Central air installation
Adding central air to a house that never had it, which in older LA stock can mean new ducts and a panel check.
Published range, central AC, 2–5 tons: $6,500–$25,000
Get central air quotesLos Angeles · independent publisher, not a contractor
AC installation in Los Angeles, explained before the quote
What central air, heat pumps and mini-splits cost here this year by size, what the LADBS permit and Title 24 tests add, and how to check a CSLB license in three minutes.
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$8,000–$16,000published 3-ton central AC, installed, 2 LA sources
115 vs 5days a year at 90 °F+, Woodland Hills vs LAX (NOAA)
14.3 SEER2Southwest minimum for a new split AC, plus an EER2 floor
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The short answer
How much does AC installation cost in Los Angeles?
AC installation in Los Angeles is published at $8,000–$16,000 for a 3-ton central AC on usable ducts, and $6,500–$25,000 across 2 to 5 tons, by LA HVAC companies in 2026.
A ducted heat pump is published at $8,000–$22,000 and a single-zone mini-split at $4,000–$7,500. New ducts, a 200-amp panel or a crane lift add to any of them.
These ranges come from 6 named LA sources, not from us. The permit and the Title 24 duct and refrigerant tests belong in every quote.
Sources and retrieval dates are listed under the cost section and in our editorial policy. Page last reviewed .
Why use this site
What you get before the estimate visit
Six things a contractor's booking form does not give you.
Sourced prices
Every range names its source and the date we read it.
License checked
Partners are matched against the CSLB C-20 register first.
Size estimator
Tons, published price band and the adders in one card.
Quote checklist
The ten lines an LA installation quote should carry.
No fake reviews
No testimonials, ratings or staff we cannot verify.
Valley or coast
Woodland Hills sees 115 days at 90 °F+; LAX sees 5.
What it costs
AC installation prices in Los Angeles, 2026
Installation is priced by size in tons for ducted systems and by zone for mini-splits. These are the installed ranges LA HVAC companies printed this year.
None of it is our price. We publish a figure of our own only once we hold twelve dated Los Angeles quotes for that size and system. Our editorial policy explains the method.
Central AC and heat pump replacement cost by tonnage
| Size | Central AC | Ducted heat pump | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 ton ~1,200 sq ft | $6,500–$12,000 | $9,000–$11,500 | Reliable H&A, Cold Cloud, E & A Mechanical |
| 2.5 ton ~1,500 sq ft | $7,000–$13,500 | not printed | Reliable H&A, Cold Cloud |
| 3 ton ~1,800 sq ft | $8,000–$16,000 | $12,000–$15,000 | Reliable H&A, Cold Cloud, E & A Mechanical |
| 3.5 ton ~2,100 sq ft | $11,000–$17,500 | not printed | Reliable H&A; AC least settled |
| 4 ton ~2,400 sq ft | $9,500–$19,000 | $14,500–$18,000 | Reliable H&A, Cold Cloud, E & A Mechanical |
| 5 ton ~3,000 sq ft | $11,000–$25,000 | $17,000–$22,000 | Reliable H&A, Cold Cloud, E & A Mechanical |
Central AC figures assume usable ducts and keep the furnace. Heat pump figures by size come from one company; HVACProjectCost.com ($9,000–$17,000) and LA Heating and Air Conditioning ($8,000–$14,000) print an all-sizes band.
