Price guide Fixed prices with VAT, checked October 2026
Air Conditioning Installation Cost, Every Price Shown
This guide sets out the real air conditioning installation cost for homes in London and the South East. A single room starts from £2,195 fitted with VAT, and two rooms from £3,995. Below is our full price list by kW, room and system, plus what pushes a price up.
- Prices include VAT
- Extras shown in writing before you book
- F-Gas certified engineers
Prices last checked: October 2026
Quick answer
How much does air conditioning cost in the UK?
A fitted single room split system usually costs £1,500 to £3,200 in the UK, with London at the top end. Two or three rooms on a multi-split cost £2,800 to £5,750. At Aircova, one room starts from £2,195 and two rooms from £3,995, fitted with VAT included.
Those ranges cover the unit, the fitting and the commissioning. If you are new to air conditioning installation, our home page walks through the process. These ranges do not cover a portable unit, which you plug in yourself and which only moves heat out through a window hose. A fitted split system has two parts: an indoor unit on the wall and an outdoor unit, sometimes called the condenser, outside.
Aircon installation prices in cost guides often look lower than the quotes people get. Many guides split the unit price from the labour. Others quote a small 2kW unit with the outdoor unit right behind the wall. Real homes have longer pipe runs, first floor walls and older fuse boards.
UK market ranges by system
To compare air conditioning cost UK wide, the table below shows typical fitted prices this year. We checked them against several national fixed price installers and cost guides in October 2026. Our own fixed prices sit in the last column so you can compare like for like.
| System | Typical UK fitted price | Fitting time | Aircova from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single room split | £1,500 to £3,200 | 1 day | £2,195 |
| Multi-split, 2 to 3 rooms | £2,800 to £5,750 | 2 to 3 days | £3,995 |
| Ducted system | £6,000 to £15,000 | 3 to 5 days | £6,995 |
All figures include VAT. The low end of each range is usually a small unit with a short pipe run outside London. The high end is a larger or premium unit, a long pipe run, or awkward access.
Aircova price list
Our fixed prices by room, kW and system
Every price below is fitted, with VAT included. Each covers the units, up to 3 metres of pipework per indoor unit, a bracket, the electrical connection and commissioning. We confirm your final figure in writing after a free survey.
One room
One wall-mounted indoor unit and one outdoor unit for a bedroom, office or loft.
from£2,195
Fitted, VAT included
- 2.5kW unit for rooms up to about 20m²
- Up to 3m of pipework
- Usually fitted in one day
- Cools, heats and dehumidifies
Two rooms
Two indoor units on one multi-split outdoor unit, each with its own temperature.
from£3,995
Fitted, VAT included
- Two indoor units, one outdoor unit
- Up to 3m of pipe per indoor unit
- Usually fitted in two days
- Separate control in each room
Three rooms
Three indoor units on one outdoor unit, enough for most bedroom floors.
from£5,495
Fitted, VAT included
- Three indoor units, one outdoor unit
- Up to 3m of pipe per indoor unit
- Usually fitted in two to three days
- One tidy unit outside
Price by kW for a single room
Unit size drives the split AC installation cost for one room more than anything else. A bigger room needs more cooling and heating power, measured in kW or BTU/h. One kW equals about 3,412 BTU/h. If you are unsure of the size, our BTU calculator gives a guide from your room measurements.
| Unit size | About BTU/h | Typical room | Aircova from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5kW | 8,500 | Bedroom or office up to about 20m² | £2,195 |
| 3.5kW | 12,000 | Lounge, sunny bedroom or loft room | £2,395 |
| 5.0kW | 17,000 | Open plan kitchen and living space | £2,695 |
| 7.0kW | 24,000 | Large open plan room or extension | £2,995 |
Moving from 2.5kW to 3.5kW adds £200, which is worth it in a room with big south facing windows. Buying too large a unit wastes money, though. An oversized unit cools in short bursts, switches off too often and leaves the air damp. Our wall-mounted air conditioning page explains the sizes in more depth.
