AC Repair Cost: $172 to $664 by Fix, $417 Average (2026)

How much does AC repair cost

Installed prices, parts and labor. HomeGuide figures are from its table where its text and table differ.

Do this now: before the AC tech arrives

Deal with the heat before the AC: once it is above 90 F indoors, the CDC says a fan can raise body temperature, so move anyone at risk somewhere with air conditioning and dial 2-1-1 to find one.

1. Heat stroke signs? A body temperature above 103 F, hot red dry skin, a fast strong pulse or confusion: call 911 first (Ready.gov).
2. Ice on the copper lines or water on the floor? Set the thermostat to Off and the fan to On, and do not chip the ice. Bryant says thawing can take several hours.
3. Breaker tripped? Reset the AC breaker once. If it trips again, leave it off and tell the company.
4. Run the safe checks. Thermostat on Cool and below room temperature, a clean filter, and at least 2 feet of clear space around the outdoor unit (DOE). AC not cooling walks through each one.
5. Have the details ready. The brand, age and refrigerant from the outdoor unit's label, and ask for the service call fee first: $75 to $200 in HomeGuide's and HomeAdvisor's guides.

HomeAdvisor puts the 2026 average AC repair at $417, with most jobs between $172 and $664. HomeGuide's August 2025 guide gives $150 to $650 and a $360 average, with large out-of-warranty repairs at $650 to $2,500 or more. Both put the service call at $75 to $200, and HomeAdvisor says most companies apply it to the repair if they find the problem. Regular labor runs $75 to $150 an hour in both guides.

Air conditioning repair costs by common fix

The cheapest fixes are electrical parts in the outdoor unit; the most expensive are the compressor and the coils.

Capacitor and contactor

A capacitor gives the compressor and fan motor the kick to start. HomeGuide puts a replacement at $100 to $250, and the part alone at $15 to $80; HomeAdvisor's 2026 range is $120 to $475. The contactor is the switch that turns the outdoor unit on, at $200 to $450 installed in HomeGuide's figures and $150 to $350 in its HVAC repair guide. Both sit inside the outdoor unit's electrical compartment. Leave that panel closed; ENERGY STAR notes that faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe operation.

Refrigerant recharge and leak repair

HomeGuide says an AC never needs more refrigerant unless there is a leak, so a recharge without a leak repair is a short fix. Recharging R-410A runs $100 to $320 and R-22 $180 to $600 in HomeGuide's figures, or $50 to $80 and $90 to $150 a pound. Leak repair costs $200 to $1,500 (HomeGuide) or $225 to $1,600 (HomeAdvisor), and HomeGuide puts leak detection at $100 to $330. Only technicians certified under EPA Section 608 may work on refrigerant, so this is never a DIY job.

Fan motor

The outdoor fan pulls air across the condenser coil. HomeGuide puts a fan motor at $200 to $700 out of warranty and $100 to $300 when the part is under warranty; HomeAdvisor lists $250 to $800, up to $2,000 for high-end models.

Compressor

The compressor is the most expensive part in the system. HomeGuide's compressor guide puts replacement at $1,800 to $2,800, a $2,300 national average, and says an older R-22 system can exceed $5,000. HomeAdvisor lists $1,200 to $2,800. HomeGuide says replacing only the compressor makes the most sense on a unit under about 8 years old that is still under warranty, when you may pay only labor. See AC compressor repair and replacement cost by tonnage, warranty and when to replace the whole unit.

Coil leak

A leak in the evaporator coil usually means replacing the coil. HomeGuide's table runs $1,000 to $4,500 for an evaporator coil; HomeAdvisor's average is about $1,000, typically $600 to $2,000. HomeGuide's HVAC repair guide puts a condenser coil at $900 to $2,300.

R-22, R-410A and the 2025 refrigerant change

If your AC uses R-22, you can keep running it: EPA says you may continue to use it "for as long as necessary," even though US production and import of R-22 ended on January 1, 2020. Repairs draw on recovered and reclaimed R-22, which is why HomeGuide prices it at $90 to $150 a pound against $50 to $80 for R-410A.

R-410A is the refrigerant in most systems installed after 2009, per HomeGuide. Under EPA's Technology Transitions rule, new residential AC and heat pump systems, including mini splits, installed from January 1, 2025 must use a refrigerant within a global warming potential (GWP) limit of 700. EPA's table lists R-410A at 2,088, R-454B at 465 and R-32 at 675. EPA's reconsideration rule removed the installation deadline for systems whose components were all made or imported before January 1, 2025, so some R-410A equipment can still go in. Copeland describes R-454B and R-32 as A2L refrigerants: mildly flammable, serviced with A2L-rated tools.

Repair or replace your air conditioner

HomeGuide and HomeAdvisor give the same rules of thumb. Consider replacing rather than repairing when:

• The AC is more than 10 years old.
• It uses R-22 refrigerant.
• It needs frequent repairs.
• The repair costs 50% or more of a new unit.
• The repair cost times the system's age in years is more than $5,000. A $600 repair on a 9 year old unit is $5,400, so replacing is worth pricing.

HomeAdvisor puts central AC replacement at $2,500 to $7,500 for the unit, or $6,000 to $12,000 with ductwork; HomeGuide says $5,000 to $8,300. HomeGuide's AC repair guide expects 12 to 15 years from a maintained AC. Full prices by tonnage and SEER2 are on AC replacement cost, and if your system is a heat pump, see heat pump repair.

Emergency AC repair and after-hours rates

Night, weekend and holiday labor costs $160 to $250 an hour in both HomeAdvisor's 2026 data and HomeGuide's AC guide, against $75 to $150 in regular hours. If anyone in the house is at risk from heat, read emergency HVAC repair first; the CDC says fans can raise body temperature once indoor air is above 90°F.

AC repair near me: what to ask before you book

• What is the service call fee, and does it go toward the repair? HomeAdvisor says most companies apply it.
• What is the hourly rate, and is there an after-hours rate? Ask before the truck rolls.
• What refrigerant does my system use? Have the brand and age ready; the label on the outdoor unit lists the refrigerant.
• Is the technician EPA Section 608 certified? Required for anyone who handles refrigerant.
• Is the part under warranty? HomeGuide's figures drop sharply for in-warranty parts, where you may pay only labor.
• Can I see the license number? Check it with your state licensing board yourself.

Before you call, run the safe checks on AC not cooling: thermostat, filter, breaker, drain line. If the breaker keeps tripping, breaker keeps tripping explains what that points to. AC repair is one line on the home repair costs table, and HVAC repair covers furnaces and heat pumps.

Calls go to an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job. Ask for its license number and proof of insurance yourself. How calls work.

Problem-by-problem guides: AC leaking water, AC freezing up and AC not turning on.

Signs of a failing capacitor, why it holds a charge, and what each source charges to replace one are on bad AC capacitor; yearly service prices are on AC tune-up and maintenance.