How much does split system installation cost in Brisbane? (2026 price guide)

A single split system air conditioner typically costs about $1,800 to $3,500 supplied and installed in Brisbane for a living-area unit (around 5 kW), and about $1,200 to $2,500 for a small 2.5 kW bedroom unit. Larger and multi-room systems cost more. The final price depends mostly on the size of the unit, how far the pipework has to run, and where the indoor and outdoor units go.

Those figures describe the market. Your own price will come from a quote.

Typical split system prices in Brisbane

These are typical market ranges for the unit and the installation, including GST, as at October 2026.

System	Low	Typical	High
2.5 kW split (one bedroom or small room)	$1,200	$1,800	$2,500
5 kW split (living area)	$1,800	$2,500	$3,500
7 kW split (large open-plan area)	$2,200	$3,200	$4,500
9 kW split (a whole floor)	$3,000	$4,200	$5,500
Multi-head split (two rooms)	$4,000	$5,500	$7,500

Prices you see online don’t always agree, because “installed” means different things to different companies. Some prices are labour only, some include a basic pipe run, and some leave out the electrical work. Before you compare a quote with a figure you’ve seen online, check that both cover the same things.

What changes the price

Two homes with the same 5 kW unit can get quite different quotes. These are the usual reasons.

The pipe run

The indoor and outdoor units are joined by refrigerant pipework and cables. A back-to-back install, where the outdoor unit sits on the other side of the same wall, is the cheapest. Every extra metre of pipe, and every wall or ceiling it has to cross, adds time and materials.

Where the indoor unit goes

Indoor units that are harder to reach or fit, such as ones mounted high on a wall or ceiling cassettes, push the price up.

Where the outdoor unit goes

Mounting on a bracket or the roof costs more than setting it on a pad at ground level. A two-storey home, or an outdoor unit that has to be lifted into place, takes longer.

The size and the brand

A bigger unit costs more to buy. Brand, features and energy rating matter too, and they affect your running costs for years. Our guide to choosing the right size air conditioner explains how to avoid paying for capacity you don’t need.

Electrical work

A split system needs a power supply and an electrical connection, and in Queensland that connection is electrical work. A refrigeration technician with only a restricted electrical licence can’t install the interconnect cables, because that counts as electrical installation work. If your circuit or switchboard can’t take the extra load, it needs upgrading too. Check that your quote mentions the electrical work.

Removing an old unit

Taking out and disposing of an old system is often a separate line item, so ask whether it’s included.

What a fair quote should include

Ask for a written, itemised quote. It should give you:

• the exact make, model and kW rating of the unit
• how much pipe run is included, and the price for extra metres
• who does the electrical connection, with their electrical licence number
• who handles the refrigerant, with their ARC licence number
• commissioning and testing before handover
• the warranty, both the manufacturer’s warranty on the unit and the installer’s warranty on their labour
• whether old-unit removal is included
• GST

If you supply your own unit and pay only for installation, ask whether the installer will still warranty their work. If the unit turns out to be faulty, you may end up chasing the manufacturer and the installer separately.

Licences to check before you say yes

Two separate licences apply to installing a split system, and a legitimate installer holds both or works with someone who does.

The first is a refrigerant handling licence from the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC). Anyone who handles refrigerant, or installs, commissions, services or maintains refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, must hold one.

The second is a Queensland electrical licence. The electrical connection must be done by someone licensed to do electrical installation work.

We hold both: electrical licence 90313 and ARC licence L142566. One team does the whole job, so you don’t have to coordinate an air conditioning installer and an electrician.

Check the energy rating

A cheaper unit with a poor energy rating can cost you more over its life. Models registered since April 2020 show a separate cooling and heating rating for three climate zones. Brisbane is in the hot zone, so compare the hot-zone cooling stars, not the average-zone figure.

Most split systems sold today are inverter models, where the compressor adjusts its speed to the demand instead of switching fully on and off. That reduces wear and electricity use compared with the older on-off type.

Single split, multi-split or ducted?

A single split is the lowest-cost option for one room or one open-plan area. If you want to cool three or more rooms, get prices for a multi-head split system and for ducted air conditioning side by side before you decide.

When to book

Installers get busy as the weather heats up, so request your quote before summer arrives. The installation itself is usually quick. A single split is generally a half-day job, and a multi-head system takes a full day.

Get an itemised quote from us

We’re licensed electricians and refrigerant handlers (licence 90313, ARC L142566), and we install Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Samsung, Panasonic and Kelvinator systems across Brisbane’s south and south-west. We’ll assess your space, recommend a size, and give you a written quote that spells out what’s included.

See our air conditioning installation service, or call us on 0412 229 069.