Mini-split installation cost by zone
| Zones | Published range | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| 1 zone | $4,000–$7,500 | E & A Mechanical, HVACProjectCost |
| 2 zones | $9,000–$12,500 | E & A Mechanical; least settled |
| 3 zones | $12,000–$16,500 | E & A Mechanical; least settled |
| 4 zones | $15,000–$20,000 | E & A Mechanical; least settled |
What moves the number
| Permit and Title 24 paperwork Reliable H&A, Cold Cloud | +$250–$800 |
| Line set, pad or a long refrigerant run Reliable H&A, E & A Mechanical | +$300–$1,500 |
| Duct repair and sealing Reliable H&A, Cold Cloud, E & A Mechanical | +$800–$4,500 |
| New or fully replaced ductwork Reliable H&A, Cold Cloud, HVACProjectCost | +$3,500–$8,000 |
| Electrical panel, 100 A to 200 A Reliable H&A, Cold Cloud, E & A Mechanical, HVACProjectCost | +$2,000–$7,500 |
| Crane lift to a roof or over a building HVACProjectCost | +$800–$2,000 |
| Asbestos abatement on old ducts Reliable H&A | +$2,000–$9,000 |
| Full system with all-new ducts HVACProjectCost | $14,000–$22,000 |
Sales tax: California taxes the installed AC unit as a fixture, ducts as the contractor's materials, and not the labor (CDTFA, Sales and Use Tax Regulation 1521, Appendices A and B).
Every source behind these ranges
| Source | Page dated | What it prints |
|---|---|---|
| Reliable Heating and Air (Woodland Hills), AC installation cost in LA and Ventura County retrieved 2026-09-29 | 2026 | Central AC by size, 2 to 5 tons, plus adders: panel, duct repair, full ducts, permits, line set, asbestos. |
| Cold Cloud (Glendale), central air cost in Los Angeles retrieved 2026-09-29 | 2026-05 | Central AC by size, 2 to 5 tons, on usable ducts; 17+ SEER2 adds $2,500–$5,000. Adders: ducts, panel, permit and Title 24 paperwork. |
| E & A Mechanical (Tujunga), heat pump installation cost in Los Angeles retrieved 2026-09-29 | 2026-04-18 | Ducted heat pump by size, 2 to 5 tons; mini-splits by 1 to 4 zones. Adders: ducts, panel, long line set. |
| HVACProjectCost.com, Los Angeles HVAC replacement cost retrieved 2026-09-29 | 2026-07-16 | Central AC $5,500–$12,000; heat pump $9,000–$17,000; mini-split one zone $4,000–$7,000, multi-zone $10,000–$18,000; new ducts, panel, crane. |
| LA Heating and Air Conditioning (Woodland Hills), heat pump installation cost in Los Angeles retrieved 2026-09-29 | 2026-08-11 | Heat pump without new ducts $8,000–$14,000; with new ducts from $13,000. |
| Affordable Heating and Air (Chatsworth), AC replacement cost in Los Angeles retrieved 2026-09-29 | 2026 | Full system $9,000–$22,000, middle of the market $11,000–$13,000. Not used by size; lists what a quote should itemize. |
Size and price band estimator
Enter the conditioned floor area and where the house sits. You get a size band and the published LA price range for it. It checks a quote; it is not one, and it is no substitute for the Manual J the contractor should run.
Coast means Santa Monica or Long Beach; Valley means the San Fernando or San Gabriel valleys. Sources and dates are in the table above. The 600 sq ft per ton start follows the size bands those guides print; the coast and Valley half-ton shift is our own rule of thumb.
Your band
3 tons
Ask for the Manual J result; it should land near this.
Published LA range$8,000–$16,000
SourcesReliable H&A, Cold Cloud
Adders selectednone
Permit bringsLADBS or city permit, Title 24 duct tests, third-party rater
Rebate to ask aboutNone for a central AC at heat pump rates; ask your utility
Range with adders$8,000–$16,000
Published 2026 figures from named LA companies, not quotes from us. A quote outside the band is not wrong; it should explain why.
Get quotes for a 3 ton systemHeat pump or AC
Central AC, heat pump or mini-split?
Central AC. A new condenser and coil on the ducts you have, keeping the gas furnace. The published 3-ton band is $8,000–$16,000. It fits a house with sound ducts and a furnace with years left.
Heat pump installation. The same outdoor unit cools and heats, so it can retire the furnace. LA sources print a ducted system at $8,000–$22,000. LADWP, Burbank and Pasadena rebate heat pumps per ton.
Ductless mini-split. For Craftsman and Spanish houses without ducts, condos, ADUs and additions. Priced per zone, from $4,000–$7,500 for one.
