Make, model and capacity of every indoor and outdoor unit — not just “air conditioning system”. Without model numbers you cannot compare like with like.
Air conditioning costs
How much does air conditioning cost in the UK?
Every space is different, so here's a rough idea to help you plan. For a price that fits your rooms, the online estimate takes a couple of minutes — no payment, no account.
Get my priceTypical installed price ranges
- One room (single split)£1,500 - £2,500
One indoor unit and one outdoor unit, with straightforward access.
- Two to three rooms (multi-split)£3,000 - £8,000+
One outdoor unit serving several rooms; depends on pipe runs and access.
- Commercial or largerPriced per project
Shops, offices, more units, or out-of-hours work — quoted after a quick check.
What changes the price
- Number of rooms and indoor units
- Equipment tier - budget, standard, or premium
- Outdoor unit position and how far the pipework runs
- Access, parking, and any electrical work
- New install, replacement, or just servicing
What a fair quote should include
Two quotes can differ by thousands and both be honest — because they cover different work. Before comparing numbers, check each one actually lists these.
How far the pipework runs, where it is concealed or trunked, and how condensate drains away.
Whether a dedicated circuit is needed and who provides it. This is one of the most common gaps between quotes.
Filling, sealing and tidying where pipework passes through walls, and what decoration is or is not put back.
F-Gas certified installation, testing, and being shown how to actually use the controls.
Parts and labour warranty length, anything it depends on such as annual servicing, and whether VAT is in the headline figure.
Costs that often appear later
None of these are dishonest — but if one quote includes them and another does not, the cheaper one is not really cheaper.
- Scaffolding or access equipment when the outdoor unit is high up or over a roof
- A dedicated electrical circuit, or work at the consumer unit
- A condensate pump where the water cannot drain away by gravity
- Pipe runs beyond the standard allowance, often three to five metres
- Parking, permits or congestion charges in controlled areas
- Redecoration after the pipework is installed
How to compare quotes without getting caught out
- Compare the specification, not the totalPut the quotes side by side and line up equipment, pipe length, electrical work and warranty. Differences in those explain most of the price gap.
- Ask what is excludedA short, vague quote is usually a quote with exclusions that have not been written down yet. Ask directly what is not included.
- Check the price is fixedFind out what would change the price after the work starts, and get that in writing before you commit.
- Be wary of pressureA price that is only valid today, or a large deposit before anyone has properly looked at the space, are both reasons to slow down.
- Check they are F-Gas certifiedHandling refrigerant legally requires certification. It is a fair question and any legitimate installer will answer it happily.
What it costs to run
Running cost depends on the electricity you use, not on the size of the system on paper. A modern inverter unit varies its output instead of switching fully on and off, so a well-sized system in a well-insulated room can cost noticeably less to run than an oversized one.
As a rough feel, cooling one bedroom on warm summer evenings is usually a modest addition to a household bill rather than a dramatic one. Heavy all-day cooling of a large open-plan space is a different matter. What matters most is how many hours it runs, the temperature you set, how well the room holds that temperature, and your electricity tariff.
The same equipment can also heat. Used as an air-to-air heat pump in winter it delivers more heat energy than the electricity it consumes, which is why running costs can compare favourably with some direct electric heating.
Price questions we get asked
Why is there such a big range?
Because the work behind the equipment varies so much. The same indoor unit can be a straightforward fit on an outside wall, or need long concealed pipework, a condensate pump, scaffolding and a new electrical circuit. That is the difference between the bottom and the top of a range.
Is the cheapest quote a bad sign?
Not automatically — but check what it includes before deciding. Cheaper quotes are often cheaper because they assume short pipework, existing power and no making good. If those assumptions do not hold, the price changes later.
Do I pay for a quote?
No. The online estimate is free, needs no account, and puts you under no obligation. We confirm the final price in writing before anything is agreed.
Is VAT included?
Any figure we give you states whether VAT is included and what rate has been assumed. VAT treatment depends on the equipment, the property and the current rules, so it is confirmed in your written quote rather than guessed at here. When you compare quotes, check each one on the same basis — a figure quoted before VAT is not comparable with one quoted after it.
Can you give me a price over the phone?
We can give you a sensible range quickly, but an accurate price needs the room, the outdoor unit position and the pipe run. That is exactly what the online estimate collects, in a couple of minutes.
These are indicative UK ranges to help you plan, not a quote. Your final price depends on a check of your space and is always confirmed in writing.