Air Conditioning Installation Cost

How Much Does Air Conditioning Cost to Install?

A little uncertain of what air conditioning installation prices look like?

For a single room arrangement, like a wall-mounted unit in a home office or bedroom, the going rate is between £550 and £2,100. That includes the kit and fitting by a qualified tradesperson.

The exact prices you're quoted will mainly depend on the type of installation and the BTU/power rating of the unit. Larger rooms or higher outputs will push prices up.

What Pushes the Price Up?

The main factors that impact costs you're quoted include the room size and BTU needed, install type (wall/window vs multi-split), pipe run length and access (indoors and outdoors), and electrics (new spur/RCBO etc.).

Location matters too, as air conditioning installation in London (and surrounding areas) is usually more expensive than other places in the UK.

What Do Most Homeowners Choose?

As for most Brits, they typically go for a wall mounted air conditioner. It’s affordable, does the job well, and takes less than a day to fit.

While portable units are cheaper, they’re noisy, not as efficient and often a pain with the window vent. Granted, they do the job, but they won’t cool your entire house.

Can One Unit Cool the Whole Floor?

You might be wondering if one chunkier unit in a main room (like the lounge) could cool the whole floor.

In practice, it seldom works. You’ll just end up with one cold room and a sweaty hallway. If you want consistent cooling across an entire floor, then multi-splits are a good option.

Are Portable Units Worth It?

Portable units might be a good fit for your needs, but only if you only need it now and then. But unless you buy a proper window kit to seal the vent pipe, they’re inefficient and let hot air seep back in.

Expect your air conditioning installation cost to start in the hundreds for one room and climb into the thousands for a whole property.

Want a number that’s bang on for your home?

Grab a couple of quotes from local air conditioning installers using MyJobQuote and compare. That way you’ll know exactly what the cost of installing air conditioning looks like for you.

Cost to Install Air Conditioning in a House (UK)

What you'll pay comes down to how many rooms you want cooled, not to mention the sort of system you go for. A single split is brilliant for one main room. On the other hand, a multi-split lets you add extra indoor units (that means more rooms are covered).

• 1 Room (Single Split) — Usually between £550 and £2,100, including the unit and fitting. What you'll pay exactly depends on how big or small and how powerful your system is.
• 2–3 Rooms (Multi-Split) — Expect to pay an extra £600–£1,200 for each additional room. This covers the kit, pipework, plus labour.
• Whole House (Multi-Room Setup) — Costs vary a lot, as it depends on whether your property is large or small and the layout. But most budgets end up in the low thousands and rise with the number of rooms you want cooled.

Tip: You'll pay a lot less to have all the work done in one go rather than calling the installer back room by room.

Air Conditioning Installation Price List

Below, we have provided a table showing the estimated cost of installing an air conditioning unit. This includes the prices of materials and labour.

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Cost of Air Conditioning Units (Supply Only)

In most cases, the unit itself comes bundled with the installer. But if you buy the air conditioner first or want to fit it yourself, these are supply-only prices you’ll see. These figures are based on a typical room of roughly 15-25 m².

Below is a list of different types of air conditioners and what you can expect to pay just for the unit (no labour):

Most Brits go with a wall-mounted or split system, as it offers a decent balance of price and performance.

If you have a large rooms that needs more cooling power, then you'll need to purchase a unit that has a higher BTU. In this case, expect supply costs for air conditioning units to be higher.

How Much Is Air Conditioning Installation? (Labour Only)

Most air con installers charge by the day rather than by the hour. Across much of the UK, you’ll most likely pay £150–£220 per day for a single engineer. In London, you could pay as much as £200–£300 per day.

If your unit is hefty or tricky to get to, it may well involve two people. If this is the case, labour can be nearer £300–£400 per day. As for window units, these can often take a full day to fit, while wall-mounted splits are usually done in half a day if the run is easy.

As a rough guide, a simple single-room install is usually priced at the lower end. Multi-splits and trickier jobs push costs up because of the extra pipework and time involved.

Tip: be sure to ask if the price includes electrical connections and testing. Sometimes that’s bundled, other times you’ll need to hire an electrician separately.

Additional Air Conditioning Costs

When you get air con fitted, you don’t just pay for the unit and the install. There are extra jobs that sometimes crop up. And of course, you’ll notice it on your electricity bill. Here’s what you might pay:

Air Conditioning Running Costs in the UK

Energy prices rise and fall. However, using the UK average of ~28p per kWh (mid-2025, excluding standing charge), take a look at what various units may set you back. The below figures are based on running them for 4 hours a day across a month:

This is based on 4 hours daily use for 30 days at 28p/kWh. Actual bills vary with room size, insulation and how you use the unit.

