How much does AC repair cost?
Most air conditioner repairs cost $150 to $650 in the United States, according to HomeGuide, updated 22 August 2025, and Thumbtack's own job data, published July 2026, puts the typical central air repair at $431 within a range of $205 to $907. The part that failed decides the bill. Angi, updated 4 August 2026, prices a capacitor at $100 to $250, a refrigerant leak at $250 to $1,500 and a compressor at $800 to $3,000. On an older unit, a repair at the top of that range is where replacing starts to make sense: HomeGuide puts a new central AC at $5,000 to $8,300 installed.
$150 – $650
average total cost of an AC repair
$431
what most people pay for a central air repair, range $205 to $907
$100 – $250
HVAC service call, the assessment before any repair
$5,000 – $8,300
to replace a central AC instead, installed
Cost breakdown
Each table below comes from one source, named underneath it, with the date that source last revised the figures. Everything is a United States figure in USD.
AC unit repair cost by part
| Repair | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Drain line cleaning | $75 – $200 |
| AC tune-up | $70 – $200 |
| Capacitor | $100 – $250 |
| HVAC TXV (expansion valve) | $100 – $500 |
| Circuit board | $100 – $600 |
| Fan motor | $100 – $700 |
| Thermostat | $150 – $350 |
| Blower or fan motor | $200 – $700 |
| AC transformer | $200 – $600 |
| Refrigerant recharge | $100 – $500 |
| Refrigerant leak | $250 – $1,500 |
| Coil replacement | $600 – $2,400 |
| Compressor | $800 – $3,000 |
The same repairs from a second source, parts and labor included
| Repair | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Service call / diagnostic | $75 – $200 |
| Drain line flush | $75 – $250 |
| Fuse or breaker replacement | $75 – $300 |
| Capacitor replacement | $100 – $250 |
| Refrigerant recharge | $100 – $600 |
| Thermostat replacement | $140 – $350 |
| Contactor replacement | $200 – $450 |
| Condenser fan motor replacement | $200 – $700 |
| Refrigerant leak repair | $200 – $1,500 |
| Blower motor repair | $300 – $900 |
| Compressor replacement | $600 – $2,500 |
| Evaporator coil replacement | $1,000 – $4,500 |
Repair or replace: what each costs for a central air conditioner
| System | Repair | Replace |
|---|---|---|
| Air conditioning unit | $450 – $1,000 | $3,800 – $7,500 |
Refrigerant, per pound installed
| Refrigerant | Price per pound |
|---|---|
| R-410A | $50 – $80 |
| R-22 (Freon) | $90 – $150 |
Average HVAC repair cost by state
| State | Average cost |
|---|---|
| California | $575 |
| New York | $500 |
| New Mexico | $480 |
| Pennsylvania | $430 |
| Washington | $425 |
| North Dakota | $380 |
| Idaho | $375 |
| Wisconsin | $360 |
| Florida | $330 |
| Texas | $330 |
A bar for each row of the table above, 12 of them, drawn to the same scale so the spread is visible at a glance. The figure beside each bar is the one the table prints.
What your symptom is likely to cost
HomeGuide lists the signs that an AC needs repair. Each sign usually comes down to a short list of parts, and the tables above price those parts. This is a guide to what to ask about; only the technician who opens the unit can say which part has failed.
| What you notice | Parts to ask about, each priced in the tables above |
|---|---|
| Warm air from the vents, or it runs but does not cool | Capacitor, refrigerant leak, compressor, dirty or failed coil |
| It will not turn on at all | Thermostat, fuse or breaker, capacitor, contactor, circuit board |
| Weak or limited airflow | Blower motor, a clogged filter, a frozen coil |
| Water pooling near the indoor unit | A clogged drain line |
| Knocking, clicking or gurgling noises | Fan motor, compressor, contactor |
| Switching on and off often (short-cycling) | Thermostat, refrigerant level |
Repair or replace: the $5,000 rule
HomeGuide gives a rule of thumb: multiply the repair quote by the age of the unit in years, and if the result is over $5,000, replacing is usually the better spend. It also says to consider replacing when the unit is more than 10 years old, uses R-22 Freon, needs frequent repairs, or when the repair costs at least half the price of a new unit.
- An 8-year-old unit with a 400 dollar capacitor job: 8 times 400 is 3,200, under the line, so repair it.
