AC replacement cost calculator
Central air by size and efficiency, at your state's HVAC wages.
Estimated cost
Typical installed cost
$7,600
- Equipment:
- $5,050
- Labor, removal, materials:
- $2,550
8 in 10 jobsLow$4,550High$10,600
NREL's price data covers 1.5 to 5 tons and SEER 13 to 24, so this is priced at the nearest value it covers.
Labor at the US median wage for HVAC technicians, $29.33 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
The typical figure is the median of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's installed-cost data for a central air conditioner of this size and efficiency; the range spans its 10th to 90th percentile. The methodology lists every source and formula.
Central AC cost by size and efficiency
| Air conditioner | Typical | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 2 tons, SEER 14 | $5,100 | $3,050 - $7,150 |
| 2.5 tons, SEER 15 | $6,350 | $3,800 - $8,900 |
| 3 tons, SEER 14 | $5,650 | $3,400 - $7,900 |
| 3 tons, SEER 16 | $7,600 | $4,550 - $10,600 |
| 4 tons, SEER 16 | $8,150 | $4,900 - $11,400 |
| 5 tons, SEER 18 | $10,600 | $6,400 - $14,900 |
US average, installed, replacing an existing central system, in today's dollars.
Replace the AC, or switch to a heat pump?
A heat pump is an air conditioner that can also run in reverse to heat the house. When the outdoor unit fails, many homeowners compare the two. Use the heat pump calculator with the same size and SEER to see the difference in your state. A heat pump costs more, but it can take over some or all of your heating, which matters most if you heat with electric resistance, oil or propane today.
What size do you need?
Central AC is sized in tons; one ton removes 12,000 BTU of heat an hour. The right size comes from a load calculation (ACCA Manual J), not from floor area alone. An oversized unit cools in short bursts, removes less humidity and costs more. The model number on the outdoor unit usually shows the size in thousands of BTU, such as 36 for 3 tons.
SEER and SEER2
NREL's prices are fitted to SEER, the rating used before 2023. Units sold since then show SEER2, which reads about 4.5% lower for the same equipment, so multiply SEER2 by about 1.05 before entering it. The federal minimum depends on your region; a contractor can tell you which units are allowed where you live.
How your state changes the price
HVAC technicians earn a median $29.33 an hour in the US (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics), from Arkansas ($23.13) in the lowest-paid state to District of Columbia ($40.57) in the highest. The calculator scales the labor part of each estimate by your state's median.
Central AC (3 tons, SEER 16) replacement cost in all 50 states and DC
| State | Typical | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | $7,050 | $4,250 - $9,900 |
| Alabama | $7,100 | $4,250 - $9,900 |
| Mississippi | $7,100 | $4,250 - $9,950 |
| West Virginia | $7,100 | $4,250 - $9,950 |
| New Mexico | $7,150 | $4,300 - $10,000 |
| Wyoming | $7,350 | $4,400 - $10,300 |
| Tennessee | $7,400 | $4,450 - $10,300 |
| Idaho | $7,400 | $4,450 - $10,400 |
| Georgia | $7,400 | $4,450 - $10,400 |
| South Carolina | $7,400 | $4,450 - $10,400 |
| Florida | $7,400 | $4,450 - $10,400 |
| North Carolina | $7,450 | $4,450 - $10,400 |
| Oklahoma | $7,450 | $4,500 - $10,400 |
| Texas | $7,450 | $4,500 - $10,500 |
| Kentucky | $7,500 | $4,500 - $10,500 |
| Louisiana | $7,500 | $4,500 - $10,500 |
| Utah | $7,500 | $4,500 - $10,500 |
| Arizona | $7,550 | $4,500 - $10,600 |
| Virginia | $7,550 | $4,550 - $10,600 |
| Nebraska | $7,550 | $4,550 - $10,600 |
| Missouri | $7,550 | $4,550 - $10,600 |
| Indiana | $7,600 | $4,550 - $10,600 |
| Kansas | $7,600 | $4,550 - $10,600 |
| Nevada | $7,600 | $4,550 - $10,600 |
| Iowa | $7,600 | $4,550 - $10,600 |
| Michigan | $7,600 | $4,550 - $10,600 |
| Montana | $7,600 | $4,550 - $10,600 |
| South Dakota | $7,600 | $4,550 - $10,700 |
| Wisconsin | $7,650 | $4,600 - $10,700 |
| Vermont | $7,650 | $4,600 - $10,700 |
| Delaware | $7,650 | $4,600 - $10,700 |
| Pennsylvania | $7,650 | $4,600 - $10,700 |
| Ohio | $7,650 | $4,600 - $10,700 |
| Oregon | $7,700 | $4,600 - $10,800 |
| Maine | $7,700 | $4,600 - $10,800 |
| Colorado | $7,800 | $4,650 - $10,900 |
| Hawaii | $7,800 | $4,650 - $10,900 |
| Rhode Island | $7,850 | $4,700 - $11,000 |
| Maryland | $8,000 | $4,800 - $11,200 |
| California | $8,100 | $4,850 - $11,300 |
| New Hampshire | $8,150 | $4,900 - $11,400 |
| New York | $8,150 | $4,900 - $11,400 |
| New Jersey | $8,150 | $4,900 - $11,400 |
| North Dakota | $8,150 | $4,900 - $11,400 |
| Washington | $8,200 | $4,950 - $11,500 |
| Minnesota | $8,250 | $4,950 - $11,500 |
| Connecticut | $8,250 | $4,950 - $11,600 |
| Massachusetts | $8,300 | $4,950 - $11,600 |
| Illinois | $8,300 | $4,950 - $11,600 |
| Alaska | $8,300 | $4,950 - $11,600 |
| District of Columbia | $8,600 | $5,150 - $12,000 |
What can push a quote higher
- Replacing the indoor coil and line set along with the outdoor unit, which a new refrigerant often requires.
- Electrical work, a new pad, or a condensate drain or pump.
- Leaky or undersized ducts.
- Tight access, permit fees and travel time.
NREL puts the typical life of a central air conditioner at about 22 years.
Questions and answers
How much does it cost to replace a central air conditioner?
A 3 ton central AC with a SEER of 16 costs about $7,600 installed at the US average, with 8 in 10 jobs between $4,550 and $10,600, in NREL's cost data adjusted to today's dollars. Larger and higher-efficiency units cost more.
Should I replace my AC with a heat pump?
A heat pump costs more than an AC of the same size but also heats your home. It makes most sense if you heat with electric resistance, oil or propane, or if your furnace is also near the end of its life. Compare both with the heat pump calculator.
What does SEER mean?
SEER is the cooling a unit delivers over a season per unit of electricity. Higher is more efficient. Units sold since 2023 are rated in SEER2, which reads about 4.5% lower for the same unit.
How long does central air last?
NREL's database puts the typical life of a central air conditioner at about 22 years.