10 min read
What a good air con quote should include
Short answer
A proper air conditioning quote names the exact indoor and outdoor model numbers and kilowatt capacity, the pipe run, the electrical work, the installer's ARCtick licence number, warranty terms, old-unit removal and any rebate as its own line. In 2026 that is the difference between comparing a $1,500 to $4,800 split or a $7,500 to $18,000 ducted job fairly, and comparing guesses.
Prices are estimates, not quotes (how we estimate them). Rebate rules checked September 2026.
Compare 3 quotes for my houseA quote worth comparing names the indoor and outdoor model, the kilowatt rating, the refrigerant, the warranty on parts and labour, whether a new circuit or isolator is included, and who is responsible for the old unit.
For ducted you want the number of outlets, the zones, the control type, and whether the return air and condensation drain are in the price. For splits you want pipe-run length, wall type, and a bracket or ground pad.
ARCtick licensing is the floor, not a gold star. Ask who turns up. The company that sold the job, or a subcontractor you will never see again when the drain blocks in February.
If two quotes are $4,000 apart, it is usually not magic. One of them left out the electrical, the crane, the old unit, or the extra zone. Line them up in a notebook. It takes ten minutes and saves a weekend of regret.
What should an air conditioning quote include?
Print this, or keep it open on your phone while the installer is in the lounge. Every line below should be on the written quote. If it is missing, ask for it in writing before you pay a deposit.
| Line on the quote | What good looks like | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor and outdoor model numbers | Full model codes for both units, not "Daikin 7 kW" | Lets you check the spec, star rating and warranty yourself |
| Capacity | Cooling and heating kW, and the room area it was sized for | Stops a 5 kW quote being compared with a 7.1 kW one |
| Install type | Back-to-back, wall-hung, ground pad, roof or bracket; storey height | Height and access are where labour cost hides |
| Pipe run length | Metres included, and the price per extra metre | Long runs are the most common "extra" on the day |
| Electrical work | New circuit, isolator, switchboard work or "existing circuit", stated | A new circuit is about $300 to $900; a switchboard upgrade $1,000 to $3,500 |
| Licences | The technician's ARCtick licence number and the electrical licence or compliance paperwork for your state | Refrigerant and electrical work are both licensed trades |
| Warranty | Manufacturer warranty on parts, plus the installer's own workmanship warranty, in years | The two are different, and the second is the one you call about leaks |
| Old unit removal | Removal, refrigerant recovery and disposal included or priced | Refrigerant must be recovered by a licensed technician |
| Rebate | Scheme name and discount as a separate line (VEU in Victoria, ESS in NSW) | "Included somewhere" is not included |
| Compliance certificate | Which certificate you will receive, e.g. a Certificate of Electrical Safety in Victoria | Your proof the electrical work was done by a licensed worker |
| Condensate drain | Where the drain goes and whether a pump is included | Dripping walls and pump add-ons are classic day-of surprises |
| Price, GST and validity | One total including GST, deposit terms, and how long the price holds | So you are not hit with a "price has moved" in December |
What a ducted quote needs on top
Ducted quotes hide more, because more of the job happens in a roof you will never climb into. Add these lines to the checklist.
- The number and location of supply outlets, room by room.
- The number of zones, which rooms sit in each, and whether it is motorised dampers or a simple on/off.
- The controller model, and whether there is a temperature sensor per zone or one thermostat for the house.
- Return air grille size and location, and the filter type.
- Duct type and insulation rating. The YourHome guide recommends at least R1.5.
- Where the fan coil sits in the roof and how it is supported, and where the outdoor unit goes.
- Removal of the old gas ducted heater or evaporative cooler, and making good the ceiling or roof.
The ducted cost guide shows what each of those typically adds. A quote that reads "supply and install 14 kW ducted, 6 outlets, $12,900" tells you almost nothing. If you want a ducted quote that lists every one of these lines, get up to three local quotes through us.
How to compare air conditioning quotes
Get three written quotes for the same scope. Our local quote can be one of them. Two is enough to spot a bad one. Three tells you where the market sits. More than four and you are just collecting brochures.
Line them up in columns. Model, kW, pipe run, electrical, removal, warranty, rebate, total. Wherever one quote has a blank the others have filled, ring and ask. Nine times out of ten the cheap quote has left out the circuit or the removal, and the gap closes.
