Updated monthlyNational price guide Ducted air conditioning
Ducted air conditioning
cost in Australia
Ducted reverse cycle air conditioning costs $6,500–$18,000 fully installed for most Australian homes, single-storey installs from around $6,500, large zoned two-storey systems up to $18,000, with roof access and zone count driving the spread.
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What homeowners actually pay for ducted
| Job | Installed price | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Like-for-like ducted replacement (ducts reused) | $6,500–$9,000 | Existing ducted home, old unit failed |
| New ducted, single storey, easy roof access | $6,500–$10,000 | Most 3–4 bed single-storey homes |
| New ducted, two storey, zoned day/night | $9,500–$13,500 | 4-bed family homes |
| Premium: 8+ outlets, individual room zoning | $10,000–$15,000 | Large homes, smart-home control |
Cost drivers
What moves a ducted quote up or down
Roof cavity access
The single biggest labour variable. Generous, clear cavities install fast; tight, trussed or insulated-panel roofs add days. This is why identical floor plans quote differently street to street.
Zone count and controls
Each zone adds motorised dampers, wiring and controller capability. Day/night zoning is the value sweet spot; individual-room zoning with smart control is where quotes climb past $16,000.
Single vs two storey
Two-storey homes need either a larger unit pushing air further, or careful duct design, both add cost. Expect $2,000–$4,000 over a comparable single-storey install.
Reusing existing ducts
The biggest saving available: a changeover reusing sound ductwork skips most of the labour. Get the ducts inspected, leaky old runs can eat the saving in running costs.
Brand
Premium units cost more upfront but run quieter and longer. Compare the tier, not just the badge, see how the brands stack up.
Ducted cost by city
| City | Typical installed range | |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | $6,500–$12,000 | Ducted in Sydney → |
| Melbourne | $8,000–$16,000 | Ducted in Melbourne → |
| Brisbane | $9,000–$15,500 | Ducted in Brisbane → |
| Perth | $9,000–$15,000 | Ducted in Perth → |
| Adelaide | $8,000–$15,500 | Ducted in Adelaide → |
| Gold Coast | $9,900–$15,800 | Ducted in Gold Coast → |
| Canberra | $11,000–$17,000 | Ducted in Canberra → |
| Newcastle | $10,000–$15,800 | Ducted in Newcastle → |
| Wollongong | $10,000–$15,800 | Ducted in Wollongong → |
| Sunshine Coast | $9,900–$15,800 | Ducted in Sunshine Coast → |
| Geelong | $10,000–$15,800 | Ducted in Geelong → |
| Hobart | $11,000–$17,000 | Ducted in Hobart → |
| Darwin | $11,500–$17,500 | Ducted in Darwin → |
| Townsville | $10,300–$16,200 | Ducted in Townsville → |
| Cairns | $10,400–$16,400 | Ducted in Cairns → |
| Orange | $9,800–$15,800 | Ducted in Orange → |
| Dubbo | $9,800–$15,800 | Ducted in Dubbo → |
| Wagga Wagga | $9,800–$15,800 | Ducted in Wagga Wagga → |
| Albury | $9,800–$15,800 | Ducted in Albury → |
| Tamworth | $9,800–$15,800 | Ducted in Tamworth → |
| Bathurst | $9,800–$15,800 | Ducted in Bathurst → |
| Coffs Harbour | $9,500–$15,500 | Ducted in Coffs Harbour → |
| Port Macquarie | $9,500–$15,500 | Ducted in Port Macquarie → |
| Central Coast | $9,200–$15,200 | Ducted in Central Coast → |
| Ballarat | $8,500–$16,000 | Ducted in Ballarat → |
| Bendigo | $8,500–$16,000 | Ducted in Bendigo → |
| Shepparton | $8,500–$16,000 | Ducted in Shepparton → |
| Mildura | $9,000–$16,200 | Ducted in Mildura → |
| Warrnambool | $8,500–$16,000 | Ducted in Warrnambool → |
| Traralgon | $8,500–$16,000 | Ducted in Traralgon → |
| Toowoomba | $9,300–$15,600 | Ducted in Toowoomba → |
