AC Repair Cost by Part: 2026 Price Table
These are the ranges the calculator uses, for parts and labor together at an average US labor rate. They are for a home system. A car air conditioner is a different machine with different prices, and it is not covered here.
| Repair | 2026 Cost, Parts and Labor | What It Is | Listed By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacitor | $150–$250 | the part that starts the fan and the compressor | Both guides |
| Contactor | $200–$450 | the relay that turns the outdoor unit on and off | Both guides |
| Circuit board | $200–$700 | the AC's own board, in the outdoor unit or the air handler; a furnace board is a different part | Both guides |
| Condenser fan motor | $300–$700 | the fan on top of the outdoor unit | One guide; the other gives one fan motor figure |
| Blower motor | $300–$800 | the indoor fan; a variable-speed motor can cost more | One guide; the other gives one fan motor figure |
| Compressor | $1,000–$2,500 | the pump in the outdoor unit, and one of the costliest repairs | Both guides |
| Evaporator coil | $1,000–$2,500 | the indoor coil above the furnace or in the air handler | Both guides |
| Condenser coil | $1,000–$2,700 | the outdoor coil; the outdoor unit is often replaced whole | One guide |
| Refrigerant leak repair | $200–$1,500 | finding and sealing the leak, then refilling | Both guides |
| Refrigerant recharge | $100–$600 | a refill alone, which does not fix a leak | One guide |
| Expansion valve (TXV) | $300–$500 | the metering valve at the indoor coil | One guide |
| Thermostat | $140–$350 | supplied and fitted | Both guides |
| Drain line flush | $80–$250 | clearing a blocked condensate drain | Both guides |
| Condensate pump | $100–$450 | where the indoor unit sits below the drain | One guide |
| Drain pan | $200–$600 | a rusted or cracked pan under the coil | One guide |
| Diagnostic fee | $75–$200 | the visit to find the fault, charged before any repair | One guide |
| Labor, per hour | $75–$150 | already inside each repair range above | One guide |
The last column is there so you can judge each figure. We read two established 2026 cost guides. Where both list a repair, the range shown is the part the two agree on. Where only one lists it, the figure is that guide's alone and the table says so.
Tip: find your part in the table before the technician arrives, so the quote has something to be compared with.
Average AC Repair Cost and Why the Range Is So Wide
How much does it cost to fix AC, or what is the cost of fixing AC at home? The average AC repair cost is $150 to $650. Both guides give that same range for a central system, and it is honest but not very useful, because it is an average of two different kinds of repair.
The first kind is small: an electrical part such as a capacitor, a contactor or a thermostat, or a blocked drain. Each is fixed in one visit, often with a part the technician carries, and these cheaper jobs are why the average sits where it does.
The second kind opens the sealed refrigerant circuit. A leak, a coil or a compressor means refrigerant recovery, replacing or brazing a part, pulling a vacuum and recharging. That is hours of labor before the part is counted, and it is why air conditioner repair cost can run past $1,000.
So for an AC repair estimate, the type of repair matters far more than the make of the unit or the size of the house. A central AC repair cost, a home AC repair cost, an HVAC repair cost and the cost to fix AC unit faults all start with the same question: which part failed?
Tip: ignore the average and price the part.
AC Compressor Replacement Cost and What Moves the Price
The compressor is the pump inside the outdoor unit, and with the two coils it is one of the costliest parts of the system to replace. The cost to replace compressor in AC unit repairs is the Compressor row of the price table above. In 2026, air conditioner compressor replacement cost is $1,000 to $2,500. That is the AC compressor cost, or central air compressor cost, with the labor and the refrigerant included, and a quote for an HVAC compressor replacement cost uses the same range. The price to replace AC compressor, as quoted, already includes the AC compressor install cost, so there is no separate install line to add.
Two things move a home AC compressor replacement cost inside that range. The first is the warranty, which is covered further down and can remove the part from the bill entirely. The second is the refrigerant, because the system has to be emptied and refilled. Neither guide prices a compressor by size, so a 4 ton AC compressor replacement cost uses the same range.
AC compressor repair cost is a phrase worth a caution. A compressor itself is sealed and is replaced, not repaired. When a compressor will not start, the fault is often the capacitor or the contactor that feeds it, and those are small repairs. Ask what was tested before accepting that the compressor is dead, and before agreeing to an AC compressor change cost.
Tip: out of warranty, price a new system before you pay for a compressor. The central air installation cost calculator gives that number for an AC.
AC Capacitor Replacement Cost: Why a Small Part Is Not a Small Bill
The capacitor is the most common AC repair and one of the cheapest. AC capacitor replacement cost is $150 to $250, or $225 to $450 with the diagnostic fee. The first figure is the cost of replacing AC capacitor alone on a visit that is already paid for, and the second is the cost to replace an AC capacitor on a call made just for it.