Compare like for like on capacity. A 7.1 kW unit against a 5 kW unit is not a price comparison. If the installers disagree on size, that is useful information. Ask each one what room area and window exposure they assumed, and check it against the size calculator.
Then compare the people. Who assessed the house, and did they look in the roof or measure the wall? Who does the install? Who do you call in February when the drain blocks?
| Gap between quotes | Usual reason | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| $300 to $900, or $1,000 to $3,500 | A new circuit, or a switchboard upgrade, in one and not the other | "Is a dedicated circuit included, and does the board need work?" |
| A few hundred | Pipe run allowance, wall type, or bracket vs ground pad | "How many metres are included, and what wall did you allow for?" |
| Several hundred or more | Different brand tier or capacity | "Can you quote the same model as the other installer?" |
| $2,000 or more on ducted | Zones, outlets, duct replacement or removal of the old system | "How many zones and outlets, and is removal in the price?" |
Red flags on an air con quote
- A price with no model numbers. You cannot check what you are buying.
- A price given over the phone for a ducted system nobody has inspected.
- No ARCtick licence number, or a vague "all our techs are licensed". Ask for the number and check it yourself.
- "Standard install" with no definition. Standard packages cover a short, easy install; everything else is an extra.
- Cash price discounts that only exist if there is no invoice. No invoice means no warranty claim and no compliance certificate.
- A rebate promised verbally but missing from the paperwork, or a "government grant" in a state that does not run one.
- Pressure to sign today because the price or rebate ends at midnight.
- A large deposit before any equipment is ordered.
Retailer install packages and "standard installation"
Big retailers and online sellers sell a unit with a fixed-price "standard installation". Those packages can be fair value for a simple job. The fine print matters. They generally assume a back-to-back install on a ground-floor wall, a short pipe run, and an existing circuit that can take the load.
Anything else is quoted on the day by the contractor who turns up. Second storey, a long run, double brick, a new circuit, a condensate pump or a bracket all add cost. Ask for the list of exclusions before you buy the box, and compare the likely final price, not the headline.
The split system cost guide lists what those extras usually cost.
The easiest way to get a quote that ticks every box
Honestly, it is ours. That is what the quote page was built for. You start with your postcode, the rooms you want done and what you heat with now. You see the rebate and a fair price band for your house before anyone calls.
If you want firm numbers after that, we introduce up to three licensed local installers, and only when you ask. We do not sell your details to a dozen companies. Each installer quotes against the checklist on this page: model numbers, capacity, pipe run, electrical, ARCtick licence, warranty, removal and rebate, each on its own line.
You still hold the pen. Take those quotes, line them up against each other and anyone else's using the table above, and pick the one that is clearest. If none of ours is, you have lost nothing. Get up to three local quotes when you are ready.
Want a number for your house? Check the rebate on your postcode. No name required. Check the rebate on your postcode.
Or do the sums yourself first: what size you need and what it costs to run.
Sources
FAQ
Common questions
What should an air conditioning quote include?
Exact indoor and outdoor model numbers, cooling and heating capacity in kW, install type, included pipe length, electrical work, the technician's ARCtick licence number, warranty terms, old-unit removal, any rebate as a separate line, the compliance certificate you will receive, and one total including GST.
How many air conditioning quotes should I get?
Three written quotes for the same scope is the sweet spot. Two will catch an outlier. Three show you the going rate in your area without turning into a full-time job.
Why are air conditioning quotes so different?
Usually because they are not quoting the same job. One includes a new circuit, removal of the old unit or an extra zone and the other does not, or they have picked different capacities or brand tiers. Line the quotes up item by item and the gap usually shrinks.
Should an air conditioning quote be free?
For a split system, yes, and most installers quote free. For ducted, a site visit is normal and usually free too, though some charge a fee that comes off the job if you go ahead. Be wary of a ducted price given without anyone looking in your roof.
Do I need to see the installer's licence?
Yes. Anyone installing a split or ducted system must hold an ARCtick refrigerant handling licence, and the electrical side needs the right state licence. Ask for the ARCtick number and check it on the free ARC licence search before work starts.
Should the rebate be shown on the quote?
Yes. In Victoria (VEU) and NSW (ESS) the discount is applied by an accredited provider at the point of sale and should appear as its own line. If it is "included in the price" with no figure, ask for the figure in writing.
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Free and takes about two minutes. Check your rebate, then up to three licensed local installers quote the job.
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