LADWP, "Consumer Rebate Program", LADWP; prices from the sources in the cost section. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
Valley heat, coastal cool
Days a year at 90 °F or above, 1991–2020 normals:
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020, retrieved 2026-09-29.
The tests your permit brings
A new condenser, coil or air handler is an alteration under Title 24: the contractor seals and tests the ducts, and a third-party rater under the CEC's ECC program checks the work.
Your utility sets the rebate
LADWP in the city; Burbank and Pasadena run their own utilities; SCE elsewhere, whose central heat pump incentive ran through TECH Clean California, fully reserved since 14 November 2025.
Services
What you can request quotes for
Nine jobs Los Angeles homeowners ask for, starting with the installation.
Heat pump installation
One outdoor unit that cools and heats, often replacing an AC plus gas furnace. LADWP, Burbank and Pasadena rebate heat pumps per ton.
Published range, ducted heat pump: $8,000–$22,000
Get heat pump quotesAC replacement
Swapping an aging condenser and coil. The quote should state SEER2, EER2, the refrigerant, the permit and the Title 24 tests.
Published range, central AC, 2–5 tons: $6,500–$25,000
Get replacement quotesDuctless mini-split installation
For homes, condos, ADUs and additions without ducts. Priced by zone; ask where the outdoor unit and line set will run.
Published range, 1 to 4+ zones: $4,000–$20,000
Get mini-split quotesAC repair
Not cooling in a Valley heat wave. A repair quote on an older R-410A system is where the replacement question starts.
Request a repairFurnace installation and replacement
New gas furnaces sold in the South Coast air district must meet its Rule 1111 NOx limit. Price a heat pump alongside it.
Get furnace quotesHVAC maintenance and tune-ups
A spring check before the Valley's first 100 °F week: refrigerant charge, capacitor, drain and filter.
Book a tune-upDuctwork, sealing and testing
A new condenser triggers Title 24 duct sealing and testing. Ask how old attic or crawlspace ducts will be sealed if they fail.
Get duct quotesLight commercial HVAC
Rooftop units and split systems for shops, offices and apartment common areas. Crane lifts and roof access move these prices.
Get commercial quotesThe rules that change your quote
Six things an LA installation quote must respect
None of this is optional for the contractor, and most of it shows up in the price.
A C-20 license from the CSLB
HVAC work in California needs a CSLB license in the C-20 classification, which covers installing air-conditioning systems and their ducts and controls. Since 2025 the unlicensed limit is $1,000, and only for work that needs no permit.
Every licensee carries a $25,000 bond.
California Code of Regulations, Title 16, § 832.20, via Cornell LII — source; CSLB AB 2622 release; CSLB bond rules. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
A permit from the right office
The CEC says replacing or altering an HVAC unit needs a permit. In the City of Los Angeles that is LADBS, with an online express permit for a like-for-like change-out; a heat pump that adds a circuit needs an electrical permit too.
Unincorporated areas use LA County Public Works.
CEC; LADBS (verify; LADBS refused our automated read); LA County Public Works. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
Title 24 tests and a third-party rater
The contractor seals and tests the ducts, and a third-party rater verifies the installation. From 1 January 2026 that rater works under the CEC's Energy Code Compliance program, which replaced HERS for code verification.
CEC single-family resources; CEC HERS/ECC; climate-zone detail per Energy Code Ace (verify). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
Southwest SEER2 and EER2 minimums
California is in DOE's Southwest region. A new split AC needs 14.3 SEER2 plus an EER2 minimum (11.7 below 45,000 Btu/h, or 9.8 at 15.2 SEER2 and up). Split heat pumps need 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2.
10 CFR 430.32(c), Electronic Code of Federal Regulations — eCFR, retrieved 2026-09-29
R-454B, R-32 and the R-410A question
New equipment uses A2L refrigerants such as R-454B or R-32. EPA's May 2026 rule lets installers fit R-410A split systems built before 2025 until stock runs out.
California keeps its own HFC rules through CARB, so ask which refrigerant the quote uses and confirm it can be installed here.
