How to Quote an Air Conditioning Job: Australian Installer's Pricing Guide

Air conditioning quotes get compared hard — clients ring three installers and pick fast, usually in the heat of summer when you're flat out. The quotes that win are the ones that price the install properly: the unit is the easy part, the pipe run, electrical and access are where the real cost sits. Here's how to price air con work accurately for the Australian market.

What an air con quote should include

• Business name, ABN, electrical licence and ARCtick refrigerant licence number
• Quote number, date and expiry
• Client name and site address
• Itemised scope — units, install, pipe run and electrical as separate lines
• Unit make, model and capacity (kW) specified
• Pipe run length and any electrical work called out
• Materials and labour shown separately, plus GST, payment terms and exclusions

Common air con install rates (2025 Australian market)

• Split system — supply and install (2.5–3.5kW): $600–$1,400 per unit
• Multi-head split (2–3 indoor units): $4,000–$8,000
• Ducted system (whole home), supply and install: $9,000–$18,000+
• Additional refrigerant pipe run: $80–$120 per metre
• Dedicated circuit / electrical work: $300–$700
• Service and clean: $120–$220 per unit
• Air con tech labour: $90–$130/hr

These are guide ranges. The big variables are the distance between indoor and outdoor units, the run path (cavity, roof space or external duct), and whether the switchboard can take the load.

How to price units and materials

Charge units, copper pipe, brackets, drain and electrical materials at cost plus 15–25% markup. The markup covers sourcing, delivery and the consumables every install burns. Quote the exact model and capacity — a 2.5kW and a 3.5kW unit are different prices and the client will compare like for like. Where the run is long or awkward, price the extra pipe and labour as a clearly named line so there's no surprise on the invoice.

Exclusions that protect you

• "Assumes switchboard has capacity — upgrades quoted separately"
• "Assumes standard pipe run up to [X] metres; additional run charged per metre"
• "Asbestos discovery halts work; removal by licensed contractor at client's cost"
• "Does not include making good or painting of penetrations unless listed"
• "All work to AS/NZS 3000 and refrigerant handling under ARCtick licence"

A free air con quote structure you can reuse

Every air con quote can follow the same skeleton: business details → job description (units, capacity, locations) → line items (split into Units, Install Labour, Pipe & Materials and Electrical) → subtotal → GST → total → payment terms → exclusions. Build it once and you can quote on the spot — and in summer, the installer who quotes first from the driveway wins the job while the others are still "checking stock".

Related guides

• How to Write a Trade Quote in Australia
• How to Price a Job as a Tradie
• Why Tradies Who Quote Fast Win More Work

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