Ductless Mini-Split Cost and Quotes in Ontario

What a ductless mini-split costs in Ontario

Ductless pricing comes down to how many indoor heads you need and how hard it is to run lines to them.

Single-zone ductless mini-split

$3,500 to $6,500

Multi-zone ductless mini-split (3 to 5 indoor heads)

$9,000 to $18,000

Typical installed prices in Ontario, CAD, before 13% HST. Reviewed October 2026. Estimates, not quotes.

Install time: About 1 day per zoneMulti-zone often 2 to 3 days
Ducts needed: None
Rebates: Approval firstBefore any work starts

Who ductless suits

Homes with radiators or electric baseboard and no ducts
Additions, sunrooms and finished basements
Garages, workshops and home offices
Condo units and townhouse rooms

What moves the price

Number and type of heads
Each head adds equipment and labour; wall heads cost least.
Line set route
Long runs and finished walls add time.
Cold-climate model
Strong low-temperature heating costs more.

Single-zone, multi-zone or several single-zones

One outdoor unit can feed one head or several.

One multi-zone system

One outdoor unit and one circuit for several heads.
Typical installed range $9,000 to $18,000 for 3 to 5 heads.
Good for rooms close together, or little outdoor space.
Watch for: one failure takes out every zone, and small rooms can be oversized.

Several single-zone systems

Each room gets its own outdoor unit, sized for that space.
Typical installed range $3,500 to $6,500 per zone, so three often cost about as much as one multi-zone, or more.
Good for rooms with very different needs, and often the best cold-weather heating.
Watch for: more units outside, and a circuit for each.

For a whole home without ducts, ask for both layouts so you can see the trade-off in dollars. Not sure ductless is the right fit? All nine quote types, ducted and ductless, sit side by side on the FurnaceQuotes.ca home page.

Head types and where they go

Most quotes default to wall heads. Ask about the others if a wall head will not suit the room.

Options vary by brand and model line.
Head type	Where it fits	Trade-offs
Wall-mounted	Most rooms, basements, additions	Lowest cost, easy to service, visible
Ceiling cassette	Open areas with ceiling space	Sits flush and spreads air; costs more
Ducted slim	A bulkhead or closet feeding one or two rooms	Hidden behind grilles; more install work
Floor console	Under windows, sunrooms, basements	Warm air low in winter; takes floor space

Placement matters too. Air should sweep across the room, not blow straight onto a bed or sofa, and the head needs room for filter cleaning. A head near an outside wall means a shorter, neater line set. Ask for each location to be marked before you sign.

Line sets, wall penetrations and condensate

This is where tidy installs and messy ones part ways.

Each head connects to its outdoor unit through a line set: copper refrigerant lines, a control cable and a drain hose. Many quotes include a set length per head and charge per metre or foot beyond it, so ask what is included, and ask for a painted cover outside rather than taped insulation.

In cooling mode the head makes water that drains through the wall; a head on an inside wall needs a small condensate pump. In winter, defrost water from the outdoor unit can freeze, so it should drain away from steps and walkways.

A tidy ductless install

Indoor head. High on the wall, clear air path.
Wall opening. Roughly 6 to 8 cm, sloped out, sealed.
Line set cover. Refrigerant lines, cable and drain hose.
Raised outdoor unit. Stand or bracket above the snow.
Disconnect switch. Near the unit, on its own circuit.
Drainage. Condensate and defrost water kept off walkways.

Simplified illustration. Details depend on the model and your wall.

Cold-climate rating and electrical work

Many mini-splits are sold mainly for cooling. For January heat, the low-temperature numbers decide.

Ask for each outdoor unit's heating capacity at -15°C and -25°C and the lowest temperature it keeps heating at. ENERGY STAR's cold climate mark needs a COP of at least 1.75 at -15°C and at least 70% of the rated capacity there.

Each outdoor unit also needs a dedicated 240 V circuit and a nearby disconnect, installed by a licensed electrical contractor who notifies the Electrical Safety Authority.

Heat pump wiring and circuit: $500 to $2,500

Typical add-on prices in Ontario, before HST. Reviewed October 2026. Only some homes need each item.

Condos and townhouses: approval comes first

In a condo, the outdoor unit and the wall opening usually touch common elements, so the board decides first.

Under Ontario's Condominium Act, 1998, altering common elements such as an exterior wall or a balcony generally needs board approval, often with a written agreement under section 98. Many buildings also set rules on unit location, mounting and noise. Get approval in writing before you pay a deposit or book a date.

Freehold townhouses skip the board, but check side-yard space, where the noise will go and any municipal rules near a lot line.

For the board application

Outdoor unit location and mounting method
Spec sheets and sound ratings
A section 98 agreement, if required
Suite electrical capacity

What a ductless quote should name

Ductless quotes vary more than furnace quotes. Make every company spell out the same items.

Equipment

Outdoor and indoor model numbers, and the room for each head
Capacity per room, plus capacity at -15°C and -25°C
Controls, and parts and labour warranty years

Installation

Line set length per head, what is included, extra cost per metre
Line set cover, wall sealing, bracket or stand height
Condensate route and any pumps
Electrical, permits, condo approvals, deposit and date

Compare quotes in the comparison worksheet and read how many quotes to get. Have ducts? See ducted heat pump quotes, or find your area on our city quote pages.

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.

Know which rooms you want to heat and cool? Get a written quote for those zones.

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Common questions

Straight answers. If yours is not here, the company can answer it during your free estimate.

Can a ductless mini-split heat a whole house in Ontario?

It can, in the right home. Open-plan, well-insulated houses do best, with a multi-zone system or several single-zone systems sized room by room. Closed-off bedrooms may need their own heads, and many owners keep baseboards or a boiler as backup. Ask for the heat loss and each zone's low-temperature capacity.

Does a mini-split cost less to run than baseboard heaters?

Almost always. Baseboard heat costs about $150 per 1,000 kWh of heat at $0.15 per kWh. A mini-split moves heat instead of making it, so at a COP of 2.5 the same heat costs about $60. Your real saving depends on the weather, the model and how much the baseboards still run.

Can I put a mini-split in my condo?

Often, with approval. The outdoor unit and wall opening usually affect common elements, so the board must approve, and many corporations require a written agreement under section 98 of the Condominium Act, 1998. Get the rules first, then ask the installer for the spec sheets and mounting details the board needs.

How long does a ductless installation take?

A single-zone install usually takes about a day. Multi-zone systems with three to five heads often take two to three days, depending on line set routes, finished walls and electrical work. Condo jobs can take longer to schedule because of building rules on access and working hours.

Should I keep my baseboard heaters or boiler?

Usually, yes. They cost nothing to keep, cover rooms without a head and back up the coldest nights. Set them a few degrees below the mini-split so the heat pump does most of the work. Your quote should say which rooms each head is meant to heat.

Keep going

Get a ductless quote for the rooms you need

Tell us about your home in about a minute. A participating local HVAC company will confirm the details, look at the layout and give you a written quote zone by zone.