NAHB summary of the EPA final rule under the AIM Act (May 2026); California rules per CARB (verify) — source. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
Money: tax credit gone, rebates by utility
The federal 25C credit applied to qualifying equipment placed in service before 31 December 2025. A system installed in 2026 does not qualify. LADWP rebates heat pumps rated 15.2 SEER2 and 7.7 HSPF2 or better, and asks for the final approved permit.
TECH Clean California's single-family heat pump incentives are fully reserved. Labor is not subject to sales tax.
IRS; LADWP; TECH Clean California; CDTFA Reg. 1521. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
Before you sign
What an LA installation quote must show
A quote missing three or more of these is hard to compare.
- The CSLB license number and the C-20 classification.
- The Manual J result: the size in tons and how it was worked out.
- Matched model numbers for the outdoor and indoor units, with SEER2, EER2 and, for heat pumps, HSPF2.
- The refrigerant: R-454B, R-32 or R-410A.
- The permit, pulled in the contractor's name from LADBS or your city's office.
- The Title 24 tests and who books the third-party rater.
- Ducts, electrical and crane as separate lines, or stated as excluded.
- A down payment of 10 percent or less, and payments that follow the work.
- Equipment and labor warranties, separately, and who registers the equipment.
- Any rebate the contractor says you qualify for, with the program named.
How to check a license in three minutes
Open the CSLB license check and enter the license number or the business name.
Confirm it is active and lists C-20, that the bond and workers' comp are current, and that the name matches your contract.
What happens next
From this form to cool air
You describe the job
Service, ZIP, home size and ducts. Nothing is shared until you submit.
We check and route it
We match your ZIP to a contractor whose C-20 license we have checked. If none covers your ZIP yet, we email you and say so.
A home visit and a Manual J
The contractor sizes the system and quotes it. Check it against the estimator.
Permit, then install
The contractor pulls the permit from LADBS or your city, then installs.
Tests and final inspection
The rater verifies the ducts and charge; the inspector signs off. Keep the permit for any rebate.
Service area
Where we route requests, and what differs
The equipment is the same across the county; the permit office, the utility, the climate and the housing are not. Coverage is confirmed by ZIP.
Los AngelesLADWP electric
LADBS permits; LADWP electricity, so LADWP rebates. Woodland Hills averages 115 days a year at 90 °F+, LAX 5.
LADBS permits; LADWP electricity, so LADWP rebates. Woodland Hills averages 115 days a year at 90 °F+, LAX 5.
BurbankBWP electric
Burbank Water and Power, the city's own utility, with its own heat pump rebate. About 54 days a year at 90 °F+.
Burbank Water and Power, the city's own utility, with its own heat pump rebate. About 54 days a year at 90 °F+.
PasadenaPWP electric
Pasadena Water and Power rebates heat pumps; the city runs its own permit center. Craftsman houses without ducts point to mini-splits.
Pasadena Water and Power rebates heat pumps; the city runs its own permit center. Craftsman houses without ducts point to mini-splits.
Long BeachSCE electric
Own Development Services permits and a city gas utility. Coastal: about 23 days a year at 90 °F+.
Own Development Services permits and a city gas utility. Coastal: about 23 days a year at 90 °F+.
Santa MonicaSCE electric
Coastal marine layer and climate zone 6, so a different Title 24 charge test than the Valley; own building and safety office.
Coastal marine layer and climate zone 6, so a different Title 24 charge test than the Valley; own building and safety office.
Beverly HillsSCE electric
Own Community Development permits. On large lots, condenser placement and noise set the layout.
Own Community Development permits. On large lots, condenser placement and noise set the layout.
West HollywoodSCE electric
Dense condos and apartments: ask the HOA where an outdoor unit may go before a mini-split quote. Own building and safety.
Dense condos and apartments: ask the HOA where an outdoor unit may go before a mini-split quote. Own building and safety.
CalabasasSCE electric
Inland heat next to Woodland Hills and a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone; City of Calabasas permits.
Inland heat next to Woodland Hills and a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone; City of Calabasas permits.
Agoura HillsSCE electric
Conejo-side heat and wildfire smoke, so ask for filtration in the quote; City of Agoura Hills permits.
