AC Installation Denver: $3,887 to $8,073 + Rebates (2026)
A new central AC costs $3,887 to $8,073 in HomeAdvisor's 2026 national data, and HomeAdvisor puts a Denver heat pump installation at $2,800 to $10,000.
Cold-climate heat pumps get a $1,500 Denver metro rebate in 2026; a standard AC does not.
Key numbers
- Average $5,978Central AC installed, nationalHomeAdvisor, Jun 2026
- $2,800 to $10,000Heat pump installed, DenverHomeAdvisor, Jun 2026
- Average $6,087Heat pump installed, nationalHomeAdvisor, Jun 2026
Old AC dead and weighing a heat pump? Call the heating and AC line and ask the Denver company to price both.
| Job or rate | Published cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Central AC installed, national | Average $5,978; most $3,887 to $8,073 | HomeAdvisor, Jun 2026 |
| Heat pump installed, Denver | $2,800 to $10,000 | HomeAdvisor, Jun 2026 |
| Heat pump installed, national | Average $6,087; most $4,236 to $7,942 | HomeAdvisor, Jun 2026 |
| Full HVAC system replacement, Denver | $7,200 to $14,500 | ConsumerAffairs, Apr 2026 |
| Power Ahead Colorado rebate | $1,500 off cold-climate heat pumps | Colorado Public Radio, Jul 2026 |
| Colorado heat pump tax credit | At least $333 off on the invoice | Colorado Energy Office, 2026 |
Rows marked Denver are local; others are national or statewide. Rebates apply to qualifying heat pumps, not standard AC.
AC installation in Denver is putting in a new central air conditioner or heat pump under a Denver mechanical permit. HomeAdvisor's 2026 national range for central AC is $3,887 to $8,073, and it puts a Denver heat pump at $2,800 to $10,000.
AC or heat pump in Denver?
A heat pump cools like an AC and also heats, and in Denver it is the option with rebates: a $1,500 Power Ahead Colorado rebate on ENERGY STAR cold-climate heat pumps for existing Denver metro homes from July 15, 2026, Colorado Public Radio reported, and Colorado's 2026 heat pump tax credit, which takes at least $333 off an air-source heat pump on the invoice, the Colorado Energy Office says. A standard AC gets neither, and no federal credit helps in 2026: the IRS says 25C does not apply to property placed in service after December 31, 2025. Denver's cold matters here, with 156.3 nights a year at or below 32 F, NOAA's normals show, so ask for a cold-climate model. More in heat pump installation cost.
How much cooling a Denver home needs
Denver International Airport logs 849.5 cooling degree days a year against 5,862 heating degree days, and averages 46.2 days at or above 90 F, NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals show. Heating is the bigger load. Ask the installer for a load calculation rather than matching the old unit's size, and get the efficiency rating in writing: the DOE's 2023 standard for split AC in the North is 13.4 SEER2.
Denver permits and licenses for a new AC
Residential A/C and compressor units are on Denver's Quick Permit list for single-family homes and duplexes, and the city says replacement equipment must meet current energy code efficiency, checked at inspection. Heat pumps are not named on the list, so ask the installer how it will be permitted. Colorado has no state HVAC license; Denver licenses its own contractors and does not accept licenses from other counties or states (720-865-2770). Anyone handling refrigerant needs EPA Section 608 certification. Compare full-system prices on AC replacement cost.
| What | Denver | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Heat pump $2,800 to $10,000; full system $7,200 to $14,500. | HomeAdvisor; ConsumerAffairs |
| Rebate | $1,500 Power Ahead Colorado rebate on cold-climate heat pumps from Jul 15, 2026. | Colorado Public Radio |
| Permit | Residential A/C is a Quick Permit; equipment must meet the energy code. | Denver CPD |
| License | Denver contractor license; no state HVAC license. | Denver CPD |
| Climate | 849.5 cooling vs 5,862 heating degree days; 46.2 days at 90 F or above. | NOAA normals |
Local rules, programs and climate for Denver, from official city, state, utility, Census and NOAA pages. Aurora, Lakewood and other metro cities set their own rules.
