Checked against the rules on 3 November 2026
How much does air conditioning cost?
A single wall-mounted air conditioning system in the UK typically costs about £1,900 to £2,240 for the unit and labour, plus £400 to £700 for electrical work, according to Checkatrade's May 2026 guide. This guide explains what moves the price, what it costs to run and how to compare quotes. These are national figures, not our prices.
Get a quote
Name, number and postcode are all we need. We phone you back.
What you pay to have a system installed
Checkatrade's guide, last updated in May 2026, gives these national figures for a single wall-mounted split system fixed to a masonry wall:
| Unit size | Unit | Labour per unit | Unit and labour |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12,000 BTU (about 3.5kW) | £750 | £1,150 | £1,900 |
| 18,000 BTU (about 5.3kW) | £940 | £1,150 | £2,090 |
| 24,000 BTU (about 7kW) | £1,090 | £1,150 | £2,240 |
Electrical work, meaning a fused spur and an external switch, adds roughly £400 to £700. Ducted systems cost more, with units from about £990 and labour of about £1,750 per unit before the ductwork. The guide gives no single figure for a multi-split, because the price depends so heavily on the number of rooms and the pipe routes.
What pushes a quote up or down
- Pipe run. Back-to-back units with a short run are the cheapest job. A long route through a loft or down a house takes much longer.
- Access. An outdoor unit that can sit at ground level is simpler than one that needs a tower or scaffold.
- Electrics. A consumer unit with a spare way is simple. One with no space, or one that needs upgrading, is not.
- The wall. Thick or hard masonry takes longer to core through than a modern cavity wall.
- The size and type of unit. Higher output and better efficiency cost more to buy.
- Permissions. A planning application or listed building consent adds fees and time.
What it costs to run
Under the energy price cap for October to December 2026, electricity costs an average of 26.32p per kWh. Cooling efficiency is measured as SEER, and material from an Energy Saving Trust webinar puts it at around 7 for these systems. Taking a more cautious SEER of 6, a unit producing 3.5kW of cooling uses about 0.58kW of electricity, which is about 15p an hour.
Treat that as a guide. A SEER is a seasonal average measured in test conditions, and a unit working hard on the hottest afternoon uses more. Checkatrade gives a wider range of about 20p to 60p an hour, depending on the type of system, its age and the insulation. Either way, a few hours a day through a hot spell costs far less than most people assume.
Servicing and long-term costs
Checkatrade puts a one-off service at about £70 to £120 per unit. Most systems should have one a year, so build that into your sums. A warranty may depend on it as well. See air conditioning servicing.
How to compare two quotes
Check that each quote covers the same things:
- the make, model and output of the unit, with its SEER and SCOP
- the sound levels of both the indoor and the outdoor unit
- the length of the pipe run, and what happens if it is longer
- the electrical work, including the certificate
- commissioning and any warranty, and who to ring if it goes wrong
- the company's F-gas certificate details
The cheapest quote is often the one that has left something out. Ask, and see our guide to F-gas rules and your installer.
Common questions
Is a portable unit cheaper?
To buy, yes. Checkatrade lists 12,000 BTU portable units from about £300 to £420, but they cool less well and are noisier in the room. See portable or fixed.
Do you publish your prices?
Not yet. A fair price depends on the pipe run, the wall and the electrics, so we quote after looking at the job. Ring 01622 239046 and we can usually tell you what to expect.
Does air conditioning add value to a house?
There is no reliable figure. It may appeal to buyers after recent summers, but do not count on getting the cost back when you sell.
Sources
Have these to hand
A quote is quicker when we know a little about the building.
- Postcode and type of property
- The rooms, and their rough size
- Which way the windows face
- Where an outdoor unit might go
- Whether it is listed or in a conservation area
Looking for someone to do the work? See air conditioning in Maidstone for what we install, service and repair, and where.
Related services
Air conditioning installation
From the survey to the handover: what fitting a split system involves.
Home air conditioning
Bedrooms, loft rooms, living rooms and home offices.
Air conditioning servicing
Cleaning, checks and leak-test records for home and business systems.
More guides
Do you need planning permission for air conditioning?
Permitted development, noise limits and Maidstone's conservation areas.
Can air conditioning heat your home?
Reversible systems, the running cost against gas and electric, and the limits.
What size air conditioning do you need?
kW and BTU by floor area, and what changes the answer.
F-gas rules: what to check about your installer
The certificates to ask for, leak-check duties and the 2025 refrigerant ban.
Portable or fixed air conditioning?
Cost, noise, cooling and which one suits your room.
Ask for a quote
Leave your number and we will phone you back to talk through the job. Or ring 01622 239046.