What does heating & cooling cost in Australia?
Heating & Cooling work typically costs between $100 and $20,000 in Australia in 2026, across 12 common kinds of job. Below: the price of each, how it changes by state, and the licence, wage and compliance rules that set the floor.
Reviewed September 2026 by the Blue Collar News Services editorial team. 7 sources are linked on this page, all government, standards or industry bodies. Indicative prices, not quotes, and not legal advice. How we research prices
Heating & Cooling prices by job
Typical GST-inclusive ranges for a standard residential job. Each link opens the full guide for that job.
| Job | Typical range | Priced |
|---|---|---|
| Air Conditioner Regas 24/7 | $150–$600 | per job |
| Air Conditioner Service & Clean | $100–$350 | per job |
| Ducted Air Conditioning Installation | $8,000–$20,000 | per job |
| Ducted Air Conditioning Repair 24/7 | $200–$1,500 | per job |
| Ducted Gas Heating Installation | $4,000–$12,000 | per job |
| Emergency Air Conditioning Repair 24/7 | $200–$1,000 | call-out |
| Evaporative Cooling Installation | $3,000–$8,000 | per job |
| Evaporative Cooling Service 24/7 | $120–$500 | per job |
| Exhaust Fan Installation | $150–$500 | per job |
| Gas Heater Service & Repair 24/7 | $120–$500 | per job |
| Split System Air Conditioner Installation | $600–$3,000 | per job |
| Split System Air Conditioner Repair 24/7 | $150–$800 | per job |
What sets heating & cooling prices in Australia
The rules and figures behind the numbers, each with its source. Checked September 2026; rules and award rates change, so confirm with the authority before relying on one.
In NSW you must hold a licence or certificate before doing any air conditioning or refrigeration work, regardless of value, and it covers the associated electrical wiring needed for general servicing and maintenance of the system.
Source: nsw.gov.au
Anyone handling or installing refrigeration and air conditioning equipment must be licensed through the Australian Refrigeration Council under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Regulations 1995. Working without it is a strict liability offence.
Source: dcceew.gov.au
In Queensland, mechanical services work needs a QBCC licence regardless of value, while other building work only needs one above $3,300.
Source: qbcc.qld.gov.au
In Victoria air conditioning is non-prescribed electrical work, so the electrician must give you a Certificate of Electrical Safety within 30 days, and may charge the certificate purchase cost plus a handling fee they set.
Source: energysafe.vic.gov.au
Under the Fair Work pay guide for the Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award, effective 1 July 2026, a registered plumbing and mechanical services tradesperson level 1 has a minimum rate of $32.80 an hour, rising to $65.60 on Sunday.
Source: calculate.fairwork.gov.au
In the ABS Producer Price Index for inputs to house construction, installed gas and electrical appliances rose 4.4 per cent over the year to June 2026 and electrical equipment rose 12.1 per cent (released 31 July 2026).
Source: abs.gov.au
The Zoned Energy Rating Label rates air conditioners from 1 to 10 stars for hot, average and cold climate zones and shows output capacity in kW at the top. Two units with the same stars but different kW cost different amounts to run, so size the unit to the room first.
Source: energyrating.gov.au
Heating & Cooling cost by state
The trade’s cheapest and dearest job, adjusted for each capital city. Regional prices can sit outside these.
| State | Indicative range |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | $115–$23,000 |
| Victoria | $110–$22,400 |
| Queensland | $105–$21,000 |
| Western Australia | $110–$22,000 |
| South Australia | $100–$19,600 |
| Tasmania | $100–$20,400 |
| Northern Territory | $110–$22,400 |
| Australian Capital Territory | $110–$21,600 |
How we work these prices out
The ranges are indicative, not quotes. They reflect the spread of prices Australian businesses typically quote for each job in capital cities, reviewed September 2026, GST-inclusive, for a standard residential job with reasonable access. The state table applies a cost index for each capital to the national range. Where a rule or rate is stated above, it comes from the source shown; we do not copy figures from other quote websites.
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FAQs
Why do heating & cooling prices vary so much between jobs?
The range on this page covers 12 different kinds of heating & cooling work, from small repairs to large installations, so the spread is wide. Within one job the price moves with size, access, materials and urgency. A tradie who has seen the job can quote it; a page cannot.
Do these prices include GST?
Yes. Every figure here is GST-inclusive and assumes a standard residential job with reasonable access. A written quote from a licensed business must also show whether GST is included.
Why is heating & cooling dearer in some states?
Labour rates, licence requirements, insurance thresholds and the cost of getting materials to site all differ by state, and metro rates run above regional ones. The state table applies a cost index for each capital city to the national range; regional prices can sit outside it.
How do I get an exact price?
Get two or three written quotes from licensed local businesses and compare them like for like. You can do that here for free: tell us the job and independent heating & cooling businesses covering your area come back to you with quotes.
Sources
Every rule and rate on this page comes from one of these. Checked September 2026. We link the page we read, not a homepage, so you can see the figure yourself.
- nsw.gov.au/business-and-economy/licences-and-credentials/building-and-trade-licences-and-registrations/air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-work
- dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/ozone/rac/compliance
- qbcc.qld.gov.au/licences/start-your-career/when-you-need-licence
- energysafe.vic.gov.au/certificates-electrical-safety/certificates-electrical-safety-consumers
- calculate.fairwork.gov.au/Download/AwardSummary?awardCode=ma000036&fileType=pdf
- abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/producer-price-indexes-australia/latest-release
- energyrating.gov.au/consumer-information/understand-zoned-energy-rating-label