AC replacement cost calculator
What a new central air conditioner should cost to install, what size your home actually needs, and whether the high-efficiency model is worth the extra — worked out at your state's real electricity price.
How this is worked out
Cooling load comes from your floor area and your state's cooling degree days, with an adjustment for humidity — a Louisiana summer costs more to cool than an Arizona one at the same temperature, because the compressor is also wringing water out of the air. That load divided by the SEER2 rating gives kilowatt hours, which meet your local electricity price.
Payback is measured against a minimum-efficiency unit, not against keeping your old one. Someone whose air conditioner has died is choosing which unit to buy, not whether to buy one — so the only question that matters is whether the efficiency upgrade repays its own premium. Comparing against the full price of the machine is how manufacturer calculators make every high-end model look like a bargain.
Installed cost is a national estimate spread ±20%. Real quotes vary by more than the equipment does — your ductwork, your region, and how busy the contractor is in August all move it. Get three quotes.
Common questions
How much does it cost to replace a central air conditioner?
Typically between about $4,700 and $7,800 installed for a home of average size, varying with capacity, efficiency and region. The calculator sizes the unit for your floor area and climate and gives a range around it.
What size air conditioner do I need?
Capacity depends on floor area and climate, so hot states need more tons per square foot. Oversizing is the more common and more expensive error: an oversized unit short-cycles, never runs long enough to dehumidify, and leaves the house cold and clammy.
Is a higher SEER2 rating worth the money?
Only where cooling seasons are long enough to repay the premium. In mild climates the efficiency upgrade can take decades to pay back, and the cheaper unit is the better buy.