What a new AC costs in California in 2026

Short answer: a new central AC, installed, runs from about $5,500 for a basic unit on a small home to $16,000 and up for a top-efficiency variable-speed system on a big one. A full furnace and AC replacement runs higher. A heat pump that heats and cools usually lands in between, and it's the one with the big rebate.

Here are our real installed price ranges, so you have actual numbers instead of national averages.

What's in an installed price

• The outdoor condenser and the matching indoor coil. A new condenser on an old coil is a shortcut that costs you efficiency.
• Labor to remove the old system and install the new one, usually one day.
• Refrigerant line set work, electrical disconnect and connections.
• Haul-away of the old equipment and a new thermostat.
• The permit and the state-required field test, which some quotes leave out. Ours quotes the permit fee separately so you can see it.

What moves the price

• Size. Bigger homes need more tons. Every half ton adds to the cost, so sizing matters in both directions.
• Efficiency. A single-stage unit near the legal minimum costs far less than a variable-speed inverter. The inverter runs quieter, holds temperature tighter and usually carries a longer warranty.
• Brand and warranty. Labor warranties run from 1 year to 10 years depending on the option. That is real money if something fails in year three.
• Your home. Attic access, a roof-mounted unit, old ductwork or an undersized electrical panel can all add cost. A real person should check this before install day, not after.

What's different in 2026

• New refrigerant. New split systems now use R-454B or R-32 instead of R-410A, under the federal phase-down. The new equipment and refrigerant cost more, which is part of why prices rose from 2024.
• California efficiency minimums. In California and the rest of the Southwest region, a new split AC has to be at least 14.3 SEER2 (13.8 SEER2 for larger units), plus a minimum EER2 rating for hot weather.
• The federal tax credit is gone. The heat pump and AC tax credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025.
• Field verification has a new name. The independent test after install, long called HERS testing, now runs under the state ECC program. It is still required on most replacements.

Before you buy a regular AC, look at a heat pump

A heat pump is an AC that also heats. In most of California it costs less to install than a new furnace and AC together. And if you're on LADWP, the rebate gap is huge: $100 to $120 per ton for a central AC versus $1,000 to $1,250 per ton for a qualifying heat pump. Same cooling.

How to keep the cost down

• Get a price before a salesperson comes over. In-home sales visits and commissions are built into the price you pay.
• Compare the same thing. Same size, same efficiency, same scope, permit handled the same way. Our quote comparison checklist covers it.
• Check rebates first. LADWP, and TECH Clean California in parts of the San Fernando Valley, pay real money for heat pumps.
• Don't overbuy. The most efficient unit isn't always worth it in a mild coastal area. In the Valley, where it's 95 to 100 degrees on design days, efficiency pays back faster.

Questions people ask

More guides

• Why HVAC quotes are $10,000 apart, and how to compare them
• Repair or replace? An honest checklist
• Heat pump vs gas furnace in Los Angeles
• Do you need a permit to replace your AC in Los Angeles?
• The LADWP heat pump rebate, explained