Central air conditioner replacement cost in Phoenix, AZ
Installed, 3 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil)
A typical central AC (3 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil)) costs about $4,700 installed in the Phoenix area, 1% above the national figure, because HVAC technicians here earn a median $29 an hour against $29 nationally.
Prices by size in Phoenix
| Size | Low | Typical | High | National typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil) | $3,150 | $3,500 | $4,550 | $3,500 |
| 3 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil) | $4,100 | $4,700 | $6,100 | $4,650 |
| 4 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil) | $5,450 | $6,000 | $7,650 | $6,000 |
| 5 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil) | $6,650 | $7,450 | $8,850 | $7,400 |
Local labor: what HVAC technicians earn here
| Hourly wage | Phoenix metro | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $23 | $23 |
| Median | $29 | $29 |
| 75th percentile | $36 | $37 |
The Phoenix market
Phoenix's Planning and Development Department is unusually permissive about replacements. Its residential permit page lists water heater replacements done by a licensed contractor among projects that do not need a permit, while a DIY electric water heater replacement does. The page does not address DIY gas replacements. Air conditioner repairs or replacements that do not increase size and capacity or change location also need no permit. Furnaces and heat pumps are not addressed, and no fee was found for the DIY permit. The flip side: with no permit, no city inspector checks the work, so the contractor's license is your main protection. Cooling defines the market here, with EIA finding 94% of Arizona homes use air conditioning and a quarter heat with a heat pump. Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale and other valley cities set their own rules.
Central air serves 86% of Arizona homes, and a failed unit in July is an emergency, so get the model numbers, tonnage and warranty terms in writing even when rushed. Better yet, get a replacement quote before the old unit quits. Ask for a load calculation and a matched coil. Attic ducts in desert heat leak cool air fast, so ask whether the ducts will be checked and sealed as part of the job.
Permits in Phoenix
| Permit for this job | No for AC replacement that does not increase size/capacity or change location; furnace and heat pump not addressed (source) |
|---|---|
| Fee | Unclear (none needed for the exempt contractor replacements; no fee figure found for DIY electric water heater permit) |
| Who can pull it | Unclear (exemption hinges on use of a licensed contractor; applicant eligibility for DIY permit not stated) |
| Inspection | Yes when a permit is required (generic); none for exempt replacements |
Rebates in Arizona
HEAR: status unclear. HOMES: status unclear. Source: Arizona Governor's Office of Resiliency (energy programs), checked October 13, 2026.
What these programs cover, and other states
Other systems in Phoenix
- Gas tank water heater
- Gas tankless water heater
- Gas furnace
- Heat pump (ducted, outdoor unit + air handler)
Central air conditioner cost in other metros
Sources
- City of Phoenix: Residential permits
- Arizona Governor's Office of Resiliency
- EIA, 2020 RECS: Highlights for space heating in U.S. homes by state
- EIA, 2020 RECS: Highlights for water heating in U.S. homes by state
- EIA, 2020 RECS: Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state
- https://pddonline-test.phoenix.gov/Permits/Instructions/35
- BLS OEWS May 2025, Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ (49-9021 HVAC mechanics and installers)
- DOE Residential CAC & Heat Pumps Direct Final Rule TSD (Dec 2016), Table 8.2.30, split AC coil-only (2015$; 4-ton interpolated)