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What air conditioning really costs

Size a room, price split or ducted systems, and see which Australian state discounts apply. Every figure sourced.

Size my room Get quotes

Start with the size of the room

Installers begin with a rule of thumb of about 0.12 to 0.15 kW per m²↗. Too small and the unit runs flat out; too large and you paid for capacity you never use.

The rule ignores ceiling height, orientation and glazing↗, so treat the band as the starting point for a quote, not the answer.

Capacity for 30 m²

3.6to4.5kW

Room floor area

Add the installed price and an hourly running cost.

Your climate zone changes the answer

The National Construction Code splits Australia into eight climate zones↗. Pick yours to see what it means for cooling and heating.

Climate zone 1

Described by the building code as high humidity summer, warm winter↗.

Includes Darwin, Cairns and Townsville↗.

Humid summers matter here: evaporative coolers are less effective as humidity rises↗, so refrigerated air conditioning is the usual choice.

Climate zone 2

Described by the building code as warm humid summer, mild winter↗.

Includes Brisbane and coastal Queensland↗.

Humid summers matter here: evaporative coolers are less effective as humidity rises↗, so refrigerated air conditioning is the usual choice.

Climate zone 3

Described by the building code as hot dry summer, warm winter↗.

A reverse cycle system heats as well as cools, while evaporative coolers have no heating as standard↗.

Climate zone 4

Described by the building code as hot dry summer, cool winter↗.

A reverse cycle system heats as well as cools, while evaporative coolers have no heating as standard↗.

Climate zone 5

Described by the building code as warm temperate↗.

A reverse cycle system heats as well as cools, while evaporative coolers have no heating as standard↗.

Climate zone 6

Described by the building code as mild temperate↗.

A reverse cycle system heats as well as cools, while evaporative coolers have no heating as standard↗.

Climate zone 7

Described by the building code as cool temperate↗.

A reverse cycle system heats as well as cools, while evaporative coolers have no heating as standard↗.

Climate zone 8

Described by the building code as alpine↗.

A reverse cycle system heats as well as cools, while evaporative coolers have no heating as standard↗.

Not sure which zone you are in? The ABCB climate map lets you search by address, suburb or postcode↗.

Heating costs

Reverse cycle against the heater it replaces

Reverse cycle air conditioner

3to5

units of heat for every unit of electricity

Energy Rating: reverse cycle systems move 3 to 5 units of heat per unit of electricity↗ in normal Australian conditions.

Standard electric heater

1

unit of heat for every unit of electricity

A plug-in or panel heater turns power straight into heat: about 1 unit of heat per unit of electricity↗.

Replacing gas? Victoria estimates switching a ducted gas heater to efficient reverse cycle saves up to $1,140 a year↗ on bills, or up to $460 a year↗ for a single-room gas heater.

Compare heating running costs

What your state takes off the price

Victoria

up to $5,530

off an efficient reverse cycle system replacing ducted gas heating, or up to $1,610↗ for a gas room heater. Taken off the quote by an accredited provider.
How Victoria's discount works
New South Wales

up to $560

when a 6 kW split system replaces an old air conditioner, or up to $550↗ for a new system. It is a discount in the quote, not a cheque.
What the NSW incentive covers
Queensland

nothing open

The Climate Smart Energy Savers rebate is closed↗ and Energex says PeakSmart cashback has closed↗, whatever older pages still say.
Why Queensland pays full price

Western Australia, South Australia, the Northern Territory, the ACT and Tasmania: we have not published incentive figures for those yet.

Read before you buy

Guides, one question each

Answer first, then the detail. Official figures are marked as official; industry prices say whose they are.

Get quotes from licensed installers

Send the postcode and the job. We pass it to installers who cover your area, and you compare the prices.

Ask each installer for an ARC licence number. Anyone installing or servicing an air conditioner needs a Refrigerant Handling Licence↗.
In Victoria and New South Wales the discount is taken off the quote, so compare the price you pay, not the size of the discount.
Three quotes for the same capacity is the comparison worth making.

