Compared with its sources on 5 November 2026
How much does air conditioning cost?
Allow about £2,300 to £2,940 for one wall-mounted system with its electrics, going by Checkatrade's national figures from May 2026. These are not our prices. A survey sets the real figure, and in Leamington Spa a lease or a listing can add costs that no national guide will show you.
Get a quote
Name, number, postcode. We call you back to talk it through.
What does a single wall unit cost to fit?
| Size | Unit | Labour | Fitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12,000 BTU (about 3.5kW) | £750 | £1,150 | £1,900 |
| 18,000 BTU | £940 | £1,150 | £2,090 |
| 24,000 BTU | £1,090 | £1,150 | £2,240 |
Checkatrade bases these on one split system on a masonry wall, and its labour figure is per unit. The fitted column is our addition of its numbers. Electrics are extra, at £400 to £700 for an indoor fused spur plus an outdoor switch rated for the weather. Source: Checkatrade.
Why might a Leamington job cost more than the national figure?
- Height. Tall townhouses can need a tower or scaffold to reach the rear wall, and the pipe run gets longer with each floor.
- Consent from a freeholder. A landlord may charge reasonable costs for surveyors and solicitors when granting a licence to alter. If the work touches walls or a roof they keep, they may ask for a premium, and the law sets no maximum.
- Planning and listed building applications. Allow time for drawings and for the decision itself. A flat above a shop will probably need an application.
- Careful routing. Original plasterwork and cornices mean longer, more careful pipe routes.
Source for consent charges: LEASE.
What does air conditioning cost to run?
Checkatrade says 20p to 60p per hour of operation. You can sense-check that with a sum. The Energy Saving Trust describes cooling efficiency as typically around 7, so 2.5kW of cooling would draw about 0.36kW of electricity. At the 26.32p price cap rate for October to December 2026, that comes to about 9.4p per hour once the room is at temperature, and pulling down a hot room costs more than that. Older or oversized units cost more. Sources: Checkatrade; Energy Saving Trust; Ofgem.
Is it cheap to run for heating?
Against plug-in heaters, yes. At a seasonal efficiency of 4, a kWh of heat costs about 6.6p, compared with 26.32p from a plug-in heater. Against gas, it is much closer, as gas under the same cap is 7.97p per kWh before boiler losses. The heat pump page sets the three side by side.
What should you budget for after it is fitted?
Checkatrade gives £70 to £120 per unit for a one-off service. If your system is big enough to need a leak check, that has to be done at least every 12 months. Commercial systems over 12kW also need a TM44 inspection every five years. See servicing. Sources: Checkatrade; GOV.UK; GOV.UK.
How do you compare two quotes fairly?
- Are the units the same capacity, and does each one heat as well as cool?
- Are the electrics included, and who certifies them?
- How long a pipe run is allowed for, and what happens if it needs to be longer?
- Is access equipment in the price?
- Whose F-gas certificate covers the job? Ask for the company name and number.
- Who deals with the sound calculation and any consents?
- What is the warranty, and what does it depend on?
A low figure that leaves out two of these is not a low figure.
Common questions
Does a portable cost less?
Up front, yes. Checkatrade gives about £300 to £420 for a 12,000 BTU portable. Our comparison explains what you give up.
Does a ducted system cost more?
A lot more. Checkatrade gives about £990 for a 12,000 BTU ducted unit plus £1,750 labour, before ductwork at about £180 per metre.
Are price cap rates fixed?
No. Ofgem changes them each quarter, and your own tariff may differ. Electricity carries no VAT between 1 October 2026 and 31 March 2027, and the 26.32p figure reflects that.
Sources
Before you ring
These details let us give you a better answer on the first call.
- Your postcode
- Flat, house or workplace
- Whether the building is listed
- Which rooms, roughly how big, and which way they face
- Who owns the outside walls, if you lease or rent
Ready to have it done? Air conditioning in Leamington Spa explains what we fit and look after, and where we travel.
If you want this done
Air conditioning installation
Survey, consents, fitting and start-up, in that order.
Home air conditioning
Quiet systems for bedrooms, top floors and family rooms.
Air conditioning servicing
Yearly care and leak checks, on systems we did and did not fit.
Other guides
Does air conditioning need planning permission?
The permitted development conditions, with the Leamington exceptions.
Can you have air conditioning in a listed building?
Consent, siting and humidity, for Grade II and Grade II* homes.
Is air conditioning allowed in a flat?
Leases, freeholders, planning limits and flats above shops.
Is air conditioning for a bedroom worth it?
How hot is too hot, what size to buy and what a night costs.
Air conditioning for a loft conversion: what works?
Why lofts overheat, and where units go under a sloping roof.
What size air conditioner do you need?
A room size table in kW and BTU, plus when to go larger.
How do you check the F-gas register for an installer?
Company certificates, personal qualifications and who to ask.
Portable against fixed air conditioning: which wins?
An honest comparison, including when a portable is the better buy.
Want us to call you?
Tell us where you are and what is too hot or too cold. Or ring 01926 967778.