- A 14-year-old unit with a 2,000 dollar compressor quote: 14 times 2,000 is 28,000, far over the line, so get a replacement quote before agreeing.
- HomeGuide puts the average life of an air conditioner at 12 to 15 years with proper maintenance, which is why age carries so much weight in the rule.
What changes the price
- Which part failed
- This is most of the difference between a small bill and a large one. Angi prices a capacitor at $100 to $250 and a compressor at $800 to $3,000, and HomeGuide puts an evaporator coil at $1,000 to $4,500.
- The refrigerant your unit uses
- HomeGuide prices R-410A at $50 to $80 a pound installed and R-22 Freon at $90 to $150, and lists an R-22 system as one to consider replacing rather than repairing. The US Environmental Protection Agency says no new R-22 has been made or imported into the United States since 1 January 2020, so only reclaimed R-22 is left for repairs, though it does not require anyone to replace a working unit.
- Labor and the service call
- HomeGuide puts AC repair labor at $75 to $150 an hour, and Angi puts the initial service call at $100 to $250 before any repair. Angi says labor can be as much as half of the total.
- Where you live
- Angi's average HVAC repair runs from $330 in Florida and Texas to $575 in California, and Angi says labor costs more where the cost of living is higher.
- Access and timing
- An air handler in a tight attic takes longer to work on than a unit beside the house, HomeGuide notes, and Thumbtack says rates tend to be higher in summer.
How to pay less
- Check the cheap causes first
- Before booking a visit, check the thermostat setting, the breaker and the air filter. Each costs nothing to check, and a service call costs money whatever it finds.
- Ask what the service call fee covers
- The call-out fee pays for the diagnosis, and the repair is quoted on top. Ask at booking whether the fee is credited against the work if you go ahead.
- Fix a leak before paying for a recharge
- A sealed system does not use up refrigerant. If it needs a recharge, it has a leak, and recharging without finding the leak means paying again.
- Run the $5,000 rule before a big repair
- On a compressor or coil quote for an older unit, multiply the quote by the unit's age. If the answer is over 5,000, get a replacement quote too; HomeGuide puts a new central AC at $5,000 to $8,300.
- Check the warranty
- HomeGuide notes that a manufacturer's warranty may cover replacement parts, though most do not cover labor, and that most home warranty plans cover the HVAC system.
Questions
How much does AC repair cost?
HomeGuide puts most AC repairs at $150 to $650, and Thumbtack's job data puts the typical central air repair at $431, within $205 to $907. A compressor or coil costs more: Angi gives $800 to $3,000 for a compressor.
What is the $5,000 rule for AC repair?
Multiply the repair cost by the age of the unit in years. HomeGuide says that if the result is over $5,000, replacing the air conditioner is usually the better choice.
How much does it cost to recharge an AC?
Angi puts a refrigerant recharge at $100 to $500 and HomeGuide at $100 to $600. HomeGuide prices R-410A refrigerant at $50 to $80 a pound installed and R-22 at $90 to $150.
Can I still repair an AC that uses R-410A?
Yes. The US Environmental Protection Agency says homeowners can maintain and repair their systems throughout the useful life of the equipment, including replacing a major component such as a condensing unit or compressor with a similar R-410A part. The refrigerant rules that took effect in 2025 apply to new systems.
How long does an air conditioner last?
HomeGuide says 12 to 15 years on average if properly maintained. A unit near the end of that range is where the repair or replace question matters most.
How long does an AC repair take?
HomeGuide says 1 to 8 hours. Flushing a drain line or replacing a fuse usually takes under an hour, and an evaporator coil or compressor can take a full day.
Why is my AC running but not cooling?
Common causes are a failed capacitor, a refrigerant leak, a dirty or frozen coil, or a clogged filter. The filter and the capacitor are at the cheap end; Angi prices a refrigerant leak at $250 to $1,500.
Where these figures come from
These are national US figures in US dollars from three cost publishers, read on 12 October 2026: Angi, updated 4 August 2026; Thumbtack, last updated 10 July 2026, which says its figures come from its own data; and HomeGuide, updated 22 August 2025. The refrigerant rules come from the US Environmental Protection Agency, in its answers to homeowners, last updated 1 April 2026 and 14 September 2026. Where they differ, both are shown and neither is averaged. A written quote from the technician who has diagnosed your unit is the price that counts.
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