Ducted Air Conditioning Installation Brisbane — From $11,000 Installed
Supply and installation of ducted air conditioning for Brisbane homes by ARCtick-licensed Morningside installers — plus everything you need to know first: real prices by home size, what’s included, capacity sizing, zone counts, brands, replacing an old ducted system, and the 7 most common mistakes that wreck a 5-figure investment.
Quick answer: Ducted air conditioning in Brisbane starts from $11,000 fully installed for a 3-bed home (12kW, 4 zones), from $13,200 for a 4-bed (5 zones) and from $15,800 for a 5-bed. Install takes 2–3 days for a retrofit, 1–2 days for new builds. Book in May–September for fastest service. Daikin inverter or Braemar combo are the top picks.
How ducted air conditioning actually works
Ducted AC delivers cooling and heating through ceiling vents in every room from a single indoor unit hidden in the ceiling cavity. Air is pulled through a central return-air grille (usually in a hallway), passed over the cooled or heated evaporator coil, then pushed back out through flexible ducts to each supply outlet. An outdoor compressor pumps refrigerant in a loop to provide the cooling or heating effect.
Zoning controls let you cool only the rooms you’re using. A typical 4-zone system has dampers in the ductwork that open and close based on the wall controller settings — so the bedrooms can be 22°C overnight while the rest of the house is off.
Brisbane ducted install pricing (2026)
| Configuration | Fully installed (from, inc GST) |
|---|---|
| 3-bed home (12kW / 4 zones) | From $11,000 |
| 4-bed home (14–16kW / 5 zones) | From $13,200 |
| 5-bed home (18–20kW / 6–7 zones) | From $15,800 |
| Larger / luxury (20kW+ / 8–10 zones) | From $18,500 |
| Bulkhead drop (shallow cavity) | From +$1,500 |
Prices fully installed inc GST with inverter outdoor unit, ductwork to spec, zone motors, return-air grille, supply outlets, wall controller. Final price depends on home, brand and add-ons.
What’s included in every ducted install
- Indoor unit + outdoor compressor (inverter recommended)
- Ductwork to each zone (flexible duct, insulated)
- Zone motors + dampers
- Return-air grille + filter
- Supply outlets cut into ceiling
- Wall controller
- Refrigerant charge, vacuum, pressure test
- Full commissioning, run-test cool + heat
- 10-year workmanship warranty
- Manufacturer warranty registration (5-yr standard)
Add-ons that change the price
- Bulkhead drop (shallow ceiling cavity) — from $1,500
- Extra zone — $400–$700 each
- Smart WiFi controller — $200–$400
- New electrical circuit — from $480
- Premium brand upgrade (e.g. Daikin Alira X) — +$1,500–$3,000
Ducted prices by brand (4-bed install)
- Braemar refrigerated — from $12,700
- Fujitsu ducted — from $12,800
- Daikin inverter ducted — from $13,200
- Braemar combo (refrigerated + gas) — from $14,500
- Mitsubishi Electric ducted — from $14,500
Weighing ducted against splits? Split systems start from $1,660 per room installed — see split system installation. For a 3–4 room home the costs converge; ducted wins on comfort, quietness and resale value.
Replacing an old ducted system?
If your ducted system is 10–15 years old, runs on R22 refrigerant, or needs a compressor or PCB repair, replacing it often makes more sense than repairing it. A ducted replacement is usually less work than a new install, because the ductwork, return-air grille and outlets may be reusable.
- Ductwork check first — on the free on-site assessment we inspect the existing ducts, zone motors and grilles, and the written quote itemises what is being kept and what is being replaced.
- Right-sized, not “same as the old one” — the old system may have been undersized. We re-run the sizing for your home before quoting.
- Old unit removed — refrigerant recovered (ARCtick compliant) and the old indoor and outdoor units taken away.
- Timing — ducted replacements typically take 1–3 days, depending on whether ductwork changes are needed.
More on replacing any system: air conditioner replacement in Brisbane.
Capacity sizing — the make-or-break decision
Wrong capacity = wrong system. Too small struggles, runs flat-out, fails early. Too big short-cycles, fails to dehumidify, wastes power. Brisbane sizing rules of thumb (refine with on-site Manual J calc):
- 3-bed Brisbane home (130–160 m²): 12–14kW
- 4-bed (180–220 m²): 14–18kW
- 5-bed+ (250+ m²): 18–24kW
- Uninsulated Queenslander: +20% over modern equivalent
- West-facing main living: +1–2kW
- Cathedral / vaulted ceilings: +15–25% (more air volume)
Insist on an on-site sizing visit. Phone quotes are guesses and undersizing is the #1 cause of long-term regret.
Zoning — how many zones?
