Free tool for Melbourne homeowners
Ducted Air Conditioning Cost Calculator
Estimate what ducted air conditioning costs to install in your home. Enter your bedrooms, outlets and zones for an indicative installed price, the system size in kW, and what it costs to run per hour.
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What drives the cost of ducted air conditioning
Ducted is priced from the system, not the house. Installers quote on how much air you need to move, how many places it has to go, and how hard the roof is to work in:
Outlets
Each ceiling vent adds ductwork, grilles and labour. Outlets are the single biggest driver of the final price.
Zones
Every zone needs its own motorised damper. Zones cost more upfront and save you money every hour after that.
Capacity in kW
Bigger homes need a bigger indoor and outdoor unit. Capacity steps up with the number of outlets you run.
Roof and ductwork
Tight roof space, double storey runs or a full re-duct add labour. Reusing sound existing ducts takes cost out.
Figures reviewed July 2026. Our indicative anchor is around $13,000 installed for a typical 8 outlet Melbourne home, within a realistic range of about $10,000 to $18,000 depending on size and site.
Method, sources and review
We publish the working behind this tool rather than asking you to trust the number. The assumptions above are the ones the calculator actually uses. These are the sources they come from.
- Indicative installed price rangesOur own Melbourne install pricing (Climate Control Solutions)
- Rebate estimates and eligibilityVictorian Energy Upgrades (Victorian Government)
Ducted air conditioning cost by home size
Typical Melbourne homes, single storey, fresh install with standard zoning:
| Home | Outlets | System size | Indicative installed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 bedroom | 4 to 5 | 10 kW | $8,800 to $12,000 |
| 3 bedroom | 5 to 7 | 10 to 14 kW | $9,500 to $13,700 |
| 4 bedroom | 7 to 9 | 14 to 16 kW | $11,100 to $15,800 |
| 5 plus bedroom | 9 to 12 | 16 to 18 kW | $12,700 to $18,700 |
| Double storey, add | same | same | about 12 percent |
| Reusing existing ducts, save | same | same | about 25 percent |
Ranges are indicative and move with brand, roof access, duct runs and electrical work. Use the calculator above for your exact outlet and zone count, then book a free assessment for a fixed price.
What does ducted air conditioning cost to run?
A modern reverse cycle ducted system running at full load typically costs about $0.80 to $1.50 an hour in a Melbourne home, for both cooling and heating. That is the whole house, every outlet open, from a 10 kW system up to an 18 kW one.
The number most people miss is what zoning does to it. Run two zones instead of the whole home and you are conditioning maybe 40 percent of the air, so the hourly cost falls with it. Zoning is the reason a well specified ducted system can cost less to run than people expect.
The calculator above shows the full load figure for your system size. To model a full season, including what a gas to reverse cycle switch would save you, use the running cost calculator.
What is included, and what adds cost
Usually included in the price
- Indoor fan coil and outdoor condenser unit
- Insulated ductwork and ceiling outlets
- Zone motors and the wall controller
- Standard installation, commissioning and warranty
What pushes the price up
- Double storey runs and tight or shallow roof space
- Extra zones, and smart app controllers like MyAir or AirTouch
- Switchboard or electrical upgrades to carry the load
- Removing an old system, or a full re-duct where ducts are not reusable
If you are replacing gas ducted heating, the ductwork is often sound enough to reuse, which is where the biggest saving on a ducted changeover comes from. That upgrade may also attract a Victorian Energy Upgrades rebate.
Before you commit, compare
Frequently asked questions
How much does ducted air conditioning cost in Melbourne?
Indicatively, around $13,000 installed for a typical 8 outlet single storey home, within a realistic range of about $10,000 to $18,000. Smaller 2 to 3 bedroom homes start closer to $9,000 to $13,000, and larger or double storey homes run higher. Reusing sound existing ductwork can take roughly 25 percent off.
How much does ducted air conditioning cost for a 3 bedroom house?
A 3 bedroom Melbourne home typically needs 5 to 7 outlets and around a 12.5 kW system, which lands about $10,100 to $13,600 supplied and installed. A 4 bedroom home usually needs 7 to 9 outlets and 14 to 16 kW, closer to $11,700 to $15,300. Enter your exact outlets and zones above for a tailored estimate.
How many kW ducted system do I need for my house?
Capacity follows the number of outlets you are running. As a guide, 4 to 5 outlets suits about 10 kW, 5 to 6 outlets about 12.5 kW, 6 to 8 outlets about 14 kW, 8 to 10 outlets about 16 kW, and 10 or more outlets about 18 kW. An installer confirms it on site by checking room sizes, ceilings, insulation and glass.
How much does ducted air conditioning cost to run per hour?
A modern reverse cycle ducted system typically costs about $0.80 to $1.50 an hour at full load in a Melbourne home, for cooling or heating, depending on whether it is a 10 kW or an 18 kW system. Running only the zones you need cuts that substantially, which is the main reason to specify zoning properly.
Do zones add to the cost of ducted air conditioning?
Yes. Each zone needs its own motorised damper, so more zones cost more upfront, and a smart app controller such as MyAir or AirTouch adds more again. They pay you back on every running hour, because you only condition the part of the home you are actually using.
Is ducted air conditioning cheaper than split systems?
Not usually upfront. Splits cost far less to install for one or two rooms, and only condition the rooms you switch on. Ducted wins on whole home comfort, and closes the gap when you are conditioning most of the house or reusing existing ductwork. Our ducted vs split calculator compares install plus 10 years of running costs for your home.
Get a fixed price, not an estimate
The calculator narrows the range. A free on site assessment gives you the real number: we measure the home, count the outlets and zones, check the roof and switchboard, apply any VEU rebate, and quote a fixed price.
Book your free assessment Or call 0412 769 022.