Split System Installation Cost in Australia [2026]

A split system air conditioner typically costs $1,500–$5,000 supplied and installed in Australia (AUD, prices include GST), depending on its size. The installation alone usually runs $600–$1,000 for a standard back-to-back job, and $1,000–$1,500 or more when the indoor and outdoor units are far apart, on a second storey or need a new electrical circuit.

Here’s what a split system costs by size, what counts as a standard installation, which extras push a quote up, what replacing an old unit costs, and how to tell whether the quote in front of you is reasonable.

Split System Cost by Size (kW)

The bigger the room, the more capacity (kW) you need, and the more the system costs. These are supplied-and-installed prices for a single split system:

Capacity	Typical room	Installed cost
2.5 kW	Bedroom, study	$1,400–$2,000
3.5 kW	Large bedroom, small living area	$1,600–$2,600
5.0 kW	Living room	$1,800–$2,800
7.0 kW	Open-plan living	$2,200–$3,500
8.0 kW+	Large open-plan	$2,800–$4,500

Prices include GST (September 2026). The ranges come from Amplus Electrical & Air in Brisbane, Samsung’s own store and ComfyHome in Melbourne, and they line up closely. Samsung’s store breaks its prices into unit and installation: a 2.5 kW system came to $1,548 all up ($799 for the unit, $749 to install), and an 8.0 kW system to $3,098. The room guide is a starting point only; ceiling height, insulation and which way the room faces all change the size you need.

One homeowner on r/AusRenovation described getting quotes of $1,500 to $2,400 for a single 2.5 kW room. Both ends sit within the range above. If your quote is near the top, ask what’s pushing it there: usually the distance between the two units, a new circuit or working at height.

Standard (Back-to-Back) vs Complex Installation

A back-to-back installation puts the indoor unit and the outdoor unit on opposite sides of the same wall, with a short run of pipe between them. It’s the cheapest and quickest job, and it’s what most advertised installation prices assume.

Installation type	Installation cost
Standard back-to-back	$600–$800
Standard plus a new dedicated circuit	$800–$1,000
Complex (long pipe runs, second storey, difficult access)	$1,000–$1,500+

Figures from Oz Air Online, an air conditioning retailer (March 2026), and consistent with CHOICE’s $600–$800+ for standard installation. Canstar Blue, citing hipages, puts technicians’ hourly rates at $60–$110 plus GST, which is why a job that takes longer quickly costs more.

Bunnings publishes its own back-to-back installation prices, which make a useful benchmark:

System size	Single storey	Double storey
Up to 4 kW	$865	$980
4–9 kW	$975	$1,080
9–11 kW	$1,090	$1,205

Bunnings prices as published in September 2026. They include an isolation switch at the outdoor unit, a compliance certificate, up to 3 metres of ducting and pipework on a single storey (5 metres on a double storey) and up to 20 metres of cable in the roof space.

Extras That Add to Your Quote

Most of the gap between two quotes for the same room comes from extras. These are the common ones, with Oz Air Online’s typical prices:

Extra	Typical cost
Extra pipework beyond the included 3 m	$50–$100 per metre
Second-storey or roof-space work	$150–$300
Drilling through brick or concrete	$100–$200
New dedicated electrical circuit	$200–$400
Switchboard upgrade	$400–$1,500
Wall bracket for the outdoor unit	$80–$150 (stainless steel near the coast: $150–$250)
Removal of the old unit	$100–$200

The switchboard upgrade is the one that catches people out. Amplus in Brisbane prices it at $400–$1,200 and Oz Air Online at $800–$1,500, and it only shows up once someone looks at your switchboard. One homeowner who paid Bunnings $950 for a double-storey installation was billed another $400 by the installer on the day, for a switchboard enclosure, extra cable and a left-hand pipe exit. The fine print had said the switchboard needed room for another circuit.

Ask for each of these as a separate line, and ask before the job whether your switchboard has room for a new circuit. A quote that bundles everything into one number is hard to compare, and a quote that leaves out the switchboard can grow on installation day.

Replacing an Existing Split System

The prices in the size table above come from Amplus’s replacement pricing, so they already cover removing and disposing of the old unit, connecting the new one, vacuum testing the pipework and commissioning. If you’re replacing a unit in the same spot, ask the installer whether the existing wiring and wall penetration can be reused, and whether that lowers the price.

