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.