Cities / South Carolina / Charleston
AC Replacement Cost in Charleston, SC (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.
South Carolina Rebates in 2026
Enrollment for 2026 is open. Open. Dominion says residential electric customers are eligible to receive a rebate.
Dominion Energy South Carolina pays $400 on a central air conditioner at 15.2 SEER2 minimum. After the rebate the typical price for a 3-ton central air conditioner is $6,500. Checked October 22, 2026. How to apply.
| Equipment | Minimum efficiency | Rebate |
|---|---|---|
| Split central air conditioner | 15.2 SEER2 minimum | $400 per system |
| Split central air conditioner | 16 SEER2 minimum | $500 per system |
| Packaged central air conditioner | 15.2 SEER2 minimum | $400 per system |
| Packaged central air conditioner | 16 SEER2 minimum | $500 per system |
| Split heat pump | 15.2 SEER2; 7.2 HSPF2 minimum | $400 per system |
| Split heat pump | 16 SEER2; 7.2 HSPF2 minimum | $500 per system |
Every Program a Charleston Homeowner Can Use
- Federal 25C credit gives no credit for a 2026 install. Ended.
- Heating & Cooling Rebates pays up to $500 per system. Open now.
- Natural Gas Furnace Rebates pays up to $350 per furnace. Open now.
- Dual Fuel Heating System pays up to $1,000 per home. Open now.
- Smart Thermostat Rebates pays up to $190 per household. Open now.
- EnergyWise Savings Store pays up to $50 per thermostat. Open now.
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 Charleston?
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 $6,500.
What does the Dominion Energy South Carolina central air conditioner rebate pay in 2026?
$400 per central air conditioner at 15.2 SEER2 minimum, through Heating & Cooling Rebates. Open. Dominion says residential electric customers are eligible to receive a rebate.
Is there a federal tax credit for a 3-ton central air conditioner in 2026?
The IRS allows the credit for property placed in service before December 31, 2025. A heat pump installed in 2026 gets no federal credit. The utility rebate is the money on the table in 2026.
What do the other systems cost in Charleston?
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 Charleston
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/south-carolina/charleston/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.