Questions to ask a Denver AC installer
- What is your Denver contractor license number?
- Will you do a load calculation, and what size do you recommend?
- Is the heat pump a cold-climate model that qualifies for the rebate and the state credit?
- Does the price include the Denver permit, electrical work and removal of the old unit?
- What warranty covers labor, and for how long?
Ready to replace? Call the heating and AC line and ask for AC and heat pump prices in writing.
More Denver heating and cooling guides
Repairs first: AC repair in Denver. Rebates and permits: HVAC repair in Denver. Furnace too old: furnace repair in Denver. Other cities: AC installation in Phoenix and AC installation in Los Angeles. Ductless: mini split installation. Calls go to an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job (how calls work).
More help in Denver
- Plumbers in Denver
- Emergency plumber in Denver
- Water heater repair in Denver
- Drain cleaning in Denver
- Sewer line repair in Denver
- HVAC repair in Denver
- AC repair in Denver
- Furnace repair in Denver
- Water damage restoration in Denver
- Mold removal in Denver
- Roof repair in Denver
- Emergency roof repair in Denver
- Roof replacement in Denver
- Electrical repair in Denver
- Tree removal in Denver
- Bathroom remodel in Denver
- Pest control in Denver
- Home repair in Denver
AC installation in other cities
Questions people ask
How much does AC installation cost in Denver?
HomeAdvisor's 2026 national range for central AC is $3,887 to $8,073 (average $5,978). It puts a Denver heat pump at $2,800 to $10,000, and ConsumerAffairs puts a full Denver system at $7,200 to $14,500.
Are there rebates for AC in Denver?
Not for standard AC that we found. Cold-climate heat pumps get a $1,500 Power Ahead Colorado rebate from July 15, 2026, and Colorado's tax credit takes at least $333 off an air-source heat pump.
Is there a federal tax credit for a new AC in 2026?
No. The IRS says the 25C credit does not apply to property placed in service after December 31, 2025.
Do I need a permit for a new AC in Denver?
Yes. Residential A/C is on Denver's Quick Permit list, and the new unit must meet the current energy code, checked at inspection.
What size AC does a Denver home need?
Ask for a load calculation. Denver logs 849.5 cooling degree days against 5,862 heating degree days, NOAA's normals show, so cooling loads are modest.
Replacing an AC in Denver? Call the heating and AC line and ask whether a cold-climate heat pump qualifies for the rebate.
- 1Call the line
- 2It rings a local company
- 3They give you the price
Before you book
- License numberAsk for it, then check it with the state board.
- Written priceGet the visit fee and the job price in writing before work starts.
- Proof of insuranceAsk for the certificate, especially for roof, tree and electrical work.
Sources (11)
- HomeAdvisor: How much does AC installation cost? (2026-06-17)
- HomeAdvisor: How much does a heat pump cost in 2026? (2026-06-19)
- ConsumerAffairs: Best HVAC companies in Denver, CO of 2026 (2026-04-29)
- Colorado Public Radio: New heat pump rebate program in the Denver area (2026-07-15)
- Colorado Energy Office: Heat pump tax credits (checked 2026-10-11)
- IRS: FAQs for modification of sections 25C, 25D and others under Public Law 119-21 (2025-08-21)
- NOAA NCEI: U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020, Denver International Airport (checked 2026-10-11)
- DOE: 2023 standards for residential central air conditioners and heat pumps, FAQ (2022-10-05)
- Denver CPD: Quick permits (checked 2026-10-11)
- Denver CPD: Contractor licensing (checked 2026-10-11)
- EPA: Section 608 technician certification (2026-03-03)
Call the heating and AC line in Denver
Have the address, the system type (furnace, boiler, heat pump or central air), the brand and age if you know them, and what it is doing. The company will quote its service call fee before anyone is sent.
Free call to an independent company in your area that takes this kind of work.