Should you repair the old unit or replace it? Amplus uses a three-part test: replace it if the repair would cost more than half the price of a new system, if the unit is more than 10 years old, or if it runs on R22 refrigerant, which is being phased out. That’s one installer’s rule of thumb rather than an official standard, but it’s a sensible starting point for the conversation.

Multi-Split Systems

A multi-split (or multi-head) system runs two or more indoor units from one outdoor unit. SolarQuotes puts a premium two-head system at around $4,200–$4,500 installed, plus $1,000–$1,500 for each additional head.

A multi-split makes sense when you want to cool two to four rooms but only have space for one outdoor unit. Beyond that, compare it against ducted: once you’re cooling most of the home, a ducted system with zoning often costs about the same and keeps the walls clear. Our ducted air conditioning cost guide covers ducted prices by home size.

Retailer Install vs an Independent Installer

Retailers like The Good Guys and Bunnings sell the unit and arrange a licensed installer, while an independent installer usually supplies the unit and installs it themselves. Either can be the cheaper option. What matters is comparing like for like:

• Check the extras. Compare the same list of extras in both quotes, especially pipe length, the circuit and the switchboard.
• Check the licence. Whoever installs the system needs an ARCtick licence to handle refrigerant.
• Check the installation warranty. It’s separate from the manufacturer’s warranty on the unit, so ask who covers the installation work and for how long.

As a reference for how much installation should weigh in a bundled price, Samsung’s store charged $749–$899 to install systems whose units cost $799–$2,199.

Running Costs

A single-room split system is the cheapest type of air conditioning to run in Australia. Finder, using energyrating.gov.au data for 4,066 models and each state’s electricity prices, puts the national average at about $0.62 an hour. Queensland and the Northern Territory come out higher, mostly because the hotter climate means the system works harder.

Your own cost depends on your tariff and how long you run it. The regulated reference rates for 2026–27 are 28c/kWh in South East Queensland and a flat 33.26c/kWh in Western Australia, while Victoria’s rates range from 21c to 48c depending on the time of day and your distribution zone.

Split System vs Ducted: Which Costs Less?

For one or two rooms, a split system is far cheaper: $1,500–$5,000 against $9,000–$20,000 for ducted. The picture changes once you need to cover three or more separate areas. Three or four split units, each with its own installation, quickly approach the price of a zoned ducted system, and the ducted system gives you one controller and vents instead of several wall units. If you’re somewhere in between, get quotes for both and compare the totals.

For more help choosing between systems, see our heating and cooling guides.

The Bottom Line

Most single split systems cost $1,500–$5,000 installed, depending on size, and a standard back-to-back installation on its own should come in around $600–$1,000. Get the extras listed separately, check your switchboard before installation day, and compare at least two quotes. If you need to cool most of your home, price ducted as well: see our ducted air conditioning cost guide.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to install a new aircon?

A new split system typically costs $1,500–$5,000 supplied and installed, from about $1,400 for a 2.5 kW bedroom unit to $4,500 for an 8 kW system in a large open-plan area. The installation alone is usually $600–$1,000 for a standard back-to-back job.

How much does Bunnings charge to install an air conditioner?

Bunnings publishes back-to-back installation prices of $865–$1,090 for a single-storey home and $980–$1,205 for a double-storey home, depending on the system’s size (up to 11 kW). The unit is extra, and so is anything beyond a standard installation, such as longer pipe runs or switchboard work.

How much does it cost to install a multi-split air conditioner?

A premium two-head multi-split system costs around $4,200–$4,500 installed, with each additional indoor head adding $1,000–$1,500. Once you need four or more heads, compare the total against a zoned ducted system.

Which is cheaper to run, a ducted or split system?

A single split system is cheaper to run, at about $0.62 an hour on average nationally, because it only cools one room. A ducted system conditions more of the home at once, although zoning lets you limit it to the rooms you’re using.

What is the $5,000 rule for air conditioners?

It’s a rule of thumb from the United States: multiply the unit’s age by the repair cost, and if the result is over $5,000, replace it. Australian installers tend to use a simpler test, such as replacing the unit if the repair costs more than half the price of a new one, if it’s over 10 years old, or if it uses R22 refrigerant.