Short answer: ducted reverse-cycle for a typical 3-4 bedroom home runs $9,500-$16,000 installed (full published range $9,000-$20,000+), and a single split system runs $2,000-$5,200 installed depending on capacity. Zoning is the line item that moves ducted quotes most - it is priced honestly below.
| Job | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ducted, typical 3-4 bed single-storey home | $11,000-$16,000 | Capital Climate (Canberra installer) and AC Store agree here |
| Ducted, modal range across installers | $9,500-$16,000 | Our working range - most family homes land inside it |
| Ducted, full published range | $9,000-$20,000+ | AC Store: unit $6,000-$12,000 plus install $4,000-$8,000 (Trusted Tradie split) |
| Ducted, two-storey / premium zoning | $15,000-$20,000+ | Capital Climate - second-storey duct runs and extra zones |
The honest comparator: four split systems covering the same rooms run about $8,500-$14,000 (Capital Climate). Ducted wins on looks and whole-home control; splits win on price and zoning-by-default. Anyone who quotes you ducted without asking about zones has not finished quoting.
| System | Installed range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Split, 2.5 kW (bedroom / study) | $1,300-$3,000 | Trusted Tradie Network, supply + install |
| Split, 7 kW (living area) | $2,400-$5,200 | Trusted Tradie Network - back-to-back install at the low end |
| Split, working range (any size) | $2,000-$4,500 | Our reconciled range for a standard install |
| Service / repair call-out | from ~$220 | Our calculator's minimum - diagnosis before any repair quote |
Undersized systems run constantly and die young; oversized systems short-cycle. Installers size in kilowatts against your floor area, ceiling height and insulation - that sizing is most of the quote.
Each zone adds a motorised damper, ducting and controls. Two zones is typical; four-plus zones with individual room sensors is where ducted quotes jump by thousands.
Two-storey homes need duct runs between floors and more labour. Tight roof cavities and tile roofs (vs tin) slow installation and show up in the labour line.
A split with the outdoor unit directly behind the indoor unit is the cheap install. Long pipe runs, wall brackets, slab work and difficult access push a split from $2,000 toward $5,000 fast.
New circuits for ducted systems are normal; an old ceramic-fuse board may need upgrading first. If your quote is silent on electrical, ask - it is the classic day-two extra.
Premium Japanese brands cost more upfront and usually less to run. On a system you will run for 10-15 years, the efficiency rating matters more than a few hundred dollars of purchase price.
The job: ducted reverse-cycle, typical 4-bedroom single-storey home, standard two-zone setup.
The maths: our calculator prices a ducted install at a $13,500 typical point - inside the installers' $11,000-$16,000 band for this home - and shows it as a range with the usual spread applied.
Guide estimate: $11,500 - $16,200
Sanity check: AC Store puts most 3-4 bedroom ducted installs at $11,000-$16,000, and Capital Climate's Canberra figures agree. Try your own setup in the aircon calculator.
Anyone who handles refrigerant gas during installation must hold an ARC (Australian Refrigeration Council) refrigerant handling licence, and the business needs an ARC authorised refrigerant trading authorisation - ask to see both. The electrical work must be done or signed off by a licensed electrician in every state. A cheap install by an unlicensed operator can void the manufacturer's warranty, which on a $13,000 system is the expensive outcome.
All figures in this guide are guides, not quotes. Ducted pricing in particular depends on a site visit - roof space, zones and switchboard capacity are only visible in person.
Prices cross-checked against AC Store, Trusted Tradie Network and Capital Climate Solutions installer guides - October 2026.
Short answer: ducted reverse-cycle for a typical 3-4 bedroom home runs $9,500-$16,000 installed (full published range $9,000-$20,000+), and a single split system runs $2,000-$5,200 installed depending on capacity. Zoning is the line item that moves ducted quotes most - it is priced honestly below.
The biggest drivers are capacity and home size, zones (ducted), storeys and roof space and back-to-back or not (splits). Each one is worked through with prices in the guide above, and the calculator prices them for your job.
Use the free calculator linked from this guide - it prices your job with the same installed ranges used here, in about 30 seconds. It is a guide range, not a quote: your contractor confirms a fixed price after seeing the job.
No - they are researched guide ranges, cross-checked across at least two published sources, not quotes. Prices move with your area, the condition of the site and the scope you choose. Get itemised quotes in writing, and check the tradesperson's licence with your state building authority before you book.
The calculator prices ducted and split systems at the same installed rates as this guide - pick your home and system type.