Conejo-side heat and wildfire smoke, so ask for filtration in the quote; City of Agoura Hills permits.
ArcadiaSCE electric
San Gabriel Valley heat, climate zone 9; City of Arcadia permits; SoCalGas for a furnace.
San Gabriel Valley heat, climate zone 9; City of Arcadia permits; SoCalGas for a furnace.
DowneySCE electric
Older tract homes: ask whether the original ducts will pass the leakage test. City of Downey permits.
Older tract homes: ask whether the original ducts will pass the leakage test. City of Downey permits.
WhittierSCE electric
City of Whittier permits; SoCalGas for a furnace. At the basin's eastern edge, below the Puente Hills.
City of Whittier permits; SoCalGas for a furnace. At the basin's eastern edge, below the Puente Hills.
NorwalkSCE electric
City of Norwalk permits; SoCalGas for a furnace. Southeast county, between basin and coast.
City of Norwalk permits; SoCalGas for a furnace. Southeast county, between basin and coast.
BellflowerSCE electric
City of Bellflower permits; parts of the city are on the Long Beach gas utility, not SoCalGas.
City of Bellflower permits; parts of the city are on the Long Beach gas utility, not SoCalGas.
CerritosSCE electric
Tract homes on their second or third system; City of Cerritos permits.
Check my ZIP Tract homes on their second or third system; City of Cerritos permits.
The form accepts Los Angeles County ZIPs from 900xx to 918xx and tells you if we cannot route yours. Orange County, the Conejo Valley and Santa Clarita wait on a partner there.
Utility and permit-office lines: Burbank Water and Power, "Residential Rebates"; Pasadena Water and Power, "Heat Pump Rebate" (verify your address); Long Beach Development Services; climate from NOAA normals.
Questions
What LA homeowners ask before they sign
How much does AC installation cost in Los Angeles in 2026?
LA HVAC companies publish a 3-ton central AC at $8,000–$16,000 installed on usable ducts, and 2–5 tons at $6,500–$25,000. A ducted heat pump prints at $8,000–$22,000. These are published ranges from named sources, not our prices; ducts, a panel or a crane add to them.
What size AC do I need for a Los Angeles home?
The two LA price guides that print sizes pair about 600 square feet with each ton: a 1,800 sq ft home lands near 3 tons. A Valley house may need more than a coastal one of the same size. The contractor should run a Manual J load calculation before quoting.
Do I need a permit to replace my AC in Los Angeles?
Yes. The California Energy Commission says a permit is required when an HVAC unit is replaced or altered. In the City of Los Angeles it comes from LADBS; Burbank, Pasadena, Long Beach, Santa Monica and unincorporated areas use their own offices. The permit brings Title 24 duct and refrigerant tests.
Should I install a heat pump instead of central AC in LA?
Often worth pricing both. A heat pump cools like an AC and also heats, so it can replace an AC plus gas furnace. LADWP, Burbank and Pasadena utilities rebate heat pumps per ton. Published LA prices for a ducted heat pump run $8,000–$22,000 by size.
How much does a mini-split cost in Los Angeles?
LA sources publish a single-zone ductless mini-split at $4,000–$7,500 installed and multi-zone systems at $10,000–$20,000. The zone count, the line-set run and where the outdoor unit can sit move the price most.
Is there still a tax credit or rebate for a new AC or heat pump?
No federal credit: 25C ended for equipment placed in service after 2025. LADWP, Burbank Water and Power and Pasadena Water and Power run their own heat pump rebates. TECH Clean California's single-family incentives have been fully reserved since 14 November 2025.
How do I check an LA HVAC contractor's license?
Use the CSLB license check. Search the license number or business name, confirm the license is active and carries the C-20 classification, then check the bond and workers' compensation status on the record. The name on the license should match your contract.
Is acinstallationlosangeles.com an HVAC company?
No. Despite the name, this site is an independent lead-generation publisher. Your request goes to licensed Los Angeles HVAC contractors who pay us for the introduction. We do not install, repair or warranty anything.
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