AC Installation Cost in 2026: Complete Pricing Guide for Our 12 Service Areas

Brands We Install and How That Affects Pricing

We install all major brands. Each has a different price to quality trade off.

Goodman and Rheem: Best value tier. Full 5 ton high efficiency system lands in the $5,800 to $8,500 range installed.
Carrier, Bryant, and American Standard: Mid premium. Typically $1,000 to $1,800 more than value tier for comparable efficiency.
Trane and Lennox: Premium. Often $1,500 to $3,000 more than value tier, but often with better warranties.
Daikin: Premium inverter specialists. Strong in heat pump and mini split. 12 year parts warranty is industry leading.

A fully installed central air conditioner costs between $4,500 and $11,000 in 2026 for most single family homes in the cities we serve. The average homeowner pays around $7,200 for a mid efficiency 3 ton system, installed with a manufacturer warranty and permits pulled.

Price moves with home size, SEER2 rating, brand, and local labor market. Coastal and Bay Area California markets run the highest. Florida and Utah sit closer to the national average.