Central air conditioner quotes for Ontario homes
A new central AC typically costs $3,800 to $10,500 installed, before HST. Get a free in-home estimate.
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What central air conditioning costs in Ontario
Most central AC quotes land in one of these ranges. Size and efficiency move you within them; extra work moves you past them.
Standard central AC, 1.5 to 3 tons (about 14.3 SEER2)
$3,800 to $7,000
High-efficiency or variable-speed central AC
$6,500 to $10,500
Typical installed prices in Ontario, CAD, before 13% HST. Reviewed October 2026. Estimates, not quotes.
- Furnace and AC together
- $8,000 to $15,000One visit, matched equipment
- Install time
- Usually 1 day
- Rough size
- About 1 ton for every 500 to 700 sq ftA load calculation decides
- Best time to book
- Spring and fall
What moves an AC quote
Size and efficiency
Bigger and higher-SEER2 units cost more. Homes needing 3.5 tons or more tend to price near the top.
Indoor coil
A new matched coil on top of your furnace is normally part of the job.
Line set
Reusing the copper lines saves money if they are the right size, sound and suit the new refrigerant.
Furnace and site
An old furnace blower, a new pad, a long line run or a full panel add cost.
How big an AC does your home need?
Square footage gives a starting range. A load calculation gives the answer.
In southern Ontario, a rough rule is 1 ton of cooling (12,000 BTU/h) per 500 to 700 square feet. Shade and good insulation push you to one end; big west-facing windows, a hot upper floor or leaky ducts push you to the other.
A real quote rests on a room-by-room load calculation, the CSA F280 method behind a proper heat loss calculation. An oversized AC shuts off before it removes the humidity, so the house feels cool but clammy. "Same size as the old one" is not a sizing method. A quote requested through FurnaceQuotes.ca comes after a visit to your home, so the house can be measured before anyone names a size.
| Home size | Rough AC size |
|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | 1.5 to 2 tons |
| 1,500 sq ft | 2 to 3 tons |
| 2,000 sq ft | 3 to 4 tons |
| 2,500 sq ft | 3.5 to 5 tons |
SEER2, explained
SEER2 is the seasonal cooling efficiency rating. Higher uses less electricity, but in Ontario the payoff is modest.
SEER2 comes from a newer test that better reflects real ductwork, so it reads a little lower than the old SEER for the same unit. Compare SEER2 with SEER2.
A standard single-stage AC rates about 14.3 SEER2 and runs flat out or off. Two-stage and variable-speed models rate higher and mostly run at low output, which evens out temperatures and removes more humidity. That comfort is the main reason to pay more.
| Rating | Electricity | Cost per season |
|---|---|---|
| 14.3 SEER2 | 1,049 kWh | $157 |
| 18 SEER2 | 833 kWh | $125 |
About $32 a year in this example, so a high-efficiency unit pays back slowly on energy alone.
The parts that have to match
A quote that names only the outdoor unit is incomplete.
Matched indoor coil
The SEER2 rating applies only to the outdoor unit, coil and furnace combination listed in the AHRI directory. Get the AHRI certificate number for that exact match.
Line set: reuse or replace
Reuse works when the lines are the right size, sound and flushed. Lines from an old R-22 system need a closer look.
Refrigerant type
New AC equipment is switching from R-410A to refrigerants with lower climate impact, such as R-454B and R-32. The outdoor unit and coil must match.
Furnace blower
It moves the AC's air, usually around 400 cubic feet per minute per ton. An older blower may not keep up, and variable-speed ACs often need a compatible furnace.
Pad, disconnect and permit
A level pad, a disconnect at the unit and a permit where your city requires one.
Furnace getting old?
Replacing both at once avoids pairing a new AC with an old blower. Typical range for both: $8,000 to $15,000. See furnace and AC quotes.
A heat pump instead of a central AC?
A heat pump cools exactly like an AC, and it can also heat your home for much of the year.
Central air conditioner
- Typical installed range $3,800 to $7,000 for a standard unit.
- Cools only; the furnace does all the heating.
- Not a heat pump rebate measure.
Heat pump with your furnace as backup
- Cools the same way, and reverses to heat in mild and cold weather.
- Costs more; dual fuel typically runs $11,000 to $20,000 with a new furnace.
- May qualify for heat pump rebates if eligible and approved before installation.
Replacing an AC anyway? Ask for a heat pump option at the same visit so you can compare prices. On gas, running costs may not drop much, so weigh comfort, emissions and rebates. See heat pump quotes.
Rebates: check before you sign
Ontario's Home Renovation Savings program offers heat pump rebates with eligibility rules by heating fuel, home type and product, and it requires approval before installation. Program rules change often, so check the official pages before you buy and never sign because of a promised rebate amount. New applications for the Canada Greener Homes Loan ended on October 1, 2025.
When to book, and what the quote must list
The best time to get an AC quote
Spring and fall, when companies have open dates and you have time to compare. In a July heat wave, crews are booked with no-cooling calls and urgency weakens your hand on price.
AC quit mid-summer? Get a repair estimate first: many failures are a capacitor or contactor, typically $150 to $350. See AC repair. Installed in cold weather? Ask for a return visit to verify the refrigerant charge once it warms up.
Your AC quote should list
- Model numbers for the outdoor unit and coil, plus the AHRI reference
- Size in tons, and how it was sized
- SEER2, stages and refrigerant type
- Line set: new, or reused and flushed
- Pad, disconnect, electrical and condensate drain
- Thermostat, and removal of the old unit with refrigerant recovery
- Permit, parts and labour warranty, deposit and install date
Check any quote with the quote checker and read the quote red flags before you sign; most apply to AC quotes too.
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Common questions
Straight answers. If yours is not here, the company can answer it during your free estimate.
What size air conditioner do I need?
As a rough guide in southern Ontario, about 1 ton per 500 to 700 square feet, so a 2,000 sq ft home lands around 3 to 4 tons. The real answer comes from a room-by-room load calculation that accounts for insulation, windows, shading and ducts. Be wary of a quote that simply copies the old unit's size.
Is a high-SEER2 air conditioner worth it in Ontario?
For energy savings alone, it pays back slowly. Ontario's cooling season is short: in our example season, going from 14.3 to 18 SEER2 saves about $32 a year. The stronger reason is comfort. Two-stage and variable-speed units run longer at low speed, which evens out temperatures between floors and removes more humidity.
Can I replace my AC without replacing my furnace?
Yes, if the furnace is in good shape and its blower can move enough air for the new AC. The new coil sits on top of the furnace, so the installer needs to check the fit and the airflow. If your furnace is old, or you want a variable-speed AC, replacing both together is often the better plan.
Should I get a heat pump instead of an air conditioner?
Worth pricing. A heat pump cools like an AC and also heats in mild and cold weather, with your furnace as backup. It costs more up front, and on gas your heating bills may not drop much at current prices. Heat pump rebates do not cover a cooling-only AC; an eligible heat pump may qualify, with approval before installation.
When is the best time to replace a central air conditioner?
Spring and fall, when companies have more open dates and you have time to compare quotes. Replacing in a heat wave usually means waiting longer and deciding under pressure. If your AC still runs but is getting old, get quotes in the off-season so you can plan the replacement instead of reacting to a breakdown.
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