AC Replacement Cost in Columbia, MO (2026)
A 3-ton central air conditioner, installed, before rebates
$4,150to$9,700
From a public baseline. How prices are made.
The low and the high are the spread of equipment and labor in the public baseline for a 3-ton central air conditioner in 2026.
Missouri Rebates in 2026
Enrollment for 2026 is closed. Whole Home PAYS and FastTrack HVAC PAYS are not accepting enrollments for 2026. Ameren says the program is fully subscribed for 2026. Count on the rebate for a later install.
Ameren Missouri pays $1,000 on a central air conditioner at 15.2+ SEER2. After the rebate the typical price for a 3-ton central air conditioner is $5,900. The chart runs from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026. Checked October 19, 2026. How to apply.
| Equipment | Minimum efficiency | Rebate |
|---|---|---|
| Central air conditioner | 15.2+ SEER2 | $1,000 per system |
| Air-source heat pump (ducted) | 15.2+ SEER2 | $2,000 per system |
Every Program a Columbia Homeowner Can Use
- Federal 25C credit gives no credit for a 2026 install. Ended.
- Ameren PAYS pays up to $2,000 per system. Closed for 2026.
- Columbia Water & Light rebates pay up to $1,200 per system. Open now.
- Columbia Water & Light rebates pay up to $1,200 per home. Open now.
- Missouri HOMES and HEEHR have not published their amounts yet. Not open yet.
What It Costs
All 7 systems, low to high
| System | Low | Typical | High | Range drawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat pump, ducted | ||||
| 2-ton heat pump 15 SEER | $6,500 | $11,750 | $17,000 | |
| 3-ton heat pump 15 SEER | $7,450 | $13,350 | $19,250 | |
| 4-ton heat pump 15 SEER | $8,400 | $14,950 | $21,500 | |
| 5-ton heat pump 15 SEER | $9,400 | $16,550 | $23,700 | |
| Other systems | ||||
| Central AC only, 3 ton 16 SEER | $4,150 | $6,900 | $9,700 | |
| Gas furnace only, 80,000 BTU 95% AFUE | $3,750 | $4,050 | $4,800 | |
| Mini-split, one zone, 12,000 BTU 20 SEER | $4,500 | $7,500 | $10,500 | |
Sources today: public baseline: NREL National Residential Efficiency Measures Database, 2024 release (read via hvacbase.org, 2026-10-19). Two more sources join as they arrive: Verified contractor ranges and homeowner-reported quotes. 2023 dollars, national. No metro factor is applied in this version. This city publishes no machine-readable permit feed, so no permit facts print. How prices are made.
Common Questions
How much does a 3-ton central air conditioner cost installed in Columbia?
The installed range is $4,150 to $9,700, with a typical price of $6,900. This is the national public baseline in 2023 dollars. After the rebate the typical price for a 3-ton central air conditioner is $5,900. Enrollment for 2026 is closed, so count on it for a later install.
What does the Ameren Missouri central air conditioner rebate pay in 2026?
$1,000 per central air conditioner at 15.2+ SEER2, through Ameren PAYS. Whole Home PAYS and FastTrack HVAC PAYS are not accepting enrollments for 2026. Ameren says the program is fully subscribed for 2026.
Is there a federal tax credit for a 3-ton central air conditioner in 2026?
The federal credit ended for equipment placed in service after December 31, 2025. The utility rebate is the money on the table in 2026.
What do the other systems cost in Columbia?
A gas furnace runs $3,750 to $4,800, typical $4,050. A 3-ton heat pump runs $7,450 to $19,250, typical $13,350. A one-zone mini-split runs $4,500 to $10,500, typical $7,500. Each range is installed, before rebates.
What size and efficiency does the central air conditioner range assume?
The range is for the table row "Central AC only, 3 ton" at 16 SEER. The table on this page lists 7 systems from low to high, each with its own size and efficiency.
Contractors in Columbia
A Verified contractor is one that published its terms here.
Range quarter 2026-Q4, updated October 22, 2026. Last change: First pages: furnace, AC and heat pump ranges from the public baseline, and the state programs read from each provider. Changelog. Source page: https://hvacvisit.com/missouri/columbia/ac-replacement-cost. Cite a range with a link to the page it is on. Do not republish a page, a table or a dataset in full.