It is also the repair owners complain about most, because the part is small and the swap is quick. Most of the cost to replace AC capacitor on a home unit is not the part. It is the trip, the diagnosis and the labor rate, and those cost the same whether the fix turns out to be a capacitor or something larger.
Neither guide prices a capacitor by the size of the unit, so the cost to change AC capacitor and the cost to replace capacitor in AC unit work both use the one range as it stands. In that range, the cost to replace capacitor on AC unit systems is the part and the labor for three steps: cut the power, discharge the old capacitor and fit one with matching ratings. The visit itself is usually charged as the diagnostic fee. On a quote, an AC unit capacitor replacement cost should show that range plus any diagnostic fee, whether it is written as an HVAC capacitor replacement cost or an air conditioner capacitor replacement cost.
An AC capacitor price, an AC capacitor cost or an air conditioner capacitor cost in a parts listing is the bare part. Neither guide prices the part on its own, so we give no figure for it. It is a small share of the bill, and most of what you pay is the visit and the labor.
Tip: a capacitor quote far above $450 deserves a question. Ask for the cost for replacing AC capacitor as two lines, the part and the labor. In a high-cost city the range is higher, and the calculator shows by how much.
Evaporator Coil Replacement Cost, and the Outdoor Coil
The evaporator is the indoor coil, the one that sits above the furnace or inside the air handler. Evaporator coil replacement cost is $1,000 to $2,500. It usually fails by leaking, and a leaking coil is replaced because the leaks are in the tubing itself.
AC coil replacement cost, HVAC coil replacement cost and air conditioner coil replacement cost can also mean the outdoor coil. Condenser coil replacement cost is $1,000 to $2,700, a figure only one of the two guides lists. On an older system a failed outdoor coil usually ends with the outdoor unit being replaced, and because a new outdoor unit is normally matched with a new indoor coil, that job is priced as a matched system on the central air installation cost calculator.
Neither guide prices a coil by size. For a 3 ton evaporator coil replacement cost, use the range as it stands.
Tip: on an AC evaporator coil replacement cost quote, check the warranty first and the age second. A coil inside its parts warranty is a labor and refrigerant bill. Out of warranty on an older system, a coil is the point to price a replacement too.
AC Fan Motor Replacement Cost: Outdoor Fan or Indoor Blower
A central air conditioner has two motors, so an AC motor replacement cost depends on which one failed.
AC fan motor replacement cost is $300 to $700. This is the outdoor fan, the one you can see through the top grille. It is also called the condenser fan, so AC condenser fan motor replacement cost is the same figure, and so is the AC fan motor cost on most quotes. A fan that hums and does not turn is often a failed capacitor and not a failed motor, which is the cheaper of the two.
AC blower motor replacement cost is $300 to $800. This is the indoor fan that pushes air through the ducts, and the furnace uses the same motor in winter, so on a furnace system it is often quoted as an HVAC fan motor replacement cost. A variable-speed motor can cost more than this range. Neither guide prices it on its own, so ask which motor the quote is for.
Tip: ask whether the capacitor was tested before agreeing to a motor.
AC Recharge Cost vs AC Leak Repair Cost: Which One You Need
How much does an AC recharge cost? For a refill on its own, air conditioner recharge cost, also quoted as AC refrigerant recharge cost, is $100 to $600. AC leak repair cost is $200 to $1,500, which covers finding the leak, sealing it and refilling, so the cost to fix AC leak problems is that figure and not the recharge price.
The two are often quoted as if the first were a cheaper version of the second. It is not. An air conditioner does not use refrigerant up. If it is low, it has leaked, and a home AC recharge cost paid without a leak repair buys one season at best.
Freon is the everyday name for refrigerant, so a home AC freon recharge cost is the recharge figure above, and an AC freon leak repair cost is the same as an AC refrigerant leak repair cost: the leak figure. The leak repair range is wide because the leak can be a loose fitting at the bottom end or a hole inside a coil at the top end. The cost of AC refrigerant per pound is not shown on its own: neither guide gives a per-pound figure we can stand behind, and the recharge range already includes the refrigerant. When the leak is in the coil, the fix is a coil, and the price is the coil's.
Tip: before paying a freon recharge cost, ask where the leak is. If the answer is that nobody looked, you will be paying for the same refrigerant again. The signs of a low charge are on the AC not blowing cold air page.
Contactor, Expansion Valve, Circuit Board, Thermostat and Drain Repairs
These are the other repairs, from a drain flush to a circuit board. Each is one visit.
- AC contactor replacement cost: $200 to $450. It is the switch that sends power to the compressor and the outdoor fan. It fails with pitted contacts, and it is often replaced along with the capacitor.
- AC circuit board replacement cost: $200 to $700. The board runs the start and stop sequence. The range is wide because boards differ a great deal between systems. A furnace control board is a separate part, priced on the furnace replacement cost calculator.
