AC replacement
$7,400
Typical for a 1,500–2,500 sq ft home. Most jobs run $4,900–$11,200.
All states
State prices
HVAC prices in California
$7,400
AC replacement typical, statewide
33.6¢
Electricity per kWh residential average
Most AC replacement quotes in California land between $4,900 and $11,200. Prices differ by metro, so start with yours below.
California is in the DOE southwest region: new central AC must meet 14.3 SEER2. Photo: Stephen Leonardi on Pexels.
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Prices by metro in California
AC replacement, typical installed price. Press a metro for every job, local factors and rebates.
7
Metros in California with their own prices, largest first.
$7,450Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · 12,974,487 people
$7,100Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario · 4,675,704 people
$7,600San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont · 4,645,029 people
$7,500San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad · 3,288,774 people
$7,250Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom · 2,426,388 people
$7,650San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara · 1,969,337 people
$7,100Fresno · 1,177,665 people
On the map
Where HVAC work costs more in California
California prices in 25 metros and 3 rural areas, each on its own. Every county takes its area's typical price; switch the job and the map redraws.
AC replacement · typical price by county
Shades split California's counties into even groups; each county takes its metro or rural area's price.
- From $7.05k to $7.1k
- From $7.15k to $7.2k
- From $7.25k to $7.4k
- From $7.45k to $7.55k
- From $7.6k to $7.95k
- Statewide typical
- $7,400
- US typical
- $7,000
Lowest for AC replacement
- $7,050
Rural North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California
Rural · 10 counties · 339k people
- $7,100
Metro · 2 counties · 4.7M people
- $7,100
Metro · 2 counties · 1.2M people
- $7,100
Chico metro
Metro · 1 county · 208k people
- $7,150
Modesto metro
Metro · 1 county · 554k people
Highest for AC replacement
- $7,950
El Centro metro
Metro · 1 county · 180k people
- $7,650
Metro · 2 counties · 2.0M people
- $7,600
Santa Rosa metro
Metro · 1 county · 485k people
- $7,600
Metro · 5 counties · 4.6M people
- $7,550
Napa metro
Metro · 1 county · 135k people
HVAC technician pay
Half the 35,130 HVAC techs in California earn more than $34.88 an hour ($72,560 a year), 19% above the US median. Shops here bill that hour at about $134 in our price model.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025; billable rate from the HVACFIND price model.
HVAC technician salary in California$34.88
Median hourly pay for HVAC technicians in California
The numbers here
What HVAC costs in California, in four figures
Statewide figures, against the other states.
HVAC technician wage
$35/hr
Median hourly pay here against $29.33 for the US (BLS OEWS). Labor is a third of a typical install.
Hot days a year
44≥90°F
1,173 cooling and 1,781 heating degree days in a normal year, 1991–2020 (NOAA).
HVAC companies
11,683
8.6 for every 10,000 homes (Census County Business Patterns). More competition tends to mean tighter quotes.
Where California sits among the 51
- AC replacement, typical
- $7,400
- HVAC wage, median
- $35/hr
- Days at 90°F or hotter
- 44 days
- Electricity
- 33.6¢
Every job
Statewide prices in California
Averages across the state. Your metro's page is closer to what you'll be quoted.
- 3-ton home
- 1–2 days
- Permit
$4,900–$11,200 typical $7,400
- 3-ton home
- 1–2 days
- Permit
$7,250–$14,500 typical $10,250
- 3-ton home
- 1–2 days
- Permit
$3,850–$8,500 typical $5,700
- 3-ton home
- 1–2 days
- Permit
$8,950–$16,750 typical $12,250
- 3-ton home
- 1–2 days
- Permit
$4,200–$7,800 typical $5,750
- Typical home
- Same day
- No permit
$370–$560 typical $450
- Typical home
- Same day
- No permit
$260–$640 typical $410
- Typical home
- Same day
- No permit
$380–$590 typical $480
- Typical home
- Same day
- No permit
$130–$290 typical $190
- Typical home
- Same day
- No permit
$430–$670 typical $540
Before you sign
Six things to know in California
14.3 SEER2 minimum
New central AC installed in California must meet the DOE southwest standard. Heat pumps need 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2.
Licensing
Statewide license: Contractors State License Board (CSLB).
Permits
A mechanical permit is required to replace heating or cooling equipment.
Rebates
0 active programs verified. The federal 25C credit ended for 2026 installs.
Electricity
33.6¢ per kWh on average, which sets what efficiency saves you.
Climate
1,173 cooling and 1,781 heating degree days in an average year.
Nearby
More about California
Reference pages built from public records, each row with its source and the date we checked it.
Live
Federally funded HEAR heat pump rebates in this state.
- 0 active
State and utility programs, income limits
- By city
When you need one and what it costs
- Statewide
Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
Second opinion
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- We confirm the job before anyone calls you
- One contractor, never a bidding list
- License checked with the state
- Free for homeowners