AC Replacement Cost in Austin, TX (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.
Texas Rebates in 2026
Enrollment for 2026 is open. Open. Funding is limited and available only to Austin Energy customers on a first-come, first-served basis.
Austin Energy pays $600 on a central air conditioner at 15.2 SEER2, 12.0 EER2. After the rebate the typical price for a 3-ton central air conditioner is $6,300. Checked October 22, 2026. How to apply.
| Equipment | Minimum efficiency | Rebate |
|---|---|---|
| Central AC | 15.2 SEER2; 12.0 EER2 | $600 per system |
| Mini-split AC | 15.2 SEER2; 12.0 EER2 | $600 per system |
| Central AC | 17.0 SEER2; 12.0 EER2 | $700 per system |
| Mini-split AC | 17.0 SEER2; 12.0 EER2 | $700 per system |
| Central AC | 18.0 SEER2; 13.0 EER2 | $800 per system |
| Mini-split AC | 18.0 SEER2; 13.0 EER2 | $800 per system |
Every Program a Austin Homeowner Can Use
- Federal 25C credit gives no credit for a 2026 install. Ended.
- Air Conditioning pays up to $950 per system. Open now.
- Home Energy Savings pays up to $1,600 per system. Open now.
- Home Energy Efficiency Program pays up to $3,400 per system. Closed for 2026.
- Texas Gas Service Furnace Rebates gives no credit for a 2026 install. Ended.
- Power Partner Thermostat pays up to $75 per thermostat. Open now.
- HEAR Program has not published its amounts yet. Not open yet.
- HOMES Program has not published its 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 Austin?
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 $6,300.
What does the Austin Energy central air conditioner rebate pay in 2026?
$600 per central air conditioner at 15.2 SEER2, 12.0 EER2, through Air Conditioning. Open. Funding is limited and available only to Austin Energy customers on a first-come, first-served basis.
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 Austin?
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 Austin
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/texas/austin/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.