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2026 price table (all figures fully installed)
Prices assume standard access, pipe runs up to 5 metres, and a dedicated 20-amp electrical circuit already within reach. Every quote is itemised — you'll see the equipment, install labour, F-Gas commissioning and VAT as separate lines.
| System | Equipment | Installation | Total installed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single split — 1 bedroom (2.5kW) | £800–£1,200 | £700–£1,000 | £1,500–£2,200 |
| Single split — lounge (3.5kW) | £1,000–£1,500 | £800–£1,200 | £1,800–£2,700 |
| Single split — large open plan (5.0kW) | £1,300–£1,900 | £900–£1,400 | £2,200–£3,300 |
| Multi-split — 2 rooms | £1,800–£2,600 | £1,400–£2,000 | £3,200–£4,600 |
| Multi-split — 3 rooms | £2,600–£3,600 | £1,800–£2,600 | £4,400–£6,200 |
| Multi-split — 4–5 rooms | £3,600–£5,200 | £2,400–£3,500 | £6,000–£8,700 |
| Ceiling cassette — retail/office (5–7kW) | £1,600–£2,400 | £1,400–£2,200 | £3,000–£4,600 |
| Small office VRF (5–8 zones) | £6,000–£10,000 | £4,000–£7,000 | £10,000–£17,000 |
What actually drives the price
Two identical-looking quotes can differ by £800 for legitimate reasons. Here's what a good installer factors in and a cheap installer quietly leaves out.
Number of indoor units
Each additional indoor head adds £600–£900 in equipment plus roughly £250–£400 in labour for the extra pipe run, drain and commissioning. Beyond four heads a purpose-built multi-split outdoor unit is more economical than daisy-chaining.
Cooling capacity (kW)
You pay for kilowatts, not physical size. A 2.5kW unit suits ~20 m² well insulated; 3.5kW covers ~35 m²; 5.0kW handles open-plan lounges up to ~50 m². Oversizing wastes money and short-cycles the compressor.
Pipework distance
Refrigerant pipe over 5 metres is billed at £40–£55 per additional metre and requires proportionally more refrigerant. Long runs (>15 m) also need an in-line trap to prevent oil loss.
Brand and efficiency tier
Premium Japanese brands (Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Panasonic) cost 15–25% more than Korean (LG, Samsung) or Chinese (Midea, Gree). The premium buys quieter operation, higher SEER, and better UK spares support.
Access, height and scaffolding
First-floor bedroom install with clear side-wall access: no uplift. First-floor front elevation requiring a tower or roped access: £300–£800. Flat-roof condenser on a three-storey commercial building can add £1,000+.
Electrical work
Every AC system needs its own RCBO-protected circuit. If the consumer unit has a spare way and cable can run in trunking, add £150–£300. A new dedicated sub-board or full rewire is a separate electrician quote.
Building fabric and finishes
Solid brick externals are quick to core-drill; rendered EWI or timber cladding needs proper flashing and adds an hour of labour. Listed buildings and conservation areas may require condensate soakaways or hidden pipe boxing.
Our 2026 recommended units
After 400+ UK installs this year, these are the units we install most often and stand behind. All figures are fully installed for a typical ground-floor room with easy external access.
Daikin Perfera FTXM-R
Best overall£1,900–£2,400 installed (2.5kW)
Class-leading A+++ efficiency (SEER 8.65), whisper-quiet 19 dB, R-32 refrigerant and a 5-year Daikin UK warranty. Our first pick for bedrooms and home offices where noise matters.
Mitsubishi Electric MSZ-AY
Best build quality£2,000–£2,600 installed (3.5kW)
Japanese-built, dual-barrier coating on the heat exchanger, excellent low-ambient heating down to −15°C. The unit our engineers install in their own homes.
Panasonic Etherea Z
Best for air quality£1,800–£2,300 installed (2.5kW)
nanoe™ X active air purification (hydroxyl radicals) plus PM2.5 filtration. Ideal for allergy sufferers, city-centre flats and rooms near busy roads.
LG DualCool Deluxe
Best value£1,500–£1,900 installed (2.5kW)
A++ efficiency, dual-inverter compressor, 10-year compressor warranty. Punches well above its price for landlords and second homes.
Running costs in 2026
At the current UK electricity cap of ~27p/kWh, a modern A+++ 3.5kW split running on cooling draws roughly 0.7–1.1 kWh per hour of active cooling — about £0.19 to £0.30 per hour. Most UK homes only run the system meaningfully between May and September; expect a typical annual bill of £45–£120 for a bedroom unit used in the evenings, or £180–£300 for a lounge unit running through hot weeks.
Heat-pump-capable units also produce heating with a Coefficient of Performance (SCOP) of 4–5, which means £1 of electricity delivers £4–£5 of heat. In shoulder seasons (April, October) this is cheaper than running a gas boiler for a single room, and it's why heat-pump AC is quietly replacing electric heaters in home offices across the country.
Hidden costs to ask about
- Condensate pump. If the indoor unit can't drain by gravity, a pump adds £90–£160.
- Wall bracket rating. Multi-split condensers over 60kg need a heavy-duty bracket (£70–£120).
- Trunking colour. White uPVC is included; RAL-matched or aluminium trunking is £30–£80 per run.
- Wi-Fi module. Some units include it; on others it's a £70–£120 dongle.
- Annual service. £90–£140 per unit keeps the manufacturer warranty valid — don't skip year 1.
How to spot a bad quote
If the price seems too good it usually is. Red flags: no F-Gas number on the quote, no model numbers listed, a lump-sum total with no breakdown, or a deposit above 25%. A legitimate installer will show you their F-Gas registration on request and stage payments so the bulk is only due after commissioning.
Frequently asked
- Is VAT included?
- All prices on this page include VAT at 20%. Some installations on newbuilds and certain energy-saving projects qualify for reduced 5% VAT — we'll flag it on your quote if you're eligible.
- Do I need planning permission?
- For most houses in England, no — AC falls under permitted development if the outdoor unit is over 1m from the boundary, not on a wall facing a highway, and under 0.6m³. Flats, conservation areas and listed buildings need approval.
- How long does an install take?
- A single wall-mounted split is a one-day job. A three-room multi-split is typically two days. Commercial cassette or VRF installs run 3–7 days depending on ceiling access.
- Do you finance?
- Yes — 0% over 12 months or 9.9% APR over 3–5 years via our regulated finance partner, subject to status. Ask when you book your survey.
Ready for a fixed written quote?
Book a free 15-minute site survey. Our F-Gas engineer measures the room, checks external access, and emails you an itemised quote the next working day.