Price by number of rooms
For two or more rooms, a multi-split system runs several indoor units from one outdoor unit. Each extra room adds an indoor unit, its own pipe run and more fitting time, so the price steps up by about £1,500 per room.
| Rooms | Indoor units | Outdoor units | Aircova from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 rooms | 2 | 1 | £3,995 |
| 3 rooms | 3 | 1 | £5,495 |
| 4 rooms | 4 | 1 | £6,995 |
| 5 rooms | 5 | 1 | £8,495 |
Most multi-split outdoor units support two to five indoor units. If you want more rooms than that, we split the house across two outdoor units. See how multi-split air conditioning works room by room before you choose.
Ducted system prices
A ducted unit hides in the loft or a ceiling void and feeds grilles in each room. Nothing shows on the walls, but the work takes longer.
- 2 to 3 rooms
- From £6,995 for one ducted unit.
- Whole floor
- Typically £8,000 to £12,000, priced after survey.
- Fitting time
- 3 to 5 days.
- Space needed
- About 25 to 30cm of ceiling void or loft space.
Read when ducted air conditioning makes sense, usually in a renovation, new build or loft conversion.
Two singles or one multi-split?
Two rooms on separate single systems cost from £4,390 with us. A two room multi-split costs from £3,995, so it saves at least £395.
- Two outdoor units on the wall
- If one fails, the other still runs
- Easier when rooms face opposite sides
- One outdoor unit outside
- Lower total price
- Each room still has its own control
In the fixed price
What our air conditioning installation cost includes
A low headline price means little if the basics are extras. Our fixed prices cover a complete, working system with nothing left for you to arrange, from the survey to the warranty paperwork.
- A free home survey before anything is booked
- Indoor and outdoor units from a leading brand, running on R32 refrigerant
- Up to 3 metres of insulated copper pipe, cable and condensate drain per indoor unit
- White trunking to cover pipework inside the room
- A wall bracket or ground stand for the outdoor unit
- The electrical connection and safety testing
- Nitrogen pressure test, vacuum and commissioning, with a written record
- Warranty registration and a walk through the remote and phone app
The pressure test and vacuum matter more than they sound. A system that is not tested and pulled into a deep vacuum can leak refrigerant slowly, or lose efficiency within a year. These steps take time on the day, which is one reason a very cheap quote should raise questions.
Any engineer who works with refrigerant must hold an F gas qualification, and the company must hold F gas certification. The GOV.UK guidance on F gas sets this out. Every engineer on an Aircova job is certified, and that cost is already in your price.
What a quote should never leave out
When you compare quotes, check that each one names the exact indoor unit and outdoor unit models, the kW size and the pipe length allowed. A quote that only says “2.5kW system” leaves room for a cheaper model on the day. Ours list the models, so you can look up the SEER and SCOP ratings yourself.
Also check whether commissioning and warranty registration are included. Without registration, many manufacturers only give their basic warranty. We register every system in your name. That gives you up to 5 years of cover, and longer on some ranges with yearly servicing.
Extra costs
What adds to aircon installation prices?
Most single room jobs need no extras at all. When the air conditioning installation cost does go up, it is almost always for one of the reasons below. We check each one at the survey and price it in writing, so the figure you agree is the figure you pay.
The biggest factor is distance. Every metre between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit needs more copper pipe, insulation, cable and drain, plus more time to fit and test. A unit on the back wall of a bedroom with the outdoor unit straight behind it is the cheapest layout. A unit at the front of the house with the outdoor unit in the back garden is the dearest.
Height is the next factor. Engineers can safely fit an outdoor unit on a ground floor wall from a ladder. On a second floor or above a conservatory roof, they need a tower or scaffolding, which adds hire cost and a day of set up.
| Extra | When you need it | How we price it |
|---|---|---|
| Pipe run over 3m | The outdoor unit cannot sit close to the indoor unit | Per extra metre, shown at survey |
| Tower or scaffold access | Outdoor unit or pipe route above ground floor height | Fixed sum, shown at survey |
| Consumer unit upgrade | An old fuse board with no spare way or no RCD protection | Fixed sum, shown at survey |
| Wall chasing | You want pipework buried in the wall, not in trunking | Per run, shown at survey |
| Condensate pump | Water cannot drain downhill to a gully or downpipe | Fixed sum, shown at survey |
| Premium brand or range | You choose a design or extra quiet model | Difference shown on your quote |
Electrics
Older homes
Each system needs its own protected circuit. Many London homes still have older fuse boards without a spare way. An upgrade is a separate job for an electrician, and we flag it at the survey.
