For a typical Australian home in 2026, a fully installed ducted reverse-cycle system costs between $9,000 and $25,000. A small single-storey home with a basic two-zone setup sits near the bottom; a large double-storey home with five or six zones and a three-phase unit sits near the top, sometimes beyond.
Ducted air conditioning cost by home size in 2026
The biggest driver is the capacity your home needs, in kilowatts (kW). Fully supplied-and-installed, 2026 AUD:
- Small home (2-3 bed, single storey, ~10-13kW): $9,000 to $13,500. Usually 2-3 zones.
- Medium home (3-4 bed, single storey, ~14-16kW): $12,500 to $18,000. Typically 3-4 zones — where most quotes land.
- Large home (4+ bed, single storey, ~17-20kW): $16,000 to $24,000. Often 4-6 zones.
- Large double-storey (4+ bed, ~20kW+): $20,000 to $35,000+. Frequently needs two systems or a three-phase unit.
If your quote is well below these, check the brand, warranty, and whether electrical work and making good are included.
What actually drives the cost
Capacity (kW)
The system must be sized to your home with a proper heat-load calculation — ceiling height, insulation, windows and climate all change the kW required.
Number of zones
Each zone needs a motorised damper and adds to the controller and wiring. Going from 3 to 6 zones can add $1,500 to $4,000, but saves on running costs.
Ductwork run and outlets
Longer runs, more outlets and awkward routing add labour and materials.
Single vs three phase
Larger systems (roughly 18kW+) often need three-phase power; a supply upgrade can add $2,000 to $4,500.
Brand and inverter quality
Premium brands (Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Fujitsu) can be $2,000 to $5,000 more but bring efficiency and longevity.
Ceiling space and access
Tight roofs, low pitches and flat/skillion roofs make the job harder and can add thousands.
Retrofit vs new build
Building it into a new home can be 15-25% cheaper than retrofitting an existing one.
Where you live matters too
Compare ducted air con quotes in Sydney against Melbourne pricing before you commit.
Running costs in 2026
Running a medium ducted system a few hours a day across a hot summer typically adds $60 to $200 a month. A properly sized inverter unit and zoning keep costs down; pairing with solar offsets daytime cooling.
How to get an accurate quote
So much depends on your roof space, layout and power supply. Get an instant itemised ducted air con quote with a quick camera walkthrough — it captures home size, ceiling access and layout, and returns a clear price zone by zone before anyone visits.