- AC expansion valve replacement cost: $300 to $500. Also quoted as TXV replacement cost or TXV valve replacement cost. Replacing it opens the refrigerant circuit, so recovering and recharging the refrigerant is part of the job.
- AC thermostat replacement cost: $140 to $350. A basic thermostat is at the bottom of the range and a smart one at the top.
- Drain line flush: $80 to $250. Many owners clear it themselves. Before paying for it, use the AC leaking water page to check that the drain is the cause.
- Condensate pump replacement cost: $100 to $450. A pump that hums without emptying, or a tray that overflows, is the usual sign it has failed.
- Drain pan: $200 to $600. Replaced when it rusts through or cracks.
An AC water leak repair cost can be one of the last three items in the list above, because water on the floor can come from the drain line, the condensate pump or the drain pan. Water from an iced coil is different: the ice points back to low airflow, most often a dirty filter, or to a refrigerant leak. The AC leaking water repair cost or an HVAC water leak repair cost then follows the cause: a new filter, which this page does not price, or the blower motor, the refrigerant leak repair or, if the coil itself has failed, the evaporator coil, all three priced further up. The AC leaking water page linked above sorts out which one applies.
Tip: price these one at a time. Enter the age of the system in the calculator and it runs the repair-or-replace test on that one part for you.
AC Service Call Cost: What the HVAC Diagnostic Fee Covers
A service call is the charge for a technician to come out and find the fault, and it is owed whether or not you go ahead with a repair. AC service call cost is $75 to $200. One of the two guides lists it, along with an HVAC labor cost per hour of $75 to $150.
Some quotes call it an HVAC diagnostic fee or an air conditioning diagnosis cost, and the average HVAC service call cost sits inside the same range. Many companies credit it to the repair if you hire them, which is why the calculator lets you switch it off. Some add a separate trip fee on top.
We do not show a price for nights, weekends or holidays. Companies do charge more then, but neither guide gives a figure we can stand behind, so the calculator does not guess at one.
Tip: ask three things when you book. What is the fee, is it credited to the repair, and is it different after hours?
AC Unit Repair Cost by Region
Labor is most of a repair bill, and labor is what changes from one market to the next. The calculator scales each range by the same four regional factors this site uses for installation prices. The table shows five repairs without the diagnostic fee.
| Repair | Lower-cost area | Average US | Higher-cost metro | Highest-cost metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacitor | $130–$210 | $150–$250 | $180–$300 | $200–$340 |
| Condenser fan motor | $260–$600 | $300–$700 | $360–$840 | $410–$950 |
| Refrigerant leak repair | $170–$1,280 | $200–$1,500 | $240–$1,800 | $270–$2,030 |
| Evaporator coil | $850–$2,130 | $1,000–$2,500 | $1,200–$3,000 | $1,350–$3,380 |
| Compressor | $850–$2,130 | $1,000–$2,500 | $1,200–$3,000 | $1,350–$3,380 |
The two guides publish national ranges, so the regional figures are our scaling of them and not a published price for your city. Treat them as the direction and the rough size of the difference.
Tip: use your market's column to judge how far above the national figure a quote can fairly sit.
What the Warranty Changes on an AC Repair Bill
Every range on this page assumes you are paying for the part. On a system still inside its parts warranty you may not be.
A manufacturer warranty on parts covers the failed part for the number of years printed on the warranty. It does not cover the labor to fit it or the refrigerant to refill the system, and on a compressor or a coil those two are a large share of the bill.
So the question to ask on any large quote is: what does this cost with the part under warranty? Have the model and serial number ready, because the installer or the manufacturer can check the registration from those.
Tip: check the warranty before you apply any repair-or-replace test. The test itself, and the ages at which a system is worth replacing, are explained under repair or replace: the $5,000 rule.
Heat Pump Repair Cost for the Parts It Shares With an AC
For the parts a heat pump shares with a central air conditioner, heat pump repair cost follows the same table: the capacitor, the contactor, both motors, the coils and the compressor. Heat pump compressor replacement cost is the nearest to a straight match, at $1,000 to $2,500, and heat pump capacitor replacement cost and heat pump fan motor replacement cost use the capacitor and fan motor rows.
A heat pump also has parts an air conditioner does not have: a reversing valve that switches it between heating and cooling, and a defrost control. Neither of our sources prices those, so they are not in the calculator. A heat pump also runs in both seasons, so its parts wear sooner than the same parts on an air conditioner.
Tip: price a shared part from the table, and ask for a written quote on a reversing valve or a defrost control.
Before You Pay for an AC Repair
An AC repair price is only useful if the diagnosis is right, and some service calls end with a fix the owner could have made for nothing. A dirty filter, a tripped breaker, a thermostat setting and a blocked drain all stop an air conditioner. Run the free checks on the AC troubleshooting page first.
Tip: if a free check fixes it, note which one, so you know what to try first next time.