Air Conditioning Service Cost

• Routine air conditioning service cost — £80 to £120 a year for cleaning and safety checks.
• Filter changes — £10 to £30 every 6 to 12 months (depending on usage).
• Repairs — Fan motors or circuit boards are around £100–£300 if they fail.

Sure, portable air con is a lot cheaper at first. But once you tot up running costs, the best option can often be to plump for a wall-mounted system (as a long-term investment).

What's Involved in Installing Air Conditioning?

If you are wondering how an air conditioner is installed, take a look at the steps involved below:

• Choose the right window for your air conditioning unit. This should be a sash or sliding window that can accommodate the side of the unit
• Most window air conditioning units will be outside the house. You may need to fit brackets to help support the unit's weight and add stability
• The unit will be positioned in the window frame. There will usually be a rail along the bottom that fits into the recess of the window frame and a bar on top that fits against the window when it’s closed
• Once the unit is positioned in the window frame, it is usually secured with locks to prevent the window from opening
• The side screens on the air conditioning unit will now be adjusted into the correct position to block off the window opening and secure it into place
• Once secured, you can turn on the air conditioner and test it to ensure everything is working properly

Can I Install an Air Conditioning System Myself?

Since there are refrigerant agents, the installation of a permanent or semi-permanent air conditioner should be carried out by a professional Gas-Safe engineer or an air conditioning specialist. The chemicals present can be highly toxic, and the installation requires specialist knowledge, so this isn't a DIY job.

If you don't have your air conditioning unit professionally installed, this could cause serious health risks and may affect the safety of your property. A DIY installation may also invalidate your home insurance.

If you are purchasing a freestanding air conditioning unit, you can install it yourself. These are usually stand-alone units that simply need to be plugged in and refilled with water or ice.

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Planning Permission and Noise Rules for Air Conditioning

With smaller air con units, you can normally fit one (no planning permission whatsoever). This is especially true if the outdoor box is out of sight behind the house. That being said, there are times when you do:

• Is your home listed or in a conservation area? Then you’ll almost always need consent.
• Live in a flat and shared block? More often than not, you’ll need permission too, as the unit changes the outside of the building.
• Because outdoor condensers give off a low hum, noise can be a problem, especially if they sit right by a neighbour’s garden or window. So, the council may get involved.

Tip: Before you book, speak to your local planning office. A good installer should also alert you if consent might be needed.

Types of Air Conditioning Systems

There are several different types of air conditioners. Below, we will go over the different types of air conditioning units and the pros and cons of each type:

Split Air Conditioner Cost

A split air conditioning system has two parts, including an indoor unit and an outdoor compressor. These tend to be more efficient than portable or window units.

On average, installation costs vary - you can expect to pay between £550 to £2,100. But this depends on the size and intricacy of the job. They're a brilliant option for medium to large homes if you need long-term cooling.

Pros

• ✔ These are generally the most cost-effective air conditioning units to run
• ✔ They are subtle in their appearance
• ✔ It can be easily expanded to cover multiple rooms

Cons

• ✖ They require yearly maintenance
• ✖ You may be limited on where you can put it due to the pipework and functionality

Window Air Conditioner Cost

Window air conditioners are self-contained units. They fit into your existing window or wall opening. Typically, you'll pay roughly £650 and £1,200 to install (this includes labour).

This option works well for single rooms or small flats. That being said, the unit can block part of the window and may need support brackets.

Pros

• ✔ Quite a low noise output when in use
• ✔ It can be placed in a window opening or wall hole
• ✔ Some models are portable

Cons

• ✖ It can obscure the window views
• ✖ It requires a sash window
• ✖ It may require support structures such as brackets or a reinforced framework

Portable Air Conditioner Cost

A portable air conditioner is sometimes also referred to as a spot cooler. These types of air conditioners are used as a cheap alternative to permanent systems. This is best for homes where the demand for air conditioning is not that frequent.

Portable air conditioner units usually start at around £150.

Pros

• ✔ Can be stored away when not in use
• ✔ Transportable
• ✔ Easy to set up
• ✔ Cheap

Cons

• ✖ Must be positioned close to a window for the extractor vent
• ✖ Not as effective at cooling larger rooms
• ✖ It can be quite bulky

Checklist: Hiring Contractors to Install Air Conditioning

There are several you will need to consider before hiring someone to install a new air conditioning system for you. Below is a list of the main things you should consider when searching for the right contractor for the job:

• Does the contractor offer any guarantees with the work?
• How much will the work cost to complete? – Ask for a breakdown of the costs so you know you are paying a good price for each element of the job
• What type of air conditioners does the company offer?
• Is the engineer well experienced in fitting the type of air conditioning system you are purchasing?
• How many years' worth of experience does the contractor have in fitting air conditioning systems?
• Will the contractor fix any issues that may come up with the system?
• Is the engineer on the Gas Safety Register?

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