Where every figure on this page comes from

Sources

Victorian Energy Upgrades, Victorian Government: Victorian Energy Upgrades discount when installing or replacing a non-ducted gas space heater, such as a single-room heater, with an efficient reverse cycle air conditioner. Checked 2026-09-12.
Victorian Energy Upgrades, Victorian Government: Estimated yearly energy bill saving from replacing a non-ducted gas space heater with an efficient reverse cycle air conditioner. Checked 2026-09-12.
Victorian Energy Upgrades, Victorian Government: Victorian Energy Upgrades discount when removing or replacing a ducted, whole-of-home gas heater with an efficient reverse cycle air conditioner. Checked 2026-09-12.
Victorian Energy Upgrades, Victorian Government: Estimated yearly energy bill saving from replacing a ducted gas heater with an efficient reverse cycle air conditioner. Checked 2026-09-12.
NSW Climate and Energy Action: NSW air conditioner upgrade incentive when installing a new 6 kW air conditioner system. Checked 2026-09-12.
NSW Climate and Energy Action: NSW air conditioner upgrade incentive when replacing an old air conditioner with a 6 kW split system. Checked 2026-09-12.
Australian Refrigeration Council (ARCtick): Anyone who installs, services or repairs an air conditioner must be a licensed technician holding a Refrigerant Handling Licence. Checked 2026-09-12.
Australian Building Codes Board: The National Construction Code groups locations with approximately similar climates into eight climate zones, built from Bureau of Meteorology data. Checked 2026-09-12.
Australian Building Codes Board: NCC climate zone 1 is described as high humidity summer, warm winter. Checked 2026-09-12.
Australian Building Codes Board: NCC climate zone 2 is described as warm humid summer, mild winter. Checked 2026-09-12.
Australian Building Codes Board: NCC climate zone 3 is described as hot dry summer, warm winter. Checked 2026-09-12.
Australian Building Codes Board: NCC climate zone 4 is described as hot dry summer, cool winter. Checked 2026-09-12.
Australian Building Codes Board: NCC climate zone 5 is described as warm temperate. Checked 2026-09-12.
Australian Building Codes Board: NCC climate zone 6 is described as mild temperate. Checked 2026-09-12.
Australian Building Codes Board: NCC climate zone 7 is described as cool temperate. Checked 2026-09-12.
Australian Building Codes Board: NCC climate zone 8 is described as alpine. Checked 2026-09-12.
YourHome, Australian Government: Climate zone 1 covers northern Australia from Exmouth in Western Australia to south of Townsville, including Darwin, Cairns and Townsville. Checked 2026-09-12.
YourHome, Australian Government: Climate zone 2 covers coastal Queensland from north of Mackay to just south of Coffs Harbour, including Brisbane. Checked 2026-09-12.
Australian Building Codes Board: The ABCB climate map finds the NCC climate zone for a building by address, suburb or postcode. Checked 2026-09-12.
energy.gov.au, Australian Government: As humidity increases, evaporative coolers become less effective and produce a damp, clammy feeling. Checked 2026-09-12.
energy.gov.au, Australian Government: Evaporative coolers do not provide heating as a standard feature, unlike reverse cycle air conditioners. Checked 2026-09-12.
Energy Rating, Australian Government: During the normal operating range in Australia, reverse cycle air conditioners can move three to five units of heat into a room for every unit of electricity they use. Checked 2026-09-12.
Energy Rating, Australian Government: Standard electric heaters are about 100 per cent efficient, producing around one unit of heat for each unit of electricity. Checked 2026-09-12.
Canstar Blue sizing guide: As a general guide, an air conditioner needs about 0.12 to 0.15 kW of capacity per square metre of floor area. Checked 2026-09-12.
Canstar Blue sizing guide: Ceiling height, the orientation of the home and the size and orientation of windows and glass doors also affect the size you need. Checked 2026-09-12.
Queensland Government: The Queensland Government's Climate Smart Energy Savers appliance rebate is closed. Checked 2026-09-12.
Energex: Energex cashback offers for installing or converting to PeakSmart air conditioning have closed; units installed on or before 30 November 2025 could be claimed until 31 December 2025. Checked 2026-09-12.

Licensed air conditioning installer?

Homeowners here arrive with a room size, a system type and a budget already in mind. Tell us where you work.