2026 Pricing Guide
Installing central air typically starts around $4,497 ($4,500–$12,000 typical) for the air conditioner alone, or around $7,997 ($8,000–$15,000) for a complete heating and cooling system. This guide breaks down the real numbers — by home size, system type, and ductwork condition — so you can read any contractor's quote with confidence.
$4,500 – $12,000
Swapping an old central air conditioner for a new one using your existing furnace and ductwork. The range depends on tonnage (2–5 tons), SEER2 rating, and brand. This is the most common and most affordable scenario.
$8,000 – $15,000
Replacing the air conditioner and furnace together. If both are 12+ years old, doing them at once avoids paying twice for labor and refrigerant-line work, and the matched system runs more efficiently.
Equipment + $1,000 – $5,000 ductwork
Adding central air to a home that never had it means fabricating and installing ductwork on top of equipment cost. For many of these homes, a ductless mini-split ($3,000–$10,000 by zone count) is the better value.
Cooling capacity is measured in tons — roughly one ton per 500–700 sq ft in a hot-summer climate. A 1,500 sq ft home usually needs 2.5–3 tons; a 3,000 sq ft home needs 5. Expect $3,000–$7,000 per ton installed; see our cost-per-ton guide for the math.
A base 14.3 SEER2 unit costs thousands less upfront than a 20+ SEER2 variable-speed unit, but the high-efficiency unit cuts cooling bills every month. In hot-summer regions the payback is fast — run your numbers with our SEER savings calculator.
Leaky or undersized ducts waste 20–30% of the air you pay to cool. Sealing or replacing ducts adds $1,000–$5,000, but installing a new AC onto bad ducts throws away the efficiency you just bought.
Premium brands with 10–12 year parts warranties cost more than value brands with shorter coverage. Either can be the right call — what matters is that the installer is licensed and sizes the system correctly.
Older panels sometimes need an upgrade ($1,500–$3,000) to support a new condenser. Permits and inspection are required for central air installation in California — a quote that skips them is a red flag, not a discount.
Two quotes for "a new 3-ton AC" can differ by $4,000 and both be legitimate — or one can be hiding exclusions. Check each quote for: the exact equipment model numbers and SEER2 rating, whether permits and disposal of the old unit are included, what happens to the refrigerant lineset, whether the ductwork was inspected at all, and the labor warranty. A quote built from a 10-minute driveway visit cannot size a system correctly.
If a quote feels high — or suspiciously low — Fresh Air offers a free second opinion. We review the scope line by line and tell you honestly whether it's fair. About a third of the time, the original quote is fine and we say so.
In the Sacramento region, long 100°F+ summers make air conditioning the dominant energy load, so efficiency matters more here than in most of the country. SMUD and PG&E rebates for qualifying high-efficiency systems, plus federal tax credits for heat pumps under the Inflation Reduction Act, can take several hundred to a few thousand dollars off your net cost. Fresh Air Heating & Air installs central air across Sacramento, Elk Grove, Roseville, Folsom, Rocklin, and the Sierra foothills with fixed-price estimates — see AC installation in Sacramento for local specifics.
Typically $4,500 to $12,000 for the AC side alone, depending on tonnage, SEER2 rating, brand, and ductwork condition. A complete system with furnace runs $8,000 to $15,000. Homes that need new ductwork add roughly $1,000 to $5,000.
A useful rule of thumb is $3,000–$7,000 per ton installed for a complete system. A typical 3-ton system for a 1,500–2,000 sq ft home lands mid-range. Smaller systems cost more per ton because fixed costs are spread over fewer tons.
Duct fabrication and installation add $1,000–$5,000 or more on top of equipment. Where running ducts is impractical, a ductless mini-split ($3,000–$10,000 depending on zones) is often the smarter buy.
Equipment tier, brand, warranty, permit inclusion, ductwork scope, and sizing rigor all differ. Compare scopes line by line, not bottom lines — or get a free second opinion before signing.
Often, yes. Utility rebates (SMUD and PG&E in our region) and federal tax credits can offset several hundred to a few thousand dollars for qualifying systems. We identify applicable rebates during your estimate.
A straightforward replacement with existing ducts is usually one day. A full system with duct modifications takes 2–3 days. Fresh Air completes most installs within 48 hours of the agreed start.
Know exactly what you'll pay before work begins. Licensed #945361, 900+ systems installed, free in-home assessment, milestone billing.