate climate needs roughly a 3-ton unit — and efficiency tier: standard 14.3–15.2 SEER2 systems anchor the low end, while premium 18+ SEER2 variable-speed systems add 50%+ but cut cooling bills 25–40%. A first-time install requiring new ductwork is a different project entirely: $15,000–$28,000.
Central AC cost by home size
| Home size | Typical AC size | Standard SEER2 | High efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,200 sq ft | 2 ton | $5,800 – $8,500 | $7,200 – $10,600 |
| 1,600 sq ft | 2.5 ton | $6,300 – $9,300 | $7,900 – $11,600 |
| 1,800 sq ft | 3 ton | $6,800 – $10,000 | $8,500 – $12,500 |
| 2,400 sq ft | 4 ton | $7,800 – $11,500 | $9,800 – $14,400 |
| 3,000 sq ft | 5 ton | $8,800 – $13,000 | $11,000 – $16,300 |
The refrigerant change that raised 2025–2026 prices
New AC systems now ship with A2L refrigerants (R-454B / R-32) after the federal phase-down of R-410A — and the transition pushed equipment prices up roughly 10–20% through 2025 into 2026, with early supply hiccups on R-454B units. What this means for you: quotes are genuinely higher than your neighbor’s 2023 install, repairing an older R-410A system got more expensive as that refrigerant’s price climbs, and any quote should specify the refrigerant — an unsold old-stock R-410A unit is a discount today and a parts problem in 2035.
How to not get oversold
Demand a Manual J. Sizing by square footage alone (including our estimate above) is a starting point; a contractor who quotes tonnage without a load calculation is guessing, and oversized ACs short-cycle — worse comfort, worse humidity, shorter life. SEER2 payback is climate math: in the hot South, high-efficiency pays back in 5–8 years; in northern states with short cooling seasons, standard tiers usually win. Get the itemized quote: equipment model numbers, line-set replacement (not flush — replacement, given the refrigerant change), permit, and a startup commissioning report. Timing: shoulder seasons (fall/spring) commonly price 10–15% under July emergencies — replace a 15-year-old unit proactively, not the week it dies.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a new AC unit for a 2,000 sq ft house?
Why did AC prices go up so much?
Should I replace my furnace at the same time?
How long does central AC last?
Your furnace
Your estimate
Includes removal, venting per code, new thermostat hookup, and permit.
How much does a furnace replacement cost in 2026?
Replacing a gas furnace costs $4,500 to $9,500 installed for most homes in mid-2026. Standard 80% AFUE units anchor the low end at $4,500–$7,000; high-efficiency 95–96% condensing furnaces run $5,500–$9,500 (they need PVC venting and a condensate drain, which adds install labor); and upgrading to two-stage or modulating operation adds 20–45% for noticeably steadier comfort. Electric furnaces cost less to buy ($3,500–$7,000 installed) but far more to run in cold climates — where a heat pump is usually the smarter electric path.
Furnace cost by home size (gas, installed)
| Home size | Output needed* | 80% AFUE | 96% AFUE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,200 sq ft | ~48,000 BTU | $4,200 – $6,300 | $5,100 – $8,000 |
| 1,800 sq ft | ~72,000 BTU | $4,700 – $7,000 | $5,700 – $9,000 |
| 2,400 sq ft | ~96,000 BTU | $5,200 – $7,800 | $6,300 – $9,900 |
| 3,000 sq ft | ~120,000 BTU | $5,800 – $8,600 | $7,000 – $11,000 |
*Moderate climate at ~40 BTU/sq ft; cold climates need 50–60. A Manual J calculation should set the final size.
80% vs 96%: when the upgrade pays
The math is straightforward: a 96% furnace wastes 4¢ of every gas dollar, an 80% wastes 20¢. On a $1,200 annual heating bill (typical cold-state home), that’s roughly $200/year saved, paying back the ~$1,500 upgrade premium in 6–8 years — clearly worth it in Minnesota, marginal in Tennessee, and rarely worth it in the mild South where the furnace barely runs. Two more factors tip it: 80% furnaces vent through metal flues, so in some retrofit situations keeping 80% avoids chimney-liner work; and if your area is trending toward electrification incentives, a cold-climate heat pump may beat both — our heat pump calculator runs that comparison.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a new furnace for a 2,000 sq ft home?
How long does a furnace last?
Should I replace furnace and AC together?
Is a bigger furnace better?
AC Installation cost by state
Prices are adjusted for each state’s construction wages, permit costs, and local code requirements.
Furnace Installation cost by state
Prices are adjusted for each state’s construction wages, permit costs, and local code requirements.