Ceiling cassette air conditioners

How much does a ceiling cassette air conditioner cost?

More than a wall split of the same size, because the installer has to cut the ceiling, fit the unit between the joists and run a drain that falls properly. A residential cassette from 2.5 to 7.1 kW usually costs about $3,500 to $7,000 installed in 2026, as an estimate for a standard single-storey install. A 7.1 kW unit and an awkward ceiling sit at the top, and big light-commercial cassettes are quoted on site.

The star gap is real. A cassette will cost a little more to run than the equivalent wall split, so buy one because the room needs it. An installer can tell you in one visit whether your ceiling will take one, so get up to three local quotes and compare what each finds.

Can a cassette go in my ceiling?

It needs roof or ceiling-cavity space above the room and a joist layout that leaves room for the body. Mitsubishi Electric lists its SLZ-M residential cassette at 245 mm high, which gives you a feel for the depth involved. It also needs a drain route, usually by gravity or with a small pump, and access for the pipes to reach the outdoor unit.

Upstairs rooms under a roof are the easy case. Ground-floor rooms under another floor often can't take one without a bulkhead. Our cassette and floor unit guide covers the alternatives, including bulkhead units.

Which brands make residential cassettes?

Mitsubishi Electric and Daikin make most of them: 54 and 37 of the models under 7.5 kW. Toshiba, Panasonic and Fujitsu follow. Only 72 of the 315 cassettes carry an indoor noise figure on the register, so ask the installer for the manufacturer's sound data if the unit is going over a bed. See Daikin cassettes for one brand's full list.