| Bundaberg | $9,500–$15,800 | Ducted in Bundaberg → |
| Hervey Bay | $9,500–$15,800 | Ducted in Hervey Bay → |
| Gladstone | $9,500–$15,800 | Ducted in Gladstone → |
| Mackay | $10,000–$16,000 | Ducted in Mackay → |
| Rockhampton | $10,000–$16,000 | Ducted in Rockhampton → |
| Mount Isa | $11,500–$17,500 | Ducted in Mount Isa → |
| Bunbury | $9,300–$15,300 | Ducted in Bunbury → |
| Geraldton | $9,800–$15,800 | Ducted in Geraldton → |
| Kalgoorlie | $10,800–$16,800 | Ducted in Kalgoorlie → |
| Albany | $9,800–$15,800 | Ducted in Albany → |
| Mount Gambier | $10,300–$16,000 | Ducted in Mount Gambier → |
| Launceston | $11,000–$17,000 | Ducted in Launceston → |
| Alice Springs | $11,800–$17,800 | Ducted in Alice Springs → |
| Mandurah | $9,200–$15,200 | Ducted in Mandurah → |
| Busselton | $9,400–$15,400 | Ducted in Busselton → |
| Nowra | $9,500–$15,500 | Ducted in Nowra → |
| Lismore | $9,500–$15,500 | Ducted in Lismore → |
| Devonport | $11,000–$17,000 | Ducted in Devonport → |
| Burnie | $11,000–$17,000 | Ducted in Burnie → |
| Wangaratta | $8,500–$16,000 | Ducted in Wangaratta → |
| Karratha | $12,000–$18,000 | Ducted in Karratha → |
| Port Hedland | $12,000–$18,000 | Ducted in Port Hedland → |
| Broome | $11,800–$17,800 | Ducted in Broome → |
| Katherine | $11,800–$17,800 | Ducted in Katherine → |
| Logan | $9,000–$15,500 | Ducted in Logan → |
| Ipswich | $9,000–$15,500 | Ducted in Ipswich → |
| Tweed Heads | $9,900–$15,800 | Ducted in Tweed Heads → |
| Maitland | $10,000–$15,800 | Ducted in Maitland → |
Ducted cost questions
How much does ducted air conditioning cost installed?
Most Australian homes pay $6,500–$18,000 fully installed. Single-storey homes with good roof access sit at the bottom of the range; large two-storey homes with premium zoning sit at the top. The unit is typically only 40–50% of the price, the rest is ductwork, zoning and labour.
Why do ducted quotes vary so much for the same house?
Roof cavity access, duct runs and zone count. A tight or complex roof space adds labour days; each zone adds motorised dampers and controls. Two quotes on the same home can legitimately differ by thousands based on the zoning design, always compare the zone count, not just the total.
Is ducted cheaper if I already have ducts?
Usually. A like-for-like changeover that reuses sound existing ductwork typically runs $6,500–$9,000 and skips the ductwork labour. Have the installer inspect the ducts first; pre-2000 ductwork often leaks enough to be worth replacing anyway.
Ducted or split systems, which is cheaper?
For 1–3 rooms, splits win clearly on both install and running cost. From 4+ daily-use rooms, ducted becomes competitive per room and wins on aesthetics and whole-home coverage. Our split vs ducted calculator runs both totals for your home in thirty seconds.
How long does a ducted installation take?
Typically 1–2 days on site for a straightforward single-storey install, 2–3 days for two-storey or complex zoning. Add lead time for the site visit and quote, ducted is never quoted accurately over the phone.
How much is ducted air conditioning for a 4-bedroom house?
For a typical 4-bedroom home, $9,500–$13,500 installed with day/night zoning, single-storey 4-beds toward the bottom of that range, two-storey toward the top. Large 4-bed homes wanting individual room zoning and smart control push into the $13,000–$18,000 band.
Is ducted reverse cycle air conditioning the same thing?
Yes. In Australia, ducted air conditioning almost always means ducted reverse cycle: one refrigerated system that cools in summer and heats in winter through the same ducts and zones. The prices on this page are for reverse cycle systems, cooling-only ducted is now rare in homes.