- Minimum 4: Open-plan living / master bedroom / kids’ bedrooms grouped / study
- Comfortable 5–6: Living split from kitchen, bedrooms individually
- Premium 7+: Every bedroom separately, formal lounge, theatre, study, alfresco-adjacent
Each zone adds $400–$700 to the install. Worth it for any room used independently.
Ceiling cavity check
Ducted indoor units need clearance above the ceiling. Standard minimum: 450mm cavity. Brisbane reality:
- Modern slab (post-2000): 500–800mm. Plenty.
- Highset Queenslander: 400–600mm. Usually workable.
- Lowset 60–70s brick: often 280–400mm. Bulkhead drop needed.
- Cathedral / vaulted: No cavity. Ducted impossible — consider multi-head splits instead.
Top brands for Brisbane ducted
- Daikin inverter — best efficiency, best parts (24hr), strongest resale recognition
- Braemar — Australian-made, refrigerated-only OR combo with gas heating
- Mitsubishi Electric — premium-feature option, M-NET diagnostics
- Fujitsu — mid-tier value
Full comparison: Braemar vs Daikin ducted.
Install process — what happens
- Free on-site assessment — sizing calc, ceiling cavity check, electrical capacity, outdoor unit location
- Written quote 24 hours later — itemised, GST-inclusive, 30 days valid
- Booking — 2–4 weeks lead time in cool season, 6–10 weeks in peak summer
- Day 1: Indoor unit mounted in cavity. Ductwork run to each zone. Return-air grille installed.
- Day 2: Supply outlets cut into ceiling. Refrigerant pipework run to outdoor unit location.
- Day 3: Outdoor unit installed. Electrical commissioned. System gas-charged, pressure-tested, run-tested.
- Walk-through — controller operation, zoning use, basic filter maintenance
- Warranty registered — manufacturer 5-yr + AH Aircon 10-yr workmanship
7 most common ducted mistakes
- Undersized capacity — struggles in peak summer, fails early
- Too few zones — you end up cooling rooms you don’t use
- Non-inverter system — $600–$800/yr higher running cost vs inverter
- Cheap installer cutting corners — thin pipe insulation, undersized return-air grille, crushed ducts
- Skipping on-site assessment — phone quotes miss critical site issues
- Booking too late — January install = 6 week wait
- Skipping the bulkhead disclosure — learn cavity depth at quote, not install day
See our pre-install checklist: 7 things to know before ducted install.
Running cost (Brisbane, typical 16kW inverter ducted)
- Cooling season (6 months): $1,200–$1,600/yr running 3–5 zones
- Heating season (3 months): $200–$400/yr
- Annual total: $1,400–$2,000/yr
Non-inverter equivalent: $1,800–$2,400/yr. Inverter pays back the $1,500–$2,500 upfront premium in 2–3 years.
Common questions
How much does ducted air conditioning cost in Brisbane?
3-bed homes from $11,000, 4-bed from $13,200, 5-bed from $15,800 and larger homes from $18,500, fully installed inc GST. Most Brisbane 4-bedroom homes end up $13,200–$17,000. Bulkhead drops add $1,500–$3,000.
How much does ducted aircon cost for a 3-bedroom house?
A 3-bedroom Brisbane home (12kW, 4 zones) starts from $11,000 fully installed inc GST. Most 3-bed jobs land $11,000–$13,000 depending on ceiling access and zone count.
Can I replace my old ducted system and keep the ducts?
Often, yes. We inspect the existing ductwork, zone motors and grilles at the free on-site assessment, and the written quote itemises what is reused and what is replaced. Ducted replacements typically take 1–3 days.
How long does ducted install take in Brisbane?
2–3 days for residential retrofit. 1–2 days for new builds where cavity is prepped.
What size ducted do I need?
3-bed: 12–14kW. 4-bed: 14–18kW. 5+: 18–24kW. Refined with on-site Manual J sizing calc.
When should I book ducted for summer?
As early as you can. Lead times are 2–4 weeks in the cool season and stretch to 6–10 weeks in peak summer.
Is ducted or split system cheaper to install?
Split systems are cheaper upfront — from $1,660 per room. Ducted starts from $11,000 for whole-home cooling. For a 3–4 room home the costs converge; ducted wins on comfort, quietness and resale value.
Inverter or non-inverter?
Inverter, always. Pays back the $1,500–$2,500 upfront premium in 2–3 years on running cost.
Can ducted go in any Brisbane home?
Most. Cathedral/vaulted ceilings can’t take ducted — multi-head splits are the alternative. Some lowset 60s/70s brick homes need a bulkhead drop.
Do I need a licensed technician for ducted installation?
Yes. Ducted installation requires ARCtick-licensed refrigeration mechanics and licensed electricians. AH Air Conditioning holds all necessary licences and carries full insurance, which also keeps your manufacturer warranty valid.
AH Air Conditioning · 63 Britannia Ave, Morningside QLD 4170 · ARCtick licensed · 20+ years across Brisbane.