We tell you in writing if it is needed.
Drainage
Inside walls
The indoor unit makes water when it cools. It normally runs away by gravity through a small drain pipe. If the unit sits on an inside wall, a small condensate pump lifts the water out.
Placing the unit on an outside wall avoids this extra.
Finish
Hidden pipework
White trunking is neat and included. Some people prefer pipes chased into the wall, which costs more and needs making good after. In a loft air conditioning job, the pipe often runs behind new plasterboard instead.
Best planned before decorating.
Living in a flat or conservation area? You may need consent from your freeholder or council before an outdoor unit goes up. Our planning permission guide explains when, and our page on air conditioning for flats covers freeholder consent.
Brand and location
How brand and area change the price
Our from prices use quality inverter units from the brands UK installers fit most: Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Fujitsu, Toshiba and Panasonic. We do not fit unbranded units, because spare parts and warranty support matter over ten years or more.
Cost by brand tier
Each brand sells a standard range and a premium range. Standard wall units from Fujitsu, Daikin or Mitsubishi Electric fit within our from prices. Design ranges cost more, such as the Daikin Perfera, Mitsubishi Electric MSZ-LN, Toshiba Haori and Panasonic Etherea. They add quieter fans, better filters or a styled cover.
Premium models can run in quiet mode from about 19dB, which suits bedrooms. Compare the ranges on our Daikin air conditioning and Mitsubishi Electric pages. Samsung, LG and Hitachi are also available on request, priced at quote.
London compared with the rest of the UK
Air conditioning installation cost in London sits at the top of the UK range. Labour, parking and access all cost more in the capital. Narrow side returns, solid brick walls and flats above shops add time, and many streets need a paid parking permit for the van.
Our prices are the same across London and nearby counties, including Surrey, Kent, Essex and Hertfordshire. Any parking permit cost is shown on your quote rather than added later. See our London air conditioning page for local details.
After the install
Running, servicing and heat pump costs
The fitted price is only part of what air conditioning costs you. Running it and servicing it each year also count, and both are lower than many people expect.
Running costs
A modern inverter unit gives about 3 to 4 kW of heat for every kW of electricity, a SCOP of around 4. Cooling is similarly efficient, and most units we fit are rated A++. Our air conditioning running costs guide works out the cost per hour at current tariffs.
Servicing costs
A yearly service keeps the unit efficient and most manufacturer warranties valid. One-off services across the UK typically cost £70 to £120 per unit.
- One wall-mounted unit
- From £99.
- Multi-split, two indoor units
- From £149, then £45 per extra indoor unit.
- Ducted system
- Priced at booking.
Book an air conditioning service once a year.
Heat pump costs
Every split system we fit is an air-to-air heat pump. The prices on this page also apply when you buy one mainly for heating. The Ofgem Boiler Upgrade Scheme now lists £2,500 off air-to-air heat pumps for eligible homes. We confirm eligibility at the survey. See the full air to air heat pump cost breakdown.
Replacing an old unit? A replacement costs the same as a new install. We include removal and recycling of the old system, and an F gas engineer recovers the refrigerant. Read more about air conditioning replacement.
Your price
How to get an exact price and spend less
The real answer to how much does air conditioning cost in your home comes from a survey. A guide price is a starting point. Your exact figure depends on your rooms, walls and pipe route, and we only fix it once we have seen them. Getting there takes four short steps.
- Instant price. Answer a few questions about your rooms and get an instant quote online.
- WhatsApp photos. Send photos of the room and the outside wall to 07403 664179 for a faster check.
- Free survey. An engineer measures the room, plans the pipe route and checks your fuse board.
- Written fixed price. You get the unit models, any extras and the fitting date in writing.
You do not pay anything for the survey or the quote. If the survey finds nothing extra, your price stays at the from price for your size and system.
Ways to save on your install
A few choices bring your air conditioning installation cost down without cutting corners on the fitting.
