Straight answer: a fully installed central AC replacement in Palm Beach County runs $6,500 to $14,000 in 2026, with most homeowners landing between $8,000 and $11,000. The spread is wide because three variables — tonnage, SEER2 rating, and ductwork condition — each move the price by thousands. This guide walks through every line item so you can read any quote like a contractor.
Tonnage (system size): Residential systems run 1.5 to 5 tons of cooling capacity (one ton = 12,000 BTU/hr). A 1,200 sqft Delray condo usually needs 2 tons. A 2,400 sqft Boca single-family home is typically 3.5 to 4 tons. A 4,000+ sqft Palm Beach estate runs 5 tons or dual systems. Each ton of additional capacity adds roughly $700–$1,200 to the install. Demand a written Manual J load calculation — rule-of-thumb sizing (one ton per 500–600 sqft) is wrong in Florida about half the time and oversized systems cause the humidity problems homeowners hire us to fix.
SEER2 efficiency tier: The federal minimum in Florida is 15.2 SEER2. Pricing by tier on a 3-ton system, fully installed: 15.2 SEER2 single-stage $6,800–$8,500; 16 SEER2 two-stage $8,500–$10,500; 18 SEER2 variable-speed inverter $10,500–$13,000; 20+ SEER2 premium inverter $13,000–$16,000+. The inverter tiers cost more upfront but cut cooling bills 25–40% and dramatically improve humidity control — usually the right call for Palm Beach County.
Ductwork condition: This is the silent budget-killer. If your ducts are 20+ years old, leaky, undersized, or full of disconnected boots, no new equipment will perform properly. Full duct replacement runs $3,000–$8,000 on top of the equipment. Partial repairs (sealing, replacing a few runs, resizing a return) are $800–$2,500. Always ask for a duct blaster test before you sign — leaky ducts can waste 25–40% of the cooling you’re paying for.
Line items a real quote should include: equipment (condenser, air handler, coil — by model number), refrigerant line set (new or flushed existing), thermostat, electrical disconnect and whip, condensate drain with float switch, line set insulation, equipment pad or hurricane straps, permit and inspection fees, sales tax, and labor with warranty terms. If any of these are missing or lumped into one number, ask for an itemized version.
What pushes price up in Palm Beach County: second-floor air handler access, attic installations (115°F+ working conditions), coastal corrosion-resistant coils for homes east of US-1, hurricane tie-down requirements, asbestos abatement on pre-1980 homes, and electrical panel upgrades when the existing panel can’t handle the new equipment. Each can add $400–$2,000.
What pushes price down: replacing like-for-like equipment in an accessible location, reusing recent ductwork, off-season installs (October–February usually runs 5–10% cheaper than peak summer), and stacking the federal 25C tax credit ($600 AC / $2,000 heat pump), FPL rebates ($150–$2,150), and HEEHRA rebates (up to $8,000 for income-qualified households). See our Florida AC Tax Credits & Rebates 2026 guide for how to stack them.
Red flags in quotes: a verbal price without a site visit; no model numbers on the equipment line; ‘$X,000 installed’ with no itemization; pressure to sign ‘today only’; refusal to provide a Manual J; no permit pulled (Palm Beach County requires one for every AC change-out); cash-only pricing that skips sales tax. Any one of these is reason to get a second quote.
How Lindstrom, Sansone, and the big Palm Beach County players price: the regional brand-name contractors typically quote 15–25% above local family-owned contractors for the same equipment. You’re paying for radio advertising and sales overhead, not better installation. Get at least three quotes, all on the same SEER2 tier and tonnage, and compare line by line.
Air We Go installs across Palm Beach County with itemized written quotes, written Manual J load calculations, all permits pulled, and every rebate and tax credit baked into the price up front. Call (561) 778-7078 for a free in-home assessment, or read our companion guide on Florida AC tax credits and rebates to see what your real out-of-pocket could be.