- Keep the outdoor unit close to the indoor unit, so the pipe run stays under 3 metres
- Choose a multi-split for two or more rooms rather than separate single systems
- Size the unit correctly, as a larger kW than you need costs more to buy and run
- Book between October and March, when installers have more dates free
- Fit every room in one visit, which costs less than adding rooms in later years
- Pick a standard range in place of a design model if the unit is in a spare room
- Ask about the heat pump grant if you are replacing gas, oil, LPG or electric heating
Example quotes
These examples show how we build a price for the cost of AC installation in home types we see often in London. They are worked examples using our price list, not records of past jobs.
Back bedroom in a Victorian terrace
A 2.5kW unit on the rear wall, with the outdoor unit on a bracket over the side return. The pipe run is under 3 metres and the fuse board has a spare way. The price stays at £2,195 with VAT, fitted in a day. See more on bedroom air conditioning.
Two bedrooms in a first floor flat
Two indoor units on one outdoor unit on the balcony, from £3,995. The second room is further from the balcony, so it may need a longer pipe run, priced at survey. The freeholder’s written consent comes first, and we supply the spec sheets for it.
Open plan kitchen extension
A 5.0kW unit for a large room with roof lights, from £2,695. The outdoor unit sits on a ground stand in the garden, so no access equipment is needed. If you want the pipework hidden inside the new wall, we plan it before the plasterboard goes up.
FAQs
Air conditioning price questions
How much does it cost to install a 3.5kW air conditioning unit?
A 3.5kW wall-mounted split system costs from £2,395 fitted with Aircova, including VAT. That covers the indoor unit, the outdoor unit, up to 3 metres of pipework, the bracket, the electrical connection and commissioning. A 3.5kW unit suits a lounge, a sunny bedroom or a loft room. Longer pipe runs or scaffold access are priced at the survey.
Is it cheaper to fit two single systems or one multi-split?
One multi-split is usually cheaper. Two single systems cost from £4,390 with us, while a two room multi-split costs from £3,995. You also have only one outdoor unit on the wall. Two singles still make sense when the rooms face opposite sides of the house, as the pipe runs would be very long.
Why does air conditioning cost more in London?
London prices sit at the top of the UK range because labour, parking and access cost more. Many streets need a paid parking permit, and terraces often have narrow side returns and solid brick walls that take longer to drill. Flats usually need freeholder consent first. Our prices are the same across London and nearby counties.
Do Aircova prices include VAT?
Yes. Every price on this page includes VAT at the standard rate. The figure on your written quote is the full amount you pay for the work described, with any extras listed line by line. We do not add VAT, call out charges or admin fees at the end.
Is a portable air conditioner cheaper than a fitted system?
A portable unit is cheaper to buy, at a few hundred pounds, but it costs more to live with. It is louder, it needs a hose out of the window, and it struggles in very hot rooms. A fitted split system costs more up front but cools faster, runs quietly and heats in winter too.
Can I get a grant towards air conditioning?
Possibly, if the system is an air-to-air heat pump replacing your main heating. Ofgem’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme lists £2,500 off air-to-air heat pumps in England and Wales, and the installer must be MCS certified. A system fitted only for cooling is not the aim of the scheme. We confirm eligibility at the survey before any grant is shown on your quote.
Do I pay for the survey?
No. The home survey and the written quote are free, with no obligation to book. An engineer measures the room, checks the walls and plans the pipe route and outdoor unit spot. Most surveys take under an hour, and you get the fixed price, the unit models and a fitting date in writing afterwards.
Are cheap air conditioning installs worth the saving?
Often not. A low price can mean an unbranded unit, no nitrogen pressure test or no proper vacuum before the refrigerant is released. That can lead to leaks, poor cooling and a warranty that is not registered. Check that the installer holds F gas certification and names the exact models on the quote.
Do you offer finance on air conditioning?
No. We keep things simple with one fixed price and no finance or credit agreements. You pay 50% in advance to book your fitting date and the other 50% during installation. Your written quote shows both amounts including VAT, so there are no interest charges or hidden extras.
Get your fixed price
Tell us which rooms you want cooled and heated, and we will send a fixed price for your home with every extra listed. No pressure and no obligation.
- Reply within one working day
- Free home survey
- Price confirmed in writing
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